Chapter 20: Orochimaru
Naruto's here! Oh thank god! I'm so glad he's okay, I knew he'd come and save the day. He's always appearing just when we need him most.
"Naruto that was awesome!" Sakura cheered excitedly.
"Naruto to the rescue huh? You're completely psyched to be saving the day but now would be a good time to run for your life!" Sasuke yelled from his perch. Terrified. "This guy is way out of our league!"
"Heh, Heh, my compliments on your stunning defeat of the giant snake Naruto." Tongue guy comment resting his arms on the base of the tree. His body still twisted around like a snake.
"You sent a giant snake after him?!" Kira screeched from her spot. It wasn't right that he decided to go after Sasuke but he also tried to kill off Naruto too! Tongue guy smirked letting out a few sinister chuckles in the process. He was taunting us.
How do we stop him? The four of us against this dude who had the power of a Jounin. We couldn't defeat Kakashi, how are we going to defeat this guy? Something isn't adding up.
"Hey! Why don't you pick on someone your own size!" Naruto screams challenging the man to a fight he thought he knew could win.
Sakura nudged Kira looking up at Sasuke confused. He had just activated his Sharingan then stopped. What was going on? He must have saw something…right?
"If it's our scroll you want, come and get it. Just take it and go!" Sasuke hollered pulling out the scroll. Kira's eyes widen quickly spinning to Sakura. She gave a nervous laugh looking away a grimace on her face.
"He told me to give it over…" Sakura gave the lamest excuse ever.
"Are you insane?! Sasuke you idiot! You give him that scroll and there's no way to tell he's going to leave us alone! For all we know he's going to kill us either way!" Kira shrieked glaring up at the raved haired panicked idiot.
Sakura shook her head. Sasuke had to have a reason for doing this. He was trying to protect us. He had to be. He wouldn't be endangering the mission unless it was for good reason…right?
"What the heck do you think you're doing?! Is this some clever way of beating the enemy? By handing over everything we've got?!" Naruto screeched alerting the entire forest what was going on.
"Well done, Sasuke. You're obviously natural born prey. Instinctively knowing that your only hope lies in the chance of the predator being distracted by some tastier bait." Tongue guy calls chuckling sinisterly.
"Come and get it!" Sasuke chucked the scroll in the air, Kira and Sakura watched wide eyed as the scroll flipped and spun through the air. Relief flooded through Kira's system when she saw Naruto catch the scroll.
"Oh thank god." Kira sighed resting her hand over her heart the scroll was safe. Naruto landed safely beside Sasuke looking down clutching the scroll to his stomach.
"Stay out of this!" Sasuke screamed aiming to hit Naruto with his head down. "You'll ruin everything!" The raven haired boy screamed. Naruto through the pain of the recent blow delivered one of the strongest sucker punches he's done in a long time. Sending Sasuke flying off his feet.
Quick as ever Sasuke retreats to another branch aggravated as he holds his jaw. "What do you think you're doing?!"
"Naruto…what are you?" Sakura gasped surprised. She didn't know what to think. Everything was happening so fast. She wished everything would slow down, it was like she was in her own little world and everything buzzed by around her.
"I forgot the stupid password. So I can't prove it. But this so called Sasuke is obviously a fake!" Naruto never took his eyes off Sasuke.
"What?!" Sakura couldn't believe that the Sasuke in front of her was just a fake. He just couldn't be a fake.
"Naruto you idiot! I'm me!" Sasuke growled panting, sweat dripping down his face.
"That's bull!"
'He's delirious. What happened while I was gone?' Naruto's voice echoed around Kira's brain. Glancing back and forth between Sasuke and Naruto she was able to come up with the best answer she could.
'That guy…I don't know what he did but he somehow made the three practically piss ourselves by just looking at us. That jutsu really messed with his head.' Kira watched her best friend nod in understanding.
"You're the idiot, idiot! You're a coward. Which Sasuke isn't. So you're not him! I'm not so sure we need to be afraid of this guy and Kira's right. Even if we did hand over the scroll there's no guarantee he'd spare us! So even if you were Sasuke, I'd still be telling you you're an idiot. And maybe a chicken too!"
Sasuke stood frozen staring at the log Naruto was standing on. Letting Naruto's words process through his mind.
"Oh, Naruto! This is rich!" Tongue guy laughed maniacally "And you're right, why bargain when I can simply kill you and take the scroll?"
The four children watched horrified as Tongue Guy rolled up his sleeve to show off a seal tattooed on his arm. His thumb to his lips blood started to ooze out when he bit down hard enough. The kids watched the freak smear his blood over the seal.
"SHUT UP!" Naruto snarled shooting forward intent to kill.
"Don't do it Naruto!" Sasuke shouted from his position. Wind picked up around the freak in a tornado like winds. Surprising everyone when a large snake appeared underneath him. It was too late for Naruto to get out of the way. The Snake's tail shot forward sending Naruto shooting through the air right through the branch they had been standing on and onto the next branch up.
"Naruto!" The three kids yelled watching their friend shoot into the air. Slamming through the tree and hacking up blood. Oh no. He could be seriously hurt. This isn't good. What can they do? They had to help Naruto!
"Excellent, but let's not take chances, Eat the boy." The freak sang happily as Naruto's body plummeted toward to the ground.
Sasuke did nothing to help save Naruto from the snakes fate. He just looked away allowing the snake to kill him. Anger coursed through Kira's body. Her fear long gone. A hot burning feeling spread through her veins at a painfully slow speed. It was just the thing she needed. Kira shot forward willing her body to go fast to save him.
"EAT SNOT, SUCKER!" Naruto called kicking the giant snake back with quite a force! Kira halted in her steps watching wide eyed at Naruto. 'Snap out of it Kira!' Kira shot forward again quickly making it to Naruto's side when a fire ball was sent their way.
As quick as she should Kira knocked Naruto out of the way. Pushing him to safety a few feet away from Sasuke. Taking a hit from the blast. The flames burned but not as bad as she thought they might.
But then again Kira was distracted by those eyes.
Dark red eyes, animalistic. Kira froze. Those were the same eyes she saw in her nightmares. "Naruto…" he growled, his teeth looked like fangs.
"And it's Sasuke's turn next! How will he take it?" The freak sang riding the snake closer to Sasuke for the kill. Sasuke stood frozen in his spot, unable to move.
"Sasuke!" Sakura screamed her worst fears were coming true. Sasuke was going to die and she wasn't doing anything to stop it! To save him!
Kira stumbled to stand, clutching onto the tree's bark for support staring wide eyed as Naruto had singlehandedly stopped the snakes attack on Sasuke. It didn't even look physically possible. That snake was like a skyscraper and Naruto was just holding it back. How strong had Naruto become?
All anyone could hear for a while was Naruto panting. "Hey, are you okay? You big chicken?" Naruto taunted smirking through the pain.
Kira's eyes widen in surprise, fear rippling through her system when she saw the long ass tongue snake its way around Naruto's body, hoisting him in the air. Gotta think quick! Gotta think quick! Shifting her hand toward her weapons pouch Kira quickly pulled out a kunai, flinging it to cut that stupid tongue off.
She growled to herself watching as he avoided the sharp object easily! 'Damn it!'
"Hey! Get off me!" Naruto screamed now face to face with the freak.
"It's not nice to throw things Kira." The freak taunted wagging his finger in her direction. His attention was back on Naruto. "The brat of the nine tails is still alive and kicking!" The man taunted snickering to himself. His hands got to work as if he was trying to perform a jutsu! Why was everyone just sitting around doing nothing?!
Kira shot forward throwing stars, kunai's, hoping to cause some damage. She moved as quickly as she could attacking the snake whenever he got in her way. She growled and grunted with each punch, kick, and jab. The stupid snake kept getting in her way, blocking the attacks for its masters. Protecting him from all damage.
Her body was tossed aside again as the freak spoke. "How fascinating that, when he is consumed with rage he loses himself…and in a bit of the nine tailed demon fox trapped within comes through an amazing development." The freak pulled up Naruto's shirt revealing the birthmark around his belly. "There's the proof. The spell that seals the monster within appears on your skin like a tattoo." The freak marveled looking over the markings on Naruto's stomach.
"Leave…leave him alone!" Kira called sweat dripping down her back, her eyes burning with the rage, seconds away from losing it completely again.
The freak chuckled as he drove his hand forward onto Narutro's stomach. Kira screamed rushing forward hoping to god she could save her best friend before he did anything else to him. He didn't deserve this!
"Sasuke! Naruto needs you!" Sakura cried. Sasuke didn't move.
"Naruto!" Kira yelled fear taking over her when the freak let him go, from this height he'd die! Sakura shot her arm forward letting her kunai catch him into a tree. Activating her chakra in her feet Kira grabbed Naruto, her eyes looking him over. He was knocked out cold.
Reaching forward her fingers wound its way under his chin, she begged to all the gods that might be there to let her feel a pulse. She felt herself sigh with relief with she felt the faint pulse beneath her finger tips.
He was still alive. But he needed medical attention and fast.
"Sasuke!" Sakura shouted tears in her eyes, glaring down at her love. "Naruto may be nothing like you, he's clumsy, and he holds us back…" There was a loud 'Hey' after that from Kira. Sakura ignored her continuing her rant. "And sometimes he's a big nuisance but at least he's got guts! Naruto's no coward! Right?" She hoped that something would snap Sasuke out of his funk. They needed him!
Something snapped within Sasuke, he was back to his somewhat old self, being the arrogant over confident jerk that he was.
Sakura watched in awe as Sasuke got back to his old self, fighting and protecting them. Something he's always doing. He should have been dead at the end of it all. Sasuke shot a fire ball at the jerk's face. Sasuke was out of breath and about ready to sit down. But he never took his eyes off of him.
"That one so young should have such mastery of the sharingan mirror eye power! Truly a worthy successor to the honored name clan of Uchiha! In fact I believe I want you after all." The freak's face started to peel away almost as if he was shedding his skin like a snake.
Sakura wasted no time getting to Sasuke's side. "Its marvelous fun, having you show me all your tricks. You really are his brother, aren't you? You can see and conceal things with those eyes of yours that Itachi himself never dreamed of!"
Sasuke and Sakura's jaws were dropped by sheer astonishment what was going on and who was this guy?
"Just who the heck are you?!" Sasuke screamed on edge.
"I'm Orochimaru, the giant snake. If you'd ever like a rematch, then pass this exam as quickly as you can. I'll see you again, if you manage to defeat the three otonin sound ninja who answer to me." Orochimaru commented.
"Wh-what are you babbling on about? We never want to see your face again!" Sakura growled glaring at Orochimaru.
"Perhaps not, but wishing wont chase me away." Sakura and Sasuke's eyes widen when Orochimaru's head shot over away from his body. His head landed right in the crook of Sasuke's neck biting down as hard as he could.
Sakura stared at Orochimaru's head terrified. "Ehh!" she screamed yet again, fear taking over her. Watching Orochimaru bite her love. Orochimaru's head returned to his body in a matter of seconds. "I look forward to seeing you again, Sasuke in the quest for power!" Orochimaru chuckled.
Unknown by Sakura, Sasuke, or even Kira for the mater a tattoo like seal appeared right on the back of Sasuke's neck in the shape of his Sharingan.
"Wh-what? Everything hurts!" Sasuke moaned crunching over into a ball his one hand went toward the bite.
"What did you do to Sasuke?" Sakura demanded while Sasuke moaned on the ground finally falling to his knees.
"Just a little something to remember me by." Orochimaru sang disappearing into the ground. Sakura quickly moved to help Sasuke on the ground. Staring at him watching as Sasuke howled through his pain. Sakura reached forward grabbing his hands while he convulsed.
"Hang on Sasuke! You hear me? Kira will be here soon!" She called tears streaming down her face.
"Kira! Naruto! Sasuke is…" She looked over she saw Kira had placed Naruto onto her back. She looked at Sasuke and shot towards them. "What happened? What's going on?" She snapped placing Naruto to a lying position.
Sakura sobbed as she spoke explaining as best as she could. "Why didn't you help him? What were you doing?!" She yelled glaring at the gray haired girl hatefully. "You're supposed to help us! Sasuke would be okay if you didn't ignore him and focus on Naruto all the time!" Sakura yelled.
Kira glared at Sakura hatefully. "I didn't see you do anything to help! All you did was sit there and watch!" She snapped. Sakura looked down letting more tears fall. "Just great. Naruto's knocked out cold and if Orochimaru really is like a snake then this isn't good at all." She looked over his body examining the bite.
She wasn't an expert and that's what sucked about the situation. She didn't know what to do. Here she was the team's healer and she didn't know how to fix him. She's only ever healed cuts or gashes. She didn't know anything about poisons. There was no way of knowing that Sasuke would survive by the end of this. And by the looks of it he was warming up very fast. This wasn't good at all.
"We need to get them somewhere safe get out of sight." Sakura sniffled nodding her head. "Watch them. I'll scout ahead for a place we can crash." Sakura sobbed to herself. She was pathetic. Her heart ached it felt as if it was broken in two. Sasuke was hurt and she could have done something. She should have done something. She was a coward. She never did anything to help unlike them.
Naruto always shot head first into the battle. He didn't care if he got hurt in the process he fought to help his friends. Sasuke was calm and collective he could come up strategy in matter of minutes on whatever the situation. He always protected her when anything happened. He trusted her judgement, he needed her and she didn't do anything! She was worthless. Why did she even take this test?
"I found a spot a little ways that way. Stop crying and come on. The sooner we get out of the open the sooner we can get to work setting up the protection." Sakura nodded looking up at Kira unsure what to even do at this point.
"Is it really you Kira? Or are you an imposter too?" Sakura asked brokenly. If it wasn't Kira then she didn't care. She was already broken what more could they do to her?
Kira rolled her eyes annoyed, squatting down to her level staring into her green eyes. 'Enough proof for you?' she waited till she saw the pinket nod her head. "Come on, we don't have much time." She said softly. Helping the girl stand. Sakura wiped the tears free from her face while Kira grabbed their scroll Orochimaru had returned. Quickly shoving it into her backpack.
"Do you think he'll be okay?" She asked sadly staring down at the pained expression on Sasuke's face.
Kira had already started shifting Naruto's body onto her back getting him ready for travel in his unconscious state.
"I won't know until later. We'll make up base camp and set up a few traps. After that I'll be able to check on him. We'll have to keep his fever down." She nodded doing the best she could to shift Sasuke's full weight onto her back. He was heavy but he'd do the same for her. She knew he would. Her knee's buckled under the weight.
Kira watched Sakura waiting to see if she fell on her face or not. She didn't. She was able to support Sasuke's weight but not for long. Hopefully Sakura would be able to make the distance. The two girls shot off into the forest Sakura following Kira. She just wanted this test to be done and over with.