Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, yes I know, it's normal for once!
Chapter 26: Chuunin Exams: Stage 2- Part 3
Kotetsu, Hiro and Kiriko were all eating their supplies around a nice fire (Courtesy of Hiro's fireball jutsu). Kotetsu was woffing down a packet of chips, while Hiro was calmly eating his. Kiriko had fallen asleep again, and was using her backpack as a pillow, she was hugging it tightly. Kotetsu thought she looked adorable, but Hiro paid her no mind. When he was finished Hiro stood up.
"Wake up our burden, we're leaving" commanded Hiro.
"Who died and made you boss?" muttered Kotetsu.
"I'm obviously the only one capable to lead this lousy team, since that drama queen of a sensei is so obviously incapable" stated Hiro, flicking his bangs out of his eyes.
Crickets chirping...
"Riiiight" muttered Kotetsu, then bending down to Kiriko, shaking her,"Hey Kiriko, we're leaving"
Kiriko woke up and sat up, rubbing one of her eyes. Kotetsu helped her up, then the three headed off. As they jumped through the trees, Kotetsu heard something.
"Byakugan!" he said as he activated his byakugan.
He searched the area. He saw a few traps set by other teams. Nothing unusual there. He looked a bit further away. Then he saw a giant snake, heading straight for them.
"Hiro!" he called out.
Hiro stopped. He turned around and noticed Kotetsu's byakugan was activated, something must be wrong.
"What is it?" asked Hiro, frowning.
"A giant snake is headed our way" stated Kotetsu.
Hiro raised an eyebrow in disbelief.
"How far away is it?" muttered Hiro.
"About a kilometre" replied Kotetsu, de-activating his byakugan.
"Fine, it's getting dark, so let's rest" stated Hiro, jumping down from the trees. Kotetsu and Kiriko followed him down.
A few minutes later they were once again sitting around a fire. Kiriko had fallen asleep. Kotetsu stared into the flames. He looked over at Hiro. He was as calm as a cucumber.
"Hiro" muttered Kotetsu.
Hiro turned to him. "Refer to me as Uchiha-sama, I am your superior" he said.
Kotetsu twitched in annoyance. "Whatever... can I ask you a question?" he asked.
"You're going to anyway..." sighed Hiro.
"Your father... do you remember him?" asked Kotetsu.
Hiro stiffened, and his eyes widened. He actually looked... scared.
"I do..." he mumbled, looking away from Kotetsu,"I remember him killing my mother... right in front of my eyes..."
For once in his life, Kotetsu actually felt sorry for Hiro. He realised how lucky he was to have parents who loved him.
"Why the sudden intrest in my father?" demended Hiro.
"J-just wondering" stuttered Kotetsu.
Kotetsu expected him to rant on about how Kotetsu could only ask him questions if there was a reason, but Hiro just calmly picked up a stick and poked the fire. This was the most they had ever talked, besides arguing.
"What..." muttered Hiro.
Kotetsu turned to face him.
"What is your father like?" asked Hiro, still poking the fire.
Kotetsu raised his eyebrows. "Well, he's really great! He's strong and fun and playful..." exclaimed Kotetsu, but stopped when he noticed Hiro's sad expression.
Kotetsu put his hand on Hiro's shoulder, and Hiro turned to look at him. Kotetsu expected him to say something about not touching him because he's so high above Kotetsu, but he did something that could break reality as we know it, Hiro smiled! Kotetsu looked shocked, but then he grinned and laughed.
"Let's never speak of this again" muttered Hiro.
"Agreed" replied Kotetsu, geting a stick and also poking the fire.
All of a sudden the giant snake came bursting through the trees. Kotetsu grabbed Kiriko and jumped out of the way. Hiro jumped and landed nearby Kotetsu. The snake turned to face them. Then it opened it's mouth, revealing a person, who stepped out into the light of the new day. They had long black hair and pure white skin.
"OH MY GOD IT'S A CLOWN WEARING A PURPLE PRETZEL!!!" yelled Kiriko, jumping back a few feet.
The person twitched in aggrovation, but then let out a small evil laugh.
"My name is Orochimaru, and this is a tie thingy, not a pretzel!" exclaimed the man.
"Orochi-who?" asked Kiriko.
"It's a clown name!" exclaimed Kotetsu.
Orochimaru growled and clenched his fists. These kids were stupider than their parents/relatives. Couldn't they recognise a threat?
Control room...
Casey sat staring at the screens before her. They showed the images from the security cameras all around the forest and in the tower.
"Oo! Ue, Shita and Haruko made it to the tower!" exclaimed Casey as she saw Ue, Shita and Haruko walking into the tower.
She looked over all the screens and spotted the one with Kotetsu's team on it.
"Orochi-cochi-maru?" exclaimed Casey.
"Orochimaru!? Shouldn't you help them?" exclaimed Petra, who was standing behind her.
"But... it's just getting to the good part!" whined Casey, pulling a box popcorn out of nowhere and shoving some in her mouth.
Petra growled at her.
"Ok ok I'm going!" sighed Casey, standing up and leaving, muttering something about a party-pooper on the way out.
Back in the forest of death...
Orochimaru pulled out a sword. Hiro and Kotetsu got ready for his attack. Kiriko looked very frightened. Kotetsu positoned himself infront of Kiriko, ready to protect her. Hiro was focused on Orochimaru.
"Kotetsu" said Hiro.
"Yeah?" answered Kotetsu.
"Guard her, I'm gonna take this guy on" stated Hiro.
"Are you crazy Hiro?! The only way we can beat this guy is if we work together!" exclaimed Kotetsu.
"Just shut up and do what I say!" snapped Hiro, glaring at Kotetsu.
"No! You're not the boss of the world!" Kotetsu snapped back.
Hiro growled.
"Kotetsu's right!" exclaimed Kiriko,"You have to let us help you!"
"You'll only get in my way!" snapped Hiro.
"We all have talent Hiro, not just you!!" snapped Kotetsu.
"No!" yelled Hiro.
"Why not!?" Kotetsu yelled back.
"Uh.. please stop fighting..." mumbled Kiriko.
"Stay out of this!!" Hiro and Kotetsu yelled at the same time.
Kiriko stepped back a little.
"Why won't you let me fight?!" yelled Kotetsu.
"Because!!" snapped Hiro,"Just sit down, shut up, and let me protect you guys!!"
That was one thing Kotetsu wasn't expecting. He did as he was told, and pulled out a kunai, for safety. Hiro turned to Orochimaru, who had remained quiet throughout their bickering. Hiro drew a kunai and activated his sharingan.
'I can't have a full-scale battle with this boy, I don't have enough chakra left... I'll have to defeat him quickly. He's pretty well guarded, so I'll have to throw him off guard somehow...' thought Orochimaru. He looked over at Kotetsu, then got an idea. 'I'll attack his friend...'
Orochimaru firmly grasped his sword then dashed towards Kotetsu. Kotetsu couldn't move, no matter how hard he tried.
'No!' thought Hiro, making a dash for Kotetsu.
"Kotetsu!" screamed Kiriko.
Orochimaru lifted his sword up high then brung it down hard... Kiriko's scream was heard all aroud the forest. There was blood all over the clearing. Kiriko was covering her face and crying. The sight was truly horrific. Kotetsu had his hands over his head. No pain... He opened one eye and let out a yell at the sight. The sword was a few centimetres from him, but that wasn't what made him yell. The sword was right through the gut of Hiro. Orochimaru was shocked at first, but then snickered. Orochimaru yanked the sword out, which caused Hiro to cry out in pain, and blood to go everywhere. Hiro fell to the ground, and Kotetsu caught him.
"Why the hell'd you do that?" snapped Kotetsu.
Hiro coughed up some blood, then shrugged. Hiro closed his eyes... Kotetsu frowned.
"Oi!" he said, shaking Hiro,"Wake up!"
Kiriko crawled over to Kotetsu, and touched him lightly on the arm.
"----ING WAKE UP!!" yelled Kotetsu.
Kiriko begun to cry, then took Hiro out of Kotetsu's arms. She begun to use her medical ninjutsu on his wound. Kotetsu was mad... no, not mad... FURIOUS!! Kotetsu suddenly felt all his rage bubbling inside of him. It was happening again. 'It' was coming out. Red chakra begun to swirl around Kotetsu as he rose. A fox face appeared in the chakra, then disappeared. Kotetsu looked up and Orochimaru let out a cry of fright. Kotetsu had scratchy whisker marks on his cheeks, and his eyes were red, with thin pupils. You could see the bloodlust in his eyes. Kotetsu bent down on all fours... about to charge when all of a sudden...
"WOOOO!!!!" came a yell from the trees.
Casey came flying out of the trees and landed on Kotetsu. All the red chakra disappeared and Kotetsu lay dazed under Casey's rumpus.
'That woman must be extremely intelligent if she planned to land on him to stop the release of the kyuubi' thought Orochimaru.
"Oh hey Kotetsu! Didn't see ya there!" exclaimed Casey.
Orochimaru sweatdropped. 'Maybe not...' he thought.
Casey looked over at Kiriko, who was desperately trying to heal Hiro.
"Oo... the snob's dead huh?" sighed Casey.
Kotetsu looked rather sad. He thought he'd be happy the day that Hiro died, but he was far from it.
"Didn't you guys read my pamphlets?" asked Casey, looking around at all the blood.
"No! And get off me!" he snapped at Casey, realising she was still on him.
Casey jumped off him, and went to catch Orochimaru, who had just run off. Kotetsu walked over to Kiriko and kneeled beside her.
"How is he?" asked Kotetsu.
Kiriko smiled. "I think he'll live" she replied.
Kotetsu was relieved. Then Hiro moaned and sat up. His wound was mostly healed, but needed to be bandaged. Hiro took off his shirt so Kiriko could bandage him up. Kiriko was blushing the whole time but eventually finished. Hiro put his shirt back on and turned to Kotetsu. They both stared for a few seconds, but then stood up. Then the giant snake coughed up something. Kotetsu walked over to it and picked it up. It was Orochimaru's scroll, the Earth scroll! Kotetsu spun around and showed it to his team. Then they all headed to the tower.
Me: HAHA!! FINISHED AT LAST!!! Yay! It's all done! I hope you liked it!
Casey: Yay! I get an appearence!
Rachel: When do me and you come back in Son-chan?
Me: Well, I'm the examinor for the next stage, but I don't know about you! You'll just have to wait 'till the arc's over!
Rachel: Aww T.T