A/N: Hey y'all, welcome back! I just want to take this moment to wish you all good luck with the current events happening around the world. Please, do your best to stay safe, practice social distancing, wash your hands, and avoid touching your face if possible. I would also like to thank everyone, as this is the 15th update to this story, for your support, follows, reviews and favorites. It's awesome to see this after my most followed story only having about 300 something, while now I'm nearing 1000 followers for the first time ever. Thank you so much for that, it's so awesome to see. With that, please enjoy the fifteenth entry to The Wolf and the Fox, don't forget to drop a Favorite, Follow and REVIEW if you enjoyed it! Take care guys, see you next Sunday or Maybe earlier if I can get caught back up thanks to quarantine.

A/N: Am I done editing yet? No? For fuck's sake… Hey, hey, chapter edited, yeah…. Dumbass self not being thorough enough the first damn edit through. Ya'll better still be doing what the original note said, wash your damn hands and wear the stupid mask, I'm tired of this mess! Anyway…

{Edited}

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The Wolf and the Fox

Chapter 11 – Enter the Snake Sannin

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Sasuke looked at the snake that had just attempted a strike he and Sakura, the two rookies managing to dodge the lethal attack. "We've got to do something, she won't stop coming after us," the pinkette said, her green eyes focused on the serpent, knowing it was that woman commanding it. The Uchiha for a moment, was impressed that she had gone from a trembling mess back to the focused kunoichi he'd known lately. "If Menma-kun doesn't hurry up, I'll never forgive him," she added, earning a nod from him as he activated his sharingan, a fifth tomoe now in his eyes. (A/N: Fifth tomoe as in two in one eye and three in the other, someone asked in past reviews. It happens this way in the anime, can't remember if it's the same for manga or not.)

His look was pensive, trying to gauge the snake's next movement when it suddenly struck out in a lightning quick manner. The two Gennin quickly jumped from their branch, Sasuke unleashing a flurry of shuriken aimed for the snake's head. But, even he was surprised when Sakura's feet found the bark of a branch before, using the same technique her punches used to rocket herself toward the serpent. The snake, already hurt and bleeding from the blades in it's flesh, was caught off guard by the iron punch that connected with its head. The pinkette managing to send it through a multitude of branches before the trunk of a large tree finally stopped it.

After a few moments, both of their eyes widened when the snake's scales actually started to crack and break apart. Emerging from the creature, was the Kusa-nin that their blonde haired sensei had threatened before the beginning of this exam. The malice she had produced before was still certainly there, not in the quantity as before, but certainly not lacking. The woman laughed, looking straight to the pink haired Gennin, "You're not as useless as my intel foretold, it would seem all of this young team is quite interesting, and that punch," she chuckled darkly. "That punch certainly does take me back many a year."

"Who are you," Sasuke grit out, glaring at the shinobi who was clearly not who she pretended to be.

The woman, laughed cynically, "Oh, in time you will learn who I am, Sasuke-kun, but as for the moment; I wish to see if you're truly worthy of the Uchiha name," she chuckled, glaring up at him, Sasuke swearing it was like being watched by an actual snake. His feeling only seemed to cement when the woman's body elongated, beginning to coil and wrap around the branch he was standing on.

But, before she could get within striking distance of her prey, an extended Fuma shuriken blocked her path. "Sorry for being late," she heard, looking up to find Uzumaki-Namikaze Menma standing high above them with another fuma held in his hand like a sword. "I see I'm not the only one with a snake problem," he noted, disappearing in a swirl of leaves to pick up his second fuma.

"Menma don't, she's way out of our league," Sasuke said, his fear still ever present in the moment. "Just give her the scroll and we can walk away," he reasoned, only for the redhead to vanish once more, reappearing to punch the Uchiha square in the jaw.

Blood flew from Sasuke's mouth, landing on an adjacent branch as their attacker seemed to watch with mild interest. "If you really think HE's after our scroll, you're not just a coward but, you're certainly not the rival I respect either," Menma glared, and the intensity of the gesture actually shocked Sasuke. He'd never been able to sense an emotion other than bloodlust shot his way, but Menma's disappointment and disgust was clear as day. "Isn't that right, Sannin no Orochimaru," he glared back at the assailant.

The snake 'woman,' only laughed cruelly, "I never imagined you'd be the one to find me out, Menma-kun, you and your brother truly are remarkably troublesome," the feminine voice became gradually a deep, grating masculine. "And, you're exactly right, I have no interest in your pathetic scroll or exam," he laughed madly, making the Uzumaki-Namikaze glare at him.

Menma however, was caught off guard when the snake suddenly kicked him back, sending him sailing into the trunk of a tree. If the revealed Orochimaru had to give the boy anymore credit, he didn't release the grasp on his blades for a moment. But, he thought nothing of it, summoning another much larger snake before any of them knew what was happening.

The crimson haired gennin quickly dodged the first tail strike, landing on a branch with his back to the Sannin. But, the snake was seemingly having none of it as it quickly redirected its tail to strike from beneath the branch, breaking it and taking Menma from his foothold. But, the serpent wasn't done there, quickly redirecting its tail once more to whip the boy into yet another tree.

Orochimaru however found himself surprised when a malice exploded from the boy, his eyes opening to reveal a crimson darker than his hair in color. "You and your damn snakes are really starting to piss me off!" the boy roared, before jumping forward at an alarming speed, punching the snake square in the nose before it could even react. But, once more Orochimaru found himself surprised when he felt the snake shake from the pressure, the boy hadn't even released chakra for the attack.

"Menma-kun, he's using that chakra again," Sakura whispered to herself, looking at the boy in worry as he unleashed a flurry of strikes on the snake. It wasn't presenting a visible aura like it had last time, but she could tell from his more feral features that he was. She only hoped that they could find an opening to get away before he lost control, none of them having the ability to stop him then.

"So, you're the unlucky soul then," Orochimaru actually managed to look at the boy with a sliver of sympathy, but it was quickly washed away when his summon managed to slam the feral boy with its tail, again. This time the boy rocketing towards the ground below. The snake Sannin changed targets, immediately commanding his snake to attack the Uchiha boy.

However, just as the strike was coming towards the boy, the redhead boy showed his persistence. Appearing before the Uchiha, stabbing his fuma into the snake's nose, holding it back with a surprising strength. Sasuke was shell shocked, never having seen his rival exude such raw power before in their lives, it was like a floodgate had opened. He himself paralyzed with fear, couldn't even find the will to fight back against the man clearly after him. But, Menma was fighting tooth and claw, not to show him up, just for the soul purpose of fighting for them. It was looking into the crimson, vulpine eyes of his best friend, that Sasuke found the power gap that was steadily separating them further and further.

"That's quite enough of your meddling, Menma-kun," Orochimaru hissed, his tongue elongating to inhuman proportions to bind the Jinchuuriki. He lifted the boy into the air, already making hand seals, before Kanji in purple flames lit across each of his fingertips. "Unfortunately for you, I know something that will calm you down from your meager tantrum," He added, his tongue moving to lift the boy's orange shirt, revealing the Hakke fuin on his abdomen. "Gogyo Fuin!" he exclaimed, slamming his hand into the boy's gut.

The reaction was instantaneous, the feral features fading from the boy before his eyes faded to their original violet hue. Sakura's heart dropped as she watched the boy fall limp, her eyes widening when Orochimaru simply tossed him away. Her body moved in seconds, watching him slam limply against a tree, legs moving as fast as they could before she dove. The pinkette wrapped him in her embrace, before the two crash landed on a branch across the small battlefield, her green eyes looking at him with worry.

"Sasuke, do something!" she finally snapped, turning a glare to the still shocked Uchiha who had watched everything unfold. "Menma-kun may be brash and rush headlong into things, but he just put everything he could into protecting us! Stop acting like a coward, and step up!" she roared, tears brimming in her eyes as she glared at the boy she once yearned for.

Sasuke looked at the girl in shock, before his own father's words from the past, calling him weak, telling him to give up, that he would never match Itachi, rang through his ears. His fists clenched, thinking of that man forced his anger to push everything else out, his sharingan reactivating as he glared up at the smirking Sannin. Sakura smiled slightly, seeing him finally snap out of it, finally seeing the boy that had fought Menma for the top of the class, the one who threw himself into training and overcoming everything.

"Oh, how intriguing," Orochimaru sneered, suddenly dismissing his summon, wanting to fairly test Sasuke's strength. "Let me see if you truly embody the Uchiha name, if you can match your father that I met several years ago," he chuckled darkly, enjoying it when the black haired boy's glare hardened.

Sasuke looked towards his teammates for a moment, pulling a kunai and holding the blade between his teeth, settling into his clan's taijutsu stance as the tomoe in his eyes spun slowly. In a moment, he was charging towards the Sannin, with new conviction. Orochimaru smirking as he dodged three kunai and then the one from the boy's mouth, expertly thrown where he moved to, but it was nothing for the Shinobi to evade. Sasuke didn't let this bother him as he unsheathed the ninjato from his back, beginning a taijutsu/kenjutsu bout with the legendary traitor.

Orochimaru dodged everything he threw his way, clearly accustomed to battling a kenjutsu weapon user while disarmed. Sasuke finding himself forced to jump back when the Sannin broke his grip, slipping a hand past the blade and striking the boy's wrist. The Sannin however gave him no time to rest, charging in to see how well the boy had learned the Uchiha's feared style, a small smirk growing on his stolen face as they went. Sasuke was managing to dodge, duck or parry everything, striking back when opportunity presented itself. The Snake Sannin was holding back tremendously, but it was still impressive regardless.

The young Uchiha however jumped back, forming several hand seals as he went, "Katon: Hosenka no jutsu!" With his call, he unleashed six balls of flame all racing towards the Sannin, the man's smirk only widening at the use of a higher-level Uchiha technique. He merely swiped his hand, dissipating the flames before they could reach him. But, his eyes widened suddenly when he saw the boy finish yet another set of seals, "Katon: Goukyakyu no Jutsu!" The attack was perfectly controlled, starting small where the boy expelled it from his lips and quickly growing into the infamous Uchiha jutsu. Orochimaru found his smile only widening when the boy unleashed a second, less controlled and more explosive ball of flame without even a seal. The flames created a vortex around him, which once more he merely swiped his hand to dismiss the attack.

His eyes truly widened as he did however, the sound of a thousand birds filling his ears as the Uchiha rushed him with a ball of lightning in his hand. "Chidori!" he yelled, forcing the snake to jump backwards, his smirk becoming an insane smile when he watched the attack tear through the massive branch.

"Yes, very good Sasuke-kun, an assassination level technique after unleashing so many powerful jutsu," the man laughed, suddenly forming a hand seal, the effect instantaneously locking the boy where he stood.

"P-Paralysis?"

"Consider this a gift, for showing me your true power and in hopes that you'll seek me out to make you strong enough to avenge your father's actions," the snake chuckled darkly, making several more hand seals.

"St-strong enough," Sasuke questioned, before his eyes widened when the snakes neck elongated in the same fashion his tongue had.

Of to the side, Sakura was watching in amazement, never having seen Sasuke push himself the way he had now. But, she nearly jumped when a very familiar blonde landed next to where she was cradling Menma. "N-Naruto-sensei," she asked, the man holding a finger to his lips to silence her. His sensing had already picked up a fluctuation with his brother's seal, which he lifted the boy's shirt to examine. Seeing the pronged seal that his grandfather had taught him years ago, he made a unique hand seal before deep green Kanji, surrounded by chakra of the same color lit his fingertips. "Gogyo Kaiin," he whispered, breaking the seal before turning his eyes to the battle.

His mismatched eyes hardening after seeing it was too late, Orochimaru already sinking his fangs into Sasuke's neck, the boy unleashing screams of pain. His mangekyo sprang to life as the kiba blades appeared in his hands, lightning coating one of the blades quickly. Sakura felt her eyes widen as she watched him throw it like a spear, the lightning output actually increasing to mimic the weapon she had described him throwing it like. But, her shock doubled as when the shape manipulated lightning reached its peak it suddenly vanished in a blur. In the next few seconds the blade had completely bisected the Sannin, her blonde sensei appearing to catch it with a call of, "Raiton: Hiraishin no chokkei (Lightning Release: Direct Line of the Flying Thunder God)."

Their sensei turned proctor however showed no surprise when the two halves of the Sannin melted into mud, reforming into a cruelly smirking snake. "You're too late to stop me now, Naruto-kun, my mission is complete and not even you can break the gift I have given dear Sasuke-kun."

"I can if I rip your still beating heart from your chest," the wolf quickly shot back, the snake only releasing a manic laugh, being sure not to make eye contact with the man. "Ah, but then how would you know where your dear old friend, Uchiha Fugaku, has gone?"

Naruto smirked, "You seem to know quite a bit for a man that hasn't been around Konoha, wouldn't happen to be spying on us would you, Hebi-teme," he growled, already knowing the answer as another laugh came from the man.

"Do not worry, Naruto-kun, our battle shall come and when it does I have quite the surprise for you," he chuckled, already sinking waste deep down into the ground.

"The next time I see you Orochimaru, I'll show you my full power and kill you," he vowed, deactivating his mangekyo as the man's laugh faded. "What was that technique, he actually sunk into the tree, was he the one who helped Danzo harvest the cells of Hashirama-ji-sama?" The blonde thought to himself, severely hoping he was wrong and the snake had no access to such techniques. His Kiba disappeared as he looked over to the youngest Uchiha, collapsed on the ground and then to his pink haired student still cradling his Otouto.

The young girl hefted Menma to her shoulder, jumping to where Sasuke had collapsed, the reality that she was the last of team seven standing at the moment sinking in. She felt tears well in her eyes, feeling like she had been useless to save them, especially after having berated Sasuke for the same. Sakura jumped however when Naruto appeared behind her, Menma's fuma in his hands before he sheathed them into the boy's holster; doing the same with Sasuke's ninjato before he knelt down to eye level with Sakura. "He won't be coming back, you have both scrolls so you three are still in it, get them to safety and watch over them," he ordered, wiping a tear from her eye before smiling. "Menma would hate seeing you cry like this, you're very important to him and not only does he believe in you, but so do I," He said, nudging her chin upward with a finger. "Keep your chin up and eyes sharp, there are others after you, and I have a snake to hunt down," he finished before using that Hiraishin of his to vanish once more. But, Naruto knew he had just left his female student with a much needed confidence boost, shown by the determination he'd seen burning in her eyes before he left.

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"Hokage-sama," Hiruzen looked up from his desk within the tower of the forest of death, meeting the mismatched eyes of Naruto. "Orochimaru has engaged team seven and marked Sasuke, the original having to remove the Gogyo Fuin from Menma, realizing too late the snake was going for his prize. Using a new jutsu, the original me forced Orochimaru into retreat, and is now in pursuit."

"If he's here, we must stop the exams," the Hokage sighed, really not wanting to argue with the blonde, even if he seemed to have one of the more curt and polite clones. For some reason they seemed to take Naruto's aspects to extremes, some being quite lecherous, rude and even confrontational.

"He won't strike again, Hokage-sama, his mission was a success as far as he cares; the original will still be making sure he has forced him out for good measure," The clone calmly shutdown the Hokage's first instinct. "Oh, and the team from Sunagakure has seemed to have broken the previous record for this course; they're the first here and I'd advise keeping a watchful eye on them."

"Very well, when the original has finished return here and do so, you can send clones to fulfill your duty to the exam," he waved his hand, the clone nodding in acceptance before dispelling. "You've really become a shinobi deserving of your position to so quickly force back my former student, Naruto-kun," he sighed to himself, leaning back in his chair. "But, have you grown enough to match him when he goes full out, without fear of drawing more attention to himself?"

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Sakura released a sigh of exhaustion, having found a root system that provided her and her teammates enough shelter for her to heal them. She had riddled the surrounding clearing and the forest to their six with traps upon traps, at least ensuring she would hear it when someone had discovered them. It had also been several moments since she had used her healing palm technique to fix any of the issues the boys had, only leaving her own heath to worry about as they rested; Sasuke being her main worry because of his fever. But, as she was healing her own issues, her eyes wondered to the calm face of Menma, Naruto's words racing through her mind. "I still can't believe you care so much for me," she whispered, her free hand moving down to hold his limp one. "Or that it took me this long to realize how much it meant to me," she chuckled to herself, shaking her long pink hair slightly. "I can't imagine living a life where I denied it for so long you moved on," she looked between the two still feeling a tinge of guilt for giving up on Sasuke. Then, the memory of the way he had smiled, genuinely smiled, at Hinata came flooding back to her and she too smiled. Sasuke had chosen, and so had she, it wasn't fair to herself to hold on to a schoolyard crush like that.

She breathed a sigh of relief, feeling the tenseness of her body fade as her healing finished. She smiled again when she moved her now free hand to brush some of Menma's hair from his forehead, enjoying the look of him without his head band. In moments, without even realizing it, Sakura fell to her exhaustion still holding the boy's hand.

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Mei sighed as she sat at the ramen stand, more than bored because her favorite blonde shinobi would be busy for the next five days, unable to tend to her due to the exams. A small smile came to her face as the elderly Teuchi sat a steaming bowl of miso ramen before her, Naruto's favorite, before she nodded her head in thanks. "You must really care for him to be missing him so soon," the elderly man commented with a smile.

The comment brought a fond smile to the Mizukage's face, "I do and it's very hard living in a separate village from someone that means as much to me as Naru-kun, he has done more for me and showed me more love than I could ever hope to repay in a lifetime," she said, folding the noodles with her chopsticks to make a larger clump. "If I'm honest Teuchi-san, I wish the Rokudaime Mizukage was already ready for his term so that I could marry Naruto, it's become a dream of mine," she smiled once again, before slurping some of the noodles.

"Patience is a test we all face in life Mei-san, but I still hope you'll think of my daughter and I when you need that wedding catered; we may be famed for our ramen, but a good chef has many talents," he laughed heartily at the small joke.

"Actually, I think Naruto would love the simplicity of his favorite meal for the reception," she giggled, as a small thought struck her. "Actually, has Naru-kun had the time to speak to you about his hopes of investing in your business or helping you launch an expansion?"

"I think he's been too caught up to mention it, I would certainly jump at the opportunity to have my best customer's clan go into business with us," He laughed, then pointed to her bowl. "But, you enjoy your meal before it gets cold, maybe you can bring him around when his mission is done," he smiled in that kind way any father could.

Mei smiled and nodded her head, happily enjoying the simple bowl of noodles that reminded her of her favorite blonde. She however looked over her shoulder when she heard the flaps move, spotting a face she hadn't seen before. A beautiful woman, if she was being completely frank, with long onyx color hair held in a thick braid at the back. Around her face there were bangs that framed an angular face befitting of a warrior princess, the back ends of the framing bangs being pulled back to join in the complex braid falling down her back. Mei finally began piecing together who she was when she looked at the woman's blue kimono battle dress to find the Uchiha crest on each side of her collar. The attire was similar to her own battle dress, but much more traditional with sleeves that hid the upper half of her hands. The dress actually falling down to her mid thighs, leading into a set of fishnet stockings mostly covered by a pair of thigh-high kunoichi boots.

The Mizukage smiled as their eyes met, realization seeming to shine in the girl's obsidian eyes. "Mizukage-dono, I've been looking forward to meeting you," she smiled, slightly confusing Mei. "My name is Uchiha Katsumi, Okami-kun has told me much about you!"

"Oh, you're who he found shipwrecked on the island of Uzushio, not surprised I ran into you in his favorite food stand," the Godaime Mizukage giggled, having already been told about this woman in one of Naruto's last messages before she came back to Konoha. "I have no company today seeing as Naru-kun is busy, why don't you join me for the day and I'll pay for your lunch?"

Katsumi smiled at the auburn haired woman, taking a seat next to her, "That's very kind of you, I think I'd really enjoy some company myself; it's not as easy as I imagined being a new shinobi in the village."

"Good, then we can also talk about the attraction you have to 'Okami-kun' from what Mikoto-san told me," Mei said with a teasing tone, her smile becoming wicked when she noticed the scarlet cheeks of the younger woman.

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Night had come and passed for Sakura, finding herself brought back to reality when the jostling of bushes reached her ears. Without even turning around, she launched a kunai in the direction, cringing at the guttural squelch of steel sinking into flesh. A look of sympathy coming over her when she noticed the chipmunk now lying dead near the bush line. But, before she could feel any real regret for killing the innocent creature, the sound of sizzling trickled into her ears.

The pinkette was forced to cover her eyes when the forest creature suddenly exploded from the activation of an exploding tag. Her eyes now scanning the bushes around the clearing, on extremely high alert as she shot to her feet. "She has good awareness to be woken from such a simple noise, maybe this will be more interesting than you thought, Dosu," a young Oto-nin whispered, beginning to edge his way forward slowly.

"Wait Zaku, there could be a reason she was so alert, she hasn't made any attempt to search for us," Dosu whispered back, grabbing the taller boy's shoulder to hold him back. "She's on high alert, but she seems far too relaxed, as if she was in control of this moment."

"Why don't you put those arms to use and blow away whatever is between her and us," the third and female member of the team whispered, earning a nod from Zaku as he fully extended both arms, palms facing the pinkette.

Sakura's eyes widened as suddenly two wind tunnels broke from the far bushes, tearing everything in their path apart. Surprising even herself, her hands ran through four seals for one of the first Doton jutsu Naruto had taught her, "Doton: Doryūheki!" After calling this she slammed her hands to the ground where a thick earthen wall rushed up. The technique had been enough to block multiple of Menma's own Futon jutsu, but her eyes widened slightly to see the wall actually vibrating and cracking.

The jutsu however did its part, even if just barely holding back the surprise attack. Sakura however wasted no time in throwing several smoke bombs from her pouch, easily covering the soon to be battlefield. With a leap she was over her earthen wall and into the smoke, charging the area the attack had come from; her enemy's coughing filling her ears helping to differentiate their location. She jumped towards the first fit of coughs, a woman with black hair longer than her own had wide-eyes when she spotted her. But, the expression faded when Sakura launched a chakra enhanced kick far too quick for the girl to stop.

The Oto-kunoichi had no way of being prepared, the kick connecting with the side of her head and sending her rocketing towards a nearby tree, unconscious. Sakura quickly turned heel, aiming to go for the next target, but dropped to her knees with her ears suddenly bleeding as a scream ripped from her throat. "It would seem you're unaware of our abilities, not surprising considering not many have faced Otogakure," the voice of Dosu broke through the smoke. Sakura managed to glare towards his general vicinity before another wind tunnel assaulted her sending her crashing through her own jutsu.

"For a minute she had me worried, she probably only took out that worthless Kin by luck alone," Zaku laughed, now taking a clear look at the girl. She was certainly stronger than their own female teammate, but not near the strength Orochimaru had given them. "Looks like she's still got some fight in her," the spiky haired boy smirked, watching her stand to her feet shakily. However, he missed her making a single tiger seal, for a newer technique Tsunade had been teaching her.

"Doton: Doryū Taiga (Earth Release: Earth Flow River)," she said before the ground beneath them became a river of mud. She was halfway through making a set of hand seals for her next jutsu before she collapsed to her knees, panting heavily, glaring at the Oto-nin as her wall crumbled before her. "I-I used up too much chakra," she thought, wondering what would happen to her now that she was essentially defenseless.

"Looks like that high ranked jutsu was too much for you," Zaku smirked pushing himself out of the mud, the bandaged Dosu doing the same. "And, now," he smirked evilly, pointing his palms at her once more, "you die!"

However, just as the chakra was funneling through his arms, a shadow covered him, forcing him to look up. "Konoha Senpu!" Rock Lee shouted, stopping the Oto-nin's attack with a devastating kick of raw strength. "To attack when your enemy is weak is wise, but most unyouthful," he said after flipping back and taking a defensive stance in front of Sakura.

"L-Lee-san," Sakura said in shock, making the boy look at her with a gleaming smile and a thumbs up.

"Gomen Sakura-san, I tailed you in hopes of having a chance to see Menma-kun and Sasuke-kun in battle, but I should've stepped in sooner; it was an unyouthful move on my part," He apologized to the girl, Sakura surprised that she hadn't noticed him before now. "YOSH! Now prepare yourself to face the most youthful Konoha no Utsukushiki Aoi Yajū," he said facing the Oto shinobi as their female member found her feet, glaring at the panting Sakura.

Zaku, once more standing glared at the boy, already poising to attack with his chakra tunnels again. But, before he could even begin to channel chakra to his arms, Lee had vanished in a blur of low Jounin ranked speed. The eccentric boy reappeared already delivering a flying knee to Zaku's jaw, quickly grabbing his ankle before he could fly away, delivering a punch to the boy's jaw that finally sent him sailing across the clearing.

Lee now stood in-between Dosu and Kin, once more in his stance his eyes trained on the bandaged male of the team. Dosu seemed to smirk behind his bandages before Lee's eyes widened, his ears beginning to bleed much like Sakura's had. Dosu revealed the gauntlet on his arm, the metal appendage seeming to vibrate the air around it into high pitches. "You're far more dangerous than the girl, unlike with her I won't be letting up," he said kneeling down to the boy's hunched level with a cruel eye trained on him. "Nothing could prepare you for fighting Oto shinobi, our techniques are unlike any other village's, given to us by our leader when deemed worthy," he explained, his eyes moving to watch Kin approach the pink haired girl.

Sakura yelled when the girl grabbed her by her ponytail, snatching her head back with a kunai held to her throat. "You think you're tough, using tactics like that to fight?"

"It knocked your weak ass out," Sakura growled, grunting when she felt the girl push her kunai into her neck enough to draw blood.

"One movement and you're dead, you're weaker than I am to allow me to catch you like this, pathetic Konoha trash," Kin growled, laughing when she spotted tears welling in Sakura's green eyes. "Awe, are you going to spend your last moments crying your pathetic little heart out," she asked with a cackle, causing Sakura to glare at her.

Unknowingly to any of the five battling Gennin, two separate things were happening around them, neither would seem good for the Oto Shinobi; but, one was much, much worse.

Team Ten was hidden out of sight, in a bush like the Oto team had been, Chouji having spotted what was happening. Ino was about to blow their cover, until Shikamaru grabbed her shoulder shaking his head before pointing to where Menma and Sasuke were laying. Ino felt her eyes widen when she spotted a vortex of crimson red chakra spiraling around an unconscious Menma, feeling pure malice rolling off the boy she was infatuated with. "Wh-What's happening to Menma-kun, Shika?" she asked turning to the lazy Nara.

"It looks like what Sasuke had described happened on our mission to Haru when Menma watched you and Sakura get hurt, but I have no clue what it is," He said, watching as the boy began to pick himself up, ignored by the kunoichi and shinobi torturing and mocking their fellow Konoha-nin. "We need to stay out of his way when he's like that though, wait for an opening and then we'll jump in and help." Ino looked at him with an uncertain glance, still wanting to help her best friend and crush, but knowing Shikamaru knew best. Her eyes just chose to look to the Uzumaki-Namikaze, a worry ridden look worn on her face.

Time seemed to stop for Sakura as she had just made peace with cutting her ponytail to free herself, before a bestial roar ripped through the clearing. In the same second, Sakura felt her ponytail fall against her back and the kunai at her neck fall harmlessly to the ground. Beginning to look back she saw Kin embedded into the trunk of a thick tree, and then she saw him. Eyes as red as blood, chakra as crimson as his hair bubbling around him with two tails of chakra wiping violently behind him. "Did they do this to you, Sakura-chan," he growled in a voice she struggled to recognize, before he looked down to her looking over the damage done to her. Sakura cringed when his eyes grazed over her, before his aura seemed to explode, a third tail ripping from the cloak as he glared down a shaking Dosu and awestricken Zaku. "I'm going to make you feel every ounce of pain you put her through, tenfold," he growled before launching towards Dosu, his now clawed hand swiping the boy and sending him sprawling across the ground.

Menma's head snapped towards Zaku as he tasted the boys fear before he felt the air shift, he vanished in ungodly bursts of speed, avoiding every pressurized attack sent his way. When he reached Zaku, he grabbed the boy by the face, first slamming him into the ground before picking him up and throwing him against the closest tree. Zaku had no time to register the pain, because before his back even connected with the tree, Menma was already unleashing a flurry of punches all over his body. Finishing the assault by grabbing him by his throat and throwing him just between where Lee and Sakura watched in a mix of fear and awe.

The young Jinchuuriki didn't use his speed to reach the boy this time, walking slowly to him as his crimson eyes watched him struggle to get away. When he reached the Oto-nin, he stomped on the boy's spine, forcing a scream from the back of his throat. But, Menma didn't care he grabbed both of the boy's arms pulling them back to increase his screams of pain. "Your arms will be your compensation for hurting one of my most precious people," he sneered, completely drunk on the power coursing through him.

Sakura watched as he pulled back on the boy's arms, hearing a pop signifying Menma had popped both arms out of socket agonizingly slow. But, he didn't stop there, lifting his foot from the boy's spine to stomp on the juncture of his right elbow. Another scream of pain ripping from the boy's throat as his bone was crushed and broken. She jumped to her feet when Menma dropped the boy's arms, forming a ball of pure red spiraling chakra in his clawed hand.

"No!" she cried slamming into his back, her body shaking as she held him, ignoring the burning sensation this form of his chakra gave her. She'd seen him kill before, but the sick way he seemed to relish in it this time, it broke her. "Please Menma-kun, this isn't you, please stop, I'm okay," she begged, the chakra almost immediately fading and his eyes returning to their violet hues. His head slowly turned back to see Sakura, seeing the tears he had caused pouring down her cheeks.

"I-I'm sorry, Sakura-chan," he whispered, holding his head down to look at what he had done to the boy. "I woke up to see what had happened to you, and I-I lost control," he explained, Sakura shaking her head against him.

"It's okay, you just wanted to protect me, just please don't lose yourself like that," she begged, not seeing him nod his head in acceptance. "I don't know what I would do if I lost you Menma-kun," Sakura whispered, not knowing that her best friend could hear her; or seeing the look of shock that crossed Menma's face as she held him for dear life.

Dosu began walking towards them, his hands held in surrender as he placed an earth scroll before them on the ground before moving to pick up Zaku very slowly. The last thing he wanted at this moment was to piss off the boy that had just broken his friend like a twig. "We submit, our mission to test Sasuke was a failure, but his path is marked regardless; he will seek out Orochimaru-sama for true power," He told them, moving to pick-up Kin before disappearing.

Menma glared at where he had left, before looking towards a bunch of bushes, "You three can come out now," he said as Sakura released him. The pair watching as Team Ten walked out, looking at them as if they hadn't just witnessed what they had. "I'm sorry if I scared any of you, I'll explain to our age group what just happened after the second phase, but not now," he said, before moving to pick up the scroll and walking towards Lee.

He easily hefted the boy to his feet, Lee seeming to be the least worried about the brutal chakra he had released. "You truly are powerful, Menma-kun, you moved faster than I do with my weights off," he said with a smile. "Gai-sensei was right that you would be the most youthful eternal rival I could ask for," the green-clad shinobi smiled with a thumbs up, causing Menma to chuckle.

"I accept, thank you for helping Sakura-chan, I owe you one," he inclined his head slightly, not knowing that the pink haired girl was watching him still. "We already have our pair, does your team still need an earth scroll?"

"We got ours towards the beginning of the exam as well my most youthful rival, but your kindness fans the fires of my burning youth; YOSH! I will be as kind as you whenever I can and should I fail, I'll run five thousand laps around Konoha on my hands!" he vowed, and thanks to Menma seeing Gai with Naruto, he knew it was a swear he wouldn't go back on. Especially not after being sealed with Gai's infamous nice-guy pose. "Hm, I should probably get back to my team, I have been gone most of the night. Stay strong Menma-kun, it would be most youthful to see you in the final stage of the exam," he said with that gleaming grin before disappearing in a burst of speed.

Menma sighed as he walked up to Team ten and Sakura, "You guys need an extra Earth scroll?" he asked looking directly towards Ino.

"Menma-kun, it was you that earned it, we may need one but, it's not right for you to just give it to us!" the blonde proclaimed making him roll his eyes at her before he walked up to her, and turned his shoulder to her.

"Give me a punch, right here," He asked, pointing to his shoulder.

"W-What?"

"Just do it, Ino-chan," he chuckled, the girl confusedly bringing her fist up to gently punch him. The crimson haired boy exaggeratedly "died," declaring himself defeated before tossing the scroll to the confused blonde above him.

Ino looked between the scroll and the boy laying on his back, his tongue hanging out of his mouth and eyes rolled back. She shook her head before scoffing and breaking out into a melodious fit of laughter, the other's watching on with their own smirks and laughter. Sakura smiling fondly as she watched the boy pop-up, obviously fine, and giving off that foxy grin. "I guess I owe you one, Menma-kun," the blonde smiled before getting up on her tip-toes to kiss his cheek in thanks, smiling at the blush that burned across his cheeks.

Ino bristled slightly when she noticed Sakura shooting her a glare, it would seem their rivalry would be encompassing something else in their lives. Part of her wondering what Menma had done to change her mind, while another smaller part was glad that her friend had actually wizened up to a great guy liking her. But, that didn't change her own feelings for the crimson haired boy, not in the least.

"So, what now?" Chouji asked, watching as Menma walked over towards the still unconscious Sasuke and gently lifted him over his shoulder.

"We head for the tower, we've both got our scrolls and Sasuke needs to probably get a once over from Naruto-nii or Kakashi-sensei," The crimson haired boy answered one of his oldest friends, the boy seeming to nod before pulling out a bag of chips.

"Won't you guys run into trouble trying to pass the exam with one of your team unconscious?"

Sakura shrugged at Shikamaru's question, "Maybe, but there are somethings we've got to talk to our sensei about, and Sasuke may wake up on the way."

"Oi, you guys coming, or what?" Menma called down to them, already having jumped into one of the higher trees with Sasuke tossed over his shoulder, the four other's quickly following him.

XXXXX

A/N: Well, that's this week update, but before you go I have to questions to ask of you guys.

First, because it's been asked many times in DMs and even a few time in the reviews, would you guys like to see Mikoto eventually become a member of Naruto's Harem? For yes, simply review with NaruMiko. For no, say NoMiko.

Second, some of you may have already found out what one of my story hints has been foreshadowing. If you don't remember I mentioned there being two Bijuu under Uzushio's regime when Naruto met the spectral Michio. To help me decide, because I have picked my own favorite to be the second, I want you to tell me your favorite Bijuu between Son Goku and Kokuo. Give me a reason why for this vote, whether you like their special abilities or you're just a fan of their Jinchuuriki.

I'll thank you in advance for your help on the matter, have a good week and you all stay safe out there! Don't forget to leave me a review and to follow so you can keep up with the story!

P.S. let me know if I should do an extra update to celebrate reaching 1k followers or 200 reviews, whichever happens first!

A/N update: I've got how many more chapters to read and edit? Oh, come on, seriously? Fucking Christ, this is why you don't drink and fanfiction guys; you have to go back and fix things. Anyway, edit done! K Bye