Guest: Naruto will reunite with the Fanalis in due time. He'll see them again before I do the timeskip.
Lessons To Learn
Meri blinked, frowning as his blonde hair flicked over his head. The man grunted, swiping his hair from his eyes, not that he could actually tell. He couldn't see, not with the bandanna over his eyes. He had to have it though, or else the shinobi would realize that he had a pair of Sharingan in his possession. That couldn't be allowed, at least, not until he got them in an opportunity where he could place them under an illusion.
Make sleeper agents.
It was possible, but it wouldn't be easy. He definitely couldn't use his eyes now, among multiple Jonin. The man had managed to get inside the Jonin watching room for the Chunin Exams, listening to Jonin conversations as the Chunin Exams continued. He wasn't a Jonin instructor, but the ability to go into the viewing room was universal to all Jonin, as many wanted to see the Genin compete for their ability to become Chunin.
Meri sighed. So much work to do. So many illusions to lay, people to convince, and progress to be made.
All in preparation for the advent of the true Konohagakure.
The kunoichi laughed, staring at Sasuke's frozen face before she moved, her upper body wrapping around the tree Sasuke was on like a snake as she ascended, her tongue flailing from her mouth. Sasuke stared in horror, his red eyes frozen in the face of unparalleled fear. There was nothing he could do against a foe like this! The kunoichi neared, moving ever closer only to suddenly stop as a barrage of weapons stabbed into the part of the tree directly in front of her. The kunoichi blinked, glancing upwards, surprise forming on her face as she saw Team 10 standing there, a frown on Shikamaru's face.
"Looks like we arrived in the nick of time. How troublesome," Shikamaru muttered, rubbing the back of his head.
"Shut up! We need to save them from that weird snake lady!" Ino screeched, causing Shikamaru to groan.
"I know I know, the only issue is that that lady is way to far out of our league to even remotely handle."
"Well we have to try something Shikamaru!"
"I know, just, give me time to think."
The kunoichi blinked once more. 'Am I being ignored here? I feel like I'm being ignored here.'
"Guys!" Sakura cried, joy on her face, causing Ino to smirk.
"Need some saving, Billboard Brow?"
"Team 10, get out of here!" Sasuke called, drawing their attention. The team paused, their eyes glued to Sasuke's face. He was...afraid. Sasuke was afraid. They had never seen him afraid. He was always confident, cool as a cucumber, even in the worst of situations from what Sakura described. The only time he had been truly afraid, at least from what Ino told them from the gossip around the village, was when Sasuke faced down Zabuza Momochi with just Naruto at his side. For that look to be back on his face.
This person was on the level of Zabuza? One of the Seven Swordsmen of the Hidden Mist!
Sasuke could only turn to stare back at the kunoichi, fear coating his eyes, restricting his movements like chains that bound him. He felt like a mouse, running for its life as a snake chased it down, fearful to look back, as those eye contact would paralyze it for eternity. But he wouldn't run fast enough. No, chains of fear held his body like a slave master, and there was no way that he was going to be able to break their bonds. The terror of the outside world had reached into Konoha and gripped his heart.
Only this time it was much much worse.
There was no Kakashi to back him up and handle the lions share of the fighting. There was no Naruto to help him plan. No separate target that the predator had. All of the pressure was directed on him and him alone. That was the only reason he could think of that everyone else was able to move, because he sure as hell couldn't! Was this what it felt like? Being so near death? It was almost like the kunoichi could reach out and strangle him at any moment.
"Hurry," Sasuke whispered. "All of you, leave! You don't know what you're up against! Leave, while you still can!"
"To be fair dickless neither do you," Sai muttered, his eyes narrowed on the form of the kunoichi. Sasuke wanted to glare at the boy for being so lackadaisical, so uncaring in the face of an opponent that could kill all of them with ease. But he couldn't, not while the kunoichi was within eyesight. The second he looked away was the second he died, he was sure of that. These numbers wouldn't even slow her down.
"So, you all managed to escape from my friend," the kunoichi called, drawing the attention of Team 10. "Well done."
"So she sent that big ass snake towards us. It was a summon."
"Yes."
"A now dead summon," Ino added to Shikamaru's analysis, smirking. Shikamaru wanted to strangle the girl. The less the kunoichi knew about how they got away the better. They needed to be underestimated as much as possible, that much was clear even to him. Was this girl really that dense!
'They don't get it,' Sasuke thought. 'They don't know what they're dealing with. What do I do?' Sasuke's eyes widened in realization, before he deactivated his Sharingan.
"You can have it!"
The kunoichi turned, surprised at seeing Sasuke standing in such a defeated way. Was this not the little brother of Itachi Uchiha? Where was his spunk? Sasuke glanced upwards towards Sai who blinked before he nodded. Saving Sasuke was more important than defeating this enemy. Sai tossed the scroll to Sasuke who nodded.
"The scroll right, that's what you want. Alright then, take it and leave us alone."
Sai frowned. That wasn't going to work. He just had to make sure that the kunoichi, or rather the man, was was completely unexpected and going against Danzo's plans. But he couldn't face him, and he definitely couldn't do it alone. That was impossible. He couldn't beat a Sannin!
Ino wanted to shout, her eyes wide, only for Shikamaru to clamp his hand down firmly over her mouth. Sasuke knew what he was doing. He couldn't let Ino and her loud mouth screw it all up just because she didn't understand the gravity of the situation. Sasuke was trying to make sure that they all lived. That was the most important thing right now. Not Ino's desperate attempts to show off in front of some boy.
"Very wise, very sensible," The kunoichi stated, grinning. "Sometimes the helpless prey realize that in order to save their own skins, they must abandon their hopes and distract the predator with something even more precious."
Sasuke grunted, tossing the scroll towards the kunoichi, who caught it, grinning. "Why thank you," The kunoichi grinned, before flames burst fromher hands at the action of a few one-handed hand seals, burning the scroll to smithereens. "But that's not what I'm after."
Dread filled Shikamaru's heart, before the kunoichi rolled up her sleeve, revealing an intricate tattoo. "Kuchiyose no Jutsu (Summoning Jutsu)!" The wind howled as a massive snake reared its massive head, its tongue flickering outwards and smashing into Ino and Choji, sending the duo flying.
Anko was a very bored woman. So bored that she was currently flickering the sticks of her dango towards a tree in an attempt to create Konoha's insignia. She needed some excitement in her life. Something. No one said being a proctor would be so dreadfully boring. There were no kids to torment, although hearing the screams of defeated children did give her a slight wave of pleasure each time she heard it. Of course that may be children dying, but that wouldn't ruin her mood. She had warned them. In fact, that made her feel slightly even more pleasure.
"Maybe I'll check up on the kids after I finish my dango," she muttered, taking another bite.
Anko blinked as smoke cleared. She glanced downwards, not expecting to see a Konoha shinobi standing there.
"Pardon ma'am, there's a problem."
"What sort of problem?"
"Corpses ma'am, three of them."
"Come on," Anko muttered. "In this trial all rules are off. People can kill, and this forest is dangerous. Dead bodies are to be expected. I'm trying to eat here ma-"
"I think you'll want to see them. There's something strange about them."
"Besides being dead?" The shinobi nodded, causing Anko to raise an eyebrow, but nod nonetheless. The Tokubetsu Jonin frowned as she came across the sight. Blood everywhere, even on a Buddha statue. That was just wrong, even for her. But that wasn't what really drew her attention.
"I went through their belongings," a shinobi behind her stated. "Find their identification, shinobi from Kusa. All three were registered for the Chunin Exams. They weren't just killed."
"Their faces," Anko muttered, her hands clenching as her eyes burned with rage. "They're gone." Rage boiled through her body, flooding every fiber of her being. No, rage was to kind a term. It was hatred. That was what made the sky turn red, and the ground explode in a shower of blood, the sound of hissing filling her ears as snakes slithered across her naked body.
Hatred!
She could only reach towards her neck, lava coursing through her veins as she felt the perversion on her soul, the one stain on her existence. A black leech that sucked and sucked until she became a dry corpse, falling to the ground dead, a venomous snake standing over her, blood trailing from its mouth. Her glassy eyes could only watch as its maws opened and the world became cloaked in blackness as she was devoured whole.
'No doubt about it. This is his jutsu. Why is he here though? What is he doing at the Chunin Exams?'
"I need photos of what these three used to look like, where are their I.D.'s?"
"Right here ma'am," a Konoha shinobi stated, passing them to her. Anko burned the faces of the I.D.'s into her memory with such precision many would have thought she had a Sharingan. She would never forget these faces, because as long as she was alive she wouldn't have to. Soon the faces would be gone, and a stain would be removed from the world.
"We've got big trouble. Tell Hokage-sama exactly what's happened here, and tell the ANBU they'd better get at least four units to the Forest of Death." Anko's body felt like lava and ice intermingling, the fusing sensation bringing pain to her entire being. Needles shaped like fangs dug into her skin, blood leaking from her body as the red skied turned a hazy purple and a monstrous snake descended from the sky.
She couldn't wait.
"I'm going in after these guys."
Soon her mentor, Orochimaru the Rogue Sannin, would die.
Naruto grunted as he lost his horse, a disappointed look on his face. He had tried to defend his king once again from Scheherazade's never ending onslaught, but the girl was to good. He even had help in the form of Kurama and his mother, yet neither of them seemed to know much about the game or how to play it if the defeat he was getting dealt meant anything at all. He had taken their advice on multiple occasions and had ended up losing pieces.
He should stick to asking them for shinobi help.
"How long have you been in the Rukh Continent?"
Naruto grunted, frowning. He hadn't payed much attention to the question, but he knew the general idea of what she was asking. There wasn't much harm in telling her. How long he was here wasn't going to be useful information considering his disguise had already been ruined. "Just a few days," Naruto muttered, not revealing anything about the Fanalis. Despite how they uncomfortable and inadequate they made him feel, they had still helped him reach the Rukh Continent. If they were hunted by slavers he did not want these guys to go after them.
"You're from the Elemental Nations right? How did you get here? By boat?"
Naruto nodded, placing his rook down, only for Scheherazade to quickly take it with her bishop, causing him to grimace. She smiled, shaking her head with amusement. "I see," she muttered. "How is life in the Elemental Nations? I've only heard about it in the myths. Apparently men came from there long ago from two different clans, with extraordinary abilities. They waged war, and killed many a people but were eventually driven back. Senju and Uchiha I believe their names were."
"Senju and Uchiha," Naruto questioned, blinking. That was surprising. He hadn't expected the Senju and Uchiha Clans to be named. That hit...close to him. Far to close for him to want to talk about. Scheherazade seemed to realize this however, merely nodding and moving on from the question. "Why did you come here?"
Naruto froze, rage filling his eyes, a burning sensation filling his whole body. Suddenly he felt a hand on his cheek and he rushed to grab it, unknowingly grabbing Scheherazade's hand and placing his other on her throat. Ignatius immediately moved into action, only for Scheherazade to raise her other hand, stopping him. Naruto paused at his actions, realizing that Scheherazade was pulling away, her hand wet. The blonde blinked, stunned as he realized that he was crying.
"I see that is a sensitive topic," Scheherazade said as Naruto let go of her throat, keeping his hands placed as his sides, to stunned to say anything. Scheherazade stared deep in his eyes, curiosity and sympathy in her eyes, causing Naruto to look down at the ground in shame.
"I'm sorry."
Scheherazade waved it off. "Believe me that is nothing. Don't apologize. You did nothing wrong." Naruto looked at her, surprise in his eyes as the girl merely smiled, moving a chess piece once more. Naruto quickly glanced at the board, too stunned to continue talking. Scheherazade seemed to notice this and just kept the conversation moving forwards. "What do you think of the Rukh Continent so far?"
Naruto blinked, frowning before glancing up at Scheherazade. "It is very...interesting. I have never seen so many different types of people before. It's weird not seeing people with headbands that tell others of their loyalty."
Scheherazade blinked. "Back in the Elemental Nations, there are headbands that tell people their loyalty? Sort of like insignia's?"
Naruto nodded. Scheherazade frowned. She wanted to ask the boy if he once wore such a headband. It would be crucial information after all, but she had a feeling he wouldn't take to kindly to that. The boy was terrified, and clearly uncomfortable, even with just her, Ignatius, and the king in his presence. It was a surprise he was talking to her at all. He definitely wasn't a spy, that much could be assured. He was too quiet, too willing to allow himself to be questioned. More so, no spy would risk attacking her in front of a king, that would just be idiotic. It could all be a ploy, but she doubted it.
Scheherazade sighed, moving her pawn in response to Naruto taking out one of her bishops with his queen. He had finally taken a piece. It had taken him a while. The girl grunted. The boy was likely betrayed by the people with insignia's. That was what the report from Ignatius had indicated at least. She could put two-and-two together. Still, there was more to learn about this boy.
"The Elemental Nations, I've heard they're quiet savage, at least from the myths. Ignatius informed me that you yourself are no stranger to violence. Is this true?"
Naruto grunted, glancing at Ignatius who shrugged, causing the blonde to nod. "Yes. I was...raised to fight in battle. I can handle myself." The blonde was unprepared for Scheherazade's disappointed sigh. He blinked, tilting his head in confusion.
"I'm a pacifist at heart you see," Scheherazade stated. "I find violence unnecessary, but I acknowledge that it is the way of the world. It is saddening that children are required to fight. Child soldiers...it is something few countries even here would do."
"It's common practice where I come from," Naruto stated, as though it were normal, and to him it was. "You have to train from a young age if you choose to be a shinobi. Otherwise you die. Even with training from a young age shinobi don't have high life expectancy rates. Most of them die before they reach thirty."
Scheherazade's eyes widened in horror, clenching her fists. "How could they allow that! What country would allow such a blatant disrespect of life? How is your world even still populated?"
"People have a lot of kids," Naruto stated matter-of-factly. "And all the countries do it to my knowledge. Some just train better shinobi than others..."
"Were you a shinobi?"
Scheherazade paused, waiting for Naruto's reaction. She was definitely treading on thin ice right now, as the blonde had already proven to be temperamental. She just had to hope that he wouldn't harm her. Well, try to harm her. She was confident that the boy wouldn't succeed in leaving in one lasting mark on her, even though he was touched.
"Yes," Naruto whispered, his voice soft. Scheherazade smiled, reaching out slowly and gently grabbing the boys hand, giving it a light squeeze. Naruto recoiled at the touch, distrust in his eyes, only for shock to be written all over his face when he found Scheherazade looking at him with nothing but love in her eyes. Naruto squirmed under the look. He was not used to such a look. It was too...familial.
Kushina clenched her fists at that.
"I see that talking about your past is trying. Please, talk to me. Is there anything you wish to know about the Rukh Continent?"
Naruto paused before he nodded, moving his other rook into position. "What are the countries on this continent? I remember hearing a lot about Kou and Reim, and now I've heard of Parthevia, but what exactly is this country like?"
Scheherazade smiled, nodding. "Yes, that's easy to answer. I guess I shall go in order from how you learned of them. Kou, more popularly known as the Kou Empire is one of the largest military nations in the world. It challenges even our might. It's perhaps the most war-profiteering country in the world, partially due to their profits from slavery. The current King is Koutoku Ren, a very powerful and dangerous man."
"Reim, the current country you're in, is the world's largest nation, at least on this half of the world. We have more military might than Kou, in my humble opinion, and our technology is by far better. You are currently in Remano, the capital of Reim. We are currently at war with Parthevia, although it looks like that war will soon be ending. We're actually a republic though, despite being known as the Reim Empire. The emperor is selected by the Senate. The current King is Romoulus Julius Caluades, the man you see behind me."
Naruto glanced up at the emperor, his eyes wide. The powerful man stared at the boy, boredom in his eyes. He clearly did not care much for the blonde and was only tolerating his presence because Scheherazade was. That only made him more curious as to who she was.
"There is also Parthevia," Scheherazade began, completely ignoring Naruto's lapsing attention. "It is relatively powerful country, and very wealthy, or at least it was. It's losing this war with us so I don't think it will be a noteworthy country soon."
Naruto nodded. "And, if this isn't out of line? Who are you?"
Scheherazade blinked, before she laughed, rubbing the back of her head in embarrassment. "I haven't properly introduced myself have I? How improper. Forgive me. My name is Scheherazade and I am the Magi of the Reim Empire."
Amemasu grunted, cracking her neck as she left the ship. The Naruto boy had jumped off not long ago, however she knew she could track him. He wasn't hard to detect after all, not with the scene the boy gave off. He hadn't been able to bathe in a while, and she highly doubted that just jumping into the ocean would absolve him of that difficulty. Not that it particularly mattered, Danzo had a tracker placed on him, the only difficulty was catching him. He had been moving relatively fast, which had caused her quite a bit of strife.
But she had decided to not focus on him for the current moment. There were other specimens that Danzo would take interest in. Like the Fanalis. Amemasu stared down at the hunting tribe as it moved throughout the woods, the shinobi undetectable to them. She snorted. They didn't know their surroundings well, but they were capable fighters, that much she knew. Strength and speed like theirs would assist anyone in a straight on brawl.
The shinobi grunted, watching as they continued to move through the woods, their destination unknown to her.
For now she would be content to just watch, watch and wait.
Jiraiya sighed, rubbing the back of his head. This was problematic. He didn't know whether or not he should go over the ocean or if he should return to Konoha. The trail with Naruto was likely to go cold the second the boy returned from his voyage across the ocean, or when they landed. The Rukh Continent, it wasn't real, so the boy would just be taking a long trip around to Iwa territory or Suna territory. Those two had claimed the majority of the land in those areas.
Jiraiya grit his teeth. Iwa was unfriendly, and according to Hiruzen Suna had been getting more and more distant in the past years. That alliance likely wouldn't last, meaning that he wouldn't have much to go on in an attempt to find the boy. But it wasn't like he would be able to find the boy just by chasing him across the ocean. There were too many variables.
Jiraiya grit his teeth once more. What was he to do? Chase after his godson and hope that he eventually caught up, or hope that he would find him when he returned? The choice was impossible.
And yet it was a choice that he had to make.
Shikamaru's eyes widened as Ino and Choji were sent flying, immediately dashing into action. The Nara Clan member launched two explosive kunai at the kunoichi, only for her to laugh, easily avoiding them and leaping towards Shikamaru. The Nara blanched, jumping away, only for his eyes to widen as the explosion occurred, sending the kunoichi flying towards him at an even greater rate.
'No way! She used my own attack to help herself!'
The kunoichi lashed outwards with her hand, gripping Shikamaru's throat tightly before smashing him against a tree branch, a grin on her face. She spun, Shikamaru still in hand before sending him flying, her massive snake summon opening its maws to eat him. He was only saved by the timely intervention of Sai who had caught him using one of his ink birds. The pale boy wasn't settled with that however, as hordes of reptiles swarmed the giant serpent summon, the giant snake hissing before engaging them. It was not a fair fight.
The snake summon easily destroyed the creations with barely any effort due to its superior strength. The clones were just to fragile to do any lasting damage. Sai grunted, leaping forwards, tanto in hand as he tried to slash at the serpents eyes, only for the kunoichi to appear in front of him, a grin on her face as she caught his wrist, stopping the attack before lashing out with a kick that smashed into his stomach. Sai's eyes bulged as blood shot from his mouth. The kunoichi laughed, spinning Sai before flinging him towards Sakura, the duo colliding with a thud before smacking into a tree.
Sasuke could only stare in horror at the swift defeat of the Genin. Who were they facing exactly? No Genin could have this level of strength, especially not a kunoichi from a minor village as her outfit demonstrated. This was unprecedented. She didn't even want the scroll! What could he do? A kunoichi, a Genin, on the level of Zabuza? Was that even a possibility? Was it a ploy by a minor village to show of strength that they didn't actually have, or kill future Jonin of major villages? A million thoughts ran through Sasuke's head, but he couldn't land on one. Nothing made sense! Nothing made sense!
Shikamaru grunted as he punched the bird, causing it to shatter in an explosion of ink. He glanced around, noticing that Choji and Ino were already unconscious from the snakes blow. He grit his teeth. Sasuke was standing still, unmoving in the face of this opponent. That wasn't good. He would need his help to have even the smallest chance of coming out of this encounter alive. However, Shikamaru didn't have much time to think as the kunoichi dashed towards him, grinning as she reached out and gripped his throat.
"A Nara, so much potential in that brilliant mind of yours. I can see it, the thoughts racing around in your head. You're thinking of a million strategies to try and beat me. Quite impressive. And delusional. Can I let you in on a little secret?" Before Shikamaru could respond the kunoichi leaned in, her tongue slithering out of her mouth to slide across Shikamaru's neck and face. "You never stood a chance!"
Shikamaru's world went black as the punch sent him into blissful unconsciousness.
Sasuke could only stare at the kunoichi, his eyes wide with terror as he realized his situation. She had effortlessly defeated the entirety of the two teams except him. She hadn't even been touched! What level of strength was she on? How did someone like this exist as a Genin? It made no sense! The kunoichi turned to face him, a smile on her face as she waved her hand, the massive snake summon disappearing in a large plume of smoke. He could only watch as the kunoichi took several steps towards him, only for her eyes to widen and her to quickly dodge a thrown tanto. Sai appeared in front of the blade, grabbing it and spinning towards the kunoichi's neck, only for her to catch his wrist. She grinned, slamming a kick into Sai's knee, forcing him to one knee before she leaped upwards in a flying knee, sending the Genin flying backwards.
Sai flipped in midair, landing next to Sasuke with a grunt.
"What are you waiting for dickless," Sai muttered, blood trailing from his lip. "You're not scared are ya?"
Sai dashed forwards again, gritting his teeth as he launched a slash with his blade only for the kunoichi to grab his wrist once more, twisting and forcing him to drop it. However, Sai wasn't done, launching a kick that the kunoichi blocked. She grinned, her tongue shooting from her mouth and wrapping around Sai's throat. Sai struggled, his vision growing blurry only for his neck to snap and his body to burst into a wave of ink. The kunoichi blinked before she whirled, seeing a massive lion made of ink bearing down on her. Grinning she leapt away from the strike, the lions paws denting the massive branch she stood on. The second she landed she dashed forwards, the lion meeting her with a charge of its own, its fangs ripping into the kunoichi's neck, only for her to dissolve in a pool of mud. Sai's eyes widened before he felt a blow hit him on the back of his neck, his world going dark. With Sai unconscious the lion fell apart soon after, his chakra not sustaining its form.
The kunoichi grunted. "He was more skilled than the others, although not extremely so. Never met a shinobi that could use ink to their advantage. Perhaps it's some new Kekkei Genkai Konoha has. I should do some experiments on his blood to find out."
Sasuke could only stare in horror. The nonchalant way this person talked about life, as though it was a plaything. That only made the situation worse. She was letting them live sure, but only out of the effort that would be required to kill them, no matter how minimal. She didn't think it was worth it. She was only interested in Sai in the first place because he demonstrated unique abilities.
Well that explained why the monster of a kunoichi was chasing him. She was after the Sharingan in all likelihood. Sasuke's eyes whirled, widening as he saw Sakura groan and stand, staring at Sasuke. Her eyes widened when she realized the situation. Everyone was unconscious. The kunoichi had handled all of them, and yet Sasuke was still standing there, in the same place as when Sai had been thrown into her. Sakura stared, confused. Everyone had fought. She could tell. Sai was injured, Shikamaru even looked like he tried if his pained expression was anything to go off of. Yet Sasuke...hadn't? That...that didn't make sense.
Sasuke was Sasuke. The strongest Konoha Genin, the best of the best in her generation. How could he not be trying his hardest to defeat this kunoichi? Even if he failed, at least he would have tried. But, he hadn't moved. Not even a little. He hadn't even tried while everyone else was fighting their hardest in order to save their lives. What was he doing? Other than killing that large snake and moving despite being under the influence of that killing intent he hadn't actually done anything but run away. Sai had already launched several attacks at the kunoichi, even when he was subjected to the same pressure that Sasuke was. Shikamaru seemed to recognize the gravity of the situation and still hadn't run.
What was Sasuke doing?
"Say what you want about everyone else being weak," Sakura stated, her voice trembling. She could barely believe she was about to say this. "About them being useless, and holding you back but, at least they're doing something! At least, he's no coward!"
Sasuke froze at Sakura's words. Coward? Him? She was using those words on him? The girl who hadn't helped at all during the Wave mission, the girl who couldn't do anything but have great chakra control. Why was she even in the Exams? What did she know about anything? She wasn't right. She couldn't be right. She didn't know anything...but Sakura was smart. She was perceptive. She was right.
A flash of red appeared in Sasuke's mind, tomoi spinning in the Sharingan as the man looked down on him. Words that had haunted him his entire life suddenly flooded back into his mind, words that had driven him his entire life. How easily he had forgotten about them.
"Foolish little brother, you can't kill me. Your hates not strong enough. You're not strong enough. Your life is to precious to you. So run, that's right, run away and live. Live with the shame."
"No!" Sasuke roared, drawing the attention of Sakura and the enemy kunoichi. His Sharingan blazed, fire burning in his eyes as he glared at the kunoichi, his body no longer trembling.
'Let's see just how strong he is. I'll play with him a little,' the kunoichi thought, grinning as Sasuke burned a look so vile into her that she wished she could make a jutsu out of it. If so it would possibly be the most powerful jutsu ever created.
Sasuke tensed, his muscles ready. It was time to fight. To kill. The Uchiha drew a kunai, placing it in his mouth as he prepared to chage. 'All I cared about was surviving in order to defeat my brother. What a fool I've been. I see the truth now! Shikamaru, Sai, Sakura, you're all right. If I haven't the courage to face this demon, how can I ever hope to face him!' Sasuke grunted, charging forwards before he leapt in the air, moving towards the kunoichi at incredible speeds. He flipped in midair, drawing two shuriken before sending them flying towards the female opponent, the kunai in his mouth following soon after. The kunoichi lazily dodged the weaponry, her eyes never leaving Sasuke's form as he bounced off another tree branch, leaping towards her with a war cry.
The teen grunted, launching two kicks that the female shinobi blocked, taking a step back each time due to the force packed in the blows. Sasuke grunted, using his position to flip over her, barely avoiding a kick to the head that the kunoichi launched, landing on his feet before dashing inwards, closing the distance in seconds. He leapt, launching another kick that she deflected, only for him to land on his feet, the kunoichi already flowing into an attack. Sasuke quickly blocked her punch, launching a flurry of blows that she deftly blocked, the kunoichi responding with her own that Sasuke managed to dodge. The Uchiha spun, launching a kick that whirled towards her head only for her to lean backwards, dodging it before snapping upwards as her leg rose, coming down in an axe kick. Sasuke stepped backwards, dodging the powerful blow that cracked the tree bark, before he ducked underneath another kick she sent towards his head.
The kunoichi grunted in irritation, launching a punch that Sasuke caught, before launching a kick that he dodged by moving his head. The boy spun backwards as the kunoichi leapt into the air, his eyes blazing as he kept up with her movements. He turned as she landed behind him, disappearing in a flash of speed. The Uchiha grunted, trying to keep track of her as she circled around him, dust being kicked up by the speed of her movements. Sasuke's eyes burned, the boy trying to predict her movements with his Uchiha powers. He grunted, his eyes locking onto her form just as she leapt towards him in a blur of speed.
'I can see.'
Sasuke leapt into the air, dodging the blow that caused tree bark to fly everywhere, forming handseals in midair before shooting a series of fireballs towards her the second he landed, his crimson eyes blazing with power. 'I can see!' The fiery balls exploded with force, before Sasuke weaved through handseals as red colored the area, the Uchiha belching a massive ball of flame that scorched everything in his path. The flames spiraled upwards, forming a vortex of flame, the kunoichi contained within burning under the intense heat. However suddenly the vortex was cancelled out by a massive gust of wind, dust flying into the air before dust shot forwards towards Sasuke, tree bark sent flying as it moved. Sasuke back flipped away as a claw extended from the dust, landing on his feet with a glare. The kunoichi narrowed her eyes, a smirk forming on her face.
'You're good. You anticipate my attacks, and your aim is true. You can see my moves, can't you?'
Anko grunted as she sped through the trees, noticing the descending sun. She grit her teeth, speeding forwards as fast as she could. 'I hope I'm not too late! The suns going down, I gotta find him soon! My odds are bad enough as they are, they'll only get worse in the dark! But why now? What the devil could he be after?' The Tokubetsu Jonin shook her head, her eyes hard as she moved through the trees. 'No matter, time to finish this.'
The kunichi cried out in effort as she turned, releasing a howl that sent a blast of wind towards Sasuke. The Uchiha immediately reacted, jumping from the branch and kicking off multiple others to get out of the way of the massive attack. The Uchiha landed on the branch above her before he kicked off, grabbing her as he fell, and rotating his body. He cried out as they descended towards another branch, his pile driver becoming fatally dangerous as they picked up speed. The two slammed into the branch with devastating force, cracks ripping across the branch and tree bark being sent flying in all directions. The kunoichi spasmed, her fingers twitching at random times and her arms shaking before they hung limply at her sides. Sasuke grunted, leaping away from the kunoichi, his eyes still burning with crimson as he waited to see if she was actually dead.
Sadly he was disappointed as she dissolved into a pool of mud. "Substitution!" Sasuke shouted before he felt a cut on his cheek. He turned, a storm of metal descending towards him, forcing him to leap away or die. The Uchiha grunted, pulling ninja wire from his pouch and throwing it against a tree branch, allowing him to swing in midair as the wire cut into the massive branch. The boy let go as he neared another branch, landing in a famous superhero pose. He grunted, before his eyes widened as he saw the kunoichi approaching, her punch already pulled back. The blow slammed into his face, causing a cry of pain from Sasuke as his head snapped back, before the kunoichi continued her assault. A punch to the gut bent him over, before a knee to the forehead sent him stumbling backwards, blood leaking from his lip. Another punch sent him flying, a grunt of pain accompanying each of the blows.
"Sasuke!" Sakura called.
"What a disappointment you turned out to be," the kunoichi muttered as Sasuke lay on the ground. "Your ancestors weep. The Uchiha Clan should thank me for killing you. Silly little worm."
Sasuke opened his eyes just as the tags he had placed on the kunoichi's robes began to burn. Miniature explosions rocketed forth, sending her stumbling forwards Sasuke leaping to his feet and into the air, ninja wire in his hands as he did so. He grunted, launching a storm of shuriken, however none of them hit the kunoichi. Not that he was intending to, as ninja wire connected to the shuriken. The dizzying amount of wire was all controlled by his teeth and hands, the boy landing on another tree branch with a grunt. Sasuke grunted, tugging on the wire as the shuriken spun through the air.
'Incredible,' the kunoichi thought. 'A Sharingan windmill triple attack!'
The wire wrapped around a tree branch, cutting into it before it snagged on the kunoichi tugging her backwards and slamming her into the tree branch, her body completely immobile, blood appearing as the wire cut into her body. The boy weaved through handseals, his Sharingan blazing with power. 'Katon: Ryūka no Jutsu (Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu)!'
A massive explosion of flame surrounded Sasuke, the boy glaring at the kunoichi, a bead of sweat dripping down his face. The flames roared, searing across the wire, their hungry roaring audible for miles before they slammed into the kunoichi. The screams could be heard throughout the entire Forest of Death, as flames seared through skin, tree, and even the very wire that guided them. The flame was so powerful that it did more than just start a fire, it punctured through the very tree the kunoichi was bound to, geysers of flame that looked like water shooting through the earth. The world was covered in red as the flames burned.
"He did it!" Sakura cried.
As the world returned to its natural coloration the smoldering remains of the branch that had bound the kunoichi could be seen, along with her body. Somehow she was still bound by the wire despite the supernatural heat of the flame, causing Sasuke to smirk. Buying fire resistant ninja wire now seemed like a much better investment than it was initially. Sasuke grunted, breathing heavily as the drain of using the technique hit him like a bullet train, the young Uchiha barely able to stand. Sakura yelled with happiness, leaping towards the Uchiha.
"Sasuke!" she stated as she landed next to him. "You did it! You okay? Don't worry, it's all over."
At least, those were her thoughts until she heard the snapping of ninja wire. She turned, her eyes wide with horror as she saw the burnt and mangled form of the kunoichi walking towards them, a grin on her face as her deformed and burnt skin falling to the ground. A different skin tone could be seen underneath the first layer, this one pasty white with purple eye-shadow and yellow, snake-like eyes that stared down at the two. The kunoichi clasped her hands together, likely preparing for some jutsu. Sasuke and Sakura both tried to react, only for their bodies to freeze. The killing intent was still there, and they could barely handle it. Sakura could only collapse underneath the strength of the killing intent, Sasuke staring at her before he glared at the kunoichi who was still very much alive.
'No, impossible!'
"Such mastery of the Sharingan, at so young an age," she whispered, her voice dropping several octaves mid sentence, although she had suddenly changed from a female to a male. The voice different was obvious. "You are a true Uchiha after all. Yes, you'll do nicely," the thing said, moving its hand to reveal a headband with a musical note insignia on it. Sasuke roared, trying to fight against the overwhelming killing intent only to helplessly struggle. This was almost as bad as the initial wave. Any Genin would be hard pressed to move in this situation, much less one of Sasuke's caliber.
"Yes, you are definitely his brother," the thing said, causing Sasuke to freeze. "If anything your eyes are even keener than Itachi's."
"Who are you," Sasuke hissed, confusion and hate in his eyes. No one could talk about Itachi! No one! "What do you want!"
The thing laughed, shaking its head. "My name is Orochimaru. As to what I want, that will have to wait until we meet again, which won't happen until you finish this test with the best score of all. First you'll have to defeat the Hidden Sound ninja who serve me."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Sakura cried. "But if you finish why don't you just beat it! If we never meet again it will be too soon!"
"I wasn't talking to you," Orochimaru stated, looking at the girl pointedly. The girl froze, fear overcoming her as shock rocked through her system. Who was-she never got to finish her though as the world around her went dark, the terror of the man's killing intent plus the realization of who exactly this was coursing through her body. Orochimaru turned to Sasuke once more. "Oh, you and I will meet again," the man stated, as though he were stating a fact before he formed a handseal and his neck elongated.
Sasuke could only watch in horror as a monster in human flesh descended on him, fangs ripping from its mouth as it took on a more monstrous shape than even the charred corpse that was talking to them. The Uchiha was too slow to react when the monster sunk its fangs into his neck, a cry of pain escaping his lips as he reached towards the bite mark as Orochimaru pulled away, blood dribbling down his lips. As the neck of the monster receded a strange seal formed on Sasuke's neck, the source of his pain.
"What did you do?"
Orochimaru glanced upwards, not having expected to see Shikamaru standing there, leaning against a tree. He grinned. The boy was far stronger than he looked if he was already standing up after the blow he gave him.
"I just gave him a little parting gift. Sasuke will seek me out, in desire of my power. In the meantime, I've enjoyed the demonstration of the powers you already possess, my dear Sasuke," Orochimaru stated as he sunk into the tree branch he was standing on. As the mans head disappeared into the branch Shikamaru could only take a sigh of relief, turning to look at Sasuke only to see him completely unconscious. He grunted, glancing around at the scene.
He had a lot of work to do, especially if he wanted to defend from any curious teams looking to take advantage of their unconscious state.
Anko grunted as she landed, frowning as she saw Orochimaru laying there, patiently waiting for her. She grit her teeth, walking towards him as he smiled. "It's been a while, Anko."
"You are an extremely dangerous S-class wanted criminal," Anko stated, clenching her fists as she tried to restrain the emotion in her body. "You betrayed Konoha, and tried to kill many Konoha shinobi, along with endangered the lives of every Genin here." She had to keep this impersonal. Orochimaru knew how to play with emotions. The second she let herself get caught up was the second that he won. "That is why I am going to kill you, even if it costs me my life. It's my job as your former subordinate, who learned everything from you."
Senbon slipped from Anko's sleeve, the woman glaring at Orochimaru.
"You can't," the man stated plainly, a grin on his face.
Anko didn't bother responding, launching a hail of senbon, only for Orochimaru to dodge, his mouth exploding all of a sudden as his tongue shot forwards. Anko grit her teeth, leaping into the air to dodge the powerful weapon as it smashed into the ground, cracking tree back. Anko landed on a tree, standing horizontally as she stared down at the Sannin. Her eyes widened as she saw the tongue flick upwards towards her in a spiral, wrapping around her wrist as she drew more senbon, causing her to wince. She didn't have any time to react as she was pulled downwards, although she managed to land on her feet. She grit her teeth, pointing her hand in Orochimaru's direction.
"Sen'ei Jashu (Hidden Shadow Snake Hands)!"
A horde of snakes appeared from Anko's sleeves, reaching towards Orochimaru looking to bite him only for him to dodge again, the snakes continuing their forwards momentum and smashing into the tree behind him, forming dents upon impact. "I won't let you get away," Anko cried, yanking backwards. The snakes pulled back, wrapping around Orochimaru and dragging the man forwards. She swung him, his body smacking against another tree branch, his tongue still flapping widely as his mouth was opened in a deranged, almost comical look, or at least it would have been if his tongue wasn't still connected to her wrist. The snakes returned to Anko's sleeve as she shot forwards, pinning him to the wall with her hand before she took her kunai and stabbed it into her hand and his, pinning the two of them together.
"I got you. Orochimaru, I'm going to borrow your left hand."
Orochimaru's eyes widened as he saw the seal she formed with their hands. 'That seal is...'
Anko grinned, a grim expression on her face. "That's right. You and I are going to die here. Sōjasōsai no Jutsu (Dual Snake Destroyer)!"
Two snakes shot forwards from Anko's sleeves, grinning as she looked at Orochimaru's eyes, only for her eyes to widen in terror as she heard another voice behind her. "Are you trying to commit suicide?"
Anko couldn't believe it. That voice, no it couldn't be? When would he have had the opportunity to switch with a clone! That shouldn't be possible! It wasn't! She had seen him the entire time, she had stayed close to him the entire time. She would have noticed the slight distortion when he switched! There was nothing, he hadn't done anything! Had she been fighting a clone this entire time?
She turned as the snakes circled around her and the form of Orochimaru, the man staring at her with a dark look on his face. The man reached upwards, peeling away the burnt skin caused from Sasuke's jutsu, revealing a pristine, pasty white face. "That's a replacement." Anko's eyes widened in horror as the snakes moved in, biting into her and the clones neck, the clone bursting into mud as it did so, the deadly venom useless against it. But not for her. It was in her bloodstream. It was too late.
Orochimaru could only laugh.
"You're one of the villages Tokubetsu Jonin. So don't just use the forbidden techniques I taught you."
Anko grit her teeth, pulling the kunai out of her hand and tossing it at Orochimaru in a vain attempt to kill him in his arrogance before she died. The man merely snorted, catching the kunai with two fingers.
"I told you that it's useless."
Orochimaru then formed a handseal, causing Anko to freeze up. She wheezed, reaching towards the other side of her neck, where the scars of a former snake bite were, a seal on her neck. Orochimaru laughed, walking forwards.
"Why did you come?"
"We haven't seen each other in a long time, but you're treating me so coldly."
Anko collapsed to her knees, her body trying in vain to fight off the poison. She had an immunity stronger than most, it was what was allowing her to fight on, but she wouldn't last long. Not with poison of this variety coursing through her veins. She had to gather as much information as possible for the Yamanaka Clan to use when she died to search her memory before she was too far gone.
"Did you come to assassinate Hokage-sama?"
"No, no." Orochimaru said. He knew what she was doing. The man had been alive longer and had been trained under the current Hokage. He was no idiot. "I still don't have enough men to do that. So I was planning on...reserving some outstanding ones in the village."
Anko grit her teeth in pain, no longer able to sit on her knees, falling to her chest, her veins visible underneath her skin. "I just gave the same mark to someone no too long ago you know," Orochimaru muttered, causing her eyes to widen. There's a boy I want."
"As usual, you do what you want but that boy is going to die," Anko muttered, her voice weak as the world swirled. She didn't have long.
Orochimaru chuckled, shaking his head. "Yes, there's only a ten percent change that he'll survive. But he might be like you and not die."
"You seem quite interested in this boy."
Orochimaru grinned, reaching out and stroking Anko's face, her eyes widening at the contact. It was the first time he had touched her in years. "Are you jealous? Are you still angry I used you, then cast you off like trash?" A smirk appeared on Orochimaru's face. Anko could only stare in horror, as darkness encroached on her vision, the last thing she saw being Orochimaru's grinning face. Moonlight shone down on the two, only for Orochimaru to laugh, shaking his head as he stood. Soon his laugh turned to outright insane comedy, the mans laughter filling the entire forest with a haunted aura of death. Anko was dead!
"Unlike you he seems like an excellent shinobi," Orochimaru said, even though the woman was dead. After all, he is a boy that carries the abilities of an Uchiha." Orochimaru's face morphed into a twisted visage, a face that held more evil than the devil and inspired more fear than the shinigami, a purple aura surrounding his body as the plant life around him fled for their lives as though being in his area would could kill. Black butterflies swarmed around him.
"His body is beautiful, and he is capable of becoming my successor. If he survives, things will become interesting."
Orochimaru snorted, walking towards a large tree trunk, a grin on his face as the plant life died around him. "Whatever you do, Sarutobi-sensei, don't cancel this Exam. Three of my shinobi are in your care. I'm going to enjoy this."
The man burst into a column of purple flame, his echoing last words filling the area.
"If you take away my joy, it will be over for the village of Konoha."
"Magi," Naruto questioned, confusion on his face. Scheherazade nodded, a smile forming on her face.
"Yup Magi," she stated, as though that would explain everything. When it became obvious that the blonde had no idea what she was talking about she shook her head. "I forgot you're not from here. Allow me to explain. Magi are magicians that are loved by Rukh. Only three of us exist at any given time. We are known by some as the Three Great Magicians. In a sense...the Magi are people who will select royalty."
Naruto nodded, frowning. "So you all use Black Rukh or White Rukh?"
Scheherazade frowned, her eyes narrowing on Naruto. He was new to this world. How did he know about Rukh? Ignatius hadn't mentioned anything about the blonde knowing about Rukh, and if he was from the Elemental Nations he shouldn't know about it all. Unless they were learning how to use Rukh? That...that would be quite the serious issue. They were powerful enough with their own energy source, they didn't need to be able to use Rukh as well.
"We use White Rukh, the pure Rukh," Scheherazade stated. She glanced at Naruto before she nodded. It was time to ask the question. "What made you start your Fall Into Depravity? What made you capable of using Black Rukh?"
Naruto looked at her, his eyes narrowed. So she knew. Maybe that was what she meant when she said he was touched? From what he could infer from Hagoromo Black Rukh had a negative connotation despite their abilities. Being called touched was certainly a negative connotation, and they clearly weren't talking about him being from a foreign land. The blonde's eyes searched the powerful magician, analyzing her. Should he reveal the truth to her? Someone so powerful that they commanded the respect, no, chose royalty? If she didn't like Black Rukh, would she kill him?
That was a risk he was not prepared to take.
"I can't use Black Rukh. I have no idea what you're talking about."
"It's no use lying," Scheherazade stated. "Ignatius already informed me. Don't worry, you're in no danger. If anything I want to help you. Black Rukh is dangerous, it corrodes the soul. You can't simply be okay with it corroding you can you?"
Naruto glared at the girl, but eventually he opened his mouth to respond. "It is something that has kept me alive so far, I don't see the consequences of it."
"Not yet you don't," Scheherazade stated. "You cannot defy destiny my child. It is impossible, and very dangerous. You do know that Black Rukh is created from hatred and malice right? Maybe it has to do with that country-"
Naruto leapt forwards, only for his eyes to widen as he saw suddenly floating in air, completely unable to touch Scheherazade. The female blonde sighed, looking deep into Naruto's eyes, tears almost forming in her eyes. "How foolish you are," she stated. "Is there truly nothing that can teach you of the dangers of Black Rukh? Are you already to far gone? As much as it pains me, I cannot allow someone who bears the burden of Black Rukh to run free."
"You said you wouldn't harm me!"
"And I won't. You will just not have freedom. I'm afraid it's for everyone's good, including yours."
Naruto snarled, Black Rukh swirling around him, causing Scheherazade to narrow her eyes, White Rukh swirling around her. "You cannot defeat me," she whispered, before she released a blast of power and everything went black for Naruto.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter everyone. I think it was pretty good, and that I did the title justice. Sorry that it seemed a little slow though, but I had to stress these two scenes. They're both critical. Sasuke learned that despite him being powerful there are pretty much literal demons in the world that he has to be aware of and capable of defeating. Of course he has a long way to go before he's near Orochimaru's level, but I do hope that I demonstrated the level of strength he'll eventually reach. Also I hope you liked the touch that I added about Orochimaru possessing Black Rukh. It just makes sense to me in my opinion. That dude is definitely fueled by hatred, malice, and greed. He's dangerous. As for Naruto the lesson that he's currently learning is that he can't just be aggressive with everyone, regardless of his past. It's gonna take him a long while to really understand that lesson, especially considering Scheherazade is both kind and a take no shit kind of person. Needless to say, his emotions and mindset while he's in Reim are gonna be really key to his future development. I didn't really delve into Shikamaru and Hinata, the two most important Genin in this story at the moment other than Naruto and Sasuke, because well, I wanted to focus on those two. They're the stars of these arcs, as both of them have to grow, both in mindset and power. They've both been introduced to a world of monsters and new abilities, and they'll struggle to keep up.
As of right now the timeskip will come in about twenty chapters. Maybe a little bit more. So don't worry if you wanted to see more about them when they're still kids. You have plenty of time.