Chapter 5
The clearing suddenly exploded with kunai as Naruto and his team attacked the gennin team from the hidden rain.
Too busy dodging the rain of blades they did not notice until too late that their scroll had been stolen.
Naruto jumped around gleefully as he bragged about how easy the test was.
Within an hour of entering the forest they had already collected the required scrolls and was leisurely making their way toward the tower.
Naruto had just opened his mouth about to gloat some more when he suddenly stiffened and sniffed the air intently.
"Orochimaru," he growled, "You guys go ahead to the tower I'll meet you there after I kill that snake bastard,"
Knowing that it was unless to argue with him Itachi and Dareada just nodded and sped up toward the tower.
Naruto arrived to find team seven all unconscious except for Sakura who seemed to be in a shock.
Orochimaru was holding Sasuke's limp body when he felt a familiar chakra signature.
"How nice to see you again Naruto," he grinned as he threw Sasuke's body aside.
Naruto just growled as he launched himself at Orochimaru only to be stopped by a kick from the snake bastard.
"Why so mad Naruto," Orochimaru asked innocently, "Oh dear did you lose the seal I gave you? And how's Kai doing?" Orochimaru smiled evilly as Naruto charged forward ruthlessly.
"Don't you dare talk about Kai! He died removing your seal from me!" Naruto roared too blinded by rage to even aim his punches properly.
"Oh, don't worry," Orochimaru mocked as he grabbed the enraged Naruto by the neck, "This time my seal will take a lot more than one sacrifice to break," He ginned maniacally as he bent down and bit the blond on the neck, throwing him at a tree.
Naruto clenched his neck in pain as he landed on his back staring at the black seal that had started to form. He watched helplessly as Orochimaru disappeared from view smiling his crazy smile.
"Damn him," Naruto muttered as darkness swallowed him.
"Naruto,"
"Naruto, Wake up,"
The blond groaned as he returned to consciousness. That cursed seal that Orochimaru gave him was still smarting.
"What happened?" he asked sharply as he sat up looking around. Sasuke was still out and sometime after he fainted Neji's team had arrived.
From all the marks on the ground it was apparent that there had been another battle with a group of gennins that team 7 had won considering they still had their scrolls.
"Well, Sakura managed to wake me up. And we decided to move in case that snake guy comes back. But then this team from lightning country came and attacked us. Then Neji's team came and helped us out," Haku briefed.
"Um Naruto where's your team?" Sakura finally spoke up when Haku finished.
"I think they're-" but Naruto was cut off as a rustle was heard in the bushes. Everyone got into their battle positions expecting the worst when Itachi and Dareada appeared.
"Hey," Naruto waved as if he were expecting them.
"Hey?! You almost got yourself killed and you just say Hey?!" Dareada roared as he attempted to strangle the blond.
"Um, you might actually kill him that way," Haku sweat dropped as she pulled Naruto away from his murderous teammate.
"What happened?" Itachi demanded stepping up from the crowd.
"Uh," but before Naruto could answer Sakura spoke up.
"Naruto who was that snake guy and why did he say something about you losing your seal and giving you another one?"
Naruto suddenly seemed to remember something as he quickly walked over to Sasuke and checked his neck.
"Shit," he cursed, "Orochimaru gave Sasuke a cursed seal,"
Everyone stared at Naruto in confusion as if he was speaking in a different language with the exception of Itachi and Dareada.
"What do you mean?" Neji was the first to ask the question.
"It means that Sasuke now belongs to that snake bastard," Naruto replied quietly.
There was a heavy silence that was finally broken by Lee.
"I think we should head for the tower, I'll carry Sasuke,"
Everyone agreed wordlessly as he started walking all lost in their own thoughts.
Fortunately they met no enemies along the way and in less than a few hours they had arrived at their destination.
Each team opened their scrolls wearily, happy to have ended the test only to get a surprise as a jonin was summoned to each of them.
Anko appeared for Neji and his team.
Kakashi for team seven and Jiraiya for Naruto.
"Wow I amazed you all arrived at the same time," Anko exclaimed, "Now for the last part of the second test you must capture your jonin's flag as a team to pass."
"But who goes first? This tower is a bit small for all three teams," Kakashi commented.
"We'll go first," Lee, volunteered, "both Sasuke and Naruto got hurt in a battle with some Orochimaru guy.
"WHAT?!" all three jonins yelled at one "Ororchimaru was here?"
"You know him?" Lee asked very surprised as all three jonins paled visibly.
"Of course he is one of the most famous S-class criminals," Kakashi replied, "So who was he after?"
"Sasuke," Naruto replied quietly as he pointed to the curse seal on Sasuke's neck "he wants him as his new body."
"That's not good," Jiraiya mused, "I'll go talk to the Hokage. Kakashi take over Naruto's team for me," and with a puff of smoke he disappeared.
"Well then Lee, what were you saying about Naruto getting hurt as well," Anko suddenly brought up.
"Oh um I think Naruto got that cursed seal thingy too," Lee scratched the back of his head trying to understand the importance of the situation.
"Shit," Kakashi cursed followed by all whole string of colorful curses some of which Naruto had never heard before.
"We should get on with the test," Anko interrupted Kakashi from his ranting and continued, "Do Naruto's team first and then take a break while I do team 10 then you can take team seven."
Kakashi nodded in agreement as he got into a fighting stance.
Not wasting any time Itachi suddenly charged forward throwing a punch at Kakashi's face.
Kakashi ducked only to find out too late that it was a feint as Itachi's knee slammed into the unsuspecting jonin's stomach.
Still reeling Kakashi was able to spot the blur that brushed against him grabbing the flag.
"Well it seems that you pass," Kakashi smiled as he sat down to rest.
"Kakashi your skills are really lacking," Anko commented, as he got ready to face team 10.
Neji suddenly charged forward landing a soft tap on Anko's leg. Anko felt the leg become numb as Neji backed off allowing Lee and Tenten and strike the jonin from out of range as the numb leg stopped him from dodging.
Knowing that there was no hope of winning a bloody Anko threw them the flag as she began to bandage his many wounds.
"You're not much better," Kakashi commented warily as he readied himself for his own team.
By now Sasuke had awoken sometime when Neji was fighting but was still weak to help his team much.
As Haku rushed forward his speed much decreased by weariness as Sakura began a set of hand seals.
Unfortunately not waiting for the pink girl to finish Kakashi was already behind her as he grabbed her hair preventing her from moving.
Haku having defeated Kakashi's mizu bushin found himself trapped unknowingly in a cage of chakra.
Sasuke watched helplessly as his exhausted teammates were caught one by one. Rage boiled inside him. Why must he be so weak? Suddenly he felt a sharp pain in his neck as his seal began to spread.
Overwhelmed with power Sasuke charged at Kakashi landing a punch in his stomach as he grabbed the flag.
Still he did not stop as he continued to rain punches down on his former teacher.
"Sasuke... What are you doing? Stop!" Sakura yelled tears streaming down her face as she positioned herself between him and Kakashi.
Time seemed to stop at that minute as Sasuke stared at the pink-headed girl.
Suddenly he collapsed hugging his head. He seemed to return to his normal self when he looked up, his eyes filled with fear.
"It's okay," Kakashi reassured as he patted his favorite student on the back, "You passed."
"Now follow me to the Third test," Anko stuttered shaking all over as everyone followed her out of the tower.
Orochimaru's back. Anko was sure of it now. That seal was the proof. It was exactly like the one Orochimaru had given him. But for Sasuke to accesses it so soon without any help...
What have you become Sasuke?
The clearing suddenly exploded with kunai as Naruto and his team attacked the gennin team from the hidden rain.
Too busy dodging the rain of blades they did not notice until too late that their scroll had been stolen.
Naruto jumped around gleefully as he bragged about how easy the test was.
Within an hour of entering the forest they had already collected the required scrolls and was leisurely making their way toward the tower.
Naruto had just opened his mouth about to gloat some more when he suddenly stiffened and sniffed the air intently.
"Orochimaru," he growled, "You guys go ahead to the tower I'll meet you there after I kill that snake bastard,"
Knowing that it was unless to argue with him Itachi and Dareada just nodded and sped up toward the tower.
Naruto arrived to find team seven all unconscious except for Sakura who seemed to be in a shock.
Orochimaru was holding Sasuke's limp body when he felt a familiar chakra signature.
"How nice to see you again Naruto," he grinned as he threw Sasuke's body aside.
Naruto just growled as he launched himself at Orochimaru only to be stopped by a kick from the snake bastard.
"Why so mad Naruto," Orochimaru asked innocently, "Oh dear did you lose the seal I gave you? And how's Kai doing?" Orochimaru smiled evilly as Naruto charged forward ruthlessly.
"Don't you dare talk about Kai! He died removing your seal from me!" Naruto roared too blinded by rage to even aim his punches properly.
"Oh, don't worry," Orochimaru mocked as he grabbed the enraged Naruto by the neck, "This time my seal will take a lot more than one sacrifice to break," He ginned maniacally as he bent down and bit the blond on the neck, throwing him at a tree.
Naruto clenched his neck in pain as he landed on his back staring at the black seal that had started to form. He watched helplessly as Orochimaru disappeared from view smiling his crazy smile.
"Damn him," Naruto muttered as darkness swallowed him.
"Naruto,"
"Naruto, Wake up,"
The blond groaned as he returned to consciousness. That cursed seal that Orochimaru gave him was still smarting.
"What happened?" he asked sharply as he sat up looking around. Sasuke was still out and sometime after he fainted Neji's team had arrived.
From all the marks on the ground it was apparent that there had been another battle with a group of gennins that team 7 had won considering they still had their scrolls.
"Well, Sakura managed to wake me up. And we decided to move in case that snake guy comes back. But then this team from lightning country came and attacked us. Then Neji's team came and helped us out," Haku briefed.
"Um Naruto where's your team?" Sakura finally spoke up when Haku finished.
"I think they're-" but Naruto was cut off as a rustle was heard in the bushes. Everyone got into their battle positions expecting the worst when Itachi and Dareada appeared.
"Hey," Naruto waved as if he were expecting them.
"Hey?! You almost got yourself killed and you just say Hey?!" Dareada roared as he attempted to strangle the blond.
"Um, you might actually kill him that way," Haku sweat dropped as she pulled Naruto away from his murderous teammate.
"What happened?" Itachi demanded stepping up from the crowd.
"Uh," but before Naruto could answer Sakura spoke up.
"Naruto who was that snake guy and why did he say something about you losing your seal and giving you another one?"
Naruto suddenly seemed to remember something as he quickly walked over to Sasuke and checked his neck.
"Shit," he cursed, "Orochimaru gave Sasuke a cursed seal,"
Everyone stared at Naruto in confusion as if he was speaking in a different language with the exception of Itachi and Dareada.
"What do you mean?" Neji was the first to ask the question.
"It means that Sasuke now belongs to that snake bastard," Naruto replied quietly.
There was a heavy silence that was finally broken by Lee.
"I think we should head for the tower, I'll carry Sasuke,"
Everyone agreed wordlessly as he started walking all lost in their own thoughts.
Fortunately they met no enemies along the way and in less than a few hours they had arrived at their destination.
Each team opened their scrolls wearily, happy to have ended the test only to get a surprise as a jonin was summoned to each of them.
Anko appeared for Neji and his team.
Kakashi for team seven and Jiraiya for Naruto.
"Wow I amazed you all arrived at the same time," Anko exclaimed, "Now for the last part of the second test you must capture your jonin's flag as a team to pass."
"But who goes first? This tower is a bit small for all three teams," Kakashi commented.
"We'll go first," Lee, volunteered, "both Sasuke and Naruto got hurt in a battle with some Orochimaru guy.
"WHAT?!" all three jonins yelled at one "Ororchimaru was here?"
"You know him?" Lee asked very surprised as all three jonins paled visibly.
"Of course he is one of the most famous S-class criminals," Kakashi replied, "So who was he after?"
"Sasuke," Naruto replied quietly as he pointed to the curse seal on Sasuke's neck "he wants him as his new body."
"That's not good," Jiraiya mused, "I'll go talk to the Hokage. Kakashi take over Naruto's team for me," and with a puff of smoke he disappeared.
"Well then Lee, what were you saying about Naruto getting hurt as well," Anko suddenly brought up.
"Oh um I think Naruto got that cursed seal thingy too," Lee scratched the back of his head trying to understand the importance of the situation.
"Shit," Kakashi cursed followed by all whole string of colorful curses some of which Naruto had never heard before.
"We should get on with the test," Anko interrupted Kakashi from his ranting and continued, "Do Naruto's team first and then take a break while I do team 10 then you can take team seven."
Kakashi nodded in agreement as he got into a fighting stance.
Not wasting any time Itachi suddenly charged forward throwing a punch at Kakashi's face.
Kakashi ducked only to find out too late that it was a feint as Itachi's knee slammed into the unsuspecting jonin's stomach.
Still reeling Kakashi was able to spot the blur that brushed against him grabbing the flag.
"Well it seems that you pass," Kakashi smiled as he sat down to rest.
"Kakashi your skills are really lacking," Anko commented, as he got ready to face team 10.
Neji suddenly charged forward landing a soft tap on Anko's leg. Anko felt the leg become numb as Neji backed off allowing Lee and Tenten and strike the jonin from out of range as the numb leg stopped him from dodging.
Knowing that there was no hope of winning a bloody Anko threw them the flag as she began to bandage his many wounds.
"You're not much better," Kakashi commented warily as he readied himself for his own team.
By now Sasuke had awoken sometime when Neji was fighting but was still weak to help his team much.
As Haku rushed forward his speed much decreased by weariness as Sakura began a set of hand seals.
Unfortunately not waiting for the pink girl to finish Kakashi was already behind her as he grabbed her hair preventing her from moving.
Haku having defeated Kakashi's mizu bushin found himself trapped unknowingly in a cage of chakra.
Sasuke watched helplessly as his exhausted teammates were caught one by one. Rage boiled inside him. Why must he be so weak? Suddenly he felt a sharp pain in his neck as his seal began to spread.
Overwhelmed with power Sasuke charged at Kakashi landing a punch in his stomach as he grabbed the flag.
Still he did not stop as he continued to rain punches down on his former teacher.
"Sasuke... What are you doing? Stop!" Sakura yelled tears streaming down her face as she positioned herself between him and Kakashi.
Time seemed to stop at that minute as Sasuke stared at the pink-headed girl.
Suddenly he collapsed hugging his head. He seemed to return to his normal self when he looked up, his eyes filled with fear.
"It's okay," Kakashi reassured as he patted his favorite student on the back, "You passed."
"Now follow me to the Third test," Anko stuttered shaking all over as everyone followed her out of the tower.
Orochimaru's back. Anko was sure of it now. That seal was the proof. It was exactly like the one Orochimaru had given him. But for Sasuke to accesses it so soon without any help...
What have you become Sasuke?