The Legend of Naruto

Chunin Exam arc

Kurama no Kyubi: Hello again, guys. In this chappy, the Triforce wielders will face their greatest challenge yet… Orochimaru of the Sannin. Also, Sasuke will learn a new technique, and you'll never guess what it is.

ImagineBreaker7: So Ganondorf is up to something. I wonder what will happen in the forest. I can't wait to find out.

Kurama no Kyubi: Of course he's up to something, it's Ganon we're talking about, here.

GamesMaster64: Love the story so far. I'm also fairly certain I know which of your elemental characters use what power, since most of them are based off of Latin names. However, I won't spoil the surprise here. I look forward to the future chapters here!

Kurama no Kyubi: to be honest, I didn't know that those were Latin names, heh heh heh. But I'd say it's pretty obvious which one of them uses what element, so I doubt you'd spoil anything by saying it… unless there's someone really stupid reading this story.

Guest: please do update soon okay also just who in the name of all that is bad news did our hero's main antagonist send after our hero's in the forest of death and apparently it's a lady of death that you've sent after our poor hero's in order to torture them and test them. aren't you going to add a shadow Naruto later on like in some instance in the legend of Zelda when link had to face his deadly doppleganger.

Kurama no Kyubi: I won't spoil much, but I will say this, there is going to be a Shadow Naruto later on, however, he's gonna dislike Ganondorf as much as the real Naruto.

Guest: I'm going ask a reasonable question. Are some of the other jinchuuriki going to be the other sages like Roshi as the fire sage?

Kurama no Kyubi: Sorry, but I've already chosen who all of the Sages will be. Though Roshi is a pretty good pick for the Fire Sage… too bad I didn't think of him.

Guest: speaking of your story here's a few idea about the chunin preliminaries matchup match I would go with ventus vs tamari after tamari defeats tenten as for rock lee I would go with him facing off against terra and coming out rather exhausted but alive and aqua against zaku or dosu for after all yous added 6 of gonandorf's best men into this exam and if the scuffle between vaati team and garra doesn't act as any indictator as to how powerful that madman's forces are then I don't what does for after all garra's a killing machine and vatti's team demolished garra's team just as they're passing by one another enroute to their separate destinations then I would have to hazard a guess that everyone from Tani is going to make to those prelimaries and to the finals.

Kurama no Kyubi: Those were some good ideas, but I've already decided the match-ups for the preliminaries. Also, back when Vaati's team, and Gaara's team ran into each other, Vaati – a man nearly at the same level as Orochimaru – was there. Though the whole point of that fight was to hype-up the Tani-nins.

Guest: as for the true mastermind behind the uchiha massacre I know that once sasuke find out it was those two crones of fire and ice well he'll be sure to chase after them to the ends of the earth and beyond in order to get his vengeance on all those responsible for the death of his clan knowing him

Kurama no Kyubi: Of course.

Guest: also Naruto should really learn some of link's swordsmanship skills like the spin attack for example and other sword based skills

Kurama no Kyubi: Good idea. I'll keep that in mind.

Guest: here are some ideas for sword techniques that naruto should learn final blow, mortality draw, counter draw and clash push. the final blow technique is for when our hero manages to drive his foes to their knees but should they still have the strength to continue fighting then this technique work in a manner to finish these foes off with little to no effort. the clash push technique is for when our hero crosses swords with his enemies and he can use this technique to create and opening in their defense. the mortality draw is all about timing for our hero in which he can inflict great damage by managing to draw his sword when the enemy is about to attack him. the counter slash is a more advance form or the mortality draw is which hero has to wait until the last possible second to draw his sword to unleash a devastating amount of damage to his enemies which be greater than the mortality draw but if our hero gets the timing all wrong with this technique the best case scenario is that our hero will fall in the clash push technique worst case scenario is that Naruto may get severely injured as a result.

Kurama no Kyubi: Those are some good ideas. I'll keep them in mind.

"Triforce." Normal speech

'Triforce.' Normal thought

"Triforce." Biju and God speech

'Triforce.' Biju and God speech

Anko: The only things Kurama no Kyubi own are his OCs!

Chapter 8: Exam 2: Monsters of the Forest of Death

"This is the arena for the second exam: training field 44. Also known as… the Forest of Death." Anko said as she had brought the Genin to the fence surrounding a huge forest.

"Whoa! Those trees are even taller than Great Deku Tree-sama." Tael said as he looked at the massive trees.

"You dummy. Great Deku Tree-sama is much taller. But these trees are still impressively tall, though." Tatl said.

"It looks like a pretty creepy place." Sakura said.

"You're about to find out first-hand… why they call this the "Forest of Death"." Anko said.

"Yeah, like that's really gonna scare us! You're trying to psych us out, and I'm not gonna fall for it!" Flare yelled.

"Oh, really? You're pretty cocky, huh?" Anko said with a grin before a kunai came out of her sleeve and she through it at Flare, causing a small cut on his cheek as small orange flames started burning there.

"Heh. You're kind are always the first to go." Anko said as she appeared behind Flare before noticing the small flames "But it seems that you're a little special, but that still won't guarantee your safety in this forest." The flames then turned back into skin, though the cut remained as a slight trail of blood dripped down, something that didn't go unnoticed Naruto, causing said blond to raise a curious eyebrow.

Anko then noticed something as she quickly turned around while pulling another kunai from her sleeve only to find a female Kusa-nin standing behind her, holding the kunai she'd thrown earlier with her tongue.

"Your kunai… I believe you dropped it." The Kusa-nin said.

"Gee… thanks." Anko said before she took the kunai before saying "Don't just stand behind me… radiating blood-lust. Unless you're in a hurry to die."

"I'll try to keep it under control… but the sight of warm, fresh blood really makes me crazy… And I was already revved up… from losing a strand of my precious hair." The Kusa-nin said as her tongue retracted back into her mouth.

"Man, that chick really gives me the creeps." Terra said.

"Hmmm? That's weird, I thought you'd be ogling over her." Ventus said as he looked towards Terra from the corner of his eyes.

"Oh, please. You know well that I'm only attracted to girls around my age." Terra said.

"Heh. Seems like the rumors weren't entirely true. That proctor's even scarier than Veran-sama." Chilly said.

"And the last one wasn't?" Aqua asked as she looked towards her fellow female Tani-nin.

"Before we begin the second exam, there's something I have to hand out." Anko said as she held up a bunch of paper forms "Their consent forms. Everybody has to sign one."

"Why?" Flare asked.

"We want all the details covered before the first deaths occur. Sign before you go in, so we can't be held liable. You wouldn't want me to get in trouble, would you? First I'll explain what the second exam entails. Then you can sign the forms. With the other two members of your team, bring the forms to the hut behind you and submit them." Anko said before she handed the forms over to Flare who took one and gave the rest to a random Genin that was standing next to him.

"Got that? Now, about the exam. To put it simply… it's a no-holds-barred survival test." Anko said.

'Survival, eh? What a drag.' Shikamaru thought as he took a form and gave the rest of them to the person next to him.

"Let's start with the topography of this training field. I'll explain the rest later." Anko said as she held up a map of the forest before continuing "Training field #44 is bordered by a circular perimeter interrupted at regular intervals by forty-four locked gates. There are forests and a river… and in the center is a tower about ten kilometers from those gates. Within the confines of this carefully delineated area, you're going to undergo a survival test. During the course of that test, you may use any ninja arts or weapons you have at your disposal. It's a kind of fight-to-the-death version of "capture the flag"… or – in this case – "capture the scroll"." She then held up two scrolls, one with the kanji for earth on it, and one with the kanji for heaven on it.

"Scroll?" A random Genin asked.

"Exactly. There's a "scroll of heaven" and a "scroll of earth"… and your objective is to acquire both scrolls. There are eighty-four of you here. That's twenty-eight three-member teams. Fourteen teams will start out with a heaven scroll… and the other fourteen will start with an earth scroll. But you'll need both scrolls to pass. So your objective is to hold on to your own scroll, get your hands on one of the other kind, and then bring them both to the tower at the center." Anko explained.

"In other words, at least half of us – the fourteen teams whose scrolls are stolen – will fail." Sakura said.

"You bet. And there's a time limit. You have 120 hours in which to complete this exam – exactly five days." Anko said.

"Five days?" Ino asked.

"What are we supposed to do for food?" Choji asked.

"That's your problem. The forests are full of nature's bounty. Of course, they're also full of man-eating animals, deadly insects, and poisonous plants. There's no way as many as fourteen teams will pass this. As the time shortens, the trials will come harder and faster… with less recovery-time for any mistakes, accidents, or injuries. You'll be surrounded by enemies at all times, so you'll have to sleep with one eye open. So, in addition to those who die in attempts to defend or capture a scroll, some of you are bound to succumb to exhaustion, exposure, starvation, and dehydration. Now let's talk about the rules, and what offenses you can be disqualified for. Obviously, the teams that fail to reach the tower in time – as a three-member team, carrying both a heaven and an earth scroll – are out. So is any team that loses a member, whether to death or to severe injury. And under no circumstances can you leave the forest until the time is up. No recess. No time-outs. Also… you're forbidden to look at the contents of the scrolls until you're inside the tower." Anko explained.

"What if we sneak a peek?" Naruto asked.

"That's for those who look to know. If any of you make it to the Chunin level, there will be times when you'll be entrusted with top-secret documents, so consider this a test of your trustworthiness. That's all the explanation you get. We'll trade one scroll for every three forms. When you've got yours, choose the gate you want to start from. Everyone will begin at the same time. One final piece of advice… stay alive." Anko said.

"It's almost time to distribute the scrolls." A Chunin called out from the hut before pulling up a curtain.

'Smart. To keep us in the dark, they're concealing which type of scroll each team gets… and which member is carrying it. It's just like that guy Ibiki said… stealing intelligence is a matter of life and death. Everyone is an enemy. And we're probably all equally determined. If we're all willing to fight to the death, this could become a massacre.' Sasuke thought as he looked down on his consent form.

'Heh heh… it's finally starting to sink in… why we want those consent forms.' Anko thought before yelling "All right, everyone, follow your proctors to your respective gates! When the signal sounds in half an hour, the exam will begin!" The different teams were then brought to the different gates around the forest.

Forest of Death, gate 16

At gate 16 were team 8 waiting for the exam to begin.

"Woohoo! If it's survival skills they want, we've got it made! Don't go soft on us, Hinata." Kiba said and Hinata nervously looked down to the ground.

Forest of Death, gate 27

At gate 27 were team 10.

"A fight to the death? What a drag… but if it's the only way…" Shikamaru said before thinking '…Looks like Naruto's our target.'

Forest of Death, gate 12

At gate 12 were team 7.

"Yeah! Yeah! We can't lose, I tell ya! Anyone comes near us, I'll kill 'em myself!" Naruto said.

"Yeah, anyone who tries to take us on will be dead before they know what hit 'em!" Tael said.

'Oh, please!' Sakura thought.

Forest of Death, gate 20

At gate 20 were team Dosu.

'Heh heh… the time has finally come… to carry out our orders in the open.' Dosu thought.

Forest of Death, gate 38

At gate 38 were team Kabuto.

Forest of Death, gate 6

At gate 6 were team Gaara.

'I've got to look out for enemy teams… but five days in the forest with that creepy Gaara… argh!' Kankuro thought.

Forest of Death, gate 15

At gate 15 were three Kusa-nins.

"Target the rookies first." One of them said.

"It looks like we've got carte blanche to pick them off from here on in which should make our job a lot easier." The one that had returned Anko's kunai earlier said.

Forest of Death, gate 41

At gate 41 were team Guy.

'Guy-sensei, I will do my best!' Lee thought.

Forest of Death, gate 1

At gate 1 were team Terra.

"Let's get this show on the road." Ray said.

"Hey! Who died and made you the leader?" Chilly yelled as she pointed an accusing finger at Ray.

Forest of Death, gate 19

At gate 19 were team Ventus.

"YOSH! I can't wait to kill those Triforce wielders!" Flare yelled.

"Pipe down, will you? We don't need the entire village to know our mission!" Aqua said angrily.

"Part two of the Chunin exam begins… NOW" Anko yelled and the gates opened.

Forest of Death, gate 15

The three Kusa-nins burst through the open gate, having already decided on what team to attack.

"Those three, right?" One of them asked.

"Go for the brats!" Another one said.

Forest of Death, gate 12

"Yosh! Ikuzo!" Naruto yelled as they walked through the gate.

Forest of Death, team 8

Three shinobi in black body-suits were jumping through the trees until they heard something and they stopped to look down towards team 8 that was standing on the ground below them.

"The tower's where everyone is ultimately going… so we might as well set up traps as close to there as possible." Kiba said before Akamaru picked up the scent of the three ninja that were hiding above them "Found them already, huh? Where are they?"

"Stupid kids… they might as well be shouting, "capture us". From the sound of things, they know we're somewhere nearby, but they haven't figured out where yet." One of the unknown ninja said before he suddenly felt something on his neck.

"What's wrong? You're as white as a sheet." One of his partners said before noticing a leech that was on the guy's neck and all three looked up to see several other leeches, coming down. The three of them tried to force the leeches off them, but to no avail and they fell down to the ground.

"The flying leeches of Konoha village can sense perspiration and body heat and fling themselves en masse. If you can't get them off your body within five minutes, you're finished. And if you panic trying to get away from them… well… one team down." Kiba said as one of the three enemy ninja triggered a booby-trap that had been set up by team 8 earlier and the three was trapped in a net, hanging from a tree together with the flying leeches.

"HELP!" They yelled before screaming out in pain.

Forest of Death, team 7

"Did you guys hear someone scream?" Sakura asked as they heard the screams of team 8's victims "This place is creeping me out."

"I'm telling you, Sakura-chan, it's no big deal. Dattebayo!" Naruto said before he felt that he had to go "… Uhhh… I gotta take a leak…" He then walked over to some bushes, but before he could do anything else, Sakura punched him.

"Not in front of me, bozo! I'm a lady! Use the bushes!" Sakura yelled before Naruto walked into the bushes.

'If it were Sasuke-kun, on the other hand… heh heh heh…' Her inner self said.

"What could the Goddesses be thinking, choosing these three to be the Triforce wielders?" Navi said.

"Hey, they're not that bad. I'm sure that when push comes to show, they can beat anything that the Tanikage throws at them." Tatl said.

"I wouldn't count on it." Navi said unenthusiastically.

"Oh, man. What a relief. Feelin' good now." Naruto said as he returned, however Sasuke noticed that something was off.

"I told you, you're in the presence of a lady! Don't be vul…" Was all Sakura could say before Sasuke punched Naruto, sending him into a tree.

'What the…?' Sakura thought before turning to Sasuke and saying "S-Sasuke-kun… I appreciate the chivalry, but that was way over the top."

"Yeah, man. You went way too far." Tael said.

"Wh-what was that for?" Naruto asked.

"What have you done with Naruto?" Sasuke asked.

"Nani?" Sakura and Tael asked confused.

"Hello. I'm right here in front of you… bleeding." "Naruto" said.

"He asked you a question. What have you done with Naruto?" Navi asked.

"Yeah. What have you done to him?" Tatl asked.

"Huh? Navi, nee-san, what're you talking about?" Tael asked.

"You're wearing your shuriken holster on your left thigh. Naruto's right-handed." Sasuke said.

"And besides. We Fairies can sense emotions, so for us it was a no-brainer to figure out that you were an impostor." Navi said.

"Huh? Really?" Tael asked before blinked twice and he then started laughing out "Well, of course! I knew it was an impostor all along! Ha ha ha!"

'Really? It didn't look like it.' Sakura thought.

"Naruto" then burst into a puff of smoke to reveal that it was an Ame-nin all along.

"Since you've forced me to come clean, why don't you do the same? Which one of you two has the scroll?" The Ame-nin asked, but when they didn't respond he said "Unfortunately, you've forced me to be direct." He then charged towards the two Konoha Genin, but then Sasuke jumped into the air as he weaved a series of hand signs.

"Katon: Housenka no Jutsu!" The Uchiha called out as he fired several small balls of fire from his mouth, but the Ame-nin managed to dodge every single fire ball.

Suddenly, however, Naruto appeared behind the Ame-nin as he swung his tanto. But the Ame-nin managed to dodge it before jumping into the trees. Naruto then pulled out his vine-whip and threw it so that it wrapped itself around one of the branches before sending the blond flying towards said branch, but on the way, however, he reached the Ame-nin and stabbed him in the shoulder with the tanto.

"Naruto!" Sakura yelled.

"You should move, Sakura-chan. His friends could be anywhere." Naruto said before pulling out of the Ame-nin as he landed on the branch that the vine-whip had wrapped itself around while watching as the Ame-nin was running away.

'My… arm. This is awful. I thought coming alone would help conceal my presence… instead, it's been my ruin.' The Ame-nin thought as he ran away.

"He ran away." Tatl said.

"Hey, Naruto. What happened to you, anyway?" Sakura asked as the blond landed on the ground.

"That guy knocked me out from behind, and when I came to, I was tied-up." He said.

"Then how'd you get free?" Sakura asked.

"You can thank me for that." Navi said as she came hovering up next to Naruto's head.

"Navi found me, and undid the ropes. Well, at least until my hands were free." Naruto said.

"Well, at any rate. It seems we don't have to worry about someone impersonating anyone of us, since the Fairies appear to have the ability to sense someone's emotions. Well, except for Tael, that is." Sasuke said.

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Tael yelled.

Suddenly Naruto felt a cut coming across his cheek, and just a few seconds later, a powerful gust of wind came and swept him and the Fairies away while Sasuke and Sakura managed to jump out of the way in time.

Shortly after was Sasuke hiding in the bushes, seeing if he could find whoever it was that attacked them, but he couldn't spot anyone.

"Sasuke-kun!" He then got up on his feet and turned around to see Sakura.

"Sakura…" He said, and seeing as though none of the Fairies were around, he pulled out a kunai before asking "Stay there. Now tell me, where's Navi, why isn't he with you?"

"What are you talking about? Navi's a girl, and why would she be with me?" Sakura asked before Sasuke let out a sigh of relief.

"Only checking. It seems that the three of them might have been blown away by the winds." He said.

"Yow… Are you guys all right?" Naruto asked as he showed up.

"Not so fast, Naruto." Sasuke said, causing Naruto to halt "Where's Tael, and why isn't she with you?"

"Oh, well, she…" Before "Naruto" could finish however, Sasuke smirked as he threw a kunai at the blond, but said blond managed to dodge it easily.

"Heh." "Naruto" was then engulfed in a puff of smoke to reveal that it was actually the same Kusa-nin from before "Well done. What gave me away?"

"Tael is supposed to be with me. Plus, he's male." Sasuke said.

"I see… So since none of your little Fairies were around, you quickly came up with another plan of determining friend from foe. This is going to be more fun than I thought." The Kusa-nin said.

Forest of Death, Naruto

Naruto, Navi, Tatl, and Tael were all lying at the base of one of the forest's humongous trees.

"Where'd Sakura-chan and that bone-head Sasuke go?" Naruto asked as he climbed to his feet.

"I don't know, but this forest is giving me the creeps." Tatl said as she flew up to Naruto's shoulder and settled herself.

"We got separated from the others." Navi said as she landed on Naruto's head while Tael settled down on his other shoulder.

"Why do you three have to sit on me? I'm not a couch, ya know. Dattebayo!" Naruto said.

"But our wings are tired. I don't think they'll be able to even lift us for a while." Navi said.

"Alright, but if I have to fight someone or something, then don't throw-up at me. You got that?" Naruto said as he started walking before the three of them suddenly heard what sounded like the scream of some animal.

"What was that?" Tatl asked.

"I don't know, but it came from over there." Naruto said before he ran in the direction of the scream.

Forest of Death, team 7

"That was another phony Naruto." Sakura said as she looked at the Kusa-nin before thinking 'This one… gives me the creeps. Where is that fool Naruto, anyway?'

"I suppose you'd like to steal our earth scroll, wouldn't you…? Since you've already got a heaven scroll." The Kusa-nin said as she held out her earth scroll before eating it, and she continued "Now… shall we see… just who will be stealing scrolls from whom? We'll fight to the death." Just then, she pulled slightly at her lower eye-lid with one of her fingers and both Sasuke and Sakura saw their own deaths at her hands before falling to their knees.

'… She's casting… a Genjutsu!' Sasuke thought before vomiting 'It's not death… just an incredible simulation. I looked into her eyes… and she made me feel it… and believe it. Wh-who the heck is she…?'

"Sakura…" He looked over at his female teammate to find her completely paralyzed 'Kuso! If we don't retreat now… we're finished. The only other option is death.'

"Heh… I imagine you're paralyzed by now…" The Kusa-nin said.

'Not quite… I can move… just enough.' Sasuke thought as he managed to pull out a kunai before the Kusa-nin threw a pair of kunai of her own towards the two as Sasuke activated his Sharingan and leaped towards Sakura.

The two kunai hit the bark of a tree and the Kusa-nin walked towards where the two Konoha-nins had just been to see a small pool of blood where Sasuke had been.

'Amazing. The boy stabbed himself so that he would be able to focus on the pain and block out fear and illusion. Heh… Just as I thought, there is far more to this one than to the common prey.' She thought.

Forest of Death, team Ventus

Ventus, Flare, and Aqua were jumping from branch to branch until Ventus' head suddenly jerked up, and he came to a stop as Flare and Aqua stopped on another branch behind him.

'That feeling just now… It couldn't really be him, could it?' Ventus thought with wide eyes.

"Ventus-kun, what is it? Why'd we stop?" Aqua asked.

"Change of plan." Ventus said as he looked over his shoulder at the other two "Let's split up. We'll be able to cover more ground that way. We'll meet up at the tower." He then pulled out the scroll before throwing it to Flare "You'll take care of the scroll from now on." He then turned around and continued in a different direction.

"What's up with him?" Aqua asked.

"Ha! Who cares? Now I've got the scroll, and no one's gonna take it from me!" Flare said as he put the scroll in his pouch.

"Just don't burn it, alright?" Aqua said.

"Yeah, don't worry. I'll keep it safe." Flare said before jumping off in a different direction from where Ventus had gone.

"But seriously. What's up with Ventus? He's always said that teamwork's the best way to win, so it's not like him to tell us to split up… Something's obviously wrong here, and I'm gonna get to the bottom of it." Aqua said before jumping off in a direction which was only slightly off from the one that Ventus was heading in.

Forest of Death, Naruto

Naruto stood on a branch as he looked down to the ground where he saw a small red four-legged reptilian creature which couldn't be any bigger than Kiba's mutt backing away from a giant snake.

The creature let out a yelp as the snake open its mouth and was about to leap at it. But Naruto quickly drew the Hakko Chakura To and jumped towards just behind the snake's head before cutting clean through it, beheading it.

When he then landed on the ground, the small creature ran over to him, obviously happy. And as it reached him, Naruto knelt down and petted it.

"Hey there, little guy. Did you get lost from your parents?" Naruto asked before he stopped petting the creature.

"Aaaaaaahhhh! It's a Dodongo! Naruto we have to get away before it eats us!" Navi yelled as she flew down in front of Naruto's face.

"He's just a baby, he's not gonna eat us." Naruto said.

"You've got no idea how terrifyingly evil these creatures are. Dodongos would eat whatever they come across, even Fairies and Hylians!" Navi said as she flew back and forth while the Dodongo followed her with his eyes before closing his mouth over her. His cheeks then started bulging out at several places as Navi attempted to get out, before she eventually managed to do so.

"See? The moment you turn your back to it, it's gonna gobble you up whole!" She yelled.

"Navi does have a point, you know. Most Dodongo's are like that. But look at him, he's still just a baby, and so cute." Tatl said as she flew down and petted the small dinosaur who gave a few contempt grunts in response.

"Say, we can't just leave him here. There's bound to be more of those giant snakes roaming the forest." Tael said.

"Well, then I guess we'll have to take him with us." Naruto said.

"Nani?" Navi yelled.

"Yep, guess so." Tael said.

"I'm so glad!" Tatl exclaimed as she hugged the Dodongo's head.

"Am I the only sane person here? It's a Dodongo! An evil monster!" Navi yelled, causing the Dodongo to start crying.

"Navi, now you made him cry!" Naruto said before picking the Dodongo up and hugging him "It's all right, I won't let the mean Fairy hurt you."

"Hmph!" Navi just crossed her arms and looked away.

"Say, I think we need to give you a name." Naruto said after the Dodongo had stopped crying and the blond ended the embrace "Hmm… How about…" Naruto was thinking hard, trying to come up with a name for the Dodongo.

"Dimitri?" Tatl suggested, causing everyone but Navi to look at her.

"What?" Naruto asked.

"It's the name of a Dodongo who was the friend of a Hylian Knight who not only saved the Kingdom of Hyrule, but also saved the Kingdoms of Holodrum and Labrynna around some 4.500 years ago." Tatl said.

"Well, what do you say?" Naruto asked as he looked at the small dinosaur who let out some happy grunts "All right, then. Dimitri it is."

Forest of Death, team 7

Sasuke and Sakura were currently up in the trees hoping that the Kusa-nin wouldn't find them.

"Speak to me, Sas…" Sakura started, but Sasuke put his hand over her mouth.

'We've got to move fast, or she'll find us again. The question is how to evade her… um… um… How do we run…? Um…' The Uchiha thought.

'Sasuke-kun is so jumpy… I've never seen him like this…' Sakura thought before she noticed a large snake coming down and staring at Sasuke. Sakura then managed to remove Sasuke's hand.

"Sasuke-kun! Snake!" She yelled before the two of them jumped in different directions.

'Whoa… My chakra is so out of whack, I overlooked a giant snake.' Sasuke thought before the snake hissed and the Uchiha almost saw the Kusa-nin when he looked at the snake.

"Yaaaah! Get lost!" He yelled as he threw several shuriken into the snake's head before said snake fell down, dead. Suddenly, the Kusa-nin came up, out of the snake's skin.

"For shame, letting your guard down. Stay on your toes, like a good prey should. It makes the chase so much more rewarding… for the predatory." She said before slithering up the tree towards Sasuke like a snake, but suddenly came several shuriken and kunai flying down and they embedded themselves into the trunk right in front of the Kusa-nin. Everyone then looked towards where the shuriken and kunai had come from to see Naruto standing on a branch with Navi, Tatl, and Tael hovering around his head, and Dimitri sitting on said head.

"About time you got here, Naruto!" Sakura yelled.

"Heh. Well, excuse me, princess." Naruto said. (Kurama no Kyubi: Sorry, but I just couldn't resist.)

"Naruto to the rescue, huh? You're completely psyched to be saving the day… But… now would be a good time to run for your life. This guy is way out of our league." Sasuke said.

"Heh heh… My compliments on your stunning defeat of the giant snake… Naruto-kun." The Kusa-nin said.

'This chick's a freak. She's a Human… but all I can see when I look at her is a snake. Everything about her… snakey. I'll bet that snake was hers.' Naruto thought before yelling "HEY! Why don't you pick on someone your own size…? Or something like that…"

'This is all I can think of…' Sasuke thought before deactivating his eyes.

'Oh… Sharingan… but he stopped!' Sakura thought before Sasuke suddenly pulled out the scroll.

"If it's our scroll you want, come and get it! Just… take it and go!" Sasuke yelled.

'Nani?' Naruto thought.

"What are you doing, Sasuke?" Tael asked as he flew down to the Uchiha.

"Hey, Sasuke! Is this some clever way of beating the enemy…? By handing over everything we've got?" Naruto yelled.

"Well done… You're obviously natural-born pray… instinctively knowing that your only hope lies in the chance of the predator being distracted by some tastier bait." The Kusa-nin said.

"Navi, Tatl. Watch over Dimitri, will ya?" Naruto said as he put said Dodongo down on the branch.

"What are you going to do?" Tatl asked.

"Come and get it." Sasuke said as he threw the scroll towards the Kusa-nin, but then Naruto leapt down and grabbed the scroll before landing next to Sasuke.

"Stay out of this! You'll ruin everything!" Sasuke yelled before Naruto suddenly punched Sasuke so hard that the Uchiha went flying over to the next branch.

"What do you think you're doing?" Sasuke asked.

"Naruto… what are you…?" Sakura asked.

"This so-called Sasuke is obviously a fake." Naruto said.

"Nani?" Sakura said surprised.

"Naruto… you idiot. I'm me…!" Sasuke said.

"… That's bul. And you're the idiot, idiot. You're a coward. Which Sasuke isn't. So you're not him. I'm not so sure we need to be afraid of this guy… And even if we did hand over the scroll… there's no guarantee she'd spare us. So, even if you were Sasuke, I'd still be telling you you're an idiot… and maybe a chicken too." Naruto said.

"Oh, Naruto-kun. This is rich. And you're right. Why bargain…" The Kusa-nin said before pulling up her sleeve to reveal a tattoo just behind her wrist "… when I can simply kill you… and take the scroll?" She then bit her thumb and smeared the blood over the tattoo before weaving a series of hand signs.

"Shut up!" Naruto yelled as he charged at the Kusa-nin.

"Don't do it, Naruto!" Sasuke yelled.

'Aw, man…! My faith in Sasuke is totally shot!' Naruto thought.

"Kuchiyose no Jutsu." The Kusa-nin said before a large snake suddenly appeared in a gust of wind, and it lashed out with its tail, sending Naruto flying.

The blond was sent straight through a branch before he pulled out the vine-whip and threw it so that it wrapped itself around a smaller branch. He then pulled on the rope so that he was sent towards the giant snake.

"Well, I'm impressed." The Kusa-nin commented.

Naruto then drew his tanto before swinging it at the snake, but the snake simply evaded the slash before it moved in to eat Naruto whole.

"Eat snot, sucker!" The blond said as he kicked the snake with his heel.

'How could the brat possibly…?' The Kusa-nin thought.

'Naruto's… completely snapped… but… where did he get that kind of power?' Sakura thought.

"Hmph… You better be thankful, you brat!" A voice within Naruto's head said as said blond landed on a branch.

'Kyubi…?' He thought before the Kusa-nin sent him flying into the bark of a tree with a cloud of dust.

'Look at those eyes… he's…' The Kusa-nin thought.

'Is that really Naruto?' Sasuke thought.

'Ho ho… And the fun has just begun!' The Kusa-nin thought before saying "And it's Sasuke-kun's turn next! How will he take it?" The snake then rushed towards said Uchiha.

"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura yelled before Naruto suddenly appeared before the snake with one kunai in each hand, and both kunai were going into the snake.

"… Hey, are you okay… scaredy-cat?" He asked as he looked into Sasuke's eyes.

'Naruto…' Sasuke thought before the Kusa-nin's tongue suddenly came down and wrapped itself around the boy before bringing him up face-to-face with the Kusa-nin.

"HEY! Get off me!" Naruto yelled.

'Heh heh… the Kyubi brat is still alive and kicking. How fascinating that, when he is consumed with rage, he loses himself… and a bit of the Kyubi trapped within comes through. An amazing development.' The Kusa-nin thought as she weaved several hand signs while her tongue raised the blond's jacket to reveal the seal 'There's the proof. The spell that seals the monster within appears on your skin like a tattoo.' Small purple flames appeared on her fingertips and she struck Naruto in the stomach, reinforcing the seal.

"NARUTO!" Navi, Tatl, and Tael yelled.

"Sasuke-kun! Naruto needs you!" Sakura yelled as Sasuke had only been standing there like a statue the whole time.

'After being trapped within him for a dozen years… the Kyubi and Naruto's native chakra and psyche have apparently gone from enmity and opposition to coexistence… and are on the very brink of symbiosis. But today you are more trouble than you're worth.' The Kusa-nin thought before flinging Naruto away as she had also taken the scroll.

'He's bound to fall.' Sakura thought before she threw a kunai while yelling "NARUTO!" The kunai caught Naruto's jacket and stuck him to a tree.

"SASUKE-KUN! Naruto may be nothing like you. And sometimes he's a big nuisance, but at least he's got guts. Naruto's no coward. Right?" Sakura yelled and Sasuke closed his eyes as he thought back to what his brother had said after murdering the clan.

"Ototou, you're pathetic. If you want to kill me, settle for hating me until you can. Hate me… and live. Live like the coward you are. Clinging to life… without honor."

"Sasuke-kun, beware the darkness in your heart for it will consume you if you aren't careful. Go forth and realize your true strength, and you will overcome any challenges with your Power." An all-too familiar voice said within Sasuke's head.

'Iie!' Sasuke thought, but when he opened his eyes, he found himself in a large hall.

He noticed that there was some kind of pedestal at one end of the hall, in front of a huge gate. He walked towards the pedestal, and as he got closer, he spotted six oddly shaped holes on the top of it. On the floor around the pedestal, he also noticed that there was an image of the Triforce with the pedestal exactly in the middle.

He then looked up at the gate to see a large glyph-like symbol with the Triforce exactly in the middle. (Kurama no Kyubi: Imagine the symbol on the front-cover of Hyrule Historia.)

"Uchiha Sasuke-kun, welcome." Sasuke then turned around to see a beautiful tan-skinned woman who seemed to be in her late teens. The woman had long red hair in a pony-tail, and a red dress.

"Who are you? And where is this place?" Sasuke asked.

"My, aren't you the bold one? Talking like that to a Goddess. I think I might like you." The woman said while winking at the last words.

"Goddess?" Sasuke asked as he narrowed his eyes.

"Yes, I'm Din, the Goddess of Power. As for your second question, we're in a place deep inside your mindscape." Din said.

"My mindscape?" Sasuke asked.

"Well, it's a little complicated, but it's like a world which exists inside your psyche." Din said.

"I see. But why did you bring me in here?" Sasuke asked.

"To give you this." Din said as she held out her right hand show a small red light "Din's Fire."

"Din's… Fire?" Sasuke asked and Din nodded.

"It contains a small fragment of my powers. However, it'll only be a limited power that will only hold for a maximum of five minutes." Din said before putting her hand on Sasuke's chest as the red light entered the Uchiha's body.

"Wh-what power…" Sasuke said before closing his eyes, and when he opened them again, his eyes were glowing an orange color, and he also had an orange aura surrounding his body.

"All right, you snake bastard, now you're up against an Uchiha." He said as he looked at the Kusa-nin.

'Heh heh… The look in his eyes has changed. This might get more interesting than I thought.' The Kusa-nin said.

(Boss #4: Snake summoning Kusa-nin, Shiore?)

Sasuke then leapt towards the Kusa-nin before throwing a punch, but the Kusa-nin easily managed to block it, however, just then, a huge explosion of fire came out from Sasuke's fist, sending the Kusa-nin flying back.

'Nani? What was that?' The Kusa-nin thought before regaining her balance in mid-air as she landed on a branch.

"What just happened?" Sakura asked no one in particular.

Sasuke then leapt towards the Kusa-nin again, but this time she avoided his attacks rather than blocking them.

'He seems to have gotten some kind of power-up. Well, no matter, as long as he doesn't hit me, I'll be fine.' The Kusa-nin thought before Sasuke got tired of none of his attacks hitting his opponent, so he decided to punch the branch instead.

"Nani?" Was all the Kusa-nin could say before he, Sasuke, and the branch were engulfed in an explosion of fire.

"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura yelled just before someone jumped out of the flames, and her eyes widened when she saw the Kusa-nin land on a branch. The fires then vanished to reveal that neither Sasuke nor the branch had been even the slightest bit damaged.

'I see. Those are no ordinary flames. They have no effect on him, nor on the environment around him, yet they can still have a devastating effect on his opponents.' The Kusa-nin thought, but just then he noticed something, Sasuke's eyes had changed 'That's…!'

Sasuke then pulled out several kunai before throwing them at the Kusa-nin, but said Kusa-nin easily managed to dodge them before thrusting his arm forward as four snakes shot out from his sleeves.

Sasuke then jumped over to another branch as he weaved a series of hand signs.

"Katon: Housenka no Jutsu!" He then fired several balls of fire from his mouth at the Kusa-nin, but said Kusa-nin easily managed to dodge them all before she jumped towards the Uchiha.

'Ho ho ho… So he's awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, has he? He's sure becoming a lot like his elder brother.' She thought before throwing a punch at Sasuke, sending the boy careening through the air before he regained his balance and landed on the side of a tree.

"Heh… Is that all you've got? Maybe I was scared for nothing after all." He said before leaping towards the Kusa-nin, but when he approached her, she simply kicked him further up into the air.

However, Sasuke then threw two shuriken towards the Kusa-nin, though both projectiles passed by her, however, she noticed the threads too late, and Sasuke pulled back the threads so that the shuriken came back and this time circled around the Kusa-nin as she was caught in the threads.

"Katon: Ryuka no Jutsu!" Sasuke said as he formed the tora sign and sent a wave of flames towards the Kusa-nin.

"Sasuke-kun, you did it!" Sakura exclaimed as she jumped over to Sasuke as he landed on a branch as Tael also came flying over to them.

"Ha ha… I knew you could do it, buddy." The small Fairy said as Sasuke was panting heavily.

"That one so young should have such mastery of the Sharingan… Truly a worthy successor of the honored name of clan Uchiha. In fact… I believe… I want you, after all…" The Kusa-nin said as the flames died down, and everyone's eyes widened at seeing that she was still unscathed aside from a part around her left eye where her skin seemed to have fallen off, to reveal pure white skin underneath as well as a yellow slitted eye.

The Kusa-nin then put her hand on her Hitai-ate as she continued "It's marvelous fun, having you show me all your tricks. You really are his brother, aren't you? You can see – and conceal – things with those eyes of yours that Itachi-kun himself never dreamed of." Just then Sasuke's eyes went back to normal as the orange aura vanished.

'Kuso! It's been five minutes already?' Sasuke thought as the Kusa-nin removed her hand from her Hitai-ate to reveal an Oto symbol, instead of a Kusa symbol.

"Just who the heck are you?" Sasuke yelled.

"I'm Orochimaru, the giant snake. If you'd ever like a rematch… then pass this exam as quickly as you can." Orochimaru said as she – or rather – he burned the scroll that he'd taken from Naruto earlier "I'll see you again, if you manage to defeat the three Oto-nins who answer to me."

"Wh-what are you babbling on about? We never want to see your face again!" Tatl yelled.

"Perhaps not… but wishing won't chase me away." Orochimaru said as he made a hand sign before his neck suddenly extended and his head lunged towards Sasuke and bit down on said Uchiha's neck, however, the Triforce symbol on Sasuke's hand started glowing, and Orochimaru suddenly started feeling a searing pain running through his body.

He then retracted his neck back to its original length, though he could still feel the pain. Of course he wondered where said pain was coming from, but it didn't matter for his plan had been a success, the curse mark had been placed.

"I look forward to seeing you again, Sasuke-kun… in the quest for power." He said.

"Wh-what…? Everything… hurts." Sasuke said as he brought his hand over his neck where Orochimaru had bitten him as three black tomoe suddenly appeared there.

"Hey, Sasuke! Are you all right, buddy?" Tael asked.

"What did you do to Sasuke-kun?" Sakura yelled as Orochimaru started to sink down into the ground.

"Just a little something to remember me by…" He said before Sasuke screamed.

"SASUKE-KUN!" Sakura yelled as Sasuke continued to scream and writhe in pain "S-Sasuke-kun…? Hang on, Sasuke! You hear me?" Tears then started welling up in her eyes before she started to look around "Naruto… Naruto… Sasuke is…" She then spotted Naruto hanging unconscious from the kunai she had thrown earlier 'I… Wh-what should I do…?'

Forest of Death, Anko

Exam proctor Anko was jumping from branch to branch as she was trying to find him. Not long ago had three Chunin-level proctors found three dead Kusa-nins that had been robbed of their faces. And it hadn't taken long for Anko to realize just who must've been behind.

'It's already dusk. I have to find him soon. The darker it gets… the worse this situation will get. The question is… why did he choose to show up now? What's he playing at? Not that it matters… If it really is you, then we'll end this. Right here, right now. Because you've become a Bingo-Book level S threat.' She thought before she stopped on a branch as she continued 'And I'm going to kill you, even if it costs me my life. And if I can't manage that, then… at least I'll slow you down until the ANBU teams can get here. It's my duty. It's what I learned from my greatest teacher ever… what I learned from you…' "… Isn't it, Orochimaru?" She finished as Orochimaru was hiding in a tree behind her.

"Impossible…" He said.

Anko then pulled four kunai from her sleeve before she jumped into the air and twirled around to throw the sharp projectiles, but then Orochimaru opened his mouth and his tongue suddenly lashed out at her.

The tongue wrapped itself around Anko's wrist, causing her to lose the kunai before she landed on a branch.

'You can't escape… Sen'eijashu!' Anko thought before two snakes came out of her sleeve and bit into the tongue. Anko then pulled on the tongue so that Orochimaru was pulled out of the tree.

Orochimaru then began retracting the tongue, which caused him to be pulled towards Anko faster, and both of them crashed into the side of a tree before Anko grabbed Orochimaru's wrist, pulled out a kunai from her sleeve, pinned the Sannin to the tree, and stabbed the kunai through both her and Orochimaru's hands.

"Got you." She said before grabbing Orochimaru's left hand and started to weave hand signs together with it "Orochimaru, could you lend me a hand? The left one?"

'Th-that's the sign of…!' Orochimaru thought in surprise.

"That's right… We're going to die together here." Anko said as though she could read the Sannin's thoughts before she said "Ninpou: Sojasosai no Jutsu!"

"You mean to commit suicide? How precious." Orochimaru said from behind her, causing her to cancel the Jutsu as she turned around to see the real Orochimaru sitting on a branch above her "But that's a Bunshin…" Just then, the clone puffed away "Since – for the time being – it appears you have become one of this village's Jonin ninja… you mustn't just squander every secret I taught you." Orochimaru then pulled off the fake face to reveal his real, pale face.

"Why? Why are you here? Why now?" Anko asked as she fell down on her knees.

"For old times' sake, of course, my dearest Anko. But from your cold reaction… one might almost suspect you're not glad to see me." Orochimaru said.

"Oooh…" Anko felt a sting of pain at her neck, where she had her curse mark, and she put her hand there "What is it? An assassination attempt? Are you after Hokage-sama?"

"Heavens, no. I lack the hubris – and the proper number of subordinates – to attempt anything of that magnitude. My targets are any ninja of the village who display extra-ordinary abilities. In fact, I just left my mark as a little parting gift on one of the boys." Orochimaru said.

"You monster. It's a time-bomb… He'll be dead in no time." Anko said.

"There's a nine-out-of-ten chance that you're right, of course… But just the same, he may survive… as you did." Orochimaru said.

"And the thought of him gives you a charge?" Anko asked.

"Oh, my dear. Jealous? After all this time… are you still angry that I used you and abandoned you? This child seems quite exceptional… unlike you. His blood-line is that of the Uchiha clan… His face and his body are very beautiful. He could be the perfect vessel… to succeed me. I foresee interesting times… assuming he survives. And don't get any clever ideas about trying to end this exam." Orochimaru said before rising to his feet as he continued "I plan to savor this. Three of my protégés have taken the places of three of your own. If something should happen to rob me of my enjoyment… it will spell the end of Konoha village." He then vanished in a puff of smoke.

Forest of Death, Ventus (5 minutes later)

Ventus landed on a branch in a crouching position as he looked down towards Orochimaru who was now on the ground beneath him.

'I knew it! Orochimaru's here! But why…? What could he possibly be after? There's no way he could've known about the Triforce bearers.' He thought before Orochimaru suddenly looked up towards him.

"Well, well, if it isn't Ventus-kun." He said.

"Orochimaru…" Ventus said as he appeared before Orochimaru in a shunshin.

"I see you went and joined Tani." Orochimaru said as he noticed Ventus' Hitai-ate before continuing "So how's that kid, Ganondorf-kun treating you?"

"I've been waiting for this moment for a long time…" Ventus said before closing his eyes as powerful winds started blowing around them, and then black wind-like markings came up from just beneath the back of his neck as he opened his eyes and said "Kamikaze…!"

Chapter preview

Dosu "Heh heh… You've been up all night standing guard, eh?"…"As of now, you're off duty. Just wake Sasuke for us. The three of us want to take him on."

Sakura "What does this mark on Sasuke-kun's neck mean? With Sasuke-kun in this condition… now you want to fight him? Get out here! Go!"

Lee "I promised when we met to protect you… until death do us part."

Shikamaru "Next time on The Legend of Naruto: Death-match in the Forest of Death."

Sakura "Ah! Y-you're…!"

Aqua "I can't just stand by and watch as a defenseless girl is getting beaten up."

Character stats

Naruto: Level: 13

Hearts: 4 3/4

Chakra Level: Divine.

Techniques: Henge, Kawarimi, Oiroke, Harem, Kage Bunshin.

Weapons: Hakko Chakura To, kunai, shuriken, vine-whip.

Race: Hylian.

Triforce: Courage.

Sasuke: Level: 15

Hearts: 5 2/4

Chakra Level: Divine.

Techniques: Bunshin, Henge, Kawarimi, Katon: Goukakyo, Katon: Housenka, Katon: Ryuka, Din's Fire.

Weapons: kunai, shuriken, Din's Fire.

Race: Hylian.

Kekkei Genkai: Sharingan, Mangekyo Sharingan.

Triforce: Power.

Sakura: Level: 4

Hearts: 3 2/4

Chakra Level: Divine.

Techniques: Bunshin, Henge, Kawarimi.

Weapons: kunai, shuriken.

Race: Hylian.

Triforce: Wisdom.

Anko: Level: 40

Hearts: 26 2/4

Chakra Level: Jonin.

Techniques: Sen'eijashu, Sen'ei Tajashu, Kuchiyose, Katon: Ryuka, Sojasosai.

Weapons: kunai, shuriken.

Race: Hylian.

Orochimaru: Level: 69

Hearts: 35 ¾

Chakra Level: Kage.

Techniques: Kanashibari, Kage Bunshin, Sen'eijashu, Sen'ei Tajashu, Mandara no Jin, Jagei Jubaku, Kuchiyose, Kuchiyose: Rashomon, Gogyo Fuin, Futon: Daitoppa, Doton: Kage Bunshin, Doton: Moguragakure, Shoshagan, Juinjutsu, Sojasosai.

Weapons: kunai, shuriken, Kusanagi.

Race: Hebio.

Kurama no Kyubi: And that's another chapter done. What's Ventus' connection to Orochimaru, why is Orochimaru after Sasuke, and how did a Dodongo get all the way here from the Land of Earth? These questions and more will NOT be answered in the next chapter… and possibly not in this ark at all, with the exception of why Orochimaru's after Sasuke. Also, I don't know if it's a good idea or not, but I recently started reading/watching Fairy Tail, and I wondered if I should add some characters from there into this story, though I'd like to see what you reviewers think before adding any. Now, see ya next time, and until then please review, thx.