Chapter 29: Home, Sweet Home?


(Countdown: 5:00)


Team 8 and Karin scattered as Orochimaru appeared within their midst. The man's speed was something they hadn't quite seen before. One moment he was across from them, and then next he was within their midst. Lucky for them, the man did nothing but laugh as they scampered away from the S-Rank missing ninja.

"Fast!" was the general thought of the group. Ino, Naruto, and Hinata had already experienced Anko's top speed – before and after she activated the seal – and it was nothing to be taken lightly. This, however, was on an entirely different level. This was the speed of an experienced Kage level individual. This was speed that could kill someone before they finished blinking.

"Anko-sensei said he was fast. But this is nuts!" Ino recalled Anko telling the Yamanaka heiress that before the Yondaime came along Orochimaru was regarded as the quickest shinobi in the village, second to only the Sandaime at the time.

"You're boring me," Orochimaru taunted them.

Naruto scowled before he rushed the man with his Kanabo and Uchigatana. Orochimaru quirked an eyebrow at the odd combination of weapons; it was certainly unique, but that was about it.

"Futon: Daitoppa (Wind Release: Great Breakthrough)!" Orochimaru lazily bellowed out a harsh tunnel of wind – greater than Naruto's own Daitoppa – at the charging blond.

Naruto in turn retaliate with a wind technique of his own, "Futon: Shishisenkou (Wind Release: Lion's Battle Roar)!" the two techniques hit each other head on and caused an explosion of wind in the process that scattered dust and made the nearby trees groan in protest. While Naruto's technique was a B-Rank one, Orochimaru's mastery of the lower rank Daitoppa had enough power to match it.

However, if the rogue ninja and traitorous member of the Sannin was impressed by the act – especially due to the lack of hand seals – he didn't show it. Nor did he show concern or surprise when Naruto performed a swift Shinigami Kagekoku on the man's exposed back. The technique struck true, but the man's form turned brown before it fell apart into a pile of mud.

"Sen'ei Jashu (Hidden Shadow Snake Hands)!" was heard before five snakes quickly wrapped themselves around the blond, followed up with precise bites that caused the boy to disappear.


(Countdown: 4:39)


"Nice try!" the original Naruto appeared at a safe distance, "Anko-sensei's used that so much it isn't funny," he smirked.

"Yes, well, Anko was a disappointment in that regard," Orochimaru pointed out with a shrug. Unlike him, Anko had a tendency to stick to certain techniques rather than broaden her repertoire. She knew more than most, but not by much. The man didn't know if it was no longer the case, however.

"Anko-sensei's a great teacher! Unlike you asshole!" Ino shouted before she unleashed a floor of impressive kicks and acrobatics at the man. If the man was ever encountered, Ino recalled Anko telling them that poison ninjutsu would be useless against him. Like the Snake Mistress, Orochimaru developed an immunity to a vast amount of them.

"Kicks… really?" the man was unimpressed. Though he had to admit she was quite limber and swift, and if the air current he felt was anything to go by they were quite strong, too.

"Well, there's no way I'm entering that fucked up mind of yours!" she shouted and continued her assault with a drop kick imbued with lightning.

"Clever girl," it was clear that she took after Orochimaru's student more so than the other two, both in mannerisms and wit. "Then let's see you dodge this. Sangaja (Scatter Fang Snake)!"

From both of his sleeves came a myriad of serpents. But unlike the Sen'ei Jashu that traveled in a linear manner, the serpents of this technique rushed at the Genin in an unpredictable zigzag-like pattern instead. The speed of the technique was also much quicker too.

"Shit! Raiton: Fuicchimyaku no Justu (Lightning Release: Dissonance Pulse Technique)!" Ino called out her technique, arms stretched out as the circular pulse stopped one waved of the snakes in their tracks. Leaving her wide open for the other before and too late to react. Ino felt the serpents coil and wrap themselves around her like a terrible vice, binding her arms and legs, cutting off the oxygen simple from her throat. The Yamanaka knew quite a bit of contortionism from her mentor, but not enough to escape her current predicament.

With a wave of his hand, Orochimaru slammed Ino onto the ground and with another, he sent Ino crashing into the trees with a harsh thud, "One down, two to go."


(Countdown 3:41)


"Katon: Hitama (Fire Release: Fireball)!"

"Futon: Shishisenkou (Wind Release: Lion's Battle Roar)!"

"Konbijutsu: Shikou Bakuenjin (Combination Technique: Lion Roar Exploding Flame Formation)!"

Naruto watched as the techniques combined, forming an incredibly large head of a ferocious lion composed of red-hot melt the flesh off the bone flames. The technique was only rendered even more deadly when the original Naruto followed up with another technique.

"Futon: Daitoppa (Wind Release: Great Breakthrough)!"

From the simple act of adding an additional technique, the lion's head grew twice as large, the flames nearly becoming white in the process. The additional wind technique also give the lion's head the added benefit of speed. Quickly was it upon the man, like a ravenous predator, before it exploded with the force of a dozen high-grade exploding tags.

The explosion sent a wave of heat and dust across the field that momentarily robbed everyone of their vision. When the dust cleared, all that was left was a crater and no sign of Orochimaru.

"Remarkable technique for one so young. Not even the Uchiha have shown such skill at your age," his eyes wide, Naruto had no time to react as the ground beneath him burst open. The two clones' lives were brought to an end as serpents with swords jutting from their mouths pierced their throats.

"Konoha-Ryu Iai: Tsuki no Mai (Tree Leaf-Style Draw and Re-sheath: Dance of the Moon)!" quickly as he could, the original Naruto ended the serpents' lives with a quick draw of his Uchigatana, which spun like a deadly saw before it ended back into its sheath with an audible click.

"Iaijutsu, impressive," Orochimaru's interest in the boy was peaked. Few outside the samurai knew the deadly art of Iaijutsu. Few still could use it, or use it properly. Iaijutsu was the samurais' ace, a skill they held that made ninjutsu virtually obsolete due to a ninja's dependence on hand signs and Iaijutsu's speed. "But, it's clear you've yet mastered it, or know how to use it without difficulty," maybe it was the Kyubi's chakra influencing him but the man's smirk was really starting to get under Naruto's skin.

But the man was right. The technique was fairly new – having just unlocked it on the last week of the dungeon – and was currently a double-edged technique. It had great damage and reward if done properly, but there was a thirty-five percent risk of damage and impairment if he messed up. But the less of HP and increase in fatigue was worth it in Naruto's mind. For Orochimaru let his guard down and Naruto couldn't help himself as he smirked. The sudden act made the Sannin frown before he sensed it a second later.

"Damn," was the man's thought.

KA-BOOOOOM!

Due to the amount of chakra within it, the explosion from the Bunshin Daibakuha sent the man skidding several meters away before he managed to right him. By then, however, he began feeling the unpleasant sting normally associated with the Hyuga Clan's famous Juken.

"Two Strikes!"

"Four Strikes!"

"Eight Strikes!"

"Sixteen Str–"

"Jagei Jubaku (Binding Snake Glare Spell)!"

While the act of being struck by the Juken would cause great pain to others, and leave them unable to counter-attack, years of experimentation and an atypical body structure helped take care of such a problem. As such Hinata's strikes did nothing and came to an end when two very large snakes wrapped around the girl, followed soon after by a very focused and high burst of incredible killing intent.

All of which was being solely directed towards her. Hinata's mind saw several images that rattled her greatly, all of them ending with her death or unspeakable torture. Hinata thrashed and fought against the effects for a whole thirty seconds – a feat that actually impressed the White Snake – before she could take no more and fainted.

"Na-Nar-Naruto-kun," was her last conscious thought before the light faded from her vision and was replaced by darkness. Hinata was no stranger to the unpleasant feeling of killing intent thanks to Anko. She and Ino had developed a passive skill known as Killing Intent Endurance to reduce the skill's effectiveness as a result. But it was clear that the man's skill with the technique went greatly beyond that of their instructor's.

"Grown men twice her age didn't even last that long," Orochimaru remarked. Many often made the mistake that Killing Intent was an illusionary technique and therefore used the Genjutsu: Kai to rid themselves of its effects. But the technique was no illusion. It was the will and intent of a person who desired to harm, kill, or torture another mixed with an incredible burst of chakra. The technique sounded pure and simple, the practice was a whole other matter. But impressed or not, much like with Ino, Orochimaru manhandled the kunoichi before he discarded her like yesterday's trash.


(Countdown 2:58)


"Fucking bastard!" Naruto shouted. The boy swung his weapons at the man with wild abandon, using the momentum to propel and continue his attempts even if they missed.

"And there's the famous jinchuriki anger I've heard so much about," Orochimaru thought, ducking underneath the kanabo that struck and destroyed the large boulder situated behind him in the process.

Jinchuriki were much stronger than regular shinobi but that increase in strength came at a price. The greater amount of Biju chakra used, the greater the chance their mind would become clouded by more primal instincts and emotions. To lesser ninja, this would be a very difficult fight, one that ended with a lot of pain. But to experienced ninja, it was a fight where they more or less controlled outcome of the battle.

"Mandara no Jin (Formation of Ten Thousand Snakes Silk)!" from his mouth came an enormous swarm of greater and larger serpents. The serpents were a veritable tsunami of slithering masses with seemingly no end to them.

|Defeat the snake swarm within 30 seconds.|

|Failure to defeat swarm within allotted time will result in 25% health loss.|

Naruto's enraged mind tempted him to rush and rip the serpents to shreds. But the boy managed to regain a decent semblance of rational thought before he proceeded through with the plan.

"Regular techniques ain't gonna cut it here," he realized. Creating four clones, Naruto had two rushing towards the serpents while the other two prepared their technique. The cannon fodder clones hacked, slashed, and crushed dozens of serpents with each swing of their arms. But the large number made the clones' actions futile and they were soon overrun and 'killed' by the swarm, who continued making their way towards the original.

But even as they drew near, the clones' actions managed to stall and draw the serpents' attention long enough for Naruto and his clones to complete the technique. Even then it was damned close, too.

"Katon: Sanju Rasen Hoen no Jutsu (Fire Release: Triple Spiralling Phoenix Flame Technique)!" from the blonds, Orochimaru watched in fascination as three large birds of prey composed of deadly intense fire dive towards the sea of snakes. The entire area was set alight as the raptors made contact and flooded the ground in a sea of flames that licked, burned, and roasted the serpents alive. The intensity of the flames was so great that they set the nearby trees aflame as well.

|Swarm defeated within 30 seconds!|

"Ha…ha…" Naruto ignored the message as he exhaled a breath, not used to using multiple high-powered techniques in quick succession. Nearly a third of his CP was gone, but thanks to the Kyubi Chakra Cloak it recovered quickly and reduced the rate of his fatigue levels.

"Naruto, watch out!" Karin shouted in warning.

"Gogyō Fūin (Five Elements Seal)!" Naruto was cut off guard as Orochimaru appeared before him; arm stretched out and fingertips glowing with purple flames. The boy thought himself safe through a last second use of the Kawarimi performed by his clone, but it was not the case. Naruto watched as the struck clone shouted in pain before it and its brother clone puffed out of existence.

"Gahhh!" Soon the pain bubbled within him, and Naruto felt himself drained and weakened. Whatever was done to the clone had somehow been transferred over to him.


Warning! Five Elements Seal in Effect! The following effects have occurred:

- Unable to access the Kyubi's Chakra!

- Chakra Control reduced by 50%

- All Skills Effectiveness, Power, EXP, and Speed are reduced by 30%

- CP cost of skills have been increased by 30%

- Fatigue levels have been increased to 60% (Initial Application)


"Shit!" Naruto cursed as he balanced himself on one leg, the sudden drain of energy finally getting to him. The boy never thought he'd find a technique he'd hate more than the Bunshin no Jutsu.

"Odd. Normally that would render you unconscious," Orochimaru recalled. "So applying the seal to clones merely drains them of their– "

"BARRKK!" an angry Hottomaru howled, maw blazing with flames as he clamped down hard on the man's shoulder. Orochimaru grunted in discomfort as the large fangs sunk deep into his body. The dog certainly had a decent bite in him, he noted, and the flames only added to the discomfort her felt.

As he began lifting his arms, Orochimaru suddenly felt them forced back down as the enlarged canine wrapped its front legs dig into his sides. The claws blazed with incredible heat, the action cauterizing flesh and setting the man's clothing alight.

Orochimaru frowned even further when he began sensing something off, "Well, well. A ninken that can drain chakra," Orochimaru knew ninken could do many things, but in all his years the missing ninja never once heard of a ninja dog being capable of draining an opponent of their chakra.

But the fun time was over.

Though his arms were lowered by the beast impressive strength, Orochimaru was still capable of summoning serpents that slithered out of his sleeves and up the ninken's arms. The snakes arched their heads back before striking forward, biting the ninken in the shoulder. Other serpents had sword tips jutting from their mouths and speared the canine as the lunged instead.

Hotto all the while merely bore with the pain and merely bit down hard, shook his head, and began raking the man and the serpents coming from his robes as best he could. The ninken then switched tactics and began using his Jao no Kuchi (Maw of the Tyrant King) instead. His time in the primordial dungeon had greatly increased both biting skills and allowed him to drain larger amounts of HP and CP more quickly, too.

Orochimaru for his part frowned as he felt himself being drained, "Now it's taking my blood?" the snake bites and the sword stab should have forced it to release him by now. "What matter of beast is this?" this was far from an ordinary ninken.

|Jao no Kuchi's [Copy Resistance Ability] is in Effect!|

While Orochimaru contemplated why the ninken was still breathing, the man didn't into account of two things. One, Hottomaru was half Komainu, a breed of ninken with incredible fortitude and resilience.

The second was the Jao no Kuchi. Hotto's constant use and abuse of it increased the skill to the point that it allowed him to copy fifty percent of his opponent's highest resistance level. And with Orochimaru's poison resistance being insanely high, so long as the technique remained active, the effects of the snakes' poison were nowhere as potent as they normally would be.

Opening his mouth as wide as he could, Hottomaru and a severally weakened Naruto watched as another Orochimaru crawled out of… well, himself. The action reminded Naruto a serpent shedding its skin, only in a more grotesque manner.

"Peek-a-boo," the man chortled, unable to help himself.

"…Okay, I've seen some crazy shit but that's just messed up," Naruto thought.

As if reading his mind, Orochimaru released a dark unsettling laugh, "Oh, my dear Naruto-kun. You've seen nothing yet," judging by whom he was dealing with, Naruto was inclined to believe the twisted man.

Discarding the now empty shell, Hottomaru prepared to lunge towards the man, "BARRKKK!"

"Daitoppa (Great Breakthrough)!" a powerful gust of wind struck the ninken, halting his lunge mid-flight and sending him flying backwards. Orochimaru raised his arms to summon forth another wave of snakes but found himself grappling with Naruto instead. Naruto grunted in exertion as he used all his might – combined with the Kongoriki of course – to hold them man in place.

"Simply incredible," the man remarked. Even with the seal placed on him and the constant use of powerful techniques, the blond still had enough energy to go on fighting. But as remarkable as the feat was, Orochimaru was starting to become annoyed by the constant interference.

|Warning! Your chakra is being drained!|

(Countdown: 1:02)

"Come on," Naruto only needed to hold off until the time was up. But the boy cursed as he felt his chakra and energy leave him at a frightening rate. Orochimaru's mastery of whatever technique was doing this had to be incredibly high. If Naruto didn't let go, he'd be drained within minutes. But if he did let go, Karin would become a sitting duck.

"I must say it's been fun, Naruto-kun. But, unfortunately, I'm going to cut it short," and with that, Orochimaru brought the boy in and delivered a heavy knee rise to the boy's gut. The White Snake then followed up with a vicious punch to the face that sent Naruto flying before he crashed into a nearby boulder. The swift combination of blows took less than three seconds, and Naruto was left with a bad case of the Daze Status Effect.

Were he not in a hurry, Orochimaru would have fiddled with the idea of marking the boy with a Cursed Seal. But every second counted, and the sooner he grabbed the girl, the better.

"Gekidoku: Akumu no Kyoki (Deadly Poison: Nightmare from the Ancient World)!" a weakened Ino declared a glob of pink shooting from her mouth and striking a distracted Orochimaru in the back. Ino huffed loudly, as her all or nothing attack used up most of her chakra, before she fell unconscious to the ground.

Orochimaru ignored the slimy liquid that struck his exposed as he made his way towards Karin. The girl's poorly attempted effort was wasted in his mind. "So far only the jinchuriki is showing promise," the other two were impressive compared to other Genin nowadays, but it didn't go any further than that. Orochimaru saw the girl being protected by the injured ninken and decided to rid himself of the beast once and for all.

"Hiss!"

Orochimaru stopped in his tracks as he heard a sound behind him. Orochimaru knew it neither Anko nor Midori. "No, those two would have attacked the moment they saw me."

"GGGRRRRAAAAAHGHHHHH!"

Orochimaru dodged just as the jaws of whatever dove at him clamped down with a resonating clap! The man had no time for respite as it whirled around and swung its tail at him with frightening speed. The man managed to avoid being hit in the torso but was nicked in the arm hard enough to send him spinning before he landed on the ground.

Whatever the creature was wouldn't let up though as Orochimaru heard it charging down towards him. The man managed to rise up quickly enough to come face to face with something he had never seen before. It was an incredibly large reptilian-like creature with only two long forelimbs and no hind limbs, along with a long, prehensile, serpentine tails. Its body was long and slender, yet muscular. But its appearance was noticeably skeletal, particularly the torso and head, the latter of which looked as though the skull was on the outside.

"GGGRAHGHHH!" it roared, momentarily stunning him somehow. The action allowed it enough time to smack the man around like a rag doll. The force behind it robbing him of his oxygen, a process it repeated more than once before his form was battered and weakened. Then it jutted out its tongue, which quickly and tightly began wrapping around him. The sticky appendage gave no quarter as it squeezed the man like a constrictor before it retracted back into the mouth of the unknown beast.

Orochimaru couldn't help but gasp and shout as he felt the large sword like teeth dig and rend into him, turning his body into pieces of ripped meat and destroyed clothing. Then, as his chewed up form made it way into his stomach, Orochimaru vacated his damaged self, only for his arm to come into contact with the deadly stomach acid. The man felt his arm burn, and melt as it ate away at his vulnerable flesh. Years of modifying his body to prevent such harm proved useless at the moment. All Orochimaru could do was scream and nothing more.

Then it all ended. And Orochimaru found himself no longer in the belly of the beast but in the real world.

"What the hell was that!" the man would never admit it out loud, but what he saw, and what he felt, felt so intensely real. And, dare he say it, unnerving. "It was like Itachi's genjutsu, maybe even worse," the man gasped in pain and looked at his arm to see it was bloody. Chunks of flesh were missing and the man felt a burning sensation, "As if it as being burnt off."

"Kyojin Saigasho (Titan's Crushing Fang Impact!)" was all the warning Orochimaru received. His mind, which was still rattled by the effects of Ino's poison, registered the attack too late. The merciless kanabo struck him hard in the face, his skin rippling from one side to the next. His feet, now no longer touching the ground, told Orochimaru he was currently airborne. Were he a lesser man the blow would have killed him. But years of experimenting on his body would allow him to shake off such blows with ease.

Even blows that were powered by his teammate's legendary super strength would be shaken off, though the latter would hurt a hell of a lot more. But it didn't mean the boy's current blow didn't sting like hell. The man could only imagine what it would feel like had the chakra cloak still been active.

Before he could right himself, Orochimaru felt himself make contact with something that was highly unpleasant, "Hakke: Kikosho (Eight Trigrams: Qigong Palm)!"

Between the weakened Hyuga's palms was a large ball of chakra that rippled and pulse with concussive power. The energy surged outwards and made contact with Orochimaru's back, once, twice, four times, the effects increasing every time before it finally ended at twenty and subsequently exploded.

Orochimaru flew high into the air, unable to right himself for whatever reason, while the explosion sent Hinata crashing into a tree. Then gravity took hold and Orochimaru plummeted to the unforgiving ground and crashed with a loud thud. Off to the side, the injured Hottomaru looked ready to charge in and clamp down on the man's throat. Payback for the burning stab wound in his shoulders.

"Hotto, stay right there!" Naruto ordered, knowing what his ninken was thinking. "He's not done."

And his words rang true as Orochimaru's form rose from the ground. Naruto tensed and created Shadow Clones to watch over his teammates. The boy expected the man to be angry, and why wouldn't he be. Naruto himself would be the same after what just happened.

"Kukuku."

"Huh?" of all the reactions Naruto thought was coming, laughter was the furthest from his mind.

"Kukukuhahaha HAHAHAHAHA!" if it was not for his Gamer's Mind, Naruto knew without a doubt that he'd be shitting himself right now. "Remarkable! Simply remarkable! You three proved me wrong. Oh, so very wrong indeed," the man's smile was both highly unpleasant and highly unnerving.

Orochimaru suspected these three were above average Genin, but it wasn't the first time he encountered such Genin. Now he realized he was wrong. Somehow, despite their age, these three were a superior cut above. These three were special, very special in the man's mind. These three had the man's curiosity, but now they had his attention. Something no one wanted to have.

"Yes. Allow me to leave you with a parting gift."

"Oh, fuck I don't like the sound of that," Naruto tensed and prepared himself for what was about to happen next. What transpired was a snake coming out of Orochimaru's mouth, and from the serpent's mouth came a sword.


Kusanagi no Tsurugi (Grass-Mowing Sword) Epic Quality

Weapon Type: Range, Slashing, Piercing

Attack Power: 719-959

Durability: 550/550

Description: The Kusanagi no Tsurugi is a legendary blade that many master swordsmen would die to acquire. Though its appearance is that of an ordinary katana, looks can be deceiving. At first glance many mistake the Kusanagi as a single edge blade, while it is, in fact, a double-edged sword with the keenness of edges. This is especially so when channeled with elemental and non-elemental chakra. Due to its ability to replicate and enhance the effects of any poison, it has come into contact existence, the weapon is highly sought after by poison users as well. In addition, the sword possesses the ability to swiftly extend its blade over long distances with incredible accuracy. How these two processes were made possible remains a mystery.

Where and who made this weapon has remained a mystery, too. However, it is considered incomplete if rumours are to go by. Legends claim the sword was once part of a single sword before it was split in two: the Kusanagi and the Murakumo. Swordsmen claim that if the two weapons were to be reunited and become whole again, it would be reborn as one of the deadliest of swords.

Requirements: Expert Bladed Skill Mastery (Weapon Penalty if Used Otherwise)

Bonus Stats: +95% Chance to cause Severe Bleeding Status Effect, Random Poison Status Effect, and Sever Status Effect, +125% increase towards Effectiveness and Power towards Chakra Flow Skill Effectiveness, +100% increased towards Effectiveness, Speed, EXP and Power towards Sword Based Skills and Fighting Styles, +75% Chance of Ignoring Defense

Special Trait: Incomplete Sword, Telekinesis, Extending Blade, and Vast Poison Production, Keenness Edge


"Fuuuuccccckkkk," was all Naruto could say. The weapon was awesome as hell, and that was only the base stat. The boy could only imagine how much better it would be if it were equipped by someone with sword boosting traits or equipment.

"But it just had to be in the hands of homicidal nuke-nin,"forget the fact he was a nuke-nin, Orochimaru was once one of Konoha's best, a top tier shinobi that appeared only once in blue moon. And the man had an epic if not borderline legendary sword as his disposal.

This was gonna hurt.

(Countdown: - 0:59!)

Would you like to end the mission now?

(Y/N)

Or not.

"Yes! End the fucking mission!" Naruto shouted uncaring who heard or the fact he'd end up with extra rewards. The old Naruto would have continued fighting despite the odds out of sheer stubbornness and stupidity. But this Naruto knew he was extremely lucky to have lasted even this long. Access to the Kyubi's chakra was cut off, he was running on fumes, and his teammates were out for the count. Had he noticed it sooner, Naruto would have ended the mission the moment the countdown reached zero.

The boy wasn't ashamed to throw in the towel now that their objective was done. He'd live to fight the man another day. Of that Orochimaru could count on.


[QUEST COMPLETED!]

Do or Die!

Main Quest: Must last at least 5 minutes against Orochimaru! (Accomplished)

Secondary Quest: Last longer than 5 minutes against Orochimaru! (+1:02, Accomplished)

Total Rewards Earned:

5500 EXP, +600 REP with Konoha, +500 REP with Karin


"Kuchiyose: Yatai Kuzushi no Jutsu (Summoning: Food Cart Destroyer Technique)!" a voice was heard from above. Followed soon after by the sound of a thunderous crash, courtesy of an extremely large orange and red toad. The enormous toad acted as a barrier between Karin, Team Eight and Orochimaru.

"Jiraiya," Orochimaru greeted his former teammate, a scowl on his face for the man's untimely appearance.

"Orochimaru," the man returned his former friend's scowl with one of his own. But first thing was first, "Gamaryu. The kids."

"Got it," faster than he could anticipate, Naruto watched in fascination and horror as the toad's tongue darted out, latched onto Hottomaru and Karin, and then proceeded to dart back into its mouth.

"Oh, god damn it. Not again!" Naruto cursed as the toad eyed him before its tongue darted towards him. "Fuck!"

"Oh, yeah. Definitely Kushina's kid," Jiraiya commented, just as the last of the Genin were swallowed up by the amphibian. "So, you ready to do this?"

Orochimaru scowled, upset that his target was now out of reach, but smirked all the same, "Perhaps another time, Jiraiya. Give my regards to–"

"Die mother fucker!" was the man's only warning, a deadly whip of sickly yellow energy slicing through his midsection like a red hot knife through warm butter. Orochimaru's lower body fell backwards while his torso fell forward. But it wasn't the end. The severed torso quickly sprouted a swarm of snakes that wreathed together before forming a humanoid like tail.

"Okay, that's messed up," Jiraiya couldn't help but wonder how far his former teammate and best friend had gone.

The sudden skill Orochimaru used enabled him to put some distance between himself, Jiraiya and his summon, and his attacker. It didn't surprise the man that it ended up being his former student. What did surprise him were her appearance and the feeling of her chakra.

"Anko-chan. So nice to see you again," the man dodged under the yellow whip as she lashed out at him with wild abandon. "Anko-chan, I'm hurt. We haven't seen each other for so long and already you're trying to kill me. And with the present I left you no less."

"Shut up, shut up, shut up!" Anko shouted, her anger fueling the curse seal and impairing her judgment. This man had not only ruined her life and the lives of others, but he also attacked her Genin. Anko was adamant on making him suffer.

In an act that confused both men, Anko stabbed her claw-like nails into her arms and drew forth blood. Luckily, the power of her Cursed Seal Level One allowed her to heal rather quickly as she set unleashed her technique. A gut feeling told Orochimaru the technique would be far from pleasant. Before Anko unleashed it, Orochimaru held his hand up in a sign to immobilize his student with the seal.

Yet nothing happened, and Anko's technique remained unopposed.

"Eat this! Dokka: Hijin Kessō (Toxic Luster: Flying Blade Blood Claws)!" Anko drew back both of her arms before she flung them forward, one arm crossing over the other as she unleashed a barrage of red crescent shaped blades. Seeing his initial plan end – something he'd look into – Orochimaru was forced to go another route.

"Kuchiyose: Rashomon (Summoning: Rashomon)!" from the ground came a large demonic like gate that blocked off the barrage of blades. His face, however, contorted into one of intrigue as he saw the corrosive effects that played out before him. The singular Rashomon was nowhere as the large compared to its stronger variants – it was the weakest of the techniques – but the defensive properties was still nothing to be taken lightly. Yet the technique ate through the gate at a rapid pace.

"That's new," his student's technique intriguing the man.

"Ranjishigami no Jutsu (Wild Lion's Mane Technique)!"

From the corroded gate burst through a white lion's head, its maw wide open with the intent to swallow him whole. As it clamped down on the man's body, Orochimaru's form shuddered before it fell apart into multiple serpents.

"Retsujin (Tearing Blade)!" quickly the snakes circled the lion's head, the act shredding them to pieces due to the form being harder than steel, but slowing its retreat as Orochimaru stabbed down with the Kusanagi. The sword pierced the lion's head and with a sudden jerk the man decapitated the beast; the act ending the technique, forcing Jiraiya's hair to shrink back down to its original size.

Orochimaru merely laughed as he began sinking into the earth. "It's been fun catching up, Jiraiya, Anko-chan. But, unfortunately, my time is up. I'll be seeing you soon though. Kukuku, very soon."

And just as Anko was about to pierce the smug bastard's skull with her corrosive claws did the man vanish. Any sign of his chakra signature was gone.


(Elsewhere)

"That could have gone better," Asagao frowned. She wouldn't admit it out loud, but it was evidently clear that Konoha had some quality ninja despite their years of peace. Granted, Anbu were considered the best of the bests, and Jiraiya of the Legendary Three Ninja was an unexpected turn of events. Strong and experienced as the three women were, they were nowhere the man's level.

Asagao's skill in fuinjutsu was greatly superior to the man's own and more than enough to subdue him if she caught Jiraiya off guard. However, his knowledge would require her to use secret clan techniques if she wanted a chance to deal some actual damage. The woman wasn't prepared to reveal them just yet, however. Feeling her side warm up, Asagao pulled out a scroll, unfurled it and watched as a hologram of a woman began appearing before her, "Status report!"

"The mission was a failure, Honoka-sama," Asagao stated.

"What happened? Where are the two Uzumaki!?" the woman demanded.

"Gone. I ordered Meiko and Jinouga after them as you ordered, but I haven't heard from them. They may be heading back to the rendezvous as we speak," Asagao knew that Shaku could handle herself; Meiko was another story. She wasn't as experienced as the two older Uzumaki.

"You still haven't told me what happened. How did the plan not work? Those beasts weren't easy to make but shouldn't have gone down so easily, either," being directly linked to her creations; Honoka knew that Jinouga was either dead or her link to him was severed. "Possibly a contract seal!"

"Jiraiya of the Sannin appeared, milady. We had the Anbu outclassed and outnumbered, and with the beasts, they stood no chance. Victory was assured before he showed up," Asagao told her clan head. "We were forced to retreat."

Rather than respond, Honoka remained silent as she contemplated this series of events. More than once did the man interfere with their plans and it was apparent that he was starting to become a nuisance. The man had to be dealt with, "Set up a meeting Harukichi. I want to meet with him, personally."

"At once, Honoka-sama," Asagao bowed. "In the meantime, what shall we–"

"Tell the others to remain low and continue their duties," Honoka interrupted, "I want the corpses of the beasts retrieved, or as much samples of them as you can't," she could technically summon them but she already spent an enormous deal of chakra to reverse summon them to their location. At the moment she had yet to recover at a respectable level, and at the current distance was too great even with the amount of chakra she possessed. "Keep tabs on those two Uzumaki. The moment either one of them leaves Konoha, you will inform me."

"Hai, Honoka-sama," the woman said, the woman's hologram flickering out of existence.

Though their mission ended in failure, Asagao made a vow she wouldn't fail again. Sannin or not, Jiraiya wasn't going to interfere in their plans anymore. The next time they met, she'd be prepared for him.


XxX

"Ow! Damn!" Naruto grunted as his shoulder was popped back into place, no longer being affected by the Physical Impairment: Arm as a result. His chakra was slowly coming around, too, thanks to Jiraiya.

"You're fine," Neko told him before moving on to the other Genin.

"Didn't even know that happened," then again, he was under the effects of the Kyubi's chakra. But even with the trade-off for increased physical power and chakra – while also reducing his sound judgment and common sense – it barely allowed him to keep up with the toying man. Sure, he landed some decent hits but the man could have ended him in a flash if he was serious from the get go, "Especially with that sword, damn."

Naruto knew of the Kusanagi, having acquired it the odd times on his video games. It was easily one of the best swords ever and offered some kickass abilities and stats, something the real thing possessed, too. "And it's incomplete to boot," the boy could only wonder how awesome it would be whole. But he pushed that matter aside for now. It was a no-brainer that the Kusanagi wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.


[QUEST ALERT!]

Two Heavens as One

Main Quest: Find and reunite the Murakumo no Tsurugi and Kusanagi no Tsurugi

Main Quest Completion Rewards: +50 Attribute Points, "?", +1,300,000 EXP, "?", "?"

Quest is optional.

Accept Quest?

(Yes/No)


"Naruto-kun? Are you alright?" Hinata asked him.

"I'm fine. Thanks, Hinata," he told her with a smile before he accepted the quest.

The girl flushed a bit before she noticed a few cuts on his head, "Here, let me."

Taking some ointment, Hinata rubbed it on his hand and Naruto watched as he gained the Regen Status Effect. The girl followed up with by setting her hands aglow with green chakra and placed them on top of his head.

"I'll take some of that when you're done with him, Hinata," Ino called out, her voice sounding a bit hoarse and rough. Apparently, her last technique had some side effects.

Speaking of which, "What was that stuff you hit him with?" Naruto asked while Hinata healed his head.

"Remember when I was fiddling with the plants I found on our training session," Naruto nodded, "Well, I may or may not have hit him with some of the nastier batches."

All four members of Team 8 shuddered at the memory. The poison was discovered purely by accident and Ino was still trying to perfect it. Said poison wasn't deadly in the sense that it would shut down motor function – though with a bit a luck it would down the line – or cause the air paths to seize up, it did cause intensely horrific visions. The effects didn't last long, something about the composition breaking down too quickly, but damn if it didn't leave an impression on the victim's mind.

The poison was like a genjutsu, a very powerful one and made them see things that felt real. The effects create a psychoactive event in the mind so intense that the body soon began reflecting some of these wounds. Ino rarely used it since the ingredients were not only extremely rare but because she had yet to formulate an antidote or master it. There were also the moral ramifications to consider as well. The Yamanaka heiress had labeled it as a forbidden technique and it was currently her most powerful and most dangerous poison technique.

"Still, for a poison to have affected Orochimaru of all people is impressive," they heard Neko praise.

"You don't know the half of it," Ino grinned but said no more. If the woman was impressed now the girl could only wonder how much more she'd been with the mastered version. That would truly be the stuff of nightmares.

"Hinata, you okay?" Naruto asked, seeing his teammate sweat.

"I'm fine, Naruto-kun. Just a bit tired," was all she said.

"You used the Shimyaku Enbu (Dead Pulse Performance) didn't you?" Ino commented, recognizing the technique's side effects.

"Hai," she nodded, and continued healing her teammate, "I didn't have a choice. To be honest, I still can't believe it fooled him," she admitted but gave a light frown. Even though it was her own technique, Hinata, in all honesty, currently didn't care for it at the moment.

When forced to give her Rosary of the Wandering Miko to Anko, the Hyuga came up with a technique that combined the principles of deception and medical ninjutsu. The Dead Pulse Performance was a technique that simulated death by slowing down one's heartbeat to the lowest possible level. The technique worked, and when used the dungeon enemies ignored her fallen form. The only downside was that at its current level it took her some time to get back up and running and greatly increased her fatigue levels, too.

It was a risky technique as well, and one that Hinata decided to use only as a last resort. The girl theorized that if she performed it incorrectly it could potentially leave her in a very compromising situation. Hinata was surprised that she managed to pull it off with killing intent washing over her. A quick but thorough medical scan put her mind at ease when nothing was out of the ordinary.

"You three are something else, you know," Jiraiya laughed.

"Yeah, we fought a Sannin and lived," Naruto still couldn't believe it.

"Don't get cocky, gaki! If my sick bastard of a teacher was serious from the get-go you'd all be dead or worse," Anko butt in. Others would assume her attitude were the lingering effects of the seal, Naruto knew otherwise.

"Have to agree with Anko there. You guys stalled him for six minutes – which, mind you, is no small feat – but it took all you got just to pull that off. Trust me when I say this: Orochimaru is like a predator toying with its prey. He'll let it drag on until he gets bored, and won't take a fight seriously until something significant happens. Now that he knows what you're capable of he won't go easy the next time you meet," he'd probably test them but that was it.

Naruto frowned as Jiraiya said that, "If that's true then why did he sound pleased?"

"…What?"

"Yeah. After we smacked him around a few times, he just started laughing. Went on calling us remarkable," Naruto recalled.

The news didn't bode well for the group of ninja who heard this and feeling dread and worry started to bubble, "Anything else? Anything at all!"

The concern in their voice was so clear it went beyond crystal. Concentrating, Naruto remembered the last thing Orochimaru told them, "Yeah. Before you crashed the party – cool technique by the way – he said something about leaving us with a gift."

"THAT FUCKER'S DEAD!" Anko roared, the chakra and cursed seal flaring up, and her personality taking a one-eighty-degree turn.

"This chakra… it's similar to his!" Karin shuddered. The feeling wasn't as oppressive but malevolence was there still. It frightened her if she was being honest.

Turning around, Anko found her path blocked by the remaining Anbu. Their level of stupidity was high in her opinion. Nothing would stand in her way of making Orochimaru pay. Attacking students was one thing – which shouldn't have happened in the first place – but the man's suggesting of branding them with the curse seal was another altogether. It didn't take a genius for Anko to make that deduction.

A quick use of the Shunshin created some distance between her and the Anbu grunts that were too slow to react. But the woman didn't get far as Jiraiya suddenly appeared before her, grabbed the enraged woman and slapped her neck with a piece of paper that subdued the cursed seal. The anger didn't, however.

"LET ME GO, PERV! HE HAS TO DIE!" Anko struggled against the man's hold. Despite the dark power receding, the woman's rage still fuelled her desire to torture and end the man.

"I get it, but you have no idea where he is and you'll barely last five minutes with how angry you are," even if she was calm, Jiraiya knew Anko wouldn't have the strength to bring the man down. Even with her noticeable boost in power. She'd land a few good blows, probably, but that was about it. The man's reasoning fell on deaf ears so Yugao opted to change tactics in his stead.

SMACK!

The slap, however, was a twist he didn't expect.

"Anko! Your students need you! Woman up, bitch!"

The Anbu grunts showed no outward expressions at the action – though their masks covering their faces probably played a role in it, too – having been used to the relationship their captain had with the eccentric I&T specialist.

"… Sorry," was all Anko said, not trusting herself. Or, more specifically, her darker self influencing by the seal.

SMACK!

"But friend or not, don't you ever bitch slap me again!" Anko said, getting into Yugao's face.

"Like we haven't heard that one before," the Anbu sweat dropped. Well, better their captain than them.

Were the situation not so serious, Jiraiya would have considered using the scene in one of his future books, "Then again, stuff like this only comes up once in a blue moon."

"Okay, so with that all done, what now?" Naruto asked, his gaze landing on a bound and tied up Meiko a second later, contemplating her fate, "What's gonna happen to her?"

Apparently, the girl and the blue beast were ordered to track and stop them from escaping. That plan didn't exactly branch out the moment Jiraiya crashed the party. From what Naruto knew of the man from Anko, the only way she'd have stood a change was if she took off her top off.

"Wouldn't be the worst way to lose a fight," was the teenager's perverted thought. Hell! The loss would be damn worth it. But the boy soon turned green when the rational part of him made him remember she was family.

"Her name is Meiko," Neko announced. "According to the Bingo Books she's a B-Rank bounty hunter with a decent reputation. Last I heard she got into some trouble and made more than a few enemies with the underground and a few bounty hunters. Rumors say she went off the grid as a result."

"Shows how much you know," Meiko muttered lowly, but was heard nonetheless by the Anbu squad leader. Yugao made a mental note to get that clarified later once they reached Konoha.

Yugao, however, continued, "Epithets: Komajo no Tekken (The Scarlet Witch with the Iron Fists) or Majo (Witch) for short. Apparently she's a skilled scientist but has noticeable skills in taijutsu and is said to have a wicked punch."

"Ain't that the truth," Jiraiya was still wincing from a lucky blow she landed. The girl was no Tsunade but the blow would definitely leave a mark. He idly wondered if it was a trait all females with Uzumaki blood possessed.

"Scarlet Witch?" Naruto give the girl a glance and except for a bit of blood here and there he didn't see a lick of red on her, "Where'd she get that from?"

"Her hair," Karin got their attention. "We Uzumaki are known for our red hair."

"Hair dye, clever," Ino commented. It was a simple but effective strategy really.

Karin nodded, "Mom and dad dyed their hair colour before Kusa discovered who they were. Seemed pointless to do so afterward when you couldn't really go anywhere. Not all of them do it either out of pride or because they're half bloods with different hair colour. But it's not uncommon."

"Yeah, well, as enlightening as it is, what's gonna happen to her?" his earlier question not answered.

Family or no, Meiko did attack his team, but the boy was torn. The girl was an Uzumaki, one of the few remaining, but she and the rest of the Uzumaki also attacked them, maybe even had the intent to kill.

"Team 8 and Anko will continue making their way back to Konoha. Our job is to deal with the Kusa team and any remaining Uzumaki stragglers. This one is gonna have to go back with you. Think you can manage?"

"I can swallow you and make my way back to Konoha if you'd like?" Gamaryu offered.

"NO!" was the reply from Karin and Team 8's Genin. Once was more than enough, twice was too much. If they went through it a third time someone was gonna end up with broken kneecaps, and so much more.

Anko laughed even as the rescued Uzumaki and her team sent her death glares and dirty looks, "Tempting as the offer sounds, I think we'll manage. Wouldn't mind a lift on his back until we're further into Hi no Kuni's territory."

Jiraiya merely nodded, "It's your call, Anko. Just watch yourself. These Uzumaki women they're highly skilled and just as dangerous. Don't take em lightly," they were also hot as well in his opinion, the tall one especially.

Anko frowned. Perverted as he was, Jiraiya was easily the second most powerful ninja Konoha had; few ninja could get him to say such a thing. The woman merely nodded before she looked to her team.

"Hey! I'm an Uzumaki. What about me?" Naruto felt insulted.

"You're not a woman, brat," Jiraiya retorted with a smirk.

"Oiroke no Jutsu (Sexy Technique)!" Only to lose that smirk seconds later as the boy's form was replaced with a naked adult female version. The girl had it all: hourglass figure, flowing blond pigtails, legs that wouldn't stop, and a perfect set of breasts covered by strategically placed wisps of smoke.

"I'm. I. Now. Ji-rai-ya-sa-ma?" she finished with a seductive wink.

"TENNNN!" the super perverted couldn't help himself as he was launched into the air, blood gushing from his nostril like high-pressured water streams.

Your reputation with Uzuki Yugao has decreased by 100

Your reputation with Konoha's Anbu has increased by 100

Your reputation with Mitarashi Anko has increased by 100

Your reputation with Yamanaka Ino has increased by 100

Your reputation with Jiraiya has increased by 300!

"Okay, I wasn't expecting that," the increased reputation with the Anbu, Jiraiya and Anko were a given. Jiraiya and men in general were perverts, something he learned early on. Anko's rep was increased because it was a prank and possibly because she was bi-sexual. Yugao, despite being in the Anbu, was a bit classy so he could understand the decrease. Ino's increase, however, came as shock. A quickly glance allowed him to see her trying to hide her blush.

"Ino's a lesbian?" that or bisexual, which was cool – kidda hot as well – and all in Naruto's opinion, whatever floats one's boat. The boy was just surprised given the amount of time she crushed after Sasuke. Then again, the same could be said about him with Sakura. The boy had lingering thoughts, true, but time away from her and time spent with Team Eight slowly but surely changed those feelings.

"Alright, enough fun, kiddies. Everyone up on the toad," she ordered, her gaze falling on Gamaryu, "Swallow the red head."

"Come again?" Meiko thought she heard wrong, only to feel a sticky appendage latch onto her form before it swiftly retracted, "SSSSSHHHHHHIIIITTTTTT!"

"That was cruel," Naruto muttered. Fitting, but cruel. At least it wasn't him again; the blond Uzumaki shuddered.


(Sometime Later)

"Ah, home sweet home," a content Anko breathed in the fresh scent of trees. Meiko and Karin remained dumbfounded by the act of instant travelling.

The instructor of Team Eight would openly admit that Naruto's Fast Travel was a damn useful technique to have on their side. What would take them days or weeks now took them seconds. The only downside – other than the specifics – was making certain others didn't catch on. People feared the Yondaime not only due to his prodigious prowess but also for his skill with Senju Tobirama's Flying Thunder God. After all, it did help them win the last war.

But while her student's technique wasn't on the same level, rumours were powerful and dangerous. All it took was one person to start believing and soon others would follow. Add that Naruto was coming into his rather quickly compared to the old him would cause others to ask questions. Naruto – all three of her students, really – was very strong for his age but he lacked experience. His Gamer ability gave him a huge advantage, but it didn't make him invincible. Team Eight's bout with Orochimaru proved that.

"Kid's a Jonin on some levels but he's still rough around the edges like other Genin," and not just him but Ino and Hinata also. And with the Chunin Exams being less than three weeks away she'd have to push them as hard as she could, after a couple of days off, of course.

"Okay, what the hell happened!" Karin couldn't help herself from asking.

"Let's just say I have a unique technique that let's me travel from one place to another in an instant," Naruto told her.

"You know the Flying Thunder God, don't you," Meiko felt all eyes on her. "Oh, come on. Everyone's heard of it. Why do think we were attacked?"

"I was told it was because–"

"That it was because we were masters at seals," she interrupted, "Yeah, like I haven't heard that bullshit before. That's like saying the Nara were masters of strategy or the Uchiha were masters of fire related techniques and genjutsu."

Despite the revelation, Anko quickly put two and two together "… Shit," but didn't voice her thoughts.

Meiko smirked, "Give the woman a prize. The Uzumaki helped the Nidaime make the damn thing. True, we never quite managed to use it on the same level as him but damn if wasn't it useful for sneak attacks and quick geta–" before she could go any further, Meiko found herself gagged by a scowling Anko.

"Hey!?" Naruto was both confused by the action and the fact he couldn't find out more about his clan.

Anko, however, ignored his outburst, "Until we speak with Hokage-sama, you four will keep your mouths shut about this. You will tell no one and no one is to find out. Understand!"

"But why–"

"I said do you understand!" Anko barked out. However, seeing the betrayed-like look on their faces, Anko knew she went a bit too far, "Look. Knowledge of this kind is something others won't hesitate to kill if it means getting it. You guys are strong, especially when you're together, but others are much stronger. And they won't hesitate to torture you for this kind of intel. Trust me when I say that the less you know about it, the safer you'll be."

Naruto frowned, but nodded nonetheless. He didn't like it, but he understood where she was coming from, "Got it," he said, Ino, Hinata, Karin, and Hotto agreed as well before they made their way to the Hokage Tower.


(XxX)

Naruto kicked a rock as he and his ninken continued their trek down the village. Apparently they just missed Jiji when the man entered a last minute council meeting. So now Team Eight was forced to wait until they received word he was ready for their report.

"And if past experience hasn't taught me anything about council meetings then this may take a while," the blond shinobi sighed. The boy was bored and not overly interested in going into a dungeon at the moment.

Ino and Hinata went to their respective clan compounds while Anko took care of Karin and Meiko. Meiko would be held in the cells while Karin he had no idea what would happen; Naruto was also unsure where Karin was gonna bunk now that she was here. While he was tempted to offer her a place to stay with him – it would give them the chance to get to know one another as a result – his home was currently a one man abode until it was fixed up.

"Guess I can work on that till they come get … Oh, for the love of…" Naruto sighed; only this time it was one of exasperation. Rather than say anything, Naruto merely threw a pair of shuriken that struck a square rock – with eyeholes no less – the action earning him a series of yelps and childish screams.

"Seriously, Kono, if you're gonna call yourself my underling at least do a better job. I mean, a square rock? Do we look like we're in a quarry? If I were Iruka-sensei I'd give ya a big fat F… You know what, screw it, I am gonna do that. You guys get an F!" the blond having sensed more than just the Hokage's grandson.

"NO!" a voice that wasn't his underling yelled in anguish; the box lifting to reveal an actual snot nosed kid with glasses. "Don't fail me! It'll ruin my grade record!"

"Udon, you idiot!" another unfamiliar voice called all. This one was female.

"Ah, come on, guys! I had this planned all week," and there was the Hokage's grandson and Naruto's self-proclaimed underling.

"Okay, first off, if you're going for stealth don't scream and reveal yourself! It kinda defeats the whole purpose," Naruto quoted Anko and had to stop himself from face planting as they began to take notes. "Secondly, who are these two?"

"Guys, the move," was all Konohamaru said before the three children got into position.

"I'm Moegi, the sassiest kunoichi in school!"

"I enjoy doing Algebra! My name is Udon!"

"And I'm the toughest shinobi in the village! My name is Konohamaru!"

"And we're…The Konohamaru Ninja Corps!" the three eight-year-olds chorused.

"… Needs work," was all he said, rendering them dejected in the process.

"Ah, man. I thought it was awesome," Konohamaru whined. "How can I match up to my rival if I can't even do that right."

"I thought I was your boss?"

"Boss, rival, it's all the same," the scarf-wearing boy waved it off.

"It's really not," Naruto thought with a sweat drop, "This kid's got a long way to go."

"Anyway, where have you been, boss? You promised me you'd play ninja with us when you had the opportunity, remember?" Konohamaru declared, pointing his finger at the older ninja. "Uh, by the way. Did you get taller?"

Naruto had to result the urge to face plant once more, "Seriously?" it took him that long to notice. Oh, boy. The Uzumaki knew he had his work cut out for him.

"What kind of ninja 'plays' ninja?" an unimpressed and ragged looking Sakura asked as she entered the scene.

"Whoa, Sakura, what happened to you?" the boy couldn't help ask.

"I don't wanna talk about it," was all she said, Naruto's question going unanswered. The girl looked spent and just about ready to drop, too. From the looks of it, it appeared that Kakashi was taking his duties more seriously.

Glancing back and forth between the two older ninja Konohamaru looked at the pinked haired kunoichi, and with grin and small blushed asked, "Hey, boss. Is she your," he finished with a gesture.

"Uh…no," was his reply. Sure, at one point in time he'd have considered it, but not now.

Konohamaru was confused before he gave Sakura a look over, "It's the forehead and flat chest, isn't it?" Konohamaru asked.

WHAM!

"Oh, I really have my work cut out for me," but try as he might, Naruto failed to hold in his laughter as he gazed upon the prone form of his underling.

"Itai," Konohamaru moaned painfully, a large welt forming on the top of his head as an angry Sakura stomped away in a huff of indignation. "Boss, is that even a girl?"

"This kid's either missing a few brain cells or he's got a serious death wish," Naruto thought as he saw Sakura stop mid stride. This wasn't going to be pretty.

And low and behold. "WHAT!" Unfortunately for the boy, Sakura heard him and began cracking her knuckles for round two.

"…Uh-oh," Konohamaru didn't need to be a genius to know he messed up big time.

"COME HERE!" and with that she charged.

"CRAPPP! Boss, help me!" Konoha shouted as he ran for his life.

"Sorry, kid, no can do!" the blond laughed.

"You suck! What kinda boss doesn't help his underling!" Konohamaru shouted as he ran around a corner, the mad kunoichi hot on his trail. Udon and Moegi trailing soon after the two.

"One that knows that this will serve as a valuable life lesson," was his mental reply. But despite it all, the boy had a chivalrous side to him, "Come on, Hotto. Better make sure Sakura doesn't do too much damage."

"Arf!"

True enough, the scene he came upon was on of Konohamaru deep in the shit. Only it wasn't Sakura who was the reason for it.

"You little brat," an older boy wearing a black cat-like suit of all things shouted, lifting Konohamaru off the ground by the collar of his shirt.

"Hey! Put me down! Let me go!" Konohamaru ordered and struggled to get loose.

"Damn brat! You're the one who bumped into me! I outta make you pay for that!" the boy said, his fist cocked back to go through with the threat.

"Arf! Arf! Grr!"

"Hmm?" looking down, the one holding Konohamaru saw a young dog barking and growling at him. "What the? Scram, ya mutt!"

"Grr… rarf!"

CHOMP!

"YEOW!"

"Yo! What the hell's with all the–"

"For the love of all that is kami and right in the world! Get him off!" the cat suit teenager shouted.

"I would if you'd stop moving you idiot!" his sandy haired companion shouted.

"Grrr!" Hottomaru continued to growl and chomp on the boy's backside.

"Hotto! Bad dog! Let go! You have no idea where that's been," Naruto ordered his ninken, grabbing a hold of the stripped puppy and pulling as hard as he could. The girl grabbed the boy's shoulders and began tugging in the opposite direction.

"AHH!"

RIP!

"Oof!" was the sound he made as he and Hottomaru fell to the ground, a piece of black cloth clinging to his ninken's mouth. "Dumb dog," Naruto chastised before he settled his gaze on the two teens across from him. "Sorry about that. Don't know–"

"You little shits! You're both fucking dead!" the angry boy shouted.

"Huh? What did we do? He's the idiot that bumped into you."

"Hey!" a pissed Konohamaru shouted. "It's not my fault I bumped into the cross dresser!"

"Cross dresser!" the sandy haired teen and the cat suit teenager shouted, one out of horror and anger, the other out of pure amusement.

"Where the hell did that come from?"

"…Well, you're wearing makeup for one, and also a kitty pyjama suit," was the young academy student's response.

Naruto blinked as he processed his underling's words, "He's got a point, dude."

Sakura, who so far stood on the sidelines with Moegi and Udon as the scene unfolded, decided to add her two cents, "I'm sorry for what's happened. But who are you and what are two Sunagakure Genin doing here?"

The girl merely gave Sakura, whom she was believed to be too ignorant to be a kunoichi, a haughty smiled, "Name's Temari. The idiot punk slash cross dresser with the extra hole in his ass is my brother, Kankuro."

"It's war paint!" Kankuro retorted but was promptly ignored.

"Let me guess, Chunin Exams?" Naruto asked.

Temari gave the boy a look over as he stood up, "He's kinda handsome," she thought, "Well, at least one of you is competent to know why we're here."

"Bitch! I dare you to say that again!" Sakura's inner self shouted, fiddling with the notion of ripping her four ponytails from her scalp.

"Chunin Exams are not, I'm kicking your ass, now!" Kankuro declared his arm moving back to grab his wrapped tool. Only for a rock to make contact with it stopping the appendage in its tracks.

"No sudden moves," Sasuke said, making himself known to the group.

"Bout time the teme revealed himself," part of Naruto wondered why Sasuke was in the tree in the first place but decided it wasn't his business. The bloodlust he was sensing on the other hand.

"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura gushed at the boy's arrival.

"Another looker," Temari commented. Though the new arrival wasn't as good looking as the older blond, he was good looking still.

"Another bratty show-off. Whatever. Two, three, it doesn't matter, I'll still–"

"Pathetic," a cold voice unexpectedly cut in.

The suddenness of the voice had everyone except Naruto and Hottomaru stunned as they looked up to see a red headed figure with a large gourd standing under the branch of Sasuke's opposing tree, "That kind of stealth, it's the same level as Kakashi's," the Uchiha noted, a bit unnerved by the fact.

"G-Gaara," Kankuro said a bit fearfully.

"Kankuro, Temari. You're disgraces to our village."

Kankuro replied, "What? B-But they started it and–"

"Shut up, or I'll kill you," was the boy's cold reply, making Kankuro cringe and become more frightened before he began to apologize profusely. Temari was just as fearful as her brother.

"Damn, this guy's bad news if his teammates are scared of him," Naruto noted, unaffected by what was surely subtle killing intent thanks to his Gamer's Mind. However, Konohamaru and his friends weren't. "Yo! You mind toning down the KI a bit? Pretty sure it'll attract the Anbu or something."

The boy's simple words served to stun not only Temari and Kankuro, but also surprise the upside down redhead, too. For as long as they could remember, few, much less Genin of all people, were unaffected by their brother's bloodlust."

Gaara's surprise, however, soon turned into intrigue, "He's not scared and the other managed to hit Kankuro with a rock. Mother will be please."Seconds later did Gaara perform a Suna Shunshin and reappear in between Temari and Kankuro.

"We didn't come here to play. Let's go," Gaara ordered the two Suna Genin and all three began leaving the area without so much as another word. Only to find their path blocked.

"Arf!"

"…?"

"That mutt's dead meat," though in Kankuro's opinion is better the dog than him.

"Arf! Arf! Sniff. Sniff," was all Hottomaru said as he began circling the red head, sniffing all the while in a curious manner. The boy's scent was familiar in his opinion. "Arf!" Gaara, however, didn't even blink at the strange action but found the dog's actions both annoying and confusing.

"Hotto! Get your mangy ass over here!" Naruto ordered the young pup. The ninken complied and Kankuro couldn't help but think how very lucky that dog was.

As Suna made to continue, Gaara asked, "What are your names?" he motioned to Sasuke and Naruto.

"Uzumaki Naruto. This is Hottomaru," the blond introduced.

"Arf!" the pup wagged his tail.

"Uchiha Sasuke. And yours?" the Rookie of the Year asked.

The red haired boy remained silent for a second before answering, "Sabaku no Gaara."

Quick use of his Observe showed that all three had above levels for Genin. Kankuro was at level 27, Temari was at level 33, and Gaara was at level 45. The pop up that followed soon after worried the boy.

Challenge "Meet The Ichibi Jinchuriki!" has been completed!

Reward: 1000

"Oh, fuck," the exams just got a little more complicated it seamed.


Omake: My Two Mothers

"Oiroke no Jutsu (Sexy Technique)!" Only to lose that smirk seconds later as the boy's form was replaced with a naked adult female version. The girl had it all: hourglass figure, flowing blond pigtails, legs that wouldn't stop, and a perfect set of breasts covered by strategically placed wisps of smoke.

"I'm. I. Now. Ji-rai-ya-sa-ma?" she finished with a seductive wink.

"TENNNN!" the super perverted couldn't help himself as he was launched into the air, blood gushing from his nostril like high-pressured water streams.

Your reputation with Uzuki Yugao has decreased by 100

Your reputation with Konoha's Anbu has increased by 100

Your reputation with Mitarashi Anko has increased by 100

Your reputation with Yamanaka Ino has increased by 100

Your reputation with Jiraiya has increased by 300!

"Okay, I wasn't expecting that," the increased reputation with the Anbu, Jiraiya and Anko were a given. Jiraiya and men in general were perverts, something he learned early on. Anko's rep was increased because it was a prank and possibly because she was bi-sexual. Yugao, despite being in the Anbu, was a bit classy so he could understand the decrease. Ino's increase, however, came as shock. A quickly glance allowed him to see her trying to hide her blush.

"Ino's a lesbian?" that or bisexual, which was cool – kidda hot as well – and all in Naruto's opinion, whatever floats one's boat. The boy was just surprised given the amount of time she crushed after Sasuke. Then again, the same could be said about him with Sakura. The boy had lingering thoughts, true, but time away from her and time spent with Team Eight slowly but surely changed those feelings.

(Years Later)

"Come on, Naruto, it'll be fun," a lingerie wearing Ino, which left nothing to the imagination, purred at her lover/husband.

"Ah, man. Do I have to?" Naruto asked. "Doing it for kicks and pranks was one thing, doing it for sex is just… weird."

"You didn't complain last time," the woman smirked, pressing her ample bosom against his arm, moving up and down ever so discreetly.

"I was drunk!" which was thanks to Kurama, the lazy bastard. "And you took advantage of me!" the man still couldn't figure out the logistics of it. If a man did that it was called rape, but if a woman did it then it wasn't? Fucking double standards.

"Oh, boohoo. We had a blast that lasted five hours and you know it," Ino told the blushing and proud man. Five hours wasn't even his best time, either. "Besides, it gave us Raika didn't? "

"Oh, don't remind me," Naruto loved his son with all his being but the boy's conception left him conflicted and wanted to down an entire bottle of pure moonshine.

"You know where gonna have to lie to him if he ask, right? Can't exactly say, "Hey, kiddo, guess what! You were conceived when I was drunk off my ass and I was technically a futa because your mother wanted to spice things up. Oh, and your mother was eating the hell out of your aunt while she was pregnant with Himari!"

Thud!

Naruto rushed from the master bedroom to find two unconscious boys, Boruto and Raika. "… Oh, fuck."

"Oh, calm down. I got this. It's not the first time I wiped their memories," Ino commented and quickly went to work.

"What! How do I not know this?"

"Cuz I wipe away yours, too," she nonchalantly told him. "You're overreacting was starting to kill the mood and toys weren't gonna cut it for me."

"Are you kidding me!" Naruto couldn't believe … no wait, scratch that, he could believe it. "How many times have you–"

(Six Hours and Twelve Minutes Later)

Naruto blinked as his satisfied partner cuddled next to him. A job well done as always in his opinion, Ino's content smile and sleeping form reinforced the claim. And yet, "Why do I feel like I'm missing something?"

Ino's response was merely to cuddle closer to him for warmth, her naked and glistening with sweat form intermingling with his own. Her mischievous smile hidden from Naruto's view.

In the end, Naruto chalked it up as unimportant and went to sleep.


Status Window

Name: Uzumaki Naruto

Level: 37 Next Level: 51,178/62,400

HP: 7600

CP: 11825

STR: 131

VIT: 245

DEX: 237

INT: 371

WIS: 120

LUK: ?

DEF: 115

Attribute Points: 62


Status Window

Name: Hottomaru

Level: 30 Next Level: 12043/38,800

HP: (2725/2725)

CP: (1075/1075)

STR: 67

VIT: 102 (7) = 109

DEX: 105

INT: 43

WIS: 35

LUK: 34

DEF: 70

Attribute Points: 44


Status Window

Name: Yamanaka Ino

Level: 31 Next Level: 37,969/41,600

HP: 1900

CP: 1025

STR: 58

VIT: 76

DEX: 131

INT: 41

WIS: 188

LUK: 25

DEF: 65

Stats: 58

Money: 295,460 Ryo (29,546$)


Status Window

Name: Hyuga Hinata

Level: 32 Next Level: 9427/44,600

HP: 2200

CP: 1550

STR: 49

VIT: 88

DEX: 153

INT: 55

WIS: 221

LUK: 31

DEF: 70

Money: 678,456 Ryo (67,845.60$)

Stats: 57


Just to let you know, this isn't me bashing Sakura. If you all recall, Temari wasn't all that impressed with Sakura when they first met because the latter didn't know about the Chunin Exams. Speaking of which, next chapter is the Chunin Exams and I will be skipping some things to get it rolling because, let's face it, we all know what happens during the first portion and I don't plan to bore you with the written part of it.

Now, as to why the Suna Siblings levels are so high… well, that goes without saying. In Part One it's evident that Temari is much more skilled, experienced, and physically fit that Shikamaru. The problem is that Shikamaru is an opponent that can think many moves ahead and Temari has most likely never faced an opponent like him before. When that happens we tend to get frustrated, which leads to mistakes, which can be taken advantage of by those who know what to do in those situations. Shikamaru is that type of fighter.

The problem with Shikamaru is that he is unmotivated and when he meets an opponent that can actually match or overpower his moves, he's screwed because he lacks the physical fitness and chakra to do anything about it.

The phrase, "It's not always the most powerful fighter that wins, but the smartest," comes into play here. Just because you're powerful doesn't mean you're guaranteed to win, and vice versa with intellect.

Anyway, enough ranting, canon commences next chapter. Give me tons of reviews, please. I'd love to reach the 4100 mark by the end of this chapter. Thanks!