I Own nothing yet

The Final Question. The Forest of Death!

The class, all except for Gaara and Naruto did not start their test after Ibiki said begin. No, they sat their, looking at him in confusion.

"What do you mean we're supposed to cheat!?" shouted Sakura. "Isn't that ruining the point of the test?" Ibiki looked at her, along with everyone else who wasn't working with annoyance. "You genin just don't seem to get it. You only have an hour for this test, I'd get started."

Multiple genin blushed before they started, although Sakura gave Ibiki a glare before she did so. Ibiki smirked. 'Her temper is like Tsunade-sama's.'

Sakura frowned as she looked at the first question. Quickly, she scanned the rest of the question, an annoyed expression on her face. 'I can handle these questions. Sasuke should be able to too because if what Ibiki said is true, and the point of this test is to cheat, then there must be decoys put in here, to give us the correct answers, Sasuke just needs to get lucky. Naruto is who I'm worried about. Sure he's definitely gotten smarter, but there's no way he knows this.'

Sakura's point was proved true as Naruto cursed in his mind several times. 'There is no freaking way I know this! What type of questions are these anyways? Fuck! I'm going to kill you Ibiki, you fucking sadist! Kyuubi, help a brother out here.'

The Kyuubi snorted. "You damn human. Why should I help you? You have yet to acknowledge the fact that you are my vessel, yet to accept the fact that you are the corporal version of me while I am in this seal."

Naruto blanched. 'You're a fucking idiot if you think I'd believe that! Sure, to some idiot who knows jack about sealing, you might have had a chance, but I love sealing, meaning I know that you are not me, no matter how much you claim to be. Are you saying it because you want to be me? That's understandable.'

The Kyuubi growled. 'Okay no sense of humor then, how about you just give me the answers if you know them? I mean, being around as long as you have you have to know at least some of them. Besides, you are taking residence in my body. Wouldn't that mean that you owe me rent or something of the like?'

"Not of my own free will!"

'True. The Yondaime did seal you into me on my birthday. Then again, you did attack the village.'

The Kyuubi snarled. "Do you really think I would get off attacking random villages? If you thought that then why would any of the Hidden Villages exist? Use your head you idiot."

Naruto's eyes widened. 'You didn't attack the village of your own will. Someone forced you to.'

Kyuubi sighed. "You're half right. But I still refuse to help you. I hate you."

'For something I didn't do. Aren't you being hypocritical right now?'

The Kyuubi snarled. "Even if I did help you, I was never a shinobi. I wouldn't know."

'You just admitted the mighty Kyuubi doesn't know something.'

The Kyuubi snarled, his eyes glowing and his teeth bared. Naruto got a mental image of it. He cut the connection immediately.

XxX

Ibiki watched with satisifaction as he looked at one of his sentinels. She nodded. Ibiki smirked, throwing a kunai.

XxX

A kunai flew directly over Hinata's head, getting an 'Eep,' from her before it landed on the seat behind her, ripping the test. The Genin jumped, before looking at Ibiki.

"Number 52, you have been caught cheating fives times. You are ineligible to become a Chunin. Take your teammates and leave."

"That's a lie! I was not caught!"

Ibiki glared at him. "My sentinel's eyes, hell, my eyes are extremely sharp. If we say you got caught, you got caught, as long as you are in this room, I am God." The teen shook his head. "Then I'll just defeat you!" he roared, weaving through handseals.

"Do you really want to do that," the sentinels asked. Naruto nodded. "If you attack him now, it's as good as declaring war," Ino said.

The teen paled before Ibiki smirked, and the teen was dragged out the room, followed by his highly irate teammates. Naruto smirked before he looked back at his paper. "I have no way to cheat." He mumbled.

XxX

Ibiki nearly laughed as he heard Naruto. The damn idiot. He gave Naruto a way to cheat without even intending to. Now he was just wondering if Naruto could figure out what it was. Ibiki then ignored him, perfering to look around the room. He saw the crimson orbs of the Sharingan, mirrors on the ceiling, the Yamanaka girl unconscious, a boy asking to go to the restroom, the Byakugan activated, the redhead from Suna closing one eyes as an eye floated high in the air, and he assumed the Nara was using the Kagemane no Jutsu (Shadow Possesson Jutsu) on his teammate, the Akimichi, if their resemblance in movements was anything to go by. He nearly gave off another laugh. These kids had potential.

XxX

Kankuro smirked as he walked in the bathroom, before sitting on the floor. "These sentinels can't be all that great if they didn't notice there was an extra one huh, Karasu…"

The sentinel's skin began to bleed off, revealing a wooden structure underneath. It resembled a three-eyed, four-armed humanoid with jagged teeth and spiky brown hairstyle that protruded from the top of its head and framed the sides.

XxX

Naruto frowned as he checked and double-checked his jutsu arsenal, and nothing in this situation would help him cheat. If this was a real, spy-oriented mission he would do fine with his Kage Bunshin (Shadow Clones), but that was when he wasn't being watched by almost 25 other people who were going to disqualify him if he got caught five times. Naruto cursed his fists tightening in frustration. Hinata noticed this.

"Naruto-kun," she said. Naruto turned to her, to see her paper stickng out towards him. "You can copy my answers if you want."

Naruto's eyes widened at Hinata's generosity. "Really, Hina-chan?" Hinata nodded timidly. Naruto smiled but shook his head. "I'm sorry Hinata, but I can't. I have to find a way to do this on my own, but I really appreciate the offer. Thank you, really."

Hinata looked slightly sad her attempt at being kind had failed but nodded, realizing that Naruto couldn't accept it. It wasn't a matter of sexism, or him not wanting to, it was his pride. He wanted to find a way around this problem without having to rely on anyone else. It was something she admired about him.

XxX

Neji smirked as he saw Hinata's failed attempt to help the blonde. 'Good. Judging by how Hinata just tried to help him he must be doing horridly. This is good, very good. The failure will finally realize that's exactly what he will always be, nothing to a genius like me.'

XxX

Naruto's eyes widened as he continued to search for options before he thought back to what Ibiki had said. He couldn't believe he hadn't noticed it.

(-Flashback-)

"Anyone foolish enough to be caught cheating doesn't deserve to be here."

XxX

"The point of this test…is to cheat."

(-Flashback-)

'They expect…no, they want us to cheat and not get caught. Only exceptional shinobi should be allowed to be promoted and only the best of the best should be allowed to be a Jonin. It's obvious. As Genin we shouldn't know the answers to these questions. Only someone like Sakura would. We have to cheat. But I can't. I don't know any information-gathering jutsu that would work in this situation. However…'

XxX

Ibiki checked the clock, smirking as he realized time was up. Multiple Genin had been thrown out of the room, for getting caught cheating. Now there were relatively few people left. Of course, that was comparing it to the original amount of Genin that were here.

Just as Ibiki was about to call the time Kankuro came back from the bathroom, the fake sentinel Karasu following behind him. Ibiki smirked as Karasu sat back in the seat he had before slumping slightly.

"I hope your trip has been enlightening," Ibiki said, stressing the word. Kankuro's eyes widened. 'These guys are better than I thought.'

Kankuro walked down the aisle towards his row a frown on his face. As he passed Temari he opened his left hand, dropping a scrap of paper. Temari smirked.

Ibiki gave them a few more minutes before he nodded. The time for slight favors was over. The end came now.

"Alright, listen up!" Ibiki yelled, getting the attention of the Genin. "Here's the tenth question."

The Genin tensed.

"But, before I give you the question, there are some rules that are now in place. They only are in place for question ten. Don't let them frighten you."

Many Genin gulped, fear soaking into their bones. The interrogator was doing what he did best, mental torture.

"Rule number one: You are free to choose to take this question. It's your choice."

The Genin all jumped, surprise written on their faces. "What!?" Sasuke said. Temari's eyes narrowed. "Woah, what's the catch? What if we decided to not do it?"

"If you decide to take this question, regardless of your answers to the other nine, you'll get a zero. In other words you fail. And that includes your teammates."

Naruto raised an eyebrow, even he was confused. "Then who wouldn't choose to take it?"

Ibiki smirked. "Not so fast, you didn't let me finish."

'More rules,' Sakura thought, dread on her face.

"If you do accept the question but answer it incorrectly, you will not only fail…but you will be barred from taking the Chunin Exam ever again!"

"That's bull man! What type of shit is that!? There are tons of people here who have taken the test before," Kiba yelled.

Ibiki gave off a dark laugh, that creepied out many Genin, most of them beginning to form doubts. Large doubts. "I guess you're just unlucky. I wasn't making the rules before, but I am now."

"If you're not feeling confident by all means skip it and try again next year." Ibiki said, chuckling afterwards.

'No way, we can't avoid this. We have to take this question,' Sakura thought.

"Now then if you're ready. Those who don't want to take it raise your hands. Your number will be recorded and you can go."

'Who will open the floodgates,' Ibiki thought, a dark, confident smirk forming on his face.

"I'm out." The guy next to Naruto said. "I can't do it, I'm sorry. Genai, Inaho I'm sorry."

"Number 51, fail! Numbers 32 and 45 that means you're out too."

Soon after that Genin did so many also began to raise their hands, the competition dropping like flies. Naruto sat there, watching with only a slight amount of doubt in his eyes. Ibiki had never gone this far before, or at least he had never seen him go this far. It was…frightening.

Naruto rose his hand.

Gaara's eyes widened at the act. 'I thought he was strong…'

Sasuke's eyes widened as well. 'What does he think he's doing!? He can't be serious right?'

"Naruto-kun?" Hinata asked, worry on her face. That was until she saw Naruto's own face.

It was full of confidence. Any form of doubt had been crushed and annihilated.

Naruto brought his hand down immediately afterwards, slamming it on the table loudly.

"Don't underestimate me! I don't quit and I don't run! You can act tough all you want! You guys aren't gonna scare me off! No way! I don't care if I do get stuck as a Genin for the rest of my life! I'll still be Hokage some day!" Naruto roared, standing at the end. Naruto sat down, a smirk on his face.

Gaara smiled. 'Good.'

'He's completely clueless,' Sasuke thought with a sigh. 'You crazy little fool,' Sakura thought with a smile. 'He had me worried slightly,' Hinata thought.

"This decision is one that can change your life. If you want to quit, this is your last chance."

Naruto shook his head. "No way. You don't have the power to ban us from ever becoming Chunin. Besides, I never go back on my word, that's the way of the ninja."

'Damn brat. He knew his facts. Even more remarkable is the fact that outburst gave the others some backbone. He's inspired them into staying. 78 left, more than I expected. But no one is wavering. That's it.'

"Well then I admire your determination, nothing else." Naruto's face hit the table. "For the rest of you remaining there is only one thing left to do. For me to tell you…that you've all passed the first exam."

The Genin all had blank looks before everyone, even Gaara, looked at him. "WHAT!?" They roared.

"Hold on. What happened? What do you mean we passed? What about the tenth question?"

Ibiki gave off a large grin. "There never was one, not a written one at least. Actually, your decision to stay was the answer to the tenth question."

"Huh," Sakura said before Temari slammed her hand on her table. "Wait a second! So the other nine questions you gave us were just a waste of time! Is that what you're saying?" Ibiki's grin left his face, but a smile remained.

"No, no, not at all. The first nine questions had a very important purpose I'm sure some of you figured out. To test your ability to surreptitiously gather intelligence under the most adverse circumstances."

"Oh, well that clears up everything," Temari said.

"Let me explain," Ibiki said. "You see, my objective was to test you not only as individuals but as a team, and how well you functioned in that team, that's why the test was scored on a team basis. So you would know everything you did, or failed to do, would directly affect your teammates. I wanted to see how you handled the pressure."

Naruto nodded, pretending he knew that.

"The first nine question were difficult, in fact they were to difficult for any Genin to be expected to solve. You had to cheat to pass. The fact is, the test was designed to encourage, almost demand, cheating. Of course it would do you little good unless you had someone to cheat from. So I decided two Chunin who already knew the answers and had them sit in with you."

The two fakers raised their hands causing Naruto to slam his head onto the table.

'The answers were right in front of me the whole time,' he thought, a frown on his face.

"Those who were caught at it failed. Better not to cheat, than to cheat clumsily."

Ibiki reached behind his back, untying the bandanna wrapped around his head. Naruto frowned. 'He's gonna show them that.'

"Information," Ibiki said. "It can be the most valuable weapon in battle. How well you gather intelligence can be the difference between a failure, and a success. There will be times when you have to risk your life to get it."

Ibiki's head, was riddled with scars, burns, bulges, and puncture wounds. Not even a strand of hair was there. Most Genin's eyes widened at the sight, horrified. They had not thought missions could be as serious as that when they decided to become a ninja. Then again, most people did not until it happened.

"That's a mess," Sasuke mumbled. "Scars, burns, punctures marks, bulges of skin that were obviously ripped open and sewed back together sloppily. What he must have endured."

"Of course you must always consider the source of your information. Information from an enemy is not necessarily accurate. Always, bear this in mind, disinformation can be better than no information at all. It can lead to the death of a squad, or a village. That's why I put you in the position where you had to gather accurate intelligence, cheat in order to survive. Those who weren't good enough were weeded out. Leaving the rest of you. This is why I told you the point of the test was to cheat, to see who could decipher information from that. To see who would be too riddled with doubt, to plagued by their internal thoughts to do anything at all." Ibiki said, finishing tying his bandanna back on.

"Okay, but I still don't get the tenth question," Temari said. Ibiki frowned, raising his arms. "You're not. The tenth question was the main point of this exam, surely you see that."

"Sure, but explain it anyway." Sakura said.

"As I said before, the point of this test was to test you as individuals and as part of a squad. The final question gave you two choices, both difficult. You could choose to play it safe and skip the question, though it meant both you and your teammates would be failed, or you could try and answer it, knowing that if you got it wrong you would never be able to become Chunin. It was a no win situation. In a sense, I helped you with this question as with the first nine. As the blonde said it's impossible for anyone but your Kage to ban you from being promoted. If you could decipher that, you would get the right answer. These situations are the sort the Chunin have to deal with everyday."

Naruto looked at Ibiki with awe. "This guy is kinda cooler than I thought," Naruto mumbled.

"Do you choose to avoid danger? Do you choose to run from battle? No! It will seem almost suicidal if you think about, so you do not think about. You achieve the goal, through courage and discipline. These are the qualities required of a Chunin Squad Leader. Those who choose the safer of two paths, those whose determination falters in the face of adversity, those who would put their comrades lives in jeopardy by worrying about their own, those who would save their own neck by wanting to protect their own honor, they will never be Chunin, at least as long as I'm here."

"As for the rest of you, you have successfully answered the questions. You have earned the right to move forward. You have passed the first gate. I hereby declare the first test of the Chunin Exams complete. There is nothing left, but to wish you all good luck."

Ibiki turned to the window, sighing as he saw an object headed towards it. The object smashed through the window before unraveling in midair, kunai flying. A lady turned, spinning onto her feet as she landed. Team 7's eyes widened.

The sign read: 'The Sexy and Single Prototor for the Second Exam!'

"Heads up boys and girls this is no time to be celebrating! I'll be your next proctor, Anko Mitarashi. You ready for the second test. Good! Let's go, follow me!"

The class was silent.

Half of Ibiki's face appeared from the poster, an annoyed look on his face. "You're early, again." Anko blushed.

"Anko-sensei what the hell are you doing!" Naruto and Sakura yelled. "Anko you are insane!" Sasuke roared.

'She's a nutcase,' Sakura thought.

Anko looked at Team 7 a smile on her face. "Hey brats! You guys made it then huh. That's good, just don't fail the second exam, I'd hate to tell Kakashi that you guys sucked so horridly that he'd have to improve your training. Margaret too, although my snakes wouldn't mind too much."

Sasuke paled. Ino slammed her fists down on the table. "Who the hell do you think you are threatening Sasuke-kun?"

Anko's face was neutral before she looked at Sakura. "I'm assuming this is the Ino girl you used to fight with over the emo over there who you said hasn't grown out of her fangirl stage yet." It was not a question. Ino was about to yell before Naruto turned on her. "Don't yell Ino, she's right."

Ino's eyes radiated rage and she was about to lash out before Anko continued talking. "Shut up. You're weak. Fangirls are a waste of my time. I'm surprised your team, consisting of an Akimichi and a Nara, can put up with you, especially considering the potential your team and you all by yourselves have. And that's only taking into consideration your clan technqiues."

Anko then began to count the number of people before she frowned, looking at Ibiki. "So many people passed. Ibiki your test was too easy. You must be getting soft."

Ibiki frowned. "Or maybe we have a stronger crop of candidates this year."

Anko shook her head. "They don't look it. By the time I'm done with 'em, more than half will be eliminated. This is gonna be fun."

Many Genin paled. "Over half? That's impossible," Ino said. Anko smiled. "Listen up. You maggots have had it easy so far but things are gonna be different starting first thing in the morning. I'll let your squad leaders know where to meet me. Dismissed."

XxX

Ibiki walked around, a smirk on his face. There was a stack of papers in his hand. He looked at Naruto's name again.

"So the brat figured it out."

There were no answers on Naruto's sheet of paper.

XxX

"This is the location for the second test of the Chunin Exams. It's battle training zone 44. But we call it…"

Naruto's eyes widened the next morning as he stood next to Sakura and Sasuke, looking onto something he thought he had seen the last of.

"No way," he mumbled. Sakura turned to him. "Have you been here before Naruto?" she asked. Naruto nodded. "Yeah…this place is-"

"The Forest of Death!" Anko said, her tone dropping.

"Eerie name, but I bet its all bark and no bite." Kiba said.

Anko smirked, a kunai appearing from her sleeve before she threw it at Kiba. His reactions were quick enough to avoid serious damage, but it did cut his cheek, drawing a thin trail of blood. Kiba's eyes widened and before he knew it Anko was behind him, her snakes coiling around his body.

"A kid like you dies at the very beginning. I think the one who is all bark and no bite is you, dog boy." Anko said, before she licked the blood off his cheek. Anko then frowned, her snakes disappearing, replaced by a kunai as she brought it up, only for a long, curled tongue wrapped around a kunai to appear over his shoulder.

"I'm returning your kunai knife," a woman from Ame said. Anko nodded although she narrowed her eyes. 'She smells of snakes,' she thought.

"Thank you for the trouble," Anko said. "But, don't stand behind me, thirsty for blood. If you don't want a quick death." Anko took her kunai back as Kiba paled, realizing he was way to close to the tense situation.

"Well, it's in my nature to act up at the slightest sight of red blood." The woman said, officially creeping out Kiba. "And my precious hair was cut, so I got excited."

The Ame ninja turned and walked away. "I'm sorry."

Anko frowned before something appeared from her sleeves.

"These are wavers. They will be given to your village so I can't be held accountable for any deaths that will occur. Turn them into the booth over there to get a scroll, and it will say either Heaven or Earth. The objective of this exercise is to get both scrolls and get to the tower in the center of the forest. Once there you will know what to do. Collecting more than one scroll of each is legal, and lethal force is allowed. Of course, if you don't want to participate you are welcome to leave."

No Genin decided to leave. Anko smirked. "Tough bunch this year my ass. More like fools," Anko said as they lined up before getting a scroll. As Sasuke turned in his teams scroll he walked back over to them, discreetly showing them the scroll.

Heaven.

"We need an Earth one then," Naruto mumbled quietly. Sasuke nodded.

XxX

Team 8 frowned. "Earth," Kiba said.

XxX

"Heaven," Tenten said.

XxX

"Heaven," Ino said a smirk on her face. "Good."

XxX

"Walk over to any gate that isn't preoccupied. I will start the exam soon. You have five days to complete this task, and, as a word of advice, I wouldn't recommend opening those scrolls before getting to the tower," Anko said.

Team 7 quickly found a gate smirking as they prepared to go. "You guys ready?" Naruto asked. Sakura and Sasuke didn't get the chance to respond as Anko shouted, "Begin!" on the loudspeaker and the gates flung open.

Team 7 shot into the forest, all of them breaching the trees and easily keeping pace with the leader, Sasuke. Naruto smirked as he looked at the seal on his arm. 'The scroll is secure,' Naruto thought.

Sasuke paused, sitting on a branch after a solid 15 minutes of movement. "What is it?" Sakura asked. Sasuke turned. "We need to formulate a plan to get the scrolls. I have an idea. I say that we find the tower first and set up a trap using Naruto's seals.""

Naruto nodded. "That seems viable, plus it doesn't reveal our skills too much." Sakura nodded. "It makes sense, but there is one problem."

Sasuke turned, raising an eyebrow. "What is it?" Sakura sighed. "It's obvious. I bet many teams are planning on setting traps as people get close to the tower, hence they will be preparing for it. Naruto would have to layer the place with seals, and such frequent pulses of chakra is sure to attract attention."

Sasuke frowned and turned to Naruto. "She does have a point. Do you have any seals that do a lot in a little?"

Naruto thought back to his supply before he smiled. "I have the perfect one, now all we need to do is find the tower."

Sasuke nodded and began to leap through the trees once again, followed by his teammates. Sasuke paused an hour later though as he felt something sinister approaching. He turned to see Naruto squirming.

"What is it Naruto?" he asked.

"I have to pee." Naruto said. Sakura blanched walking over to the blonde and kicking him inside a bush.

"Then go do it!"

Sasuke looked at Sakura with confusion. "Sakura, you seemed too eager for him to be gone."

Sakura shrugged. "You don't say that in front of a lady."

"You're a teenager."

"Shut up."

Soon afterwards Naruto walked out a smile on his face. "Let's get going," Naruto said. Sasuke nodded and shot off, followed by Naruto and Sakura.

XxX

Sasuke frowned as he say Naruto continue to creep closer to Sakura. It was nothing protective on a personal level, but he knew that whoever was trying to play with them, that Naruto was not with them. This Naruto was leaking killing intent in waves, and Sasuke was sure Sakura knew it too.

Just as Naruto got close enough to Sakura for an attack Sakura lashed out, a punch nailing the fake Naruto in the face before she followed up with a spinning kick that sent him flying to the ground. She began to flow through handseals, preparing to decimate her opponent when another shinobi appeared in front of her, his kunai already in movement.

However, Sasuke would not let that happen and appeared in front of Sakura, blocking the kunai strike with one of his own before he lashed out with a kick that sent the shinobi flying. Sakura finished the handsigns for her jutsu. Sakura took a deep breath before exhaling.

"Katon: Kasumi Enbu no Jutsu (Fire Release: Mist Blaze Dance Technique)!"

A flammable gas shot from Sakura's mouth towards her opponent, surrounding him. He frowned, his jutsu cancelling as he returned to his normal appearance. He wore a white tracksuit with a Kiri headband. The Kiri-nin smirked before taking a deep breath, and shooting upwards towards Sakura. Sakura frowned, avoiding his punch before slamming her elbow down on his shoulder, disorienting him. She followed with a low kick to the back of his knees, flipping him before she grabbed him and jumped off the branch she was on, plummeting towards the ground. The pile driver was successful as her opponents neck snapped on contact with the ground. Sakura nodded to herself before checking him, frowning when she realized that he did not have the scroll on him.

XxX

Sasuke ducked under the Kiri-nin's punch before lashing out with a spinning kick to the jaw that easily dislocated his opponents jaw. He then spun again, drawing Kubikiribocho. He spun the blade, cutting the ninja in half before sheathing it, the blood being absorbed into it although it had not been damaged. Naruto had done that. He had placed a seal on the swrod that stored blood. When Sasuke needed to and didn't want to wound himself or someone he could use that blood to regenerate the blade.

Sasuke turned, heading over to Sakura.

"Did you find a scroll on him?" Sakura shook her head. "No." A scream pierced the forest. Sasuke cursed. "Someone just caught tagged."

Sakura nodded before she heard wind whistling. Shuriken pierced her neck before she disappeared in a puff of smoke, replaced by a log.

"Shit!" was heard, before Sasuke appeared behind a Kiri-nin kicking him in the back of the head and making him face plant on the ground. Sasuke landed behind him as Sakura landed in front of him, a frown on her face.

The Kiri-nin smirked, drawing the blade at his waist. He wore a tight blue shirt that showed off his muscles and black shinobi pants. Regular shinobi combat sandals were on his feet. He had black hair tied into a high ponytail with red eyes that had slits in them. He had light skin, and canines that were longer than average. Sasuke looked at him with coldness. Sakura jumped back just as the teen tried to cut her head off, before turning and sheathing his blade. Sasuke frowned at the style.

"Iaido."

The teen smirked. "Right, Uchiha. Now, give me back the blade and you can live." Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "You mean the Kubikiribocho? Nah, I think I'll keep it."

The teen growled lashing out with his blade, which Sasuke ducked under. The blade returned to the sheath just before the teen disappeared, reappearing behind Sasuke.

"Then die!" he said as he lashed out again, however the blade came in contact with Kubikiribocho, holding him off. The teen growled and let up the pressure, forcing Sasuke off balance before he sheathed his blade and lashed out once again. The blade cut through the air like a hot knife through butter, and it almost did connect to Sasuke's neck, however he turned, making it so the blade only cut through his hair. Sasuke frowned at that and jumped back, as the teen sheathed his blade.

"What is your name?" Sasuke asked. "You're not like your teammates."

The teen nodded his head. "They were weak and deserved death. I am strong, stronger than you. My names is Isshin Kaiba."

Sasuke nodded before he smirked. "Well then Isshin Kaiba, I think it would be only fair for you to know the name of the one who will defeat you. My name is, Sasuke Uchiha."

Isshin frowned. "You don't think I knew that," he hissed before disappearing. Sasuke frowned as his eyes bled into crimson, two tomoi in each before he blocked a strike at his neck. Sasuke pushed against Isshin's blade, however the teen was stronger than one might think and slowly fought back, beginning to overpower Sasuke. Sakura watched the fight with wonder. She couldn't believe it. Sasuke was actually having trouble with this Kiri-nin. She would have helped, but she felt that she didn't have the right. This was a match between swordsmen, and she was no swordsmen.

XxX

Naruto frowned as he looked at the massive snake in front of him. He cursed as it hissed before charging, however Naruto jumped over the snake, throwing a kunai before weaving through handseals.

"Kunai Kage Bunshin no Jutsu (Kunai Shadow Clone Technique)!"

The kunai suddenly multiplied into 100, all piercing the snake's tough scales. The snake hissed, trying to slither back towards Naruto, however he appeared below it, his hands holding to kunai that he threw into its eyes, easily piercing them and going towards the brain, killing it instantly. Naruto frowned though as the snake disappeared in a puff of smoke, revealing that it was summoned.

"There are only two people that can summon snakes, and since Anko isn't allowed to intervene…but…there's no way."

"Kukuku, wrong Naruto-kun. I am here."

Naruto turned, to find someone that he thought he would never have the displeasure of meeting.

Orochimaru of the Sannin.

Hey guys it's Kuma Akuma. As I said on chapter 20, this story has completely derailed. Sasuke is fighting a talented and skilled Kiri-nin who will be important later on in the story, and is also an OC made by me. Now his Kiri team, that I slaughtered, will be the only team that is added on, and they won't make it to the prelims. Just how I want it. He'll be more important after the Chunin Exams. Now, sorry for the long wait, but I've been busy with orientation and such, and because of that I couldn't post as I was busy. Very busy. Now, also, school starts tomorrow, so my chapters will take longer to come out and I apologize for that. Today is my last day of freedom. Now, I know what you guys are thinking, and yes Orochimaru will go after Sasuke as he does still want the Sharingan, however Naruto will fight him first. I have a reason for this, which actually involves Sasuke, and I will not deny it is kind of cheap. It also involves development with Sakura, and the team as a whole though, so I think it's good. I hope you guys like the unique feel I put on it like when I made them plan to head over to the tower and set a trap. I've never seen that done before. Now, I bet you guys can't wait for next chapter, as three, yes three, epic battles will go down, then one other chapter, maybe two, in the Forest of Death before the prelims begin. I bet you guys just can't wait. Now some of you may be wondering what happened to Raylin, you know that bully from chapter one, and how I said I'll include him, well you guys will soon find out, and it will not be pleasant. See you guys later, and avoid the Earl.