Hopefully, by the time I update, this one will be faster than usual.

Reviewer's Corner!

Stonesoul: Thank you for the compliment and as for the death threat... um... thank... you..?

Dragon Noir: I said foxes and other animals. I just couldn't be bothered to write them down. And yes, I am extremely lazy. :3

Link fangirl01: Yes, paint and sharpies do smell nice. This will most likely explain my lack of brain cells. :D

Darkflame: Believe me, I'd love to update faster, but I don't have enough time nowadays. Also, there's the fact that my internet doesn't work at my house, so I use the compy whenever I can. Oh, and "Nil" means zero. Or that was what I was thinking as I wrote the chapter.

People who threatened me with various ways: I'm writing, I'm writing! Don't kill me! DX

Chapter 16

Orochimaru was pleased as he observed his prey at a distance. Extremely pleased, in fact, as his plan was falling into place. Kabuto was able to infiltrate Konoha easily and as an added bonus befriended Sasuke. Of course, there were a few setbacks here and there over the past few decades, such as the failed experiment involving sixty test subjects and the First Hokage's DNA (1), the Kyuubi incident, and the most recent failure to annihilate the Uchiha Clan.

However, there were also some successes to his failures. He had, for example, finally discovered how to be immortal. According to his trusted spy, Kabuto, he found out that the Kyuubi brat was a loudmouth, dead-last idiot with hardly any potential at all. This was good, because it meant that he would be easy to dispose of or maybe tame to make a good subordinate. Knowing the Kyuubi's powers, he was sure that the simpleton would have potential if taught by the right people such as himself.

He had also found out that his precious Sasuke was bent on revenge on his brother (2), and, much more to his delight was considered the Number one rookie of his age group. About two years ago (3) he visited Konoha to see if his future vessel was strong and intelligent, and Sasuke fit the description quite well. Besides, he was handsome to boot - an added bonus.

Orochimaru smirked. Now he had his chance to claim his prize. Under the guise of a Kusa-nin (4), he could give the "Present" with little suspicion. If the Konoha fools were finally able to realise what happened, he still had the Kazekage to fall back to. After all, the real leader of Suna was dead. By the time those idiots found out, the attack would have already happened.

Summoning several large snakes, he quietly instructed, "Go and kill the one with yellow hair and blue eyes when he is isolated. How you do it is up to you." The snakes replied with a faint hiss of yes and slithered away.

Orochimaru frowned slightly. He would have to teach those snakes how to speak in the human tongue later. (5)

Finding a marginally hidden place, Team Seven decided to camp for the night. It wasn't a matter of fatigue; rather they figured that because they were considered weak the majority of the other genin would target them. With Hinata's help, they managed to find a good location. It was slightly obvious to help give the illusion that they truly were rookies, yet hidden so that they were able to place an extensive amount of traps. With Naruto's expertise in the area and Sasuke's ingenuity, the campsite was riddled with so many traps one would wonder how they managed to carry so many weapons.Offering to scout ahead (And act as live bait), Naruto left the campsite. He was warned a while ago by his bird/scout that large snakes were in the area and decided to confront them. After all, this time around he had unlocked his bloodline limit of talking to animals. Perhaps they were friendlier than they looked.

Or maybe they were just evil bastards.

With this thought in mind, Naruto stealthily wandered around aimlessly. He was not one who had a very good sense of direction, but still had the luck of a God that it pretty much cancelled the two out.

Coincidentally, it was the exact place where the summoned snakes were, so a conflict was inevitable.

"It's the kid! That kid Orochimaru-sama mentioned!" hissed one.

"Let's just eat him already. I haven't eaten in days," hissed another.

"He is the one, right?"

"Of course he is, you dumbass! Can you not see the yellow hair and blue eyes!"

"Um... excuse me," interrupted Naruto in animalese (6). The snakes were surprised. How could this... this human speak their language? "You said that you were searching for a kid with yellow hair and blue eyes. Unfortunately, I do not fit that description."

The snakes gaped at him. "... What?"

"I said that I do not fit your description. My eyes may look blue, but if you look closely, it is actually more of a dark blue. There's a difference, you know."

"That's ridiculous!" Hissed one, "It looks blue to me!"

"Hold on there, Hebimaru (7), I see where he's coming from. I once took an advanced art class when I wasn't employed by Orochimaru-sama. Actually, he's more of a cerulean blue."

"First off, why an art class! You don't even have hands or legs! Anyway, it's obviously an Azure, I'd say."

"Azure? Are you blind? In fact, under this light, he looks almost indigo."

This began a discussion of what Naruto's "True" eye colour was, which ranged from Alice blue to even violet.

Eventually they agreed that whatever colour his eyes were, it was not blue. With that the snakes left, some muttering a small apology for the mistake.

Without any traces of an injury, Naruto hurried back towards his comrades. Orochimaru was most likely attacking Sasuke at that moment, and who knew what he would do to Hinata-chan?

"Aha! And here returns the -chan suffix! You like her, don't you?"

'Now is not the time to gloat, Kyuubi-sensei. But yes, I do like her... AS A FRIEND.'

"We're making some progress here. I'm impressed. But actually, it is the time to gloat. Therefore..." With that, Kyuubi turned into chibi mode again, this time holding flags with images of a terrifying fox with a small cowering boy with yellow hair. Victorious music was heard and a monkey on a unicycle went around the room going "Wheeee!" (8)

Naruto could not think up of a witty retort so opted to pout.

Hinata was beginning to panic. An unknown ninja was chasing her and Sasuke, and Naruto was nowhere to be found. Whoever the ninja was, he was no genin, that much was certain.

"Kukuku... Very impressive, Sasuke-kun.. But now it's over!" With that the ninja stretched his neck, bared his fangs and prepared to strike the unfortunate Uchiha.

Instead he was surprised to see that in the last minute a blond knocked his victim out of the way and ended up getting bitten on the shoulder.

"Naruto-kun!" screamed Hinata.

Clutching his neck, Naruto muttered, "Sooner or later... I will kill that freak..." and fainted. Three comma-like marks appeared from where he clutched his neck.

"Damn that Uzumaki brat!" cursed Orochimaru. The snake sannin turned to Sasuke almost apologetically. "I apologise, Sasuke-kun; it seems that this fool has taken your present. However, I can still give you a new one!" He began to elongate his neck again and prepare to strike at his target until...

"Makyou Hyou Shou!(9)"

A mirror of ice formed in front of his path. Orochimaru slightly backed off.

"Don't move. You will pay for attacking one of my precious people, Orochimaru." Out of the mirror appeared a Chuunin holding several senbon needles and looking extremely livid. With an almost casual flick he threw the needles into his opponent's vital organs.

Cursing again, he managed a smile as he sunk into the ground.

"A Tsuchi Bunshin (10)?" muttered Haku.

"Mark my words, I will be back..." Said the earth clone as he sunk into the ground. "And if he survives my power, eventually that blond haired brat shall seek me for power..."

"You're wrong," said Sasuke quietly, "He vowed to kill you with me."

"Apart from the obvious damage done to Naruto-san, is everyone alright?" asked Haku.

"Yes... but will Naruto be alright?" Asked Sasuke.

"A while ago I talked to Anko-san about this, because she had an odd mark on her shoulder as well. It turned out that she was bitten by Orochimaru as well. However, that mark is called a 'Cursed Seal'. Apparently it only has a ten percent chance of success."

Hinata gasped. "Then... does this mean that Naruto-kun only has a ten percent chance of living?"

"That maybe true. But Naruto-san is strong. I'm sure that he will be alright."

"How did you know that.. that... thing was there?"

"Naruto used a messenger bird to tell me. It was lucky that I was in the area. Unfortunately, I cannot stay any longer, or else you'll be disqualified. Knowing Naruto-san, he would kill me if I helped make you fail." Using a series of seals Haku disappeared.

This chapter is way too serious. We need a very small...OMAKE!

Mako (A/N: Forget his name. It is unimportant!) was nervous. A while ago he heard his team mates scream in terror at something. Whatever it was, it was huge. He noticed that several trees were knocked down in the process, and those trees were Gigantic. He nervously patted his yellow hair down, as it was his way of calming himself.

A rustle in the bushes nearby put Mako fully alert and more paranoid by the minute. Out of the bushes were several of the most enormous snakes he had ever seen in his life. He rubbed his blue eyes to try to convince himself that what he saw was a fabrication.

It wasn't. The snakes seemed pretty happy to see him though.

Mako cursed and prepared himself for the inevitable death by digestion, until another rumble alerted him.

Whatever it was, it was coming closer..

A giant cluster of pretty much everything rolled into him and the snakes, where he was pretty much stuck there for the rest of his life.

On the plus side, he found his team mates, plus the snakes didn't seem so hungry anymore.

Mako closed his eyes and remembered the last thing his mother told him.

"Be warned, son. There is a myth that an extremely tiny creature rolls a very sticky ball in the Forest of Death. The creature who wields the ball can make it larger with everything it rolls over. So it could roll ants, where it progressively grows into rolling bears, trees and even humans who are doomed to be rolled forever.

"So beware, son, of the creature named "The Prince" and beware of the sticky ball they call "Katamari"."

But Mako did not heed her wise words. He regretted that for the rest of his short life attached to the Katamari. (11)

... Thus marks the first part of the Forest of Death!

Notes:

(1) The Experiment - This refers to the Naruto manga in the three year jump. However, what our creepy friend doesn't know is that there was one successful experiment...

(2) Sasuke's revenge - A while ago I mentioned that the only people who knew that Orochimaru did this was Naruto, the Third Hokage and what's left of the Uchiha Clan. Therefore, he isn't aware that Sasuke hates his guts.

(3) Orochimaru didn't visit Konoha two years ago! You're talking crazy talk! - In my fic, he did. Live with it. It plays a role in the story.

(4) Kusa-nin - Grass ninja

(5) Wait, Orochimaru didn't teach the snakes how to talk! - In my fic, he does.

(6) Animalese - Reference to Animal Crossing: Wild World. One of the many things which distracts me from writing more often.

(7) Hebimaru - Quite a simple name. "Hebi" means 'snake' and "Maru" is usually a common suffix at the end of boy's names.

(8) The monkey riding a unicycle going "Wheee!" - ... Not much can be said here. It's an extremely vague reference to Fairly Odd Parents.

(9) Makyou Hyou Shou - Demonic Ice Mirrors. Unique to Haku, this jutsu encircles an opponent with over a dozen mirrors fashioned out of ice.

(10) Tsuchi Bunshin - Earth Bunshin

(11) Katamari - Er... I have no idea how this idea formed. It just... Happened. Poor Mako. May he rest in peace.

... Before you begin to attack me, I had this planned from the start. The reason why Naruto didn't use his Kage Bunshin was because of the fact that it was too late to form a bunshin and he didn't stop to think.

So, please tell me what you think of the chapter! Just.. please don't hurt me. D: