Chapter 4: Black Wolf's Blood
A/N: Starting this April 14, 2008. Hoping it'll be finished soon. It may take a while since I'm aiming for 5K+ words. Also, check out Falsifying by These Hands. It's, in my opinion, one of my best stories to date. Although some Red Moon's Cry fans may disagree with that. Although, it has an M rating for chapter two for a reason.
-- Start --
A throng of patrons gathered around a door marked 301 in the small academy hallway. Two boys stood in front of the door knocking back anyone who came too close, deeming them "unfit," to participate in the Chuunin. Their most recent victim was a girl with her hair tied in two buns wearing a pink Chinese Gi. Another team joined in the throng. The first was a pink haired girl who had an air of naivety about her. The second was a raven haired boy whose posture suggested a life of cruel pain and that he was better than everyone around him. The last member was a peculiarity. His red hair fell like streaks of fire graced by the presence of sneaking shadows within it. His eyes, a dark forest green, stared with such intensity; one would flinch under his gaze without so much as even a gasp. He was the only one from his team that differed by his wearing of a long black cloak that had a hood attached to the top. They slowly proceeded to walk into the room as some boy in spandex began yelling at one of the boys guarding the door.
It occurred in the span of an instant. Sasuke threw a kick towards the boy guarding while the boy had thrown his fist back in retaliation. The green spandex clad boy had stopped both of their attacks with his bare hands. As Naruto watched the slit pupils of forest green eyes shrank to almost nil while he began to breathe heavier. He grasped his right arm in pain and gritted his teeth as he was wracked by a sharp pain. His pink-haired teammate ignored him entirely, instead opting to ogle their third teammate; the ever stoic Uchiha. Naruto slowly stood still slightly gripping his arm, unaware that his actions had warranted the investigation of another pair of eyes...
Sasuke huffed and slowly began to walk away, intending to hold his pride together as much as he could. He was stopped by another boy whose eyes mirrored the moon. He didn't make so much as a friendly gesture before proceeding with interrogating the stoic Uchiha boy.
"You... You're a rookie, aren't you?" The pale eyed boy's frown ever present on his face.
"It's customary to give your own name before asking the same of another." Sasuke answered in a condescending tone. The other boy simply sneered at him before walking away. The girl wearing the pink Gi followed him away leaving behind the green spandex boy. He was grinning widely at Sasuke.
"Uchiha Sasuke. My name is Rock Lee. I am the strongest genin of my year, and I wish to see how my skills compare to the acclaimed most powerful doujutsu in Konoha, The Sharingan!" Sasuke eyed him carefully before smirking in his oh so smug way, as if this simple recognition of a given ability granted him total control over the individual who had made reference to it. Sasuke mindlessly followed Lee without giving any thought to how he was to combat this foe.
Needless to say, Sasuke was having his ass royally whooped. He had gone into this fight with the thought that his Sharingan would be his greatest asset. He thought that he would be able to use it to copy whatever the Green Freak was doing. Boy was he wrong. Lee's skills depended entirely on physical movements and actions. In other words, Taijutsu. Sasuke could still see what was going to happen slightly ahead of time, but his body was too slow to react. He had spent too much time only training jutsu and not training his body. And now he was suffering for it.
Sakura stood next to her teammate and watched as Sasuke was almost literally destroyed. He was being beat around like a rag doll that was held by an insanely obsessive and overly violent young child with a grudge against all things rag and doll. Sakura gasped as Sasuke's Sharingan aided him only in increasing his distress at the situation.
"What... what kind of jutsu is he using? How is Sasuke's Sharingan not able to see it! Something's not right about that green kid. He's... he's not normal!" Sakura was nearly shrieking with near hysteria at the thought that her indomitable hero had a flaw.
"That isn't a mere jutsu Sakura. Lee is moving too fast for Sasuke to respond. Sasuke knows when and how Lee is going to attack, but he is too slow to block it. It's like racing against a cheetah. You know the path, you know the cheetah too, and you know exactly what it's going to do. But even armed with this knowledge, the cheetah simply outstrips you in terms of raw speed. Sasuke is able to follow Lee's motions since he has the Sharingan, but his body is still far too weak to respond in time." Naruto ended his long explanation still watching the two combatants.
"But... how he is he so much faster? He's only a year older then we are, and yet Lee's skill in Taijutsu far outdoes our own..."
"That Sakura, is Lee's pride. Lee prides himself on his Taijutsu and his ability to perform it to an extent almost beyond those who aren't Taijutsu Masters. His Taijutsu is equivalent of what Sasuke is to you. His life. His passion. It is the thing that if taken away from him, would cripple him beyond compare. Take away Lee's Taijutsu, and you take away in essence, Lee himself. We all have something like that. For you it's Sasuke. For Sasuke it's most likely his Sharingan. For Lee, it's his Taijutsu."
Sakura stared at Naruto with something almost akin to compassion. But then she noticed something. Naruto had neglected to mention that which HE held most dear. "But Naruto, you never mentioned what it was YOU had that you held in such high regard. My guess would be, ramen maybe?" Sakura giggled a bit but stopped when she noticed Naruto's face had become dark and sullen.
"I didn't name anything of my own Sakura, because... I've already lost it. But if I had a second one, the closest thing would be my friends." Naruto closed his eyes and turned away. Sakura regretted asking him. She turned back to the battle before noticing that Sasuke was standing up, and Lee was being berated by... a turtle? The turtle's rang out for a brief moment before a large cloud of smoke formed.
"Here comes... GAI-SENSEI!" A larger version of Lee still clothed in the offending Green Spandex appeared on top of the Turtle, his arm extended in a thumbs up, and his teeth sparkling like headlights. Sasuke horrified gaze was evident on his face.
"I lost to a guy taught by THIS freak?" The newly named Gai stood berating Lee for his actions, mentioning something about a powerful move not meant to be used except in incredibly dangerous situations. Sasuke made a decision that day at that very moment. No matter how strong a move would make him, no matter how power it granted him, he would never become that weird. Sasuke sulked back over to where his teammates were standing. The group proceeded to slowly try and slink away to the exam room. Naruto held back.
"Go on ahead without me guys. I'll catch up with you in just a moment." Sasuke, glad to be rid of the dobe, started once again for the exam room, his faithful "companion," only a step behind.
Sasuke and Sakura approached the exam room and found Kakashi waiting there reading his little orange sin. He looked disappointed at only the two of them showing up. He sighed and put his book away. He would need to have a talk with them about teamwork.
"Ah, Sasuke, Sakura. Glad to see you came." Kakashi gave them a slight upturned eye along with the comment. "But I'm afraid I cannot allow you to participate in the Chuunin Exams." Sasuke and Sakura were both outraged at that. Well, Sakura was more outraged because Sasuke was outraged more than anything.
"Are you kidding!? Because this isn't even close to funny! You tell us to come here, and then spring this, 'oh-so-hilarious' prank on us?!" Sasuke was almost ready to attack his sensei. Kakashi held up his arms and asked them to calm down.
"Now, now. I told you that it was a personal choice of coming or not, however, you require a full team of 3 people to enter. I told you that so you wouldn't attempt to force your teammates to come. If I had said all three of you had to come, you would have surely forced Naruto to come. But, since he's not here, I'm afraid you'll just have to wait 6 months and try again in the next Chuunin Exam." Kakashi could sense his students anger and felt that they were about to go find Naruto, and end his life. He was just about to make an attempt to calm them down when a figure in a black cloak turned around his red hair gently leaning to the side in a small cross breeze. He looked at Kakashi, then at Sasuke and Sakura before speaking.
"Sorry that took so long. I was just catching up with someone." Sasuke and Sakura still looked they wanted to beat the hell out of him until Kakashi cut in attempting to improve the degraded atmosphere.
"Well, since your third teammate is here, you're eligible to enter the Chuunin Exams! So, give it your best shot, and try not to die too much!" Kakashi then poofed out of their way. Sasuke and Sakura were giving weird looks to the spot where he had just been standing before Naruto spoke.
"How are we supposed to die more than more than once? Maa, dumb Kakashi-sensei." Sasuke and Sakura ignored him and walked into the room, just in time to see a white haired boy who had appeared to be talking to the rest of the Rookie Nine collapse and vomit on the floor. Naruto's eyebrows merely raised themselves a fraction. He hadn't seen the white haired boy attacked, nor was anyone in a position to strike him in any such way. Before he was allowed to ponder this subject anymore, a large cloud of smoke formed at the front of the room and a man in a black trench coat, his face covered in scars. A line of chuunin stood behind him. The man began rambling something about a test. Naruto barely listened to what he was saying, just gathering the gist of the situation. They needed to answer questions and couldn't be caught cheating. Naruto walked to his seat watching the chuunin proctors. Each one held a clipboard with the test answers written on it.
Naruto sat down in his seat. Looking to his right he noticed the girl next to him in the large coat. She had long purple hair and pale white eyes. Just like the guy who had stopped Sasuke. Naruto finally recognized her as Hinata; the strange girl from his academy class. He attempted to remember her last name. Hyoopa? Haägen Daas? Huyago? Hyuuga? That was it, Hyuuga. Hyuuga Hinata. She kept throwing glances in his direction. Naruto recognized them as the same type of glance Sakura would throw to Sasuke. Naruto sneered to himself. Hinata was a closet fan girl. Naruto eventually decided on ignoring her. He read over the questions, answering the few that he could think of. Obviously, they needed to cheat. Naruto spent a few minutes thinking before he had a reasonable idea.
--Break--
Kankurou raised his hand asking to be allowed to go to the restroom. Ibiki allowed him. He easily saw through the puppet's disguise. A Genin's idea couldn't fool an experienced Jounin very easily. He turned back to watching the rest of the students. Some of them seemed incredibly panicked. Those who had visual bloodlines, or various clan abilities making it easier to cheat didn't seem to be worried. One boy in particular, the red head with green eyes, (Wow, Naruto sounds alot like Gaara don't he?) was leaning back in his chair lazily. Ibiki had no idea what he had done, but it had obviously been pretty damn good.
Kankurou walked down the hall snickering about how great his plan was working. He turned the corner and stopped. A Chuunin was bound, gagged, and blindfolded, lying on the floor in front of him. He was attempting to yell something at Kankurou as he walked by. Kankurou just stared at him before walking by faster then before, slightly disturbed.
--Break--
Naruto watched one of the proctors, part of the ninth question unanswered. The chuunin blinked several times in rapid succession, sometimes with very slight pauses in between. Naruto wrote down another word. He turned back to the proctor as inconspicuously as possible. The chuunin repeatedly blinked again, and Naruto wrote down another word. Ibiki watched the exchange. He had no doubt the boy had done something to the proctor. But he still didn't quite know what he was doing. He watched closely. He saw no standard ninja code in the blinks. He blinked again, and then it hit him. Morse Code. The chuunin was signaling the answers to the boy one word at a time through Morse code using blinks. Clever. But that still left the question of why the proctor was communicating with the boy. Then he saw it. The chuunin's body shifted. Not alot, and not just simply moving. His body had just about teleported. His position shifted without any movement.
'A kawarimi... What is this boy hiding? Successfully using a Kage Bunshin to kawarimi with a chuunin proctor. That should be beyond any Genin's skill level. This, Uzumaki Naruto, is certainly one to watch.'
Kankurou walked back into the room. Ibiki made no comment on his puppets, too engrossed in thinking about Naruto. Kankurou smirked, thinking of how great his technique was to have fooled a Special Jounin. (-Sigh-, yes, I'm going to have to explain my views of the ranking system at the end of this chapter.) Kankurou took his seat as Ibiki explained the final question.
"This is the final question of your first exam. Before we begin, you must first decide whether or not you wish to take the question." A girl with four blond pigtails stood up and started yelling.
"Well if that's it, why wouldn't we choose to take it?" Ibiki stared at the girl for a moment before answering.
"Because, if you do choose to take the question, and you answer it wrong, you will forever be barred from participating in the Chuunin Exams. In essence if you fail the question, you will lose the ability to be promoted to Chuunin. If you wish not to take the question, raise your hand now. You and your entire team will be failed, but you are guaranteed the right to be able to be promoted to Chuunin. (It had to be worded like that, because if an international incident or something similar popped up, it would create a messed up political loophole of pain.)" A multitude of students began raising their hands, and were escorted form the room by a proctor. Naruto just stared at Ibiki a moment before speaking.
"So?"
"What do you mean, 'so?' boy. Is that meant as a form of challenge or as a question? Because if it's a question, I can answer you now. I mean, you will be unable to be promoted to the next rank through Chuunin Examinations. You will be stuck as a Genin forever."
"You mean until the next war." Ibiki's eyes widened slightly at that. This boy wasn't talking in if's and maybe's, he was talking in definite facts. He seems to have a grasp on the fact that it's almost inevitable that another war will arise. Maybe not a Great War, but a war none the less. Ibiki regained his composure before talking again.
"And what exactly could you mean by that?"
"During times of war or strife, a village reserves its right to promote any ninja of their village to any rank they choose, due to prowess on the field, or service, or any other number of reasons. Basically, war throws your whole never get to be Chuunin statement out the window." Ibiki blinked. He had not expected a Genin to know about the Shinobi Promotion Act. Ibiki turned back to the group of students, and they stared back. Most of them were mentally smacking themselves. Of course Ibiki couldn't prohibit them from promotion. He was only ad administer of an exam. He had no way to control whether or not they participated in a Chuunin Exam at a later date. Ibiki sighed, knowing his psychological tactics were shot, turned and spoke to the Genin.
"Congratulations on passing the first exam!"
The same blonde haired girl from before stood up. "Are you kidding me? That's it? What about the tenth question! And all that crap about promotion! Was that just a load of bull? Did any of it even mean anything!" Ibiki spoke slowly and gravely.
"The question of whether or not to take the tenth question was in essence, the question itself. You see, when you're a ninja, you must face life altering decisions. Do you leave your best friend to die bleeding on the ground, or return the intelligence you've gathered to your village? Do you accept a mission just because you're told to, or do you simply say you don't feel like it? A Shinobi's first priority is always to that of their leader. Shinobi are trained to never give in even under the direst of circumstances." Ibiki removed his headband revealing a bald head marked by a multitude of different types of scars, ranging from burns to metal bolts driven into his skull. "As a Chuunin you assume the role of squad commander. A chuunin must assume all responsibility for his teammates. Could you handle being responsible for the deaths of an entire squad?" The whole room was deathly quiet. Suddenly the window exploded in a shower of glass and some women in a skirt and a long tan trench coat wearing a multitude of fishnet had rolled in front of the room, a large sign behind her reading, "The beautiful Kunoichi and Your Second Examiner, Mitarashi Anko!" People were still trying to figure out how she got all that writing on there and while still making it easily visible to everyone. Ibiki just turned lazily to her.
"Anko. You're early. Again."
"Ah who gives a shit! Let's see you left me... 72? 24 teams? Ibiki, you're not losing your touch at this thing are you?" Ibiki just grinned back at the sadistic woman.
"There are quite a few exceptional teams this year as you'll soon see."
"Ah, who cares! I'll cut their numbers in half by the end of the next exam! Alright you little asswipes! Follow me to Training Ground 44!" With that, Anko marched out of the room, a herd of Genin tailing behind her. Ibiki chuckled as he left. He walked over to where Naruto sat and picked up his test. All his answers were right. Ibiki smiled to himself. That boy may actually have a future.
--Break--
The large group of prospective Genin stood in front of a large forest. An incredibly tall mesh wire gate surrounded the entire area. The whole area had an area of approximately 3.14 square kilometers. There were 44 different entrances to the forest, each one barred by 2 large mesh doors. Anko stood in front of the genin before giving out her announcement.
"Alright then. This is your Second Exam. Each team will be given a Heaven or Earth scroll. To complete this test you must reach the tower with both scrolls before 120 hours, or exactly 5 days, from the time the gates open. There are no rules within the forest. You are allowed to trick, trap, maul, maim, or kill if it suits your purpose. There is only one directive that must be followed no matter what. Under no circumstances whatsoever, are you allowed to open either of the scrolls before you reach the tower. Now, you are only allowed to take into the forest what you currently have on you. At no point during the 5 days are you allowed to leave the forest either. Any teams remaining in the forest after the 5 day period will be retrieved by an ANBU team and allowed to return home. Do not attempt to leave the Training Ground either. These gates are equipped with chakra sensors. Any chakra signal attempting to or succeeding in crossing over or through the gate will initiate an ANBU squad alert. So, good luck to you all, and try not to die." Anko gave that creepy smile before walking off, leaving the kids to receive to their scrolls from the Chuunin Proctors.
Naruto's team lined up at their gate, a Heaven scroll residing in Sasuke's kunai pouch. A loud bell began to clang as the gates opened signaling the official start of the Second Part of the Chuunin Exam. The different teams sped off into the forest attempting to obtain prime hunting grounds before another team claimed them. Naruto's team ran at a slightly slow pace as to not be too noticeable. They came to rest in a small clearing. Sasuke turned towards his teammates.
"We need a passcode in case one of is separated." Sakura was ogling Sasuke like he had just discovered the cure for cancer and the common cold. Naruto merely chose to respond.
"I agree. In an exam area such as this, it would not be beneficial to be separated with no way of identifying false teammates. Does anyone have any ideas on the passcode?"
Sasuke, being the arrogant ass he was, gave his suggestion, his cocky smirk ever present. "Sharingan Uchiha."
"Typical of you Sasuke. You don't think any other teams would guess that? We have an Uchiha on our team who has the Sharingan. Think of something better next time." Sakura posed her suggestion next.
"Sasuke is amazing?"
"That's even worse. Am I the only one among us who has any brain processing power?" His only responses were an empty stare and a fiery burning glare. "Fine. How about, 'In the shadows lurks a stranger, but he is not to fear, for his knife is not poised such as that of your friend beside you.' Now, I won't repeat it. So make sure you know it. Or I will not hesitate to kill you unless you are able to offer irrefutable proof you are who you say you are."
Sasuke was fuming mad. First, the dobe rejects his idea. Second, he insulted his awesomeness when he rejected Sakura's idea. And lastly, he had insulted his skills as a fighter, and an Uchiha. "And if you leave and come back and don't provide proof, I will kill you." Sasuke spoke with his still ever-present smirk. Naruto looked at Sasuke his hand itching to reach into his kunai pouch and insert its contents into Sasuke's skull.
"Remember this, and remember it well Uchiha. If you attempt to kill me, I will not hesitate to end your life. It is not a good idea to fuck with Uzumaki Naruto." Naruto's eyes of forest green bore into Sasuke's. His gaze was the unflinching stare of a predator. Like that of a Wolf's...
Sasuke was first to glance away from the other's gaze. He growled to himself. No one made fun of Uchiha Sasuke. That dobe would pay one way or another. "We need to get moving. We have wasted far too much time discussing this." With that Naruto leaped into the trees his teammates following behind him. Sakura's face was one of worry and concern with a slight tinge of fear mixed into the palette. She was worried about Sasuke as he seemed to be getting shorter and shorter with Naruto. Concern because of the death threats they threw around like kunai, and fear, because Naruto actually seemed to mean what he said...
--Break--
Naruto gritted his teeth as he squinted. His black cloak was billowing out behind him fluttering like a dove caught in a gale. His claws gripped the thick soil as a lifeline. Even with his best attempts of stability, Naruto was still slowly being pushed backwards by the large gust of wind that had blown through the area that Naruto and his team had decided to camp in. Sakura had immediately been blown off. Sasuke was able to stick to the ground for a few precious seconds with chakra, before he pulled out two kunai and dug them into the ground. Although fighting with his best efforts, Sasuke's hands were torn from their grip as he too was blown away.
As the wind finally slowed Naruto slowly stood straightening his cloak. A feminine Grass Nin walked into the clearing a disturbingly sickening smile adorning their face. Naruto's wolf instincts went insane. He could almost literally feel the chakra rolling off of the Grass Nin. Naruto was absurdly strong for an average Genin, partially due to his werewolf blood, but there was no way, even with his wolf blood, that he could defeat this shinobi. He had a small chance of escaping without serious injury if he used the Kyuubi's chakra, but that was a last resort. The Grass Nin looked at him standing alone before frowning slightly.
"Such a pity. Only one member of the team was strong enough to resist my Fuuton: Akikazeiki (Fall Wind Breath. I was unsure of the technique he uses in the manga so I made my own). I was hoping the Uchiha would be able to resist, but I guess you will have to do. It's such a pity that the Uzumaki is no longer on Sasuke's team..." Naruto decided then and there that there was no way in hell he was telling this man who he was. "Alright boy, it's time to... ODORIMASU (Dance)." The figure launched towards Naruto at speeds surpassing anything Naruto had ever seen. Before he could react, a fist connected with his abdomen, sending him into a tree several meters behind him. Naruto stood before facing his opponent. It was gonna take some helluva strategy to beat this guy...
Naruto reached into his pouch and drew six kunai. Naruto leaped off the ground pumping chakra to his legs in an attempt to increase his speed. The man merely watched as Naruto approached, bringing up an arm to block, almost lazily. As he attempted to block Naruto lashed out with his right arm. Clutching three of the kunai between his fingers. The man look slightly startles as the kunai gashed against his forearm. Naruto lashed out with left arm leaving a small cut across the adversary's cheek. The man's eyes widened. A Genin shouldn't have been able to attack with such ferocity and speed. He leaped backwards before forming several seals.
"Katon: Hebi Taru Taihoo no jutsu! (Fire Style: Snake Barrel Cannon)" He inhaled deeply before firing several large snakes towards the boy. The snakes were curled into round spheres, and hurtled through the air burning with fire. Naruto leaped out of the way of the three fiery rounds before landing. He had to try and figure out a way around this. Before he had a real chance to think, something clamped onto his arm. Looking down one of the snakes that had previously been hurtling through the air had not died upon impact. It had instead uncurled before launching itself towards Naruto. Naruto sliced the snake's head into several pieces before checking back where his opponent had previously been. He was no longer there. Neither was there any indication of his whereabouts.
"You really need to keep a better eye on your opponents you know." Naruto stiffened as a voice hissed into his ear. He was sent forward by a kick to his spine. He stood up, wobbling slightly. He attributed it to the kick he had received. The man charge for him once again. He steadied himself and attempted to form some type of block. He lashed out with a punch, as the man slinked just to the left of the attack. He received a powerful punch to his midsection as he turned to try and lessen the blow. His opponent, seemingly caught unaware by his attempted dodge, stumbled forward. Naruto slashed him full force across his back, his kunai raking through his vertebrae, effectively disabling his spinal cord. Then, the man dissolved into a useless heap of mud.
"Damn! A Doro Bunshin!' Naruto franticly scanned his surroundings for any sign of the disturbing man. He spun around as he felt the man approach. He crossed his arms before throwing the kunai at the advancing figure. The man seemingly effortlessly dodged the kunai. Naruto placed his arms in front of him in a position ready to either block or attack. It left few openings, but none were near his head or chest area. The man suddenly ducked down. Naruto prepared to jump, but the man suddenly came back up, inside of Naruto's guard. His eyes widened. Who was this man? The man grinned as his forehead slammed into Naruto's face effectively launching him backwards several meters. Naruto slowly staggered to his feet. He tore off his cloak and threw it to the ground. It was time he got serious.
The man giggled. This Genin was turning out to be truly interesting! Sasuke hadn't even made it back yet. Perhaps he had overestimated the boy... He giggled again before feeling several wires wrap around his body. He looked up to see the boy finish several hand seals. "Katon: Goukakyuu no jutsu! (Grand Fireball)" The large ball of fire flew down the wire entrapping the man, before engulfing him in a white blaze.
Naruto panted. He had finally got the strangely powerful Genin. It didn't matter how strong he was. He was still a Genin, and no Genin could have deflected a Goukakyuu of that strength. Suddenly the man stepped out of the fire, his face melting off like plastic. Naruto's eyes widened as his breath became shaky. This man was definitely not a normal Genin. The man reached up to grip the top of his 'face.'
"Ku ku ku. I congratulate you Young Genin. If I was anyone else, you may have finished me with that attack. But things being how they are, you are in a most unfortunate position." The man pulled his face off completely, revealing two golden snake like eyes. Naruto's mind went haywire with only one thought running through his head.
'SHITSHITSHITSHITSHITSHITSHITSHITSHITMOTHERFUCKINGSNAKESANNINOHSHITTYSHITSHITTERSSHIT!' Naruto nearly passed out from fear. This way the legendary Snake Sannin, Orochimaru. Naruto's vision split into multiples and he fell to his knees gasping for air. Orochimaru merely chuckled.
"It appears my snake's venom is finally taking effect. You seem resilient, so you may survive. And if you do, take this." Orochimaru calmly walked close enough to Naruto to pick him up. He hoisted him into the air using only one hand. Naruto could only barely focus. The last thing he saw was Orochimaru's fangs burying themselves into his neck. After that, Naruto succumbed to the snake venom and the taint of the Curse Seal forming on his neck...
Sasuke and Sakura eventually found their way back to where Naruto was laying. There was hardly any evidence of a fight. The most evidence they could gather was several pieces of a snake, some burned ninja wire, and several loose kunai. They eventually decided to form a camp in the hollow of a large tree. Sakura and Sasuke sat pondering what had happened to their teammate and the strange Genin that had blown them away. But through all of their pondering, and all of Naruto's blood, sweat, and tears, neither of them noticed the image of a Fox head crossed by a snake and a weasel forming on Naruto's shoulder...
--End--
Finished on May 1st 2008. Wow. I think that's the fastest I've ever put out a chapter that I was proud of. The next update is for Taijutsu Master Naruto. I received a review for it that sparked my desire to write it. It'll take a while before it gets down to the nitty gritty action plot moving chapters this story is currently undertaking. But enough of that. This chapter is finished! The plot thickens with the introduction of Orochimaru and the Cursed Seal. The design should be fairly familiar to those who've read Chapter 2 I believe it was. But anyways, this chapter ended more prematurely then I expected. I was thinking of carrying it through to the Preliminary Rounds of the Third Exam, but stopping at five thousand worked out fine and gave me a place to put a slight cliff hanger. Anyways, Enki Shimasu Tsugi Kikan!