11. The Dog Among Wolves

Enishi's Lessons, On Women And Power

I remember fondly on my days in Tetsu, that there was nothing I enjoyed more than conversing with Enishi-donno. He was a man who achieved respect through almost saintly humbleness. Indeed the third lord ruled his territory with a gentle hand and an ever present smile. I remember one occasion where he had taken me in to offer help with my then shoddy calligraphy. Unfortunately, if I recall correctly, my mind was addled by a remark an amicable acquaintance of mine had made earlier.

Gosuke, a fellow samurai in training, had lamented the fact that the shrine maidens would always fraternize with the higher class students, and rarely so much as bat an eye at our direction. This impressed upon me yet another way the upper class samurai behaved and were treated. A thought that I shared with Enishi-donno.

The pink haired lord sat in though for a while, as he etched out an ornate poem, before finally responding. "Yes, you'll see that often. Women are often attracted to men with power, whether that be strength or influence. The reasons vary of course. Everyone thirsts for acknowledgment to a degree, and what better way then to be close to someone important."

"Yes, women do often flock to those with power. And idealistic fools like you and I? Well those like us just end up attracting girls, but ill tell you this much Uzumaki-kun. I rather prefer girls over women de gozaru."

...

...

...

"Oro? Ah, that sounded much less creepy in my head!"


Sometimes you'll find that patience is less of a virtue, but rather more of a doctrine. Thus we find the alleged Kiri representatives idly waiting for their turn to be scrutinized by the Konoha ninja amidst the colorful pallet of the various nation's delegates. "Hokuto-senseeeeeiiii, why is this taking so looooooong?" The brown haired mist kunoichi whines, rather gratingly. Addressing a morose looking boy with bluish gray hair. He sports the demeanor of one who had about a dozen other tings they'd rather be doing.

"Because Kami-sama hates you," he grumbles. Lightly rapping her on the head for added effect. His words upset the girl, who turns to an older man who sports an eye-patch.

"Wah, Ao-san! sensei is being mean again!"She moans, much to the cyclops' chagrin. Her theatrics grate the nerves of not only her companions, but the many ninja who wait for their turn to be background checked as well. Waiting ever so increasingly less patient behind the Kiri party, are the representatives from Suna. A boy with deep red hair stares at the loudmouthed girl oddly, his eyes are ringed by sleep deprivation circles so dark he looks like a raccoon.

"Shut the hell up before we have an impromptu chunnin exam right here and now!" A Suna genin wearing odd facial make up and headgear reminiscent of a cat threatens. The soft ring of a sword sliding free from it's sheath is heard, and the genin finds a blade at his neck.

A red haired boy smiles a toothy grin behind him, his sword digging just deep enough to cause discomfort. "Go ahead and try it sunabouzu, ill gut you like a fish the second you do. You know what a fish is right, sand rat?" The Suna genin doesn't appear too worried about the situation, something that doesn't escape the redhead. With that he releases the sand ninja, who stalks off to his team without word.

"Ah, Zangetsu-kun, you should be careful who you antagonize. You could very well have started an international incident between Kiri and Suna." His teammate Chojuro chastises. Evidently he was the straight man to this team's eccentrics. The red haired boy scoffs at this, as he slashes his sword back and forth.

"Huh...I never noticed just how heavy this sword is," this is a samurai's sword right bossu? He asks the gray haired boy who'd been addressed as sensei before. It feels awkward using it with one hand, the balance is all off."

The gray haired boy offers a passive glance, "it's made of tamahagane. You'll get better results if you grip it like a zanbatou, also you'd be wise to charge it with chakra if you're gonna be pulling stunts like cutting through stone," he says. Tamahagane is the coveted metallurgical process unique to the land of iron, it was what made Tetsu katana generally superior to most other blades. While a number of swords had been smuggled out, the blacksmiths of Tetsu we're fiercely jealous of their trade, and the refining process had yet to be leaked to the greater shinobi world.

"Excuse me, did you say tamahagane? Asks an Ame ninja, his voice muffled by some sort of breathing apparatus. The gray haired boy narrows his eyes, he takes in the sight of the multiple swords the rain ninja carries. One on each hip, and a wakizashi. That wouldn't happen to be a true Tetsu blade would it, how did you come upon it?" He asks the red haired boy.

"My sensei here gave it to me, I'm his favorite ill have you know." He answers, a wicked grin flashing for the Ame-nin's pleasure.

"Oh, would you mind terribly if I might ask to test it's authenticity?"

The red haired boy thinks for a moment, then shrugs. He hands the sword to him hilt first, a very disrespectful gesture among certain company. The Ame ninja draws it, examining the blade with a calculating eye. Abruptly does he draw one of his own swords. Without warning, he slams the latter blade into the former. A sharp clang resounds throughout the crowd, and the rain-nin stares shocked at the broken remains of his blade.

"I'll pay you anything, anything for this sword!" He shouts excitedly, like a child trading gachapon figures. However, the red haired boy deftly takes his sword back.

"Good swords are worth their weight in gold, and I've got no use for gold." He says, much to the displeasure of the Ame ninja. Who scowls and takes one last longing glance at the sword, before stomping off.

"Huh...what did you think of that guy sensei?" The sole mist kunoichi asks, as she examines the discarded remains of the broken sword. In regards to her question, the gray haired boy pulls out a silver flask that had been stashed inside a pocket in his hunter's kimono. He uncaps it and takes a hearty gulp of the liquid held within. He offers the flask to Ao, who politely declines.

"The wakizashi he had is Tetsu made, Kanenobu if I recall my smiths right. If you see an opportunity, swipe it from him. Ninja cats have no claim on the soul of a swordsman." With that the Kiri delegates return to patiently waiting, they needn't wait long.

The gate guard is a rather plain looking chunnin, a career chunnin it seems as well. "State your name, affiliation and rank." He says in a bored manner, evidently tired of the monotony.

"Ah, Ch-Choujro! Gennin rank ninja of Kirigakure," the glasses wearing swordsman manages to stammer out. The chunnin nods his head and asks to to inspect his bandaged sword. With that the chunnin waves him through. to where Ao stands awaiting the rest of the Kiri party.

Next up is the red haired swordsman with teeth equally as shark like as his teammate before him. "Hozuki Zangetsu, Kiri gennin and all that." Once more the chunnin examines his katana and waves him through.

"Then there's me, Fujisaki Ayako! Er I'm a soon to be chunnin from Kirigakure," the brown haired kunoichi declares unabashedly. As she carries no immediate weapons, she's allowed through fairly easily.

As his team waits on ahead, the gray haired boy hesitantly steps forward. His heart pounds against his chest, and he must fight the instinctive urge to draw his sword. "Name and rank?" The chunnin mumbles.

"Terumi Hokuto, Jounin sensei of Kirigakure's squad 43." He mutters, and the chunnin takes in his youthful appearance with a raised eyebrow. Finally he asks to inspect his chokuto, and clears him for entry. As he passes through the gates, he's greeted by the sight of the famous hokage monument. Their stone faces glaring down upon him, as if knowing he didn't belong here.

"I'm home I suppose." He murmurs softly, before slowly going to join his companions.


With the chunnin exams just around the corner, the streets of Konoha are alive with the bustle of activity. Halkers shout their suddenly very expensive wares, and a festive air permeates the worn dirt streets. Naruto carries himself warily, flanked by his companions, who blend right into the festivities. He had to swallow the growing urge to keep a taught hand on his sword, lest the ANBU question his wariness. The wanderer turned Kiri ninja stares at the scattered crowds intently, as if waiting for them to turn and scowl at him. On the contrary, the denizens of Konoha either passively ignore him, or amicably send a smile or wave his way. Naruto was unsure on how to feel about this. For once he was exactly what he wanted to be, nothing. Terumi Hokuto was no murderer, no criminal. Terumi Hokuto would worry not for revenge, or honor and pride. He would do as he pleased, content to live beneath the rule of puppet masters. He would work hard as a ninja, making no waves and even less trouble. He'd marry a nice civilian born girl, and live out his days in relative peace. But that wasn't right...Terumi Hokuto still had a hole in his heart.

With a sigh, the once blonde wanderer removes his flask from it's hiding place. Taking a shallow drag, he grips the light metal of the flask harshly. Standard issue, mass produced. It could never hold a candle to Tetsuo's worn bamboo flask. "Feel like sharing Uzumaki-san?" The worn voice of Ao asks. Naruto shrugs, and hands the flask to the veteran ninja. Who uncaps it, and takes a generous sip. "Ah, sake tastes better when enjoyed with friends don't you think?"

"That watery Mizu swill? Tche, i'm sure it tastes the same no matter how you drink it." Ao doesn't comment as he hands the flask back, content in smiling a wily smile. Naruto sighs as he stashes the flask away, the sake from Mizu had been polished off a long while back... Terumi Hokuto, Uzumaki Naruto. It mattered not, he had friends either way. And that's all right, isn't it?

Decisively more cheered up, Naruto follows the rest of his companions as they argue over what to eat. Choujuro is much too meek to debate, so the swordsman is content with whatever. "I'm tired of seafood and travel rations! I wan't some damn yakitori!" Suigetsu exclaims, his pointed fangs salivating at the though of the grilled chicken dish. The formerly white haired swordsman argues his case to Ao, who feels as if his role of adviser had been demoted to babysitter.

So he does what everyone who is anyone would do, shrug it off onto someone else's shoulders. "Lady Terumi appointed Uzumaki-san as team leader, so it really is up to him." The aforementioned wanderer groans, as Suigetsu and Fu instantly jump on him to agree with their suggestions. Of which Fu's he had yet to even hear.

"There is fine," he points to a quaint little ramen stall devoid of many customers. At his words Fu leaps up in delight, much to the swordsman's confusion.

"That's my fishcake! I can always count on you to be the voice of reason in this dark world full of fools who understand not the beauty of ramen." She says, lightly punching him on the arm for added measure. Naruto shrugs, ramen was fine if it would get everyone to stop being so lively.

Suigetsu however can do less than agree, "ah come on that's not fair. What did you have to do to get him to agree washboard chest, suck his di-" This time it's Choujuro's turn to shut the white haired boy's filthy mouth, achieved by dispersing his head with the oddly shaped sword. Thus they drag the still grumbling swordsman off to eat ramen. Naruto finds the inside of the stand is just as quaint and welcoming as the exterior would suggest, and the old ramen chef who sits behind the counter welcomes them with a wave.

It's said that you can tell a lot about a person by their preference in ramen, likewise, the Kiri party's choices are as diverse as they are inherently the same. Suigetsu and Choujuro both enjoy pork ramen, the former's bowl heavily laden with the meat he'd been craving. The adviser of the group dines on shoyu ramen, his broth sprinkled with generous servings of greens. Fu, the one who'd wanted the noodle dish to begin with, attacks her second bowl of miso ramen. And in contrast, Naruto calmly and unenthusiastically eats his bowl of shio ramen, his serving of battered shrimp the only thing accenting his very plain meal.

"Gee fishcake, we could have gone and eaten somewhere else if you really don't like ramen all that much, bastard..."

Naruto shrugs, "I don't hate it. Ramen has just always been something reserved for special occasions, so I like enjoying my meal. Not like you over there, inhaling your food. That's grounds for seppuku yah know." Fu sticks her tongue out at him in response, swiping one of his shrimp for good measure.

"Now you see that's not grounds for seppuku, that's grounds for murder." He mutters ominously, his sword peeking out of it's sheath with a flick of his thumb. Fu laughs at this, and tosses one of her narutomaki towards his bowl. Upon seeing his airborne namesake, the wanderer narrows his eye. A soft click is heard, and the blur of glinting steel flashes. The spiral topping is split in half, it's two halves landing gently into an awaiting napkin.

Suigetsu's eyes widen in delight, and Choujuro claps lightly. "Bossu that's iaijutsu, right?" The sword enthusiast asks animatedly, to which Naruto nods lightly in between bites of ramen. The coveted technique of drawing the sword, with the sheath focusing the blade, one may achieve much greater degrees of speed and power. Though iaijutsu differs from battojutsu, as the former is only the drawing technique while the latter is the draw in regards to combat. This technique was what enabled the Tetsu samurai to hold their own against shinobi, as a skilled swordsman could execute an iaido before a ninja had begun to run through hand seals.

Though it was a fairly common technique among sword schools and styles, the way of iaijutsu split off into many different paths. A highly respected martial art form, one could achieve great renown by having the most rigidly orthodox of draws. However there are certain aspects of iaijutsu that are far from respectable. The practice of execution and ceremonial suicide required great skill in measuring the power of one's draw, as to lop off one's head would do the opposite of restoring their honor. While too shallow a draw would cause unneeded suffering. Furthermore, iaijutsu is ruthlessly fast, making it perfect for use in assassination. Hitokiri techniques these are called, the way of the man slayer.

Having finished his meal, Naruto stands up quietly. He nods respectfully to the chef, and walks over to Ao. "I've some business to attend to on my own, remember to book a reservation at a ryokan and not a hotel."

"Why's that?" The adviser asks.

"It's much harder to spy on someone at an inn than at a hotel. Besides, hotels are much too decadent."

"A hotel...decadent?" Ao scoffs.

"You laugh now, but where I come from, simply wearing a kimono that's of better quality than your superior is grounds for a beating." With that Naruto bids his goodbyes, Fu attempts to follow after him, but she's stopped by a wave of his hand. "I'd like to be alone right now, we'll meet up real soon." The former Taki ninja pouts, but reluctantly smacks him goodbye

"Don't go causing trouble now, there shouldn't be a reason to draw that sword." Ao warns, making Naruto feel like a child being sent off to school.

As he steps out of the ramen stand, he gazes once more at the stone faces of the Leaf's greatest heroes. "Wonder if those have ever been graffitied..."


Enishi-donno had always been a staunch believer in showing respect towards everyone, and especially women. Likewise, Naruto was almost satirical in his respect, even for a samurai. Though he wasn't so sure about women, everything he had ever known to be true about the fairer sex equated to pain. Pain of the body, at the hands of a tsundere's fists. Pain in regards to combat, as Fu had ravaged his body something fierce when they had traded blows. Pain in regards to pride, as Mei was proud of inflicting. Then there was emotional pain, Nanami... And finally, pain in the neck. He supposed that was a good umbrella term for women, or maybe just Fu. In another life, Naruto was born a Nara, but that is neither here nor there.

He had been quietly walking among a crowded shopping district, the last of his wariness having faded away. When a commotion caused by a scarf clad boy had jostled him into a girl about his age. The wanderer's balance was top notch,and rightfully so. However the girl was knocked over, a brown paper bag she had been holding tearing open, spilling a couple cinnamon buns onto the unforgiving earth.

Naruto curses lightly, as he stares down at the purple haired girl who looks about ready to cry. Her oversized tan jacket proudly bears the symbol of the Hyuuga clan, although why a Hyuuga would sniffle over such a trivial thing he was none the wiser. "Are you okay miss?" He asks, holding out a hand for her to take.

"O-oh..." She says, as she notices her ruined pastries. Naruto's hand is left hanging, as she shakily makes her way up. Boy did she look frail.

The girl begins a stuttered apology, but Naruto stops her. "It was my fault miss, please allow this humble servant to replace your ruined pastries."

°N-no no that's really not necessary, t-thank you though."

"Nonsense, it's the very least I could do after so rudely ramming into you." The girl goes red faced at this, as to why is anyone's guess... Nonetheless, she leads Naruto off to the bakery just down the street.

Sometime later finds the two awkwardly sitting upon a bench, staring down at their respective cinnamon buns. The girl, now known as Hinata, had insisted on him taking one. To which he had taken only with the promise of eating with her, as was the proper thing to do. Now the two found themselves in an equally uncomfortable position, thus was the folly of the honor and respect game.

Naruto looks down at his cinnamon bun, he really wasn't a fan of sweets... "So...Hinata-hime, are these as good as you claim them to be?"

"O-oh yes Hokuto-san, these cinnamon buns are the best in the land of fire. A-at least I think so," she laughs awkwardly.

It seems lightening can indeed strike twice, as the same scarf clad boy runs screaming towards the two. It seems he's being chased by a "Suna jerk" if his screams are to be believed. Naruto raises his pastry out of the line of sight of the oncoming human projectile, raising it right into Hinata's face.

"Hinata-san!" I'm terribly terribly sorry!" He exclaims, as he hands her a handkerchief.

The Hyuuga girl smiles shyly, as she licks at the frosting coating her lips. Seems she doesn't mind his white stuff splattered all over her face... "I-it's fine Hokuto-san, the frosting is the best part.

Though she isn't upset, she really must be going. And Naruto had other things to do. With that the two bid farewell, apologizing and thanking in their own awkward manner. Hinata smiles shyly as she makes her way home, "Hokuto...kun?"

Later Naruto runs into the scarfed boy being threatened by the paint wearing Suna nin from before. Deftly does he smack him on the head with his sheathed sword. "Don't be rude, gaki!"


Much later, an amiable atmosphere permeates from within the humble Inn room. The three true Kiri ninja sit munching on rice crackers and trading stories. A potted bamboo shoot sits between them, dotted with slips of paper.

I want to collect the seven swords of the hidden mist.

I wish to become a strong and capable swordsman.

For Lady Terumi to find a husband and settle down...

I want fishcake too avenge his brother already, oh! And a lifetime supply of ramen.

True peace.

"Oi, Ao! Where did bossu and washboard chest go?" Suigetsu asks, as he had grown tired of bullying Choujuro. To which the adviser points towards a small veranda, where the other two members of their dysfunctional party sit. Suigetsu shrugs, and goes back to making Choujuro swallow his liquefied arm whilst insulting his sexual orientation. Evidently Suigetsu was a real piece of work...

Away from their mist companions, Naruto and Fu sit in amicable silence. They stare off into the distance, towards the faint glow of a nightman's lantern. Konoha had appeared to settle down for the night, but occasionally one could hear the swooping of shinobi out on one errand or another. With a sigh, Naruto looks up at the star scattered sky. He absent-mindedly raises a finger towards a particularly bright star, "that's the eagle constellation, so it should be around..." He mutters to himself.

"Hm? Watcha mumbling fishcake?" Fu asks.

"Take a look at that," Naruto exclaims. Pointing towards the star from before, "that's Altair. And all the way over there is Vega," gesturing a ways away to an equally bright star.

"Oh...that's cool I guess, but why should I care? Samurai nerd!" She jokes, punching him on the arm, as she does.

The aforementioned nerdy samurai, sighs dejectedly. "Those stars are what we're celebrating idiot, Orihime and Hikoboshi!" He sighs once more, longing for more refined companionship. A drink of sake punctuating his exaggerated grievances.

Fu pouts at this, crossing her arms as a child would when throwing a tantrum. "Well how am I supposed to celebrate? You won't let me have any sake, and Ao only gave me a few rice crackers."

Naruto shuffles around in his kimono, finally withdrawing a small red box. He tosses the box to the mint haired headache. "Go nuts," he mumbles.

With a curious shake, Fu inspects the box carefully. She gives it an exploratory sniff, grinning ear to ear at the scent. "This is chocolate, huh?" And Naruto nods.

"Pocky at that, shame it's such a luxury." Another long drink of sake is taken by the alcoholic samurai. Fu doesn't seem to care about luxuries of the sort, as she happily chomps down on the chocolate covered biscuit sticks.

"Hey...fishcake?" She asks softly, handing him a stick of pocky.

"Yeah?" Naruto responds, uncharacteristically munching and all around enjoying his chocolate treat.

Well, I just wanted to...I just wanted to say thanks is all." Naruto raises an eyebrow at this, the sincerity in the girl's voice certainly an oddity. "Thanks for taking me in, and giving me a goal to fight for. Even if it's just helping you."

Fu laughs awkwardly, popping another stick in her mouth. "I've never had so much fun, even if sometimes I wanna stick Suigetsu in a pot and boil 'em." Naruto laughs at this, a soft laugh. "Well, I want to travel with you lots more Naruto. So, do you think we can keep celebrating this holiday? So Orihime won't have to cry?"

Naruto smiles, once more does he go digging within his kimono. That seems to Fu as if it might as well be full of dreams. His hand emerges, clutching two sticks wrapped in colorful paper. With a wily grin, the usually morose samurai seems to betray his age. He snaps his fingers along the end of one of the sticks, and immediately does the tip explode in a display of bright warm sparks. Fu gazes in awe at the admittedly rather pedestrian firework. But on a rode stained with blood and sweat, the smallest of comforts seem as though luxuries.

The blonde hands her the glowing torch of sparks, himself lighting the remaining one. The two sit in silence, happily watching, as the veranda that before was masked by darkness, is now bathed in soft warm light from the fireworks. All too soon the light dims, before darkening once more. The two friends now sit quietly watching the stars.

"Orihime will still cry sometimes, and who knows how many more of these days I've got left. But that's okay, worries weigh heavy. And addled thoughts are best for idle minds. No matter the distance, no matter the circumstances. I'm sure we'll find a way back to this moment of peace. Now get off of me, you're drooling on my kimono!"

Fu laughs at this, instead leaning her head closer. "Hey...fishcake?" She says through a yawn.

"Yeah?"

"Tell me that story again..."

With a sigh, Naruto looks up once more at the star laden sky. "Orihime, the daughter of the sky king, wove the most beautiful cloth in all of heaven..."


There is a forest within Konoha, where the shadows are devoured by even darker shadows. Where day is perpetual twilight, and night is a black so intense it redefines madness. All manner of hell beasts prowl this harrowed wood where light dares not venture. This was truly a forest of death. The trees tower over everything like titans of old, and at their feet madly runs a samurai. He feared not the animals that called this place home, nor the shinobi that hopped about the forest like birds in the open maw of a great beast. No, he feared nothing less than his own madness.

It had been two days since Tanabata, and no complications where to be found. The Kiri team had breezed passed the laughably pathetic first exam, and had been tasked with clearing the forest of death. While Naruto and Ao patiently waited in the tower that served as a mount purgatory to the woods of hell. But on the first night of the second exam, Naruto had been attacked. It was no ninja who waylaid him, but his own conscious. His dreams where usually as black as they where merciful. But he was hounded by memories of battles long fought.

The memory of the coup in The Third Territory he had lived through, and the one sided battle he had fought against the mad god Oboro. The words of his lord that where akin to law.

"Go Uzumaki-kun!"

"Protect Nanami-chan with your life!"

The look of cold fire that radiated from that man's dull eyes haunted him in his dreams, though only a memory and a thin scar across his nose remained of him. Naruto awoke with his heart pounding, the momento of the only man he ever feared burned hotly. Something was calling him, something within the forest. Something that threatened to tear him in two. Quickly does he dress, no thought for the Kiri outfit. Instead he dons his tattered blue scarf and baggy pants. Slipping on his light armor, and his sword carefully into place. Naruto slinks off into the darkness, his heart tightening with every step.

Through the forest of hell, madly runs a samurai. His sandals padding the ground as though cutting a path to the gates of heaven. A wound in the place where life and love originate weighs heavy on his mind. He runs, quickening quickening, his figure that of a primordial instinct to run...and to fight. The animals stay clear of him, his aura radiating drive and lots of it. The hell hounds cry their mournful calls as he passes.

Abruptly does he jump back. The strength of the air pressure from his draw knocking the volley of kunai that had been sent his way right out ofor the air. Once more does a ninja block his way, but he would not let another shinobi cat impede his way. A wave of serpents is spit from a clawed palm, destroyed by the wall of bluish white wind. Surprise briefly evident on the ninja's pale face, he sneers. A horrible squelching sounds is heard, as the man's throat contracts. Revealing a straight sword, which he quickly draws. Now the fight turns to blades. Through the shadows, flashes of steel on steel gleam. Their styles as different as night and day. But in the madness of the forest, there is only two figures trying to kill each other.

"Kukukuku, the ninja's laugh is as distinct as it is unsettling. I never expected to run into you here of all places, Naruto-kukun"

The samurai narrows his eye, "Orochimaru of the Sannin I presume?" He spits.

"Come now little samurai, there's no need for such hostility. I bear you no ill will after all, even after you went and so rudely ruined my quaint little summer home." The man's smile was a predatory one, like a snake that finds itself in a field teeming with mice.

"So...that bunker was your doing Orochimaru! What would someone of your trade be doing in Konoha, you're despised as much as I am, if not more so." Naruto asks.

The living legend, infamous though he maybe, promptly poofs his sword out of existence. He presents his pale hands forward in a display of ceasefire. "I might ask you the same Naruto-kun, you've certainly been busy causing all sorts of headache for oldman Sarutobi. Tell me, that right eye of yours, you've yet to discover it's secret haven't you?"

"What are you talking about, make sense or make haste Orochi!"

Once more does the Sannin's laugh reverberate among the shadows of the all seeing trees. "You've yet to make use of Shisui's greatest gift it seems. I wonder how long that fool Danzo intends to keep you in the dark."

Naruto slashes at thin air, a gale of wind chakra spiraling outwards to the branch the Sannin rests upon. With one final laugh does the rogue-nin escape to the trees. "Stay out of my way Naruto-kun, in turn I'll let you be as well..."

With a sigh does Naruto sheath his sword, he shakes his head tensely. He didn't know what that man was talking about, but he didn't like it.


The roar of the bear is deafening, no more apparent than to the red haired girl who cowers before it's glare. She had warned them, she had pleaded with them not to tread this way. Hindsight is indeed twenty-twenty, perhaps if only she could have tried harder. Her teammates lay motionless aways back, their throats gouged out by the monster before her. And now she too would join them, as the bear raises it's paw up. The red haired girl cries to herself, attempting to make peace with her end. When a roar just as savage as the bears, if not halfway sane, tears through the the clearing.

"Ton!"

A flash of glinting steel pierces the monster's heart, carving through flesh like butter as it cuts it's way free the hard way. Monstrous as the bear may be, it was felled ever so easily by the most savage of animals, man. The girl looks up at her savior through teary eyes, a rare ray of moonlight shines down. Gleaming brightly off of the silver and blue wing that juts from his shoulder., reaching towards the unbounded skies, and his top knot reminiscent of a fox's tail. With a flick of his wrist, he banishes the blood of his foe from his blade. Quickly returning it to it's place at his side. He spares her neither word nor thought, his figure that of a god on earth. Just as quickly as he had appeared does he dash off, leaving the girl to wonder if he was ever truly there.

His chakra spiraled outwards around him, a blueish maelstrom of raw yet contained power, and something more. A redish tint lay at its core, a terrifyingly dense pool of pure malevolence. Was he a god of calamity? As she watches his retreating figure, she's bathed in a sensation of warmth. Like the dry heat-stained winds that ravage the desert wastes. She reaches a hand out towards the direction he had run, in a futile attempt to feel more of this rapidly dimming warmth.


Haruno Sakura had been weighed, measured, and verily left wanting. She had stumbled through the most hellish day of her life. The first exam having done nothing but spoil her with thoughts of an easy time of it. Though the forest of death was nothing short of a living nightmare, she had faith in her team, and herself. It seemed not enough.

It had started with the Ame ninja impersonating Sai, his words for once not full of insult instantly tipping them off. They had thankfully managed to drive him off, and the real Sai had returned. But almost instantly did they sink deeper into the circles of hell. A Kusa ninja had promptly attacked them, ruthlessly strong and cruel. She had snapped Sai's arm like a twig, and brutally stabbed him in the side. Leaving Sasuke to fight a grueling battle that seemed almost won, but the Kusa ninja's charred corpse had burst open. Revealing a pale man who had attacked Sasuke, injuring his neck and leaving an odd three tomoe mark.

The Uchiha boy had writhed in pain, eventually collapsing unconscious. Leaving Sakura to seek shelter and care for a heavily injured Sai and feverish Sasuke. She had set a multitude of traps, securing the area with her knowledge if not her strength. It seemed Sasuke was getting better, and Sai's bleeding had stopped. Then they had appeared, the Oto ninja from before.

They had barreled through her traps, declaring they were here to kill Sasuke. With no other choice, Sakura had bravely attempted to protect her teammates. She had managed a dangerous game of cat and mouse with the three sound ninja, spamming the substitution strategically. Finally they had grown frustrated with her, and trapped her in a mild genjutsu.

"Awww, what's the matter pinky? Can the little tree hugger not handle real combat?" The sound kunoichi taunted, as she held a kunai to the pinkette's throat.

"Damn it Kin stop messing around! Kill her already, we still have the Uchiha to deal with." The heavily bandaged ninja shouts.

"Easy Dosu, let me have a bit of fun. Look at this bitch's long hair, does she really think she's a kunoichi with hair like this?" She sneers, pulling at Sakura'so hair. Inadvertently knocking the red ribbon from it's place atop her head. "I'm gonna tear this bitch's hair out so the ANBU can have a laugh when they find her body!" Her laughing stops suddenly, she jumps back. Letting Sakura fall limply to the ground.

The sound kunoichi tenses, launching a volley of senbon at the pinkette. "Let's see if that hair will make a good pincushion!"

"Choryon!"

Sakura feels a gentle wind ruffle her tussled hair. She looks up at the wall of bluish white wind that waves in front of her. And at the figure who stands protectively behind it.

"Stay behind me Nanami-san, I promise I won't let him hurt you." He draws his sword just as the wall disperses, revealing the shocked Oto-nin. "I'll make you pay for hurting Nanami," he growls.

Madness, that's what you'll find in spades. Here in the forest of death.


Legend says if you listen closely, on some nights, it's possible to hear Virgil's agonized wails as his readers mercilessly beat his lazy ass. Friends, Romans, countrymen. I have drank deeply from the fountain of sloth, and reveled in procrastination. And for that, I say, sorry? Enjoy the chapter, review if you feel like you can!

Next time: Bare Your Fangs You Neutered Dog!

Till Then!

-Publias Vergilius Maroney II