Sorry I took so long….I know, I'm a very bad person… oops? I'm updating now though, see!
Sakura resisted the urge to look back when she heard the fox roar. Instead, her mind flickered through escape routes and patterns, trying to find one suitable for whatever threat Naruto had discovered. She had seen him mutate a fox once before. It had been filled with a lust for blood and could only be controlled by Naruto himself. The only other time she had ever seen him use that skill, was when there was a high class missing-nin after them. Genma had been taken out of commission by the same man. They had been forced to carry their sensei through the woods, backtracking and running in circles, attempting to lose the Rock-nin. It had proven an impossible task. And then Ruki was twisted. After the fox had put down the nin, Naruto had killed it. She had seen the flash of pain and sadness, but the fox had been wild on blood. And now he was doing it again.
"Saki."
"Hmm?"
"Whatever is after us will kill that one. You know this. I wouldn't do so otherwise."
"You can't be sure though." Sakura snapped. She flipped in midair, slinging her body to the right. Sasuke had to backtrack and catch up to them since he didn't know their evasion routine. There was a soft puff of smoke as a shadow clone appeared. Naruto threw it from him, watching as it impacted the ground and slid, leaving a too obvious trail behind. As it left his sight, he knew it would create more trails, each more and more less obvious. Sakura grimaced when a pained yowl echoed through the forest. She spun again, this time to the left, darting back to the path they had already taken. She heard Sasuke's muffled curse as she and Naruto branched off to the left. He was following them, barely.
"Saki?"
"Mmm?"
"The fox is almost gone." Sakura froze, catching herself seconds before she hit the ground. She tumbled gracelessly, scraping against the floor. Naruto followed, landing with far more grace.
"Why are we stopping?" Sasuke demanded quietly.
"How much?"
"Enough to take down an Anbu or four."
"And it still comes?"
Naruto tilted his head and inhaled deeply. His eyes were still purple and had gained this otherworldly quality.
"Oh yes. Blood and death. Death and blood." He shivered in a way that had nothing to do with fear and everything to do with the demon inside of him. His gaze flickered red at the exact moment wind tore through the tree they were standing behind and then returned to that unfathomable purple. He murmured something and the fox from before froze where it was. It gazed across the miniscule clearing at him and then closed its eyes. Naruto watched dispassionately as its fur turned red. Its body cracked and groaned under an unknown strain. When it was done, its eyes snapped open. Sakura shivered when she found herself under that red, red stare. Her shiver had nothing to do with the power that roiled off the mutant fox and everything to do with the crazed bloodlust that had taken up residency in the beast. Her eyes snapped away from it when someone stalked into the clearing. The woman kicked the fox idly, not even noticing its new coloring. She licked her lips as she looked around.
"Sasuke! I know you're here!" The woman pitched her voice seductively. "Come out. I won't bite, much." Dry, hissing laughter filled the clearing. Sakura looked to Naruto to find him studying Sasuke. There was a sudden snapping sound that made her turn to face the woman again. The fox had been released from it paralysis had clamped its jaw into the woman's thigh. It shook its head, dragging flesh from bone as the woman flew away. The woman landed heavily and then spun, an angry snarl pulling her lips.
"You fucking rodent! Why won't you die!" Fingers flashed through a jutsu and the ninja pushed it towards the fox.
"Mayhaps I do not wish to die you filthy human. A corpse in a corpses clothes, how sweet." A decidedly manic grin crossed the fox's face. Naruto's eyes drifted shut. Sakura caught the faintest gleam of purple from between his lashes. He drew in a breath slowly and let it out. Sakura flinched when red sparks left his lungs, floating further into the clearing, coating the fox and making it look like it was covered in blood.
"And how is it that you speak? What lowly genin gained the trust of the foxes?"
"This fox is the only one who serves his master." Naruto flicked his fingers and the fox's next sentence melted into a growl. The fox once again attacked the woman. Minutes later, though it seemed longer, the fox was thrown across the clearing, dead. Naruto eyed its body as it slid to an end at his feet. The red sparks drifted back up to him. Sasuke stared at him in undisguised curiosity.
"So, there you are my little Uchiha." The woman straightened. Sasuke's nose scrunched at the sight of the mauled lady. She laughed softly when her eyes landed on Naruto.
"A fox. I should have known it was you and your beasts."
"My beasts? I have none."
"Ahh…people who knew not the truth would believe you. But I know." Naruto cocked his head to the side. There was a sibilant hiss from behind Team Seven. Sakura spun to face it and found herself looking up at a giant snake.
"Shit."
"Saki."
The pink haired girl bit her lip and brought her arms up. Sasuke looked on in shock as she went to work. Her dance was graceful, flowing and deadly. The wires around her arms unraveled and snapped brutally. Sasuke watched as the girl spun, pulling separate wires and ducking others. When she stood motionless, it was then Sasuke acknowledged how much better off without him she was. Then the smell of ozone filled the clearing as lighting arced up into the snake, radiating from the wires and into its flesh. Sakura snapped her arms to her sides and the wire returned. They were colored by blood now, but she ignored the slick feeling to stare up at the thrashing snake.
"You utter bitch!" The world exploded behind them as the woman got angry. Chakra pulled at their flesh, attempting to drag them down. Suddenly, an overwhelming need to run and hide filled the air. "You killed my snake. You bitch." The woman was staring at them now. Truly looking at the three genin. A sharp bark of laughter escaped her. "Of course, of course. They would put Sasuke-kun on an excellent team. He must be above them in power, in strength." A pleased grin split the woman's face.
"Sasuke?" Naruto whispered.
"What is it Uzumaki?"
"You said you could shunshin, right?"
"Yes."
"Go. Leave the Forest. Go to the Hokage himself if you must."
"Are you crazy!"
Sakura bit her lip before she joined the conversation.
"She came for you. Not us. You would do better in escaping." Sasuke looked at the woman who was staring at them hungrily. Warily, he nodded. His fingers flashed through a jutsu and then he vanished into a storm of leaves. Sakura turned to Naruto.
"Plan?"
"I have none. Not yet." Half closed eyes surveyed the forest around them before a smile lit up his face. "Blood and sand…come."
"Do you think they'll help or hinder?"
"Depends. What do you say to Nari and Saki reappearing for a short while?"
Sakura sighed. She closed her eyes when she saw the woman run towards them, listening for the sound that signaled Nari's arrival. There was a soft poof and her left arm jerked up. Nari caught it and they spun away together. Naruto used Nari when he needed a smaller build, and the lithe girl fit the bill. Sakura opened her eyes to meet her partner's. The girl's lips were pulled into a wicked grin. She spun to face their assailant.
"What the fuck you ugly cocksucker? Need little boys to get off?" Sea blue eyes hardened. "Well you can't have him fuckbag."
The grass ninja stared at Nari in apparent wonder.
"And who are you?"
"You don't know who I am? I knew you were blowing it out your ass when you acted like you knew us!" Sakura snickered. "Saki, ol' saggy tits looks kinda mad at Sasuke's escape. Think we should let her know Sasuke prefers girls his age."
"Nari! Don't antagonize the enemy! Is it the scroll you want? We'll give it to you." Sakura bit her lip. "Please don't kill us."
"You sent my prey away!" The woman lashed out, Nari jumped in the way of the blow and was sent flying back. She skidded and rolled, coming to her feet.
"Is that all you got? Sasuke won't like such a dry bitch."
The woman let out a wordless screech and attacked again. Nari let herself get hit and Saki ran. Nari flew the trees and this time let her body go. When she hit the ground she let herself bounce and then leapt away. She ran in a different direction. The creepy woman pursued. Nari breathed deeply, inhaling the scent of sand and blood. Seconds later, she threw herself into a clearing and rolled under a fountain of sand. The woman who pursued her was not as lucky. She was caught in the sand and drawn upwards. Nari watched dispassionately as the woman was crushed, only to stifle a curse when mud leaked from the sand casing. She spun, narrowly dodging another wave of sand. She caught a glimpse of sky blue eyes before she twisted her body and launched herself into the trees. Nari blinked when she was followed by the red haired boy.
"Who are you?" The boy demanded. "Why is it that Mother fears you? Why does she tell me to stay away?"
Nari glanced away from the boy and closed her eyes. Sea blue eyes snapped open and she dove for the other genin, driving them both off the tree branch. Said branch exploded into splinters as it was attacked. Nari spun in the air, bringing herself and the boy she had grabbed to their feet as they landed. She ignored the other genin when he all but gawped at her. Tilting her head, she listened for her partners signal or an incoming attack.
"Who are you! Why does Mother warn me away!" The red haired boy shouted. Abruptly, his teammates stepped away from the blond they had been advancing on. Nari shot the boy a glare. Sea foam green eyes were widened in fear. "Can you prove my existence? Is that why Mother fears you? Will you actually prove to me why I exist?" Nari blinked then did the thing any sane ninja would do.
She fled.
Or tried to.
Getting slammed into the ground by a snake is not fun.
Especially when there is a very sharp root that makes its way through your stomach and out your back.
Nari gurgled blood and felt the Kyuubi working frantically to fix her insides. Her stomach fluids had started to attack the other organs. Slowly, she pulled herself off the root that was impaling her and to her feet. She blinked blandly at the woman who was glaring at her.
"You let my Sasuke-kun get away! And your bitch teammate fled to the tower. I'll kill you for ruining my plans!"
Nari lips tilted into a smile. Beyond the woman's shoulders, the three Suna-nin were watching. She closed her eyes and breathed out. Red sparks flew from her lungs and danced around the clearing. Blood vanished and the sparks twinkled merrily. Nari opened her eyes.
"Do you really believe you can kill me?"
"You're half dead already." The woman snorted. "It is too simple to kill you."
"Ah, but I let you do this to me. Sasuke is out of your reach and my partner has made contact with our team leader by now. He in turn will let the other team leaders, especially Hatake, know that precious Uchiha is being hunted. And they'll have your face. They'll know who to kill, who to question." Nari sighed. Another stream of sparks escaped her.
"What the hell is with this light show? Do you think sparks can kill me?"
"Don't be patronizing. It's not nice." Nari tilted her head to the side and smiled. "You said you knew who I was."
"The Kyuubi child."
"And the Kyuubi was never destroyed. I hold it; it wishes to live a grand old life. You are interrupting its plan." The three Suna genin vanished; all three incredibly pale. Even in Suna, they had heard of the Kyuubi. Nari smirked and lifted her hand. The woman followed her fingers avidly. Nari flipped her the bird. The woman snarled. Nari snapped.
Fire, wonderful fire erupted. It burned blue around them. Nari didn't flinch when the flames licked at her shoes. This was her fire, it would never harm her. Nari's gaze saddened. Yes it was her fire, her flames, but it showed how abnormal she was, how much the fox was becoming part of her. Lips twisted into a snarl, Nari leapt away. She never saw the man that dug himself out of the ground when the fire faded away. He skin was burnt in places, and his golden eyes glinted in anger.
Orochimaru of the Sannin was not pleased to have been almost killed by a transgender genin. He was not pleased at all. He made his way to the tower, angry at himself for underestimating the genins. He would make sure to not do it again. Especially the Kyuubi brat and his fire trick.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Naruto was panting in pain as he made his way to the tower. The Kyuubi had stopped the stomach acid before it had done too much damage, but it still hurt. There was a blur and suddenly Genma stood in front of him.
"Naruto."
"Sensei." Naruto collapsed forward, into his arms. The jounin picked him up and shunshined back to the tower.
"Sensei!" Sakura ran up to him. "How is he?" The medics pulled Naruto away from him. Sakura watched as they murmured among themselves, jade eyes distraught.
"He'll live Sakura. It won't let him die." Behind them, the door creaked open. Sasuke stood there, playing with the end of his shirt.
"Is he okay?"
"What do you care!" Sakura snapped. Her gaze switched to the man behind the Uchiha. "And you, you aren't wanted here! Get out!"
Kakashi frowned at her.
"That is no way to treat a superior."
"Get out! Get out!" Her voice broke with the final scream and she flicked her wrist and envisioned the wire ripping him into so much gore.
"S-Saki." She froze, wire dancing around her.
"Naruto." She crooned. The wire twined up her arms. She reached out for him. "What happened?"
"Burnt her. Burnt her good." Finished comforting his teammate, Naruto slipped back into the unconsciousness.
"That's alright then Nari. You did it. We're safe." She ran her fingers through his hair, snarling at the medic who told her not to. "Do we have the scroll Uchiha?"
"Yea. But we only have one."
Sakura turned to him and smiled.
"Then I guess we should go get another, shouldn't we?"
"But what if that woman comes back?"
Genma sighed.
"I will keep watch. I will not interfere in your battles unless the one who did this to Naruto appears."
Sakura's grin turned animalistic. Sasuke shivered.
She was scary.