Hi readers! I'm really sorry that this update is so late. My week has been pretty hellish. But, I will still try to get the next chapter out on Thursday. Bear with me, 19 credit hours and being involved in a show doesn't leave much writing time. Anyway, here is the next chapter. Hope you enjoy it! ^_^
7. The Forest of Death
Kocha awoke in the hospital and noticed that she was alone in the room. She rose up slowly so she would not aggravate the wound in her side. She cursed Keeta's name as she remembered the battle. Her eyes widened when she thought about Kakashi. Is he okay? Are the children alright? What happened? She became very dizzy and fell back on her pillow. She looked outside of her window and noticed the birds flying. After a while she heard the door open and turned to see who it was. Kakashi stood there with a bouquet of flowers. Kocha felt her face turn red so she quickly turned her head toward the window. She heard him laughing a little and became a little annoyed.
"Relax," said Kakashi setting the flowers on her nightstand. He put them in a vase and set them closer to her. "They're from our students. They had to meet the other genin at the next site for the exam. You should have seen Yuki's face. She wanted to come with me so badly."
"How are you feeling?" asked Kocha. The question sent Kakashi for a loop since he was not the one in a hospital bed. Sensing the confusion Kocha continued, "Keeta is a master of herbal medicines. She was able to knock you out for a while with one of her paralysis concoctions. Do you feel any side effects?"
Kakashi laughed a little then answered, "No, I'm fine. What about you? That's some gash she gave you."
"Thank you for your concern." Kocha smiled. "I'm fine as well."
"Wow." Kakashi exclaimed. Kocha looking troubled said, "What is it?"
"So you do smile on occasion." Kocha glared at him and said, "Well, you never change."
"I know." He smiled. "But I will tell you this." He pulled up a chair and stared into Kocha's eyes. "Don't pull a stunt like that again. I know you all meant well but Keeta is an elite ninja. She could have killed you then the rest of us."
"I'm sorry," said Kocha angrily. "But it is not in my nature to leave those who are important to me—my comrades in the hands of villains."
Kakashi blushed a little at the remark then said, "I suppose you all did save my life. I just….I was worried about you, that's all."
Kocha was now the one blushing a little then said, "Same here."
* * * * * * * * * *
While they waited for Anko to appear for the second exam Yuki stomped around in circles. Naruto and Sakura watched while Sasuke kept an eye on when Anko would show.
"I can't believe I'm here!" Yuki bellowed. "I should be with Kocha right now!"
"I know how you feel, but we need to be here in order to pass the exams," said Sakura. "If we didn't then we would be putting Kakashi-sensei's faith in jeopardy."
"Sakura's right," said Sasuke. "She'll be fine now that she's back in the village. We'll visit her after these exams."
"There's one thing I don't understand though," said Naruto. "How did she save both of us while we were falling down that cliff? We should have died."
"Yeah," said Sakura. "We should ask her that."
"There's a lot I don't know about Kocha-sensei," said Yuki. "All I know is that she saved my life once. We knew each other for about two years but she never talked about her past."
"Alright everyone!" came Anko's voice. "Let's get these exams started!"
The genin all faced the forest's entrance to see Anko standing with her arms crossed. "Listen up, 'cause I'm only going to say this once!" Anko called out. "Here, at the Forest of Death, there is only one rule: Anything Goes! You are permitted to use whatever skills you deem necessary in order to survive. Your main objective is to collect two scrolls." Anko reached into her pocket and pulled out a white scroll with the character "Heaven" and a black scroll with the character "Earth" on it. "Each team will receive either an Earth scroll or a Heaven scroll. You will need both to be permitted into the tower in the center of the forest. Now, as soon as the clock starts you will have five days to obtain the other scroll and reach the tower. Keep in mind that not very many ninja have made it through this forest, so keep on your toes and don't die. We don't want to deal with any funeral arrangements because someone was negligent."
Naruto became irritated and put his hands on his hips imitating Anko and repeating, "'Not many ninja made it through the Forest of Death.' Ha! You're just trying to psych us out but that won't work on me! I'll beat these exams and I will become Hokage!"
"Nice," smiled Anko. "I like your attitude." She suddenly threw a knife that grazed Naruto's right cheek. Anko appeared behind him and whispered in his ear, "'I like your attitude' doesn't mean that you'll make it out alive. Kids like you are usually the first to get killed by the beasts and other ninja here. So, if I were you, I'd watch your mouth." A slimy slithery noise came from Naruto's left. A grass kunoichi held Anko's knife with her long tongue. "I was just returning your knife." She said.
"Why thank you, grass ninja," smiled Anko.
"My pleasure," said the ninja. Anko grabbed the knife and jumped back to the front of the crowd. "Alright everyone, here are the consent forms needed to continue this exam. In case anything were to happen to you, we don't want to be held responsible."
What a wench! Thought Yuki. Once I'm done with these exams I'm going to have a nice long talk with the exam's designer. This is just sick!
The crowed passed the papers around and everyone stuck to their own little squads. Once everyone received their papers Anko announced, "When we're ready to hand out the scrolls, bring your papers up to this tent. We'll call your squad when we're ready for you."
Naruto's group sat down behind a rock and began to fill out their forms. Once they were finished they all sat quietly and waited for their squad number to be called. Yuki surveyed the land angrily looking for Keeta. Sasuke seemed to know what she was doing and asked, "Do you see her?"
"No." Yuki answered. Damn it! I wanted to get revenge!
"Well, Yuki probably injured her so bad that she turned tail and fled," said Naruto. "Thanks to Yuki, we won't have to worry about her."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that." Said Sasuke. "Keeta doesn't seem like the type to give up just because she was injured. Kocha said that she was a master with herbal medicines. Maybe she made herself a salve to heal the wound."
"I think so too." Said Sakura. "If she could knock out Kakashi-sensei with something like that she'd most likely make a medicine for herself."
"We need to watch out for anything." Said Yuki. "Keeta could appear with another trick up her sleeve to knock us all unconscious. I just hope Kocha's okay." Everyone hung their heads in worry for their sensei's health. Sakura read everyone's faces and smiled, "Then let's make a promise. When these exams are over we'll all go see Kocha and Kakashi-sensei."
"I'm up for that!" said Naruto. The others agreed as well.
One by one the groups were called then sent to their assigned gates. When the time came for Squad 7, they all rose and walked toward the tent. The four of them gave the sentinel their papers then received their Heaven scroll. The four walked to their gate and waited until Anko gave the signal. After about thirty minutes Anko's voice came over the intercom shouting, "Alright, listen up you maggots!! The second phase of the Chunin Exams has begun!" The gates flew open and the ninja charged in with full confidence. Naruto's group jumped from branch to branch, looking out for any possible danger that may come towards them. After the sun went down, the group hid behind a large tree and made camp. Naruto decided to run toward the river to catch fish while Sakura and Yuki went deeper into the forest to find fruit. Sasuke built a small fire and waited for the others to return. As he stared into the fire he wondered how Naruto and Kocha were able to live after jumping off of the cliff. He also thought about the large wound in Kocha's side. She should have died from a wound like that. How did they survive that fall? Nothing is adding up. How did she live? Rustling came from behind and Sasuke jumped with his kunai knife ready. Sakura and Yuki came out of the forest with their arms full of barriers and herbs. Yuki looked at Sasuke and said, "Whoa! Sasuke, it's only us!"
"Prove it!" barked Sasuke. Yuki gave a surprised look then made a hand sign saying, "Soshigan!" Her eyes turned green and her pupils swirled into a spiral. "Only I have this and you guys plus Kocha and Kakashi know I have it."
"Okay." Said Sasuke. He turned his head toward Sakura but Yuki said, "She's clear. Sakura was with me the whole time."
"Right." Said Sasuke. "Now we just have to wait for Naruto."
The group waited for nearly ten minutes before Naruto showed up with no fish. Sasuke and the others stood in annoyance. "Where's the fish?" asked Yuki.
"What? Oh yeah! Sorry, I couldn't catch any. I would have returned earlier but I really had to go. It was a lot. I wrote my whole name and everything!"
"That's gross!" shouted Sakura.
"T.M.I (Too Much Info)!!" cringed Yuki.
"Hold on a minute." Said Sasuke.
"W-what's wrong?" asked Naruto.
"Ha. Nice disguise, but it's poorly done." Laughed Sasuke.
"What are you talking about, Sasuke?" asked Sakura.
"That's not Naruto." He answered.
"What do you mean?" asked Yuki. "He's standing right in front of us!"
"Take a good look." Sasuke answered. "Naruto got cut on the left cheek before the exams began, plus Naruto is right handed. This is the worst transformation jutsu I've ever seen."
"Tch," the imposter hid behind a cloud of smoke then revealed himself. He wore a tan jumpsuit with a strange mask over his face. "Pretty clever, you little brat." He said. "Now give me your scroll."
"Fat chance." Laughed Sasuke. "Fire style: Phoenix Fire jutsu!" Sasuke made an "okay" sign and blew into it releasing large sparks of fire that were in the shape of small birds. They attacked the intruder but the man jumped high into the air but he felt something cold wrap around his leg. A silver chain led to a silver haired girl who held the end and forced him to the ground. On his way down, he pulled out a kunai knife and threw it at Yuki. She jumped out of the way and pulled her chain back to her. She landed on a branch and spotted Naruto tied up in a clearing.
"Get me outta here!" he called out. Yuki ran to him and cut him loose. "Thanks, Yuki!" he said, relieved.
"Don't do that again!" she sighed. "Let's get rid of this guy and get going."
Naruto nodded and they both raced back to the battle grounds. Sakura and Sasuke were holding up very well against the stranger. "Hee, hee!" Naruto giggled. "Watch this!" He jumped into the air when the stranger was launched toward him and tornado kicked him to the ground.
"Screw this!" said the man. "I'm outta here." He got up and ran deeper into the forest.
A while after he left the group continued further into the forest as well for fear that others would find their location. Once Sasuke found a decent spot, they sat around in a circle. Sasuke looked at everyone in the eye and said, "It will be too easy for someone to pose as one of us. We have to think of a password."
"A password?" repeated Sakura.
"That way if we get separated and find each other we will be able to tell if someone is an imposter!" said Yuki. "Good idea, Sasuke!"
"Exactly." Sasuke continued. "So listen carefully 'cause I'm not going to repeat myself. The question will be; 'When does a ninja strike?' Then, the answer will be; 'At the moment when the time is right. When the wind howls in the stillness of the night. That is the time for a ninja to strike."
"Got it." Said both Yuki and Sakura.
"I thought it was supposed to be a pass-word not a pass-speech." Complained Naruto.
"Oh, come on, Naruto!" said Sakura. "I memorized it easily and if Yuki can do it so can you."
"What's that suppose to mean?" glared Yuki.
"Well, yeah I know," said Naruto. "But-!"
Well, well," came a strange voice from the forest. "What have we here?" A woman jumped up from the ground a few feet from them.
"It's that grass ninja!" said Naruto. The woman made a few hand signs and a large tunnel of wind torpedoed toward them. Sasuke and Sakura escaped on one side while Naruto and Yuki were blown in another direction. Yuki quickly maneuvered herself and hid under some bushes while Naruto was thrown elsewhere. Once everything was quiet again Yuki rose from the bushes and tried to find her friends. She felt an unsettling presence and darted back down to the ground. After a while she crawled under the brush to find Sasuke and Sakura. She finally came to an open area but both Sakura and Sasuke were pale with bruises all over them. They looked to be scared stiff as the grass ninja came toward them. What's wrong with them? She thought scared. If they don't move they'll die!! Wake up you two!!
Sasuke seemed to be snapping out of it and tried to move his arm. The grass ninja threw two kunai knives at the two genin. Before Yuki thought of anything her hand grabbed a kunai out of her ninja pack and threw it at the enemy kunai. Just as the impact occurred Sasuke had managed to take out a kunai of his own and stab his leg to wake himself up. He then grabbed Sakura and the two escaped to the canopy of the trees. The grass ninja looked over at Yuki's hiding place and threw a kunai. A thunk was heard but when she removed the brush a tree limb received the knife. "Clever witch." She sneered.
The three met on a tree limb high in a nearby tree. Sakura still looked to be in shock while Sasuke was on the lookout. Yuki managed to join them and landed in front of them. "Is she gone?" Sasuke asked.
"I don't know." Answered Yuki. "As soon as I threw my kunai I fled." Something caught Sasuke's attention and he looked away. Sakura noticed his leg and she said, "S-Sasuke, your leg is-?" Sasuke quickly put a hand over her mouth to quiet her. Yuki, with wide eyes, looked in Sasuke's direction. After a while Yuki noticed Sakura's mumbling. Yuki turned to quiet her but she saw the reason. A giant snake was staring at her straight in her face. Together both Sakura and Yuki shouted, "Sasuke!" He turned and saw the large reptile. Before the snake could crush them in its mouth the group fled to another branch. Sakura and Sasuke were on one branch while Yuki was on another on the other side of the area. When Yuki reached her spot she saw the snake attack Sasuke who threw a fray of projectiles at the reptile screaming, "Stay away!"
The shuriken implanted themselves in the creatures head and the monster was vanquished. Before the group had a chance to relax they could hear a subtle laugh coming from the snake. The woman rose from the snake's corpse saying, "You really are a feisty one." While she was laughing Yuki threw her kunai chain and was able to swing toward the woman and kick her over to another tree. Yuki landed on the snake's body and tugged on the chain to bring her weapon back to her. "Sasuke!" Yuki yelled.
"Yuki!" Sasuke yelled back. "Don't be stupid! You don't know what she's capable of!"
"So what should I do, just let you die?!" Yuki called back. "Sorry, but I'm not that cold!"
The woman came from the darkness of the forest and kicked Yuki back to another branch of another tree. While in mid-air, Yuki was able to throw her weapon into a tree branch and swing herself around the large trunk. Yuki was able to come around and attempted to kick the woman from behind but she saw her before the impact was made. The woman dodged Yuki's attack and grabbed the chain and pulled Yuki back. The woman pulled out a kunai knife and stabbed Yuki in the heart. Sasuke screamed as his friend was impaled but then he stopped as the form changed into another log. "What the…?" said the woman. She was suddenly punched under the chin and knocked into the air as Yuki came out from under the snake's skin. Yuki, then, pulled on the woman to bring her down to her level and Yuki tornado-kicked the woman back into the forest. When Yuki landed she laughed, "Earth-style: groundhog jutsu. Courtesy of my sensei!"
There was a long silence and Sasuke began to think that the woman was actually dead. "Sasuke!" he looked up and saw Sakura waving at him from high above. "Nice job, Yuki!!" Sakura cheered. Yuki looked up at Sakura and then at Sasuke. They both smiled until the same familiar laugh came from the darkness. "Foolish girl." Said the voice. A tornado of wind knocked Yuki back to another tree with such force that the impact knocked her out. She plopped onto the branch below with a loud thud. Yuki tried her best to keep the darkness from clouding her eyes but it was too much for her.