"T-this, this isn't right," Tenten said in disbelief. Her voice uncharacteristically soft. There was no way her village would put a price on her or her fellow ninja's heads. Something was wrong, very wrong. Even in the darkened forest, surrounded by trees that seemed to stretch to the heavens she couldn't mistake what was written on that scroll.
"I agree, this is most unyouthful. Should we alert the proctor?" Lee asked, his manner much more subdued than normal. Neji activated his Byakugan and then shook his head.
"Once we agreed to participate in the second exam any help they'd give us was gone."
"But-"
"I agree, Tenten. Something is amiss but the Chunin exams are not minor things. The Great Five and even the minor shinobi villages must agree on their rules. No outside help or contact. Unless the proctor or the Hokage tells us the exam is over we must proceed as if this was part of the plan."
"Neji, there is a price on my head," Tenten barked.
"Yes, for this exam you are in the Bingo Book. Or, that's a feasible enough complication for us to endure."
"But the four selected out of all available participants? They choose the four friends and no one else? And reveal Naruto-kun is the son of the Yondaime? That is not random selection," Lee argued. "Someone is targeting or sending a message to one or several of the people on that scroll."
"Likely Naruto, he has the highest price and the most damning information shared. Someone wants him dead," Tenten said.
"Or motivated. Either way, we must complete the exam and get to the central tower. It's our best chance to resolve things or find help," Neji concluded. His teammates nodded and all took to the trees. Silently, Tenten hoped her new friends would be ok and come out of this whole.
It wasn't supposed to be like this the nameless genin thought. His team and he were going to do their village proud, show up Konoha and prove that smaller villages were not to be dismissed. He believed fate had smiled upon him when he learned the Yellow Flash had a son and he was in these exams. He remembered the short, quiet blond. The kid didn't look that tough.
He stared into the sky, forced to lie on his back as his vision continued to darken. He was cold, so cold. It was the only thing he could feel. He hadn't sensed his assailant until the blade penetrated his back, severing his spinal cord. He couldn't even see his killer but could hear the screams of his teammates and then silence. He tried to will his body to do anything, for his consciousness to remain but he was powerless. He couldn't even flinch when the ground below him started to move or when a pair of hands started to pull him into the earth.
Naruto took the headbands of the ninja he'd just assassinated. He created a trio of clones, each transforming into a member of the fallen squad and putting on the corresponding headbands. This way, any trackers could still trace their scent and would be less suspicious should they run into the disguised clones. He'd already created dozens of clones to spread out into the forest, running into a team personally had just been an unhappy accident. He didn't like playing Orochimaru's game but his Oji-san kept the secret of his heritage to protect him. Naruto wouldn't allow that to be undone. It may be his last act but he'd make sure there were very few who could share the information disseminated by that traitor.
A quick glow of his finger tip, touching just behind his ear and his communicator seal was reapplied. At his Oji-san's request he'd removed it for the exams. At the time, Naruto said it was a pointless gesture as he memorized all his seals but his Oji-san said it was necessary so he complied. Seeking outside help meant he'd be disqualified but it didn't matter. He sent out an alert but received no response. He knew Haku was out of the village on UzuNami business and was grateful. She was strong but refusing to kill in this scenario would have put her at risk. He assumed Jiraiya and or Sai, however, would still be here. Quickly opting for an alternative Naruto summoned a small, red toad.
"Kosuke-san," Naruto greeted.
"Hey there, Naruto. What can I do for you?"
"I need you to go to the Hokage's Tower and warn my Oji-san that Orochimaru has infiltrated the Forest of Death and taken a Mitirashi Anko-chan hostage."
"And you're going to stay here until he comes with reinforcements?" Kosuke asked.
"No. He claims this is a challenge for me, if I don't come or come with back-up then Anko-chan will be killed, if she hasn't already."
Kosuke didn't try to persuade his newest summoner any further and simply took off at top speed. Once gone, Naruto activated his tracker seals and saw two blips just minutes away. It meant Orochimaru had at least two of those elites with him but Naruto didn't know which ones. He noted that as an oversight that would need to be corrected.
Naruto drew blood from his thumb one more time, summoning two toads; Gamashiro and Gamashira. A brother-sister pair that were just a little taller than him, Shiro was green with white flecks and Shira was solidly orange. Naruto explained what he needed, a one and possibly two person extraction. The two were good at stealth and very fast. If given a proper opening they could get Anko and flee to safety. It wasn't a plan but was as good as he was going to do with limited information. Silently Naruto leapt into the trees and began his final approach.
"Orochimaru-sama," Kidomaru stated, gaining the attention of his master. The spideresque ninja sat atop his summons, there having not been enough time to fully fix his spine. "Someone stepped on one of my threads just south east of here." The alert was greeted with a smile.
"Kukuku, do we think our guest has arrived?" Orochimaru asked from the tree branch looking over his minions, Anko beside him constricted by a large, green snake. He watched his second in command clinch his prosthetic arm and frown.
"It's him, Orochimaru-sama," Kabuto answered, his belief guided solely by the phantom pain he felt in his arm anytime he thought of the Uzumaki. It was near unbearable now but he'd enjoy making the blond pay for mutilating him. It'd be slow and agonizing.
"Then why not welcome him, Kabuto-kun? Take Yoroi-kun and Misumi-kun with you," Orochimaru ordered and the three ninja departed without a word. "Aren't you excited, Anko-chan?" The Sannin asked his former student only receiving a death glare in response.
After five minutes of high speed travel Yoroi finally got the nerve to ask Kabuto a question, intimidated by the bloodlust the medic was projecting in waves. "Kabuto, what can you tell us this kid?"
"He utilizes seals and a passable intellect to make up for his lack of combat ability. The Sound Five and I took them down with little effort," Kabuto shared, "Now shut up before we give away our position," he ordered.
"Too late," a disembodied voice said just as the curved blade of the kyoketsu-shoge dug into Yoroi and pulled the traitor up, his screams filling the forest until moments later quiet returned. The remaining ninja of Team Kabuto were on high alert not willing to be caught off guard again. They heard someone descending and were ready to respond. Except there was nothing to respond to, it was the body of Yoroi falling, only stopping when one of the sturdy branches beside him broke his fall, kunai inserted into the back of his head.
"Lack of combat ability, huh?" Misumi asked, greatly annoying Kabuto. Their mutual slip in discipline made them ignorant to the flash bang array applied to their departed teammate. Blinding light and a piercing screech was the last sensations Misumi would experience before he felt the cold blade of the kyoketsu-shoge slide across his throat. Elevated in his position, the wound created an isolated blood shower within the forest of death, momentarily painting everything red as his life essence gushed out of him. He fell into the inky blackness of the forest floor, the canopy greedily consuming the sunlight.
Rapidly recovering from the distraction Kabuto peered at the genin at the end of their shared branch. The ringing just subsiding from his ears as he stood upright. The boy had a blank look, similar to Danzo's Root. That the Uzumaki mirrored the agents of the man he hated most only fueled his loathing for the blond. He activated his chakra scalpels, it taking a little more concentration for his prosthetic arm, and charged. Not even seeing the Uzumaki activate his own scalpels impeded his approach.
Thrust, parry, swing were the primary motions as the two medics engaged in mortal combat, even with their mutual healing factors they each realized this was a fight with slim margins for error. Slowly, Kabuto started to push his foe back, his experience and superior skill starting to overwhelm the smaller, younger ninja. One slash, narrowly missing the heart, a follow up nearing the lung. Victory was imminent, he could feel it in his bones. His confidence made him more aggressive and left him open for surprise.
Naruto, seeing his opening, used a variant of chakra sticking to rotate around the branch, going under and around and channeling the inertia into a leg sweep. Swiftly, Naruto kicked off the branch to gain some distance from the silver haired traitor. Kabuto, now in a crouched position channeled chakra into his limbs unwilling to allow his prey to escape. He dashed, blurring toward the still airborne Naruto prepared and excited to end his life. But the Uzumaki showed his pension for the unpredictable once more as a second, kunai wielding, Naruto charted a path intercepting Kabuto's own. Waylaid again, and out of position, Kabuto had to accept the kunai being dug into his replacement limb as he mercilessly dispatched his assailant.
Kabuto expected his attacker was a shadow clone and would dispel when he countered. He was correct. He assumed the multiple purpose ninja weapon stuck in his arm would as well.
He was wrong.
The clone dispelling did, however, undo the genjutsu cloaking the explosive note attached to the kunai. In a fit of primal instinct the medic attempted to pull the kunai out, getting his sole original hand on the handle right as it exploded. Once more Kabuto experienced being maimed by the Uzumaki. The blinding pain not even allowing him to scream as he hit the ground with a bone breaking thud. Through sheer force of will he managed to get to his knees. The explosion robbed him of his sight and hearing. He was healing but it wouldn't be fast enough.
Kabuto would never see the gleam. He would never heard the melody of swoosh and clang. Only for the briefest of moments would he feel the kyoketsu-shoge blade as it rocketed toward him, having been pulled from behind.
The real Naruto dropped the Transparent Escape Jutsu as he turned away from the fallen ninja. His clone placed an incendiary tag on the remains. While he doubted it, Naruto didn't want to know if the medic could grow half his head back. He leapt back into the trees taking no moment to savor his victory, his work wasn't done.
Orochimaru, his hostage, and his six remaining followers heard faint sounds of combat. It was after the final explosion had been heard that the Snake Sannin laughed, confusing several in attendance. "Kukuku, I don't think our initial wave fared very well against Naruto-kun. What should we do now?" he seemingly asked the air.
"Wait and attack him together?" Dosu cautiously put forward.
"That sounds like a wonderful idea, Dosu-kun. Keep impressing me and you might just earn a spot as one of my new elites. Sadly, only Kidomaru and Tayuya remain. Such a tragedy what befell Kimimaro, isn't that right Jugo-kun?" Orochimaru asked. The boy, sitting at the base of a tree with tags restraining him could only grunt.
"Orochimaru-sama, another of my threads were tripped," Kidomaru warned. He knew Kabuto wouldn't miss their placement. He couldn't say for the other two but he suspected it was the Uzumaki. He took several steadying breaths as he balanced on top of his summons.
"Naruto, I have eyes on them. Seven hostiles in total and Anko is alive. Beat up but alive," Gamashira reported.
"Is there a multi-armed one with them?" Naruo asked.
"Yes, he's strapped to a large spider," she answered.
Naruto stayed silent as he attempted to cobble together a plan, responding once he had one. "He's an archer. I need one of you on him and the other on Anko. When I've drawn his full attention enough to attack then neutralize him while the other snatches Anko. Once you secure the package flee and do not return. I have two clones on standby to provide medical attention to you or Anko-chan."
"Bunta is going to kill us for this, Naruto" Shiro said, speaking for the first time.
"I'm sorry for any trouble this causes you but I am short on time and options,"
"Well, no sense worrying about it now. I'm in position and spiderboy doesn't know," said 'Shiro.
"I'm in position," 'Shira confirmed.
"Acknowledged."
Orochimaru could sense a change in the atmosphere. Finely honed instincts, sharpened over the decades, told him something would be happening soon but he schooled his features. If his ninja couldn't tell then this would either be a learning experience or a fatal error. He didn't even let on that he made the two, cloaked, summons. They were good and it was no surprise Kidomaru hadn't noticed he was at risk but they weren't to the level of fooling a Sannin. The snake summoner wondered if he'd have to make Naruto break his contract with the toads once the blond joined him. The snakes were morally flexible but he found the toads to be rigid and sophomoric in their dispositions.
An issue for another day he reasoned as he watched Dosu sent hurtling via a flying knee. Two shuriken followed the downed boy but he reacted in time to block the projectiles with his melody arm, each metallic weapon sinking deeply into unorthodox ninja tool. Zaku wasted no time retaliating with his Decapitating Airwaves and all watched as the Uzumaki was cut down by the concentrated wind jutsu. Relieved and unobservant, it was only the interference of Suigetsu that saved Zaku as his claymore's blade intercepted Naruto's tanto, aiming to slash the unsuspecting genin's neck.
Naruto kicked Zaku away and engaged the Hozuki. It didn't take long to reveal Suigetsu was the superior with his chosen weapon, disarming the Uzumaki. As he went for the kill he was met with a Rasengan, only his Water Transformation Jutsu saved his life. Orochimaru watched as his future disciple had no time to process events as he dodged a pair of senbon, Kin finally having made a move. They missed but it was as she planned as Naruto's evasion put him right in the path of Dosu as he came in with a wide right hook.
Showing his superior reflexes, Naruto rotated around Dosu's strike, ending up behind the ninja and stabbing him with the senbon he'd retrieved from his vest. It was smooth but not enough, something even Dosu knew.
"Got you," the boy bragged as he heard his target fall to the ground likely suffering from a severe and sudden dizzy spell. While Dosu had time to boast, it would be his last act. The Sannin knew the placement of the senbon well. It was called The Kiss of the Dragon, and Dosu would die in agony as the blood pooled to his brain before forcefully evacuating through his eyes, ears, nose and mouth. It was why he could only listen to Naruto fall, he was paralyzed and well on his way to death.
Orochimaru saw Kidomaru nock his bow, taking the downed Uzumaki as a perfect target. So concentrated on the one that crippled him he wasn't aware of the very real danger that stood to his side. More for entertainment than any impulse to save his former elite, Orochimaru flicked a piece of bark toward the archer. The speed made him duck, causing him to miss his shot while also receiving a cut above his right eye as simultaneously a dagger and a tongue sped toward his summons, dispelling it and grabbing Anko. Each toad took off as if their lives depended on it and Orochimaru had to admit that should the whim find him, they most certainly did.
"Damn it, he got tipped off," Shiro complained, incredibly displeased he failed in his assigned task.
"It's fine, just alert me when you're clear," Naruto said as he rolled from the claymore attempting to behead him. His dizziness was fast leaving him. It was fortuitous as he was able to perform a substitution with little discomfort; razor sharp wind blasts splintered the log that replaced him. Now hidden in the leaves again, Naruto took just a moment to allow the last of the damage to heal. He needed to finish up with the lower ninja quickly so he could concentrate. The swordsman did provide some difficulty as the boy could seeming avoid all physical damage. Naruto had an idea and most importantly, a pre-existing seal he could modify instead of inventing one on the spot.
The brief skirmish had provided him with some good intel on all but the one covered and restrained. It was time to go on the attack in earnest. Naruto's first target? The wind tunnel boy.
A shunshin placed him right in front of him. Zaku was already in the process of lifting his arms but his attack was stalled by Naruto's own. Kick to the inside of the right knee destabilized the Oto ninja. A back fist to the chin stunned him. A left cross to the neck filled him with blinding pain. A palm thrust to the chest finishing the striking portion as Naruto ended things with an one-armed, over the shoulder throw toward Kin. The kunoichi wisely jumped out of the way as the seal on Zaku glowed briefly before he was reduced to a pink mist. Kin avoided the blast but not the gore as she dropped to her knees in shock.
Naruto was on the move before Zaku ever exploded, the waterboy was next. Rasengan flaring, Naruto charged, near recklessly. Suigetsu, caught off guard by the blitz attempt, almost didn't have time to transform before the swirling chakra ball hit but he did just in time as his lower body became pure liquid. Smiling as he flowed around Naruto, he gripped his claymore prepared to end the fight. So committed to the killing strike he disregarded the bead tossed by Naruto.
"Kukuku" Orochimaru laughed as he watched the Hozuki become an ice sculpture. He wondered if he'd be able to thaw the boy but all plans were dashed when he watched Naruto perform a spinning heel kick and take off Suigetsu's head. The Oto leader was impressed Naruto managed a counter to Suigetsu's most useful ability. Kidomaru, knowing he was next, wisely used his next arrow to free Jugo from the last of his restraint seals.
Jugo, fully enraged and transformed, hit Naruto full on with a chakra jet boosted punch. The Uzumaki hit the trunk of a tree hard, nearly going through it. Jugo followed, his right hand transformed into an axe ready to cleave the murderer of his only friend. He swung and felt his weapon sink into something. Even enraged he knew it wasn't a human body. That his victim managed to substitute himself before he received justice only enraged Jugo more. He looked around and saw nothing. Heard nothing. Sensed nothing. It was infuriating!
Jugo hit the ground, causing fissures to appear. It wasn't his enemy but it was an outlet so he hit the ground again. And again. Hard enough to start to break up the ground. Lifting his hands to strike the ground once more Naruto's staff broke through, hitting Jugo in the throat. Annoyed more than hurt, the transformed ninja was going to bat the staff away but was stopped by a concentrated shock that coursed through his body.
His opponent stunned and paralyzed, Naruto returned above ground and swung the other end of his staff, hitting Jugo under his chin and lifting the taller boy off his feet. Both hands on his staff, Naruto attempted a downward strike but Jugo's recovery was too fast and he caught it as he glared menacingly at Naruto. Unbothered by the intercepted strike, Naruto detached half of his staff and hit Jugo on the outside of his knee, his stomach, inside elbow and finished with a strike across the jaw. Jugo dropped the other half of the staff as he fell to the ground.
"His transformation dropped!" Kidomaru shouted and Orochimaru understood his archer's shock.
Naruto, seeing his chakra network disruption seals worked dropped his stick and blurred through a chain of hand signs. The Wind Style: Wind Bullets hit true and not only tore through Jugo but pushed him back toward Kin. Any further action against Jugo was halted as Naruto somersaulted away from an impending arrow. Naruto retaliated with a projectile of his own as he jumped toward Kidomaru.
Swiftly, the archer felt the oddest feeling as he was yanked closer to the Uzumaki, Naruto taking the opening to throw several senbon at his spider themed nemesis. Each hit true but missed any vital point. Soon the secondary reaction of the clapback seal happened and both were flung away from each other, just in time for the senbon to explode. Naruto managed to land on a tree trunk feet first.
CRACK!
A cacophony of pain described Naruto's reality as he fell haplessly to the ground. Soon he left the ground by not by his own power as another fist made its home in his gut, forcing blood from his mouth and he was batted away with ease. Concussed and hurting a poorly performed shunshin to an elevated branch gave him the briefest respite. He saw the boy he assumed dying was now transformed again and the girl was lying deathly still.
Jugo continued his assault. While healed, it was not at full strength so with the element of surprise gone Naruto was better able to defend himself. He was still absorbing blows, still on the backfoot as the fogginess had yet to truly fade.
"We're clear," Naruto heard and gritted his teeth. He couldn't waste anymore time with underlings. He jumped off a branch, slowly, knowing Jugo would catch him. Naruto accepted the next blow, even as he blocked it, as it rocketed him down to the ground. He landed on all fours but wasted no time performing a series of hand seals. As Jugo landed he felt himself sink in a mudpit he couldn't extricate himself from. The harder he fought the more he sank.
Naruto, seeing the Earth Style: Swamp of the Underworld, worked ran through more hand signs before inhaling a large amount of air.
'Fire Style: Flame Bullet,' the Uzumaki thought having created the large mass of flames that roasted the orange haired ninja in front of him. The fire soon died. The only evidence of its existence being the scorched earth, trees, and ninja left behind. The boy wasn't dead but severely burned, clothing and hair all gone. Naruto wouldn't take a chance, however, of the boy healing again. He walked calmly toward him, chakra scalpel activated on a single hand. One swipe is all it took and whatever time Jugo had with living was put to an end. Naruto took some deep breaths. He was healing without aid of medical ninjutsu and he hoped it would be enough. The truly hard part was about to begin.
Naruto looked up when he heard a series of claps. His primary target was smiling down at him. Naruto wondered if it was just an act or if the man was actually amused several of his ninja had been killed. He didn't understand how a student of his Oji-san could be so wrong. He cut off his thoughts when the man began to speak.
"How does it feel, Naruto-kun?" Naruto squinted at the man not understanding why he'd ask such a thing.
"You don't know? Ok, what's your process? Why did you target Dosu-kun first? Which of your works would you consider to be your best to date?"
Naruto was growing increasingly confused by these questions. "My best works? I'm not an artist." It was unlike him to banter with an enemy but even cleared of the bare minimum distance, giving Gammashiro and 'Shira more time wouldn't hurt.
"Anything can be art, Naruto-kun. You paint with ink and blood much like Minato-kun. So, tell me, how do you feel about killing these nine individuals?"
"It was necessary," Naruto answered.
"That's not an emotion."
"I felt it was necessary."
"Kukuku, so there is some wit under that ice. That's a start. It seems getting you to truly enjoy your gift will be the hardest part of our time together. Life will be incredibly dull without some emotional content, Naruto-kun."
Naruto, having had enough of the weird man's games got down to business. He retrieved a sealing tag from his vest and spoke to the Sannin. "Orochimaru formerly of the Densetsu no Sannin and Jounin of Konoha; you are wanted for high crimes and are to submit yourself to my custody."
"Oh, and if I don't?" Orochimaru said as he took great amusement from Naruto-kun's spiel.
"Refusal to cooperate will result in death."
Far from being offended, Orochimaru appreciated his future student's moxie. It figured he needed to demonstrate why he was the master and Naruto-kun the apprentice. It'd also give him a chance to beat some of the willfulness out of him, at least as it applied to the Sannin. He smiled widely as he said, "Then I refuse."
Naruto bit his thumb and smeared blood on the tag. Five hand signs later and Orochimaru watched as he was surrounded by hundreds, if not thousands of paper tags containing arrays he'd never seen. The tags seemed to form a barrier as even above him they formed a dome. He briefly thought this might be more interesting than he thought.
Naruto panted just a little. His Paper Barrier: Shinigami's Embrace was quite chakra intensive but it was necessary. The Uzumaki stood to his full height as the paper tags circled. He rose his open hand to the air and then made a fist. As if summoned to him, Orochimaru felt several tags nearly adhere to his skin resulting in an explosion. No blood, just wood, informd Naruto the Sannin had managed to replace himself. He saw the Sannin return, atop another tree but he didn't seem so amused now.
Orochimaru was busy trying to decipher how those tags got to him so fast. He couldn't understand the technique but he also couldn't endure it in order to do so. It seemed the Uzumaki was truly intent on ending his life. He still had no issue with it. He'd show his student what a deathmatch truly looked like and why he had years before he could hope to defeat someone of the Snake Sannin's calibre.
Naruto rose his hand again, Orochimaru started performing hand signs and an explosion was heard. The Gentleman Pervert vs. the Legendary Traitor was about to begin.
Oh my, looks like someone is in a bit of a pickle but is it our favorite Gentleman Pervert or the Dastardly Snake? I guess we'll find out in the new year.
Yea, this is the final Seals chapter for the year but we are leaving 2019 on a bright note… I hope.
I know some of you didn't like the twist of Orochimaru infiltrating the exams. I will explain how he managed it somewhat but this is fiction, not an insurance claim. Sometimes things just happen because and that's going to have to be ok.
Finally, as the posting of this chapter we are just a few thousand views from 1 million! Holy shit, I remember when I thought 100,000 was a big deal (it still is so imagine how I feel about this!). I want to thank you guys and gals and peeps who don't identify as a guy or a gal. This is by far my most popular fic but I give it the same effort I do all my others. That you continue to enjoy it really does mean something to this simple fanfic author.
Happy New Year!