Chapter 21

"Come on!" Kikan yelled as he followed behind the team of genin. "It's been half an hour! If we don't hurry, their..."

"P-please be calm Kikan-san." Hinata spoke.

"Hinata's right." Lee spoke up. "Naruto wouldn't be taking such a pace if they were in trouble."

Naruto who was a couple paces ahead, narrowed his eyes and landed on a branch. Lee, Hinata and Kikan landed on a branch.

"Something wrong?" Lee asked.

"The air... It's foul." Naruto growled.

"I taste nothing." Kikan stated.

"Not that kind of foul..." Naruto stated as he let his senses flow around the area. "It's dark and foul... Something more horrible than normal..." Naruto's eyes widen and he spun on his right foot. His is right hand shot out and an impact hit the side of the tree three times before a figure was rocketed back. The tree fell to the floor below as the figure landed in a crouch.

"My, my... That was impressive..." The ninja hissed out with a smile. Naruto scowled as he saw a glint in the yellow snake like eyes.

Snake...

The ninja stood and looked up at the blond from the side of the tree. The male ninja had white skin and black hair. His headband had a music note on it. Naruto's companions landed on the branch behind him and the ninja smirked.

He unleashed 5 kunai and Naruto grasped the first and deflected each. The ninja smirked.

'Those kunai were not deflectable... Yet, he moved fast enough to do so... Hm...' The ninja pulled his head to the side, letting some hair get cut as the kunai dug into the tree. 'And he's a fast thrower... most likely close combat with an arm like that.'

"Who are you boy?"

"...." Naruto didn't respond as he merely moved to his right. He glanced back and Lee blinked.

"Hinata, find Sasuke's team."

"Wh-why?"

"Yeah, Naruto might need our help right now." Kikan spoke as he was interested to see how this fight would go and be ready to jump in.

"We'll only distract him... Come on!" Lee said taking off to a higher branch. Hinata and Kikan followed. Naruto smiled as he focused on the man.

'Thanks Lee...' Naruto scowled and crouched. He summoned his blade and raised it before the man.

"Who are you? Maybe then I'll tell you who I am..." Naruto stated. The man scowled.

'The look in his eyes... It remains me of that blasted brat. The fourth hokage...' The ninja still held a smirk.

"My name... My dear boy. Is Orochimaru. And now... Your..." Orochimaru flipped backwards down the tree as Naruto impacted it like he had just dropped from the sky to the ground onto his right knee and left foot. It right fist impacting the tree. His kattoken active. Naruto looked up with a glare.

"Orochimaru huh? I've heard something of you... One of the sannin..."

"That would be true... But I grew tired of that poor excuse of a title and took off. Shame I still have it..." Orochimaru looked up and opened his mouth. A snake began to appear. And out of its mouth a sword appeared. "That's a rather interesting technique boy... What's it called?" Naruto stood and slid into battle stance.

"It's known as the kattoken. I made it myself." 'This guy uses a katana... I best see what he's made of before I draw my own...' Naruto rushed forward, his right fist back.

'A frontal attack.' "Pretty poor excuse for a move boy..." Orochimaru swung his blade down as Naruto punched forward. The wind and blade screeched on contact and Naruto smirked. With a push from his right leg. Naruto kneed the blade up. His left pushed Orochimaru back and Naruto swung his left. "Argh!" The attack hit and Naruto blinked as the shirt and skin turned brown. Naruto swore under his breath and pushed back and landed on the side of the tree.

'He's good...' Naruto mused. 'He changed with his clone without me noticing the change in energy. Best be careful. I'm fighting someone on a whole over level...'

Slowly, round Naruto's feet. His wind began to appear and slice the ground round him. He needed to be on his guard. His foe had completely suppressed his presence. Naruto held his blade ready to strike.

Naruto swung and his blade connected with Orochimaru's and the blade rested on the guard as Naruto fully turned. Had the air not moved, he wouldn't sense the attack. Naruto pushed the blade aside and double kicked.

Orochimaru stumbled back. The boy was strong. He hadn't even looked at him before he blocked. His back was fully open. Yet the boy had blocked and made a strong counter over his own strength.

The boy was physically stronger than himself. Outstanding. For someone as young as a genin to be able to force off his own sword strikes.

The boy was worth studying... Maybe, but he would need to see more. Orochimaru jumped back and landed on a tree.

"I must say... You're unique... Like Sasuke-kun..."

"Don't... Put me on his level..." Naruto said with a scowl. Orochimaru chuckled.

"We'll see..." He said forming a set of seals. Instantly the wind picked up and began to rush its way at the blond. Destroying the path it was creating.

Naruto merely stood his ground as the wind passed. Orochimaru didn't bat an eyelid as the blond merely looked at him like he had just been standing in a light breeze. He had been unharmed by that attack.

Orochimaru didn't even make any motion as a snake rose up behind the blond. But only before the snake could strike did he sense an attack from behind. He jumped and flipped sideways from the strike.

'What?' The snake dropped down and the blond went up in smoke. 'Kage bunshin... I didn't even see him move...'

Naruto glanced to the snake that hissed at the blond. A shuriken sliced through its skull and it dropped dead. Naruto then turned his eyes to the snake man.

"Is that all?" Naruto asked. Truth be told, he could handle the way he battled. It was the skills he had that worried him. He could vanish and appear at will. And summon snakes without him noticing... Naruto glanced down to Orochimaru's sword. He had left it stabbed into tree. He grasped the blade.

At that moment he grasped it. It turned into a snake and its fangs dug in before Naruto could register its strike speed. Naruto yelped as he threw the snake away. He could see purple liquid in his puncture marks.

Orochimaru chuckled. The boy had only let his guard down once... And it was going to cost him...

What would kill him first he wondered? Or would he merely go insane...? Orochimaru was interested to find out...

"How's it feel? My snake has the most interesting venom... It's not something that can be removed easily."

Naruto scowled. But now he was worried. His vision seemed to be impaired by this venom. His right hand was shaky also. 'This isn't good...'

He could tell the kyuubi wasn't also in a good mood with this venom. So much for getting passed it quickly. Naruto's vision got worse. He sealed his katana away as he needed to escape. Naruto jumped away and used his wind to guide him. He landed on another branch and his right foot slipped back.

He slid over with his left hooked to the branch with chakra.

"Running so soon?" Orochimaru spoke out. He we fascinated this boy could still make out his surroundings. Even with the venoms rapid affect.

Naruto closed his eyes. 'My visions no good here... I need to escape...' Naruto released a pulse of friction through the air. And then dropped from the branch to the ground far below.

Orochimaru merely stood and watched. 'Is he dead? Pity... He was something unique...' He looked down to the forest floor tens of meters below the branches. And then turned while sinking into the tree.

Naruto panted as he rested against a branch. He was sweating and breathing hard. 'I need to rest...'

'A wise decision...' Kyuubi spoke. 'It will give me time to study this and make it immune to you over time... But I need you to fully rest. Meaning you need to sleep...'

'Problem is... I can't see or focus enough... It's tiring...'

'More the reason to rest. Right now the poison in your body is slowly weakening your body. It would be killing you. But I'm not planning to let that take me out. Just stay on the branch. Relax... And let your body recover. I will keep up your guard till recognisable energy appears...'

Naruto slowly rested his back against the tree. 'Ok... I'll hold you too that...' Naruto's breathe shortened and it became calm as he had a light glow of red around his body. And with that Naruto dozed off to recover.

Meanwhile, Hinata and Lee. With their companion Kikan were now watching over Sasuke and Sakura.

When they had found them. Sakura was in a panicked state. Sasuke was comatose. Some sort of tattoo on his neck.

They had moved for a shelter and Kikan was busy setting up wired traps with Lee's help. Hinata was tending to Sasuke and Sakura. By using watered cloth to lower Sasuke's fever. And just let Sakura rest from her ordeal.

But right now, Hinata was worried about her blond teammate. He should be back some time now. But she had yet to spot his chakra when she scouted out every hour or so. She was getting worried and night was soon to come.

Not that Naruto needed worrying about. But something was telling her this wasn't one of those Naruto will be ok moments.

Lee seemed to be also looking out for Naruto. Guess she wasn't the only one worried?

Night feel and Hinata was now worried. Hours had passed with no sign of Naruto. He couldn't be lost, his sense would find them.

"I'm going to look for Naruto..." Hinata spoke as she walked to the entrance.

"Hold up, I'll come with you." Kikan spoke. "Lee, can you watch over Sakura and Sasuke." Lee nods.

"Come back when you can't. I'll go search for him then." Lee spoke and Hinata and Kikan nods.

The pair then takes off into the forest. Hinata's byakugan active to see the way.

"You sure you want to leave your team?" Hinata asked as the pair moved from branch to branch at a steady pace.

"You're team is stronger than mine. Lee will do better protecting them than me... I'm merely just a guy who's good with wires..." Kikan said as they moved in silence.

"I have a question." Kikan spoke up after some time.

"Hm...?" Hinata replied as they moved.

"Wh-what did Naruto back then? All he did was really look at the tree and it exploded. It was like... Well it's not normal ninjutsu."

"I... I can't tell you... Th-that's Naruto-kun choice."

"I see..." Kikan muttered.

The pair landed on branch and Hinata focused out into the forest.

What she was searching for was the glow of Naruto's chakra. Mostly she'd spot a resting team. But not a singular blue one...

Hinata blinked. Blue... Why should she just be focus on the simple charka? Naruto held then kyuubi. If she can't stop the blue then...

Once again she focused out into the forest. Delving deeper and looking for a singular energy. No matter what the colour was. It would most surely be Naruto's.

There it was... A small glimmer of red. Like Naruto's kai-ken. "Let's go!" Hinata called as they hurried.

They raced through the forest and Hinata was the first to land on the branch and skid next to Naruto. She tried calling his name with no response. Kikan frowned and looked to the night sky. It was getting hard to see and they really could check Naruto over in such a place...

"We've got two choices... Find a spot to rest. Or take Naruto to our small camp." Hinata looked to Naruto. She followed the fabric over and saw Naruto's seal still active on the vest.

Naruto had pointed out his weights not long to Hinata when she joined. He had indicated that his body was entirely weighted down by the seal. And the only time it didn't affect the area round him was when he was on his feet.

If he were to leave the ground. Anything could be affected by his weight. His oji-san had pointed this out to him when he had taught the blond how to control his weight seal.

"We can't go anywhere... It's not safe to move Naruto at all."

"Why's that?" Kikan asked. Hinata glanced to the bye.

"It could kill you."

The seal on Naruto gripped his body to the floor and increased the gravity. Nobody would be affected next to him. Or touching him. As long as he had his body to the floor. If one were to carry him without his seal off. They'd get crushed under the gravity.

So Naruto would be staying on the branch till he recovered. Hinata and Kikan would have to watch over him till then. Then Kikan spoke again.

"Why's he glowing red?"

XXXXXX

Through the night Hinata and Kikan watched over the blond in turns. Taking time to rest should they be attacked. And by morning the glow had begun to fade from Naruto's body.

"Naruto-kun?" Hinata spoke up first as she nudged Naruto's shoulder. Naruto grunted and clenched his eyes tight. Slowly they opened and the orbs slowly glanced to Hinata's white ones.

"Ugh..." Naruto grunted as he pushed against the tree. Hinata tried to help him up and gasped at the bite mark on his hand.

"Naruto-kun... Wh-what happened?" Naruto slowly stood straight and looked to his hand.

'The bite marks are still visible... Why?' Naruto decided it was best not to ponder. No doubt kyuubi is still healing him. He blinked as he realised Hinata had more than one presence and looked to see Kikan sleeping on the branch. Hinata spoke up.

"We found you recovering. Lee is with Sakura and Sasuke."

"How's Sakura?" Naruto's first question was.

"She was in a mild case of panic. She calmed down and rested once we found a suitable resting spot." Hinata said before walking over to Kikan. She gave him a nudge. "Kikan-san. We need to get moving..."

"Five more minutes mom..." Kikan said rolling to his right and falling from the tree. Naruto and Hinata flinch from the thud as Kikan looked to be in absolute pain. His arms at the sides of the tree with his legs. His head sideways with sheer horror in them.

The cause for such a face. A branch bent up at the worst place for a male.

Naruto had to try hard to suppress any laughed that was breaking through. So bad was it of this sight he was shaking. Hinata was by Kikan's side. Helping the poor injured lad.

10 minutes later they were off. A red faced lad with a grinning blond. And a worried girl. Though both lads were unsteady on their feet.

Kikan from the utter pain. Naruto from the fact he could stop laughing.

When they landed on a branch they stared in shock at the sight. If Naruto had let his senses go. He may have been hastier in their arrival.

Sound ninja stood before the camping grounds. Lee was flat on his back. Ino, Shikamaru and Chouji were off to the side and Sakura was sat at the centre. Sasuke just passed her.

His body was coated in black marks with were glowing red in pulses. Purple chakra was twisting round him like an inferno.

Naruto, Kikan and Hinata watched. As Sasuke vanished as the sound male attacked. Without any care for those around the Uchiha.

Kikan and Hinata hadn't even seen the blond move as the sound boy blasted the area.

It was only when they saw Naruto resting on the tree side next to them. Sakura resting on his back and Lee being held by his sash. That they only then realised the blond had moved faster than the sound pressure attack and picked up Sakura and Lee and moved out the way of its strike.

Kikan was awed by such a speed. To Hinata she knew Naruto wasn't even doing much effort.

Sakura was confused about where she was at this point. One minute she's looking at Sasuke's back. The next, she's... somewhere above the battle field?

"Sakura... You ok to get off?" She blinked and looked down to see yellow hair. The head turn to the side and blue eyes with whisker marked cheeks glanced to her. He spoke again. "You ok?"

She could only nod dumb founded and slowly stood on the tree with her chakra. Naruto turned to Hinata and Kikan. "Hold him..." Lee was passed to Kikan and Hinata who then proceeded to wake the lad.

Sakura blinked as Naruto vanished before her eyes.

"That's enough Sasuke..." Sakura blinked and looked up. Almost everyone now had their eyes on the pair.

The girl had been knocked out. The male with the pressure attack was lying crumpled with two broken arms. The final was standing scared stiff.

Naruto stood in between the two. Naruto held a tone that showed any attempt to continue will only get him hurt.

Sasuke wasn't about to let the other one go... But now he was focused on Naruto. Lee's words had struck a chord with his beating before the first round. Now with his new power. He smirked at Naruto. He lashed out with a right kick.

Naruto closed his eyes and blocked with his left arm. A sigh came out as Sasuke could only stare.

"That all?" Naruto asked as he gave a dull look to Sasuke. This wasn't what he wanted when he was going to kick his ass. He wanted him sane before be mopped his royal Uchiha backside. It's not fun beating an insane person.

Sasuke's foot dropped and he roared with right punch. Sasuke's face looked up as Naruto's knee thumped against him. Naruto merely in mid hop pushed the Uchiha back with his foot. Not really interested in this fight.

"Done...?" Naruto spoke. Naruto glanced back without turning his head. "Don't move..." The sound ninja froze. He had got the girl on his back and was tending to his male teammate. "I want a word with you and if you leave. It will only be more painful."

Dosu, the sound ninja didn't move. The threat was not for show. He truly meant it.

Sasuke gasped and panted. He growled and form seals and took a breath. 'Katon: Housenka no jutsu.'

Naruto scowled and with a blur of his right and left hand. The fire balls fizzed out and Sasuke could only blink as Naruto held the 8 shuriken between his fingers and thumb.

"Ok... You've had you fun..."

Sasuke growled and rushed forward. Naruto dropped the shuriken. He was going to must his ego to shame with this combo. Naruto ducked under Sasuke left punch and duck his in with enough force to make air born by a foot. A knee contacted the chin as the pair was now in the air and Naruto flipped backward and kicked the Uchiha with his right heel. Sending the lad bouncing back along the floor.

The seal with drew as the Uchiha lay flat on his face, eating dirt in his unconscious state.

Naruto merely turned to the tree and jumped onto the branch. "Is he awake yet...?" Naruto asked as he looked to Hinata.

"No..." Naruto tapped his chin. An idea had formed. He lent beside Lee's head and muttered into his ear.

Lee's eyes snapped open and he was up looking around. "Where is he? I'll tear him..." Lee blinked as he saw Sasuke lying on his front. "Oh..."

"Good to see you back with reality... Well almost with you..." Naruto then turned to the sound ninja. He really had stayed his ground. "Oi you..."

The ninja stared at the blond.

"You've got a scroll right?" The ninja nods. "Put it down and go... I'll let you leave this time... Oh and tell your friend that snake guy. I'll meet him soon enough..."

Dosu didn't question the blonds words as he dropped the scroll and ran. The boy was to strong for him.

"So..." Naruto said looking to Kikan. "What scroll you got?"

"Heven..."

"Same..." Naruto looked to the scroll from his point. "Looks like earth."

"You can have it... To watch you knock Sasuke around like that was worth anything I could give. He really needed to be toned down. But I doubt that will stop. Most likely fuel him to attack you again."

"Uchiha seem to be that way... Ok then..."

"A-actually... Naruto..." Naruto glanced up to Sakura. Who stood behind Kikan, slightly nervous from the fact that the blond had now just been speaking to her. And from what she just witnessed. "We lost our scroll... The ninja that attacked me and Sasuke-kun... Burnt it."

"Oh man... Now what we going to do?"

"Work damn hard for a heaven then... Don't worry..." Naruto said as he held the earth scroll. "We'll get our own..." He said handing it to Kikan. The boy blinked and looked to find the scroll gone.

"Ok... I need to know how you did that." Naruto grinned.

"We'll be going now... If you have trouble. We'll have extra scrolls waiting... After all. I want the best at the tower... Later Kikan... Sakura. Lee, Hinata." The team then took off.

'Maybe I can say I'm sorry after all this exam is over with.' Sakura mussed as she made her way down to Sasuke. Who Ino was fussing over with poor Shikamaru and Chouji being forced to help.

'The best at the tower... And he's expecting us there... I'll take you challenge Uzumaki! Just you wait. No amount of super speed will save you!'

Kikan was giddy. For someone so strong to want him there as a challenge is something he wasn't going to back down from.

"So... How should we do this?" Kikan said as the group looked at Sasuke. "Sliced or roosted Uchiha for breakfast. I'm hungry..."

"I'll help you with your hunger..." Ino growled. "How about a knuckle sandwich? Get back here!" She roared as Kikan messed with the fangirl. Sakura sighed as she got help from Shikamaru and Chouji to move Sasuke aside. A black bruise on his forehead.

"Naruto's improved a lot..." Shikamaru spoke up. "It's scary. Yet he's not like Sasuke... Someone who would stand above the rest and mock them for their lack of skill."

"Yeah... It's weird how he treats everyone equally..." Chouji spoke back. "Well..." Chouji muttered.

"Except Sasuke..." Both the males muttered in agreement. True enough, they didn't really like Sasuke that much either. Not any male in their age group could really. He was arrogant and saw everyone as someone below his class. It was because they were leaf ninja. They had to tolerate the guy.

Least Naruto let an impression on the Uchiha for them to remember for some time.

Sakura didn't argue with them. Though she was annoyed at them. She was too tired to start defending Sasuke after he had gone on a crazed attack and got knocked out by a comrade.

As Sasuke rested. Sakura leaned against the roots as Kikan, with a red bruise on his cheek sat down.

"You ok?" Kikan ask as Sakura sat there in thought.

"Just tired... My hair's a mess and I'm still trying to get through what has passed."

"Yeah... I'm rather stunned by everything... Naruto's power... Sasuke's madness... The fact I let Ino hit me so I at least look like I've done something in the last two days..." Sakura smiled as Kikan rested his arms behind his head. "We've got a long day ahead... We rest to night and move out tomorrow... No offence, but even if Sasuke begs to recover. I want to get to that tower as fast as possible now."

"Is it because of Naruto's challenge to us?"

"More for the fact that some teams must have passed. Less scrolls are out there now. We need to work fast to get to the tower. Otherwise we won't have time to recover be ready for what we face next."

"True... But, I too am exhausted... I may not be as bad as Sasuke... But."

"You feel you'll hold us back... I can't blame you thinking that..." Sakura frowned. "But I believe you'll find away to do it. Were both similar in combat strength, I'm sure we'll pull through." Sakura nods with a smile.

"Thanks... I was a little worried for a while... Thanks for reassuring me..." Sakura blinked as Kikan slept. A snooze bubble hanging from his nose.

Sakura sighed and glanced out. Many of Kikan's traps were still active... And she doubted Kikan was fully asleep.

With some relief she slowly rested herself. A small smile on her face with the knowledge Naruto had forgiven her somewhat.

They had no trouble from there. The team reached the tower two days later.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Wow... I somewhat found that touching in the ending points... Maybe my department is looking for an KikanxSakura pairing? What do you think diimortal?

I found it fun knocking Sasuke about like a tennis ball. I used Gogeta's close combat combo move from budokai. Found it hard to follow from watching.

Naruto needs to learn not all weapons are safe. Orochimaru is a sannin for his skill. Naruto should have been careful.

Yes the wound on Naruto's hand will heal. It's just to show how much work the fox has had to focus on the venom.

If you want any questions I can answer about this chapter. Or future points I'll try answer them. If they focus on particular points I won't answer. As the story will answer it when the time comes.

Thank you for waiting and enjoy!