Hakureisaiga- Ha! And you thought that I abandon this story, you are mistaken…I am back with another chapter of Naruto no Taka

Arashigan16- To be safe, I have no idea….but I believe I might have her show up again

Aracade- Thanks for the compliment

To everyone else, thanks for commenting on this story

Kyuubi's Mate- You know, to be honest, I had no idea what was that about….until I realized what it was. So this idea gave me an omake idea

Omake- Kurenai Won't Say That She's In Love

Kurenai- If there is a prize for rotten judgment, I guess that I've already won that. No man is worth the aggravation, that's ancient history-been there, done that.

Anko, Yugao, Hana, Stellar, Hinata- Who d'ya think you're kidding? He is the earth and heaven to ya. Try to keep it hidden. Honey, we can see right through you.

Kurenai- Ohhhhh,noooooo

Anko, Yugao, Hana, Stellar, Hinata-Girl , you can't conceal it. We know how you feel and who you're thinking of.

Kurenai-Oh… No chance, no way, I won't say…no, no.

Anko, Yugao, Hana, Stellar, Hinata- You swoon, you sigh….why deny it, uh-oh

Kurenai-It's too cliché, I won't say I'm in love

Anko, Yugao, Hana, Stellar, Hinata- Shoo-doo, shoo-doo,oo

Kurenai-I thought my heart is learned its lesson. It feels so good when you start out. My head is screaming, "Get a grip, girl!" Unless you are dying to cry your heart out.

Anko, Yugao, Hana, Stellar, Hinata- You keep on denying who you are and how you're feeling. Baby, we are not buying, hon, we saw you hit the ceiling. Face it like a grown-up, when you are going to own up that you got, got, got it bad?

Kurenai- Oh… No chance, no way, I won't say…no, no.

Anko, Yugao, Hana, Stellar, Hinata- Give up, but give in. Check the grin, you 're in love.

Kurenai- This scene won't play, I won't say I'm in love

Anko, Yugao, Hana, Stellar, Hinata- You're doin' flips, read our lips, you're in love

Kurenai- You're way off base, I won't say it. Get off my case, I won't say it.

Anko, Yugao, Hana, Stellar, Hinata- Girl, don't be proud. It's ok, you're in love.

Kurenai- Oh oh oh oh oh oh, at least out loud, I won't say I'm in…..love.

Anko, Yugao, Hana, Stellar, Hinata- Shoo-doo, Shoo-doo, Sha la la la….la

Chapter 10: Friends and Enemies: Taka vs. Xavier

"It's been a long time….Xavier." Taka said. Taka turned around to see his old longtime friend turned hated enemy, Xavier. He was lean with black eyes and brown skin. He wore the traditional grey assassin suit carrying two katanas on his back and his hidden blade on his left arm.

"Taka….did you miss me? How was your stay away from me?" Xavier said.

Taka said, "Apparently not enough, what are you doing here?"

Xavier said, "Now it is that a way to treat your best friend?"

Taka said, "Sorry, you have been replaced. You lost that right to have that status when you killed Arthur and Cassie."

Xavier said, "An eye for an eye, Taka….now I came here for a proposition for you."

Taka tensed, "Saving a life from death other than you getting punished was better, but you couldn't let it go. Whatever you are offering, I don't want any part of it. "

Xavier said, "But here is the kicker, if you accept….I will have Cassandra and Arthur brought back to life."

Taka's eyes widened, "Cassie….Arthur…."

The rogue assassin said, "My master, Orochimaru will do this if you pledge your undying loyalty." As soon as Orochimaru rolled off his lips, flashes of Anko in pain, the curse mark and her screams were echoing throughout Taka's mind.

"You….can take your offer…and shove it up your ass. Cassandra and Arthur should not be disturbed….I do miss them both, but they are both in a better place now. I will not wander in the past, I will look to the future. So my answer is no, Xavier." Taka said in conviction.

Xavier sneered in contempt, "Pity, if only you would have joined us….your life would have been spared, we could have been friends again. This is our final goodbye….whenever we meet again, we will be enemies and I will not hesitate to kill you."

Taka said, "Funny we already said this in Masyaf….very well I will issue the same words….I will be waiting for you, Xavier. Now begone!"

The rogue assassin slipped into the shadows without a trace. "Cassie…Arthur…I will avenge your deaths." The maelstrom thought. Hinata called, "Taka, let's go! It is almost time."

Taka walked toward her and she asked, "What were you doing?"

Taka lied, "Thinking about this exam, we should locate a team and ambush them."

Hinata said, "We were thinking of the same thing."

Taka said, "Then I suggest Kabuto's team….something is off about him."

Hinata said, "How?"

Taka explained, "When I was part of the Brotherhood, my senses and intuition always go off when someone is a spy or an effective liar. When Kabuto was talking, a certain vibe warned me that he is hiding something."

Hinata said, "So you want us to find them for questioning their motives."

Taka said, "Correct….we will tell Shino of our plan. First, we get our scrolls and then we locate Kabuto and his team."

Hinata said, "But…we don't know where he is."

Taka said, "I do…when we helped him up after he was 'assaulting' by those Oto ninja, I placed a seal on him that sends out a chakra pulse every five minutes. Your Byakugan should be able to locate him, now let's go."

Forest of Death- Taka, Hinata and Shino went through Gate 69…heh heh, 69. Anyway they went through Gate 69 and watched an unsuspected Konoha team. Hinata said, "They have the Heaven scroll, Taka-kun."

Taka said, "Good, now to do this discreetly….Shino…."

Shino said, "On it." He began to communicate with the monstrous leeches and one of them was able to latch on one of their backs, then a horde dropped from the canopy and on top of them, making them unable to move due to the paralysis administered to them by the leeches.

Taka searched through them and found the Heaven scroll, "Got it."

Shino took it from him and Taka said, "Now we find Kabuto and his team."

Shino said, "Are we going to take them out?"

Taka said, "It depends if you can't subdue his teammates, kill them. Kabuto can be dead or alive, but his teammates may know something about his motives." Shino nodded and Taka moved to the trees with Hinata on his right and Shino on his left. Meanwhile, Kabuto finished dispatching a Konoha team and got their scrolls, "Now that this bothersome requirement is out of the way, we better go to the tower and then I will observe Sasuke-kun's team." Suddenly kunai shot out towards them and Kabuto, Yoroi and Misumi moved away from the projectiles. They landed a few feet away to see Team 8 in front of them. "My, Taka, Hinata, Shino….what is this?" Kabuto asked with a smile.

Taka said, "Kabuto, drop the charade…..I know that you are wearing a mask."

Kabuto said, "What do you mean?"

Taka said, "The fact that my former friend Xavier just paid me a visit and you showing up when I have never seen you in the village before…..it can't be a coincidence. Anyway does Orochimaru ring any bells?"

The two teammates flinched at the mention of him and Taka said, "I will take your silence and the flinching as a yes…which means you three are traitors."

Kabuto said, "It seems that we have been figured out, unfortunately I can't let either of you live after that. Orochimaru-sama will be so pleased that he can experiment with the Byakugan." Yoroi took on Shino while Hinata took on Misumi, Kabuto and Taka faced off against each other.

"Well, it seems that you are such an enigma, Taka-kun or should I say, Naruto-kun?" Kabuto said.

Taka said, "I thought as much that Xavier told me my true name."

Kabuto said, "Yes, he told me some interesting things….about your secret relationship with Cassandra and your brotherly love for Arthur. Have you decided to join us?"

Taka said, "No, from what I hear, your master tends to dispose of people who have served their purpose to him once they have sworn loyalty to him."

Kabuto said, "Such a waste….oh, well, gives me an opportunity to explore that body of yours."

Taka said, "Sorry, I am straight, Kabuto. Too bad Orochimaru got a new butt buddy to play with."

Kabuto said, "How dare you question my sexuality?"

Taka smirked, "So you are gay?"

Kabuto said, "Fuck you!"

Taka said, "I am sure Orochimaru will take that job. Hell, you guys love cosplay, the boss and his secretary."

Kabuto said, "Chakura no Mesu."

Taka drew his scimitar, "Let's dance, homo."

Shino and Yoroi- "You picked a bad opponent, boy." Yoroi said.

Shino said, "Are you sure about that?"

Yoroi flipped through hand signs, "Chakra Kyuin no Jutsu…" Yoroi moved to grab Shino and suddenly Shino burst into bugs, which crawled over Yoroi.

Shino appeared behind a tree, "My name….is Shino Aburame….you were a bad opponent for me. You can absorb chakra into your system, but since you are human..you have a limit…but kikaichu don't have any limits at all…this is the end for you."

Hinata and Misumi- Misumi said, "You are going to die, little girl…but before that I might have a use for you…" He unconsciously licked his lips and Hinata said, "You know, the last time a person told me that….ending up dead with his brain turned to mush."

Misumi said, "Orochimaru-sama will be most interesting in learning about your Byakugan…"

Hinata said, "Sorry, I don't plan on being an experiment…I plan on passing this exam, becoming a chunin, then a Jonin, then retiring with Taka-kun with some children."

Misumi said as he launched kunai at her, "Then I am sorry….because that is not going to happen ever." Hinata said, "Kaiten!" She spun, blocking the kunai and launched them back at Misumi.

He avoided the strikes and Hinata appeared behind him, "You…."

Hinata smiled, "Hakke: Hasangeki!!" Hinata sent a wave of chakra at point blank range, mutilating Misumi fatally. Hinata said, "Like I let you get me…this is reserved for Taka-kun."

Taka and Kabuto- Kabuto was panting in exertion and Taka was still coming strong with his scimitar. "Come on, homo, I thought you were going to kill me, so you reported how you were a good boy and Orochimaru can fuck you in the ass like a submissive bitch."

Kabuto said, "Shut the fuck up, Orochimaru-sama is stronger than you think."

Taka said, "Oh, right? A guy that is afraid of death, treats his subordinates like shit and fucks his right hand man….hey, by the way, since you are his right hand man….does he favor your right hand on his small dick."

Kabuto was driven over the edge and his killing intent rose up. Taka smirked at this as Kabuto charged at him, "Perfect….you are angry." Taka moved to the side to avoid Kabuto's swipe and used his hidden blade to stab Kabuto's arm, piercing the elbow joint.

Kabuto roared in pain, but then Taka simply cut off Kabuto's legs with the scimitar. "And when you are angry, you tend to get sloppy, now talk….why is Orochimaru here?"

Kabuto said, "He is here for Sasuke…he is the key to his plans to rule this world."

Taka demanded, "What plans? What is Sasuke to him?"

Kabuto said, "He…is his…." It was too late, Kabuto died from the blood loss and Taka sighed, "Damn, I thought I would have more time."

Suddenly Hinata and Shino came up to him as Taka sealed Kabuto's head. "So…how was your fights?"

Hinata and Shino said, "Boring…" Shino said, "He didn't even put up a challenge, he charged in and he knew that I was an Aburame judging by my outfit." Hinata said, "He didn't take in the fact that I was fast…"

Taka said, "Me…I just insulted Orochimaru and he went ballistic on me….anyway we better get to the tower, we got the scroll we need. Let's get out of here before anyone else should come over here." The three leaped through the trees and moved toward the tower, they encountered abnormally large tigers, but they were drained by Shino.

They reached the tower as Gaara's team reached the entrance. "Hello, you must be Sabaku no Gaara, right?"

Gaara looked at Taka and said, "Correct, who are you?"

Taka said, "I'm Taka, my teammates are Shino and Hinata."

Gaara said, "Mother wishes your blood for some reason….I will grant it if you face me."

Taka said, "Oh, that won't happen, I am hard to kill…"

Taka said, "Who are your teammates?" One was a blonde female with four pigtails in the back of her head and the other had a cat-like suit with purple markings and a strange bandage on his back. The blonde said, "I'm Temari and this is my brother, Kankuro."

Taka said, "It is nice to meet you all….I hope that we can face each other in combat during this test. Well, ja ne." Taka along with Shino and Hinata moved to one of the halls and Shino said, "My bugs were warning me about that Gaara character…he seems dangerous."

Hinata said, "And what does he mean by Mother?"

Taka said, "I have an idea…."

Shino said, "Care to elaborate?"

Taka said, "Remember about my prisoner…I have a hunch that he is the same as me….only something is wrong with his seal or maybe it is the Bijuu inside of him, either way it is jacking up his mind, making him delusional and psychotic."

Shino said, "That would be a logical reason…the Yondaime was an excellent seal master, Suna doesn't have one…so the seal might be crude on Gaara."

Taka said, "Makes me wonder what could have happened to me if the Yondaime was not a seal master. Anyway….I doubt anyone can defeat a Jinchuuriki except another Jinchuuriki or you two. You, Hinata, could be able to do it since she can seal tenketsu and Shino, you could do it to as long as he doesn't use his demonic chakra…then your colony would be in danger. So if you guys face him….take him out hard and fast. His abilities are unknown, but we will see them in the exams."

Shino and Hinata nodded, then Taka said, "Now let's see….if you lack heaven, seek wisdom and be prepared, if you lack earth, run in the fields, seek advantages. If you have both heaven and earth, you can succeed even the most dangerous mission. Nice riddle, Sarutobi-jii-sama."

Shino said, "If you are illiterate, you must study to get smart. If you are physically weak, you must train hard. When you have both, you can become unstoppable."

Hinata said, "Let's open the scrolls.."

Taka handed the heaven scroll to Shino and the two boys opened the scroll to see the kanji for person. Shino said, "It is a summoning scroll, drop it!" Shino and Taka flung them into the corner and slid into stances in an instant.

When the smoke cleared, Team 8 relaxed as Kotetsu appeared, "Congratulations for passing the second phase….and you are in record time too. Have you three figured out the riddle too?" All three nodded in unison and Kotetsu said, "Great, saves me time from explaining it. By the way, nice job using Morse Code to cheat in the first exam..brilliant."

Taka said, "Glad that you thought so."

Soon Team 8 was escorted to their rooms and waited around for the five days. During that time, they spent time improving their skills and chakra control by walking up on the walls using their hands and making a leaf stick to their forehead.

Soon Team 8 found a team from Kiri came in, followed by a battered Team Gai, Team 10, Team Dosu, and finally Team 7 as the days ended. Finally all of the teams were escorted to the arena inside the tower, where their respected senseis were waiting along with the Hokage and other Jonin.

Anko said through the microphone, "First off, for the second test, congratulations on passing." Then she thought, "But I never expected that there were going to be this many still…I expected single digits. And Naruto-kun is still okay….along with his team. Uchiha worries me with that bastard's mark on his neck."

She winked at Taka, who smirked a bit. Kurenai sighed in relief, "Taka-kun…he is alright along with Hinata-chan and Shino-san."

The Hokage thought, "For this many to be here and most of them are all of the Rookie Nine. I better start explaining the third phase of the Chunin Exam."

Anko said, "Now…we will let Hokage-sama explain the third test. Hokage-sama, if you please?"

Sarutobi nodded, "Thank you, Anko. First, I personally congratulate you on passing the second part of this exam. Before we begin, I would like to inform you about the true reason of this exam." The genin perked up at the Hokage's words.

"True reason?" Sakura thought.

"Why do we have all the allied countries taking the exam together?" Sarutobi asked rhetorically, "To promote friendship among the countries, to raise the level of shinobi. Please don't be confused with these sugar-coated words, this exam is…" Tenten thought, "Is..?" Sarutobi continued, "Is a technical war between the allied countries."

All the genin except Gaara, Team 8 and the Kiri team were shocked. "Wait…just what does that mean?" Tenten said.

Sarutobi mused, "If we were to go back in time, the allied countries were all enemies. To preserve peace, the Chunin Exam Selection was born to solve the problem."

Kiba shouted, "Why the hell we have to do that shit? Is this for deciding chunin?"

Sarutobi answered, "Yes, that is correct, but also this exam has another side. You are risking your own lives to fight for your respected village's prestige. The ones watching the exam will be leaders and influential individuals, also each daimyo will be there to watch you fight. If you are considered weak, the country will lose clients and vice versa. It also sends a political message to other countries to show their strength."

Kiba shouted, "Yeah, but why?!…why do we have to risk our lives in battle?!"

Sarutobi replied, "The strength of the country relies on the strength of the village. In turn, the strength of the village lies within the strength of the shinobi and the strength of the shinobi is at its peak when in danger. It is to show off your own strength, which only has meaning when your life is at risk, that's why those who came before you have fought in the Chunin Exam for this dream that is meaningful."

Tenten said, "But…why do you say stuff about this exam being for friendship?"

The Hokage said, "Like I said, I don't want you to confuse this purpose. By losing life and establishing balance…this is the shape of friendship in the world of the shinobi. Now before we begin the third test, I will tell you one more thing…this is not just a test. This is a battle with your dreams and your country's prestige on the line."

Gaara said, "I don't care what it you hurry up and tell us what this life-risking battle entails."

The Hokage said, "Hai, I'd like to now explain the third test now, but…" Then a sickly-looking jonin interrupted, "Actually (cough), I would like you to allow me, Gekko Hayate, as a referee." Sarutobi said, "By all means, Hayate-san."

Hayate gets up from his kneeling position and turned to the genin, "Hi everyone, I am Hayate…and there is, umm, something that I would like you to do something before the third test."

Taka looked at him with a smile, "Hayate-san, always with the coughing fit, but it is no wonder that Yugao likes that devious mind of yours." Hayate said, "Umm…it's a preliminary for the third test to decide who gets to participate in the main event."

Sakura said softly, "Preliminaries?!"

Shikamaru shouted, "Preliminaries? The hell does that mean?"

Sakura piped up, "Sensei, I don't understand this preliminary, but why are all the people here allowed to take the next test?"

Hayate coughed, "Simple, there is too many of you since the first and second test has been way too easy for you guys. According to the rules, we must have a preliminary and reduce the number of the participants. As Hokage-sama said, there are many guests here, so the fights will take too long. If those of you feel like quitting may do so now."

Nobody moved a muscle, but Taka noticed that Sakura and Sasuke were arguing and the Uchiha had a tendency to hold the back of his neck. Sarutobi noticed this too, "I thought so…"

Ibiki whispered, "What should we do?"

Anko whispered, "We should remove him from this exam and have the ANBU watch over him and protect him."

Kakashi said, "Anko, you know for a fact that he is not going to agree with that."

Sarutobi said, "Also the fact still stands that he will kill everyone if we stop the exam….preferably if we remove Sasuke from this exam. Therefore we will let him compete….however if the curse seal activates, stop him….if it means by killing him."

Hayate said, "So…no more retiring."

Nobody moved from their positions and then the Jonin said, "Okay, then let's…um, continue the preliminaries. This preliminary will consist of one on one fighting, you will basically fight as if you are in a real life confrontation. Since we have an odd number, we will conduct eleven matches and obviously the winners will proceed to the third test. Rules….there are no rules, the fight continues until one of you is dead, unconscious or I declare the winner of the match and the object that controls your destiny is…."

Anko muttered in her mike, "Open it."

A wooden panel opened up to reveal an electric scoreboard. "Now let's announce who will have the extra match…." Hayate said. The scoreboard flashed through names for a brief moment until it stopped on Taka's name.

Taka thought, "Oh, well, I can use my match as a warm up."

Hayate said, "Now let's announce the first match….Uchiha Sasuke vs. Mishima Akito." Taka's eyes flickered to Sasuke's group seeing that he was still in pain, then he looked at the Kiri group.

One was a tan with glasses on his face, he had bandages on his left arm and a katana at his right hip, his face was pale and he had black hair and eyes.

The second was tall and has a large cleaver on his back, he wore a black yukata and steel geta. His hair was russet red and had green eyes.

The third one wore a blue shirt and Jonin-style pants, his skin was dark and he has brown eyes. His hair was a silky black and he wrapped it in a ponytail that ended on the back of his neck, but he had a nodachi in his hand.

The Oto jonin thought, "Where is Kabuto and his team? There is no way that they could have been killed….unless that Taka brat took him out."

Taka caught the Jonin's gaze and thought, "So you are here, Orochimaru….hmph, considering the fact that Xavier could be here somewhere, I will let you live for now. But when the opportunity rises again, I will kill you, Orochimaru….you will pay for making Anko's life a living hell."

Hayate asked, "Now will these two entrants please come forward…the two participants in the first fight, Uchiha Sasuke and Mishima Akito, are you ready?"

Akito said, "Yes."

Sasuke said, "Yeah."

Taka thought to himself, "Hmm, what does Orochimaru want with Sasuke?"

Hayate said, "Now….we will be starting the next match, will everyone except the two participants move up to the upper level." Everyone moved upstairs, but Taka walked slowly to eavesdrop on Kakashi and Sasuke's conversation.

"Sasuke….don't use the Sharingan." Kakashi warned.

Sasuke said, "So you know…."

Kakashi said, "If the curse seal becomes active, you might lose your life."

Sasuke answered back, "Probably…"

Kakashi replied, "And if that happens, I will jump in and stop the match, got it?"

Taka thought, "As I suspected, Orochimaru has marked Sasuke with the mark he used on Anko…the cursed seal, meaning he has finally fixed the kinks out of it, but it doesn't explain why he wants Sasuke for. I need to do some reconnaissance later."

Sasuke thought, "Damn it, the curse seal responds to my chakra and drains my body and takes over my mind….which means that I can only use weapons and taijutsu instead of my normal Katon jutsu." He smirked, "Now….what do I do?"

Taka whispered, "Be careful…Sasuke."

Hayate said, "Now….BEGIN!!"

Hakureisaiga- End chapter, next chapter- Life Risking Battles!! It appears that Orochimaru has marked Sasuke, but for what Taka doesn't know. Kabuto is dead, making Xavier the right hand man. Will Taka be able to kill Orochimaru for Anko? Will he be able to kill Xavier for Cassie and Arthur?