Chapter 5: The Darkness Grows

Naruto watched as half the class emptied.

Ibiki was about to reveal the tenth question.

"The tenth question is...you all pass." Ibiki laughed watching the uproar ensure.

Naruto glanced over to Karui and Omoi who had been in contact with him the whole time. With his Flying Raijin technique he was able to fly back and forth throughout the whole classroom undetected handing out answers to Karui and Omoi as he went.

Naruto watched as the Sand ninja he encountered earlier stayed silent as the entire room shunned and yelled at the proctor. Naruto could feel his chakra, similar to Yugito-sensei. A Jinchuriki with the same look in his eye as himself.

Temari slammed her fists on the desk, "Cheap trick old man!"

Ibiki began to explain what the next stage would be as he finished congratulating the 23 remaining teams.

A sudden purple ball burst through the glass window at his side. Side pulled in a giant black cloth in with her and strung it up to the board. A couple of screams followed. A woman appeared dressed in a tan trench coat. Her entire body was covered in fishnet, with small skirt in between the pieces. The outfit was very revealing, it was a nice sight to many young genin in the room.

"Anko you're extremely early." Ibiki shook his head but let her carry on.

Anko nervously laughed before returning her gaze to the large number of Genin remaining. "Ibiki what the hell! Why are there so many?"

"Impressive group this year is all, the second stage should weed out the lucky ones, that's your job snake lady."

Anko ignored the last comment, "Right. Alright maggots this second part of the exam will test your survival abilities. Follow me to training ground 44."

A half an hour later

Anko came and passed around waivers ensuring the Genin that if they were to die or get wounded it would have been their own fault and not that of the proctor.

"Let's try to minimize the casualties, but do not take tread lightly for some of you may die." Anko scowled, installing fear amongst some of the genin, others she noticed had been unmoved by her speech.

Team Samui entered the tent to be given their scroll. An Earth scroll.

Naruto reached out and pocketed the scroll. They were instructed to head for gate 12 and wait for the Chunin guard to give them the go ahead.

Anko eyes down the strange Cloud ninja walking adjacent to her. 'Odd and good-looking. I would let him rock my world.' Anko winked at the passing ninja, who returned with semi-interested gaze.

They waited for 20 minutes before the Chunin to Naruto's left told them to enter. Naruto had his eyes set on his target.

"Karui and Omoi meet me outside the tower in one hour." He Shunshin away and left Karui and Omoi alone. They knew he wasn't bluffing.

'Kurama identify the location of the mark I placed on Uchiha earlier when I grabbed his leg' Naruto grinned knowing they were about to have an untimely surprise in the form of their former teammate.

'65 meters north east, looks like he's held up already.' Kurama said back to Naruto. 'Don't interrupt my sleep again.'

Naruto had placed a custom Raijin tag on the back of Sasuke's leg from his tantrum. No one would be able to remove it without skill in Fuinjutsu. Naruto teleported to the position.

He stood behind the Uchiha now, only to find him in a stagnant, and unable to move. Sakura on her knees next to him with her mouth open, pupils narrowed and inattentive. Naruto saw a grass ninja slithering towards him.

"Ahh Cloud ninja, I see you came here to claim this boy for your own." Naruto watched as the girl's tongue elongated and launched towards him.

Naruto quickly moved out of the way before forming hand signs and yelled, "Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu." The snake-like girl slithered in between the separate attacks still charging at full speed towards him. Naruto unsheathed the kunai before throwing one towards the creature and others around their battle area. They encountered a Taijutsu battle, exchanging blows, feeling each other out before they would pull out their jutsu.

'This girl is insanely skilled, but she hasn't even seen the slightest of what I can do.'

Naruto watched as the girl bit her thumb and rubbed it over a tattoo on her arm. 'A summoning? This just got interesting.' Naruto was still level headed although a massive snake appeared before him.

The brown scaled snake, launched itself down where the Uchiha and Sakura knelt. Naruto grabbed their collars and fluttered to one of his marked spots up in the trees.

Naruto returned to the fight fluttering in between his kunai at incredible speeds.

'Who is this child, the Flying Raijin technique has not been mastered since the Fourth Hokage. This shall be fun indeed.' The girl sneered an evil brow at the blows she was receiving all over her body.

Naruto watched as the girl stood tall, barely amused at the attacks he just delivered. 'How can this be, those hits that should shatter bones? Impossible.'

"That technique, although very impressive, will not work on me boy." The girl licked her lips and snakes shot out of her mouth in an attempt to catch Naruto off guard. He fluttered to his other kunai before receiving a huge blow to the stomach.

"Your movements are quite fast but rather predictable," The slight chuckle was ghastly before another attack ensued. Naruto threw a kunai at the girl and quickly got behind her fluttering to the kunai. "Wind Release: Air Bullets," Naruto then cocked his head back to deliver huge blows to the girls back, sending the snake and her forward. She quickly turned around and blindly launched a snake from her sleeve at his head.

Naruto side dodged and gave a lightning oppression horizontal chop to her midsection. 'He infused his lightning style into the speed of his attacks! The pain is unbearable from the sheer power!' The girl was launched off the snake and pushed up against a tree.

Naruto yelled, "Fire Style: Blast Wave Wild Dance." A massive current, smoldering, twirling in a funnel towards the girl but it was too late. The girl could not move and it was over.

A maniacal laugh lifted from the smoke, a new person was sprouted from the ashes. "I would've never though a mere genin could reduce me to my original state. I suppose that is what I get for underestimating the likes of you."

Naruto remained in his position with his hand on his Kunai. "I felt some chakra residing over a thin layer of disguise. It was just a matter of bringing out the rat from underneath."

"AHAHAH, you humor me boy. I like you. What is your name?" The snake-like figure licked his top lip with his overlarge tongue.

"Narui from the Cloud."

"Narui huh. I know who you truly are. That chakra cannot deceive the likes of me, Orochimaru, the legendary Sannin."

"Orochimaru? I see. Evaluating the reason your here leads me to two theories. One, you are her for the same measures I seek. Or two, you want the precious Uchiha heir, Sasuke Uchiha."

"You are quite bright. I will have my way regardless. I have a proposal, 'Narui'. I am in need of someone like you, talented, young, and overwhelming darkness inside. If you join me, I can grant you power that can exponentialize your already powerful chakra." Orochimaru, wanted this boy. He could feel the Jinchuriki power radiating from his core. This boy had tamed it's power so early in his life. If Orochimaru played his cards right, this boy could become an invaluable asset to his vengeance.

"No matter your sweet talks Orochimaru. My pain and my suffering, and my vision for the world far outranks the possibilities of yours." Naruto began to go through a long burst of hand signs.

"So be it brat."

Naruto finished his last hand sign and grinned. "Your not walking away from this one."

Naruto disappeared in a orange and yellow flash. Orochimaru watched as numerous kunai where placed perfectly in large circle around him. Before he could react he felt lightning flashes ripping through his body.

Orochimaru couldn't keep track of where he was coming from, nor could he react due to the pain coursing though his limbs. The electricity was shutting his nervous system down, as repetitive strikes went through his body at godly speeds. Speeds that were slightly slower then that of the Fourth Hokage.

All that could be seen was a pale figure being beaten and pushed further off the ground. Ina unimaginable amount of strikes were hitting his body from every direction.

The flashes stopped when three shadow clone appeared above Orochimaru's head. In the fogginess of Orochimaru's brain all that could be heard was, "-tyle: Tripe fireball jutsu."

A massive collective fireball infused together and crush the Orochimaru with the force of the explosion. Orochimaru laid unconsciousness. Third-Degree burn marks protruded on most of his body.

Sasuke and Sakura had ben released from the Genjutsu for a few minutes. This black haired cloud ninja was sending out textbook Fire Style moves only Sasuke had seen an Uchiha master. A faint aura of Orange and yellow chakra was receding back into the Naruto's body.

The watched in horror as the Man on the ground was obliterated and had to be dead. 'What the hell is going on! This Cloud ninja isn't human.'

Naruto disappeared in the cloud of smoke. Sasuke and Sakura felt his powerful presence behind them. "Ah the famous Uchiha clan heir. Cowering in fear. Talk does not suit you well Uchiha, it still seems you can't back up your arrogance." Sasuke clenched his fists before throwing his whole body weight in his hand at Naruto.

His hand came to an abrupt stop and Naruto made a one hand sign. Holding Sasuke in place by his fist, a shadow clone appeared. "Take his scroll, no matter the color." Sasuke tried to pull away.

"Sakura stop him don't let him get the scroll." Sasuke pulled his leg back to sweep Naruto off his feet. He failed as a violent kick almost shattered his shin.

Sakura charged forward at the clone only to be mule kicked into the tree behind her. The cone went for the kill as he pulled out the three pronged Kunai. "No don't. Leave her, allow them to relay to their sensei what they witnessed here."

"...And you...Sasuke Uchiha. You're weak I can't believe you are Itachi Uchiha's brother. You got all the arrogance and none of the skill from the Uchiha elite family. Wind Style: Gale Palm," Naruto sunk it into Sasuke's chest before launching him twenty feet. Blood spewed out of his mouth and he felt his body tighten as he suddenly hit a branch back first. He fell to the forest floor losing consciousness. 'He k-know Itachi?"

His body laid flat on the floor now spewing blood from his mouth. "Sasuke, NOOO!" Sakura jumped down from the high branch she was on to be by his side.

"Who are you? You're a demon!" She lifted his arm over her shoulder.

"Yes I am...Sakura Haruno. You already know who I am." Naruto disappeared in a hazy yellow flash.

"I-I know him? I've never seen him before in my life." She thoroughly escaped, hoping the Black-haired demon wouldn't change his mind.

The clone dispelled dropping a scroll into his open hand. 'A heaven scroll, how lucky?' The emotionless expression turned into a viscous smirk. It took everything he had to not kill them. He needed the recognition and fear of the others for the next stage of the plan.

'Now for the other body hopefully I didn't burn the scr-,' Orochimaru was gone, no blood trail, only minor skin skin fragments displaced around the ragged body he shed. He knew he severely injured him; it was only a certain amount of time before he died.

'Oh well, I have to return to my teammates. My deadline is decreasing every minute I waste here.' Naruto Shunshin away knowing his flutters would get him to his vantage point in a few minutes.

Elsewhere,

"Lord Orochimaru, what happened?" Kabuto knelt down next to the decaying and burnt skin of Orochimaru. The burning flesh smell was churning in his throat. He almost emptied his bowels but stayed potent.

"I was attacked by a brat. A Cloud ninja with extreme speed that surpasses even my own." Kabuto stared down at Orochimaru. 'It was unheard of Orochimaru losing in battle, and to a Genin? This can't be true.'

"Kabuto, this body has had it, I must return to the Sound for a new vessel. Kimimaro's time has finally come." Orochimaru was gasping for air, his inhuman healing was struggling to fight of the severely damaged and burnt parts of his body.

"You will return to the sound as soon as possible, unfortunately our plans have failed due to this new threat. Finish the second part of the exam and flee back to the sound." Orochimaru struggled to his feet. "Beware of that boy from the Cloud. His chakra reflects that of a bijuu."

"Understood Lord Orochimaru, I will pull the Sound ninja out of the exams."

"Prepare the body when you return. My vessel Uchiha will have to wait until my recuperation."

Kabuto nodded and left without leaving a trace. "Until next time Sasuke, your eyes will be mine!"

Orochimaru faded through the ground and vanished.

Omoi and Karui stood lookout when they heard footsteps appear on the tree branch behind them. They took out their Katanas and hardened their stances.

"I have returned with a heaven scroll. Let's proceed." Karui and Omoi looked at Naruto. It seemed like he had taken a few blows leaving a few scratches and minor bruises. 'Someone landed hands on Naruto? I don't even want to know who it was,' Thought Omoi and Karui collectively.

The tower came into sight. It's massive base stretching easily 300 feet across.

They rushed up to the doors, stunning the Chunin guards in front of it.

"You can't come up to the tower without both scrolls, return to the battlefield."

Naruto held up both scrolls, both guards gasped and opened the doors. 'How was it even possible for them to get here this fast, they shattered the record by 4 hours!' The guards looked at the genin who could have passed for a grown man.

They were led inside to an open room, where a riddle had been placed on 4x4 board on the wall.

"By determining what it says it looks like it wants us to open both scrolls at the same time," Naruto and Karui looked at Omoi in agreement.

"Open them Narui, you can handle whatever comes out." Karui and Omoi stood behind Naruto unsheathing their Katanas awaiting one last trick from the proctor.

With a flash of smoke somebody had appeared before them. "Congratulations you passed the second part of the exam...," The Chunin looked up at the clock behind them, "It seems like you shattered the record time by four hours. Incredible, congratulations! Your names will be in the history book forever."

Omoi and Karui stared at Naruto. 'Narui did all the work, but damn if we get credit so be it,' Karui placed her hand on her hip.

The Chunin was still taken aback by how terrifying this kid was in front of him. 'Kid? What am I thinking there's no way that this 'kid' is not a grown man.'

"Let me show you to your quarters considering you will have to wait some time for the others to show up." The Chunin escorted the three out of the room. He was trying his best to suppress his intimidation from the Cloud genin.

Walking out of the open area they were brought into, made them cross paths with the Sand ninja that Naruto had encountered earlier. Temari and Kankuro gasped at quickly averted there attention to the walls and the floor. Gaara stared into Naruto's eyes.

'Naruto. This boy is the vessel for the Shukaku, I am sure of it now.' Kurama's internal smirk nearly put a grin on Naruto's face as he stood looking back at Gaara unfazed.

The Chunin nearly fainted seeing another team enter the building minutes after the Cloud ninja had finished. 'What the hell is up with these kids. This red head's stare could kill someone if he wanted to.'

Temari went to grab Gaara's shoulders to pull him into the room they were told to enter. Gaara's sand from his back gripped her wrist and thrusted it back to her leaving a patch of red.

Gaara turned and followed his siblings into the room, still looking over his shoulder at Naruto.

Omoi and Karui shook behind Naruto. They peered just their eyes over his shoulders. "Is he gone?" Omoi nearly choked on his lollipop in the exchange of looks between the two.

"They arrived here nearly the same time we did Narui, I thought we were a special case," Karui released her death grip on Naruto's arm before looking back up at the back of his head.

"It is very intriguing, that one is very strong. In the round to come, it is your choice to fight him or not." Karui and Omoi looked at each other. Messing with that terrifying kid was probably the last thing they'd want to do. At least Naruto never looked at them that way and he was beyond frightening.

"I apologize for that exchange, It was avoidable. Let us continue. I think I have seen my fair share of tense situations for the day." The Chunin paced faster than a normal walk now with sake on his mind.

Later that night, elsewhere in the tower

A man rushed into the room where Anko and the other Jounin and Chunin leaf ninja had been playing cards.

This part of the exam was the most boring considering how long it took for some teams to arrive.

"What is it? Don't you see we are busy drinking." Anko's cheeks were pale red with signs of minor drunkenness.

"Sorry to bother Anko but you're going to want to see this." He pulled up one of the TV's displaying up live feed of the security cameras. He pulled a security tape and placed it in the device.

Three genin came up on the screen, all three had just opened both scrolls and were talking to one of the Leaf shinobi that was summoned. "I don't see what's so uphauling here bro," Anko was losing her cool having been pulled away from her precious sake.

"No, look at the time, the second exam began at 4:30. These Cloud ninja genin arrived at 6:25. They shattered the record by four hours Anko." Anko was at a loss for words. 'How is that possible, they must've fought within the first moments of the exam and then made it here with Jounin level speed.'

The Chunin guard rolled the clip a few minutes ahead, "Then three Sand ninja genin followed 5 minutes later. Both teams obliterated the record. These kids are undoubtedly one's that this exam has never encountered before." Everyone in the room was staring at the TV now. All of them overheard the conversation. It was unsettling knowing that there was not only one, but two teams of high shinobi caliber strength amongst these students.

"I'd also like to add," he reversed to where Naruto's team came in, "This Cloud ninja, Narui, was ranked 145th out 150 in this exam yet it seems like he is the captain of the squad." Anko looked onward as this oversized genin had come up to the same heights, maybe even taller than the guards he had passed on his way in.

"So what is he, like an older genin that never took the test or something?" Anko was puzzled at his built stature, it made her feel some type of way.

"I'm afraid the Leaf has nearly nothing on this genin. It seems he's 5'11 170, and...," He paused at the next thing he saw. "Spit it out, what is it?" Anko looked at the surprised expression on his face.

"...It says around the 14-15 year old mark."

"WHAT! That 'child' is about the same height as Kakashi or Asuma, and he packs the muscle to back it up as well." Anko couldn't believe the mere stature of the kid. It was so hot and suffocating looking at him, but she had to contain herself for the moment.

"We just have to watch him closely then. I'll have the Hokage inform the Jounin leaders if their teams make it through." Anko slipped back to the table wherever stood in awe of what transpired just now.

"What do they feed the kids in the Hidden Cloud village, that kid is going to be as big as the Raikage." This remark left the entire table laughing, the Jounin got a slap on the back from Anko as they continued their game.

Sakura knelt over two unconscious bodies.

Sasuke and Sai had been out of it for a while. Sai had been attacked by one of Orochimaru's snakes and Sasuke was knocked around by the Cloud ninja Narui.

Sakura couldn't get the image out of her head. When they had a run in with the Narui kid, something felt oddly familiar to her. She had thought about it for quite some time now since.

His eyes were too distinct. That cold blue...the killing intent they held, yet also vague control.

Narui man handled her and Sasuke, casted them aside like they were just objects in his way. Something had held the ninja back, his eyes had all the intent of wiping them off the face of the earth, yet he showed mercy.

She contemplated the scenario over and over in her head. Every time, she was led to the same conclusion, her and Sasuke were not the true target of his hateful eyes. He merely defended them from Orochimaru for a reason she could not name.

'Next time...we won't be so lucky,' Sakura shivered, her glance still upon her teammates.

Over the next few days, teams filtered in slowly.

Naruto and his team were conversing with their Jounin leaders now. They had planned to strategize their battles considering what teams they felt would make it to the next round.

"As we know, our team is for sure the strongest out of the remaining genin." Yugito knew that Naruto had the best chance at winning the entire Chunin exam. Omoi and Karui were exceptionally skilled, but they weren't Naruto in terms of intelligence and battle IQ.

"A few of these teams have exceptional shinobi on them. Yugito and I had minor research on the ones we considered to be the biggest threats." Samui pulled out 5 ninja ID cards.

"The number 5 threat we have is Shikamaru Nara. His record isn't very impressive, but we are led to believe that if his intelligence and strategizing matches his father's, he could become a nuisance." Samui and Yugito carefully hand picked these kids based upon rank and severity of their strengths. The son of Shikaku Nara, should not be taken lightly. He was one lazy mother fucker, but when his mind was put to the test, he was unpredictable.

"The number 4 threat is a taijutsu heavy leaf ninja Rock Lee. He was personally trained by taijutsu master Might Guy. Might Guy's squad is said to be one of the best in the entire tournament, therefore it is safe to assume the rumors about Rock Lee's speed and strength are true. He has no capabilities in ninjutsu or genjutsu as well." Rock Lee had been a complete underdog from the beginning, but his extreme work ethic placed him in the top 5 strongest.

"Then he should be no problem then right?" Karui folded her arms, staring at the Jounin leaders.

"Just because he does not have talent in other areas does not mean you take him lightly. Might Guy is feared throughout the great nations. A student of his, who replicates his fighting style is not to be underestimated." Yugito proceeded to flip the next card.

"Gaara of the Sand. All-Around specialist. Stays stationary in most battles. It is said he has never been scratched or touched on a mission ever." Omoi and Karui gulped.

Naruto had already known this kid was strong just by looking into his eyes. The ominous chakra that reflected his own, his killing intent maybe even superior to his own.

"Gaara is also a Jinchuriki," Naruto added with a collective shock around the table, "His bloodlust seems to be a driving force based on my brief encounters with him." Yugito and Samui knew he wasn't lying. Naruto was able to identify Yugito's chakra in the past without any effort.

"Is that all Narui?" Yugito knew something else was to be brought to the surface.

Naruto paused, "...If one of you was to face him in battle, if he was to somehow defeat you...your deaths would be imminent."

It was not like Naruto to care for other people's well beings, but in order for his plan to take effect, he would need these two alive.

"Thank Narui, for the vote of confidence. Your one scary son of a bitch you know that." Karui scolded Naruto for scaring her for the umpteenth time.

"We can worry about that later. Next we have the number two candidate. Sasuke Uchiha. The last known member of the Uchiha clan. He is rookie of the year in the Leaf. His skills are enhanced by his Sharingan. He favors the Fire Style ninjutsu and he also likes to keep his opponents close to mid-range. A fight with the Uchiha kid will not be an easy one."

Naruto smirked, 'Sasuke is the same as the day I left, his arrogance and superiority complex prevents him from actually bettering himself. He relies too much on his Sharingan.' Naruto knew if he was to get the Uchiha as an opponent...he'd embarrass the prick before all the scum of the Leaf Village.

"The best of the genin we believe in is Neji Hyuga. His use of the Byakugan allows him to identify chakra points within his opponents body. He is a close distance taijutsu specialist, but his ninjutsu is what named nicknamed him rookie of the year and the Hyuga prodigy. We believe he will be the toughest opponent in the final round because of his expertise over the gentle fist." Yugito picked up all the cards and placed them back into a scroll.

"You three continue to rest up, the final exam will begin in five hours. Don't be late." All three nodded and returned to their quarters.