Okay so before I begin I should point out this chapter is a chapter that I have highly been anticipating to write ever since I started this story back in December 2017 and I'm very excited to finally bring this chapter to life so I hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it!

With all that said, let's begin! ^_^


Karin had made her ways with a certain destination in mind, stopping for literally nothing in between besides eating and sleeping.

It couldn't have be helped. After the way her village, Kusagakure, had been treating her for virtually her whole life, enough had been enough. From the time she was born, she and her mother had basically been human healing tanks for the village to use, often times without their consent.

It had gotten so bad that Karin's mother had died as a result and following her failure in the Chunin Exams, her teammates, whose only reason for having her around was for her to be their energy drink, had mercilessly berated the young girl and it was then that something snapped.

Having enough, she told off her teammates and sensei before going to the village head and literally crushing the Kusagakure headband in front of the shocked leader before saying how she would never set foot in the village ever again, not even if mechanical robots fell from the sky or scary pink demons terrorized the earth.

Karin then stopped before pulling out a bag of rations.

"Finally, not to long from now I'll be reunited with Gohan…" Karin smiled as a light blush adorned her features as she remembered the smiling black haired boy with spiky, unkempt hair.

Gohan had been the first one in a while following her mother who had showed her genuine kindness so she was hoping to find asylum with him in Konohagakure.

After all he was so kind and gentle with black eyes that any girl could get lost in with a dopey, goofy, comforting smile that was nothing short of adorable.

Maybe then her life would turn from being a living hell to being better….more bearable….


Gohan soon flew his way back to the Leaf Village before making his way to the administrative part of the academy where he would receive his pay for a mission done.

While he wasn't training with Jiraiya, he would take meager missions in the meantime. Nothing too major. Just apprehending thieves or stopping bandits from attacking small villages.

After all feeding a half-saiyan and a tailed beast container would no doubt be very costly.

As Gohan received his pay, he soon stumbled onto none other than Danzo.

"Oh Son Gohan. A very good morning to you." Danzo greeted the half-saiyan.

"Good morning to you too uh…." Gohan greeted back although he didn't want to be rude since he didn't know Danzo's name.

"Danzo Shimura. I am one of the figureheads of this village." Danzo explained as Gohan nodded.

"Oh I see. Well not to be rude but what do you want from me?" Gohan asked.

"I simply wanted to thank you for all of your services to the village over the last couple of months." Danzo said.

"Oh well…yeah it's no problem." Gohan replied although he could sense something…..malicious and shady about the village head.

As Gohan said that he took note of a boy around his age or at most a year older standing on Danzo's right side. He was effeminate and had short black hair and very pale skin with a long sleeved black shirt exposing his midriff with matching black pants. For some reason Gohan was reminded of Sasuke.

"Who is this?" Gohan asked taking note of Sai.

"Introduce yourself." Danzo instructed Sai.

"Hello Son Gohan, my name is Sai. I have heard much about you over these last couple of months." Sai smiled as Gohan couldn't help but feel weirded out by Sai's smile. It was just so….phony?

"Uh….hi…." Gohan awkwardly greeted Sai. Gohan could feel this guy was just weird, for a lack of better terms.

"May I ask you a question?" Sai asked, his expression suddenly turning serious.

"Sure." Gohan replied not wanting to be rude.

"Do you have a penis?" Sai bluntly asked the shorter boy whose expression turned to that of being nothing short of disturbed.

"….What?" Gohan asked.

"Are you deaf? I asked if you had a penis." Sai said as Gohan's expression suddenly turned to one of irritation as Sai took this as an admission of having none.

"I see. With how strong you are I guess I should figure you may not have-"Sai tried stating as Gohan had had enough.

"YES I HAVE BALLS!" Gohan yelled, his face red as Sai was unfazed with Gohan's anger.

"I see. Maybe I shouldn't have asked you that?" Sai asked as Gohan deadpanned. What the hell was with this guy?

Sai wondered how Gohan would react if he were to let it slip he had been following him over the last couple of months.

"Enough. The main reason I am here is to give you a promotion of sorts, Son Gohan." Danzo began as Gohan raised an eyebrow.

"A promotion?" Gohan asked.

"Indeed. I would like to indoctrinate you into my group of ninja known as Root. In Root, you will be carrying out missions simply for the sake of the village going beyond the mere juvenile missions you've done in the past." Danzo explained as Gohan fought the urge to full his eyes at the term "juvenile". Gohan highly doubted missions where normal people would have to encounter someone like Haku or Zabuza and especially the recent situation with the Moryo would classify as "juvenile".

Taking Gohan's silence as confirmation, Danzo decided to continue.

"You will also be paired with Sai here." Danzo gestured as Sai smiled at Gohan.

"It would be most invigorating to work with you." Sai smiled as Gohan internally cringed at the thought of being with Sai. If he could help it, he would avoid the very socially awkward Root ninja like Tien would with Vegeta.

"Well what do you say?" Danzo asked as Gohan had his mind made up the second Danzo mentioned Sai.

"Sorry but I'm going to have to decline. After all, I have another Team who I'm already assigned to. And they're my family so I'm not gonna join, I'm sorry." Gohan politely declined.

Although Danzo kept his usual cool persona externally on the inside he was fuming which Gohan immediately sensed.

If Gohan couldn't trust Danzo, how could the old man expect Gohan to work for him? It wasn't Gohan's problem Danzo literally reeked of malice.

"I see. Well that is unfortunate." Danzo said.

"Is it because of Naruto Uzumaki?" Sai asked Gohan who looked to Sai in surprise.

"Wait how do you…." Gohan puzzedly asked.

"We in Root do our research." Sai smiled as Gohan's distrust towards Root only increased. Did these guys literally spy on him?

"Just know if you ever decide to join us the door is open." Sai said as Gohan tried his best to keep a cordial attitude rather than appearing visibly disgusted.

"Yeah thanks." Gohan said before literally making his way out of the Academy as the two watched him leave.

"Sai, continue to tail him." Danzo ordered.

"Right, Lord Danzo." Sai nodded.


Gohan shook his head after that meeting. The son of Goku laughed as he imagined if Sai asked the same question of having balls to someone like Vegeta or Piccolo.

Oh that conversation would definitely go south for the root ninja.

Soon Gohan touched down on his intended location.

"Jiraiya!" Gohan waved to the toad sage as he touched down in the middle of a forest.

"Oh Gohan, hey." Jiraiya smirked as Gohan touched down.

"So what's up kid?" Jiraiya asked.

"I'd like to try summoning again." Gohan declared as Jiraiya raised an eyebrow.

"You sure about that? I mean does your body feel up to it?" Jiraiya asked as he remembered how Gohan was out for several days after Naruto had told the toad sannin about Team Seven's encounter with the Moryo. Re-experiencing your worst memories would definitely be taxing to a kid. Gohan meanwhile waved the bigger man off.

"No I'm fine, really." Gohan reassured the older man who seemed convinced.

"Well okay, if you say so. You know what to do then, right?" Jiraiya asked Gohan.

"Yeah!" Gohan said before channeling his Ki into the beaded chakra bracelets that Jiraiya had given him several weeks ago.

Gohan made the right hand-signs before launching the jutsu, summoning none other than the small purple Dragon, Spyro.

"Summoning Jutsu!" Gohan yelled before slamming his palm into the ground.

"Gohan!" Spyro glomped Gohan as the eleven year old happily returned the gesture.

"How's it going, Spyro?" Gohan smiled as he sat the kid dragon down.

"Ready to work on my hand to hand training!" Spyro grinned as he readied himself into a pose before falling on his face, again.

"That's your problem, you gotta work on your stance." Gohan ran over to Spyro and sat him up before gesturing over to him.

"Like this, see?" Gohan asked as he donned a fighting stance.

"Wow, so cool!" Spyro exclaimed with sparkly eyes as he tried doing the same only to fall.

"Okay I'll get it! Just gimme some time!" Spyro said as Gohan laughed.

"Rome wasn't built in a day! Take your time." Gohan smiled as Jiraiya watched the two from a nearby tree.

"Gohan is definitely a teacher with patience. I wish it was like that when I met Fukasaku and Shima..." Jiraiya shook his head in amusement.

After around thirty minutes, Spyro was able to get a form that suited him.

"I did it, Gohan!" Spyro gleamed as Gohan clapped, pleased at his progress.

"Very good. Now try to come at me." Gohan ordered.

"Right now?" Spyro asked.

"Right now." Gohan confirmed as Spyro charged at Gohan trying to knock him back as Gohan casually dodged his blows before knocking Spyro away.

"I see what to work on. Your form and attack skills are too open and narrow. This can be a weakness against enemies so you gotta control yourself like this!" Gohan said as he vanished and appeared right in front of Spyro before showing a more controlled and relaxed way of attacking.

"Whoa, you're so fast!" Spyro gasped as Gohan smiled as he helped Spyro up.

"You'll get stronger one day, as long as you can promise to put all the work in necessary." Gohan sternly said as Spyro nodded.

"Hell yeah I will!" Spyro chirped as Gohan nodded, pleased with his summons.

"Great. Thanks for a great day, Spyro." Gohan smiled as he made a hand sign.

"Thanks for everything Gohan, I can't wait to see you again!" Spyro grinned.

"Same here." Gohan summoned Spyro back to his summoning realm as Jiraiya appeared right in front of him.

"You really are one heck of a teacher kid. You might be even better than Kakashi." Jiraiya greeted as Gohan laughed.

"This is definitely easier than teaching Ki." Gohan joked as the two shared a good laugh.

"Oh yeah, by the way, where's Naruto?" Gohan asked Jiraiya.

"Oh I pushed him off a cliff so he can summon a frog." Jiraiya bluntly said.

Now Jiraiya expected a freaked out or horrified reaction from Gohan but what he got was vastly different than what he expected.

"Oh okay." Gohan shrugged as Jiraiya raised an eyebrow.

"Wait, that's it? You're not freaking out?" Jiraiya asked.

"Well my mentor Piccolo did worse. When I was four he left me out in the wildnerness for six months." Gohan shrugged as Jiraiya raised an eyebrow.

"This Piccolo definitely sounds like a piece of work." Jiraiya chuckled as Gohan chortled.

"You have no idea." Gohan heartily laughed.


A day later; Gohan, along with the rest of Team Seven, were all grouped together in a capsule home provided by Gohan, thanks to one of Gohan's capsules.

"So how strong have you guys gotten over the last three weeks?" Gohan asked his friends as Sakura looked up from the show she was watching. It was a show about a red haired crime fighter with her blonde dopey sidekick and a naked mole rat that helped save the world from crime. For one reason or another, Sakura was instantly reminded of her and Naruto from the red haired girl and the blonde goof.

"I've learned to harness and control my genjutsu better and I can use my earth abilities better!" Sakura grinned.

"I can summon a huge ass toad named Gamabunta!" Naruto bragged.

"Gamabunta?" Sasuke asked.

"Yeah though it was hard for him to come around to me…" Naruto sheepishly laughed remembering how he had to stay on the huge frog's back for a whole day. Man was that easier said than done?

"Can't say I blame him." Sasuke snorted.

"Oh yeah? And what about you, asshole?" Naruto growled.

"Kakashi was able to teach me a new jutsu called Chidori." Sasuke explained.

"Chidori?" Naruto, Sakura and Gohan asked.

"Yeah it's a very powerful electrical jutsu." Sasuke explained further as Gohan was immediately reminded of the Final Flash technique from Vegeta that Krillin told him about.

"Whoa that sounds pretty awesome." Naruto said.

"Yeah but I'm tired so I'm turning in." Sasuke said as he headed into one of the rooms in the Capsule's home but not without taking a can of tomato juice that he purchased from the refrigerator.

"Wanna play some foosball?" Naruto asked Gohan as Gohan grinned.

"You're on!" Gohan smiled before their game began while Sakura went back to watching her show.

The game went on for about five minutes as Sasuke tried ignoring the sounds of their game but it quickly got to him.

"Okay guys you can stop!" Sasuke said as he went ignored.

"Guys!" Sasuke yelled before growling as he realized the two moronic brothers were ignoring him.

"Dumbasses." Sasuke growled before storming out of bed before going straight to Naruto and Gohan's foosball table.

"Gimme the ball dammit!" Sasuke yelled, ignoring the two boys before stomping on the ball.

"Hey! That wasn't nice!" Gohan groaned.

"I wanna sleep." Sasuke glared at Gohan before Naruto snatched the can of tomato juice out of Sasuke's hands before stomping on the tomato can under his own foot.

Gohan and Sakura's eyes widened in dread as they all knew how much Sasuke liked his tomatoes.

Sasuke stared at the can in pure horror before activating his Sharingan at Naruto.

"Damn it, Naruto, that was the last can of tomato juice left in this house!" Sasuke glared before grabbing an instant ramen noodle pack from the table and crushing it.

"Hey! That's going too far! That really hurts!" Naruto yelled before running from Sasuke, seeing how pissed he looked.

"And it'll match your ass when I'm done kicking it! Get back here you son of a-"Sasuke chased Naruto through the rooms before Naruto got stuck in one of the windows.

Sasuke contemplated using his Chidori on the knucklehead before making his way back to his room.

"Good night." Sasuke said irritably as Gohan sighed making his way to help Naruto from the window.

"Morons." Sakura rolled her eyes.

As Naruto was freed from the window, Gohan sensed something amiss.

"Hey…you guys sense that?" Gohan asked.

"What do you mean?" Naruto asked.

"I say let's check it out…" Gohan said before flying off.

"Gohan! Hey Gohan!" Sakura said as she turned off the TV as Sasuke got out of bed.

"What's up with Gohan?" Sasuke asked.

"He said he sensed something off. Wanna follow?" Sakura asked.

"Okay I guess." Sasuke said before he, Naruto and Sakura followed after the half-saiyan.


Deep in an underground passageway; Dosu, Zaku and Kin all looked at the snake sannin Orochimru with expressions full of horror and anger.

"What do you mean that's it!?" Dosu yelled as Orochimaru was unfazed with the mummy-lookalike's anger.

"I mean what I said. You have all outlived your usefulness towards me. I wanted you all to bring Son Gohan back to me but alas…you all failed." Orochimaru calmly said as Zaku looked like he was going to break down into tears then and there.

"But…all those years ago…you saved me…." Zaku said as Orochimaru only chuckled.

"You were only that of a means to an end for me." Orochimaru stated as Zaku grit his teeth.

"But this isn't fair! That was practically a suicide mission you sent us on, Lord Orochimaru!" Kin tried arguing though Orochimaru would hear none of it.

"Alas life is not fair. I had hoped you all would have learned that in your short lives. But alas you shall learn that in the next world!" Orochimaru said as he made his way over to the three teens as they braced themselves for their impeding deaths.

Or what they assumed would be their impeding deaths.

"What the?" Zaku asked as he found himself in the air being held by Naruto.

"Bastard!" Zaku growled as Naruto grinned down at him.

"Sup?" Naruto laughed as Zaku looked to see Sasuke holding Zaku with one hand as Kin was in Gohan's arms.

Kin was silent but as she felt herself blush as she felt Gohan's muscles against her. And to think she initially wrote Gohan off as a tiny, string bean.

"Well well well…if it isn't Kakashi's team." Orochimaru grinned as the team touched down.

"And this must be Orochimaru." Gohan said, remembering hearing that name around the village.

"This guy is definitely creepy…." Sakura said as she took in Orochimaru's snake like appearance.

"Definitely." Naruto nodded.

"How did you guys even?" Dosu asked as Gohan channeled Ki into his beads before summoning none other than Spyro much to the Sound Ninja's confusion.

"Is that a...Dragon?" Dosu asked.

"This guy…." Kin muttered as she looked to Gohan in surprise.

"Whoa! So cool!" Naruto said as Orochimaru raised an eyebrow.

"So I see you've learned how to summon." Orochimaru mused as Spyro looked at Gohan.

"Hi, Gohan! What'd you summon me for?" Spyro asked Gohan who pointed to the three sound nin.

"Take them back to the leaf." Gohan said as Spyro noticed their sound headbands before turning to Orochimaru.

"Eww...that guy is definitely creepy! And he smells like rotten snakes!" Spyro grimaced as Orochimaru smirked at the young Dragon.

"Is that so? I can always arrange a date with you and my snakes, especially my main one, Manda." Enma spat not even bothering to hide the disdain in his voice.

"No thanks! I'm outta here! Kick his ass, Gohan!" Enma said as he took the three puzzled teens before poofing away.

"Will do." Gohan muttered as he turned to Orochimaru.

"I must say how amazing it is for you to come here Son Gohan. It saves me the trouble of hunting you down." Orochimaru said as Gohan raised an eyebrow.

"Hunt me down?" Gohan asked.

"Just what do you want?" Sasuke asked as Orochimaru chuckled at Sasuke.

"Oh Sasuke. I admit I used to want you for my plans…." Orochimaru began.

"Plan? What kind of plan?" Naruto asked.

"Why to destroy the hidden leaf village of course!" Orochimaru declared as the team's eyes widened in alarm.

"You can't be serious!" Sakura yelled as Orochimaru only looked more cheerful.

"Oh indeed I am. But in any case, getting back to what I was saying, Sasuke was originally going to be used to destroy the leaf but now…I've turned my sights to another viable candidate." Orochimaru's eyes gleamed as he turned on Gohan who glared at him.

"Like hell I would help you!" Gohan glared channeling Ki.

"But you see I always get what I want. But you Sasuke are useless to me. So weak that it makes sense why Itachi would leave you alive. You were the black sheep of your clan, yes?" Orochimaru smirked as Sasuke's eyes widened in anger at the name as Team Seven glared at him.

"Who are you to talk!?" Naruto yelled, wanting to crush Orochimaru with Gamabunta.

"Yeah screw off!" Sakura added.

"And what worth does words from insects like you have?" Orochimaru smirked as Gohan glared at him.

"I have a question for you, what do you think you're doing, trying to kill off your own henchmen?" Gohan asked as Orochimaru chuckled.

"You see those kids were expendable to me. Once they outlived their usefulness to me they're as good as trash." Orochimaru calmly stated as the team's dislike for the snake sannin only increased. How could someone be so heartless?

At this, Gohan quickly powered up to Super Saiyan.

Orochimaru could feel the Super Saiyan power, radiating from Gohan before smiling broadly.

"Yes….this must be it…the power of the Super Saiyan!" Orochimaru grinned.

"I'll show you how to use people you bastard!" Gohan glared, however a hand from Sasuke cut Gohan off.

"No…leave this guy to me." Sasuke yelled, awakening his two totem Sharingan.

"Hmph, how easy." Orochimaru crossed his arms, not even bothering to defend himself.

Sasuke quickly pulled out a Kunai before putting it in his teeth.

"I used to care only for surviving to kill Itachi but if I can't face you, how can I hope to face him!" Sasuke yelled as he charged at Orochimaru before Orochimaru fired off several smoke bombs at Sasuke who quickly evaded them before the two engaged in a fist by fist fight which Sasuke was able to easily dominate, thanks to Gohan's training.

"What the?" Orochimaru asked as the team watched.

"Look at Sasuke go!" Naruto cheered.

"Of course, it's Sasuke." Gohan smiled before Sasuke made a flurry of handsigns.

"Fire style! Fire Pheonix Jutsu!" Sasuke yelled before Orochimaru was narrowly able to dodge the huge ball of fire.

The sleeve of his outfit was damaged.

"Heh, not bad, boy. But still…." Orochimaru said as Sasuke raised an eyebrow before he suddenly spat blood.

"Not good enough." Orochimaru laughed as Sasuke looked to see a metal pipe protruding from his heart before he ripped it away.

"Now…disappear!" Orochimaru said, about to incinerate the young Uchiha before what he thought was a dying Sasuke, vanished in thin air.

"What the!?" Orochimaru asked before everyone could hear the chirping sounds of one thousand birds.

"What's that?" Gohan asked.

"That must be the Chidori!" Sakura smiled as Orochimaru could look on in surprise as Sasuke charged at him.

"CHIRORI! ONE THOUSAND BIRDS!" Sasuke yelled as he slammed the electrical jutsu dead into Orochimaru's shoulder.

"Damn!" Sasuke grit his teeth as he was sure that he hit Orochimaru's heart.

Orochimaru coughed up a bit of blood before jumping to a corridor above.

"Not bad…little Uchiha….looks like I'll have to use this!" Orochimaru yelled before slamming his palm down before a huge snake appeared from the smoke.

"Holy shit!" Naruto and Sakura yelled.

"Is that a giant snake?" Gohan remarked in surprise.

"What do you think?" Sasuke asked as the snake looked its eye up towards Orochimaru in annoyance and anger.

"What do you want Orochimaru!? You interrupted my nap to deal with four brats!?" Manda demanded as Orochimaru was immediately reminded of the snake's dislike for him.

"I want you to deal with those three brats, Manda. But leave the blonde one with green eyes to me." Orochimaru ordered his summons.

"Fine, but you better bring me a hundred sacrifices, you hear me!?" Manda said as he launched itself at Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura as Gohan moved out of the way.

"Heh, smooth move saving yourself boy. But what of your teammates?" Orochimaru asked.

"Heh I know they can handle themselves. But shall we begin?" Gohan asked as Orochimaru grinned before making a flurry of hand signs.

"Striking Shadow Snake!" Orochimaru yelled as a mountain of snakes suddenly ejected from his palm.

Despite being creeped out, Gohan cupped his hands over his forehead.

"Masenko-Ha!" Gohan yelled before the snakes were easily destroyed before Gohan sent a flurry of punches and kicks at the rogue ninja as Orochimaru's eyes widened in alarm.

"This brat! He's…stronger than I thought…." Orochimaru thought as he had to get a way to get Gohan's body.

Orochimaru shot more snakes as Gohan easily destroyed them before Gohan suddenly shot a very bizarre technique at Orochimaru.

"Special Beam Cannon!" Gohan yelled before the beam was sent straight through Orochimaru's chest.

Thinking Orochimaru was gone, Gohan was about to power down before another body ejected itself from Orochimaru's mouth.

"Disgusting!" Gohan said.

"Heh, well soon you will be a part of me!" Orochimaru grinned.


Meanwhile as Orochimaru and Gohan had their fight, Naruto quickly summoned none other than….

"Alright! Gamabunta!" Naruto cheered as Sasuke and Sakura couldn't believe their eyes.

"How could you summon this?" Sasuke asked.

"Sweat, Blood and tears!" Naruto joked as Sakura could only stare with her mouth agape.

"Gamabunta…" Manda narrowed his eyes.

"Manga…" Gamabunta returned the far from cordial greeting.

"And I suppose I'll be needed to deal with him?" Gamabunta asked.

"Right! Please don't argue!" Naruto cupped his hands together as Gamabunta sighed.

"Fine. But that old pervert Jiraiya owes me later." Gamabunta said before the two summonings went at each other before Gamabunta was able to shove its large sword into Manda's neck.

Manda groaned in pain before Sakura jumped off of Gamabunta's back.

"Take this! CHERRY BLOSSOM CLASH!" Sakura yelled before slamming his powerful, Ki filled punch dead into Manda's skull.

As Manda crashed into the ground, Gamabunta puffed smoke from his pipe.

"Huh, that was kind of fun." Gamabunta said.

"Yeah thanks a lot!" Naruto grinned as Gamabunta huffed before poofing away.

"Nicely done Sakura. You've definitely come a long way." Sasuke smiled as Sakura blushed at the compliment.

"Thanks….but let's see how Gohan is doing!" Sakura said.


As the "fight" between Orochimaru and Gohan went on, Gohan decided to end this.

"I'm just being unnecessarily cruel by thinking this guy has a chance. I should end it now." Gohan said as he continued trading blows with Orochimaru as the snake sannin's face was littered in bruises.

"Not…yet…." Orochimaru said as Gohan suddenly fazed out of the sannin's sight as a blade literally erupted from his mouth.

"Gross!" Gohan cringed as Orochimaru ignored Gohan's righteous disgust.

"This is my special sword, the blade of Kusanagi. It will definitely enjoy meeting your flesh!" Orochimaru said it he charged straight at Gohan who was undeterred at the sannin. If anything he looked amused.

"This kinda reminds me of when dad met Trunks." Gohan snorted as Orochimaru swung several times at Gohan before making a startling discovery.

"What!? He's blocking my blade with his pinky!?" Orochimaru thought in both outrage and shock.

Orochimaru continued swinging at Gohan several times as he tried impaling the half-saiyan before Gohan smacked the blade away much to Orochimaru's shock.

Before Orochimaru could even say anything, Gohan sent his fist straight into Orochimaru's gut.

Orochimaru spat out a slew of blood and spittle before Gohan raised a hand over Orochimaru's head.

"It's over Orochimaru. I'm sorry it had to end this way for you but hopefully you can find some peace in the next world." Gohan said before the snake sannin was enveloped in a powerful Ki blast.

"It's over…" Gohan said before turning back to his base form.

"You were awesome!" Naruto grinned.

"Haha yeah." Gohan chuckled.

"Though it's kind of sad what happened with Orochimaru though….he could've been a huge ally to us if things were different." Sakura frowned.

"It is what it is." Sasuke shrugged.

"Hey look at the bright side! He's a wanted criminal so the bounty on him must be huge! Just imagine all the ramen we can get!" Naruto joked as everyone laughed while even Sasuke rolled his eyes good-naturedly.

However….Gohan's laughter suddenly stopped as it turned to screams of pain.

"Gohan?" Sakura asked.

"What's wr-"Sasuke asked before everyone's eyes widened seeing the head of Orochimaru biting down on Gohan's neck.

"Gohan!" Naruto and Sakura yelled as Orochimaru retracted his head back to his body before the blonde and pink duo ran to their friend's side.

Naruto's eyes widened in horror as he and Sakura looked to see a series of three tomoe on his neck with two rivulets of blood close by.

"What the hell is this?" Naruto asked as Sakura turned her head to glare at Orochimaru.

"You bastard! How the hell are you still alive!? Gohan killed you!" Sakura yelled as Orochimaru grinned.

"Substitution. You think I'm a sannin for nothing?" Orochimaru asked before his eyes darted to Gohan who clenched his neck as he grit his teeth in pain.

"Letting your guard down. For a very powerful warrior, you are indeed quite naïve." Orochimaru mocked before dodging a Kunai that would've lodged its way into his neck from a very irate Sasuke.

"Bastard!" Sasuke growled.

"Heh, with the power of a Super Saiyan under my heel, the destruction of the leaf is all guaranteed now! Enjoy what little time you brats have left…" Orochimaru laughed as he slid into the ground below.

"Damn! He got away!" Sasuke cursed about to go after Orochimaru before a scream from Gohan got his attention.

"Gohan! Gohan, stay with us!" Naruto yelled as he cradled Gohan.

Gohan's agonized screams echoed through the night….


And how was THAT for a chapter!? I tried to balance between humor, action and the seriousness in the ending. But as for what everyone might be talking about in reviews:

Gohan FINALLY met up with Orochimaru only to get marked!

Man Gohan has been taking a few Ls lately, between reliving his worst memories and now getting marked, it really sucks to be him right now, huh?

Hopefully you all enjoyed the fight and hopefully it wasn't similar to Gohan's Dilemma and Mirai Shinobi as I don't want this story to be too similar to those.

Although what's funny is that technically the last quarter or so of this fic was caused just cause Sasuke got annoyed with Naruto and Gohan keeping him up playing foosball and if that didn't happen, the events of the latter end of this chapter probably wouldn't have happened XD THOUGH as a fun fact, the Buu Saga was in essence caused by a simple game of Rock, Paper and Scissors XD

And yeah I'm sparing Team Dosu in this fic since I think they were kinda cool so...yeah XD

What now awaits the future of Naruto and Co. with Gohan now marked?

Find out in Chapter 28 coming April 4th and until then, stay classy and remember to have a nice day! ^_^