Chapter 7

Trouble Brews

"I would explain to you why it's called the Forest of Death, but you're about to find out firsthand. Now it's time to explain the rules. It is a no-barred survival test. The layout of the exam is pretty simple. Forty-four locked gates are connected to forty-four pathways that lead to the forest and the river that's in the center. The tower is also in the center. In order to pass this test, you will have to keep your scroll, heaven or earth, and grab another one from one of the other teams. You'll have five days to deliver the two scrolls to the tower. The teams that don't deliver those scrolls will be eliminated. Sign these papers and prepare to start the test. " said Anko.

Anko passes out small slips of paper. These papers will prevent the Hidden Leaf from being sued if or should I say when someone dies. The genin sign the consent forms and submit them to the form stand. A trio of shinobi from the Hidden Grass Village survey their competition.

"Focus on the rookies. They're easy pickings." said one of the Grass shinobi.

"Team 7, it's time for us to pass this test. We don't have time to make a plan, but we don't need one for now. We got the info cards. We can formulate a plan midway through the test." said Joshu.

Team 7 comes together and puts their hands in the middle.

"For Konoha!" exclaimed Team 7.

The teams of genin get assigned to the gates that they will enter through. Anko's assistants unlock the gates. The teams walk to the front of their respective gates.

"The second test of the Chunin Exams starts now!" exclaimed Anko.

The teams enter the forest and begin their test. Team 7 jumps through the trees until they reach a clearing.

"I've been reading over the info cards and I believe that we should go after the Hidden Waterfall shinobi because they seem weak," said Joshu.

"I gotta go pee," said Naruto.

"Can't you wait, we gotta get an earth scroll," said Sakura.

"It's going to come out any second now," said Naruto.

"Fine. I'll go with you," said Joshu.

"Why? I can go by myself," said Naruto.

"I don't want anyone to jump you," said Joshu.

"Fine, but don't look," said Naruto.

Naruto unleashes his urine into the bushes. Joshu keeps watch and notices the bush move. He witnesses a Hidden Rain shinobi jump on Naruto. Joshu teleports in and knocks the Rain shinobi out.

"He didn't have a scroll," said Joshu.

Naruto gets up covered in his own piss.

"When we're done, I'm going to need to take three showers," said Naruto.

Naruto and Joshu return to the rest of Team 7.

"A Hidden Rain shinobi attacked us," said Joshu.

"No place is safe here. We need to keep moving," said Haku.

When Haku says this, Sasuke notices a long straw poking out of the water.

"There's an enemy in the water," said Sasuke.

"I'm surprised that they found me so quickly." said the Hidden Grass shinobi.

A big explosion happens in the water and Team 7 is blown back.

"Are you so cocky that you believe that you can take us all on by yourself?" asked Joshu.

"I can't be cocky if I know that I will win." said the Hidden Grass shinobi.

The Hidden Grass shinobi pulls out an earth scroll.

"I know you need this. Beat me and you get it." said the Hidden Grass shinobi.

The Hidden Grass shinobi casts a genjutsu. Team 7 sees kunai fly into their foreheads, but in reality, they are standing in place and sweating. Team 7 escapes the genjutsu and falls to their knees. The Hidden Grass shinobi throws Kunai at Sasuke. Sasuke activates his Sharingan and dodges most of the kunai. The rest of Team 7 disappears into the forest. A giant snake appears above Team 7. They jump out of the way before the snake eats them. The giant snake almost eats Naruto, but he teleports out of the way. The Hidden Grass shinobi's legs turn into a snake and he slithers up the tree. The Hidden Grass shinobi jumps down and summons another giant snake. The giant snake smashes through the tree and goes after Haku. Haku dodges the snake.

"He's right there. Let's get him. It's time for the Team 7 ultimate attack. " said Joshu.

Team 7 launches its most powerful jutsu at the shinobi. The shinobi barely dodges it. The jutsu causes a giant explosion that alerts all of the shinobi in the forest. The shinobi's neck elongates and he bites Sasuke's neck. A seal that looks like a Sharingan eye appears on the back of Sasuke's neck. Sasuke falls unconscious due to the pain of the curse mark.

"What happened to Sasuke?" asked Joshu.

"He got bit by that Grass shinobi," said Sakura.

"Sakura, take him somewhere safe and take the scroll. I sense a large concentration of chakra coming this way. Naruto, Haku, and I will cover for you." said Joshu.

Sakura picks up Sasuke and runs off.

"Well guys, it's time to show these shinobi which team is the strongest," said Joshu.

Anko and a team of jounin arrive at the graveyard of fallen shinobi. They walk up to the graves of three ninja.

"These three ninja's ids were used to enter the Chunin Exams." said one of the jounin.

"So, someone is where they're not supposed to be? The only question is who," said Anko.

"Their bodies were stolen." said one of the jounin.

"I know someone that knows this jutsu, but there's no way he would come back to the village. Would he? I'll go look around in the Forest of Death. You guys tell the Hokage about our situation." said Anko.

Anku leaves and enters the Forest of Death. She lands on a large tree branch.

"It has been a long time hasn't it Orochimaru," said Anko.

Orochimaru uncamouflages from the wall and launches his tongue at Anko. Anko dodges his tongue.

"You won't escape this time Orochimaru. Striking Snake Technique!" said Anko.

A snake pops out of her hands and latches onto Orochimaru's tongue. She grabs his tongue and throws him over to her. Anko stabs a kunai through her hand and into the tree. Orochimaru and Anko do the same hand sign with their left hand.

"What are you doing?" asked Orochimaru.

"You know what I'm doing. We're going to die together," said Anko.

Orochimaru disappears. Anko was fighting a doppelganger the entire time.

"I'm surprised that you couldn't tell that you were fighting a doppelganger. Did you squander every technique that I taught you?" said Orochimaru.

Orochimaru pulls off his face to reveal a grey face with snake eyes.

"Who are you after? The Hokage? The Nine Tails?" asked Anko.

"I'm not after anything right now. The only thing I did was leave a little mark on you," said Orochimaru.

Anko looks at her shoulder and finds a curse mark. She is barely conscious when Orochimaru teleports away.

Sakura is caring for Sasuke under a tree when Joshu appears behind her carrying Haku and Naruto on his shoulders. He falls down next to Sakura. A trio of shinobi from the Hidden Sound Village spies on Team 7 from the bushes.

"Lord Orochimaru told us that our target is Sasuke Uchiha. Don't worry about the rest of them, just get Sasuke." said the bandaged boy.

Sakura takes care of the group during the night. Sakura thought that she heard a noise and threw a kunai in the direction of the noise. The noise came from a squirrel. A few minutes later, the Sound Ninja pop out.

"Looks like you set some traps. No matter, you'll still lose." said the bandaged boy.

The bandaged boy picks up an explosive tag. Sakura throws a kunai at a log set above the sound ninja. The rope breaks and proceeds to drop on the sound ninja. They notice and move out of the way at the last second. They jump in the air and are hit with a Leaf Hurricane by Rock Lee.

"Sakura, I have come to save you. I promised you and I won't break my promises," said Lee.

Sakura sheds a tear.

"You guys are done." said the bandaged boy.

Sakura throws a kunai at the bandaged boy and he jumps over it. Lee jumps at the bandaged boy and chin kicks him. The bandaged boy flies into the air and Lee appears behind him.

"Forward Lotus Technique!" exclaimed Lee.

Lee starts to spin the bandaged boy and smashes him into the ground. He jumps away from the bandaged boy. The bandaged boy swipes at Lee. Lee loses his hearing in his left ear.

"Why can't I hear?" asked Lee.

"Our jutsu originates from sound. I used my jutsu to take away your hearing from your ear." said the bandaged boy.

The bandaged boy rushes at Sakura. Lee tries to stop him, but the bandaged boy punches him, knocking him out. Sakura throws shuriken at the bandaged boy, but he blocks them. A black-haired girl grabs Sakura's hair. Sakura cuts her hair to escape. This surprises the girl. Sakura starts to do hand signs. The girl tackles her with her shoulder, but Sakura's body turns into a log. Sakura appears and pounces on the spiky-haired boy. The spiky-haired boy is about to kill her until he gets punched from the side. Joshu has awakened. He tries to punch him again. but he is pushed back by a large soundwave. He flies into a tree. The spiky-haired boy stabs Sakura. She falls down and starts to bleed. Joshu sees his friend fall to the ground. He sees her blood starting to pour out of her open wound. Those bastards don't know what's coming next.

"Grab Sasuke and let's go." said the bandaged boy.

The bandaged boy doesn't get a response. He turns around and sees his friend with a hand through his chest. The boy falls down after the hand is removed. The bandaged boy looks at Joshu and sees that his eyes have changed from black to red. His eyes now have a weird design in them. Joshu has unlocked his Sharingan. Before the bandaged boy can say another word, he feels his body split in half. His torso and legs separate from the upper half of his body and fall to the ground. The girl cowers in fear and begs not to be killed.

"Please, don't hurt me. I didn't kill your friend, she should still be alive." said the girl.

Joshu slowly approaches the girl.

"Wait! Wait! I'll do whatever you want, just don't. I beg of you." said the girl.

The girl proceeds to get on her knees and grabs Joshu's legs to stop him from moving closer.

Joshu's hand starts to spark with lightning. The girl prepares for the worst until Sakura leans on Joshu's back.

"Please stop," said Sakura.

Joshu puts his hand down. His Sharingan disappears and he hugs Sakura tightly.

"I thought you were dead. I thought I failed as a leader. I thought I lost a friend. I'm sorry that I killed them." said Joshu.

"We're all here. You didn't fail," said Sakura.

Joshu turns to the girl.

"What's your name?" asked Joshu.

"Kin," said Kin.

"Give me your scroll Kin," said Joshu.

"Here take it," said Kin.

Kin gives Joshu the scroll and runs off with tears in her eyes. Joshu looks at the damage he caused and is disappointed in himself. What has he done? He killed two kids that just wanted to get promoted. He notices Rock Lee on the ground.

"Pick up the rest of the team and leave Rock Lee with a medkit. We're moving to the tower," said Joshu.

Sakura picks up Haku and Joshu pick up Naruto and Sasuke. They arrive at the tower in ten minutes. Sasuke, Haku, and Naruto wake up right before they go inside.

"What happened? asked Sasuke.

Joshu and Sakura looked at each other.

"Sakura healed us back up and I got both scrolls," said Joshu.

Team 7 walks into the tower. They are welcomed by their old teacher Iruka.

"Congratulations guys. You'll pass the second test," said Iruka.

"Thanks, Iruka sensei," said Naruto.

"Your third test will start in a few days so relax," said Iruka.

Team 7 walks into a large room with a statue of two giant hands doing a hand sign. This will be the site of the third test. Maybe Joshu can redeem himself by passing this test, but can he overcome the powerful shinobi that also got to this stage?