"I'm so hungry!" Choji yelled, slapping his hands on the table like a toddler.

"Pipe down, would you?" Ino complained. She, Choji, and Shikamaru were sitting on one side of the booth. Naruto Sakura and Sasuke were on the other side.

Sasuke was gazing out a nearby window. Sakura poked at the table absentmindedly.

"I'm glad I lost," Shikamaru said. "This whole thing has been such a drag."

"You should've tried harder!" Ino grabbed Shikamaru's ear and yanked on it. "Now I'm the only one left! What's with that?"

"Ow!" Shikamaru yelped.

"You guys really are crazy," Naruto commented, sipping his drink.

Ino rolled her eyes and let go of Shikamaru's ear.

"I wonder where Asuma sensei went," Ino said. "He said he'd be here by now."

"Maybe something came up," Shikamaru said."

"The same with Kakashi sensei," Sasuke spoke up. "Haven't seen him since before the exams." He shared a look with Shikamaru.

"What will it be for you?" A waiter appeared, looking the group over.

"We're waiting for one more person," Ino said, slapping her hand over Choji's mouth.

"Not a problem," The waiter smiled and walked away.

"But Ino!" Choji whined. "I'm hungry!"

"You can wait!" Ino snapped.

Naruto leaned back, setting his cup down.

"Hey guys," Naruto spoke up again. "What happens after the fights? Do we keep going until one person wins?"

"I dunno," Sakura chimed in. "That's a good question."

"Maybe after the round is over," Shikamaru thought out loud. "All the winners will participate in some other type of competition.

"Like you care," Ino remarked.

Shikamaru rolled his eyes.

"I can't believe both of you lost," Ino folded her arms.

"Sorry," Choji said.

"Oh, that's right," Naruto perked up. "Choji, you saved me, remember?"

"What?" Choji perked up, His face turning red.

"In our fight," Naruto said. "You helped me even though you didn't have to."

Shikamaru and Ino shared a look.

"It was nothin," Choji said, grinning sheepishly.

Asuma arrived a few minutes later.

"Have you seen Kakashi recently?" He asked as he sat next to Choji.

"No," Sakura said.

"Why?" Sasuke asked.

Asuma gave the three of them a long look.

"We need to talk."

X

The next morning, the arena stands slowly filled up again.

The three kage had already taken their seats. Raikage was laughing with Hiruzen.

In the arena, Hayate had returned to perform his proctoring duties. He shared some words with Asuma before Asuma left to the stands.

Naruto stood with Sasuke and Sakura in the stands. He couldn't get what Asuma had told him the night before out of his head.

"First match!" Raikage yelled. "Sasuke and Lee versus Misumi and Kin!"

"Kick their asses, Sasuke!" Naruto cheered as Sasuke jumped into the arena. Sakura whooped.

Sasuke and Lee shared a look. Lee smiled at him.

"I'll admit I was hoping to fight you," Lee said.

Sasuke smirked.

"If you're unlucky, you'll get your chance."

Misumi and Kin hopped into the arena as well.

Sasuke didn't care much about either of them.

Misumi was a sound ninja with a mask over his face. Kin was a short girl with long black hair. Neither of them seemed like much of a threat.

"Begin!" Hayate yelled.

Misumi charged first. His arm stretched like a snake for Sasuke.

Lee was fast. Much faster than Sasuke expected. He jumped forward, grabbing Misumi's arm and kicking him in the chest.

Misumi landed on his back. Lee spun in the air and landed on top of him, knocking the wind out of Misumi.

Sasuke blinked.

Misumi wasn't moving. Was he done already?

For a moment, no one moved.

"Excuse me, Sasuke," Lee said. He straightened up, dropping Misumi's arm. "Could you take care of her for me? I'm not one for fighting girls."

"Don't mock me!" Kin yelled. She lunged at Lee.

Lee hopped off Misumi, dodging Kin's attacks.

"Please, Sasuke!" Lee begged. He quickly maneuvered closer to Sasuke.

Sasuke swept Kin's feet out from under her, grabbed her head, and forced her to the ground. He drew a kunai and put it to her neck.

"Surender," Sasuke demanded.

Kin glared at Sasuke. He waited patiently for a few moments before looking at Hayate.

"We're done, right?"

"What a waste of time!" Raikage boomed from the stands.

"This match is over!" Hayate proclaimed. "Sasuke and Lee are the winners!"

Lee offered Sasuke his hand. Sasuke ignored it.

Raikage glanced through his papers. As the fighters left the arena. "Hm."

"What is it, Raikage?" Hiruzen asked.

"We don't have enough people for another match," Raikage said. "Karui and Mubi will have a one-on-one match!"

Karui leaped from the stands, landing in the arena with a yell.

Mubi silently hopped down. He had a device over his mouth and a mask covering most of his face.

"What's your deal?" Karui asked. "You some kind of zombie? You look weird."

"Begin!" Hayate ordered.

Mubi immediately sunk into the ground.

Karui blinked, looking around. She raised her hand to the sword on her back. She closed her eyes and drew the sword.

Mubi appeared to Karui's left. He lunged at her with a kunai.

Karui's strike was so fast, Mubi didn't see it coming. She cut through his arm and slashed his chest open.

Mubi collapsed to the ground screaming.

Karui turned away from him and sheathed her sword.

"Karui wins!" Hayate yelled.

Several medical ninja appeared around Mubi.

Karui watched them try to treat his injury. She looked up at Raikage. He nodded proudly.

Raikage tapped his chin, thinking.

"What will we do now?" He wondered out loud.

"I suggest a free for all," Rasa said.

"Bah!" Hiruzen waved him off.

"I like his idea," Raikage said. "The last four or so standing will be promoted."

"I have a better idea," Hiruzen said. He stood up and cleared his throat. "Everyone still participating, enter the arena!"

Hiruzen waited as the last participants slowly filed into the arena. They gathered around Karui.

"What's your idea?" Raikage asked.

"We have a special forest," Hiruzen explained. "I suppose we have them compete in an old game of ours."

"Quit stalling," Raikage complained. "Give me the details."

X

It wasn't long before the genin were moved to the main entrance of the Forest of Death.

Anko stood in front of the group explaining the rules.

"Each team will be given either a heaven or an earth scroll," Anko said. "Your goal is the find the opposite scroll and make it to the tower in the center of the forest."

"Question!" Ino piped in. "What about me?" She gestured to Naruto's team, then to Gaara's team, then to Kiba's team. "Most of them have whole teams!" She complained. "But I'm the only one of my team left!"

"Good point," Anko said. "Fortunately, I have a solution. You, Karui, and Dosu can form an impromptu team."

Ino, Karui, and Dosu shared disgusted looks as Anko pushed them together.

"Now, Let's get you all in there," She said with a smile.

"You guys ready for this?" Naruto asked.

"Yeah," Sakura said. "We can do this."

"We still haven't seen Kakashi," Sasuke said. "Something is going on."

The genin started filing into the forest.

Anko closed the gate behind them.

X

Nearby at the Hokage building, the three kage met in the main office. Their advisors lingered by the door.

"We can't even watch them?" Raikage complained. "Why did you want us to come here?"

"Don't worry about that," Hiruzen said placing his hat on the desk, slowly walking around it. "Those kids should be the last thing on your mind."

"What?" Raikage watched Hiruzen closely.

It happened at once. Hiruzen kicked the desk. It flew across the room, slamming into Raikage.

"What?" Raikage smashed the desk with both his hands. He barely noticed the scroll in Hiruzen's hands.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

The office erupted into a blur of scales. A giant serpent ripped through the roof, extending its massive head like a spear into the sky. Hiruzen stood on its head, looking at the village far below.

He could see every part of the village from there. From the forest of death to the academy to the arena. He could see people scampering about, panicking. The feeling of calm wind on his face was exhilarating.

Raikage jumped onto the crumbling roof of the Hokage building. He glared up at Hiruzen, yelling something inaudible.

"Do it now!" Hiruzen yelled. His mouth extending unnaturally.

Four pillars of light shot into the sky from four corners of the village. There was a bright flash and the beams expanded into a massive cube surrounding the village, tinting the sky beyond it purple.

Raikage appeared, lunging at Hiruzen from the ground.

Several anbu intercepted Raikage, two of them swinging swords.

"Get out of my way!" Raikage yelled.

One punch sent an Anbu flying into the barrier wall surrounding the village.

"You won't hurt our Hokage!" The other Anbu shouted.

Raikage grabbed the anbu's head and threw him to the ground. He landed sideways on the snake's neck and charged up at Hiruzen.

"Good grief," Hiruzen said. He dodged Raikage's first few strikes.

Raikage slowed to a stop standing in front of Hiruzen.

"What the hell?" Raikage struggled to move.

"You're acting like a child," Hiruzen chided. He placed his hand on Raikage's chest.

"You think I didn't prepare for this?"

A black mark appeared in the center of Raikage's chest and quickly expanded over his body.

Raikage winced in pain. He was glaring at Hiruzen.

"What is this?" Raikage demanded. "What are you?"

"It's a cursed seal," Hiruzen said. "I placed it on you yesterday." He slapped Raikage's chest.

"Lord Hokage!" Someone shouted from far below.

Hiruzen smiled down at the village.

Anbu started to gather on the village rooftops.

"That's not our Hokage!" Someone else shouted.

Hiruzen spotted Asuma standing on top of the academy building. Iruka, Inoichi, Choza, and a few jonin were standing with him.

"Stay here for a moment," Hiruzen said. "I'll be back."

Hiruzen leaped from the snake, falling gracefully through the air.

He landed on the academy building behind Asuma and the others. A smile slowly grew on his face as they turned to him.

Asuma's face was a mask of fear.

"What are you?"