Chapter 11: Surprise and True Revelations
As they approached the gates of the Forest of Death, Naruto searched all over for Hinata to tell her to be careful of the Sand ninjas. As he was looking for her he saw Sakura, Naruto figured he would just follow Sakura to get to Hinata. As Sakura saw Sasuke and Hinata she approached them as they were about to enter the gate. As Naruto came within reach of the trio he looked directly at Hinata.
"Well I guess he's here to apologize to you again for throwing that kunai at my head?" Said Sakura looking at Naruto with extreme hatred in her eyes that gave off an instant kill the blond.
Naruto looked at Sakura and apologized to her in front of Hinata and Sasuke; even though he hated Sakura he did it to appease Hinata. Sakura looked at Hinata and shook her head to say she couldn't understand him either or his motives.
"I have to tell your team something very important and I hope you heed my warning, the Sand ninjas don't approach them especially the red headed ninja named Gaara he's extremely dangerous Hinata." Although he was looking at Sasuke his thoughts were about Hinata. He's a killing machine you can't reason with, he has no sympathy or regrets about his actions. If they come your way flee and don't stop running!" Said Naruto looking deep in the eyes of Hinata but making sure she could not see his eyes completely.
Hinata tried to look at Naruto's eyes but his hair obstructed her view, as Hinata kept staring at Naruto Sasuke interrupted the silence.
"Why tell us this information? What do you know of the Sand ninjas anyway and why would you go through all the trouble of warning…" Then Sasuke stopped in mid-sentence and looked at Hinata, he knew this information was for Hinata's safety not really for Sakura and his.
"Just be careful out there, it's too many ninjas around and each one is skilled and want to challenge you because you're the last Uchiha. Your teammates will be part of your problem, they will go after your squad to get to you" as he walked away from the three.
"Man he has it so bad for you Hinata and he don't even know it, that's just so sad on his part." Sasuke looked at Hinata and wondered why would (Mikado/Naruto) be interested in a failure of a Hyuuga.
"Yeah I wished someone would go through the effort for me like that, someone who adores me from head to toe." As Sakura watched (Mikado/Naruto) head to his squad.
As Hinata blushed deeply she could not understand why he was truly going through all this effort just to warn her. She figured at first that maybe he felt bad about throwing the kunai at her friend's head. Then again he could've had feelings for her as Hinata kept thinking hard about Mikado motives. As the trio walked through the gates, they looked at the vast forest in front of them. Sakura looked at all the ninjas as they headed in all directions in the forest. As they ran Sasuke told them to follow him into the middle of the forest. There were a lot of hiding spots to have the upper advantage against unskilled ninjas.
"What took you so long to return Naruto?" As Cree looked ready to pounce on him for being late.
"Fool call me Mikado Tae Shin, you don't know who can hear you!" Naruto anger rose to an all-time high.
"He was probably making out with that Hyuuga girl that's what took him so long, did you get a little bit from the pale eyed hot throb of yours?" Kazuki started to laugh.
Naruto moved so fast that neither Kazuki nor Cree saw any movement from him, as Naruto wrapped his kunai around Kazuki throat he asked him to repeat himself. Kazuki felt so much fear from Naruto's kunai he thought he would literally piss on himself. As Naruto let him go, Kazuki figured he would keep all his smart remarks to himself for now on. As they headed out into the forest Naruto thought the best place would be little bit past the middle of the forest. As they continued to their destination Naruto knew that they would have to stay hidden on the second day. As they got to their destination they started to set up traps around the camp. As Cree looked at Naruto she told him that they needed to get the heaven scroll to complete the set. As Naruto agreed, they came up with a plan, Cree thought they should at least take three scrolls from other Shinobi's to cut down the Genin numbers even more. As they came to an agreement on the plan they would search for the weaker ninjas and take their scrolls and provisions to last longer in the forest. As they left their camp site to find weak ninjas, they searched for about an hour and came to an open site with ninjas in plain view.
As Naruto and his squad started to stalk their prey, they hid up high in the trees and listened to what they were saying. Naruto noticed that they weren't really moving and staying in the opened for all to see them and then it came to him.
"It's a trap!" As Naruto yelled to his comrades.
Suddenly large leech like creatures started to drop from the top of the tree and tried to drain their blood. Naruto quickly used his wind jutsu as he cut the leeches in half and saved him and his squad from being drained. As they dropped down Naruto noticed they were Konoha ninjas and they all looked very skilled. Naruto recognized two of them, one was Kiba the other was Shino a bug handler. Naruto did not know the other but he reminded him of Sasuke for some reason except he looked like he never seen the sun a day in his life.
"Well aren't they special escaping from our traps like that?" Said Kiba as he pulled out a couple of kunais. "Well, let's just kick the shit out of them and get one step closer to getting our Chunin's vest." As Kiba smiled at Naruto and his squad.
"Well if it isn't an Inuzuka clan member taking the Chunin exam this year. You're the best they have to offer than your clan is really going downhill mighty fast if you're the best they have, we don't have to worry about a thing." Said Kazuki as he pulled out his sword to match Kiba's kunais? "To think your clan is also considered the co-founders of the Konoha it shows how poorly they chose back in the day."
"Oh I see you're from Vieira Felidae clan that lost to our clan and had to be stationed to the southern part of the Konoha. They are like my clan but they use cats instead of dogs and they are only good at stealth and reconnaissance not combat that's why they lost to my clan. "Kiba continued through Konoha's little history lesson and gloating at the same time.
"Well are we going to fight or get bored to death by Konoha's history?" Said Cree as she yawned from the two feral- like ninjas back and forth banter.
"Cree you take on the living vampire over there, Kazuki you take on dog boy and I'll handle the flea boy over there." Naruto looked at Shino and prepared for battle.
"Flea boy?" Asked Cree as she looked at Naruto.
"Yeah he's from the Aburame clan, they keep themselves completely covered up to keep their body temperature at 102 degrees to keep their kikaichū insects alive and comfortable. Their eyes are very sensitive to light that's why they have the dark glasses. They are nobles from the Konohagakure but they are very anti-social due to the way most other clans view them as creepy, so they mostly keep to their own clan.
Cree kept being impressed by Naruto's knowledge of Konoha's clans and their jutsu's.
As Kazuki got in his stance he attacked Kiba with his small sword, as he kicked Kiba to the gut and made him back up to catch his wind. Kiba smiled and use his great speed to try and get Kazuki off balance but his speed was just as fast as Kiba's. Kiba could see that he was going to need a hand so he gave a whistle and out of nowhere a small white puppy quickly attacked Kazuki. As Kazuki got disoriented by the puppy blows, he realized that it was a tactic just in case someone would sneak up on the group. As Kiba smiled he knew it was over. Naruto saw that Kazuki was in trouble and he quickly made a shadow clone to help him out. As Kazuki looked, he was impressed that Naruto sent a clone to help. As he got up Kazuki grabbed a scroll out of his back pack and made a hand sign that activated the scroll. As Kiba was fighting the shadow clone he saw a cluster of needles heading straight toward his chest. As the darts pierced both the shadow clone and Kiba, he fell down hurt and unable to move.
"Those are tranquilizer darts I overdosed you on, you won't be able to move for at least a week. I wonder how long it'll take for your body to totally crash? I usually use these on large crowds and F.Y.I one dart can paralyze for a least a couple of hours. "As Kazuki started laughing at Kiba.
As Kazuki had his back turned, the puppy charged at Kazuki, Kazuki quickly turned and stuck the puppy with a dart in the neck. As the puppy fell to the ground hard, the puppy didn't move at all and it barely looked like it was breathing.
"Akamaru!" Screamed Kiba who was unable to move but only watch as his best friend hit the ground hard and knocked out by the tranquilizer dart.
As Cree looked at the pale young man, she wondered what type of ninja he really was. He didn't say anything and only had a dumb looking smile on his face. As she quickly threw a couple of kunais at him he easily caught one and dodged the other. He threw the kunai back at her which she dodged and he quickly kicked her to the mid-section as she was caught off guard by the throwing of the kunai. As she gasped for air and fell down by his feet, he leaned down and punched her head while she was lying on the ground. As he lifted up his blood covered fist, he looked down and saw Kiba. He realized that he was under a Genjutsu and that he needed help to break it. As he looked over he could see her standing over him but he was not sure if it was her or not. As he stood up he saw Shino running toward him saying he was going to help him. As the figured got closer Shino struck him knocking him out completely. It was Kazuki in a henged form helping out his teammate and delivering the knockout blow.
"You two go get their provisions and don't interfere between the bug handler and me!" Yelled Naruto.
As they did as they were told, they just stared at Naruto hoping he knew what he was doing.
"Well it's down to you and me Flea Boy, let's get started shall we?" Said Naruto. "Just give me the scroll and we will leave, otherwise I can just take the scroll from you and that will be so much painful for you".
"I'll take the other option and keep the scroll and once I get rid of you I'll take care of your bumbling sidekicks as well."
As they faced each other Shino released an enormous amount of kikaichū insects that charged after Naruto. Naruto quickly counter by using his wind jutsu to divert the insects from attacking. As Naruto circled Shino he could tell that this bug handler was truly gifted among his teammates. Naruto pulled out his kunais and attacked Shino with blind fury, Naruto connected a kick to his head sending the bug prodigy back reeling from the pain. Shino recovered and tried to punch Naruto but he was moving too fast for the bug handler. Shino swiftly surround himself in bugs making himself disappear, Naruto jumped back. Naruto quickly threw the kunai at the swarm of bugs hoping to hit him. As the kunai passed through the bugs Naruto wondered just where he went and it came to him… underground. As Naruto jumped in the trees and hid he looked for anything out of the ordinary. As he looked around he saw a spider hanging from a strand, as he looked at the spider three kunais had come flying toward him with great velocity that almost connected to his chest. As Naruto jumped tree to tree he had to come up with a plan to finish off the bug handler. As Naruto jumped down he threw three kunais in a triangle into the ground and jumped in the middle of it. As Naruto had a thin piece of wire that was hardly visible connected to the kunais. He waited patiently for Shino to come out of hiding. Shino saw the kunais on the ground and wondered just was this ninja thinking. As Shino stayed hidden in the ground he figured it would be best to send out a swarm to attack his opponent. As the swarm came darting out at Naruto, he quickly pulled the kunais out of the ground with a hidden string attached to a paper bomb tag and aimed it at the swarm. As the kunais hit the swarm it detonated and destroyed the entire swarm. Shino rushed out in anger and attacked Naruto with a punch to the head. Naruto made a puffing sound and disappeared, Shino realized it was a shadow clone and turned around and saw Naruto come flying down from a tree feet first into his chest. As all of the air left his body, Naruto took the scroll from him. As he heard rumbling in the bushes he quickly grabbed his kunai. As Cree and Kazuki came from out of the bushes with their enemies supplies, they were shocked that Naruto was able to defeat the bug handler all by himself.
"Wow, I heard that fighting a bug handler is the hardest thing a ninja can do by himself, even Sharingan users have a hard time with these types. I'm totally impressed, Kabuto said you were way past gifted but I didn't expect you to be this good." Cree looked at Naruto in a different light and wondered if she should make a pass at him to get his attention on her.
"Well I got the scroll did you take care of provisions?" Naruto basically ignored every word that came out of Cree's mouth.
"Yeah we did, this group is actually pretty good they should make Chunin in no time but not this year." Cree began to laugh as she kicked Shino in the ribs repeatedly.
"Good they had the opposite scroll let's split up and see if we can find someone who is alone and take their scroll. I'll take their provisions back to our camp." Kazuki grabbed all their supplies and rambled through their enemies pockets for his own personal agenda.
As they split up and went their separate ways Naruto was kind of glad he got paired with those two. He thought at first they would be in his way but they showed they were competent Shinobi's and they would obey his orders willingly.
As Hinata and Sakura went to get some water they heard a group of ninjas arguing. As they looked it was some ninjas from the Land of Grass and they were arguing with some Sand ninjas. As Sakura and Hinata stayed hidden they stayed and waited for the outcome of the argument to see who would win the fight. As the three Grass ninjas looked at Gaara they could see that he was probably a push over. As Hinata and Sakura watched they noticed the girl and the older Genin were not making any type of attempt to protect the younger Sand ninja. As the older Grass ninja attacked Gaara he released an umbrella in the air and a storm of needles scattered from the umbrella onto the ground. Both the young Genin girls saw that the sand protected Gaara from all harm. As Gaara looked at the older Genin he made the sand surround him and crushed him to death. Sakura and Hinata nearly screamed in horror from that horrible sight. As the other two Grass ninjas looked in horror the quickly yelled they surrender and placed the scroll down in front of him. Gaara just looked and told them that he wanted their blood as the Grass ninjas ran they headed toward to where Sakura and Hinata were hiding. As the sand grabbed the two ninjas and pulled them over to Gaara one Grass ninja noticed the girls and begged for them to help him. As Gaara pulled them closer to him he crushed the ninjas just like he did the first one. As the girls saw this they both got up and ran to get away from the red headed terror. Gaara noticed it was Sasuke's teammates he quickly started to walk toward to where they were running to as his siblings followed closely by their brother.
"I've never seen anything that horrible in my life!" Said Sakura as she vomited all over the ground.
"Mikado was right when he said that Gaara was a killing machine, I thought he was over exaggerating when he said that he was dangerous, we have to stay away from him and move somewhere else just in case he comes this way!" Said Hinata as she went to help Sakura.
As they headed back to camp they told Sasuke of what they seen and that they should pack up and leave and go somewhere further away from that murderer.
"Don't worry were not like those Grass ninjas we're way better, plus I'm pretty sure we won't run into him since you said he took the scroll off the ninjas." Sasuke just looked unimpressed by what his teammates were telling him.
As Sasuke continued to talk, he assured the girls they had nothing to worry about, as he looked at someone coming out of the bushes his eyes grew wide as plates. Gaara not only was here he somehow deactivated all of the traps setup to get into their small camp. Sasuke quickly ran to face Gaara.
"So I finally get to face the famed last Uchiha, I can't wait for my mother to taste your blood." Gaara's smile grew even more sinister when he last saw Sasuke, as both began to get into their fighting stances.
"What the hell are you talking about mothers' blood?" Asked Sasuke as he felt a murderous intent coming from the young boy.
As they started to stare at each other and prepare for battle, Gaara siblings came from the bushes.
"Don't interfere with this battle or I will kill you all!" As he looked at his siblings." The last Uchiha is mine and mine's alone to kill!" As he snarled at Sasuke.
Hinata and Sakura were too afraid to move. As they looked into his eyes they could tell he wanted death… Sasuke Uchiha death. As they finally built up enough courage they went by Sasuke's side to help him face the young demon in front of them.
"Do you really want them to die? This is our battle get rid of them before I torture them slow and make you watch as I tear off every limb just for fun in front of you." Said Gaara as his smile became more homicidal.
"You heard him get back, while we settle this man to man! He doesn't stand a chance against an elite Uchiha!" Yelled Sasuke.
"He's not normal you heard what Mikado said flee if we come across him, we saw him kill without a second thought. I don't think all three of us can take him and you want to do it all by yourself?" Said Sakura as she wished that Sasuke was just run away.
As Sasuke told the two girls to back off, he geared up to take on Gaara. Sasuke quickly rushed Gaara with his kunai; as the sand came out of the gourd Sasuke backed up waiting to see what was going on. As Sasuke threw one of his kunai's at him the sand immediately stop his attack. Gaara just leered at Sasuke and his failed attempt. Sasuke quickly activated his Sharingan to help him fight this strong opponent. As Sasuke rushed again he punched and kicked at Gaara but he could not penetrate his sand defenses. Gaara sent a sand arm to grab Sasuke but thanks to his Sharingan he was able avoid being captured. Sasuke noticed that Gaara was starting to look more manic after each attack.
"That's all you have, you're weak and pathetic you deserve to die!" As Gaara continued to smile crazily at his prey.
Sasuke could not think of anything to penetrate those defenses as he stood there thinking of a plan, he hadn't noticed that he was standing on a small amount of sand. Gaara swiftly activated the sand as it wrapped around Sasuke s leg. As Gaara held Sasuke he threw him back and forth against the ground until he was almost unconscious. Gaara was about to crush him in his grip when Hinata and Sakura attacked him ferociously to stop him from killing Sasuke. As he smacked Sakura away she rolled at least ten feet away from Gaara. Hinata activated her Byakugan, as she battled bravely to hit his chakra points. As Sasuke was able to move just little bit when he saw Hinata in Gaara's grasp struggling to stay alive. Unable to completely stand he tried desperately to rescue her by walking dizzily toward them. As Gaara saw Sasuke was gaining consciousness he threw Hinata at Sasuke knocking him back to the ground. Hinata was barely able to move when Gaara grabbed her once again.
"You were told that you would die if you got involved, say hello to my mother as your blood will suffice for now." Gaara gave a devilish chuckle as he held up the teenager in his sand.
Sakura awoke and saw Hinata dangling by the sand as it enveloped her friend, Sakura knew what was next. Sakura scream at the top of her lungs for Gaara not to do it. As Gaara yelled die a shadowy figure so fast stop the sand burial and somehow Hinata disappeared from the sand burial completely and was in Naruto's arm. As a dazed Hinata looked at Naruto as he jumped next to Sakura.
"I told you to run if you see him and not engage him in a fight!" Why Hinata? Why didn't you listen to me?" As he placed his hands on her cheek and touch her with the most gentleness' of concern. He looked at Hinata with worry written all over his face as he wiped the blood off her forehead.
As Hinata looked deep in his eyes she motioned for him to come closer. As he did she told him something only he could hear.
"I know those eyes anywhere; you have the same eyes as my friend's. That sadness and strength in them, their like Naruto Uzumaki's. How did you get his blue eyes? "As she passed out.
Naruto could almost feel his heart stop when she said that, he felt scared but mostly happiness. Someone in all the Konoha knew one thing about him and it was Hinata, she recognized his eyes. Sakura quickly grabbed Hinata out of Naruto's arms and looked at the dark haired Genin in front her.
"What did she tell you Mikado?" As Sakura stared at him attentively.
"Nothing, she's hurt and not making any sense." As he was glad that Sakura could not here those words Hinata spoke, he gently handed Hinata to Sakura.
"You're right he is a killing machine and can't be beat help me try and rescue my friends before he kills my entire squad!" Yelled a hysterical Sakura.
"Grab your teammates I'll have to defeat him on my own, make sure you take care of Hinata." Said Naruto as he kept staring at Hinata in Sakura's arm. "Hey you little red head psychopath piece of shit, you could have killed anybody you wanted but when it comes to Hinata hands off! You just became my prey you asshole! No one and I mean no one is going to harm her when I'm around got that you little prick?"
"You want to fight for this insignificant piece of filth? I sense your hatred and it rivals my own, if you want to beat me you first have to rid yourself of those foolish feelings for her otherwise you will fall just like the rest of my victims!"
"Horse shit! I'm going to protect her because I want her safe, I don't give a damn about anyone else in this village! Her safety gives me all the motivation and the strength I need to take you out! Get ready you son of a bitch, it's time someone shows you what true power really is!"
"Sounds like you're conflicted to me, you love the girl but hate everyone else. Let me show you the power of loving only yourself!" Gaara released his sand from his gourd to begin the battle.
As Sasuke crawled over to Sakura and Hinata, he told Sakura to run and get help for Mikado. Sakura looked at her teammates how badly they were hurt. As Sasuke continued to scream at her, she eventually ran for help.
"So it's the guy from the exam with the kunai, I don't think you can take on Gaara and live do you? Tell you what we won't even interfere with you and Gaara." Said Kankuro as he became more interested in the fight with Gaara and Naruto.
As Naruto looked at Gaara they squared off eye to eye. Gaara threw sand at Naruto who easily evaded his attacks and threw a couple of smoke bombs at Gaara. Gaara turn to see where his new prey was and looked around, Naruto threw two kunais at Gaara that passed straight by him. As Gaara just laughed, Naruto pull a wire that was connected to his kunais and aimed his kunais directly at Gaara's head. The sand shield immediately stopped the attack. Naruto knew that hand to hand combat was suicide if he tried it; he knew he would have to use very strong attacks in his arsenal to defeat Gaara.
"Running out of ideas already? You're more pathetic than that Uchiha laying beat up over there; for just for wasting my time I'm going to make you watch as I make that girl you want to protect so much suffer as I send my sand down her nose and throat and suffocate her ever so slowly!" Growled Gaara as he looked at Naruto!
Naruto was already exhausted from his earlier battle with Shino and the sand demon was only tiring him out even quicker. Naruto seen Sakura run away hopefully she could have met some of her fellow Konoha ninjas to help. Naruto did not want to show his full capabilities to anyone at least not yet. Naruto jumped down close to Gaara and stared at him one more time.
"Either you're very brave or the biggest idiot I have ever met? You put yourself in harm's way just to protect that girl and her friends that makes you weak."
As the sand darted toward Naruto once again, Naruto used his great speed and swirled around the sand and was able to actually punch Gaara in the head cracking his sand armor and knocking him down. As Gaara rolled back feeling the blow to his head he looked at Naruto and smile. The Sand siblings could not believe it, he struck Gaara so hard he was able to crack his sand armor. Gaara got back up and sent his sand to rip Naruto to pieces, as he dodged the sand Naruto jumped in the tree and hid. Gaara sent the sand up in the trees to recover his prey from hiding, Naruto jumped right back down next to Gaara and swung at his head. The sand caught Naruto and surrounded him; Sasuke looked at Naruto and knew Naruto was dead.
"I knew that you weren't good as the Uchiha now you die!" Yelled Gaara laughing at the top of his lungs.
Gaara looked over and realized that Naruto was laughing as well which surprised him, as he looked at Naruto smiling.
"Beware my dark side, laughing boy!" As Naruto gave a devilish grin at the red head which unnerved him.
Suddenly there was a huge explosion that nearly shattered every ones eardrum. Naruto used the Shadow Clone Explosion on Gaara. Sasuke looked at Gaara fall down again, he noticed that he was still conscious but hurt very badly. Gaara pulled himself to his feet to search for Naruto whereabouts. As his siblings came running to help him, he screamed at them that he would kill them if they interfered with his prey. Naruto was his and his alone to kill.
"Great now he's after me, my first mission and I already disobeyed a direct order. But I'll be damned if I let him hurt Hinata in any kind of way! I need to put a stop to this before one of us dies, Orochimaru plans must come first before my emotions for Hinata." Thought Naruto as he stared at Gaara with intensity. "Hey Gaara let's say we finish this at another time I hear reinforcement coming and your hurt. Do you think all three of you Sand ninjas can take on at least twelve Leaf ninjas? I'm pretty sure that your village would like to see you make it to the third round instead of being eliminated so soon?"
Temari and Kankuro knew that they had to make it to the third exam to finish their mission. As they approached Gaara he swung and hit both of them, knocking them several feet away.
"I told you to stay out of this!" Gaara's bloodlust was becoming more evident that he was a lunatic.
"Shit his demon has a bloodlust that rising which each second that he stands here waiting for me to fight. I never knew that this Jinchūriki had this much power in him? He survived an explosion and he still ready to fight and showed no signs of stopping. I hope Sakura did find help after all." Thought Naruto as he kept staring at Gaara.
All of a sudden sand surrounded Naruto and started to crush him, Gaara just smiled as he looked at Naruto squirming to get lose. As he started apply more pressure Naruto's nose started to bleed. Naruto quickly waved his hand up to block the sand with a half completed Rasengan to stop him from being crushed to death. As he dropped he could not believe that a half completed Rasengan was still powerful enough to be used as a weapon. Naruto quickly jump to a tree and threw a kunai with his wind element attached to it as it penetrated the sand it went directly into the top part of Gaara's shoulder. Gaara screamed when he saw his blood, his sibling quickly came to his aid. As Sakura came running out of the bushes she had nine Konoha ninjas with her.
"Were done here Sand ninjas, if you don't leave now you will be eliminated in more ways than one." Naruto pointed at them and gave an icy stare of death at the three Sand ninjas.
As the three left, they never knew anyone that could fight Gaara on his level. Temari knew that if Konoha had ninjas like him being Genins they were in big trouble with this war.
Sakura could not believe it this "Mikado" was actually able to stand toe to toe with that mad man and help save her squad. Sasuke looked at Naruto and felt so ashamed that an outsider saved his squad, he wondered if he was truly weak? Sasuke thought he would needed better training fast to become the avenger he so desired. As Naruto walked over to Hinata and the rest of her friends, Naruto looked to make sure she was conscious. As she looked at Naruto she thanked him for saving her friends. As the rest of her friends left she asked Naruto to stay for a while. As Naruto sat down beside her she fell asleep lying next to him. Sakura came over and looked at her friend sleeping peacefully. As Naruto got up he asked which scroll they had. Sakura said they needed the heaven scroll, Naruto reached in his back pack and gave her the heaven scroll and left the two of them so they could rest. As he looked back, he couldn't understand why he gave them the scroll. He definitely hated Sakura and Sasuke was supposed to be a pawn in Orochimaru's personal little game. He started to think about what Gaara said, he was truly conflicted. His attachment for Hinata made him do things he would never do for anyone but not having Hinata around him was like being in hell. Naruto knew that he had to get his emotions in check real soon or it could cost him his life.
"He just gave you the heaven scroll for no reason at all?" Said Sasuke as he held the heaven scroll in his hand and examined it to make sure it was legit.
"Well I wouldn't say no reason; I think he has feeling for you know who." As she looked at Hinata sleeping peacefully.
As Naruto started to head back to his campsite he saw a figure just standing on the tree branch.
"Naruto-kun!" Said the eerie voice as he stood there waiting to talk to Naruto.
"I see your taking the Chunin exams again." Said Naruto as he looked at the Grass ninja. "Don't you think once was enough Orochimaru-sensei?"
"Ah, I figured I couldn't fool you Naruto-kun, the Kyuubi can help you find anyone with negative emotions. Anyways how is my future vessel? Is he all that he should be? Is he perfect as I hope?" Said Orochimaru as he waited patiently for the answer.
"I don't think so Orochimaru-sensei, since I spied on him he lost twice and I had to save him from that Jinchūriki Gaara who was about to put him in a grave. I think that you need another host, he has skills but it's like he's afraid of getting hurt or something." Naruto stared Orochimaru in the eyes.
"Well I will go and test his abilities tomorrow for myself, even if he is a failure I can still use his Sharingan and learn more jutsu from his bloodline ability. Thank you my number two, we will continue as plan and the Leaf will be destroyed by both of our hands." As Orochimaru smiled at his apprentice.
As Hinata laid sleep next to Sakura and Sasuke, she called out the name Naruto in her sleep continuously where it woke up Sakura and Sasuke.
"Damn Mikado saves her life and she calls out Naruto's name? It's been over two and a half years and she still won't let go of the fact that Naruto is dead. She needs to grow up and stop living in a fantasy world that he's alive." Sasuke sat up and checked on his bruises since he wasn't getting any rest from Hinata's talking in her sleep.
"I don't understand it myself, that last in class could never defeat that maniac Sand shinobi yet she calls out for Naruto as if he defeated him. But that Mikado did and he did it with style that could put any ninja to shame." As Sakura started smiling. "Hell any ninja that could go toe to toe with that psycho is one hell of a ninja." Suddenly Sakura looked over and seen Sasuke's face on what she said. "I'm sorry Sasuke; I didn't mean that you were less of a ninja." She tried to comfort her crush from feeling sad on the words that came out of her mouth.
Sasuke had a scowl on his face that unnerved Sakura; he looked as though his whole world was crashing down around him. How could a ninja that wasn't an Uchiha defeat an enemy he couldn't? He figured that Gaara was tired when he faced Mikado after they had their fight and that Mikado was fresh going into the fight battling a fatigued Gaara. That's how Mikado won, that had to be the answer. Little did he know is that Naruto had already finished a ferocious fight and was already past his limit when he noticed the killer intent coming from the Kyuubi ability to sense negative emotions. Sasuke now had one agenda, find out who this Mikado Tae Shin was and to see if it wasn't just some type of fluke that he defeated Gaara.
