Hinata looked around cautiously in the nighttime darkness with her Byakugan. She could see three enemy Shinobi scouting them from the brush almost a mile away. Behind her in a small cave under a tree slept Sasuke, Sakura, and Shino. Next to the bluenette sat Kiba holding an exhausted Akamaru. The brunette frowned and asked. "They doing anything yet?"

"No." Hinata answered simply. Reaching out as far as she could with her sight she desperately searched for Naruto. Heartbroken the bluenette relaxed her eyes to conserve chakra when she still saw no sign of her boyfriend. Though she was doing everything possible to keep up hope the Hyuga was still worried for the Jinchuriki. "Any change with Sasuke?"

Turning around to have a look the dog ninja stated. "No, still has a high fever and the shakes. Don't know what that heckie did to him but I'm worried he could die any second."

Thinking it over Hinata suggested. "Maybe we should head out and engage the enemy before they attack us. No need in putting Sasuke in more danger than he already is. We can wake up Shino and the three of us can go handle the Sound Genin."

"Leave Sakura with Sasuke since she has medical training and can protect him while he sleeps." Kiba agreed. "Alright, I'll wake Shino…"

"Hold on." The bluenette spoke up sharply. "Their coming this way. Looks like they got tired of waiting, … or they could hear me talking."

"Hear you talking!? How far away are they again!?" Kiba asked shocked.

"A little over a mile, just outside my scope-of-ranged vision." The girl stated. Knowing the brunette wouldn't understand she explained. "The range in which my Byakugan can x-ray and fully examine an object. After that all I'm really doing is peering off in the distance like everyone else."

Kiba filed that away for another day and ran to wake up his teammate and Sakura. Quickly explaining the situation they came up to the mouth of the cave ready to fight. From the brush in front of the clearing came the confident Sound Genin. The leader, a boy resembling a mummy with only his left eye showing, walked forward and stated out loud. "Give us the Uchiha and we'll let you live."

"Like that's going to happen asshole." Kiba barked. "What do you want with my teammate anyways?"

"We're going to kill him." The dark haired girl stated with a sinister smile as she brushed her long locks behind her shoulder.

"What grievance could you possibly have against our teammate?" Shino asked as he quietly sent his bugs out. In the cover of darkness they were impossible to see.

"We have no 'grievance' with him idiot; geez, who talks like that anyways." The second boy stated. The Leaf Shinobi noticed his beige shirt said 'death' in red three times but had no idea why. "We were ordered to kill him and that's what we're going to do."

"Who the hell ordered that!?" Kiba exclaimed. "First that Orochimaru guy attacks us and gives him a love bite, and now you guys want to kill him. What's it with Sasuke anyways!?"

Shino noticed the startled looks on the Sound Genin faces; they had heard the name before which meant it was probably the Sannin that sent them, or so he logically assumed. Using their distraction to launch a surprise attack, the bug user was taken completely off guard when his insects died the moment they got to close. Dosu, the mummy guy, laughed as he mocked. "Did you fools really believe we wouldn't have prepared for you." Pulling up the longer right sleeve of his white overcoat revealed an oddly designed metal gauntlet with seven large holes cut into the top. "A small amount of chakra to my Resonating Echo Speaker is all I need to cause the shells of your beetles to rupture and break, and that's not all it can do." Bringing his left hand up he slapped down lightly on the top of the gauntlet causing both Kiba and Akamaru to hit the group groining; their eyes rolled back in their skulls as they both past out. "It can also do that. Enhanced hearing, not always an advantage; especially if you don't know how to block out sounds that cause instant migraines and unconsciousness."

'Damn it.' Sakura thought aggravated. 'If they use sound to attack than there is no guarantee my violin will have an effect. I'll have to take lead while Hinata plays backup.'

Flashing out two fingers to the bluenette standing at her side the pinkette pulled out her violin and bow to stand ready. Hinata grabbed Kiba and Akamaru to retreat inside the cave. Shino wondered at the sense of having their strongest Taijutsu specialist take up a guard position when a fine hazy mist began blanketing the area. For the most part it didn't do much of anything as visibility was barely obscured, but the true tactic was revealed when the Sound Genin went unnaturally stiff and the Aburame's Kikaichu went nuts.

Charging alongside Sakura the taller boy began understanding Team Eight's tactic. 'Some kind of chakra laced compound in the mist, Hinata is using water to carry her Genjutsu for greater effect.'

Dosu quickly assessed the situation and realized they were screwed. Channeling a large amount of charka to his gauntlet the boy triggered a release mechanism that made a loud gong sound. A sound wave that induced pure pain engulfed everyone, even the Sound Genin, as the Genjutsu broke. The the enemy didn't waist time in jumping clear of the mist as they perched on tree limbs.

"Shit that hurt." Kin growled low as she worked the kinks out of her arms and shoulders. "Did you have to use the Pain Resonation Technique?"

"Shut up, I didn't see you coming up with any bright ideas." The mummy boy grumbled.

The Sound Genin looked down angrily at Sakura and Shino. Both were staying in the mist where it was safer. Zaku scoffed and explained. "Think their so clever, I'll just blow that mist away with my …."

"Move Zaku!" Dosu yelled as he jumped between his teammate and an invisible attacker.

The taller Sound Genin watched confused as Kin also blocked an invisible attack. "What the shit!?" He exclaimed bringing his hands up in front of his face. "Release!" The Shino and Sakura in the mist disappeared as the real ones materialized on the tree branch; the bug user locking up a kunai with Dosu's gauntlet and the pinkette locking axe blade with Kin's senbon needles. "What, when!?"

"It's the mist." Kin angrily stated pushing Sakura back. "There was something laced inside the water, something that's helping that pale eyed bitch infect us with chakra." Dosu managed to throw Shino over his shoulder and jump clear to regroup with his teammates. The Sound Kunoichi concluded her explanation. "Even though we aren't in the mist that stuff is still on us. It probably has a chakra charge and until it dissipates we're more vulnerable to the Hyuga's Genjutsu."

"Great, you're supposed to be the expert on Genjutsu here Kin." Zaku annoyingly stated as he began firing small amounts of condensed air at his enemies. Both Leaf Genin easily dodged the attacks and escaped back into the mist's cover. The moment they made the water vapors they disappeared unseen into Genjutsu. "Don't you have a counter!?" In a rage the boy aimed both his arms at the water jutsu and screamed out. "Decapitating Airwaves!" The air and sound based jutsu unleashed a powerful gust of wind that blew the mist away; however, no one reappeared.

"Of course I have a counter idiot" The raven haired girl rudely explaining. "Plus, you have no idea what's really going on, do you dumb-ass. That pink haired bitch and bug boy weren't actually invisible, the Hyuga just placed a Command on our brains to not see them. If not for the fact me and Dosu sensed their presence you'd be dead right now. When they jumped back into the mist they didn't vanish because of an Illusion, the Hyuga's Command is still in effect and it was only for dramatic effect and to fool morons like you from guessing the truth; blowing the mist away was a waist of energy since it's main purpose, covering us with the compound, was already achieved; they weren't actually hiding inside it."

Dosu had enough of the stupidity of both his teammates and screamed out. "If you have a counter than use it already, Kin!"

Refraining from getting into an argument, the girl began throwing senbon needles with attached bells to cover a vast area of low hanging tree branches. Pulsing her chakra the small bells began jingling out an increasingly annoying sound. "There happy? The Tolling Of Madness; my strongest Genjutsu. Anyone not me or protected by my chakra will have a hard time separating reality from fantasy. I can even somewhat control what visions they see, or if I do nothing they just see whatever disturbing things their own minds can come up with."

"How exactly is this a counter?" Zaku asked annoyed. "You never explained how it will keep the Hyuga from continuing to effect us with her Genjutsu. This does nothing against the chakra compound."

"True, but now the enemy has to focus on protecting themselves from my attack while pressing their own attack." The girl responded cockily. "This means we can now take the offensive. However, you need to be careful where you aim those arms of yours. If that Hyuga shows any Shinobi cunning at all she'll try and get us to accidentally kill each other. More than likely that delicate rich brat has a limited range with the water jutsu, so all we have to do is stay clear to avoid getting any more of her compound on our clothes. This is one battle you can't bum rush through, we have to outthink them; which I know is asking a lot from you Zaku."

Sakura and Hinata began instinctively slowing down and speeding up their chakra the moment they felt the sound based Genjutsu. It was a technique that Kurenai taught them to counter area attacks. Because the Genjutsu was just a broad stroke keeping it from effecting themselves was easy, if not really annoying. However, the pinkette looked over at Shino and saw him staring at his hands shacking. Rushing over she channeled her chakra into the boy by touching his shoulder.

"You ok?" The girl asked concerned.

"I knew it was Genjutsu but couldn't do anything about it. I saw my own Kikaichu eating their way out of my skin and could feel the pain; it was so real. My allies couldn't break the Genjutsu in their usual method because I was already feeling pain from phantom bights."

Sakura couldn't help but grimace at Shino's description, bugs creeped her out and that wasn't a pleasant visual. Taking the older boy's hand to continuously pulse his chakra along with her own, the pinkette retreated to the cave. "Any change with Sasuke, Kiba, or Akamaru?"

"No, I could possibly wake Kiba and Akamaru, but see no real reason to jeopardize them against the enemy unless it becomes necessary." The bluenette explained. "They have both proven to posses a sever disadvantage to the Sound Ninjutsu the enemy is utilizing. As for the enemy they have deduced quite a bit about my Genjutsu, and now appear to be waiting for my compound to lose charge. My effectiveness with the False Visual is much weaker without the compound's aid."

"Is there someway you can give us a better advantage." Sakura asked concerned. Right now she was wishing more than ever Naruto was here; first time for everything.

"Don't worry, I have an idea." Hinata smirked. "Soon they'll think they can come closer and I'll have them; all I need is one really. We just need to be patient."

Sakura shivered at the smile on the lovely face of Hinata Hyuga. She had seen that same smile on Naruto's own face more than once over the years; usually before and after a successful prank. 'Great, knucklehead is a bad influence on the Hyuga Princess. Next thing you know she will be the one flashing the Sexy Jutsu to surprise her enemies.' As the image of the bluenette doing just that crossed her mind the pinkette became annoyed as she looked down at herself. 'I could never pull it off as well as she could, stupid small chakra reserves.' Startled by the thought the Kunoichi came to a shocking revelation. 'Damn it Naruto, you've been a bad influence on me to! When I get you out of this forest your dead; CHA!'

Up in the trees Kin was feeling her chakra to gage how much of the Hyuga's 'advantage' was left. Feeling it all but gone she smirked. "Let's finish this."

Jumping down the Sound Genin waisted no time in charging. Sakura and Shino came out to meet them head on, Hinata told them to keep pressing the fight no matter what. Getting the enemy to fully focused on them was the best way to sneak in a Genjutsu.

Sakura rushed Kin and Zaku while channeling medical chakra to her bow and violin axe. The raven haired girl saw the telling signs of a green glow and knew she couldn't parry with a normal weapon. Zaku was obliviously overconfident and tried to take the Leaf Kunoichi head on, and would have died if his teammate hadn't kicked him away at the last second. Kin, having no means of countering began dodging the pinkette's attempts to outright kill her. Dropping low the Sound Kunoichi tried a sweeping kick, only for Sakura to jump up straight. Pointing her green coated bow down at Kin she made the chakra blade extended outward. Alarmed, the raven haired girl mover her head sideways as the attack took of a few strains of hair. Rolling away she came back up in a ready stance as Zaku finally pulled himself out of the bushes.

"Take this you stupid Leaf Whore!" The boy roared as he pointed his palms outward at his intended target; Kin's eyes widened comically as the boy unleash his attack on her. "Decapitating Airwaves!"

The Sound Kunoichi dodge her teammate's attack while trying to figure out what was going on. How does the fool go into the bushes and comes out trapped in a Genjutsu? Looking to the foliage she got her answer. 'Shit, I was so focused on the moisture on our clothing I forgot about the moisture on the ground; I kicked him right into that Hyuga's trap.'

Having no choice Kin focused her chakra into the bell sounds still chiming in the background. Directing her attack against Zaku she made him hallucinate she was Sakura. Thanks to the Command being cast by Hinata to view the two Kunoichi differently, the boy now saw both girls as his teammate. "What the fuck!" (1)

Meanwhile, Shino was having bad luck with Dosu. The enemy ninja wasn't the best Taijutsu user the Aburame had ever faced, but his gauntlet made up for his lack of physical skill. Already the bug user had learned the consequences of directly striking it as his left ear bled. His world was loopy and it was a struggle to keep up right. However, Shino was by no means out of the fight. His bugs had adapted a useful method of eating the chakra Kin was still using to send out her Genjutsu, and every time the Dosu came close they took away a small amount of his energy; the fatigue was already starting to show in the Sound Shinobi's one visible eye.

Suddenly from no where Dosu was blasted away by a powerful stream of air. Shino turned surprised to see Zaku with a triumphant look upon his face. "I may not be able to tell the difference between Kin and that pink haired pathetic weakling, but I can still pick out Dosu from the enemy." (2)

The mummy wrapped boy stood up slowly from the trench he dug. Other than the fact he lost his white fur that had draped his back the guy was fine. Angrily pulsing out his Pain Resonating Technique again Dosu freed Zaku of the Command. The taller boy looked around confused as everyone grimaced in pain. "What, when?"

"Fool, Kin specifically told you to be careful with your jutsu. The only people you've attacked so far is your allies."

"SCREW THIS ALREADY!" Zaku screamed as he aimed both palms at the tree Hinata was hiding. "EXTREME DECAPITATING AIRWAVES!" The jutsu was massive and destroyed everything in its path; nothing stood against it for almost a quarter mile. It was fortunate that the enraged Sound Genin was aiming in the complete wrong direction. Looking around triumphant the boy was shocked to see everyone had disappeared. "WHAT NOW!"

Dosu just shook his head at his teammate's stupidity; the Hyuga played him like a drum. Not only did she instantly change his perception of the battlefield but also his ability to see anyone at all. Making a tactical choice the wrapped boy broke away from Shino, leaving Zaku completely vulnerable, and made for the tree cave.

Hinata watched as her enemy approached. She could see he was channeling chakra into his gauntlet in preparation for an attack. Shino followed right behind him in an attempt to keep Dosu away from his vulnerable teammates. The Aburame was caught off guard when the Sound Genin abandoned his teammate like he did, so hadn't responded quick enough to do much.

The bluenette rushed forward to meet the attacking boy. Juken prepared she launched a lightning fast strike for his heart. Dosu managed to block with his Resonating Echo Speaker and channel pure sound into the young girl's body. The vibrations caused her ribs to fracture as her joints protested in agony. The enemy boy paid the injured girl no mind as he charged past into the cave.

Hinata could only watch in horror as the murderous boy ran by. 'I didn't know he could channel his attack straight into my body. Up until now he has only sent chakra infused sound waves through the air."

The Sound Genin ignored Kiba and Akamaru as he made a beeline for the Uchiha. He noticed an ominous chakra coming from the non-responsive target but ignored that to as he focused on the neck. Making to jump over the unconscious dog ninja Dosu froze as his body went stiff. 'What the hell!'

"Shadow Possession Jutsu success." A cocky sounding voice came from the side darkness.

…. Ten Miles Away ….

Naruto was making good time as he ran full sprint through the woods. Keeping an eye on his team every now and again revealed they were under attack. In desperation the guy was pumping a sever amount of chakra to his legs in hopes he'd get there in time to help. As he jumped slightly to the left he paused and looked around. Confused he closed his eyes and reached out with his Yumegan. Frustrated he saw he was in an Areal Command that appeared to slightly obscure his sense of direction. 'Damn it, I don't have time for this right now.'

Feeling around it didn't take the blonde long to find the idiots challenging him with Genjutsu; three boys his age in yellow beige waterproof onesies, odd looking gas masks with underwater breathing attachments shaped like cylinder canisters hanging from the side, and Rain Village headbands on their foreheads. One boy had black hair and his eyes' were completely covered by white cloth, another boy had a sock cap and one visible eye through his white cloth covering, and the last had thick spiked brown hair and both eyes showing from a similar white mask.

Grumbling to himself Naruto thought annoyed. 'People say I dress stupid.' (3)

Sensing a change in the chakra that was attacking him the Jinchuriki opened his eyes to see oil-like clones seeping up from the surrounding tree branches. He noticed the basic Illusions resembled at random one of the three Rain Shinobi. At the edge of his awareness he felt the enemy team separate to surround him.

'What are you three morons up to now?' Naruto wondered as the clones began to drunkenly stumble forward. 'The moment you placed me under a Genjutsu I felt it, so you've got to be aware I have a strong affinity to the mind arts; unless this is your absolute only teamwork based attack. If that's the case it's really sad for you guys I'm the one you're coming after; this level of Genjutsu is worthless against me.'

Standing with a cocky smile the blonde watched as three clones lunged at him. Rolling his blue eyes in an obvious manner to show he wasn't impressed, the boy allowed the Illusions to pass straight through him. Seeing how little their tactic was working the three boys made the clones take up distant standing possessions and throw imaginary kunai.

Closing his eyes and sensing as the enemy tried to hide real knives inside the barrage of fakes, Naruto laughed as he easily parried ever last one. "Hahahahahaha, this is sad! You guys are so outclassed I'm ashamed to take your scroll; well almost. After all, it was you morons that started this one-sided fight."

Sensing one of his enemies, the guy that had both eyes covered, try to hide amongst the clones to get closer, the blonde spun hard and delivered a power kick to his abdomen. The surprised boy flew backwards and disappeared under into the brush. Still shaking his head with his eyes closed Naruto called out. "You've got to do a lot better than that moron."

Oboro looked on aggravated, this was going so badly. Watching his teammate being booted away like some rank academy dropout was off putting as hell. The whole reason for the eye masks his team wore was to enhance their individual sensing abilities. He was the best so had his eyes uncovered, Mubi wasn't that great but he at least had enough skill to uncover one eye as reward, but Kagari was the worst witch was why he trained the hardest with the complete blindfold. He made up for though with his hand-to-hand combat, and the blonde just through it away as useless junk.

Unfortunately they didn't have the option of ignoring this guy. If he had a scroll, or if his team had it in which they could exchange him in trade, they had to take the chance. So far they hadn't found such a golden opportunity as one lone Genin wondering alone in the woods. Signaling his team the three Rain Shinobi jumped out to stand in front of the blonde in fox print Ninja Wraps.

Talking through his mask made Oboro sound funny as he stated plainly. "It's three against one. Surrender your scroll or die."

"Wow, you must be one of them great thinkers I always hear about." Naruto mocked. "You guys are way out of your league here, but I can be nice; if you run away now and not come back I won't hurt you."

What followed next was one of the most savage one-sided beatdowns in the history of the Chunin Exams; it was over in two moves. Kagari came in low to avenge his moments earlier humiliation, while Oboro and Mubi came in high. All three Rain Shinobi had double dagger kunai knives drawn but it didn't help at all. With impressively fast reflexes Naruto plucked the one eyed Mubi from the air and smashed him down hard into his low approaching teammate, causing both boys to break through the tree limb they were all standing on and plow unconsciously into the soft loam. With his other hand the Jinchuriki snatched the team leader from midair and planted into the tree trunk. The boy's eyes were wide as the blonde casually asked. "May I have your scroll please?"

"I don't … AHHHH!" The Rain Genin tried lying but Naruto broke his left shoulder with a quick right jab.

"I don't have time for this." Naruto explained coldly, all pretense of politeness gone. "Scroll now."

With a shacking hand Oboro reached into his tool kit and produced his team's Earth Scroll. Naruto took it and tossed the guy away. Without looking back he made tracks for Team Eight and Seven's possession. The sole remaining conscious Rain Shinobi ruffled through his pack until he found the red flare; with a heavy heart he set it off and waited for the proctors.

…. Tree Cave Clearing ….

Dosu stood immobile just inches away from his target. Outside the cave Kin found she was in the same predicament as Zaku, the only Sound Genin not captured, looked on angrily. Standing in the middle of Kin and Dosu's position was Team Ten, Shikamaru's shadow unnaturally stretched out to snare his captives. The shadow user looked bored as he calmly stated. "Hand over your scroll and surrender; there's no way you can win now."

"That doesn't matter!" Sakura exclaimed as she ran past to get inside the cave. Placing a hand on Dosu she held him under her own Paralysis Genjutsu. Shikamaru was uncertain about what was happening but decided to follow the plan. Ino didn't hesitate when she received the go ahead nod. Placing her arms straight out the girl made an circle the her thumbs and forefingers aiming straight at Kin. "Yamanaka Secret Technique: Mind Transfer Jutsu."

Ino's body slumped to the ground as Kin stopped struggling to get free of the Shadow Possession Jutsu. Looking up the girl smirked as she held a kunai to her own throat. Giving Zaku a cold look the raven haired Kunoichi explained. "Surrender your scroll or your teammate dies. (4)

In the cave Sakura stood holding Dosu prisoner. The pinkette found herself in an unusual predicament; having enough knowledge of the Shadow Possession Jutsu of the Nara Clan the girl knew knocking the enemy out, or outright killing him, was a no-no while he was connected with Shikamaru. However, now that he was free of the shadow jutsu the only thing keeping him from killing Sasuke was Sakura's Genjutsu; a technique she was arguably the worst at amongst her teammates. The only means she had to keep him under control was to hold still herself while making contact and focusing her chakra. The mummy wrapped boy seemed to understand she was weak with this ability because he was putting up a struggle.

Outside Shino was trying to tend to Hinata. The girl wasn't in any danger of dying from her injuries but the boy had no means of helping her. The Aburame figured Sakura was the best bet, and was about to move in to kill Dosu and free the pinkette from her burden, when the unthinkable happened; Zaku leveled his left arm at Kin and punched a small hole straight through her abdomen with his jutsu. Ino broke her jutsu in shock as the same wound appeared on her own body.

"Ino, No!" Choji screamed as he rushed to the blonde's side. Kin had come to and also realized she was injured. Curled up in a ball on the ground the girl tried to stop the bleeding. The pudge Leaf Genin leveled a cold glare at the taller raven haired boy and asked coldly. "How could you attack your own teammate like that!?"

"Fat-ass fool." Zaku spoke with a smirk. Progressively getting louder he explained in a riotous fury. "These stupid exams, the scrolls, hell: our own lives for that matter, don't matter at all! The only thing that matters is fulfilling our mission given to us by our master Lord Orochimaru; KILLING SASUKE UCHIHA!"

Leveling his arms at the cave once again the snake loving zealot planned to level the whole thing and kill everyone inside; including Dosu. However, before he could Choji hurled two kunai with deadly procession causing the boy to abandon his assault. The good natured Genin quickly cried out, "Body Expansion Jutsu!", expanded his torso. Sucking his arms, legs, and head in like a turtle he called, "Human Bolder!", and proceeded to try and run the Sound Shinobi over by rolling quickly after him.

Zaku, already charged with max power to destroy the cave, turned his hands to face down the threat. "Extreme Decapitating Airwaves!"

The steady blast of wind and sound from the black haired boy's hands was enough to halt the larger boy's charge. The stalemate wouldn't last though as Choji jumped the air stream and attempted to crush the enemy. Zaku dodged easily enough and began jumping this way and that to avoid the spinning ball of death. It was when he jumped into a swarm of Kikaichu Beetles he remembered the boy wasn't alone.

"Shit!" The guy exclaimed as he fired his jutsu straight down. Breaking away as he streaked into midair the boy became free of the bugs. Glaring down at the little cockroach Leaf Shinobi keeping him from his mission Zaku began growing angrier as fear began creeping in to his thoughts. 'If I don't kill the Uchiha than Lord Orochimaru will kill me.'

Inside the cave Dosu was breaking free of Sakura's hold. The pinkette tried desperately to keep her Genjutsu together but knew it would fail soon. Trying to come up with a strategy she realized there wasn't much hope. This guy was more dangerous than her up close and wouldn't need as much time to counter with his gauntlet as she would with a kunai; she wouldn't even make her tool kit before being annihilated. Just as hopelessness began setting in and the pinkette decided to try simply breaking boy's neck, a plan she was almost certain would end badly, the issue solved itself. With a violent upsurge of power both Sakura and Dosu were thrown clear of the cave as Sasuke woke up.

The raven haired Uchiha stood silently as he reviled in the power he now possessed; it defied definition. The mark on his neck had spread in a wicked tattoo design to cover the left side of his face and his left forearm. A sickly purple aura covered his entire body as his Sharingan forcibly activated. Walking out of the cave opening the boy looked around at the carnage Hidden Sound had caused.

The first thing he noticed was Shino crouching protectively over Hinata Hyuga. Sakura and the mummy wrapped Sound Shinobi were sprawled out on the ground right outside the entrance. Shikamaru was trying to help a bleeding Ino that was clutching at a wound in her stomach. The Sound Kunoichi was past out in the fetal position not far away with the same wound as the blonde Yamanaka. Choji was looking winded and shocked under a tree. In the tree was the last Sound Shinobi looking smug.

The Uchiha turned to his teammate and asked. "Shino, who hurt Ino, and we're is Naruto?"

"We separated from Naruto during our retreat from Orochimaru." The bug user explained. "He volunteered to stay behind and cover us alone. As for who hurt Ino…"

"I did!" Zaku interrupted gloating as he aimed his hands down.

"No, don't engage him!" Dosu warned, but it was to late. The boy unleashed his attack as his teammate took cover. Shino and Hinata were off to one side and Ino and Shikamaru the other, so the attack completely missed them; however Sasuke and Sakura had been right in the path.

When the dust cleared the cave and tree were completely gone. The tall Sound Genin began crowing. "Ahahahahahah, got I'm with one shot!"

"Really." Came a cold reply from next to Zaku. The boy turned scared to see Sasuke and a startled Sakura standing next to him. The Uchiha casually slammed his left arm into the taller boy's shoulder sending him crashing through several trees. The pinkette next to him jumped down to help Ino.

"Shikamaru, how bad is it?" The medic asked forcibly calm.

"I don't know." The pineapple haired boy explained scared. "There's a lot of blood."

Sakura did a quick diagnostic and explained relieved. "It looks worse than it is, but it's barely life threatening. She did lose some blood but it's already slowing down and I can take care of the damage easily enough." Looking over to Shino she called. "How's Hinata!"

"Her injuries are not life threatening, but she can't move!" The Aburame explained.

Off to the side Dosu was wondering how they could get out of this mess. The enraged Uchiha was reviling in his power and wasn't exactly sane at the moment. More than likely he would attack anyone he could reasonably justify as a target. 'A hostage is my best option."

Once more unleashing his areal pain inducing attack the boy charged forth to grab the pinkette; the only Leaf Kunoichi still standing. However, before he was even half way a powerful hand griped down hard on his right shoulder; which gave out a sharp crack as it broke under the pressure of enraged fingers. Feeling cold shock from his right arm and chest the boy looked down to see his appendage had been forcibly ripped of and shoved through his torso. The last thing Dosu saw of the living world were enraged ice blue fox-like slit eyes as Naruto Uzumaki growled out. "No one hurts my Hina-hime."

Off in the distance a terrified Zaku was fighting for his life against a machine that found it really loved smashing him through things; mainly trees but there had been a small boulder that was now rubble. Broken and bleeding the boy desperately tried to stand as the insane Sasuke stomped down hard on his spine. Feeling his legs go numb at a loud cracking sound for his spine the boy begged. "Please, please, don't kill me."

Reaching down with sadistic glee the Uchiha grabbed Zaku's left arm; the only limb the boy had that wasn't damaged beyond repair. "You were so confident, what happened? These arms were so powerful, you were so proud and very attached to them. Now you don't seem to want them anymore?"

Weakly the boy begged as he began loosing consciousness. "Please no, please."

"Sasuke!" Naruto shouted as he landed In from of the Uchiha. "It's over, kill him or let it go. You have ever right to want him dead, after all they entered the exam purely to kill you, but torturing him to death is lower than low; unless you're trying to get information."

"How do you know they came here to kill me?" Sasuke questioned with a maniacal smile. "You must have just arrived."

The Jinchuriki thought it over while gaging his old classmate and rival. Obviously the damned thing on his neck was driving him bonkers. Deciding to give a little information and goad the Uchiha's pride. "I have my special abilities Sasuke, just like you and the Uchiha Clan; only the abilities of my family were not so well known. Genjutsu is my unnaturally specialty, fir your information, and I must say I'm disappointed in you, Sas-gay."

The Uchiha's Sharingan began slowly spinning as his anger grew from the annoying name; the prankster had coined it not long after they started the academy. Feeling his blood boil the possessed boy asked. "Why are you disappointed in me, and why should I even care?"

Smirking the Jinchuriki decided to really grind the kunai in deep. "I can feel your chakra stupid. I know what that thing on your neck is really doing. I can feel it gripping your mind and depriving you of sanity and free will; rational thought even. The fact that you, an Uchiha with an active Sharingan no less, would fall for such a rudimentary tactical Genjutsu is disheartening; especially when I know an Uzumaki never would."

Glowering, Sasuke sussed out his own chakra and realized the blonde idiot was right. His pride getting the better of him the boy angrily suppressed the power flowing through his veins. Instantly his mind began clearing of the insanity the curse mark induced. He looked down at the almost dead Zaku with a little more sympathy; though not much. Sighing to himself he picked the boy up over his shoulder and looked to Naruto. Stubbornly the boy refused to give thanks or acknowledgment as he said forced bland offhandedly. "Come on, let's go check on our teammates.

The blonde smirked but gave no comment as he followed his rival through the woods. The raven haired boy tried his hardest to not show the fatigue using the curse mark created but the Jinchuriki was well aware of it; Sasuke had a hard time not stumbling over leaves.

…. Later ….

Hinata sat on the ground and stretched out her sore limbs. Sakura had finished healing her and now the rookie nine were having a meeting. Luckily for Team Ten the extra scroll Naruto managed to grab was the one they needed; which meant all three rookie teams had a set to pass the second exam. They even had an extra scroll from the Sound Team. After placing the half dead boy with his last living teammate they set off their flare and left.

The problem they were discussing was getting to the tower without another confrontation. Kiba, Shikamaru, Choji, and Naruto were the only members of the teams that were mostly at full strength; the dog ninja barely injured and the Jinchuriki was self explanatory. Everyone was debating the pros and cons of separating so as not to be such a big noticeable target versus strength in numbers.

Shikamaru looked at his classmates and stressed. "This is basic Shinobi tactics, it's why we are separated into teams of three as well. We all learned this in the academy." Here he paused to shoot Naruto, the one most vocal about staying together, an annoyed look. "Smaller numbers of ninja are easier to hide than larger numbers."

"If we go slow I can keep us all hidden under my Cloak Of Invisibility Technique." The blonde pointed out frustrated.

"You're going to maintain an Illusion Field big enough to hide everyone under all the way to the tower?" Shino asked in disbelief, though he was the one that asked most people were thinking along the same lines. "Even at a basic jog the tower is still about twelve hours away."

The Jinchuriki gave the Aburame a confused look as he asked him. "What's your point?"

Teams Ten and Seven looked to Hinata and Sakura in shock at their teammate's stupidity, until the pinkette explained. "He can do it. Remember, when applying real world logic to Naruto, the natural limitations that most of us live by don't apply to him."

Grumbling the boy with the pineapple shaped hairdo said. "Fine, lets go already"

As promised Naruto had no issue maintaining the jutsu. It was eerie for everyone but Team Eight as they made their way down an actual cut trail to the tower unseen by anyone. Thanks to Hinata's Byakugan they spotted every trap along the way and avoided them easy. At times they would go in between teams that had aligned themselves together in ambush form. Shino, Kiba, Sasuke, Ino, Choji, and Shikamaru were all getting an impossibly powerful example of just how deadly Genjutsu, and more importantly Naruto, could be.

Author's Note:

(1)-That confused even me as I was writing it.

Basically, Hinata made Zaku see Kin as Sakura, while making the boy also see Sakura as Kin.

( Kin confused his mind further by making him think she was Sakura, which played off of Hinata's Genjutsu to see Sakura as Kin; so Zaku saw both girls as Kin. )

This was all done with Commands and not Illusions. Hinata is utilizing the False Visual Jutsu through her stronger application achieved with the Chakra Compound sealed in her clothing; Hinata is still not good enough with False Visual to make it really effective without Chakra Compound aid.

This was first mentioned in Ch.7 (To-Each-Their-Own-Path.)

(2)-Once again to clarify: Zaku thought he was attacking Shino. Hinata was smart enough to swap both Sound Genin with her allies in Zaku's perception.

(3)-This example is a good representation of Shinobi Gear and practicality over style and look; see also Might Guy, Rock Lee, and the Second Tsuchikage Mu. Granted Mu did also have a pair of solid black paints.

(4)-Was that like the catchphrase for the Chunin Exams?