Author's Note
So sorry that this chapter is late guys. Been seriously distracted by things this side.
That said, I hope you guys enjoy.
I made a shadow clone as I ran through the trees. As soon as it formed, it ran off in the direction of my team. It would direct them towards me in the aftermath.
In the direction I was heading, I felt a large flare of chakra and then felt the wind gusting gently.
To be able to feel the remnants of a jutsu from half a mile away, there could be no doubt. This was not the work of any Genin.
Based on what I felt, other than me, Naruto and Gaara from the Hidden Sand, none of the competitors have the chakra capacity to do this.
I'm a blur through the treetops as I pick up speed. As I get closer, I can see the trees that are toppled.
I feel Naruto and another chakra signature not far from me. I ignore it though. His ' tenant ' will protect him.
I start running through a couple of handsigns. A few seconds later, I burst into a clearing and quickly take stock of what's happening.
Sakura is on the ground, scratched and scuffed up, but not badly injured. She's crying as well.
Sasuke is just ahead of me, breathing heavily. I feel his mostly depleted chakra.
My main focus though, is on their opponent. If his massive chakra didn't give it away, the extremely pale face attached to the unnaturally extended neck would give it away. Orochimaru.
Before his neck can cross the distance to Sasuke though, I act. Water Style Severing Wave. A concentrated beam of water bisects him.
He screams and blood gushes. Sasuke spins around in shock and Sakura screams. I don't drop my guard though. I'm right not to.
Snakes extend from his legs and severed torso and reconnect his body together. In the few seconds that he was distracted however, I put Katsuyu down and block his sight of her.
Now, all three of their attention is on me. Sakura looks relieved, Sasuke glares and Orochimaru, he looks hungrily at me. I don't think too much on the implications of that.
It's Sasuke that finds his voice first. " What the hell Senju?! Why are you interfering in my fight? I can... " I cut him off right there.
" Enough. Don't delude yourself. You are a talented Genin, but he's my mother's former teammate. One of the Legendary Sannin. A Kage Level shinobi. Able to take on armies. Don't think for a moment that he couldn't kill you in an instant if he wanted to. "
Sasuke grits his teeth but it's Orochimaru I'm focused on. He starts laughing then. I sense Naruto's chakra flare and then I feel the chakra of his opponent fading away. A summons then.
" I see my reputation precedes me. Then again, you are Tsunade's son. You have no idea how pleased I was to hear of your existence. I was going to seek you out later, but it seems you've come to me. "
That's when Naruto bursts into the clearing. He looks at all of us and then he focuses on Sakura. I can feel his chakra getting agitated.
I manipulate a sliver of my chakra. When he tries to leap towards Orochimaru, my left hand jerks forward and a whip of water forms.
It grabs Naruto around the waist and brings him towards me. I channel a faint current of lightning natured chakra through it to stun him slightly.
Once he's next to me, I wack him against his head. " Control yourself Naruto! This guy could easily beat your sensei. There's nothing you could do that can hurt him. "
Naruto grits his teeth and wants to reply, but a couple of things happen first. I feel Katsuyu's chakra building so I remove a smoke bomb from my pouch and throw it against the ground.
I can feel Orochimaru moving towards us slowly. Well, slowly for a shinobi of his calibre. He's playing with us. It's his mistake though.
I reach out and grab both Naruto and Sasuke and leap down towards Sakura. A faint pop sounds behind me as I jump down.
Naruto and Sasuke both protest the sudden movement. Just before we reach the ground, Orochimaru appears on the large branch where we were a few seconds ago.
A leg smashes into his surprised body however and sends him flying away for almost a quarter mile. Dozens of trees are destroyed as he crashes through them.
Team 7 gape and then look upwards towards Orochimaru's attacker. I smile however. " You always did like making dramatic entrances, almost like someone you know, mother. "
My mother looks down at me amused. It fades after a moment though. " Hatorama, take these Genin with you and get out of here. This fight is way out of your leagues and you'll only get in my way. "
Naruto breaks his silence then, shaking his fist at my mother. " I dunno who the hell you think you are lady, but we're going nowhere. We have a score to settle with snakeface! "
A fist immediately crashes down on his head courtesy of Sakura. " Idiot! Do you know who you're mouthing off to?! That's Princess Tsunade. The granddaughter of the First Hokage and grandniece of the Second Hokage. "
" She's a student of the Third Hokage, one of the Legendary Sannin, a Kage Level kunoichi. The greatest medical ninja in the world you moron and the person who almost singlehandedly won the Second Great Ninja War you moron! "
I roll my eyes, simultaneously with my mother at her long list of titles and accolades. Naturally, that's when Orochimaru reappears.
" Sssooo, my dearest Tsunade, here we are, face to face for the first time in decades. All that's needed is that oaf Jiraiya and Sarutobi sensei and we'd have the our team together again. "
Despite his amused words, Orochimaru looks worse for the wear. He expected to enter the forest and accomplish his goals easily and then leave. Now he's actually been hurt.
Only a bit, but enough to give him pause. My mother scoffs. " You were always one to play games Orochimaru, but I won't allow you to interfere in my son's Exam and I won't let you get the Uchiha brat either, so flee or die. "
Orochimaru laughs then. I gesture towards Team 7 and once I've got their attention, I indicate that we should get out of here.
Sasuke and Naruto look like they're going to protest so I use the weak link in their team to give them an excuse.
" Do you want Sakura to die? All it takes is one stray jutsu. Let's go! " Naruto looks fearful and Sasuke looks momentarily conflicted but he gives in after a moment.
My eyes narrow slightly as I feel a familiar chakra hidden off to the side. Kabuto Yakushi. He presented himself as some kind of persevering failure to the other Hidden Leaf Genin in the First Stage, but I never bought it.
His chakra is far too strong and developed. Now here he is, spying on what's happening here. Anyone who's sane would flee from a potential fight between Kage Level shinobi, yet he stays.
When Team 7 are distracted, I quickly create a water clone and sent it fleeing with them. I choose to turn around and do some observing myself.
Fortunately, I don't need to actually look at them with my eyes, but rather my senses. That way I can stay out of the firing line.
It's a good thing too. A moment later, two massive chakra signatures start to saturate the air. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice the leaves in all the surrounding trees swaying, even though there's no wind.
Back in the Hidden Leaf Village
He'd been taking a break from his paperwork and indulging in one of his guilty pleasures, reading the fine work of his former student, Jiraiya.
He was just getting to the juicy bit, when the ANBU Commander appeared before him. He bit back a curse. He didn't get the chance to say anything first though.
" Lord Hokage, two massive chakra signatures have been felt in the Forest of Death! What are your orders? "
All thoughts of grumbling ceased. He stood up fast. " Assemble all available ANBU and send them to the forest immediately. "
As the Commander flickered away, he cast off his Hokage robes and revealed the black armour he wore beneath it.
His four personal guards materialized before him. He didn't have to say anything. As he leapt out of the window, they followed.
Even now, he was faster than they were, but he restricted his speed. As they raced over the rooftops, the shinobi that noticed them widened their eyes.
As he was approaching the village gates, he saw movement out of the corner of his eye. A moment later, the Jounin Commander, Shikaku Nara, as well as Gai and Kakashi joined them.
" The sensors have detected two massive chakra signatures in The Forest of Death that just appeared out of nowhere. "
None of three of them replied, but their faces turned grim. All wondering just what threat was facing the village now.
Hatorama cursed slightly as trees went flying around him. He'd had to hide underground on more than one occasion, to avoid the battle going on.
Neither my mother or Orochimaru were going at it with full strength quite yet, but the longer this fight drags on, the more dangerous it would be.
Hundreds of trees have already been destroyed and craters litter the area. To add to the situation, some of the debris is burning.
I want to scream when I feel a familiar chakra approaching, well, a number of familiar chakra signatures. One of them is just closer than the others.
A minute later, she bursts onto the scene. As she and Orochimaru trade barbs, I don't let myself get distracted. Kabuto's chakra is getting agitated.
Likely, he's weighing up whether he should interfere or not and if that's worth breaking his cover for.
Before anything else can happen though, the Hokage and seven other shinobi arrive and the tension immediately heightens.