12: Gradutaion, Placement, and...Snakes?

Six years to the day saw the Village Hidden in the Leaves in a much calmer state. Namely because there were so many things happening for the better now that worry over the traitor, Danzo, had been lessened. Of course, Hiruzen had removed his two former advisors, seeing fit to appoint Shikaku Nara and, surprisingly, Mikoto Uchiha to the positions. Both proved invaluable at their jobs, and Hiruzen felt a great deal of weight lift from his shoulders during those years.

Now, after so long, it was finally time for what he had been waiting for.

Naruto's graduation, and placement for a Shinobi squad. Currently, said blond was probably bored out of his mind in class with his friends teasing him, while he was rifling through the graduating students' files.

In the beginning, however, Naruto's progress had been slow for one reason and one reason only. He was abysmally horrible at the Academy's standard issue Clone Jutsu.

Pakura had tried to teach him a Shakuton variation, but the boy, having not awakened the Bloodline as of yet, had failed, much to his ire. The answer to the problem, however, had come swiftly after the ordeal. Jiraiya offered to teach him the Shadow Clone Jutsu.

In Hiruzen's mind, the idea made sense. Full-blooded Uzumaki, even Kushina, were horrible at using Jutsu that took very small amounts of chakra. Where a child like Sasuke had a small pond of chakra, Naruto had an entire ocean that was spilling over because of his tenant.

And now that he was armed with one of the most useful clone techniques, Naruto was surely to pass his examination. Iruka Umino was a fair man, and kept the boy in line more often than not, while Pakura honed his skills in Fire and Wind manipulation, and Jiraiya fought with him every evening to train him in Taijutsu.

Naruto himself, was already formidable even as a non-Genin rookie. His Bo staff was already battle scarred thanks to his run-ins with his Anbu squads, and the twin Tessen he had been gifted with from Suna's princess were as deadly as if they were blades. No, he couldn't take on a Jonin, or even a high ranking Chunin in actual combat, but anyone below that was fair game.

Hiruzen's other concern was one Sasuke Uchiha. The boy, once a happy, smiling child, had grown slightly colder during the passed six years since his father's passing at the hands of Danzo. When around Naruto, however, the boy did tend to smile because of their friendship, but other than that, the only other people he was friendly with were his mother, and his elder brother, who was now helping Jiraiya search for Danzo outside the village.

Itachi's absence was one of the things that made the boy so sour. Having lost their father, Itachi was one of the few people he could seek comfort from aside from his mother.

"They should be on the same team," the aged Kage sighed as he lit up his pipe, thumbing through the files to find a kunoichi to match the two boys, and smirked, knowing that both would complain in one way or another from his choice. Sakura Haruno was the top kunoichi of the class, and second highest ranked student under Sasuke. Naruto, however, came in third, which would throw things off from his usual routine. Normally, the best team consisted of the class' Dobe, top kunoichi, and highest ranked student. Naruto would have been placed with a different team if circumstance were different.

However, with Sasuke only able to open up to the blond, Hiruzen saw no real reason to separate the two, and the addition of Sakura would keep them on their toes, and keep himself amused, as the girl had a painfully obvious crush on the young Uchiha.

Naruto didn't dislike the girl, nor did he really show any interest in her, or poor Hinata for that matter, who also had an obvious crush on said blond. No, Naruto's heart seemed to be set on Suna's Kazekage-hime Temari. Unfortunately, the village of sands had gone dark in the passed few years, cutting off all ties with the Leaf. No matter how many letters Naruto sent, he would never receive one in return.

=|Konoha's Shinobi Academy|=

"Hua~CHOO!" Naruto sneezed loudly, startling Shikamaru awake beside him. Sniffling as he grinned at the disgruntled Nara, "Er, sorry, Shikamaru...don't know what came over me?"

"Yeah, yeah," Shikamaru sighed, laying his head back down on his arms, "Just don't sneeze on my, Naruto. Last thing I want is a troublesome cold, even if I could stay in bed for a while."

Sitting to the Nara's immediate left was Sasuke, who scoffed, "I swear, Shikamaru, you're lazier than Naruto after he binges on ramen."

Shikamaru looked at him tiredly. "And I'm supposed to take that as a what?"

Naruto chuckled, "Pretty sure he's trying to insult, you, Shika."

"Then it's too troublesome to even comment," Shikamaru said, seemingly going back to sleep.

Sasuke rolled his eyes, "Man, I feel sorry for whoever you get placed with you, Shikamaru," he grumbled, leaning on his elbows on the desk, "So, Naruto, think we'll be on the same team?"

Naruto shrugged, "Not sure. I mean, I did finish fifth, so I'm not the dobe of this year."

"Nope," Sasuke groaned, "That honor belongs to either Shikamaru, or Kiba over there." He sighed, gesturing toward the posturing teen with his head. Naruto sighed, and smirked as the boy in question started laughing at something one of his friends said, while his little puppy, Akamaru, barked happily from the top of his head.

Naruto leaned back in his seat, placing his feet up on the desk, "Yeah, I know, but hey, who knows? We could get lucky?"

Sasuke would have responded, but Iruka came into the room, clipboard in hand, smiling all of them, "Alright, class, this is it, the final examine before you graduate." He said, making all of the youngsters pay attention. "Now, when I call your name, please step into the examination room so we can evaluate you skills and see if you're ready for active duty."

Naruto groaned and placed his head in his hands, "I hate these things."

"What are you worried about," Sakura asked from behind the trio, "Don't you know what we're going to do?"

"Of course," Naruto said, "I just hate doing the same thing over and over again without any point." He said, "They know what I can do."

"And yet you still act like a complete knucklehead." Sasuke commented, smirking as a tic mark appeared over the blond's head.

"Uzumaki Naruto!" Iruka called out a few minutes later. Naruto got up from his seat and headed down to the room where Iruka and Mizuki were waiting.

"Alright, Naruto," Iruka said, smiling, "No tricks this time. I know you can do the basic substitution and the Transformation, as well as the Shadow Clone," at this, Mizuki growled, not liking the boy for a long time. "What I want to know is what else you're capable of? It might help with your team placement."

Naruto shifted uncomfortably, "Well, Jiraiya-ji taught me the Shadow Shuriken Jutsu, and Ma taught me some basic Wind and Fire Jutsu."

Iruka nodded, "Very good, and what about Taijutsu?" He asked, "Or do you only know the Academy katas?"

Naruto smiled slightly, "Well, Hokage-jiji did teach me his fighting style."

"You mean the Bojutsu?" Iruka asked, "I think we all know that one, Naruto-kun. You carry that Bo around everywhere you go." He said, pointing to the weapon on his back.

Naruto shook his head, "I know the Yasha style of the apes."

Iruka blinked, and Mizuki dropped his jaw. "You...you mean to tell me that Hokage-sama taught you that?!"

"Yeah," Naruto grinned cheekily as he crossed his arms, "I wanted something good for when I graduated, so I asked him and Jiraiya-ji if they knew something that would suit me. Jiraiya said he had something, but it would have to wait until I decided if I wanted to sign his Toad contract. So Hokage-jiji taught me his fighting style."

Iruka recovered, "Naruto-kun, I'm impressed!" He smiled at the boy that had once terrorized the Academy with pranks, "I have half a mind to call Maito Gai over here and give you to his team!"

Naruto crossed his arms in an X gesture, "Nope, if I choose, then I wanna be with whatever team you put Sasuke in."

"Sasuke?" Mizuki asked, "Why him?"

Naruto shrugged, "We work good together, plus he's got the Sharingan, which could probably help me out if something went wrong with...you know?" He pointed toward his stomach, gaining an understanding nod from both men. It was well known that Sharingan weilders were capable of short term control of Bijuu, which Naruto possessed the Nine Tailed Fox. In a way, the boy had a good point. He was still on unfriendly terms with the beast, thanks to his usage of the stolen chakra.

The Fox refused to talk to the boy, even for a moment, before sending him a massive headache, warning him that worse would come if he bothered him again, the only response he would get from the beast.

"Alright," Iruka nodded, "We'll run that request by Sarutobi-sama when we give him out reports..in the mean time, what else do you have that we could use in your placement?"

"Shakuton," Naruto said without missing a beat, "that's it."

Iruka nodded slowly, having yet to see him use the fabled technique. In truth, seeing Pakura use the Jutsu was frightening enough. Even after the civil war, some people still tried to do the little family harm. And Pakura had made good on her promise. On a completely unrelated note, she now had a flourishing garden thanks to the ashes she spread over it.

"Okay, then, Naruto, I just need you to perform the three necessary Jutsu, and we'll be done." Iruka smiled at the boy, who nodded as his favorite teacher before starting off.

Minutes later, Naruto came sauntering back into the classroom, Sasuke looking down at him, and flashed his friend a huge grin, giving the Uchiha a thumbs up.

Half an hour later, everyone had been tested, with only a three quarters of the class passing. Sakura, of course, as soon as Shikamaru was called, stole the boy's seat and plopped down right next to Sasuke, who had an annoyed expression on his face, and, Naruto noticed, a faint blush. Naruto grinned, "Oh, I'm gonna get a lot of mileage outta this one."

"What are you talking about, now, Naruto?" Sasuke grumbled.

"Oh, nothing," he grinned, ignoring the scowl Sakura was sending his way at having Sasuke's attention diverted from her. "So, Sakura-chan, after we get done with everything, wanna go grab a bite with me and Sasuke?"

Sakura humph, "As if I'd wanna be seen with you!"

"Sounds like a plan to me," Sasuke snorted, smirking, "But can we head to the Akimichi's this time?"

Naruto nodded, "Sure, I love that place!"

Sakura looked between the two boys for a moment, before sheepishly bowing her head, "Could I - "

"I invited you, so sure," Naruto grinned, patting her on the back and leaning over, "Besides, I think Sasuke does have a crush on you." He whispered.

Sakura blushed brighter than her hair as a puff of steam came out of her ears.

Sasuke looked at them in interest, "What's wrong with her?"

Naruto snorted into his hand, "I'll tell ya when you're older, Teme."

"Hey, I'm older then you by four months!" Sasuke snapped.

"Doesn't make you more mature," Naruto stated, standing up. In the years he had lived with his new mother, Naruto had blossomed into a fine young man, just as tall as Sasuke at twelve, as he should be. Proper nutrition and a nurturing home had changed him into a fine young Shinobi.

Sasuke growled and stood up as well, smirking, "You're still shorter than me!"

"Am not!" Naruto snapped, holding his hand above his head next to his friend, "If anything, I'm and inch taller than you!"

"No way are you taller than me," Sasuke sneered, "You were a runt for as long as I can remember!"

"Was not!"

"Was too!"

"Was not!"

"Was t-"

"BOYS!" Iruka roared as he came back into the room, using his Big-Head Jutsu to quiet them down, "SIT DOWN, AND SHUT IT, OR I'LL FAIL BOTH OF YA RIGHT NOW!"

Needless to say, both boys sat down without further argument.

Iruka smirked, Hehe, still got it. "Now, Lord Hokage will be along shortly to announce your team placements, and who your Jonin sensei will be, so please be patient a little while longer."

Only a moment later there was a knock at the door as Hiruzen came into the room...dragging a reluctant Kakashi in by his ear, followed by the other sensei.

Releasing the unfortunate Jonin, Hiruzen smiled as he greeted the class, "Six years ago, all of you came into this academy as mere civilians." He said, smiling, "Today, you leave here as the next generation of Shinobi. From this day forward, you are no longer children, you will be considered adults by all that see the Hitai-ate upon your brows. Anyone that says otherwise shall answer to me. You will be afforded all the rights of an adult, including the right to marry or purchase property. But I urge caution, and pray that the three vices of the Shinobi will not afflict you too soon, and when they do, that you can resist them for a time. These vices are money, alcohol, and the lust for another. Never ever let these cloud your judgement, for if you do, then it could mean the lives of those on your team or your own." He said, letting his words sink in, before smiling, "Now, it will be my pleasure to hand out your Hitai-ate, and place you with your sensei."

Naruto was only half listening. Why? Because none other than his mother was among the Jonin waiting to receive their Genin. Sasuke was also aware of the other Shakuton user in the room, as was Sakura. "Hey, Naruto, why's your mom here?" Sakura asked, "Is she gonna take a team, too?"

"I thought she retired?" Sasuke put in, equally puzzled.

"Team Seven will consist of Uzumaki Naruto," Naruto perked up upon hearing his name, "Haruno Sakura," Sakura looked at the blond with a little despair, "And Uchiha Sasuke!" Naruto and Sasuke both grew full-blown grins as they heard that, and bumped fists while Sakura beamed. "However," they stopped their celebration when the Hokage said this, "Under normal circumstances, only one Jonin is assigned to a team, but, as two out of the three Genin chosen on your team both have special traits, both of which are available to train, and further your skills, I will be appointing Hatake Kakashi," he turned to the lazy Jonin who was still rubbing his ear, "And a new addition to our Shinobi forces, Uzumaki Pakura as Jonin sensei of Team Seven."

Pakura waved to her son and his team, smiling at him brightly as the boy grinned right back at her. "A now, will Team Seven please come forward to accept their Hitai-ate?"

Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke all moved at once, slowly moving down the steps of the classroom to receive the marks that would prove their ranks. As Naruto stepped up, he was stopped, however, by Iruka, who smiled at him. "Naruto-kun, I have something special for you." He reached up and unbound his own band, and placed it around Naruto's forehead, smiling at the boy as he beamed with tears in his eyes. "No other student has ever improved as much as you have given such a rocky start to life...I'm proud of you."

Naruto tackled the man in a hug, holding him tight, "Thanks...sensei..."

=x=

Sometime later found the freshly minted Team Seven at a table in the Akimichi Barbecue, enjoying a meal. "I can't believe we've got two Jonin sensei!" Sakura gushed happily as sh munched on a grilled pepper, "And she's a legendary Kunoichi!"

Naruto puffed out his chest proudly, "Yup, that's my ma!"

"You're lucky," Sasuke put in, flipping over a slice of meat, "I couldn't copy the Shakuton if I wanted to." He said, and popped piece into his mouth, "Elemental Kekkei Genkai are really rare, and almost impossible to defeat for my clan."

Naruto shrugged, "Mom says I have it, but it's still dormant for some reason." Naruto said, "Not that it matters, she taught me some really great Fire and Wind styles."

"Well, the stronger the base elements of a sub elemental Jutsu are, the stronger the sub element will become," Sakura put in thoughtfuly tapping her chin, giving Sasuke a chance to pluck a potato off her side of the grill, "Ah, Sasuke-kun, that was mine!"

"Too late," Sasuke smirked, with the potato between his teeth.

Naruto smirked, and gave Sakura a pointed look. Sakura blushed and grinned impishly before leaning over and chomping on the end sticking out of Sasuke's teeth, startling him into falling over, and relinquishing his hold on the piece of food. Naruto burst out laughing as he friend picked himself up from the floor while he simply stared at the rosette, trying to act like nothing had happened while she ate.

Naruto couldn't help it, he had to get a jibe in. "Hey, Sasuke, you know you and your girlfriend should keep that stuff between you, right? Some of us are trying to eat!"

"Shut it, Dobe!"

"Make me, Teme!"

"Guys, come on!" Sakura tried to stop them, but stopping these two when a fight was about to break out was like trying to stop the sunrise...impossible.

But before the fight could spill out of control there was a commotion outside where the trio saw several Jonin running toward the tower. Naruto, curious as ever, walked out and grabbed the first person that passed, which, as it happened, was Iruka.

"Iruka-sensei," the boy said in surprise as he teammates came out to see what was happening as well, "What's going on out here?"

Iruka shook his head, "I don't know why, but Mizuki broke into the archives and stole Scroll of Seals from the vaults." He said, growling, "He injured two of our best Chunin, and even managed to kill one of our Jonin!"

The three Genin's eyes widened as the scarred Chunin rushed off then, intent of finding his former colleague.

Sakura put her hands to her mouth in shock, "Why would Mizuki-sensei do something like this?"

Naruto turned to her with a frown, "I don't know, but I'm not gonna stand around while a traitor makes off with something so important." He started down the streets, "You guys don't have to come, but I'm going after him!"

Sasuke scoffed and raced after him, "As if I'd miss something like this!"

Sakura stumbled after them, "Hey, wait for me!"

=x=

Outside the walls of Konoha, Mizuki was making his way through the forest on the ground at breakneck speeds as he carried the precious cargo on his back. "With this, Lord Danzo and Lord Orochimaru will have to reward me!" He said more to himself that anything as sweat began beading his brow. "No more working for those idiots back in the Leaf! They even treated that monster like one of their own!"

As he ran, however, he felt a presence following close behind him. Suddenly, a hail of Kunai and Shuriken came out of the trees, and struck the ground in front of him, halting his flight from the village.

"Mizuki!" Iruka roared as he landed lightly, "I'll give you one chance to hand over that scroll!"

Mizuki's answer was grabbing one of the giant Shuriken on his back and hurling at the Chunin teacher. Iruka dropped down as the weapon sailed over him, only the receive a quick follow-up kick to the jaw from Mizuki, slamming him into a tree. "You really think I'm that big of a push over?!" Mizuki growl, punching the man across the face, splattering the bark with his blood, "The hell I'll give this back! It's my ticket fortune!" He drew back for another blow, but Iruka caught his fist, and brought his knee up, crashing into the man's elbow with a sickening crack as the bones separated.

Mizuki howled and staggered back, reaching for a Kunai with his good hand, and slashed him across the chest through his Chunin vest, opening up a shallow cut on his chest.

Mizuki was about the plunge the blade into the man's skull when screaming keen came from behind him. Turning, he caught a glimpse of a shining black rod as it made contact with his broken arm, and torso, and sent him careening across the forest. He rolled to his feet, and saw the young blond Genin standing in front of Iruka protectively with his Bo staff gleaming.

Iruka looked up in shock as he saw the boy as well, "Naruto?!"

Naruto grinned at him, "Hehe, found ya, Iruka-sensei!"

"Idiot!" Iruka shouted, "What are you doing here!?"

Mizuki hurled his second Shuriken while Naruto grinned, "We came to help."

"We?" Mizuki growled

Clang

A Fuma Shuriken came outh of the darkness, and knocked his own off course to be caught by none other than Sasuke Uchiha, his black eyes gleaming with anger. "Yeah, you bastard," Sasuke sneered, "We."

"SHANNARO!" Mizuki whipped around just in time to come face to fist with the third team member of Team Seven as Sakura hammered a hard right home, knocking him into the clearing as the three converged on him, Sasuke and Naruto both pointing their weapons at him, while Sakura cracked her knuckles loudly.

Mizuki looked at the three of them, and started laughing, "You two are really idiots, you know that?" He said to the young Haruno and Uchiha as he pointed to the blond, "You're really gonna team up with this monster?!" He asked, cackling madly, "You really don't know what you've got yourselves into!"

"Mizuki!" Iruka roared, groaning at the pain in his chest.

Naruto tightened the grip on his staff, "I'll bet you a hundred ryo you're wrong, asshole!"

"Am I?" Mizuki grinned, before shouting, "I'll tell you both why! This little brat is the Kyuubi! The monster that murdered half of our village, and the monster that killed Iruka's parents!"

For a moment, one horrible moment, everything was quiet as the words Mizuki had shouted rang across the clearing. Naruto turned to his sensei, smiling sadly, "I didn't know that it killed your parents...sorry."

Sasuke nodded as well, and sneered at Mizuki, "I've known for a long time about the damned fox, Mizuki!" He shouted, "Naruto told me about it three years ago!"

"I knew as well," Sakura said, surprising both of the boys, "I heard someone yelling at my parents about why they let me hang around with a monster like Naruto. I wanted to know why, and I heard him call him the "Kyuubi Brat". I went to the Hokage as soon as I could and got the truth out him." She looked across the clearing at the blond, smiling, "You're no monster, Naruto-kun."

Naruto smiled at her, nodding his thanks, replaced his staff upon his back, and reached for a pair of holsters on either side of his hips, pulling out two steel fans, flashing them open, "I think I can forgive you for outing my secret since everyone here already knew about it." His said, "Futon: Cast Net!" Naruto whipped around, sending out visible streams of air from his fans in the form of a net. The Wind Net slammed into Mizuki, sending him sprawling across the clearing.

Sasuke flashed above where he landed, "Katon: Great Firebal Jutsu!"

"Futon: Great Breakthrough!" Naruto yelled, sending an even stronger blast of Wind from his fans, engulfing the flames of Sasuke's Jutsu.

Shakuton: Great Scorching Breakthrough! Naruto and Sasuke thought simultaneously as Mizuki rolled out of the way of the inferno. The ground was ablaze with the white-hot flames, distracting Mizuki long enough for Sakura to dart in and grab the scroll from his back.

Mizuki grabbed at her in attempted to get it back, but found himself slammed into by Naruto, who came hurtling through the air like a cannon ball, "Yasha-ryu: Wild Claw!" Naruto roared, leaving deep gauges even with his blunted nails against Mizuki's raised forearm. He then hooked his foot around his neck and spun, "Buzz Saw!"

Mizuki felt his body beginning to spin along with the blond's attack, his nails digging through his skin. Naruto flipped up and over the man, bringing his heel down on top of his head, "Hell Ax!"

The silver-haired Chunin crumpled to the ground in a lifeless heap, twitching as foam formed at his mouth while Naruto landed lightly on the balls of his feet.

"Aw, no more?" Naruto asked petulantly.

Sasuke grunted and tapped on the shoulder with his fist, "Come on, don't ask for blood from stone, Naruto. Besides, the guy was no good to begin with."

Iruka, with Sakura supporting him and the scroll in hand, smiled at them, "That was incredible!" He beamed at them as Sakura sat him on the ground, and looked at Naruto, "Naruto, I've never seen that Taijutsu style before," said, looking at the boy, "Was that Sarutobi-sama's Yasha style?"

Naruto nodded, grinning, "Yup, but I'm not all that good with it yet, so I can only do a few techniques."

"Still a nasty bit of work," Sasuke said, tapping Mizuki with his foot, "This guy's out cold."

"It was supposed to kill him," Naruto sighed, "Like I said, I'm not all that good with it, yet."

Iruka chuckled nervously, "Well, I think all of you have more than earned those head bands," he said, "Come on, let's get Mizuki and the scroll back to the village."

Naruto and Sasuke nodded, both hoisting the prone Chunin up by one of his shoulders, and dragging him back toward the village, while Sakura handled the scroll, and Iruka trailed behind them.

Meanwhile, Hiruzen smiled as he watched the four shinobi making their way back to the village. "Well, I can honestly say that they work well together, don't you agree Kakashi-kun? Pakura-san?"

Kakashi scratched the back of his head, "Well, this certainly blows sensei's bell test out of the water, doesn't it?"

Pakura merely smiled as she watched her son, and new students, "I knew he would do well."

=x=

Rasa sighed as he went over the mission reports. Another disaster. Gaara was getting more and more out of control with each passing day, and there was nothing, absolutely nothing he could do to stop it. The Ichibi was slowly driving him mad with lack of sleep, and nightmares when he did sleep. Temari was the only one that could keep him under control.

Just like her mother, Rasa thought with a slight pang of regret. Temari, ever since the incident seven years ago, when the Ichibi ran wild and fought with the Kyuubi, Temari had been extremely protective of her brothers. She even stood up to himself in order to defend them. In public!

He crumbled the report and tossed it into the waist basket. There was no stopping it. Gaara, he knew, would eventually need to be killed in order to seal the Ichibi away into a more suitable container. But that would only start the entire process all over again. Shukaku would drive anyone it came into contact with insane with blood lust.

And then there was the Chunin exams to worry about. How would that go when his daughter found out that the Kyuubi container still lived? She would likely rebel against him, and she would suffer for it, he would make sure of that.

"Not a mark on her skin," he reminded himself, "Not one blemish, or the young lord won't want her." He smiled, licking his lips slightly, "In this, she will finally prove useful beyond keeping her brother in line."

His plans for his daughter were moving along smoothly, at least. After the Chunin exams, which, to his displeasure, were being held in Konoha in the next six months, the Wind Daimyo would come for her, and offer his son to take her hand in marriage. The young man, in Rasa's opinion, was a fool, and utterly useless. But he was powerful, and rich, two things the Kazekage valued. And Temari was fairly intelligent. She would have the idiot eating out of the palm of her hand within hours.

And then, the poor Daimyo would suffer a powerful heart attack, ending his life. Following him would be his beloved son, after having an accident. His lovely daughter would then be in a position she couldn't complain about. She would be Daimyo, undisputed, and untouchable. The Land of Wind was as good as his once Temari was in the right position.

Rasa sat back with a satisfied smirk on his face. Soon, the Leaf would fall, and his time as ruler of the Land of Wind would come. So lost in these glorious thoughts he was that he didn't notice something out of the ordinary in his office. The window was open, letting a cool breeze in. But it had also let in something less pleasant as the snake rose from the floor behind him, its fangs bared.

The sound of hissing caught his attention and he turned to see what it was...and found the snake at his throat. The serpent struck so hard that he was knocked out of his chair, and thrown to the floor, allowing the large creature to coil around him, muffling his struggles. Venom burned through his veins, his breathing coming in short gasps as the snake squeezed him tighter.

Through the window slithered another snake, opening its mouth, and spitting out an alabaster hand, followed by the rest of the body. "Kukukuku, Rasa-san, it truly pains me to end out little alliance so soon," Orochimaru hissed as his feet touched the floor, and the larger snake entered. "But you see, Danzo and I wish to continue on with our plans ourselves, and you, my dear friend, will only get in the way." He said, shaking his head slightly, "Such a pity, really," He knelt down and pulled a syringe from his sleeve, "Still, at least I will be able to make use of your Jiton Kekkei Genkai. Kabuto-kun is making such wonderful progress with Kido-kun's medicines," he reached down and picked up Rasa's Kazekage hat, "But now, we have a problem."

Rasa gasped as the snake let go of his throat, but no sound came as the snake left him to coil around its master's shoulders loosely.

"You see, it seems I need to pose as yourself for a short time," he went on, "and I can't have your body simply lying around." The larger snake that had brought him into the room flicked out its tongue and slithered forward. "And as distasteful as it may seem, my dear little Ryuta hasn't yet had a meal for this month." Rasa began to shake, his vision darkening as the snake moved toward his head, "Now, don't worry, the venom will kill you long before he digests you...you won't feel a thing in three...two...one..."

Ryuta wrapped his jaws around the man's head and gave a sharp twist, snapping the man's neck.

And this is where the s*** hits the fan, people!

Don't forget to review!