The Forest of Death

"This is pathetic. We should just finish everyone off right now." Kankuro laughed, setting Crow on the ground.

"I guess you have a point." Tsukiko admitted. She grimaced, watching Kotetsu walk towards her. "I'll be right back." Tsukiko muttered, walking towards the Jounin.

"What?" Tsukiko sighed.

"Good morning." He grinned.

Tsukiko rolled her eyes, "What do you want? I'm assuming you're looking for me?" Kotetsu nodded, "Lord Hokage wants to see you."

Tsukiko glowered "If the old man needs me, he can come and get me himself."

"I'll see you in a little while, Tsukiko. Better hurry up, the exams start soon." Kotetsu called over his shoulder.

Tsukiko looked to Sasuke who simply nodded in understanding. She walked over to Anko who was watching the interviews with amusement, "I have to go see the Hokage. Is there anything I need in case I get back here late?" Tsukiko asked.

Anko nodded and handed her a piece of paper, "Standard consent form, just in case you die."

Tsukiko signed her name and handed it back to Anko, "I won't die in there."

Anko smiled, "I'll explain everything once you get back. Better hurry up! You don't want to miss the beginning!"

Tsukiko nodded and disappeared in a puff of smoke.

"She's amazing!" Moegi gasped, looking at Sasuke who nodded.

"Tsukiko Uchiha is one of the most talented Shinobi Konoha has ever seen."

:::

"You needed me?" Tsukiko asked, walking in through the doors of the Hokage's office.

"Good morning, Tsukiko." Sarutobi smiled, "I'm sorry I had to pull you away."

"It's fine, what's going on?" "I just… wanted to make sure you remembered your guidelines." He smiled.

Tsukiko nodded, "I think I got them."

"I just want to make it clear. You are not to step in until necessary. This test is to test their skills. We know your strengths, let them shine." Hokage's voice was stern.

"Don't worry, Lord Hokage, I understand." Tsukiko smirked.

"Tsukiko… where's your headband?" He asked.

She kicked herself mentally – headbands weren't her thing. "Well…" She paused, trying to think of something to say, "honestly, Sarutobi, headbands aren't my thing." She admitted.

He threw one at her, "Put it on, you need to represent your village."

Tsukiko nodded and tied it around her belt loop, it hung loosely off of her left side. "These exams are going to be a breeze, don't worry." She laughed before she left.

:::

Once Tsukiko made it back to the Training Ground it was deserted, besides Anko.

"Hey!" Tsukiko called out, catching Anko off guard.

"Hey Tsukiko, you back?" She smiled.

Tsukiko nodded and looked around, "Where's my team?"

Anko looked at Tsukiko's headband and grinned, "Looks like you're finally willing to represent the Leaf Village." She mused.

"Sarutobi wanted me to so, I thought I might as well."

"Alright, well, the point of this exam is to test your stamina and survival skills. But I'm sure you've already figured that out. You have five days to complete this test – and you have to possess two scrolls." Anko explained, pulling out an example of each.

"Alright, so in other words, get the other scroll, and make it to the tower in five days… anything goes?" Tsukiko asked.

Anko nodded, "And, well, I don't have to tell you this but – JUST DON'T DIE!" she grinned.

Tsukiko nodded and stretched, this might be more fun than she thought. "Where are they?" She asked.

"They're at Gate 12, good luck, Tsukiko." Tsukiko nodded, "Thanks, see you in a few days."

:::

Tsukiko arrived just as 2:30 hit; and Team 7 rushed in together.

"WELL ALRIGHT! HERE WE GO GUYS!" Naruto yelled, racing forward.

Tsukiko smiled, following after him, Sasuke and Sakura were right behind her. They finally stopped, Tsukiko's eyes scanned the forest, it was alive with chakara – just the way she liked it. Screaming echoed through the branches of the trees, making everyone quiver with anxiety.

"That was quick." Tsukiko snickered, noticing how shaken Sakura already seemed to be.

"That sounded like screaming… I don't like this place…" Sakura admitted.

"Oh c'mon, it's nothing to be scared of, it's gonna be a piece of cake!" Naruto exclaimed.

Tsukiko didn't say anything, but she agreed, it was going to be easy. "Sasuke, do you always have to deal with this?" Tsukiko asked, watching Naruto and Sakura fight like children.

"Sometimes it's worse." He groaned.

Naruto returned, and Tsukiko tensed, realizing it wasn't him.

Sasuke was already moving into action, so she forced herself to relax. This was boring. She wasn't able to take anyone out by herself… what good was she? Tsukiko did notice how, when Sasuke's adrenaline kicked in, his speed intensified and he quickly rid himself of the enemy.

"AHHH HEY! GET ME OUT OF THIS!"

Tsukiko looked up, hearing Naruto's protests. She jumped over, already finding Sasuke cutting Naruto's bonds free.

"Sasuke!" Sakura called out, terrified.

"Sakura, stop." Tsukiko growled. "Sasuke will be fine, trust me." She sighed, leaning against a tree.

"Don't just stand there, Sakura! Chances are this guy's not alone! Watch out! The others could strike ay second now!" Sasuke yelled.

Sakura began to fidget.

"Relax, there's no other ninja's in the area." Tsukiko muttered. "If there's any serious danger, I'll take them out myself."

"How could you just let Sasuke do that all by himself? Why didn't you help him?" Sakura cried, glaring at Tsukiko.

"Orders." Tsukiko stated.

"Orders? What orders?" Sakura screamed.

Tsukiko threw a hand up, "Stop screaming, you don't want to attract any more attention to you, do you? And my orders from Hokage were to let you do the work. If I did all the work, well, all the ninja's we met would be dead, and we'd be at the tower by now." Tsukiko growled.

Sakura's eyes went wide, "So… You can't help us?" she squeaked.

"No, not unless it's absolutely necessary. Relax, I'm not going to let any of you die." She reassured her, turning to look at the returning Sasuke and Naruto.

"C'mon, let's move." Sasuke muttered, eying the surroundings. Tsukiko nodded and followed after him, leaving Sakura to gawk in shock.

:::

"That proves that we can't just trust appearances. We have to come up with a way of knowing that each of us is who we say we are and not some impostor using a transformation jutsu" Sasuke calmly explained to everyone in the circle.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Alright, so what do we do?" Sakura asked as she looked at Sasuke who sighed

"We need a password."

"What kind of password?" Naruto asked as he looked from Tsukiko to Sasuke.

"A secret one, something only known to the three of us, and don't trust anyone who doesn't know it. No matter what." Sasuke growled, looking from Sakura to Naruto to Tsukiko.

:::

"Okay, listen closely 'cause I only want to say this once. The question will be, When does a ninja strike? And the response is, A ninja waits until the time is right. When the enemy sleeps and drops his guard. When his weapons lie forgotten in the stillness of the night, that is the moment for a ninja to strike. Got it?" Sasuke asked as he looked around.

"I got it" Sakura grinned, Tsukiko nodded,

Naruto grimaced, "You don't one... a little shorter?" He asked as he looked at Sasuke.

"No Naruto, that's it" Sasuke growled as he glared Naruto.

"Ugh, c'mon! What's wrong didn't you get it? I memorized it easy," Sakura bragged.

"Yeah sure, I got it, I got it no problem! I just thought it was gonna be a password, not a pass-speech" Naruto complained as he rolled his eyes.

"Alright then, I'll take the scroll" Sasuke sighed as he stood up.

Tsukiko grimaced and braced herself, turning her back and crossing her arms over her chest.

"Run" She hissed at Naruto who stared at her in confusion.

:::

"Wait a minute, Sasuke, I-" Naruto stopped when a cut appeared on his cheek.

"What now?" Sasuke roared, just as a huge gust of wind swept the forest. Tsukiko grabbed Sakura, jumping off with her as Sasuke jumped the other way.

"Tsukiko! What's going on?" Sakura cried.

Tsukiko clamped her hand down over the pink-haired girl's mouth. "Shut up. Go find Sasuke, and don't make a sound." Tsukiko hissed. Her eyes caught movement and she focused down, realizing it was Grass Ninja. She watched the woman transform into Naruto before running to Sasuke and Sakura. Tsukiko pulled a kunai but held back, 'not until absolutely necessary.'

:::

Tsukiko watched Sasuke and the fake-Naruto fight. Nothing slipped him. Unfortunately the woman showed her true appearance, and she was no ordinary woman.

'Maybe I'll have to step in.' Tsukiko thought, getting ready. She looked away, recognizing the jutsu. When she finally looked back, Sasuke was throwing up. 'Sasuke…' Tsukiko thought, ready to spring.

"Very good… now what happens?" The woman asked, watching Sasuke pull a kunai. "Don't worry, I'll make it quick. But I don't have to tell you, do I? You've already seen your death." The woman cackled, walking towards the Genin.