Chapter 4: Stage 2: Welcome to the Forest of Death
Disclaimer: The rights to all material in this story are owned by their respective creators not me.
Rings talking
The very next morning all participants for the Chunin Exams showed up at a training ground that was rather odd looking to the others. There were no training dummies or posts. In fact the grounds around the area looked as if it had been forgotten about years ago. The genin gazed in awe at the large wired and chained fence that held a giant forest with in it.
"Alright applicants welcome to the Forest of Death. This is where part two of the Chunin exams shall take place." Anko announced.
Naruto looked around and gazed amongst the competition seeing all the rookies from the academy, Lee's team, the guests from Suna, the sound genin from before, Kabuto and his team, and several others.
"Ok let me explain the lay about of the forest," Anko began, "It is bordered by a perimeter, interrupted at forty-four locked gates. Inside of that is a series of forests, a river and about ten kilometers out from that is a tower. During the test, you may use any skills or tools available to you. In a sense, it's kind of a fight-to-the-death version of capture the flag, or in this case capture the scroll."
"Capture the scroll?" Sakura asked.
"That's right," The proctor answered. Anko pulled out two more scrolls, a black one and a white one. The black one had the kanji for earth written on it, and the white one had the kanji for heaven on it. She held them both up for the genin to see, "There is a scroll for earth and a scroll for heaven. It's your job to get them both in order to pass. You'll have to hold onto the scroll you're given at the start, while managing to get a hold of the other scroll you need to pass the exam with, and then bring them to the tower in the center." Anko said. "Not only that, but you have a time limit. You will have five days to get both scrolls and make it to the tower." Anko said.
"Five days how troublesome." Shikamaru sighed.
"And remember your competition isn't the only thing you'll have to worry about in there," Anko continued, "There are also ferocious beasts, deadly insects, poisonous snakes, and other types of creatures that are ultimately lethal. So keep in mind to not let your guard down even for a minute. Now that we have the basic rules out of the way, let's talk about the rules that pertain to being disqualified. Rule number one, if you fail to reach the tower before time expires, as a three-member squad, or with both scrolls in your possession, then you are out. Second, any team that loses a member during the test be it to death or injury are also out. Third, if you leave the forest for any reason during the test, you're out. Lastly, you are forbidden to look at the contents of the scrolls until you reach the inside of the tower. Should you look at them the consequences will be severe." She smirked sending chills up their spines.
The teams were dispersed and went to a hut and to acquire a scroll. A black curtain was attached to the front of the booth. The curtain would open to allow a team to walk inside and then close as the team inside would trade their forms for a scroll. Naruto was watching from the side as Sasuke was getting the scroll and thought, 'So that's how they intend to trick us by concealing which scroll we have that way no other team knows who to go after.'
Soon after a few minutes the genin squads were stationed outside separate gates to head into the forest. Squad seven was ready to enter theirs. "Ok this is it." Naruto said as Sasuke and Sakura nodded ready to take off.
With the genin from the Sound stood the one bandaged up looks to his team, "You remember who we're going after, right?" Dosu asked.
"Yeah…" the girl named Kin asked.
"I can't wait to show him." the second boy named Zaku said.
The gates to the forest suddenly flew open. Immediately, all the various genin squads took to the forest, bouncing along the various trees and branches that lined the area. Anko smiled as she watched them take off. "And off they go, and now time to take my break." She grabbed some dango.
While inside the forest, squad seven was making their way around hoping to find a targeted team to get a scroll. Soon they stopped on the ground to go over their plan.
"Ok first things first, which scroll do we have?" Naruto asked.
Sasuke pulled out the scroll revealing to be an earth scroll, "An earth scroll."
"This means we'll have to find a heaven scroll." Sakura noticed. "But first how do we hide our scroll?"
"I'll hold onto it." Naruto took it tucking it away into his satchel, "Now we need to find a heaven scroll and get to the tower."
"Easier said then done, we got a slim chance in finding our designated scroll among the countless teams here." Sasuke replied.
"Looks like all we can do is try our luck." Sakura said and they took off trying to plan a strategy on finding a heaven scroll. Suddenly Naruto stops and motioned for his team to stop as well, "Hey what's the hold up Naruto?" Sakura asked.
He turns to them, "Keep it down, we're not alone here."
Sasuke and Sakura squinted as they grabbed kunai to defend themselves. Naruto reached for a few shuriken. He threw the shuriken in the direction of a bush. Jumping out into the open was a Kusagakure (Village hidden in grass) ninja.
"A Kusa shinobi." Naruto gasped
"So you sensed me." The ninja said
"What do you want?" Sasuke frowned.
"Nothing much just your scroll." The sick pedophilic ninja replied.
"Well you can't have it!" Sakura barked.
"Oh dear, then I guess I'll have to fight for it." The ninja used wind release and blew them all backwards crashing into the trees.
"That's gonna leave a mark." Naruto groaned, "This guy is too strong to be a Genin, I better see what this is all about." He summoned a shadow clone and sent him to join Sakura and Sasuke before pulling out his ring and reaching into his universal pocket to get his lantern battery.
"In fearful day, in raging night
With strong hearts full our souls ignite
When all seems lost in the war of light
Look to the stars for Hope burns bright." He chanted as his jumpsuit changed to it's blue counterpart, his mask appeared over his eyes and the hood appeared over his head.
When squad seven prepared themselves the Kusa ninja formed some hand signs, "Kuchiyose no jutsu!" the ninja palm slammed the ground and in a poof of smoke appeared a giant snake.
"Giant snake!" Sakura panicked.
"Bon appetite." The Kusa ninja said as the giant snake was ready to feast.
"Hey ugly!" A voice shouted from out of nowhere
Suddenly a blue energy bolt was fired at the giant snake injuring it and it poofed away. "Where'd that come from?" the Kusa ninja looked for the source until the four ninja looked up on a tree branch seeing the Blue Lantern" A party and I wasn't invited?" he asked feeling hurt.
"Who are you?" Sakura asked confused as to who this guy was that saved them.
"I am merely the conduit of the great hope that surrounds us all, but I'm better known as the Blue Lantern." The hero said
"What?" the Kusa ninja gasped.
"What're you doing here?" Sasuke asked.
"I'm here for the Chunin Exams of course," He said as he dropped down, "And it looks like this guy's a problem for ya." He said as he pointed his ring at the Grass ninja
"Stay out of this worm, this does not concern you!" the ninja warned the Lantern.
"Actually these guys are like friends of mine so technically it does concern me." Blue Lantern replied.
The ninja performed some hand signs that Sasuke knew, "Get back that's the fireball jutsu!" He screamed
Blue Lantern instead held up the ring in front of him and formed a fire hose and sprayed it as the fireball was launched straight at him. Sasuke and Sakura thought he was a goner but saw as the steam cleared, the Blue lantern was completely unharmed" "What?" the Kusa ninja asked outraged.
"Your opponent is me now." Blue Lantern said as he formed a sword from his ring and went at it with the ninja. Even with a sword however Blue Lantern still was being bested by his opponent. When Blue Lantern was knocked down he saw the ninja form some hand signs.
"Senei Jashu (Hidden Shadow Snake Hands)!" emerging from his sleeves were a few snakes coming right for him.
"NO!" Naruto's clone jumped in taking the blow but poofed away.
This act shocked Blue Lantern seeing how loyal even his clones were to himself, but that also could blow his cover. Sasuke and Sakura saw it and were more shocked, "That was a clone?" Sasuke asked.
"Then where's the real Naruto?" Sakura wondered as Blue Lantern got up.
"Take this!" he held the ring out like a gun and fired the same blue energy bolt at the ninja knocking him to the ground.
"You got him!" Sakura cheered.
Suddenly they heard laughing coming from the ninja who started speaking in a different voice, a slithery one. "Amazing, I've never seen such strength in such a young ninja for so long." The ninja emerged got up revealing his face was pale white, with beady yellow eyes and on his forehead was the headband of the Sound village.
"That's a headband from Sound." Sasuke gasped.
"Talk, who are you?" Blue Lantern demanded readying his ring for another shot.
He snickered, "I am Orochimaru, former Konoha shinobi, and your executioner." He said as he licked his lips with a long tongue.
"Wrong, because I'll be executing you!" Sasuke shouted lunging at Orochimaru throwing a punch only to see he really hit a mud clone that melted. "It was a fake!" Sasuke cried in shock.
They spotted Orochimaru by a tree, "I've been waiting for you Sasuke Uchiha." He made a few hand signs and he stretched his neck forward and bit Sasuke in the neck. The Uchiha screamed in agonizing pain, and when Orochimaru let go Sasuke fell to the ground and three comma markings appeared on his neck.
"What'd you do to him?" Sakura gasped.
"Just a simple token of my appreciation, he will eventually seek me out for power, since his mind already works like that." Orochimaru answered as he started sinking into the ground.
Naruto's eyes glowed red with Kurama's chakra beneath his Blue Lantern mask and hood, "You teme!" he shouted jumping the Hebi as he was taken into the ground with him.
"Blue Lantern!" Sakura called out but heard Sasuke cry in agony, "Oh no Sasuke!" she tried to help him up but noticed the marking on his neck. "I got to get you somewhere safe." She said as she took him under a hollow tree and looked out into the forest. Naruto where are you?" She asked to herself
Meanwhile Blue Lantern and Orochimaru popped out of the ground and continued going at it with neither one showing mercy, "Such persistence, what keeps you going so much?" Orochimaru asked.
"It's my job to see evil doesn't triumph and that Hope is preserved!" Blue Lantern called using his ring to form a fist to fight the ninja.
"A very noble act for one such as yourself, but sadly I have other matters to attend to. See you around." He vanished.
"Wait!" Blue Lantern called but knew it was pointless, "That was weird. Wait a minute Sakura, Sasuke! Oh man I gotta find them." He said as he held his ring up. Ring locate Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno." He told it.
"Unable to comply dense foliage blocking scanner capabilities." The ring answered.
"Rats well guess I'll have to find them the hard way." He said as he flew towards the location that he last saw them at.
Blue Lantern started jumping amongst the trees to find his team and conserve some of the power the Blue ring had left, but due to the forest being so big, dense, and thick he wasn't having much luck. "No use they must've carefully hidden themselves in case that freak came back. Well no use in trying to continue now, I need to rest," He said to himself as he took shelter in a tree trunk, "May as well stay in Lantern form, who knows what could find me," He decided to summon some Blue Lantern shadow clones as well to guard and warn him of any danger. When morning came the sun peaked through and Blue Lantern woke up yawning, "Ah morning. Well done guys, now fan out and search for my teammates, if you find them dispel." The clones took off in search.
Soon Naruto felt one of his clones dispel and his memories transfer back to him, "That's them," He dispelled his other clones and took off where the one clone found his comrades. He finally made it to the location but surveyed the scene noticing Sasuke was lying under a tree unconscious, Kiba, Hinata, Shino, and Chouji were defending Sakura who's hair was cut shortened, very badly injured and a knocked out Rock Lee being supported by his teammates Neji and Tenten, Ino was being taken care of by Shikamaru because she used her mind transfer Jutsu to possess the Sound girl named Kin. "Looks like they'll need help." He said to himself however, as Naruto was ready to jump in he felt a surge of heavy chakra in the air, and saw it radiating from Sasuke who shot up and seemed to be covered in black flame markings on his body like tattoos, 'Is that the power of the mark put on him?' Naruto thought.
Naruto watched the scene as Sasuke started attacking Zaku and soon the Uchiha started fighting dirty with sound ninja, he got behind the Sound genin pulling his arms backwards, "You must really be attached to these arms!" Sasuke told Zaku as he pulled on them. Everyone watched as Sasuke pulled so hard the bones in Zaku's arms broke. Naruto was shocked by this never seeing his own teammate fight dirty, 'Sasuke just broke that guys arms. That's it I'm stepping in and taking him out!' Naruto thought ready to move when suddenly his ring pulsed with power and flew him over towards Sasuke in addition to that the concealed Green Lantern ring that Lee had began to pulse with it's power bringing him back on his feet. Meanwhile Naruto's ring was busy trying to correct the psychological damage to Sasuke that Orochimaru's seal was causing.
"Locating source of psychological imbalance; source located administering antitoxins." The ring said as it fired a beam at the mark on Sasuke's neck. Meanwhile in another part of the forest, Orochimaru was feeling a sharp stabbing pain in his body.
"What's going on?" He asked as he felt the pain get worse. "My link with Sasuke is being disrupted." He said to himself while clenching his teeth to hold a scream of pain back. Meanwhile, Sasuke was screaming in agony as the curse mark not only began to recede but come off his body as soon enough the mark that was trapped inside the blue bubble of energy shattered like glass in front of the eyes of all the Genin present, except Kin and Zaku. Meanwhile back with Orochimaru, he had felt the connection between himself and Sasuke's mind get broken and the curse mark destroyed which shocked him to his core, he growled in anger as the one he had chosen to be his next vessel was taken from him before he could fully tempt him with the power the mark offered. "DAMN YOU BLUE LANTERN! Someday soon I will get Sasuke back in my grip and when I do there will be hell to pay Blue Lantern. DO YOU HEAR ME BLUE LANTERN YOU WILL PAY!" Orochimaru screamed to heavens.
Ino returned to her body and Kin and Dosu collect the injured Zaku and offered their Heaven Scroll and vanished.
Sakura checked on Sasuke seeing he fell unconscious, and while everyone was recollecting their strength Ino offered to fix Sakura's hair making it less messy and evened out. Naruto knew he had to go back to his team but didn't want to come up to them and pretended nothing happened so he tried a different approach. He approached them still as the Blue Lantern surprising everyone as Kiba and Neji got defensive.
"Who're you?" Neji demanded.
"You here for some trouble?" Kiba asked suspiciously.
"Guys wait!" Sakura blocked them, "It's ok he's an ally." She said.
"He is?" Chouji asked and Sakura nodded in assurance.
"I can also vouch Sakura's claim that he's an ally." Lee said backing her up.
"So who are you?" Ino asked him.
"I'm the Blue Lantern." He answered.
"The Blue Lantern?" Shikamaru asked.
"What kind of name is that?" Kiba scoffed.
"I think it might be a title actually." Hinata corrected him but was nervous for speaking her thoughts.
"She's right, and I'm glad to see all of you are ok. I'd love to stay and get to know you all but Sasuke there needs attention. Come on Sakura I'll help you take him to the tower." The Blue Lantern said as he hefted Sasuke over his shoulder.
"But wait what about Naruto?" Sakura asked.
"Don't worry, I know where to find him just follow me." He replied as they took off.
"What was up with that?" Chouji asked.
"I don't know, but I guess everything's alright now." Ino replied.
"I believe that the Blue Lantern has the greatest potential of us all." Lee said.
"Lee, Tenten we're leaving." Neji ordered as they left with Tenten looking back at where Naruto left.
"Yeah us too." Kiba said as his team started leaving.
"Come on guys let's go." Shikamaru said as his group left with Ino taking one look back, 'I wonder who that guy is under the mask.' She thought.
As Blue Lantern and Sakura helped the unconscious Uchiha around Sakura asked him, "By the way what happened to that Orochimaru?"
"He got away I'm afraid, but I got a feeling no one's seen the last of him." Blue Lantern replied.
"I don't get it why did Naruto just vanish leaving a shadow clone?" Sakura asked making Blue Lantern nervous but knew that he couldn't hide it now that she saw his clone dispelled and he wasn't there to help them. Soon as they reached the tower as the blue lantern sat Sasuke down.
"Hey you said you knew where to find Naruto, where is he?" Sakura looked around as the Blue Lantern stood with his back towards her.
"Sakura I haven't been honest with you about who I am." He said with a sigh as he put his focus into changing back into his normal attire
"What're you talking about?" Sakura asked in confusion but watched as her allie de-transformed and standing before her was none other than her own teammate, "Naruto? You're the…" she was cut off as Naruto put a hand over her mouth, "I'll explain later, but right now we need to get Sasuke inside the tower where we're safe. Ok?"
Sakura nodded as Naruto took his hand away from her mouth and they took Sasuke into the tower. They walked through a hallway until they reached the center, "You still have the earth scroll Naruto?" Sakura asked.
"Of course." Naruto pulled it out of his satchel.
Sakura pulled out the heaven scroll and they opened both before dropping them on the ground and in a poof of smoke there stood Iruka Umino their academy instructor,
"Hey guys glad to see you made it." He said to his former students.
"Iruka-sensei?" Naruto asked.
"Where'd you come from?" Sakura asked.
"Those scrolls you were assigned to obtain were actually summoning scrolls. When you obtained both and opened them together you were able to summon me here," Iruka explained, "And I'm here to congratulate you for passing the second part of the Chunin exams." He concluded.
"Well thank you." Naruto answered.
Iruka noticed Sasuke's condition, "What happened to Sasuke?" He asked
"It's alright he was just knocked out, but he should be fine." Naruto assured him.
"Well since you have three days to spare before the five days are up you're free to wait around here until then. Rooms and beds are top level on the right, and a cafeteria on the left." Iruka explained the layout.
"Thanks, by the way has anybody else made it here yet?" Naruto asked.
"Well this team from Suna, a red head, a blonde, and a guy in a black outfit." Iruka explained.
"The Suna team." Naruto replied.
"Well until then try to relax a little." Iruka said.
"Will do sensei." Naruto replied. Soon Naruto and Sakura brought Sasuke to their selected room until the Chunin Exams continued with Sasuke lying in bed.
"Alright Naruto I'm all ears, and I want to know how you are the Blue Lantern?" Sakura asked.
"Ok Sakura I'll tell you, but take not what I'm about to say is going to totally sound farfetched." He said.
"I still want to know." She replied.
"Alright," Naruto took a deep breath and told her everything about how he became a lantern. "And that's everything that's happened." He said finishing his tale.
Sakura was left in shock from Naruto's story and just as Naruto warned her it did sound farfetched. "I can't believe it all this time you were able to deceive us with your shadow clone?" She said in a surprised tone.
"Well I still had worries about keeping my clone from dispelling, but yeah that's how I pulled it off." He said with his hand rubbing the back of his head in a nervous posture.
"I got to admit that was clever on your part." Sakura admitted.
"Arigato, but now that I told you Sakura, I must also ask you to keep this a secret form everyone. Including Sasuke," He warned her.
"But why?" She asked him.
"It's the code of the lantern corps that no one is supposed to know what I am. In fact I'm already on thin ice for having to have told you this, but I didn't have a choice. I didn't want to act like I abandoned you guys in the middle of the fight with a shadow clone." Naruto explained with his hands clasped on Sakura's shoulders.
"Oh Naruto." Sakura said with a tear starting to come out of her eye.
"That's why I'm asking you as both a comrade and as a friend to keep this between us Sakura. Promise?" Naruto asked.
Sakura blushed never seeing Naruto as serious as she's ever seen him but smiled, "I promise Naruto." She said.
"Arigato." Naruto was about to leave to get something to eat until…
"Naruto?" Sakura said.
"Yeah?" Naruto asked as he turned around and suddenly found himself embraced by his teammate who cried in his shoulder.
"Arigato for all you've done for us as both the Blue Lantern and as yourself." She said shedded some tears.
Naruto smiled returning the embrace, "You're welcome." He said as he let Sakura cry into his shoulder until she could cry no more. Meanwhile another Lantern ring had sensed the emotions pouring out of Sakura and felt both the joy and pain the love she was capable of had caused her.
(And that's the chapter; even Blue Lantern was no match for the skills of Orochimaru. And now Sakura knows his secret but swore to secrecy just as Lee has. Does Sakura have any of the emotional qualities needed to become a lantern of any kind? Well you'll have to wait for next time. See you soon.)
For those wondering I got the idea of the curse mark being removed like that from two sources; first was a Naruto/Yugioh x-over fic that involved Yugi getting taken to the Naruto universe by a rift during his duel with Atem and at some point he uses the power of the millenium items which had fused into his body to remove the curse mark from Sasuke and the other part of the idea was from the fact that the Blue power rings are capable of healing those infected by rage and to an extent the curse triggers a sense of rage on it's hosts.