Now before I begin there is something I would like to say.
Seriously, what is up with the forest of death it's tossed around like a child's play toy in fanfiction. Whenever someone needs to prove that five year old Naruto is a badass they throw him in there and he miraculously survives, they throw him in there to uber train or something, they throw him in there to find something that others have missed. So yeah some pull it off nicely and it is a training ground but the enemies people come up with are so mundane, seriously people just throw tigers in there and call it in. Seriously you could use mythic or ancient predators here and no one could call foul on you. In fact I'll use sabertooth tigers and Dire wolves in this chapter and prove a point on how much deadlier it can seem.
Then there is the finding stuff in the forest of death thing, I can barely stomach these sometimes as they just go about the presenting of the object Naruto finds in such a way that I have to call bullshit. IT'S A WALLED-IN FOREST, I'm pretty sure that in the time it's been walled in Konoha has found everything of worth finding in terms of ancient plot devices. Other things though, like old facilities of Orochimaru and what not, I can believe because it just fits somehow. So to close up my thoughts, people don't take the forest of death seriously enough sometimes, myself included.
Chapter 12 : Sakura's game and the Forest spirit
Sakura huffed as she ran forward at Dosu, the one she recognized as mummy face. He took a swing at her with the armored arm and Sakura side stepped with a smirk. "You can't dodge me, this arm generates and inescapable sound wave" Dosu laughed before a feeling of pain washed over that arm. In several of the holes that doted the arm where senbon, stuck in so that they touched the metal armor and interfered with the vibration attack.
"First Move: Disable" Sakura stated as she moved forward with a sweep "Not only is your sound attack useless but if you force it through your attack is inverted" she gloated as she threw a punch that was quickly knocked aside.
"Not if I GURK" Dosu said before taking a roundhouse to his ribs, effectively cracking a few before a Kunai was shoved into his hand, right where the spike had gone through earlier. He fell to the ground in pain while looking up at the brutal pink haired girl
"Second Move: Bait and Strike" Sakura gave the boy on the ground "Followed by the Third Move: Strike at Weakness, you're so predictable as soon as your greatest asset was taken away you leapt to try and get it back, leaving yourself open to an attack that allowed me to effectively disable your primary arm…Heh and I've only known you for about four minutes" Sakura said before hearing an odd ringing from behind her.
"Checkmate ain't until you take out the other pieces you Pink haired bitch" Kin snarled as she tugged at the wires she had just thrown , making them go taunt and getting Sakura snared in them. " You need to start paying attention, NOW ZAKU" Kin shouted as a Narrow wave of pressure engulfed Sakura, making her scream out in pain as the various pieces of dust and dirt tore at her skin like sandpaper while battering her with solid walls of pressure.
Sakura then slumped down, still bound by the wires, only to fall to the ground rather painfully when the wires where released. Kin approached the fallen girl slowly, returning the same superior grin that Sakura had given her earlier. "You got to cocky little girl" Kin scoffed, only to notice the wires weren't fully slacked.
Sakura launched another sweep, making Kin jump. Unfortunately because Kin still held onto her wires Sakura was easily able to use them to get Kin to fall back to the floor, only this time bound in her own wires unable to escape.
"Fourth Move: Sacrifice, Fifth Move: Play Possum, and Sixth Move: Turnabout" Sakura told the remaining members of the Sound genin team "You really don't get it do you, I let you hit me because I knew your friend Dosu would get hit too" She motioned to Dosu's form which was hunched and in visible pain as he refrained from moving. Taking a deep breath Sakura applied a strengthening technique that many ninja's used and picked Kin up with frightening ease before throwing her forward at Zaku. " I what you know all of you well enough already that I can predict your moves" Sakura said "You can't win" Sakura said as Zaku caught Kin and tugged the wires to drag Sakura forward, as she was still tangled up after tossing Kin away. Unfortunately Sakura foresaw this and positioned herself so that when she collided with Zaku that she would nail his wrist and disable his arm. "Seventh Move: Bait , Eight move: Disable" she muttered as she landed only to have a needle from Kin pierce her shoulder.
Zaku followed this up by using his other cannon to set off another dust storm, only this time from below, sending Sakura into the air. The pressurized air and dust hit her like sandpaper and knocked the wind right out of her as it pushed her up into the air. "Your too full of yourself Pinky, did you really think you could just best us in ten moves" Zaku spat before a hissing sound at his wrist tipped him off "SHIT" he shouted as he pulled his jacket off in haste to get the tag off, forgetting that he could simply disarm it by crushing it.
"ninth move: Misdirection" Sakura smirked before taking an unexpected kick to the side. Looking for the culprit she spotted the injured Dosu standing above her " But the way I put those senbon in should be slowing your recovery, you should still be down".
"Don't underestimate a Sound Ninja, you Pink dolt" Dosu spat as he lifted his arm up, revealing the needles ti all be gone and his armored arm ready to let loose a blast.
Sakura shuffled back in terror, her minds scrambling for options and failing to find them. She had one move left to prove her point, but her survival was more important and yet her damn ego kept going back to that one move. Then the answer came to her. Sakura's face twisted into a despite grin as Dosu prepared to attack "Tenth move: Stall Tactics Successful…remember all my talks about variables earlier…meet my ace in the hole, Sasuke Uchiha" Sakura snorted as she began a full fledge laughed and not a girlish giggle.
From behind Dosu and overwhelming presence filled the clearing, energy was visible wafting off the form. The mere presence made Dosu freeze and break out in a cold sweat. "Did they hurt you Sakura?" the presence of Sasuke's voice was so strong that the Sound Ninja winced at his words.
"They beat me like a drum Sasuke" Sakura even pouted for extra effect as she saw the dark marking that covered his skin extending out from his arm. So what if it was a lie, Sakura was going to win.
"You'll pay" the cold tone of his voice cut into the Sound genin as Sasuke approached his first target, Dosu.
KAMI
Sakura awoke suddenly with a sharp pain in her shoulder. The guys had decided to move camp and let Sakura rest before moving on to the next portion of the exam. The only problem was the nightmares that she kept having, the memories that were so fresh and scaring that they were the most prevalent in her mind. Every time she managed to drift off to sleep the image of Sasuke attempting to pry that Zaku guys arms off would come back and terrify her. The fact that she had been the one to sick the monster known as Sasuke on the hapless fools also frightened her in no small measure. She could have told Sasuke that she had it under control, and she did, but she had chosen to just thrown Sasuke into the fray. There was also the matter of Naruto's low hum that he emitted as he meditates that kept her from falling asleep quickly. "Dammit Naruto," Sakura growled angrily "Could you please go somewhere else!".
"Having trouble sleeping still?" Naruto asked as he broke his humming to address the exhausted Sakura.
A pillow to the face was the answer "It's bad enough that these nightmares keep waking me up but I also got your humming keeping me awake when it's already difficult to sleep" She grumbled before retrieving her pillow and slipping back into her sleeping bag.
"Ah" Naruto gasped as he plucked his Hitai-ate from his forehead and kissed the metal plate "Here, where this over your eyes as you sleep and you shall not see the terror that keeps you from sleeping" He finished as he handed the item over.
Sakura looked at the object questionably as she took the object and held it gently "Gee Naruto, that means a lot…" Sakura mumbled , embarrassed by the gesture "Can you really bless objects like that?"
"No" Naruto's blunt dismissal of her question and the validity of the blessing made Sakura frown "But that hitai-ate was given to me by Iruka-sensei and it's a reminder that someone out there cares, I think you just need a little of that right now…besides now you got Iruka watching over you too" Naruto smiled and got up "I'll go elsewhere, let you rest".
Naruto slowly left the little clearing as he spotted Sasuke out of the corner of his eye, who in turn spotted him. A quick nod in the other boys direction sent an easy message that Naruto was going to go off on his own for a bit and to continue without him if need be. Sasuke did look a tad annoyed but Naruto didn't care that Sasuke was in a pissy mode and left anyway. The team had already agreed on meeting at the tower on day five should all their plans fall apart and they get separated, so Naruto didn't worry on that front either. Infact, considering everything Naruto felt himself gaining a sort of zen mindset, though it was terribly fragile when it came to more uplifting and empowering emotions like anger or happiness.
KAMI
The young sage walked on for at least two hours, simply thinking and trying to meditate while walking, which while not recommended was something he did frequently. Naruto would occasionally smile as he heard the chirping of birds and sometimes frown when he heard one squawk and then the storm of birds. He would duck for cover and smirk when the shit storm fell from the sky. Naruto also was a bit apprehensive of walking through the birds dropping and chose to walk around the clearing filled with poop. Of course in doing so he came across a rather angry bird that attacked his face to volunteer as diner, Naruto would happily oblige the bird.
Naruto continued his wandering through the forest of death, a terrible idea by the way as nothing says asking for it better than a leisurely stroll through the forest of death. A light growling alerted Naruto that he may have stepped into smilodon territory, or the den of some other resident mega fauna that populated the forest of death. "I think I should have let those birds drop it on me" Naruto mumbled, aware that the mess could have shielded his sent from the various predators of the forest. Naruto continued to walk forward but as soon as the Growling started to go into stereo Naruto began to edge his way out, and then when it started in surround sound Naruto bailed quickly. He ran through the forest and eventually took to the low hanging branches as he climbed his way up the tree tops intent on getting out of the predators territory.
Of course Naruto was soon tumbling back into it when a large cat pounced on him from behind. "You damned ca-ca- Nice Kitty" Naruto said after lifting himself off the ground angry, only to turn to fear when he saw the thing in front of him. It was massive, and yet still not full grown as it had even bigger friends waiting for him friends that were easily as tall as he was and several hundred pounds heavier. The beast bared it's fangs, the things had to be at least a foot long and it's eye's were terrifying, they weren't even looking at him and it was scary. "Wait" Naruto mumbled again as he followed the cats eyes to the dead bird secured to his waist for dinner "Of course they want the meat". The bird was then quickly thrown to the beast as offering.
Yet that still wasn't enough, the sound of eating had attracted Dire Wolves into the clearing as well, the things were massive and hungry. As Naruto backed up he remembered the big cats, and turned to face them equally as hungry with blood now covering it's fangs from the impromptu meal. "Crap, I should have listened when they say don't feed the wild life" Naruto screamed in his head, knowing that if he actually said it the noise may trigger both of the hunting parties to go into attack mode.
So there he was, stuck between two sets of man eating beasts that were just itching to tear him apart. Barks and roars bounced back and forth as the Smilodons and Dire wolves argued over the prey. Naruto tried to sneak away but one of the dire wolves leapt forward and covered that exit, forcing Naruto leap back when the giant wolf took a snap at him. He carefully shifted his feet aware that though the beasts were currently in the middle of a territorial battle, he was the prize they wouldn't let get away. Naruto's eyes darted back and forth between the numerous beasts that surrounded him. The one wolf that prevented his escape shuffle forward as if he was taunting him or trying to fake him out and It's tail brushed against one of the big cats who took offense to that and swiped at the large dog. The Dog barked back and did the same shifting taunt to the Cat, who pounced with his superior weight crushing the foolish wolf beneath it. The Dire wolves sprang forward at the Big cat attacking their ally but it was too late to save him, but nothing would stop them from getting vengeance.
The dogs jumped forward, clawing and biting as they rolled off the cats using their faster and lighter bodies to avoid the strong and crushing bodies of the massive cats. Naruto himself used the animal brawl to try and sneak away again, only this time to be pounced on by one of the Smilodons. It bared it's massive fangs and made it's attempt to bury them into Naruto's ribcage and end his life only to have the cat be stopped by a pair of wolves who tried to get the cat off of Naruto, whom they considered their food.
Meanwhile Naruto grabbed a kunai and shoved it into the roaring beast's mouth, nearly forcing its jaw to snap close. It roared again and Naruto stabbed the beast's gums again, this time gripping the beast massive fang and prying to loose. Blood from the beast's mouth covered Naruto as it howled out in pain. "Oh Yeah, Well I'm not done you stupid tiger" Gripping the tooth Naruto began shoving it back into the beast, piercing the beasts flesh with it's own fangs.
Blood poured from the wound and Naruto started panting from the thrill of facing down death. The two dogs made a snap for Naruto but something stopped them. The world slowly turned grey then white, with color leaving the world looking like a sketch and then that sketch slowly fading away. All that was left was Naruto and the dead tiger. Naruto sat there panting staring at the now blank world in confusion.
"Are you lost young hunter" A voice called out, making Naruto jump as he turned to find the source.
"ummm…No?" Naruto said uncertainly.
"Then you willingly wander into Death's Menagerie of exotic predators?" The voice asked "The Shingami personally touched this land to corral the beasts that tickled his fancy and he doesn't take kindly to those that hunt his trophies for sport". The voice explained.
"Death's Menagerie?" Naruto questioned aloud as he spun around in the white void, carefully avoiding the giant cat as he moved around "I'm only here for the Chunin Exam" He explained.
"Right, you ninja's fenced in the forest long ago didn't ya?" The voice commented "Called it the Forest of Death, fitting seeing as this forest does belong to the Shingami…or at least this part of it" The voice commented again.
"You keep mentioning the Shingami…and where are you?" Naruto wondered aloud, sincerely hoping that he hadn't gotten caught in some odd Kami's net.
"I'm down here" The voice said from below, making Naruto jump. By the massive cat was a man, dressed in animal skills in the manner of a hunter, who was swiftly skinning the beast and removing its fangs, including the one in its chest. " I keep mentioning the Shingami because he controls this land, its cursed with a darkness so bad that once upon a time people could only cross through here by holding onto a rope that stretched through the forest from two posts on opposite sides of the forest" The man held out the fang and waited, staring at Naruto expectantly.
Tentatively Naruto grabbed the fang from the hunters hand and stashed it in his pocket. Turning back to the hunter he was surprised to see that the big cat was now gone and the only remains of the beast was in his pocket. "What are you?" Naruto asked as he again took to surveying the white space that surrounded him.
The hunter took a confused look, like he had to think or remember something before he could tell his story. "I was once a hunter, now I'm a Kami" He stated plainly as he stroked his chin in thought "People used to get lost in this part of the forest so often that I took it upon myself to live here and guide the foolish to safety" He explained.
"How did that work out?"
"Terribly" the hunter admitted "I survived here for years, saving many innocent wanderers, and I was done in by a drop bear, that manically cute little shit" The kami grumbled.
"That's nice" Naruto hummed as his patience ran out "Gonna tell me why I'm here?"
The spirit looked at him and smiled, "When I became a Kami I asked my ability to always be able to draw an arrow, even if I don't have a bow" the spirit laughed and slapped his knee "it's come in handy tons of times but in it has failed to gain me any respect, and no respect means no power in the hierarchy of spirits but the you come along" The spirit poked Naruto "With you using my power mortals will recognize my power, they will respect me Yajirushi the huntsman of the forest of death and that will elevate me to the position I deserve for my service…." The hunter, Yajirushi, declared.
"Okay….." Naruto said, still confused by the exuberant spirit that had abruptly abducted him "How do I use this power".
"When punching move back instead of forward, call my name and you shall see my might" Yajirushi Declared punching into the air enthusiastically.
"Right…" Naruto drawled out as he simply stared at the spirit "Can I go now?"
Kami
Random abduction from a fellow kami and attack by big furry beasts aside Naruto's little walk was uneventful. Of course after all of that any trip would be uneventful when you didn't actually count them, so it was a moot point to try and dismiss them. However, Naruto's walk took too long, and after being thrown off the return path and the visit to the forest spirit Naruto ended up finding an abandoned camp site and a simple coded message pinned to the tree.
The message itself was coded simply with a basic code that was unique to Konoha and could be cracked by shinobi in the forest in a single reading. The only thing that kept people from decoding the message was the fact they had to actually read it in a fast paced environment, the most simple and effective deterrent . It was also a lot of effort to put into writing a letter considering it only said :
Naruto
Packed up the camp, picked up a Kohona-nin, meet at tower
Sakura
Naruto looked at the message and huffed. "Now this crap" he mumbled as he threw some punches into the air, taking in deep breaths to try and calm down as eh moved away from the campsite and towards the massive tower in the center