Ninja Kitsune

Chapter 12: Snakes, Dragons and Sound Nin

Forest of Death - Central Tower - Surveillance Room

Hiruzen Sarutobi had just watched a team of 4 genin go toe-to-toe with his former student, Orochimaru, and hold their own. To say the least, the elderly Kage was pleasantly surprised. He then heard the audio feed, asking for reinforcements. "Kakashi," he ordered, "Get Cat and Itachi, then go back up Ryu. I'll inform Ayane." Kakashi then disappeared in a swirl of leaves.

Ryu

Dragon Sword clashed against Kusanagi. Neither Ryu nor his opponent showed any sign of slowing down.

Orochimaru sent snakes from his sleeves toward the super ninja, only to have Ryu incinerate them with his inferno jutsu. "I can see this is getting us nowhere," the snake sannin stated, while making hand-signs, "Let's try this. Summoning Jutsu!" An enormous snake appeared in a cloud of smoke.

"Does he really think a snake is going to scare me?" Ryu asked himself, as he dodged teh snake's attacks, all the while cycling through his own hand-signs, before calling out, "Summoning Jutsu!" A massive black dragon appeared from another cloud of smoke.

"A Hayabusa?" the snake said to his summoner, "You summoned me to help you fight a fucking HAYABUSA? I should eat you right now, Orochimaru. I probably will if I survive this fight."

"Manda," the dragon noted, "I'm surprised Gamabunta hasn't turned you into a wallet yet."

"You know that frog is no match for me," Manda retorted.

Team 7

They had passed a team of jonin and ANBU lead by Kakashi, on their way through the forest, and were now continuing their trek to the tower.

"Guys," Naruko said to her teammates, "I'm sensing a familiar chakra close by."

"Who is it?" Sakura inquired

"It's Ino," the blonde answered, "Her chakra signature is weak, and getting weaker. Choji is getting weaker too, and I can't sense Shikamaru."

"Since Kakashi is already going to help Ryu-sensei," Haku noted, "Maybe we should lend Team 10 a hand."

"They are our friends," Sasuke replied, "Naruko, lead the way."

"With pleasure."

Team 10

Choji had his opponent, a slouching sound Genin who resembled a mummy, in a bearhug, using his size for additional leverage. "If you have any ideas," he said to his partner, "Do it now, Ino!"

"I'm at a loss, Choji," the Yamanaka responded, dodging attacks from the Kunoichi on the sound team.

"Get Shikamaru and get out of there," called Naruko's voice as Team 7 joined the battle. Naruko and Sasuke both had swords drawn, while Haku had a fistfull of needles at the ready.

"Sakura," Sasuke ordered, "Check on Ino, Choji and Shikamaru. Heal what you can, then get them out of here." He quickly activated his Sharingan.

"We'll handle these guys," Haku added.

"He's the Uchiha Lord Orochimaru is after," mummy commented, "I don't see a curse mark on him."

"That's because Ryu-sensei sensed his chakra and stepped in to face him," the Uchiha responded, "Besides, I don't need him to gain strength." Suddenly, his ninjato was surrounded by lightning. "I have a real sensei and a good team. That's all I need. Lightning Style: Storm Blade!" Sasuke's electrically charged sword plunged through mummy-man's chest and protruded out his back.

"Like you're going anywhere," Naruko stated as she descended on the other male on the team, a boy with bandages on his arms. Her blade glowed red as she brought it down on the sound nin's left shoulder. "Take this. Kitsune Art: Vixen Slash!"

The only girl on the team, who had her long, dark hair tied back, threw a few senbon at Haku, but her needles were intercepted by the Ice Master's. "I won't kill you," he told the girl, "But you won't escape." He threw 3 senbon at the girl, hitting her in the neck. "She'll live," Haku then advised his team," We can turn her over to Ibiki for questioning."

Sasuke collected the sound team's scroll. "Good idea," he said to his teammate, "This should also thin down the competition, some."

Ino, Choji and Shikamaru had watched the whole fight unfold before their eyes. They all looked at each other, collectively thinking, "I hope I don't get on their bad side."

"Which scroll do you need?" Sakura asked Ino, "We still have a few from teams we've already taken out?"

"Heaven," Ino responded, "How many teams have you guys taken out?"

"Counting these guys?" naruko commented, "Seven." She then tossed a heaven scroll to Ino. "Here, we can spar for it after the exams."

"Let's go," Sakura said to her friends, "Team 8 should already be there."

"They just arrived," Naruko informed them, "After finishing my fight with madame meow mix, I sent a clone to tail them. It just dispelled. They're ok." All that said, Teams 7 and 10 made their way to the tower.

Ryu

Ryu's dragon summon shot an intense stream of flame from it's mouth at Orochimaru's snake. The snake just barely escaped by shedding it's skin.

"If you ever summon me again," Manda told the sannin, "I'll eat you where you stand." That said, the serpent disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

"He's as cantankerous as ever," the dragon noted, "I guess you don't need me anymore."

"Thanks, Karyu," the Hayabusa responded, then jumped down from the dragon's head. Karyu then disappeared, leaving Ryu to face Orochimaru. Once again, the two engaged in a deadly kenjutsu battle, but this time, they were forced to separate when a series of kunai were launched at Orochimaru.

"Dammit," the snake sannin cursed, "Now the cavalry shows up."

"You were watching, I take it," Ryu said as Kakashi, Itachi and a masked ANBU landed beside him. Ayane then joined in on the party.

"Hiruzen told me what was happening," the Hajin stated, "You and I need to talk."

"We'll finish this later, Ryu," Orochimaru seethed, "Your new home will soon become like your old one." The snake then melded into the shadows of the forest and disappeared.

"What do we need to talk about?" Ryu inquired.

"You'll never guess what I found in Naruko's room," Ayane began.

Flashback, 1st day of the exams.

Ayane went into naruko's room. "I guess she was more distracted than I thought," she pondered as she started putting things away. She picked up a set of practice shuriken and opened a drawer, only to find a familiar orange book, and two other: one with a red cover, and one wiht a yellow cover. Upon seeing the books, Ayane's jaw hit the floor.

End Flashback

Team 7

Naruko, Haku, Sasuke and Sakura arrived at the tower, opened the scrolls and were greeted by Iruka, who congratulated them on getting through the forest test.

Sasuke dropped the unconscious sound genin and told Iruka everything they knew about her and Orochimaru.

They wre then lead into a large room where the other teams to have completed that particular phase stood. In the room were the teams from Suna and Kumo, Gaara and Yugito, Team 8, Team 10, Team Guy, Kabuto's team, and themselves.

"Since Team 7 did so well in thinning the herd," Sarutobi explained, "You will all draw numbers, and then I will explain the next phase of the exams."

One by one, the genin all came up and drew numbers. After that, the elderly Hokage stepped forward again. "The numbers you drew represent your match in the final round, to take place one month from now. Hayate, read off the matches."

The jonin then stepped up beside the Hokage and read, "The matches are as follows.

Sakura Haruno vs Kabuto Yakushi

Shikamaru Nara vs Temari of Suna

Ino Yamanaka vs. Omoi of Kumo

Shino Aburame vs Kankuro of Suna

Hinata Hyuga vs Tenten

Kiba Inuzuka vs Rock Lee

Choji Akimichi vs. Neji Hyuga

Naruko Uzumaki vs Yugito Nii of Kumo

Haku vs. Samui of Kumo

Sasuke Uchiha vs. Gaara of Suna."

"Yoroi Akado and his other teammate have decided to bow out of the final round," Sarutobi noted, "You have one month to prepare for your matches. Good luck to you all."

"Train hard, Sasuke," Naruko told her friend, "You'll need it against Looney-Coon."

"Looney-Coon?" Sakura asked.

"Arisa told me that he has Shukaku, the one tailed demon sealed in him," Naruko explained, "And that it's absolutely insane, hence Looney-Coon."

"What about you?" Haku queried of Naruko.

"A rematch with Yugito," Naruko stated, "I'll be ready, and take it more seriously this time."

"We all need to train hard," Sasuke told the Konoha genin, "Good luck to all of us, train hard, fight harder."

End chapter 12

Next Chapter 13: "Training Days".