Thanks for the reviews, everyone! Loves ya!
Nami will be posting her stories around tonight (evil FF makes you wait three days SHARP) and is excited to start getting reviews of her own. Her username is "PranksterofKonoha", so look it up tonight if you're interested!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Enjoy the chapter!
Nami felt a warm ray of sunlight hit her face. Huh…what happened? She suddenly shot up only to be forced back down by a pain in her lower stomach area. "Ow…"
"You're awake."
Nami peered at Sakura who looked like a complete mess with bags under her green eyes and scratches coating her face. The pink-haired girl was placing a wet piece of cloth over the unconscious Sasuke. The Uchiha boy's face was contorted into what looked like pain. Cold sweat ran down his face.
Nami frowned.
"How are you feeling?" Sakura asked.
"Fine, I guess," Nami said as she attempted to stand without avail.
"You should stay," Sakura advised. "I don't think you're ready to go yet."
"Is that so?" Nami said, raising an eyebrow as she crossed her legs. "Whatever."
Sakura turned back to Sasuke, gazing down at him worriedly.
"Hey, don't you think you should take care of Naruto?" Nami asked skeptically. "Uchiha isn't your only teammate."
Sakura shot her a glare. "For your information, he's the one who got badly wounded! That Orochimaru person branded him with some kind of mark and he's in great pain!"
"And Naruto was the one who saved your sorry skins!" Nami countered. "If it weren't for him, you both would be lying on the forest floor, dead!"
"Don't judge me!" Sakura shouted angrily. "I care about both my teammates, not just Sasuke-kun!"
"Then act like it!"
Sakura was silent. She lowered her sight.
Nami just stared at the girl then looked away, deciding Sakura wasn't worth her time.
---
"Uh…"
Neji glanced at the stirring girl lying next to him a few inches away.
Midori's eyes slowly opened, then closed again. She suddenly sat up quickly, brown eyes completely opened wide. "W-What happened? Where are they?" She asked anxiously.
"Relax, they're gone," Neji said, standing up. "And now that my conscience is clear, I'll be going now. We're even."
Midori didn't say anything but just watched him go with a dazed look. Neji…he waited with me until he was sure I was fine…She smiled faintly, unaware that Neji saw it with his Hyuuga eyes.
As Midori started to get up, she noticed something. An Earth Scroll sitting beside her.
She took the scroll in her hands, confused. Neji left this…for me?
Midori felt a feeling of hotness in her cheeks as she pocketed the scroll. With a smile on her face, she leapt onto a branch and continued towards the tower.
---
Nami got up and stretched. It was still early in the morning and she was just about ready to head on out to the tower.
Sakura noticed her standing. "Nami, are you going to leave?" she asked.
"Yep," Nami nodded. "You guys aren't the only ones who want to pass this exam, after all."
"But…you can't just leave…" Sakura said a bit hesitantly.
"Why not?" Nami asked. "Are you too weak to defend your own teammates?"
Sakura's worried eye suddenly turned cold as she glared at Nami. "Of course I'm strong enough!"
"You don't sound too convincing," Nami smirked.
Sakura frowned and looked away. "Fine. Leave. I don't care."
Nami was about to leave when she suddenly noticed three figures some feet away. She clenched her fists and looked seriously towards the Sound ninja.
Sakura noticed them as well and said, "What do you want?"
"Oh, don't stop your conversation on account of us," Zaku said playfully. "We just wanted to have a little duel with Sasuke over there. Go ahead and take a nap, girls. We won't bother ya."
Nami scowled. "Sound nin." Pulling out a kunai, she turned to Sakura and said, "Hey, can you fight?"
Sakura stared at her for a moment and nodded resolutely, pulling out a kunai.
"Then you back me up," Nami ordered as she started running at the sound ninja. As she slashed her kunai towards Dosu who darted to the left, she felt her injuries affecting her once more. She grimaced in pain.
Dosu, seeing this opening, smashed his arm with the sound amplifier against Nami's back. His attack connected easily and Nami was forced to the ground, face-down.
"It seems that you have been through a battle," Dosu observed, amused. "And you still think you can take us on?"
Nami glowered, but in her mind she knew they were right. That damned Orochimaru injured me…I can't fight them…
"Nami!" Sakura shouted worriedly.
"Oh, ho," Zaku smirked. "Whatcha gonna do about your friend, girl?"
Sakura clenched her teeth. "Why do you want to fight Sasuke-kun? I know about Orochimaru! What's his plan?"
The three intruders looked surprised.
"What did this mark on Sasuke-kun's neck do? I won't allow you to fight him!" Sakura continued.
"What's Orochimaru thinking…?" Dosu wondered.
"Whatever it is, it doesn't matter," Zaku said, glancing down at Nami, then Sakura. "Because I'm gonna kill these two here…and then finish of Sasuke."
As Zaku started to move, Dosu stopped him.
"What is it, Dosu?" Zaku demanded.
"This girl is just a rookie," Dosu said, observing the ground. "I can tell. She's not very good…"
Zaku stared at Dosu incredulously, but then a wide amused smile appeared on his face. "It's a booby trap."
"Precisely," Dosu nodded. He turned to Sakura. "A trap is useless unless it goes unnoticed. You've failed."
Zaku scoffed. "Sasuke and that blond kid must be stupid…letting two girls defend them like this."
"Since there are obviously no uses for these two…" Dosu said. "Kill them. Starting with the pink-haired one."
The sound team leapt towards Sakura. Sakura smirked and cut an unnoticeable thread behind her.
"What?" Dosu said in surprise as a giant log blocked their way. "Another trap?"
"A giant log!" Zaku exclaimed.
Dosu smirked under his bandaged mask. "Hmph. You'll have to do better than that, little girl." Dosu placed his hand with the amplifier on the log and instantly the log cracked into millions of pieces.
Huh? Sakura thought, shocked.
"Honestly, you have no talent at all," Dosu said. "Weaklings like you shouldn't mess with guys like us."
Nami struggled to get up. Her back was burning and her front wasn't so great either. As she sat up, holding her stomach, she saw the sound nin charge towards the defenseless Sakura. "Sakura, move it!" she hollered.
"Konoha Sempuu!"
Nami's eyes widened as she saw the familiar green-clad figure kicking the enemies away in a split second.
"Huh…?" Sakura said, dazed.
"Then you guys should take your own advice," the savior smiled.
"Who are you?" Dosu demanded.
"I am Rock Lee…" Lee answered. "The beautiful green beast of Konoha!"
"Yes! Great save, Lee!" Nami cheered.
"W…why are you here?" Sakura asked quietly.
"I will always be by your side…when you are in danger," Lee said.
Sakura was speechless.
Nami frowned.
Lee released the squirrel that had been sitting on his shoulder.
"…Thank you…you saved me," Sakura said, smiling softly.
"I said before," Lee said, his back still turned to Sakura. "I will protect you with my life."
As Sakura smiled, Lee clenched his fist with a triumphant look on his face. Yes! It is working, Gai-sensei! I am awesome!
Dosu seemed tired. "All right then. Zaku, you take care of Sasuke. I'll handle these guys."
Suddenly, Sakura threw a kunai towards Dosu who bounded into the air.
A moment later, Lee appeared beneath him, his hand in the ground.
Dosu's eyes widened as Lee pulled out a thick root the size of a tree, no, bigger.
"I am not going to fall for your tricks," Lee declared. "I have seen them before."
He's…so strong… Sakura thought in awe.
Holy crap… Nami thought. Then she saw him unraveling the bandages on his arms. Making a sign with one hand, he disappeared before everyone's eyes.
Where did he go? Dosu thought urgently. The teenage boy suddenly emerged in front of him, kicking him into the air. Dosu grunted as the green beast disappeared once more and reappeared behind him.
"It is not over…" Lee stated.
Bandages started to wrap around Dosu's body, creating an inescapable prison. Lee turned himself as well as Dosu upside down and started spinning rapidly.
"Omote Renge!" Lee cried as he smashed Dosu into the ground headfirst. Dust rose, and the battle scene was covered. A few meters away, Zaku had both his hands on the ground.
"Looks like I made it in time," Zaku breathed.
Nami watched in horror as Dosu got up from the terrifying attack. I can't believe he was able to withstand that impact! Oh wait…yes I can. Almost forgot.
"No way!" Lee exclaimed.
"Nice try…" Dosu said, sounding exhausted. "But now it's my turn."
Lee flinched.
"Lee, look out!" Nami cried out as Dosu attacked.
Lee dodged the blow, but cringed as a strange sensation overtook his body.
"You're fast, but you can't withstand my wall of sound!"
Lee groaned. "Ugh…"
Nami winced as she saw Lee heave. Ew…
Blood dripped from Lee's ear. My ear… he thought, putting a hand over his ear.
Dosu chuckled. "You can't dodge my attacks, its impossible. Even if you dodge my blow, the sound will attack."
Nami narrowed her eyes. She tuned Dosu out, her eyes falling upon Lee, Naruto and Sasuke. They were in danger, and as soon as Lee was down, Sakura would have to defend them. There was no way she would just sit around an watch the pink-haired kunoichi fight them off herself.
Struggling, she started to move, but was suddenly caught by someone.
"Hey, I didn't forget about you," Kin said, smirking. "While my teammates take care of your little friend and those guys…why don't we have some fun?"
Nami scowled. "She's…not…my…friend!" Nami felt a burst of power and threw a punch at Kin who dodged.
"You're weak," Kin said. "Is it from a battle earlier…or is it natural?"
A frown appeared on Nami's face. Even if Kin isn't the strongest of the sound team…I won't be able to beat here like this.
"Konoha Sempuu!"
Nami and Kin both turned towards the sound of Lee's voice, forgetting about their 'battle' before it even started.
"Lee!" Nami shouted.
Lee cringed once more from the effects of the jutsu placed on him by Dosu.
"You almost had me there for a moment," Dosu said, throwing a punch at Lee.
Lee blocked Dosu's arm, but that didn't stop the sound.
"AAAAAAAHH!"
"LEE-SAN!" Sakura screamed.
Lee fell to the ground heavily, defeated and powerless. Dosu was too much for him. I am sorry...Sakura-san...
"Now…to finish you…" Dosu said.
"I won't let you!" Sakura shouted, throwing several shuriken towards Dosu.
Dosu deflected the attack. "Geez…"
Kin smirked and turned back to Nami. "Looks like one of your heroes are finished. You're next."
Nami closed her eyes and felt an impact in her stomach. She grunted, her face contorting into a pained expression.
She looked up at Kin and scowled. "You know…you're pretty low. Attacking someone who's injured…you're a real coward."
"What did you say?!" Kin demanded.
Nami's smirk disappeared as she saw Sakura get sliced by her own shuriken. "Sakura, don't you see that projectiles won't work?!"
Kin turned around and saw a chance to catch the pink-haired kunoichi, literally. Grabbing Sakura by her long hair, she smirked. "Hmph. Your hair has so much more shine and luster than mine. If you have so much time on your hands, you should train instead of worrying about your looks, you little pig. Hey Zaku, why don't you teach this girl a lesson? Kill Sasuke in front of his little fan girl…"
"Ha, ha, good one," Zaku smiled.
Nami winced. This isn't good…I…can't move… It seemed that Kin's kick did more than hurt. Before Zaku reached Sasuke, Nami blacked out.
---
Almost to the tower and no sign of anyone else. Wow, this exam is boring, Kyoko thought uninterestedly as she flew through the trees. Suddenly, Kyoko had an idea as she turned her view to the treetops which towered over her, blocking out the sun. I bet I have lots of time, Kyoko thought. So why not get a little training done?
The determined girl started to turn her direction from forward to up. She bounced up the trees using their tree branches, noting that they seemed to get thinner and thinner on the way up.
Of course, Kyoko thought gleefully. The higher up, the thinner and less the branches get! I'll reach the top! Fire burned in her decided eyes. However, she was too distracted to notice several figures hidden within the leaves of the branches.
She scaled higher and higher, almost reaching the top.
"One more branch!" she cheered aloud. As her foot connected to the slim branch, something dreadful happened.
CRACK.
"KYAAAAH!" Kyoko screamed as she plummeted down towards the ground to her death. Oh no! Kyoko, you idiot, you walked right into your own grave! Ah man…I can't die! There are so many things I haven't done yet! I haven't even made it to chuunin level! NOOOOOOOOOO!
Kyoko's life flashed before her eyes, forcing her to relive the moments once more. Wow…my life sucked…
Kyoko shut her eyes, not wanting to see the sight of her blood splatter all over the green forest floor. This is the end for me… She clenched her fists, ready for impact…that never came.
WHAT?
Kyoko cracked one eye open to see what had happened. Then both eyes fluttered open, amazed at what she saw.
A swarm of black beetles seemed to have captured her. The crowd lowered her down, in slow-motion it seemed. Then…
THUD.
"Ow…" Kyoko rubbed her backside as she stood up. It was then that she noticed Team Eight approaching her.
"A-Are you a-all r-right?" Hinata stuttered quietly.
"Yeah…" Kyoko said, still amazed at what she had gone through.
"You should be," Kiba piped up. "If it weren't for us, you'd be just another bloody corpse in the middle of the Forest of Death. Lucky we stopped by."
"Think of it as thanks for earlier," Shino added stoically. "Your distraction gave us enough time to escape that sand ninja."
"Right…distraction…" Kyoko chuckled, rubbing the back of her neck. "Thanks, guys. You really did save my—"
Suddenly, Shino tackled Kyoko to the ground, his hand on her back.
Kyoko turned red.
SLAP!
Shino stared at Kyoko with confusion and touched his now red cheek.
"What was that for, perv?!" Kyoko shouted.
Shino silently pointed behind the enraged Kyoko.
"Huh?" Kyoko followed his finger and turned redder. A tree was embedded deeply with a kunai. "Oh…" She smiled nervously. "S-Sorry…Shino…"
"Shino-kun, h-here," Hinata whispered, giving him a small container of ointment. "T-That looks s-sort of bad…"
"We're under attack here!" Kiba shouted. "Why are you guys being so calm?!"
Akamaru jumped out of Kiba's collar and started to bark wildly.
"They're over there!" Kiba announced, pointing upwards.
Surely enough, three rain ninja dropped down from the branches and landed lightly on the ground in sync.
"We'll be taking your scrolls," one of the ninja stated. "So let's just make this easy."
Akamaru barked something to Kiba who smirked.
"Heh," Kiba said nonchalantly. "Akamaru and I can tell cowards when we see them."
The rain nin looked angrily at Kiba. "Cowards eh? Would cowards do this, you little brat?!" He tossed tens of kunai toward the group of five (counting Akamaru XD).
Team Eight scattered in different directions and Kyoko leaped into the air, feeling something skim her back pouch. She turned her attention down as she saw her weapons, water bottle, and other contents clattering to the ground. She landed on a branch and took off her now totaled pouch. She glared irately at the intruders with flames of rage in her eyes. "You…scattered…my…weapons! YOU JERKS!"
The rain nin exchanged confused glances.
As Kyoko started to leave her roost, Shino came from behind and held her back.
"What?" Kyoko demanded.
"Don't charge at them blindly," Shino said. "They are one of the best from their village, after all."
"Right…" Kyoko said, though she still looked homicidal. "At least let me beat their faces in." She was hungry for some action.
Shino turned to Kiba who also looked excited. Hinata stood a little behind Kiba, looking reluctant. Then he rotated his sight back to the enemies. Kiba and this girl…are complete hotheads. They won't wait for long until they—
"Chaaaaaarge Akamaru!" Kiba shouted as he put his hands together into a hand sign. "Juujin Bunshin!"
As Akamaru jumped onto Kiba's crouching form, the small dog transformed into Kiba.
"Gatsuuga!"
As the two twins started spinning around at a deadly speed, they crashed into the enemies, knocking them off their feet. The rain nin fell to the ground a few meters away, surprised at the power these lowly rookies had.
"Hinata!" Kiba called as he stopped by putting on hand on the ground and spreading his legs out. "Who has the scroll?"
"Byakugan!" Hinata cried. She observed the intruders and said, "The bigger one on the left!"
"Leave him to me!" Kyoko declared, taking out some kunai from her holster. Stupid rain nin…now I only have kunai!
She flung the weapons towards the biggest rain ninja, forcing him to jump in the air. Kyoko followed him, tossing more and more as the chase went higher and higher.
TOK. TOK. TOK.
"Where are you aiming at?" the rain nin mocked. "The branches?"
Kyoko smirked. "You're not so stupid after all."
"What?" Suddenly, the branch underneath the ninja cracked under his weight and he started tumbling down. He smirked as he approached a branch. "Ha! You think a simple trick like that will—" the ninja stopped as he noticed Kyoko making a hand sign.
As soon as her hands touched, several explosions set off on the branches beneath the rain nin. He braced himself for the impact, but it wasn't enough to get him out of there unaffected.
---
Nami's eyes fluttered open. Argh! Blacked out again! What happened? Her eyes darted around, seeing pretty much everyone besides Team Eight in the area.
"MAN!" Nami shouted loudly, gaining everyone's attention. "Missed out on the action again!"
Sakura raised an eyebrow as she watched Nami. She's lucky…
"Oi, Sakura-chan!" Naruto called.
"What now…?" Sakura muttered wearily.
"What did you do to your hair, Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked worriedly.
"Oh, this?" Sakura said flipping her now short hair casually. "Well—"
"Her hair was being devoured by a massive snake so she had to cut it before it popped her head!" Nami cut in cheerfully.
Sakura gave her a look of both anger and annoyance. Mostly annoyance.
"…Seriously?" Naruto said as if he believed Nami.
Everyone in the area sweat dropped.
"No!" Sakura said disbelievingly. "I was just trying to change my image. Long hair is great…but it's pretty useless in a forest like this. It would get in the way."
"Oh…" Naruto nodded. He glanced at Shikamaru and Chouji. "And what're these guys doing here?"
"Explaining things to you is troublesome," Shikamaru said.
Naruto glared.
"These guys…came to save us," Sakura said, smiling distantly.
"LEE! SNAP OUT OF IT! WAKE UP!"
The group turned to see Lee's female teammate shaking the living daylights out of him.
Once Lee woke up, Tenten started scolding him harshly.
"You're an idiot!" Tenten finished angrily.
"Heh…can't argue with that…" Lee slumped, though he smiled a bit.
"Hey! I know you! Gejimayu!" Naruto shouted, pointing at Lee.
POW!
"Don't be rude to Lee-san!" Sakura socked Naruto, making him fly several feet. He skidded and stopped right in front of Nami who had slowly gotten up.
"Aw…poor Naruto. Do you want an icepack, little bro?"
Naruto groaned.
---
Kyoko touched the ground gracefully, though the same couldn't be said for the totaled rain nin. She turned to Team Eight who had just finished off the rain nin's two teammates and held up the victory sign.
"Oh yeah! We kick butt!" Kyoko cheered.
Kiba walked over to stand next to Kyoko and leaned down to examine the unconscious ninja who had many burn marks all over his body. He straightened up and turned to Kyoko, a calm look on your face. "Hey…did you stop to think that maybe…oh, I don't know…YOU BLEW UP THE SCROLL TOO?"
Kiba's outburst forced Kyoko to fall backwards, surprised. "SORRY!" she shouted, suddenly realizing her mistake. "I didn't mean to!"
"YOU DIDN'T MEAN TO?"
"Not to worry," Shino said, holding his arm out.
As the two loud ones watched Shino with confused expressions, beetles started to leak out of his sleeve carrying…
"The scroll!" Kyoko exclaimed, taking the Heaven Scroll from the bugs thankfully.
Although nobody saw it, Shino raised an eyebrow. She isn't afraid of my beetles…even Hinata is a little antsy over them…How strange.
"How'd you do that, Shino?" Kiba asked, confused.
"I planted a female on the rain nin that girl was fighting," Shino explained. "And had my insects track him down and steal his scroll."
Kyoko looked at him strangely. That girl? Then, it hit her. She laughed out loud in amusement. "My name's Shimizu Kyoko!"
After a short rally of introductions, Team Eight started to depart.
Shino nodded. "The scroll is yours, Kyoko-san."
"Thanks!" Kyoko said, smiling. She was about to put the scroll into her back pouch when she remembered that it was broken. "Aw man…"
"Give it to me," Shino said, taking the pouch. Countless black beetles crawled over the pouch. When they dispersed, the pouch was mended.
Kiba whistled. "Didn't know your beetles could sew, Shino."
Shino just stared at him.
"That's so cool!" Kyoko exclaimed. Her smile widened as she saw the chakra bugs gathering her weapons and placing them into her pouch. "Thanks, Shino!"
"It's only proper to give something in return for saving our lives," Shino said simply.
"You guys be careful now!" Kyoko said as soon as her weapons were back in her pouch along with the scroll.
"I was gonna say the same thing," Kiba grinned.
"S-See you a-at the t-tower," Hinata said, her stutter coming back.
Haha, the Forest of Death is almost at its end! I have to tell ya, figuring out the time frame was REALLy annoying, but worth it. R&R please! And remember, "PranksterofKonoha" tonight!
-HM