Sunday, September 29th, 2013.
Hey, guys! Long chappy today. (Nearly 5k w/o A/N.)
If you've read DoOver, you know that about 25 of those chapters were just during the Chunin Exams alone. So, this time, I'm gonna shorten that considerably. The Forest of Death will be (or so I plan) 2-3 chapters in total; the Prelims no more than 3, hopefully; and there'll be a break (maybe) between then and the Finals, so that's one or two chapter there; and the Finals will be maybe 1-2 chapters. So the whole Chunin Exams, if all goes well, will be less than 10 chapters. No more than that. Maybe 11, but I'll try to keep it 10 or less.
News/Fun Fact: I've started Tae Kwon Do/Karate (I'm not sure which or if it's a mix but I don't want to ask b/c I'll sound stupid), as you may know, and it's pretty cool. I like it. Whenever we do a Heel Palm kata, I feel like such a geek because I think of the Hyuugas. I really am a geek, sometimes.
Today, I also saw a FUNimation trailer for "Is This a Zombie? Of the Dead" and though I wasn't really planning on watching it anytime soon, the first like, 10 seconds of the video made my day and made me want to see it sooner. "Read and weep, these moves are sweet. If dance was a city, I'd be Main Street." That dance and those words... effing hilarious. And it was in English, too. That was so funny. XD Here's a link: /watch?v=x8hWuXtcjig.
Dedication: My reviews for taking the time to well, review. (But that doesn't mean I don't love my other readers, too, okay? I love all of you.)
Rec(s): This time, and I may start doing this, too, it's a fanfic reccomendation. It's "Shizukesa" by DefectiveDre on DeviantArt, and it's awesome. It's a universe where Sasuke was brought back by Kakashi after beating Naruto (and Sakura) in the Valley of the End. He slowly falls in love with Sakura, and bumps into Karin who he makes friends with and who joins their team while Naruto is away. I love the SasuSaku so much. It's awesome. Please check it out. :)
Disclaimer: If it was mine, there'd be no need to write fanfiction. Like, seriously. If I wanted to write an AU, I could just make an OVA or a movie! There'd be no point in fanfiction for me! And what happened to Shikamaru wouldn't have effing happened on my watch.
AotW: Like I've said before, it's still Dansai Bunri no Crime Edge. I'm pretty sure I've done a rec. on it already. It may not be the BEST thing I've read, but I love it and am obsessed. If only the updates weren't so random and in-between... I wouldn't have to suffer manga-withdrawal the way I am now.
Guest Reviews:
Chloe: Thanks again, Chloe. :)
Word count: almost 5k w/o A/N. Exactly 5.6k w/ A/Ns. Cool! And it's the shortest amount of words in an A/N in a while.
In the Chapter: SasuSaku and the Forest of Death (FoD)Part 1.
Chapter 21: Of Snakes and Deadly Opponents
Sakura POV
"Got that?" Anko said, at the end of her explanation of the Forest of Death. "So if you die in there, it's all on you. Not me. Nor the village. That's what the contracts were for."
The Written Exams went smoothly and just about exactly as it had before, so there's no need to go into detail there.
"You ready, Sakura-chan? Teme?" Naruto said, bouncing on the balls on his feet. It's amazing he's already back to normal after being freaked out by Anko.
I nodded. "As ready as I'll ever be!"
Sasuke nodded as well. "Aa."
I shared a quick look with Karin, who was with two boys that mildly resembled each other. Must be her team.
She nodded. "This is it."
I returned the nod and faced the entrance of the Forest.
"And… Begin!" Anko called.
The gates opened and all the other participants raced through the entrance. Sai flied low on his bird to bid us a farewell.
"I will see you all soon enough. Good luck." And with that, he was gone.
"Let's go in already!" Naruto demanded impatiently, as the other rookies ran past us.
"Alright, already. Sheesh." Sasuke said in irritation.
He looked to me. "Let's go."
I nodded. "Yeah."
We ran past the gates and into the Forest.
Day Four of Chunin Exams; early morning, around 2am
Sasuke POV
I slowly, but reluctantly woke up from my (surprisingly pleasant) slumber to find out what was waking me up in the first place.
And to get freaking rid of it.
I want to sleep, damn it.
I opened my eyes, and lifted myself up, looking over Sakura's still-sleeping body to my right.
What woke me up was Naruto's grunts of trying to get out of Sakura's tight, one-armed grip on his waist.
For the past few days, we'd end up sleeping in an arrangement in which Sakura was in the middle. Neither Naruto nor I wanted to wake up holding the other, lest we kill each other, so we were perfectly okay with it.
But what really had us create the arrangement in the first place was when Sakura had a nightmare about snakes on our first night in the Forest. What better way to "protect her" in her sleep than surround her with "her two favorite boys in the whole world"?
Her words, not mine.
… Okay, she actually said, "I really love you guys, okay? So much…", sleepily before falling asleep for the first time since her nightmare, but the point was still made. She was pretty distraught by that nightmare.
Yeah. I never knew she was so afraid.
That night, Sakura woke us up screaming bloody murder, and when we finally got her to calm down and tell us what the nightmare was about –snakes, and some devouring me or something like that– we discovered her fear of snakes. And apparently, she didn't realize how afraid she was of them either. She already was kind of squeamish with them, but frightened almost to the point of a phobia? It was news to all of us.
Anyway, as a result, Sakura sleeps in the middle of Naruto and I now. Don't forget that you kissed her forehead as she was falling asleep that night once you made sure Naruto was asleep, too.
I don't see how that is important.
It's important character development. And romantic development.
And I care why… ?
*Sigh* You will learn someday soon, young grasshopper.
"Teme!" Naruto whisper-yelled to me, bringing me back to the real world. "Her arm! Help!"
As I reached over Sakura to gently remove her fingers from the idiot's shirt, I whispered back to him. "Where are you going?"
Man, even in her sleep, she's strong, I thought as I had more trouble than I expected separating Sakura from Naruto.
"To take a piss." Naruto whispered back.
I rolled my eyes. I should've known.
Finally, I just decided to quickly wake up Sakura (thought I felt bad about doing it, admittedly) and ask her to remove her fingers from him.
Otherwise, she'll rip off either his whole shirt or just a patch, and Naruto would be bitching about it for days.
It's the lesser of the two evils.
"Sakura." I whispered, shaking her lightly. "Let go, Sakura."
"Mm…" she moaned. "What?" she was still mostly asleep.
"Unclench your left hand."
"Okay…" she mumbled. Once she let go, she turned over, facing me. She moved into my chest, sighing once she found a comfortable position. She was still half-asleep.
I looked over at Naruto who was now standing. He snickered and I glared. "I'll leave you two to yourselves for now. But when I come back, I better find you guys decent!"
I flipped him off.
He only snickered lightly before running into the bushes near our camp site.
I lay on my back once more, settling under my sleeping bag.
I looked over to Sakura to find her shivering slightly. Is she cold? But it's only a bit chilly... still pretty warm for this time of the night, though. But that might just be me... Sakura's more sensitive to the cold than I am.
I sighed and unzipped my sleeping bag down its side, doing the same to Sakura's. I pushed them close together, and pulled her closer to me, partially into my sleeping bag.
I fought a blush. This is just for her warmth.
Riiiiight, Lover Boy.
Shut up!
You already admitted you liked her. What are you so riled up about? *snicker*
I ignored him.
I wrapped my arms around her, pushing her ever closer as she adjusted herself, resting her head on my right shoulder. Her hands fisted in my shirt. Now that I think about it, why are you wearing one? You normally don't when you sleep.
Unfamiliar surroundings. I'm not gonna risk getting bit by God-knows-what in some crazy forest where there are giant-possibly-mutated animals. I didn't know what the environment and climate was like, either, much less at night. A shirt was the safest option.
Oh. That makes sense.
Sakura sighed contentedly in her sleep. "Sasuke-kun…" she murmured.
As if by its own will, my left arm reached up to stroke her hair gently. "Goodnight, Sakura."
She smiled softly, as if hearing me, even though she was definitely asleep now.
I let myself find my own sleep, suddenly very tired all of a sudden. But I smirked at the thought of Naruto's reaction to find Sakura sleeping on me and getting no "lovin'", as he put it, for himself.
That idiot…
With that thought, I fell into an even better sleep than before.
Naruto POV
Ahh… that felt good, I thought as I walked back to camp. I can't wait to get back to some sleep!
But instead of finding Sakura-chan's warm, inviting arms to cuddle up in, I found her all over Sasuke-teme. That jerk!
He was holding her all to himself, the two practically cuddling. And I swear he had a smirk on his face. While he was still effing asleep. He did it on purpose!
But despite my irritation of the situation, part of me was ecstatic about it. Hell yeah! Finally, you bastard! Maybe you'll make a move soon!
Sasuke-teme, a while back, had actually admitted to me that he liked Sakura (it was pretty damn hard to get him to, though). But he refused to do anything about it.
So, being their number one fan, (I'm not Sasuke's fan, God forbid, I'm a fan of him and Sakura being together) want them to be a couple more than anybody, despite the foreboding (learned that word from Hinata-chan) feeling I had in my gut about Sasuke's future… and what it had to do with Sakura-chan's.
I sighed, frowning, and got into my sleeping bag next to Sakura's, turning to my left and hugged her in her sleep from behind.
Sasuke-teme, that bastard… he did this on purpose. Now I can't cuddle with Sakura-chan! I'm getting no lovin'!
You. Are an idiot.
You say the same thing all the time, Kurama. It's getting old.
I say it because it's true.
You're just jealous.
Of what?
Of all this.
You mean your body? I've been fucking in it since you were born, dumbass, and believe me, it's not at all great.
Screw you, you jerk.
I think you should say that to the guy who's taking all of your "lovin'".
Oh, right. Screw you, Sasuke! But this better make those two closer… I'll be old and wrinkled by the time he gets the guts to tell her he likes her if it was all up to him!
Whatever. Shut up and sleep. I'm tired.
Fine.
And just like that, I fell asleep, feeling like some pathetic loser without a girlfriend that desperately wants one hugging Sakura from behind the way I was, and with her all over Sasuke.
But I fell asleep to a comforting thought.
I'm gonna push him into the river tomorrow.
Later that day
Still Sasuke POV
"Come on, Sasuke? How many more do I have to get?" Naruto whined from the stream he stood in his boxers in.
"'Til you get six. You only have three." I said, referring to the fish he was catching. "We need more."
"Isn't this enough? Come on, I'm tired! Why don't you get any?" Naruto continued to complain. I rolled my eyes.
"Because I said so." I reasoned, though my judgement was not clouded by my anger about him pushing me into the river earlier. Sure it isn't.
"Now fish."
He groaned, and was about to plunge into the water to catch more fish until Sakura's voice interrupted.
"Sasuke-kun!" she called. "Mind starting the fire?"
After a second of thought, I turned to Naruto. "Never mind. What you caught was enough."
Naruto's eyes widened, and I knew he was flipping me off from behind me, as I headed up the small ledge our cam was set up at along the river. "You jerk! Make up your mind!"
I scoffed.
When I reached the ledge that leaned over the river where we had set up camp, I used my katon to start the fire Sakura had set up wood for.
(1)
"Thanks." She said. "You don't have to do this, you know."
Sakura and I remembered to bring a match box each, and we could've used those instead. But I insisted I do it so I can practice controlling and summoning a small amount of fire instead of the large fireball I normally did. To improve my chakra control.
Not to mention, doing this wouldn't deplete my chakra reserves, either. It's too little chakra.
Yeah, right. You just want Sakura to need you and want you. And you want to help her. Why? Because you llllllike her!(2) Be honest to yourself, Lover Boy!
Quit talking nonsense, I thought back to my Inner, holding down a blush as Naruto brought up the fish he caught and Sakura set them up to be cooked against the fire. I just want to improve my chakra control.
My Inner rolled his eyes. Suuure.
As Naruto traveled up to us, I felt a chakra signature very close to us from the forest, near the bank of the river.
I looked up sharply, and Sakura did the same. She noticed, too.
"It's Kabuto," she whispered to me. I nodded, also recognizing the chakra.
Sakura had told both Naruto and I about her distrust of Kabuto. And about Karin's slight history with him – he works for rouge Sannin, Orochimaru. That Karin was kidnapped by Orochimaru years ago. That Kabuto was 24, and not on genin level at all – he could probably give Kakashi a hard time.
Naruto and I doubted someone so ditsy was so strong, but we decided to heed her advice about being careful with him and to watch him. I've had a bad feeling about him from the start.
Whenever she spoke of him, similar to the way she did whenever she spoke of Orochimaru, a little bit of malice and hatred snuck its way into her voice. Not nearly as much as when she talked of Orochimaru, but it was clear she was not a fan of Kabuto. But we couldn't get her to tell us why she really hated him so much.
"He's Orochimaru's right hand, and a terrible person. What more reason do I need?" does not suffice, Sakura.
It's obvious her hatred for both him and Orochimaru are more personal.
Just when will she tell us?
I believe the question is,will she tell us?
Finally, Kabuto came out from the trees, heading to the bank of the river with 3 canteens.
When he saw us, he waved. "Oh, hey guys! I'm just getting water for my team."
Remembering to act genial with him, Naruto and Sakura waved back. I simply nodded at.
"Hey, Kabuto!" Naruto called.
We watched him as he filled his canteens. When finished, he walked up to us.
"How are you guys doing?"
"Good, but we haven't gotten our other scroll yet. Everybody we find has Heaven, too!" Naruto whined. (3)
Kabuto frowned in sympathy. "We've been having trouble, too. It's a bit troublesome, really."
It seemed that Kabuto was planning on staying a bit, so I turned to Naruto.
"Get another fish."
He glared at me. "I'm just starting to dry up!"
"Ask if I care." I responded, deadpan.
"Do you?"
"Not any more than I do about how good pink, glittery, nail polish would look on me."
He scowled, looking between me, Sakura, and Kabuto. Then back at me.
"Fuck you," he called over his shoulder, as he went to the edge of the ledge we were on, to jump back into the water.
"Not interested." I replied flatly, taking another bite of my fish.
As Naruto landed on top of the water, using chakra to stand on it and search the water for when to leap in and surprise some fish, Kabuto shook his head.
"I don't need anything, it's alright."
Sakura shook hers. "Let us. As thanks for information in the Hall." She sounded totally normal. If I didn't know otherwise, I may have thought she didn't hate him at all.
He smiled, giving up on trying convincing us to not give him some food. Some of us were raised with manners. *cough*notNaruto*cough*
Naruto came up with another fish and tried to hit me with it from behind, but I dodged easily. "Gotta do better than that, Dobe."
"Shut up, Teme." Naruto set it up to cook in front of Kabuto, and got back to his own fish.
"Well," Kabuto started. "Speaking of information, or help, really, how would you guys like a shortcut to a part of the forest that always has somebody passing through it in this part of the exam? You don't have much time left to find your other scroll, and I was planning on meeting my team there later. Want me to take you?"
"Why are people passing through it right now?" I asked.
"The exam is nearing its end, and by now, a lot of people have gotten their scrolls already. That area is near the tower, and other ninja that don't have their scrolls yet just wait there to catch other teams'. So chances are that you're bound to get one yourself." Kabuto explained. "Even better, there are less monsters/giant animals around there for whatever reason."(4)
Naruto and I looked to Sakura. She furrowed her brow. "Why are you guys looking at me like I'm your leader or something?"
Naruto and I looked at each other and shrugged, turning back to her.
"You're smart and have really good judgment and stuff. We trust you." Naruto said.
"But Sasuke's smart and stuff, too." Sakura said.
I raised a brow. "You think Naruto's going to listen to me?"
"Oh. Right. That makes sense."
"Exactly," Naruto chimed. "I wouldn't. You know, unless it's really dangerous and stuff and I really have to because we'll die otherwise, but for the most part, hell no."
"You think very clearly and are calmer than I am." I complimented her. "I don't mind the thought of you leading us."
Coming from me, this is probably the most praise I've ever given anyone.
Sakura, knowing this, blushed lightly and looked at the ground. I held down a smirk.
"Fine." She looked back up and at Kabuto. "We'll go once we finish eating."
Kabuto nodded with a smile on his face. "Of course, Sakura-taichou."(5)
She frowned and hit him playfully. But looking at how he winced and held his arm, she probably used a little more strength than necessary. Man, she really doesn't like this guy.
Like we didn't already know that.
Shut up.
Later
Sasuke POV
"Are you…" I huffed. "Okay?"
"Y-yeah…" the others panted.
Just now, we were attacked by those Rain ninja, defeated them, and are now recovering against some trees in a clearing we found.
"Sorry…" Kabuto huffed. "About that… I didn't think… that... there would be many strong ones right now…"
Sakura shook her head. "They weren't all that strong… we were just caught off guard… that's all. Right… boys?"
Naruto and I nodded.
"Well…" Kabuto said, standing. "I think I should… look for my… team now." He headed to exit the clearing.
"Will you be okay?" Naruto asked, his breathing almost back to normal.
Kabuto nodded. "I'll see you later, then?" Kabuto's breathing was almost back to normal as well.
"You will." I said. "In the next part of the Exams."
"I can't wait." He replied, eagerness in his voice. "Bye!"
And he was off.
Still Sasuke POV
After a while of resting our bodies and Sakura healing the smalls scrapes and bruises we had, with our chakra back in full, and a password set for us to use to be able to differentiate each other from imposters, I sensed for any other chakra signatures.
"Kabuto was right. There's hardly anything here." I said.
"Hey guys?" Naruto asked. "I'm gonna take a leak. Be right back."
Then Naruto left.
I looked at Sakura, who was sitting against a tree beside mine. "Sakura? Are you alright?"
She was shaking whilst staring into space. When I spoke, she shook herself out of her daydream. "Huh? What, Sasuke-kun?"
"I asked if you were alright." My eyes narrowed. "You're shaking." She's been wary about the Exams this whole time, but just being in the Forest made her anxiousness rise. Why is she taking Exams then? What's she so scared of?
"Am I?" She asked.
"Yes." On a similar note, I've had a sinking feeling in my gut all day. Does she have the same bad feeling?
"I guess I just feel nervous, really. About the Exams, you know?" I didn't buy it. She's anticipating something very dangerous happening. But what could it possibly be? Gaara? I'll admit… he shouldn't be messed with. Even though I still want to fight him, I'm not gonna risk getting Sakura in danger, so I'll have to wait for my chance to fight him.
Before I could stop myself, I stood up and sat down beside Sakura. I knew she was shocked, but I looked straight ahead instead of at her. "You don't have to be scared," I started. Then I added more quietly, "I'll protect you."
I looked at her reaction from the corner of my eye while hiding the blush that was threatening to resurface from my unexpected… confession of sorts. Why'd I say that?
I smirked and calmed when I saw a shy smile on a very red face. "S-Sasuke-kun-"
But she was interrupted by Naruto coming back.
"Damn, that felt good, guys! So what now?"
"Stop." I commanded him.
"What? Sasuke!" said "Naruto". "Why are you-"
"Give us the password." Sakura said, quickly in battle mode. She's already that suspicious about him, huh? Good instincts. I'm wary, too.
"Oh! Um, well… Uh, a ninja waits 'til the time is ripe- no, right." He started. My eyes narrowed. "When the enemy slumbers n' drops his guard; … um, what was that again? Oh! And when the night is still, that's when a ninja strikes. Or something like that. That was it, right?"
Sakura and I both shot kunai at the imposter.
"Guys! What the hell?! Sasuke! Sakura!" he barely dodged them, falling to the floor.
Sakura and I walked towards him.
"You obviously got the hint while watching us that Naruto isn't the smartest guy you'll meet, purposely missing things in the password and using other words to replace what the real ones were." I deducted.
"So what made you suspicious?" Said the imposter, still transformed as Naruto. "How'd you know it wasn't really your teammate?"
"For one thing, Naruto wouldn't say such a formal word as 'slumber'." Sakura replied. "Second – he almost always calls Sasuke a name or adds one to the end of his name. But he always adds a suffix to mine."
"And lastly," I started. We leaned over him.
"Hell would freeze over before Naruto would remember a password that long!" Sakura and I said in unison. Well, that's mostly because it's academic-related. If it was a long quote from a video game or anime, he'd know it like the back of his hand. But ninja-stuff and academics… Forget that.
The imposter grinned widely and creepily. "I'll keep that in mind."
He transformed into a… woman? No. Man. (6)
He had long black hair, a straw hat, and a headband for Grass. Isn't that where Karin's from?
"Get ready for a fight like you've never seen," he hissed, his tongue slithering between his teeth. Dayum! That thing is long and freaking creepy! Who the hellhas a tongue like that!?
Him, apparently.
He immediately attacked Sakura and I, and was strong enough to have us both locked in a battle of ninjutsu and taijutsu while still pushing us both back.
There's no way this guy is a genin! I thought. So why'd he infiltrate these exams?
Everything I tried –my katon, my Lion's Barrage, my taijutsu– this guy just waved them off like they were nothing.
Even Sakura didn't seem to be putting much damage to him. She was obviously using her full strength, but that guy was still able to stop her punches and throw her back like it was nothing.
I don't like this. I thought, huffing, while still fighting.
Then, the guy put us in a genjutsu, making us see us die over and over again. We were frozen in place, and I couldn't get myself to release it.
So, my Inner partially took over and stabbed my thigh with a kunai. The pain knocked me out of the genjutsu, and I noticed Sakura force herself to do the same thing.
And just in time, too, because we barely had enough time to duck before our opponent sliced our necks with his kunai.
It soon felt like hours since our battle started. Where's Naruto! What did this guy do to him? Why isn't he here?!
But things only got worse once he brought his snake into the match.
And no, I don't mean some little snake you see at the zoo or anything. Bigger. More dangerous.
No, not a cobra.
And not even a boa constrictor, and those things are big.
No, I mean some huge-ass, (you know it's serious when I use a term like that) fucking monster whose eyes I couldn't even reach even if I stood on the tips of my toes. I'd have to jump.
It even looked like it could snap these enormous tree trunks with its body.
That's how big it was.
Oh, fuck.
Though I normally wouldn't have, the moment I saw that snake, my body froze up and I shook like Sakura was earlier today. What's wrong with me!
Everything in me was telling me to run away from this guy – that he is much stronger than he already seems to be. That if I get mixed up with him, it's the end.
Of course, I already could tell that much.
But what was really weird was that this all felt familiar. I had a feeling that I've been in a situation like this before. And that it had ended terribly.
Why do I have this feeling?
Sakura's shout as she punched the snake (her signature "Shannaro!") broke me out of my trance, and I ran to assist her. No matter what happens here, I need to protect her!
"Oh, no! Not so fast, pretty boy!" I was intercepted by the grass ninja. "You're fighting me!"
Once again, I was engaged in a tight fight against an extremely strong ninja that was very likely holding back.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Sakura get whipped back into a tree by the snake's tail.
The moment there was an opening, I jumped as far away as I could from the guy and threw him our scroll. This fight is terribly one-sided – we don't stand a chance!
"Here! Take it!" I called, running to Sakura. "Is that what you want? Leave us alone!"
He ignored the scroll.
"What I want, Uchiha Sasuke," He hissed charging me. I shuddered. It shouldn't be so surprising that he knows my full name, but I'm still shocked. "Is you!" he finished.
I kicked him hard and away from Sakura and I as he neared. But as he hit a tree trunk, the snake struck, quickly leaping the way only a snake would our way.
I couldn't move. Shit!
I looked at Sakura beside me, who was shaking and holding her ankle. She was trying to heal it but she was too scared and panicked to keep her chakra smooth and steady to heal properly. It must be sprained. She can't run away.
There was no longer any time for neither I nor Sakura to move anymore. So, as a last resort, I quickly leaned over and covered her with my body.
"Sasuke-kun!" She said, her voice choking. "Don't-"
"I said I'd protect you, didn't I?!" I shouted.
I braced for impact and held her tighter, feeling the snake getting nearer. This better not be the end…
But nothing came.
"S-Sasuke-kun! It's okay! It's Naruto!" Sakura said, her voice full of hope now. "Just in time, Naruto." Relief flooded her voice.
Said boy stood on branch, seemingly holding the snake away from us with his back. The kunai in his hands stabbing the snake in its lips.(7)
Naruto's eyes were red with black slits just like they were when Kurama's chakra was trying to take over in Waves. He now had fangs, and was panting heavily and snarling.
"So…" Naruto huffed. "What'd I miss, Scaredy Cat?" I narrowed my eyes at the jab from my action as a result of fear before, when covering Sakura with my body in a panic.
"Not much, dumbass." I stood, and helped Sakura stand, who had finished healing her leg while Naruto and I were talking.
"Took you long enough, though." I said to Naruto.
"Well," he huffed. "You know, the hero always comes at the last second to save the day."
"'Hero', huh?" I scoffed. "We'll see how much of a hero you are once we beat this guy and his little pet."
I turned to the Grass ninja who had picked himself up and was walking towards us once again.
"If you can beat me, that is." He taunted.
Naruto pulled his kunai out of the snake and kicked hard it off the tree branch, sending it falling towards the ground. It's only a matter of time until the snake makes its way back up again. We'll have to push past our limits to beat it and its owner.
"What's your name, anyway, you bastard?" Naruto asked, jumping down beside Sakura and I, all of us in a fighting stance.
"My name, you ask?" He hissed, his face and attire changing and peeling away, revealing a new face with skin as pale as Sai's with yellow eyes and purple marks around them. "You may have heard it. It's-"
He charged us. "Orochimaru!"
(1): That one scene in the anime. I just changed a bit of what I remembered of it.
(2): Yes, another Happy reference. I'll never tire of that quote, it seems. It just works.
(3): If I'm correct, they did have a Heaven Scroll.
(4): That's mostly made up and an excuse to get them over to where they fought the Mist nin and Oreo (Orochimaru).
(5): "Taichou"="Captain".
(6): In the dub of the anime, they made the person Orochimaru stole the body from a woman. They were actually male.
(7): You know what I'm talking about. That epic moment where Naruto stopped the snake. I couldn't leave that out.
QotW: Favorite soda? And/or soda flavor?
STILL ACCEPTING CHRISTMAS PRESENT IDEAS! I NEED THOSE!
Love,
Cherry.