Chapter 8
The Hokage had already gone ahead of me. Once I had told him everything and what Anko had said he decided to go straight to the tower. I let out a little sigh at how things were turning out. Orochimaru...I had read about him and knew if I were to get in a fight with him, I would not stand a chance. Even the one time I had ran into him, just earning a glare, was enough to make me realize that. Even though I had improved greatly since that time it didn't make any difference.
I followed after soon enough, jumping from roof top to roof top, looking at everyone I was passing. Soon enough I noticed Kakashi staring right at me. I stopped and stared back through my ANBU mask with a hidden smile playing on my lips. All I could do at the moment was nod my head at him and take off again, deciding to pay attention to only my goal this time. Within no time I had traveled through the Forest of Death and had made it to the tower. I bowed my head as I entered the room where the Hokage was.
Looking around I was surprised to see Kotetsu and Izumo standing behind the couch Anko was sitting on, holding her neck where the curse mark was. Once they noticed me they seemed slightly surprised to see me there...or rather an ANBU member. I smirked behind my mask and nodded to them. They didn't know who I was under the mask but they at least knew the mask. I had a rather easy code name assigned to me...Wolf.
"How are you feeling? Does the cursed seal still hurt?" The Hokage asked Anko, looking down at her as she sat.
"No, it's gotten better thanks to you." Anko replied.
"Isn't Orochimaru one of the Sannin from the Konoha Legends?" Izumo questioned. "He's an S-class exiled Ninja from the bingo book that even the ANBU couldn't deal with, right?I heard that he died, but..."
"Why would he come to this village now..." Kotetsu interrupted.
Anko looked deep in thought, almost as if she were reliving a memory. Her eyes had that faraway look to them before they came back to looking more lively. "It is most likely because..."
"Sasuke, right?" Sarutobi interrupted, answering her.
Anko seemed shocked that he had managed to guess...and guess right at that. It took me a moment to realize why he would want Sasuke. Then it dawned on me. He was an Uchiha. Of course he would want him...for his eyes.
"Anko-sama" Said an examiner from the television set. "We have confirmed that 21 people passed the Second Exam. According to the Chuunin regulations, we will have to do preliminary matches for the first time in five years. Second Exam completed."
Everyone was quiet for a moment before the Hokage spoke.
"Anyway, we will continue the Exam. But we will see what he is up to at the same time."
"Yes, sir." Anko
We all start to head for the preliminary site but I was soon stopped by Sarutobi, who had waited to be the last to exit the room. I gave him a questionable look by tilting my head to the side a bit.
"I want you to help watch over the preliminaries, Tsukiko-san." He said taking a puff of his pipe. "So, once you are finished with your rounds come back here as long as things are under control."
"Hai." I said bowing my head slightly.
"Come as yourself and not in ANBU gear." He added on quickly.
I nodded once more before turning to the window and leaving swiftly. Once outside I leapt from tree to tree going through the Forest of Death, going at a comfortable pace. Then I stopped suddenly, catching site of one of the many bugs that lived in this place, and shivered. I cringed as I watched it move one of its' eight legs, walking away from me. Spiders. I hated spiders and this one was as big as a building. Soon enough it left and I let out a relieved sigh and let out a small laugh.
I lifted up my mask just slightly and bit the thumb of my opposite hand, pulling my mask back down I performed the summoning jutsu. A cloud of smoke appeared and as it died down two shadows appeared. I smiled as I saw the two wolves standing there, looking at me, waiting to be told what I needed them to do. One wolf was pure white and wore a leaf headband around her neck. The other was pure black and wore their leaf headband on his head, starting from between his ears and falling to the right side of his face, much like Kakashi's but it didn't cover his eye.
"Tell us what you want already." Growled the black wolf, glaring at me.
"Ah, Ken'ichi." I said with sarcasm, breaking out into a smile. "It is so nice to see you too."
Ken'ichi narrowed his eyes at me and growled."I told you not to summon me if there wasn't anything you needed me to do."
"Otōto, settle down." The white wolf said, finally speaking.
"Yuzuki." I nodded my head to her before letting out a laugh. "Don't worry you two, I did summon you for a reason. I need a little help scouting the area for trouble."
"Scouting?" Ken'ichi growled at me.
"I know Ken-san, that you don't like to do that but I promise you that if there is any trouble to be found you may take care of them." I said with a smile as he backed down. "Just don't kill them."
"What has happened to cause this?" Yuzuki asked while looking at me with her brilliant blue eyes.
"Orochimaru has reappeared and made his presence known during the Chuunin exams."
"Otōto."Yuzuki, turned from to face the other wolf. "Don't be stupid and get your self killed. You see him, come find us."
"Hmph." He replied. "I can take him."
"That is one fight you would not survive." I said quickly, taking my turn to glare at him. "Your sister is right. You find him, you get help. ANBU can't even take him."
He whimpered under my glare, but nodded in agreement. I gave them a signal and they took off in different direction as I headed straight. There was nothing to be seen, nothing that didn't warrant another look. I had seen a few of the other ANBU members as I looked around. Soon enough I met back with the two wolves I had summoned. We met back at my house, seeing as to how I needed to change my gear.
"I suppose your results were the same?" I asked them both.
"Nothing." Yuzuki responded, as Ken'ichi growled.
"Well...thank you for the assistance." I said walking to both of them and patting each of their heads. "Tell Ōkami I said hello and that I hope all is well."
Ken'ichi disappeared in a cloud of smoke while Yuzuki stayed awhile longer giving me one of her wolf-like smiles before following her brother. Without another moment to lose I hurriedly changed into uniform all the Jounin wore, down to the green vest. After I finished that I took of to the tower in the Forest of Death once more, avoiding the spider, like it was a plaque. That spider was the only reason I managed to get hurt during my exam. I froze up once I saw it and the enemy team took advantage of that. My team mates never let me live that one down. If they were still around I am sure they would still be pulling pranks on me, centering around those creepy things.
With a laugh I made it to one of the doors, towards the back, leading to the room the preliminaries were being held at and waited. I didn't want to barge in while there was a match going on and distract them. It wasn't long before I heard Heyate announce that there was a winner and I happily strolled in after a medical team went inside. I nodded at him as he looked over at me, giving him a signal that things had went fine. Pausing for a moment I tried to decided where I would stand to watch the matches that were left. I could go and stand next to Ibiki but even I knew that would be ... dull. Then I noticed Kakashi and Guy with their teams (Kakashi's team minus Sasuke) and decided to head up there and keep an eye on things. Suppose I can get away with saying I had a birds eye view.
