Birth of an Assassin: Heir to the Namikaze
Chapter 11
Forest of Death
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Assassin's Creed or Naruto.
"Speaking"
'Thinking'
"Jutsu"
"Tailed Beast Speak"
Pairing: NaruxSaku
Assassin!Naruto
Fun Fact: This story was originally set to be a NaruxFemKakashi.
Hey guys, back for another chapter of Namikaze Assassin. I hope you all have been patiently, or perhaps by this point impatiently, waiting for the next release. So far we have seen two chapters released for Mercenary, my AU fiction set in a future of our world and my latest release of Blonde Uchiha's chapter.
As you may know, this story is far ahead in terms of plot progression, already in the middle of the Chunin Exam where Blonde Uchiha has yet to start. This means you will now be enjoying our Assassin Naruto and his squad up against fellow genin from around the world as well as finding themselves in the middle of a war, filled with lies and deceit.
How will Naruto ensure safety for not only himself but for Sakura and others who are willing to join his growing family of assassins?
Well you will have to read to find out!
I will also let you in that the harem is looking to be around six or seven girls. Geez, why do there have to be so many beautiful red heads that are swayed to join Naruto's cause and fall under his charm? Either way, its his marriage headache right? We just get to watch and find entertainment.
Remember to leave quality reviews, its those that make the next chapter come quicker!
000
Konohagakure
44th Training Ground
Anko led the large group of genin on a trek through the village, leaping over the rooftops and streets of Konoha. Civilians would see the shadows and look up and watch in amazement as a procession of ninja passed right over their heads. Even for citizens of a ninja village, it was still a rare sight to see shinobi from so many nations together in one place.
Naruto and Sakura stayed near the back of the group, trying to avoid attention. They had lost Sasuke in the confusion of trying to catch up with Anko after she left the classroom, but they weren't all that worried. With all the tension between him and Naruto, it was better off that they stay apart.
"Naruto, what do you think the second exam will be about?"
Sakura asked as they moved through the city, it had been occupying her mind for some time. Naruto already knew a lot about the exam from his sources but had yet to give the details to Sakura. Better he tell her now rather than later.
"The next exam will be over our survival and combat skills. The proctor will give you a better description than I can, suffice to say we will both have to put our training to the test."
Sakura's eyes widened, they would be fighting in the next part? It made sense now that she thought about it but she had been wondering if she would even have to put her training to use.
'I won't let you down Naruto..'
Sakura was determined not to be a burden to her team anymore.
Naruto had confidence in Sakura as he had seen her progress first hand for the past month or so. While she had not learned any specific techniques of an assassin as it was outside her place, Naruto had made sure her basic ninja skills were up to par as well as gave her some basic assassination training. She could use her hidden blade with skill and knew how to hide from and ambush an enemy shinobi stronger than she was.
"You will do fine Sakura..don't worry so much."
He reassured her as they approached the training ground on the outskirts of town. She blushed as he saw through her worry.
"Thank you Naruto..I have to admit, I don't think I would do as well if you weren't here."
Naruto grabbed her hand as they landed and held it tight. Leaning in, he whispered in her ear.
"I will be right beside you."
Sakura blushed again, harder this time, as the genin gathered into their squads. Sasuke found his way back to the other two, not saying anything in the way of greeting. Eyes shifted back and forth among the Chunin aspirants, checking their competition. Whispers of fear, challenge, and gloating floated around the teams until the eccentric instructor chose to speak, her loud voice shadowing the others.
"This is where the second exam will be held, Training Ground 44." Anko garnered a deadly smirk and put a hand on her hip. "Around here we like to refer to it as 'The Forest of Death'. Catchy huh?"
She received the desired effect as some of the squads began to get apprehensive looks. Why would it be named that? What was this next exam all about? Was it worth dying over?
"It is a pretty creepy place."
Sakura observed the dark forest that lay behind the rusted fence, already imagining the worst of what they would find in there.
Anko heard her and smiled.
"You will get to experience first hand how it got the nickname, Forest of Death, pretty soon. Don't you worry about that kiddo."
Naruto crossed his arms and sighed, and the proctor picked up on his attitude.
"Mitarashi-san, don't try and-" The woman quickly slid a kunai from her sleeve to her hand and threw it at Naruto who, faster than anyone could see, caught it and continued talking. "-scare us before we've seen the arena for ourselves."
Anko smirked, his reflexes were top notch to catch the attack and not to mention how he did it without so much as a flinch. There were the series of 'wow's and 'How did he do that?'s among those gathered while others were not as impressed.
Gaara as expected continued to watch him with the same blank stare, but inside her blood was rushing in excitement. She wanted so bad to fight him, watch the assassin squirm in her sand as she crushed him slowly.
'Soon..I will have you in my Coffin.'
The Oto nin watched carefully, knowing that to complete their mission they would have to go through the assassin. His skill was impressive, so much to the point that it was obvious even to the tactical one of the bunch, Dosu, that they would have trouble. They couldn't fail though or their punishment would be death, better to be at the hand of a quick assassin rather than their master.
The silent Kusa shinobi hid their excitement beneath their straw hats. It would be quite an entertaining fight should they run into the one in the white robes.
'This will be..interesting.' Their leader thought, licking her lips.
The proctor made to move and disappeared in a blur, appearing behind Naruto. One hand rested on his shoulder while the other one wandered a bit over his chest, her face going from joking to perverted in only a moment.
"You know, you are getting pretty handsome the more I-" Feeling another presence, Anko grabbed another kunai and held it up in defense.
"I don't care if you are the proctor, my senior, or even another woman. Don't you dare touch him." Anko saw the other robed one, a girl, holding a wrist blade to her neck and blocking Anko's kunai with her own.
Sakura's tone was venomous to say the least and left little room to negotiate.
The proctor had the decency to grimace in her new situation, so much for getting to play with the Namikaze. His little girlfriend was a little too protective for her tastes.
"Sakura, its alright." They both looked and saw Naruto smirking under his hood, turning to face them.
"But Naruto, she.." Naruto handed the kunai back to Anko and moved to Sakura's side, placing a hand gently over Sakura's blade arm.
"We do not fight innocents remember? Calm yourself..the proctor was just seeing if I had weapons under my robes, isn't that right Mitarashi-san?" He gave the proctor a knowing look and the older woman made an annoyed sound and put her weapons away.
"Whatever, let's just move onto the test."
While Naruto took Sakura off to the side to calm down, Anko recomposed herself in front of everyone to speak. She had a tight schedule to keep and couldn't afford to play around with the little genin all day, no matter how much she would enjoy it. Hearing their screams of fear and agony from the forest would have to be enough.
"Before we begin the exam, you all will need to fill this out." Anko reached into her coat and revealed a stack of papers, labeled as 'Consent' forms.
"Consent forms, what for?" Ino asked as the paper got passed around to her.
"This is the most dangerous portion of the exam and people will die. Having these forms keeps us from being responsible to your home village for your death since you entered on your own whim."
The way she so nonchalantly put their chance of survival or death was not very comforting. It made little difference though as they had all come knowing there would be some risks to become Chunin. As the genin began to fill out the forms, their minds wandered in what they were expecting.
Shikamaru looked over the sheet and sighed.
'A survival test?..this is going to be such a drag.'
Kiba quickly signed where it said to and smirked, excited for the upcoming test.
"This is our specialty, there is no way we can lose!"
Hinata looked over at Naruto's group and saw they too were participating, silently hoping they would not have to face one another.
'Good luck, Namikaze-san.'
Anko pulled out another scroll from her coat, this time it was a map of the area.
"While you are filling out your forms, listen in to know what kind of place you'll be in for the next five days." That got eyes to look up at her as she began to point at the scroll's contents.
"Training Ground 44 is a circular arena, ten kilometers in size. There is a large forest and river that runs through it, as well as a large tower in the middle. The tower will be where the final exam takes place so be sure you can find your way.."
It was becoming clear that this was not just a simple race to the tower, there had to be twist. The genin waited impatiently for the proctor to move on and watched as she pulled out two scrolls of differing color and kanji.
"The survival program is a simple competition over these two scrolls..anything goes as long as you complete the objective."
"Scrolls?" Sasuke asked in a sarcastic tone, they would be fighting over some useless parchment?
Anko smirked.
"Yes Uchiha, scrolls. One is a Heaven scroll, the other Earth. You will receive one of these scrolls and it will be your mission to obtain its opposite through any means necessary. You will come into contact with other teams, there is no other way you can pass."
The teams eyed their opponents again, even more wary than before. Anko continued in a serious tone, having lost her original excitement.
"Twenty six teams passed the first exam, that means that half will receive the Heaven scroll and the other half will get Earth."
"And how do we pass?" Naruto asked the question everyone was waiting to hear.
"Basically, have both these scrolls and reach the tower with your team-mates."
Sakura observed that this was a very effective test as effectively half of the teams present would have their scroll stolen and failed. It meant that they would have to be even more careful to watch their own scroll; if the teams there were not confident enough to fight them, they may to try and get it in another way. She was sure Naruto was prepared to handle whatever problem would arise though.
"It has to be finished within the time limit though, as you only have one hundred and twenty hours. Five days as I said before."
"What the hell am I supposed to eat for five days?" Choji shouted, terrified by the fact he would be away from a good meal for that long.
Anko scowled and pointed a finger at the forest behind her.
"Find it yourself, there are plenty of herbs, plants, and animals to hunt and eat."
Kabuto pressed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and spoke in turn.
"But what you fail to mention is that there are even more poisonous plants and insects as well as dangerous beasts inside."
Anko chuckled and crossed her arms.
"It will be a challenge and that's just the way we shinobi like it. Either prove yourself worthy..or die."
Shikamaru raised his hand and spoke as she hadn't answered his number one question yet.
"Can we quit in the middle of the five days?"
Anko knew all about the Nara's renowned laziness and had expected the question.
"Participants cannot quit upon entering the exam grounds, you must spend the five days in the forest.." Anko then got a bored look on her face as she went over the final part of the rules. "Speaking of that, here is how you can be failed. First, by being unable to bring two scrolls to the tower with all three team-mates. Second, losing a team-mate or bringing an incapacitated one will result in failure."
She took out the scrolls again to give one final rule.
"And lastly, you are not allowed to open and see the contents of the scrolls under any circumstance."
That made everyone immediately want to know what was inside.
"Why not?" Sasuke asked, he didn't like getting prohibited from doing anything.
"As a Chunin, you may be given secret documents to be delivered or protected. This ensures you can be reliable to not view those documents that you are not privileged to."
It made perfect sense to most and the questions died down considerably. Noticing the quiet, Anko gestured over to a nearby hut with other examiners there waiting.
"When you have your consent forms ready, head over there and exchange them for a scroll. When you are done, pick an entrance of your liking and wait for the examiner to give the signal to enter.. as each team will enter at the same time, there is no chance of cheating."
Anko looked over them all, while some seemed legitimately afraid of the upcoming test, the rest seemed excited to begin. That made her excited to see how many of them would survive and how many would die.
"One last piece of advice.." Every genin met her eyes as she spoke her last order. "Just don't die!"
The genin soon dispersed and gave their last thoughts about whether to go through with the test or not. With the new information given to them by the proctor, it was most definitely more difficult than they would have imagined. Even then, most had already made up their minds that they would go through with it.
"Sakura, are you going to go through with this?" The pink haired girl looked to see Ino and her team come over and see her.
Naruto, who was sitting on a nearby dirt mound, chose to ignore them and let Sakura deal with her old friends. Sasuke was scoping out the other teams and wasn't even paying any attention the new arrivals.
"Of course I am Ino, I won't let my team down." The blonde put her hands on her hips and smirked.
"You weren't too impressive back in the academy Sakura, I doubt you can handle the pressure." Sakura glared at her friend and Ino's taunting was rebuffed.
"I'm not the same girl I was back in the academy Ino..I think that much is pretty clear." Her friend took a few steps back.
"Yeah..I guess it is."
'I've never seen Sakura so serious before..what did that Naruto do to her?'
"Sasuke, Sakura, let's get our scroll." Naruto got up and started making his way over to the hut with his team-mates close behind, pushing past Ino's squad.
Team seven was ready to begin the Second Exam.
000
Once each team had received their scroll, they moved to a vacant entrance and prepared to start the test. Simultaneously, they would be released into the Forest of Death and would most likely come into contact soon after entering. Some of the more apprehensive teams tried to find entrances where they could not see other, stronger groups nearby.
Others like Suna just chose the closest one, unconcerned.
It was quiet until it was time for the exam to begin and the Chunin examiners unlocked the gates. Teams spread into the overgrowth and tried to get as much distance from the outside as they could. It was also during this time they took in their surroundings and realized the forest was indeed dangerous with all kinds of beasts waiting to attack them, not to mention plenty of hiding spots for enemy shinobi.
Naruto stopped his squad in a clearing and took out their Heaven scroll. He had been hanging onto it since they received it, but felt it was better he did not keep it himself.
"Sakura, here." Sakura was shocked he chose her to hold their scroll and started to disagree.
"Naruto, I don't think that's such a good idea.." Naruto just shook his head and took her hand, pressing the scroll into her grasp.
"I know you will take care of it, keep it safe."
She didn't understand why he wanted her to hold it but did not go against his order, placing it in her waist pouch.
"I understand Naruto.."
He nodded and took a look around them, it was a little too open for his tastes.
"We should probably-" Naruto stopped when he saw Sasuke wandering off. "Where do you think you are going Sasuke?"
The Uchiha turned around and shrugged.
"I have to take care of some business, be right back."
Sakura crossed her arms, the gall of him to just leave like that. When he was out of sight, she spoke her mind.
"Who does he think he is?"
Naruto chuckled.
"Don't worry Sakura, its just his pride getting in his way. I think he had to go to the bathroom.." Sakura looked surprised and then just laughed.
"He tried to sound cool just to go to the bathroom?" She mocked him and made Naruto smile.
It wasn't long before he returned, hands in his pockets with the usual swagger. Sakura just got a knowing smirk on her face and crossed her arms, making Sasuke look at her.
"Already done with your important business?"
Sasuke looked as if he didn't understand for a moment and then chuckled.
"Uh yeah, I'm good now." Sakura furrowed her brow at how he reacted, not at all like she was expecting.
'Where is the brooding, defensive Sasuke? I mean how long has it been since he smiled and laughed?'
She watched as Naruto disappeared and punched Sasuke right in the gut, sending him down to the ground. Quickly, he grabbed one of the Uchiha's arms and twisted it behind his back, effectively pinning him.
"Hey, what are you-" Sasuke protested but quickly shut up when there was a blade to his throat.
"Where is the real Sasuke..I won't ask again."
Sakura didn't understand for a moment, the real Sasuke? Sure he was acting odd but was that reason enough to suspect him?
"Naruto, what's going on?" The blonde didn't look up at her, focusing on holding the struggling imposter.
"Can't you tell Sakura..he's acting oddly. Not to mention he has his thigh pouch on his left leg, Sasuke is right-handed like you and me." Sakura looked down at his legs and sure enough, the pouch was on his left.
Sasuke stopped struggling and then just smiled. As he spoke, his voice began to change and grow deeper, somewhat distorted.
"I guess you found me out, no matter."
Dropping the Henge, the Rain ninja revealed himself in his original form. Naruto twisted his arm harder, almost about to break it. His captive grunted in pain as he felt the cold steel of the blade against his neck.
"Where. is. he." Naruto asked slowly, getting impatient.
"Ugh..damn you." The shinobi began to sink into the ground, changing into mud.
Naruto got up from the pile of dirt and rejoined Sakura. They got back to back and readied their blades, knowing the ambush wasn't over yet.
"Get ready Sakura, they won't give up that easily." Naruto said as he scanned the trees and bushes.
"Right!"
Sakura watched for their opponent, scanning the bushes and trees for any sign of him. It was when she turned her eyes that the Ame nin struck, charging out of the underbrush in a full force charge. Seeing him, she readied to defend herself.
"There he is!"
Naruto leaped up into the air and began going through hand signs, making the enemy shinobi hesitate.
"Kaze no Yaiba!" Wind lashed out from Naruto's hands, slashing at the ground around him.
"Damn!" The Rain ninja rolled and jumped out of the way of the attack, landing on a tree root and launching himself right at Naruto.
Sakura watched as they met in the air, kunai and blade sparking against one another. They glared at one another before pushing away. As the Ame ninja retreated into the tree tops, Naruto and Sakura went in hot pursuit, jumping on the tree limbs after him.
"Hey, down here!" Naruto looked down and saw Sasuke, he was tied up on the ground and struggling to get free.
"I'll help him, go Naruto!" Sakura leaped down and untied their team-mate who quickly got up and ran after the Ame ninja.
Sakura growled.
"You're welcome."
Naruto leaped onto another branch and the shinobi turned around, throwing a dozen knives at him. Naruto jumped off of the branch as it exploded, showering splinters of wood everywhere.
The assassin landed on the forest floor and felt a presence behind him, inclining his head to see the Ame ninja had reached him.
"Just hand over the scroll..now." He asked with an outstretched hand only to glare when Naruto smirked.
"You are way out of your league..I suggest you leave before you get hurt."
"What did you-"
"Come over here!" They looked up and saw Sasuke throw a kunai at them, forcing the enemy ninja to jump onto a tree and leap away from them.
Sasuke landed next to Naruto and saw him not moving.
"What the hell are you doing? Get up!" He then jumped into the air after the spy.
Naruto reached into his vest and produced a knife, twisting around and throwing it in lightning quick speed. Even so, the distance allowed the Ame ninja to just barely dodge it, although it ripped his jumpsuit.
'Hmph..guess this plan was a-'
He exhaled sharply and looked down at his chest, feeling a sharp pain.
"Forget about me?"
Sakura's unforgivingly cold voice trickled into his ear drums and Oboro realized that the female ninja had gotten behind him somehow. She pulled her blade from his chest and let him fall to the ground, finding safety on a branch as she watched her prey land with a heavy thump.
"Ahhhh.." He sighed sharply as pain overwhelmed his senses, he had been bested by the Konoha ninjas.
Sasuke landed near him and searched him for the scroll, finding none. Cursing, he kicked the Ame nin in the stomach, making him roll over onto his back and give a cry of agony.
"Don't bother Sasuke, he was a scout. No way his team would allow him to carry the scroll.." The Uchiha just crossed his arms while Naruto and Sakura gathered around their fallen opponent.
"Don't..kill me..pl-please.." He reached a bloody hand for Naruto's robes but had his wrist caught by the blonde.
"This is something I did not teach you Sakura, as you are not an assassin yet." She looked at him in confusion as he brought up his arm, revealing the hidden blade.
"I had hoped you would not be forced to kill so soon..but I guess that was naïve of me."
The Ame ninja's eyes widened and he began to weakly struggle but could not get away with Naruto's iron grip.
"May you rest in peace and be forgiven of your worldly sins." He then quickly ended Oboro's short life, stabbing his neck.
The event over, Naruto placed the ninja's arms over his chest and stood up from the corpse. Sakura held back her shock and emotions of what was effectively her first kill, even though Naruto finished the job. When she had stabbed him, she thought nothing of what she was actually doing, only knowing that she was protecting her team-mates.
"We do not let our targets suffer with mortal wounds, always try your best to end their life as quickly as possible." She nodded, that seemed to make sense to her.
"What was that you whispered before killing him?" Naruto began to walk up the tree and retrieve his throwing knife, impaled in the old bark.
"It is partly a prayer but mostly done because of tradition. I will explain more when you progress in you training.." Naruto dropped down back to join them, placing a comforting hand on Sakura's shoulder. "Suffice to say that we do not hate the ones we kill, it is only a means to an end that we do what we must."
Sasuke scoffed, they were wasting time.
"Can we move on now? I'd like to get this scroll and move on.."
Naruto wasn't exactly happy how his team-mate just ignored his clan's traditions but didn't bother to pursue it. Sasuke had a point, they couldn't stay in one place for any reason and needed to keep moving.
"We should move on, maybe try finding his team. Come on.."
"Wait!"
Naruto turned around and wondered what Sakura needed. Sasuke glared at her, getting impatient.
"What is it Sakura?" Naruto asked.
"We need to figure out some way of telling if we are genuinely who we say we are, in case we get separated. The risk of an enemy transforming is too great to ignore.." Naruto thought about and agreed, it would be a problem.
"Don't worry about it, my enhanced senses will be able to tell if someone is genuine. Each person's scent is unique and only the most skilled transformers can replicate pheromones and natural odor." Sakura was comforted by that but still felt the need for caution.
"When we think you may not be who you say you are, we will just ask a question that only the three of us would know. That is if Naruto isn't with us or can't figure out if you are who you say or not."
They seemed to agree to her plan and so they prepared to proceed. Just as they were leaving, Sasuke felt himself hit by a pebble and looked in that direction, just seeing more trees and vines. Naruto thought he heard something and turned as well, hearing the wisp of a strong wind.
"Everyone get to high ground!"
Sakura and Sasuke were jolted into action as Naruto started going through hand signs. They did as he said, taking position in the higher branches of the tall trees, watching for enemies.
"Fūton: Daitoppa!" Naruto held his palms outward and shot a large gust of wind in the direction he heard the suspicious sounds.
The two jutsu collided and a large explosion was created in the forest, kicking up dust, dirt, and tree parts and sending it to fly around the genin and their assailants.
"A new enemy?" Sasuke questioned, shielding his eyes from the dust.
'Where are they..' Naruto kept his eyes open and tried to listen for their footsteps, the second attack had to come soon.
That scent..that scent he had from Kabuto and the Oto ninja. It was here.
000
The Kusa ninja brought her arms down from creating the jutsu, seeing that it was blocked. Her two team-mates stood on either side of her, waiting for orders.
"You two go have fun with the other genin. These three are mine.." They smirked and knew their Lord was about to have some fun.
"Yes..Lord Orochimaru."
They leaped away and allowed the snake to disappear in a flash to go find his prey.
000
Naruto was still searching for his opponent when he heard something coming toward him, fast. It made the ground slightly rumble as it approached and he quickly turned to face it and jumped back when he realized just what it was. A giant snake smashed through the trees into the clearing they were in, hissing and biting at the blonde.
'Damn!'
He thought as he got a few kunai ready, this was the worst possible time for this thing to show up. He leaped into the air threw the kunai at the snake's face, barely piercing the thick scales. Hissing in anger, it pursued Naruto with speed he had not been expecting, then the assassin snapped his fingers.
The kunai that had explosive tags activated and stunned the large beast, giving the blonde enough time to get high into the trees. He knew he only delayed it and looked over at Sasuke and Sakura who were staring back at him, waiting for him to say something.
"I'll get this thing out of here and be back as soon as I can! Stick together and don't die!"
Naruto shouted as the snake recollected itself and charged the tree he was taking refuge in, making it shake.
"No! Naruto!" Sakura made to go and help him but felt her arm grabbed by Sasuke.
His look told her that it was no use.
"You can't help him now Sakura, let him get the snake away from here and get ready for whoever sent that jutsu at us."
Sakura turned back to Naruto and saw he was already gone, disappeared into the forest with the snake close behind. She couldn't believe that it was so early in the exam and they were already separated.
'Please Naruto..come back safe!'
"You don't have time to rest I think."
Kunai launched from behind them, forcing them to retreat back down into the clearing. They looked up to see their opponent, one of the Kusa ninja from before, smiling at them.
"You.."
Sasuke whispered as she dropped down from the branch and stood on equal footing with them. She reached into her pouch and took out the Earth scroll, the scroll they needed. They watched as she held it up playfully as a reward if they had the courage to take it.
"You must want this..because you have a Heaven scroll, don't you?"
Sakura looked into her pouch and saw it was sealed, looking back at the ninja with wide eyes.
'How..how did she know?'
"Let it be the reward of our fight..the fight over our scrolls.." The Kusa nin then proceeded to swallow the entire scroll, like a snake would its food.
Sasuke and Sakura were disgusted but couldn't help but watch as she did it. When she was done, she licked her lips with that abnormal tongue and gave a deadly smirk.
"Let it begin."
They stared deep into her eyes and felt the strongest killing intent they had ever experienced, bringing them to their knees. Neither could move as they watched their own deaths play out in their mind, at the mercy of the enemy before them.
Seeing them paralyzed, Orochimaru frowned in disappointment.
"What, already unable to move? I expected more.." He took out two kunai and approached them. "Don't worry, I'll make this quick."
They knew their end was near and kept trying to move, something drastic would have to be done to escape..
000
"Damn you!" Naruto leaped out of the way as the snake charged again, hitting its head on the tree.
Naruto leaped over it and landed on its body as it tried to wriggle its snout free from the tree trunk.
"I'm tired of messing around!"
Naruto took out his two short blades and sent wind chakra into them, elongating the blades as well as increasing their sharpness exponentially. With a horizontal slash, Naruto effectively sliced the snake in half and yet it still moved in a vain attempt to kill him.
Leaping forward, Naruto ran up its long body up to its head and stabbed both wind blades deep inside its skull. It was only then that the creature finally ended its reign of terror. Naruto quickly sheathed his weapons and determined which way he had come from, he had to get back and help his squad from whoever that evil presence belonged to.
000
'Got to move..got to move..'
Sakura and Sasuke struggled to escape their situation but found it too difficult to even move a muscle. Realizing that fear was paralyzing them, they knew they had to escape before Orochimaru could reach them.
Sakura looked at her arm with the hidden blade attached and began to move it over her leg.
Sasuke reached into his thigh pouch and slowly began to pull out a kunai, trying to stand.
Orochimaru stopped walking toward them and lifted the kunai.
"I guess this is where our fun ends." He launched them right at the two, giving them only a second to react.
Sakura quickly twitched her ring finger and activated the blade, slicing into her leg and allowing herself to roll out of the way and jump into the trees.
Sasuke stabbed himself in the leg with his kunai and sidestepped the attack, also jumping into the safety of the branches above.
Orochimaru smirked, it seemed like they had some fight in them after all.
'Let's see how they handle this..'
He bit his finger and began going through signs.
"Kuchiyose."
Another large snake appeared and began to give chase into the trees, coiling around the trunks. Orochimaru himself disappeared into the ground and waited for the right chance to emerge.
000
Sakura's eyes darted back and forth, watching for the Kusa ninja. That had been too close, the person they were fighting was too strong for them to fight. She had to get Sasuke and run, run far away to where Naruto was.
She had lost Sasuke in the confusion but knew he was close. Wherever he was, she hoped he was alright or else that would mean she was alone.
'Where are you Naruto..we need you!'
"AHHH!"
Twisting in the direction of the scream, she saw Sasuke in the air about to be eaten by a snake.
"GET AWAY FROM ME!" He threw a flurry of shuriken into its mouth and tore up its insides, making it fall over dead.
Sakura rejoined Sasuke and looked him over, his sharingan had already been activated and he was breathing heavily. He was panicked, scared. The effects from that killing intent were still effecting them and slowing them down, making them weak.
"Your eyes are scared, just like prey should be."
The voice came from the mouth of the snake and made them focus on the corpse. Something was beginning to burst from its body, making their eyes widen in disbelief.
"Prey must remain active at all times to keep from being caught, so don't think you are safe just yet."
Orochimaru emerged from inside the snake, taunting them with his tongue as if it was a snake. Sasuke began to back away as their enemy threw shuriken and kunai at them.
Sakura jumped away and Sasuke ran farther up the trunk. Orochimaru smirked and jumped onto their tree, curling himself around the trunk and pursued Sasuke like a snake, stretching his body. The Uchiha screamed in fear, not knowing what to do.
Then it all seemed to go in slow motion as Sakura watched in amazement.
Naruto leaped from above with his hidden blade out and ready to strike. Orochimaru did not even notice him until the last second and by then it was too late. Naruto's blade found purchase, sinking itself in to the man's neck just as he was about to reach Sasuke.
A look of shock and pain overtook Orochimaru before his body began to dissolve into mud. Naruto retracted his blade and grabbed Sasuke by the collar, leaping away from the tree and onto another branch. Sakura quickly joined him as the three were reunited, if only for a moment.
"Naruto..you came back." Sakura said, relieved.
Naruto was panting a bit but nodded. That attack was too close, he almost got Sasuke.
"We need to get out of here..I don't think even I'm powerful enough to fight him off." Naruto warned, checking around to see if Orochimaru was back.
"If it comes down to it, you may need to tap into my chakra." Kyuubi told him in a suggestive tone, hoping he would do so.
'That is my last resort, hopefully we can escape in time.' The beast groaned in disappointment.
"What do you suggest we do then? He's fast, faster than Sasuke or me." Sakura knew it from observing his movements, there was no way they could outrun him.
Naruto weighed his options, they could not face him but couldn't run either. That left them with very few options..
'We could give up the scroll but judging from the kind of aura I'm getting from this guy..that's not what they are after at all.'
"Alright.." Sasuke and Sakura looked to Naruto for answers, he was their last chance.
"Sakura, take Sasuke and run. I'll hold him off for as long as I can..I don't care if I die or not but its better that you two can at least survive to take another Chunin exam." Their eyes bulged, he couldn't be serious?
Abandon their team-mate, he was asking the unthinkable. Even it was dangerous, there was no way they could just leave him.
"No.." Sakura started but Naruto just shook his head.
"Don't do this Sakura.."
"She's right..we aren't leaving. There is no other option but to stand and fight, we know that." Sasuke joined in, not about to let Naruto play the hero card so easily.
"Naruto..you grew up as an assassin. You missed one of the most important lessons of the academy, to be a true ninja, you must stand by your squad no matter what. Its the only way to succeed..its something an assassin wouldn't have to worry about but its the truth in this case."
Naruto couldn't believe what he was hearing, they would stay just to die.
"You don't have time to worry!" Orochimaru leaped down into the middle of their group and did a sweeping kick.
They leaped into the air to avoid it but Naruto watched as he did not go after anyone but Sasuke. Why was he so fixated on the Uchiha?
"Come on Sasuke, show me what you can do!"
They fought in mid-air, punches and kicks were blocked and avoided as the two came to blows. Landing on a branch, Sasuke back flipped to get some distance and went through hand signs, forcing Orochimaru to stay back.
"Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu!" The fireball launched down the branch right at the snake but was easily dodged by jumping into the air.
Naruto and Sakura threw shuriken and kunai while he was in this vulnerable state, impaling him in over a dozen places. Just as Naruto expected, he melted into mud again and avoided the death blow. He felt a presence behind him and it sent a chill down his spine.
"You are interfering with my playtime."
Naruto leaped from the branch he was on and twisted around to see Orochimaru leap after him. He landed on another tree and kicked off, charging the Sannin head on. They met in the air, Orochimaru grappling Naruto's blade arm while Naruto strangled him.
"Why don't you just die!" Naruto sent lightning chakra through his hand and shocked Orochimaru, forcing him to release his grip.
They hit the ground the and slid away from each other, both going through hand signs. Orochimaru bit his thumb and lifted his sleeve to use his summoning tattoo.
"Kuchiyose!"
"Kaze no Yaiba!"
Naruto's wind blades sliced Orochimaru's newly arrived snake summon, cutting deep wounds in its skin. Before he could guide a blade of wind to decapitate it, it charged forward and forced him to dodge. It was much larger than the one he fought last time and meant it couldn't be beaten so easily.
"Naruto!"
Sakura was on a higher branch and helped him up, holding her hand out for him to grab. As soon as he stood next to her, she cut a wire that led to a trap she and Sasuke had set up.
Dozens more kunai, some armed with explosive tags, launched and impaled themselves into the beast. Orochimaru leaped clear before they exploded, landing on a nearby tree. Once the smoke cleared, the snake was miraculously alive, its scales were burned and pieces of skin were falling off as it attempted to heal itself.
Naruto launched himself forward while wires shot out and began to trap Orochimaru around the tree he was on. Sasuke had been waiting for just the proper chance to show for his ambush and he had it, tying the Kusa ninja against the tree to allow him to use one of his most powerful techniques.
Sakura watched as Naruto landed on top of the writhing snake head and covered his entire blade arm in wind chakra. With one large slice, Naruto's makeshift wind blade cut through and split the snake's mouth wide open, sending blood and skin flying from the sudden mutilation. As its body went limp, Naruto jumped off and rejoined Sakura.
Breathing heavily, Naruto almost collapsed against the tree trunk and found himself quickly attended to by Sakura. Quickly, she removed his hood and opened his robe, finding blood that was his. At some point when they were fighting, the Kusa ninja must have hurt him. He had been fighting this whole time wounded..Sakura quickly dressed the wound and saw Naruto was about to pass out from chakra loss.
"Naruto stay with me!" She held his face up and made sure his eyes stayed open while she rummaged through her pack for a certain item.
"Here, drink this." Naruto looked down and saw a vial of liquid, it had a light blue tint.
"What..is that?"
She put it up to his lips and he gave her a look; he seemed apprehensive, suspicious. Sakura winked to comfort him and soothed his worries with her loving care.
"Trust me." He quickly drank it with her help, slowly feeling his chakra and stamina regenerate.
It was slow at first, but noticeable.
"I..can move?" Sakura helped him up, glad to see her first potion worked.
Thanks to all that time she spent in Naruto's compound, reading and studying the books he gave her to read. It was said that the best Healers could create potions and poisons from any kind of plant or material nearby, and she hoped to one day reach that level. This particular potion had taken her many hours to perfect even if it was considered basic in purpose and design, but she was glad to hear she did it right.
"I hope it helped." Sakura said as she helped support Naruto, he nodded.
"Thank you Sakura, you truly are becoming a great Healer."
They looked down and watched as Sasuke finished his technique. Their enemy was securely tied to the tree trunk by numerous wires and could do nothing but watch as Sasuke launched fire from his mouth.
"Katon: Ryūka!"
The fire connected and linked with the wires that were held in Sasuke's mouth, heading straight for the Kusa ninja. He screamed out loud in pain as the fire engulfed him, burning his skin and searing the bark around him.
Once the screams died down a few minutes later, Sasuke released the wires from his mouth and panted from exhaustion. Naruto and Sakura rejoined him and looked at the charred body that was arguably their toughest opponent yet. It was then that Naruto noticed he was still moving and his jaw dropped, how could he still be alive?
"He's still alive!" Naruto got off from Sakura's shoulder and readied his weapon as did they.
"What more do we have to do.." Sakura asked as they looked at his head, now seeing that his skin had a..second layer?
It was pure white and his eyes..they were yellow like a snake.
"Nicely done..Sasuke."
Before they could react, his head shot forward at the Uchiha. Fangs emerged from his mouth ready to sink into the boy's open neck..
000
Anko ran into the Forest of Death, quickly ascending into the treetops for a better view. Only a few hours ago, the three bodies of Kusa ninja visitors had been found leading to an immediate investigation. What the rest of the examiners couldn't see that she could though, was that the technique used to steal their faces was something she had seen done before.
Only one man was willing to go so far to meet his desires, and that man was Orochimaru. An S-Class Missing ninja wanted by all major villages for too many crimes to count.
Who better to take him down than his own student?
She leaped to and from branches and tree trunks, looking anywhere for unusual signs of battle or the imposters. It was getting dark and would make it even more dangerous, not only for her hunt but for the genin inside the forest. Whatever or whoever Orochimaru was after was in grave danger and she had to find him before anything worse could happen.
'I hope he is alright, wherever he and his team are in this forest.'
Her thoughts drifted to someone very important to her and in the back of her mind, she hoped she would encounter them somewhere in her search. She could at least warn him, that wouldn't be enough to break her cover would it?
"Need to hurry!"
000
Orochimaru bit down hard on Sasuke's neck making him scream in pain. As he transferred chakra and blood to form a seal, Naruto saw an opening and ran forward. He grabbed a few knives from his vest and threw them at Orochimaru's body while he launched himself into the air, hoping to stab Orochimaru's head before he could finish whatever he was doing to Sasuke.
At the last second, Orochimaru released Sasuke from his grasp and escaped Naruto's attack by an inch. He pulled his head back but grunted in pain when one of the knives found purchase, hitting his left arm and impaling it to the wood.
"Sakura, grab Sasuke!" Naruto ordered as he ran forward to try and stop the assailant from getting away.
The girl quickly moved to join the now unconscious Uchiha, picking him up onto her back. He was a bit heavy but she could manage, at the moment she was more concerned for Naruto.
The blonde leaped forward again to try and hit Orochimaru with his blade arm before he could get away. With a final taunting smirk, the snake disappeared into the burnt tree trunk leaving only Naruto's bloody knives as proof he was there. In frustration, Naruto punched the tree and made the trunk shake. Quickly, he recovered his knives and returned to Sakura's side to check on Sasuke.
Looking over his wound, they saw he now had some sort of seal on him. Naruto's eyes widened and Sakura wondered if he knew what it meant.
"Naruto..what should we do?"
"We need to find shelter for the night, let's go."
Leaping from the battlefield, the two assassins ran through the thick forest of trees until they could find a suitable place to make camp in. Little did they know that three pairs of eyes were watching their every move.
"We attack at daybreak, understood?"
"This will be fun.."
000
'He's close..I can feel it.'
Anko's movements became faster, more erratic. She pushed herself forward, this was her one chance to stop him before he could do any damage. The criminal had slipped through their fingers, her fingers, too many times before to let this chance go past.
Landing on a long branch, she looked at the other side to see him. He seemed hurt and so it would seem she was too late to stop whatever he had tried putting into place, but perhaps she still had a chance to get revenge.
"Anko..It's been so long." Orochimaru spoke with a smile, seeing her approach.
"You are an extremely dangerous criminal..and that's why I'm going to kill you right here, even if it costs my life." Orochimaru began to laugh and it made her blood boil.
She threw a few needles at him but they were knocked aside as he shot his tongue at her as an attack. Jumping into the air and landing on the tree, she looked down to see the tongue still following her and was unable to stop it from grabbing her wrist, dragging her back down to the same branch. With her free arm, she aimed it Orochimaru and used a technique he had taught her.
"Sen'eijashu!" Four snakes launched from underneath her sleeve and dug into the tree Orochimaru was hiding in.
With a mighty pull of her arm, Anko wrestled the Sannin out and sent him flying straight toward her. Sidestepping, she quickly launched herself against him and held both his hands to keep him from moving.
"I'm sure you remember this technique.." Making a special hand sign, Orochimaru's eyes widened and realized what she was trying to do.
"You want to commit suicide?" Surprised by his presence from behind, she turned around to see Orochimaru pulling off the last of his mask and revealing his face in the yellow moon.
"A decoy.." She turned around and watched as the clone dissolved into mud, making her twist around and throw her kunai in frustration.
Orochimaru caught it and let it drop to the ground, forming a hand sign that activated her seal. Doubling over from the pain, she could do nothing as he approached her.
"Why..have you come here?" Anko questioned, holding her seal in pain.
Orochimaru smirked as he stood in front of her, relishing in her weakness.
"We haven't seen each other in so long and this is what you say?"
Anko tried to look away but couldn't as he grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him. Falling to her knees, there was nothing she could do but listen.
"I gave a boy that same seal as a present just a little while ago..whatever you do, don't stop the exams. Times are getting interesting, and if my fun is put to an end, it will mean the end for Konoha. I think you understand." Orochimaru smirked but quickly lost it as he looked up in surprise.
Anko did as well and then she saw him.
'Naruto..?'
The assassin leaped from the tree above and barely missed Orochimaru. He stabbed and ducked under Orochimaru's attacks with his hidden blade, trying to land a hit. Anko tried to get up and stop them but was still feeling the effects of Orochimaru's chakra.
"Naruto, don't!"
"Kukuku..I was wondering who owned Anko since I left her behind. She bears your scent, Namikaze." He spoke as he dodged and deflected Naruto's attacks, but was unable or unwilling to fight back.
"I'll find you if you even try and touch her again, stay the hell away from her!" Naruto yelled, feinting a stab for his head that made Orochimaru lower his body to dodge.
With one foot planted, Naruto sent a bone crunching kick to Orochimaru's face. The hit launched him right back into the trunk of the tree with a sharp pounding. Before he could pursue any farther, the criminal disappeared into the bark, retreating.
Naruto doubled back to rejoin Anko's side and checked her seal, it still held together even though it couldn't keep her from experiencing the pain.
"It was reckless of you to come here..Naruto-sama." Anko told him, hesitating to use the title as she had to go without saying it for so long to keep the right appearances.
"Don't push yourself Anko..I can say the same to you." She chuckled only to flinch in pain.
"Anko..tell me everything." She met his eyes and knew what he wanted, there was no way she could refuse him.
"Yes, Namikaze-sama."
000
And we will stop it there. Next chapter will jump around all over the place with the other characters taking the exam including Gaara, Karin, as well as the outcome of the Oto ambush on Team 7. Next chapter to be released will be my AU story, Mercenary for Hire. Go read it and leave some reviews if you want to see the next chapter come sooner!
Remember to review!
See ya.