Where did they go?
Natsumi's heart pounded as she looked up and down the hall in both directions.
There's no one around to ask, and it would take too long to ask around anyway.
She started down the hall and then stopped.
But which way?! I wish I had read that book with Hasu! There might have been a detailed map in there. How should I know where to even start looking?!
She took in a breath and clutched her chest, where her heart beat rapidly.
I have to calm down. I'll never find them at this rate. How can I find them before he does?
Her eyes widened slightly and she blinked, then mumbled under her breath. "One snake recognizes another..."
Of course. I'm such an idiot. Instead of trying to find them, if I focus on trying to find him instead...
She inhaled and exhaled slowly, closing her eyes as she concentrated.
I hate snakes, but if one snake recognizes another... then I'll just have to be a snake right now.
The darkness behind her lids was slowly illuminated by the faint yellow-black glow of Anko in the fighting area, and Natsumi turned until the eerie purple aura appeared in her sight.
I've got you!
Eyes still closed, she took off at a spring down the hall, shifting into smoke to rush through the various rooms in the building for the shortest route. She stopped in front of a heavy door and placed her hand against the smooth stone face.
You can't hide from me.
She hesitated and bit her lip.
What am I going to do? I'm no match for him, but...
She looked down at her palm, where a seal appeared and glowed.
But at least I can get Sasuke away from him if I need to... and Naruto and Hasu, too.
"Sorry for the intrusion, but..." Orochimaru's eyes turned to Sasuke. "I have no business with you, Kakashi. But I do with the boy behind you. I would be grateful if you stepped aside."
Kakashi turned fully toward the Sannin and furrowed his brows. "Why are you after Sasuke?"
"It's fine for you. You already have it, don't you?"
"Hm?"
"You didn't always have it, did you? I believe you know what I mean."
Kakashi glared, though his eye twitched in a hint of fear.
"Of course I mean... That Sharingan left eye of yours." He chuckled as Kakashi's glare became more intense. "You see, I want it, too... the Uchiha's power."
The Leaf Genin stared wide-eyed at the cloud of smoke and Dosu chuckled.
"Come on. Get up." Zaku smirked and lowered his left arm. The smoke dissipated and his eyes widened at the dark figure before him. "What?!"
Shino stood, unharmed, and an eerie clicking and buzzing sounded through the room. Zaku looked all around for the source, and his eyes widened as he looked directly at his opponent.
Insects crawled out of large pores in his face and gathered on the collar of his jacket, their exoskeletons clicking and wings twitching as they buzzed.
Insects crawled out of large pores in his face and gathered on the collar of his jacket, their exoskeletons clicking and wings twitching as they buzzed.
"B-Bugs?!" Zaku shuddered slightly and only stared at the insects.
"They burst out of his skin?! From inside his body?! What a creepy guy." He shot a glare at his opponent. "What kind of bluff are you trying to pull?"
Shino gave no reply and Zaku gritted his teeth. He turned to look over his shoulder and his eyes widened as the large swarm of beetles crawled toward him. He flinched and stepped back from the swarm, and Shino held up his hand, where a small beetle rested on his finger.
"These are called Parasitic Insects. They attack their prey in large groups and eat Chakra. You're finished, make no mistake."
Zaku glared at him and Shino narrowed his eyes.
"If you don't want to face an embarrassing defeat, forfeit now. That would be in your best interest." Shino paused to look at his opponents' arm. "If you use that technique on me, I will simultaneously have the insects exploit the opening from behind. Conversely, if you use your technique on the beetles, I will simultaneously exploit the opening. Either way, you have absolutely no chance of winning." He formed a hand sign. "An ace in the hole is something that you set aside."
Zaku shook and gritted his teeth, thinking of Orochimaru.
"Hey! Hold it!"
Two men shouted and chased after a young, dirty-looking boy through the streets and alleys. The boy held a small bag of food in his hands, and one of the men glared as he ran.
"You little thief! You're dead when we catch you!"
"Someone grab him!" The other man called out to passersby, and the boy scowled and quickly turned a corner and froze, shaking at the wall in front of him.
"Uh oh." The boy turned back around as his pursuers rounded the corner and stood in the way of his escape. His eyes widened and he backed away. They stepped toward him with each step he drew back until his back was against the wall. They stood before him and he screamed as they pummeled him with their fists and their feet, laughing as he cried out.
"Man, what a pigheaded kid." The first man cracked his knuckles and laughed as the boy lay facedown on the ground. "Making us go through all this trouble of chasing him down."
They turned around to walk away and found themselves face-to-face with a man with extraordinarily pale skin, with markings around his glowing yellow, slitted eyes. Their eyes widened, and, several moments later, the boy slowly picked himself up from the ground, clutching the small loaf of bread he had managed to hold onto. He trembled and clutched it tighter, then scrunched his face in anger and his eyes spilled over as he ate it in large bites. When it was gone, he stared at his hands and made them into fists.
"You have potential, boy."
The boy's eyes widened and he turned toward the silky voice from the shadows around him. Seeing nothing, he turned back around and froze in place. A pale strange stood before him and he trembled at the inhuman eyes that gazed down at him.
"I liked the look in your eyes earlier."
"W-What?" The boy blinked and stared at him.
"If you come with me, you can become strong." The man turned and walked away. "Follow me."
He stared at the man for several moments before he ran after him.
Zaku looked between the swarm of beetles and Shino, clenching his jaw.
"Fight for me. If you can do that... I'll make you stronger."
A low growl came from his throat and he glared at Shino.
"Now... live up to my expectations."
Zaku shut his eyes tightly and curled his fingers to form a tight fist, his knuckles whitening. "No longer... will I... let anyone look down at me!" He shouted and held out his fist toward Shino, then opened his hand to point his palm at him. "Don't underestimate me!" He tore his other arm free of the sling, gritted his teeth against the pain, and directed his other palm at the insects.
Shino lowered his hands from the seal slightly and Zaku smirked.
"An ace in the hole is something you set aside, huh?"
"What?! He could already use his right arm?!" Kiba's eyes widened slightly.
Dosu chuckled to himself. "So, the first half of the first was a strategic move to make everyone believe that he could only use his left arm. Not bad, Zaku."
"What do you intend to do with Sasuke?"
"The recently built Sound Village- that's my village, you see." Orochimaru's smirk grew as Kakashi's expression darkened. "You already understand, don't you?"
"Hmph. What a ridiculous ambition."
"Oh my... you said it." Orochimaru held up a hand. "But for that, I need various pawns who will obey my every whim." He took several steps toward the Jonin, who remained in place.
"So, you intend to make Sasuke one of those pawns?"
"No. Sasuke is exceptional. But the ones taking the exams now... are merely fodder meant to be thrown away."
"You'll have to go through me."
The Sannin took a step forward. "So, Kakashi... The last time we faced off like this... you were too afraid to even look me in the eye." He chuckled. "Are you really able to face me now?"
Orochimaru ran out of the underground compound and emerged on the surface, where the sun shone brightly above. As his eyes adjusted to the harsh light, they narrowed at the figure that stepped out of the shadows of the woods before him.
The cat-masked Anbu agent's silver hair made his identity clear, and he approached Orochimaru slowly. Lightning formed and gathered in his hand as he met the Sannin's eyes silently.
Orochimaru smirked as Kakashi ran at him, extending his arm out to thrust the lightning at his opponent.
"Lightning Blade!"
Orochimaru ducked easily to avoid the strike, then sliced at the boy's torso. Kakashi leaped up to avoid the strike, and when he landed and turned back to look at his opponent, Orochimaru already stood there. Before he could react, Orochimaru sliced through the fox mask with a single slice of his Kunai and revealed the teenager's face.
Kakashi fell forward onto his knees as the halves of his mask clattered on the ground. Blood slowly poured from the thin cut that ran across the teen's features. He clenched his fist and turned to the Sannin.
"You..." Orochimaru chuckled and turned to look at the boy from over his shoulder. "I like the look in your eye. However..." He turned fully to face him. "I have no need for a fake." He lifted the Kunai to his mouth and his tongue extended far beyond his lips to lick the blood from the weapon's tip.
A brown snake slithered down from the branches of the tree above, then wrapped itself around Orochimaru as he chuckled. "How cute." He turned his gaze from the serpent to the boy. "Do you want to see his blood spilled as well?"
The snake hissed and opened its mouth wide, revealing a paper bomb fixed to the roof of its mouth. Orochimaru's eyes widened slightly as the bomb exploded. Kakashi was thrown back in the blast, and Orochimaru glared as he clutched the wound at his side. He held up his hand to examine his own blood as the smoke cleared.
"Damn the Hokage... So, you had set this up."
Kakashi slowly sat up with a groan, blood still dripping from his head, and he watched the wounded Orochimaru stand. He got to his feet quickly, wobbling only slightly as he glared and held up his Kunai as Orochimaru began to walk toward him.
"Don't move!"
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes and Kakashi froze. The predatory gaze sent a harsh chill rushing down his spine and flooded his veins like ice. Sweat accumulated on his brow as Orochimaru drew closer, but he trembled and was unable to move. Orochimaru smirked as he walked by. A moment later, he blinked and regained control of his body, turning quickly with his Kunai raised, but the Sannin was gone.
Kakashi clenched his jaw slightly at the memory and his brows furrowed. "You won't be getting Sasuke... and you won't get away this time."
"Won't I?" Orochimaru licked his lips. "Let us test your resolve, shall we, Kakashi? Has the frightened boy truly become a man?"
"Take this!" Zaku shouted and channeled Chakra to his hands, though his eyes widened as his forearms burst open. Blood splattered out, accompanied by the whistling blast of sound. He let out a scream and slouched forward, his arms limp. "M-My arms!" His eyes widened as beetles crawled out of the hole from his palm. "W-What?!"
Shino appeared behind him and his expression darkened. "Earlier, when I recommended that you give up... I also gave a suggestion to my insects as a precautionary measure... to block that troublesome wind hole with their bodies and remain still to avoid detection."
Zaku's eyes widened and his body trembled.
"That's what a true ace in the hole is."
"Damn you!" Zaku turned to him, and Shino struck him hard with the back of his hand. He fell to the ground with a grunt, sliding back toward the beetles that awaited a command.
Orochimaru continued to steadily approach as Kakashi remained in place until his eyes widened and he took a stance.
"Don't... come any closer to Sasuke!" Chakra gathered in Kakashi's hand and spilled out visibly, becoming blinding blue lightning. Kakashi gripped his arm to keep it steady and he narrowed his eyes at Orochimaru. "Even if you are one of the Sannin, at the very least, I can kill you as you kill me!"
"Oh?" Orochimaru looked from the corner of his eye behind him and then back to the Jonin as he smirked and laughed.
"What's funny?"
"You certainly do sound serious this time, Kakashi. How marvelous. However," His laughing stopped and his expression darkened. "What you say and what you do still don't line up."
"What?"
"There's no point at all in even attempting such a seal. You understand, don't you? The heart to seek out in pursuit of the goal... no matter what may be obstructing that path... That is the quality that he has. He is an avenger."
"So you intended to take advantage of that from the beginning? However, Sasuke is-"
"At some point, he will be the one to seek me out in search of power. Fighting with you now is pointless if I will get what I want in the end."
"Not if I kill you before that can happen."
"Oh? You're going to kill me, are you? Why don't you try?" Orochimaru chuckled. "Show me how much stronger you have become since our last encounter."
Kakashi's eyes widened and he froze, memories flashing once more as his concentration waned. The lightning chakra faded slightly and sweat rolled down his brow.
"I see. You're still as frightened as ever." Orochimaru laughed. "Well, then. What if I were to kill those other students of yours? That loudmouthed fox brat and adorable little pink-haired girl... Would you attack me then, if I held their still-beating hearts in my hands and they lie dead at my feet? Perhaps we should test what would happen..."
"Don't threaten my students." Kakashi blinked and glared, and Orochimaru laughed.
"Why not? It's not as though they have a capable teacher to protect them... you have an impressive record, Kakashi... but, in the end... in terms of mental fortitude... you are as weak as Sakumo was."
Kakashi's eyes shot open wide and his expression contorted in unbridled hatred. The lightning in his hand burst, large bolts crackling around him. Orochimaru's smirk grew at the expression and Kakashi rushed at him at full speed.
"What incredible killing intent. However..."
Orochimaru chuckled and vanished just before Kakashi's strike landed. In Orochimaru's place was Natsumi, who had only just entered the underground chamber. Her eyes widened at the incoming attack. Kakashi's eyes widened and met the girls' eyes, as, unable to stop, his attack went through her torso.
Kakashi's eyes remained wide and he shook as the lightning arced from his hand through her chest. Even after the lightning faded, he continued to stare at the girl whose face was superimposed in his mind over Natsumi's.
"Ka...ka...shi..."