Chapter 1

Oshimai

by

ensngre

"…Sorry we're late…" The white-haired shinobi said, appearing in the middle of the arena with a boy not seemingly older than twelve.

The examiner grinned. "Your name?"

The smaller, dark-haired boy spoke up, smirking. "Uchiha… Sasuke."

"Well, even though we showed up all flashy and the like… could Sasuke have been…" The one-eyed ninja started. "Disqualified?" He really didn't want the Uchiha-clan on their bad side, by trashing up the chuunin-exam for their hailed prodigy. He sweatdropped, and started to feel slightly nervous.

"Geez, your tardiness must be contagious…" Genma said, taunting. "Don't worry, we pushed Sasuke's match 'til the end." He twisted around the wooden stick he had in his mouth with his tounge, silently thanked the gods that he wasn't to disqualify the boy. The Uchiha's was already pissed off as it was, with Orochimaru having branded Sasuke for the rest of his life with his Curse Seal.

"Bah… booring…" A short silhuette said, wearing a black coat covered with red clouds, looking over the village from the top of the wall of the village that were supposed to keep outsiders out. "Can't handle the petty Ichibi?" And blinked out of existance.

A moment later, at the battlefield in the middle of Konoha, were the Leaf's currently were fighting both a Bijuu and the forces of the Sand and the Sound at the same time. They were losing; they knew that, yet they couldn't do a thing about it. The minds of many civilians that were too frightened to move, was on the deceased Fourth Hokage. If only he was here, they thought…

Then a yellow flash engulfed the whole battlefield, and the giant Shukaku was nowhere to be seen. The veterans quickly thought of their old hero in the Third Secret World War, became confused, but soon resumed the fighting, the ones who had not yet been killed because of the distraction.

At the same time, the barrier that had enclosed the fight between the Third Hokage and Orochimaru, dissipated. The snake-sannin started laughing madly, screaming of the destruction of Konoha. Until he noticed that Gaara's inhabitant was nowhere to be seen. He shut up fast. There's no way Shukaku would've been beaten that fast! Realisation struck him hard. Unless… "Kabuto!"

The silver medical-nin appeared within seconds. "O-Orochimaru-sama…" He knew that his master was mad, despite the obvious successed assassination of the Third. And he knew why… but he had not any answers to the coming questions, and that was dangerous. He wondered if this would be his last moment alive. Fortunately, his master had untended wounds. That meant he would live at least a little while longer. That shattered shoulder, for example… had probably been the work of Kongounyoi, the transformed form of the monkey-king Enma.

"Where's Gaara!" Kabuto didn't have the time to explain that he wasn't really aware of what was happening.

"Looking for your little tool? Orochimaru." A figure asked, already knowing the answer and the dangerousity of the snake-sannin. It was holding an unconcious Gaara by his left leg with his right hand, dragging him along the ground, not letting go after he stopped three-four manlengths from the sannin.

Orochimaru looked as if he were to snap. But he remained quiet.

"You do know you were not authorized to use the Jinchuuriki's this way, surely, you haven't forgotten," the one who held Gaara said, with no anger or resentment in his voice.

"…watch it. Or I'll kill you, brat. Are you mocking me with this timing to get the human sacrifice?" Orochimaru spat out, frustration obvious in his voice.

"Let's just say it's punishment for stirring things up," the young boy said. He had patience, far more patience than the old immortality-obsessed freak. He would not lose it. The older knew this, but it did not matter. "Also, I see you're planning to abduct the current Uchiha-heir. We won't approve."

Suddenly, Orochimaru had a rotten feeling in his arms, he looked down, only to notice that they were in fact rotting. He snapped up his head to the short member of the Akatsuki, and burst out. "What the hell's happening!"

"That is to keep you from destroying the Leaf, it would make matters hard for us," the kid said. "And to assure you don't get in our way… we'll kill you some other time. I've already taken your arms." He turned to leave, with the body of the cold-blooded red-head dragging behind him, still gripping his left leg. One of the other sannin's were incoming, the white-haired one, the only one in the former trio who had no qualms about age. I could take you out now , Jiraya… but you're too important to keep things in check.

And he disappeared in a black fog, with Orochimaru fleeing from Konoha, and the Sound- and Sand-forces being gradually defeated. The toad-sannin did not arrive in time. That presence… it was him, no mistake about it. Orochimaru… and that blondie-head… what a troublesome day with troublesome enemies. And he looked to where the Third Hokage, his former teacher, lay dead, and became solemn.

Authors notes

Nothin't'say, again. Except (:P) that the person isn't the Fourth. And argh... stupid can't write ! and ? after each other.