Many thanks to my brother for helping me out with this chapter.

Chapter 3 – Bad Moon Rising

"Begin."

Sasuke Uchiha stood in the center of the room, his eyes now closed. He was surrounded by thirty Sound nin. He did not have to see them to know they were there; his senses were becoming finely tuned to the point that nothing surprised him. His feet slid back slightly as he opened his eyes. The red Sharingan was ablaze in his eyes, and he instantly knew where the first attack was coming from.

One of the Sound Nin launched himself at the boy from behind. "Wait for it." Sasuke thought to himself. He could not believe how slow it seemed his opponent seemed to be moving. Throughout his training with Orochimaru, his skill was becoming more finely adjusted and honed. He was surprised at how strong he had become. From his perspective, his assailant appeared to be wading through thick water. "Now." His opponent was only a few inches away from him, but it was all the space he needed. With one swift movement, Sasuke avoided the attack and countered with a spinning kick. The Sound nin had no idea what was coming. The blow knocked the air out of him, but he continued to fly towards a wall. He never felt his body crash into the wall, then hit the floor as gravity pulled him down. He would later be surprised at the indention his body left in the wall where he landed. Sasuke, however, had not moved from the spot he had taken up from the room.

A few of the other Sound nin hesitated, but most of them went for the young Uchiha boy. They flung themselves after him with everything they had, but the body did not take a defensive stance.

"Fools." He said silently to himself. They had no idea what they were in store for. He glanced over his shoulder and grinned slightly. Suddenly, he was no longer there. The eyes of his attackers grew in surprise. Before any of them could react, the onslaught began. Sasuke appeared behind one attacker, and sent him flying into another one. He then appeared next to another one, and grabbed him. He flung the ninja into a large group, knocking them all out of the air. Soon, the other ninjas where disposed of in quick and efficient fashion. Bodies were slung into each other and as they hit the walls and the floor, the sound of breaking bones could be heard echoing off the cement. Splatters of crimson stained the floor and walls with each victim, and soon, it was over. Sasuke landed back in the middle of the room and surveyed the damage. Bodies tried to pull themselves off the ground, some were screaming in pain from their limbs. Many of them had something broken, cracked or worse. . . and the young man had done it all without touching the ground.

Orochimaru started clapping, very slowly at first, but he picked it up as he walked over to the young man.

"Impressive, Sasuke." The snake man said. "You've improved so much in such a small amount of time. And I have not even taught you to use your cursed seal yet." He placed his hand on Sasuke's shoulder as he stood by him. "You will make an excellent tool."

"Just allow me to kill my brother and I'll do whatever you ask." Sasuke said simply. He knew he was getting closer. He could taste the power coursing through his blood. He wasn't the same little boy from Hidden Leaf Village. He was Uchiha Sasuke, the avenger and heir to the Uchiha clan! And he would become more powerful, more than anyone thought possible.

It had been necessary for him to leave his home. It was not personal, but it had to be done. No one in Hidden Leaf could give him the power he desired. . . no, needed. If he could not find the power he was seeking in his home, then he would go elsewhere, for that was all that mattered to Sasuke. He had no time to play with the likes of Naruto and Sakura. Memories of his old friends crept into his thoughts. He had not seen them in over three months, not since he and Naruto fought each other. He almost lost his life to his best friend and rival, the Dead Last himself. How is it Naruto found ways to close the gap on him? What was it about him that made him formidable despite his shortcomings? Well, it didn't matter now; he would widen the gap so much now that Naruto would never be able to reach him again.

"You'll have you're revenge on your brother all in due time, but you are still not ready." Orochimaru told him. "But you are ready for a mission. I will send you with Kabuto to take care of a few things for me. It will be a good test of your efficiency."

Orochimaru's right hand man stepped from the shadows at the motion of his name. Kabuto looked Sasuke over and adjusted his glasses. He smiled at the boy before directing his attention to Orochimaru. "Kabuto, you will take Sasuke with you on you're next mission." Kabuto nodded and bowed to his master.

"Yes, Orochimaru." He told him. Orochimaru's flashed his sinister expression back at the Uchiha boy.

"Do not disappoint me, Sasuke. You've done so well and I would hate to see you fail so soon after impressing me." The snake man's eyes glittered with the expression of a predator as he walked away from them both. Never at one time did Sasuke move while Orochimaru was in the room. When the Sound nin leader was gone, Kabuto finally spoke.

"Hey, Sasuke-kun." He said smugly. "Don't get too confident. This mission won't be easy. Just because Orochimaru likes you now doesn't mean you're shit doesn't stink."

"I'll handle myself just fine, Kabuto." Sasuke said. "You should worry more about yourself."

"Watch you're mouth you insignificant little-"

Sasuke looked back at Kabuto, his eyes flashing the Sharingan. Kabuto glanced up at him and read the silent rage swelling in his eyes.

"I don't think you want to anger me." Sasuke's whisper warned Kabuto. There was an edge in his words which unnerved the medic-nin greatly, and after the Sasuke's latest demonstration he wasn't ready to test his own abilities against the young man.

"I think you'll do well, Sasuke-sun." Kabuto laughed at the young boy. Sasuke said nothing more to him as he walked out the room. "You'll watch yourself, Sasuke" Kabuto thought as he watched the back of the young man. "You'll find out why Orochimaru-sama favors me above all others."