Disclaimer: do not own Naruto, the character or the anime/manga, Feneris however is my own Character.

True Power

Chapter 13: The Death Forest

I've seen worse

Feneris of the Moonstalker Clan

Team seven stood with the assembled gennins at the entrance to the forest of death. The trees were huge and ancient their roots seemingly trying to choke out all other life.

"Alright you maggots, this is the Forest of Death. You have to sign this form before you can advance."

"What's this?" a rain ninja asked.

"This states that should you die that the Hidden Leaf Village will not be held responsible for your death. Yep this is the part were people start dieing." Anko said, "Any questions?"

"Yah," Naruto replied raising his hand, "What can we expect in there, any hazards?"

"Oh yes, the game is more likely to eat you, and of course you'll have the rest of these bands of misfits after you, that what you mean?"

"Yep."

"Good, each of you will be given ether a heaven or earth scroll, you have to make it to the central tower in 5 days with both scrolls. That means you going to have to fight each other over the scrolls so, get moving."

½ hour later

Team 7 sprinted through the trees at great speeds.

"Hey what scroll do we have anyway?" Naruto asked.

"The earth scroll." Haku replied pulling a scroll out of his pack.

"Wait, Warufuzake, says there is a group of grass ninja up ahead." Naruto said as he picked up the small fox.

The group split up and vanished into the trees. At the camp of the grass ninja one of the ninja stood up and got a pair sebon needles through his legs. The other two ninja sprang to attention as their companion collapsed. Only to see the large form of a one eyed oni advancing towards them. The ninja sprang into the trees as the oni swiped at them with its club. They let loose a shower of kunai and shurikin that buried into the oni thick hide. Then the oni faded from existence.

Alarmed the ninja's jumped down, till they realized the sand was creeping up their legs. They struggled to get free but the sand held them tight. Team 7 then came into the grass ninja's field of vision, Gaara walked over to one of the ninja a pulled a earth scroll out of the ninja's pack, them he used his chakra to solidify the sand into sandstone. The ninjas struggled against the stone to no avail.

Team 7 then continued through the trees till they saw a snake lying at the base of tree with a large human shaped lump in it. The snake suddenly split open and Kai climbed out of the carcass.

"Kai! What Happened?" Naruto asked.

"I went to relive myself and this god damn snake swallowed me." The weapon master answered.

"Kai where's you team?" Haku asked.

"I don't know?" He replied suddenly alarmed.

The group then took off until they found Sasuke facing a grass ninja with strangely snake-like behaviour.

"Die bastard!" Kai roared as he launched two giant shurikin at the grass ninja.

The ninja skirted around the shurikin and made to strange hand seals, "Stunner Jutsu."

The jutsu hit Kai square on, causing the ninja a collapse as he was knocked out. Sasuke then fired a fireball at the grass ninja, which scored a hit. The ninja's skin melted revealing pale skin and gold eyes.

"Orchimaru!" was a though shared by all members of team 7.

"Heh heh, good try Uchiha!" Orchimaru said as he lunged at Sasuke, sinking his fangs into Sasuke's neck.

Haku shot a hail of sebon at Orchimaru, who merely dodged out of the way.

"Goodbye, toads." Orchimaru said as he vanished in a puff of smoke.

"Damn snake," Gaara said as he checked Sasuke's vitals.

"Hey guys," Haku said uneasily, "look at this."

On Sasuke's neck there was a seal in the shape of three comas.

"Umm… What's wrong with Sasuke?" Hinata asked uneasily coming out from behind a tree.

"He's cursed by the looks of it, this is just what Feneris warned us would happen." Haku said examining the seal.

Hinata let out a squeak and started cursing herself for being weak.

"Don't beat your self up over this Hinata," Naruto said patting the Hyuuga on the back, "that guy was way out of our league, he was probably Kage material."

"Thanks Naruto-kun," Hinata replied blushing a bit.

"We should probably rest here for tonight," Haku said, 'the tower is about a day away, if those two aren't awake by tomorrow we will carry them to the tower. By the way what scrolls does your team have?"

"Umm… Two heaven scrolls," Hinata replied.

"Good we'll give you one of our earth scrolls in exchange for one of your heaven scrolls" Haku said.

"Thank you but why are you helping us?" Hinata asked.

"What kind of ninja would we be if we left our comrades to die in the forest?" Naruto replied.

"Touching…" a voice from behind them said.

The group spun around to reveal a group of sound ninjas one had a large fur cloak and bandages wrapped around his face leaving only one eye visible, the other was a girl with long black hair, and a guy with wild hair and holes in his hands.

"Heh, it will be fun killing these leaf weaklings," the guy with the holes in his hands said.

Authors Note: Sorry for my delay in updating, school has really got me busy so I have less time to write.

Over 100 reviews! Ye-ha! thanks to all who toke their time to tell me what they thought of my story.