Chapter Two: Recovery
Shoukin and Sakura walked along for awhile carrying the unconscious bodies of her teammates. Shoukin walked with fatigue, clutching his wounded neck. They walked wordlessly, neither one sure what to say.
"So will you be all right?" Sakura asked attempting to break the ice.
"I'll be fine," He responded focused on getting to safety as quickly as possible. "I've been through worse."
"I can tell." She said regarding his scars.
"Not too pretty are they?" He replied with a smirk. "So what is this exactly? A chunin exam?"
"Yeah. How did you know?" She asked.
"I ran into some kids on the way here. Something about a scroll right?"
"A heaven scroll and an earth scroll." She explained. "You need one of each to pass the second part of the exam."
"Hmm…some things don't change." He said looking off, lost in a memory.
They continued for awhile in silence.
"So tell me…" He said questioningly "Do what inspired you to dye your hair pink?"
"It's natural." She replied slightly offended.
"Sorry" He said seeing her displeasure.
"It's ok. I get asked that all the time."
They continued walking until they came upon a great tree; whose roots provided a natural shelter. Sakura tended to her friends, looking on both of them with concern.
"Don't worry." He said seeing her sadness. "They'll recover quickly enough."
"The sooner the better" She replied. "Sorry I didn't say thank you for the help."
"No problem. It was inevitable anyway." He said looking off again.
"What do you mean?"
"The person who attacked is someone I've been tracking for a long time. His name is Orochimaru."
The name itself sounded foul.
"Why have you been tracking him?" She asked uncertainly.
"Because…" He said pausing thoughtfully. "I'm going to kill him."
"Why though?" she asked with some concern.
"I'd rather not say." He said touching his scars gingerly.
"So what are your friend's names?" He asked trying to clear the air.
"The one in the blue is Uchiha Sasuke. He's the best genin from our village." She said almost dreamily.
An Uchiha…thought they were all dead. I guess there had to be at least a few survivors.
"And they one with the odd taste in clothing?" He said regarding the boy in the orange jumpsuit.
"Oh that's just Naruto." She replied without nearly as much enthusiasm.
"Hmm…and yours?" He said realizing he didn't know her name it.
"I'm Haruno Sakura. Soon to be the best kunoichi in Konoha." She answered.
"I'm sure." He said chuckling a little.
Before Sakura could respond they heard a voice from behind them.
"My you two appear to have been through a lot." said a voice menacingly.
They both turned sharply to see three sound shinobi. One was covered in bandages giving him a mummy like appearance. Another wore a shirt that read "Death". The girl with them looked defiant and confidant.
"We're here for Sasuke." said the mummy like one stepping foreword.
"And who are you?" Shoukin said drawing his blades and slipping into a defensive stance. "Orochimaru's newest puppets?" He said smirking mockingly.
"Don't mock our skill." replied the mummy slightly agitated.
"Come on." Shoukin replied with something between a smirk and a grin. "I'll take all of you on."
Who am I fooling? I can barely raise my swords.
He looked back at Sakura.
"Stay behind me." He said in a serious tone. "I'll protect you."
Well if this is the way I have to go, then so be it.
"Don't make me laugh." The mummy said amused. "You're clearly bluffing."
The poison was starting to affect him again. His breathing was labored and his vision was blurring.
Damn it… I'm starting to lose consciousness.
He took one step foreword in defiance. Then everything went black…