Chapter 13

Chuunin Exams, the Summon Scroll?

The first few days of the Chuunin exams were always considered the most bloody. This was because, no matter which Village gave the exams, during the second part teams were normal pitted against each other to gain something. Which meant anything even killing was allowed, and sometimes very common depending on whom the hosting village was. Villages like the Mist, would normal have only an eightieth of the contests alive by the end of the second around. While the Leaf village could have over three quarts still around, though there were exceptions to this like when the Stone Village had sent in some genin to the Leaf Village exams. It ended with only two full teams coming out alive and about 10 other genin coming out of the second rounds alive as well but without their teams. Needless to say the Leaf and Stone village agreed to stay out of each other's exams for the next few years.

These thought passed through Naruto mind as they got ready another team from the exams. Naruto, Haku, and Tenten after having entered into the forest had at once sent out clones to search for the anything that might hold the scroll, but they had no clue so far. But on the other hand they had found four teams so far. So using this information they had decided to remove these extra people from the exams so far they had each gained two Heaven Scrolls and one earth scrolls. This latest team they were going to take out was a Mist Village group.

So slowly Naruto team made their way down the threes using their abilities to remain sticking to the trees while not using any Charka. As they got closer they each moved behind one of the Genin before killing them at the same time with a quick stab from their tail blades. They then quickly check to make sure no one got away or that this was a genjustu. Once this was done they took anything of real use Kunai, seal tags, any scrolls, weapons, or even summon contracts if the genin had them. In the end they had collected so far.

Two hundred - forty kunai, 240 throwing stars, two sets of Katana and one long sword, they had also found a couple scrolls on basic Kenjustu. They had also found some pills that might have been charka pills or even blood pills but did not keep those. They had not found any summon scrolls since genin rarely even signed a summon contract let alone carry one on them. That was with now all four groups they had found so far, finishing up the this group by burning them down with a light fire justu thanks to Tenten they left taking the Head bands with them as proof of the kill for later. So that they might be returned to the village as a sign of who had died in the exams.

Afterwards Naruto slowly had her clones dispel again taking in any information that had gained. It seemed they had not found anything just yet, so once again she made more clones and sent them out to search more of the forest. As the day moved slowly to night they set up camp in a small cave that was about a mile from the Tower, next they quickly set up traps to protect them. Before setting up a shift of three of Naruto's clone to protect them for half the night. After that they went to sleep before sending out one last group of clones to look.

That was how they ended the second day. At midnight one of the clones woke up Tenten before disappearing with a small burst of smoke. She watched until dawn at which time she woke up the others. Naruto woke up with a yawn and stretched unwinding her tail from around her body as did the others carefully getting all the kinks out from sleeping on the hard patched ground. Then like the day before they sent out a group of clones to start searching hoping to find something.

But as the day moved alone it seemed that was not meant to be. Soon it was lunch time and the only thing they had met was a large horse size spider and a few large dog size spiders. As they settled down for lunch sitting high in a tree one of Naruto's clones found something and dispelled. As Naruto started to eat her instant ramen, cooked using a small fire justu to boil the water, she stopped and her eyes widen in shock.

Haku looked over at Naruto and asked, "Something wrong Naruto?"

"A little weird but not wrong, in fact this could be very good," Naruto said a smile growing on her face.

"What is it Naruto, don't keep us in the dark." Tenten said. The reason for saying this was because of the fact they tried to not read each other's thoughts.

"It seems that Clone found the tunnel we were looking for," Naruto said explaining.

"Well that is great news let's get going right now," Tenten said before leaping up and started to run down the branched only to stop, when she noticed neither Naruto or Tenten was following her. "Hay aren't you both coming?"

"No not yet, I still want to eat my ramen, since none of us have eaten lunch yet. Besides unless you have read my mind you would not know where the cave even is," Naruto said before eating her ramen.

"Oh that is true," Tenten looking a little embarrassed. She walked back over to her team and sat down and at some of the Ramen cups that had been made up. Though she did not like Ramen as much as Naruto, she had to admit that the flavored noodles were good. They quickly finished their meals before heading out with Naruto taking the lead. As they moved through the forest they decided to send out another set of clones to look for other teams. This was because depending on the team, they might either later remove said team or help them.

It was not long later that they reached the cave where Naruto's clone had explored. It was hidden we by a couple trees and a few bushes, making it nearly invisible. As they entered into the cave they saw at once why the clone had dispelled. The entire cave looked to be filled to the brim with traps. Some as simple as a Senbon launcher to some seal traps that looked to be very powerful, more powerful than any genin could make for that matter.

Naruto looked at her team before looking back at the cave, "Well I think we found the cave we are looking for."

"I would have to agree," Haku said looking around at the different traps.

"Same here and I would guess there is no way across these traps. From what I can see when one trap ends only an inch later the next one begins," Tenten said looking at the triggers for the traps.

"So in short the only way across would be to fly or be thrown across," Naruto said already thinking up a plan to deal with the traps.

"Not even that would work. Some of those seals could react to charka usage, and I cannot tell if there are any wires hidden in the air. So in short unless we disarm the traps we cannot get in there," Tenten answered simply forgetting about Naruto unpredictable streak.

"We don't have time to disarm them all so I am going with plan B." Naruto said jumping back her tail uncoiling from around her as she went landing lightly.

Tenten and Haku at once jumped back incase Naruto did something stupid or dangerous. This was a good idea as not even a few seconds later Naruto made 30 clones and sent them into the trap filled cave. As they moved through the cave they triggered as many traps as they could, trying to dodge as the ones that were set off. Then with an unknown signal they all exploded with a blast setting off the remaining traps. As the smoke disappeared and the rocks settled down they all got a good look at the destruction the clones and traps had caused. The cave was still standing just fine but it was littered with Senbon, throwing stars, Kunai, and some large rocks. The only thing that seemed to be intact was a seal on the roof; as all the other seals were destroyed blasted apart from the force of the clones exploding.

Naruto shook her head, "Ahh come on, missed one trap, pity."

"Pity? You nearly blew apart the entire cave entrance, and you say pity?" Haku almost yelled looking at Naruto.

"Yep pity. Because seals affect a larger area then a wire triggered trap," Naruto said explaining.

"Still you nearly blew up the entire cave," Tenten said shaking her head, "But that does not matter now how do we get pass that seal."

"Same as before we test the range with a clone, but I won't set it to explode this time," Naruto said before adding the last part at a look from Haku. She made one more clone and sent it towards the seal to exam it if possible. The clone ended up getting right up next to the seal and was able to look at it before it nodded.

"This is just a strength seal, to hold up older houses and such," the clone said before dispelling.

Naruto nodded and motioned her team to follow her as she entered into the cave, still keeping a careful eye out for any more traps. They slowly moved deeper into the cave, with each step the light in the cave slowly decreased and the sound echoing off the cave walls increased. After a few minutes they could not see anything but the dot of light where the entrance was. At which time Naruto and her team had to use their other senses to navigate and avoid any possible traps.

They started using a powerful ability to see, it was the combination of smell, sound, and mental based thought power. Using these skills they were able to make a perfect image of the tunnel in their mind as they moved deeper still into the cave. Until, finally they came to a large room in the cave. Actually large was not the word for it was huge able looking easily able to hold the exhibition field in it where the final round of the Chuunin exams took place. As they moved across the room they a large scroll with many, many seals over it all contented by a large central seal.

Haku as they got close enough to fully make out the seal they all stopped in shock at the same time. "This is not a summoning contract, if anything it is for a demon sealing," Naruto stated in shock as she looked at it.

"But how I thought you could not seal any demon in nothing short of a human vessel or a large pot made to keep its power contained," Haku said staring at the large seal in wonder.

"Not completely true. Those are the most common methods. Danzo thought it might be possible to seal a demon into something as simple as a scroll, though because there are no known free demons he never had a chance to test this idea. But if what I am seeing here is what I think it is, it is possible to seal a demon into a scroll," Naruto explained carefully looking over every inch the seal. Some parts she could not recognize while others she was able to figure out.

"Naruto so any idea what this seal does over all," Tenten asked moving over to the entrance to check and seal if anyone was following at all.

"Not completely. From what I can tell the seal holds back something, the other parts of this seal take in any Charka and then use it keep the seals charka ink from fading," Naruto said. She sat down and looked over the seal again, the grabbing the scroll she slowly unrolled it. The scroll reached completely across the room revealing the paper underneath pitch black, with white ink making the design of a large snake like creature. The scroll was soon fully unrolled, causing seals around the room light causing the cave to be filled with light, probably for working on the seals better.

"So this is the demon… creature that is sealed into the scroll," wondered Tenten?

"I would guess so, now if we could just figure out if we should unseal it," Naruto said trying to get a message through to Anko. But for reason unknown she was not responding at all. "That is weird; I cannot reach Anko at all."

"What do you mean," asked Tenten?

"I mean I cannot link mentally with her, I can sense her but I cannot link my mind to her so we can talk." Naruto said causing both Haku and Tenten to try as well, but like Naruto they could not get a sound from Anko at all. Realizing something about the cave was blocking their link, they quickly left the cave and got back outside the cave, leaving the scroll open on the cave floor as they left. Once they were able to reach Anko. But as they got across their situation to Anko something happened they did not expect at all.

From out of the cave can a large and powerful pulse of magic that sent then all to their knees. It traveled far and was felt well outside the Leaf village. This cause Naruto, Haku, and Tenten to run back into the tunnel and into the room as fast as they could, only to stop in their tracks as they saw the scroll was now blank and completely white as the blackness moved about the and slowly taking form. Soon the darkness solidified in one spot before exploding outwards again covering the room in a second darkness, as a voice was heard.

"Finally I am free of that cursed scroll," can a female hissed voice from the darkness filled with anger.