Butterfly Child

by KlonoaDreams

I was never a fan of irony, even more so after died. I should be pretty happy that I was given a second chance at life, except guess who's still irony's b*tch? Yo. My name is Akimichi Chōko and I just wanna live... SI OC [Cover Art: skyfloe]

40. Sasuke

Years ago, when he had heard Itachi and Shisui were going to take the Chuunin exams in Amegakure, Sasuke had always wondered how it would be for him when it was his turn to participate in the Chuunin exams. He had never expected to be hungover—just nursing a massive headache, with huge gaps in his memory of last night.

"What even happened last night?" Sasuke thought to himself as he filled out the waivers that had been handed out to everyone.

Apparently, Anko wanted everyone to sign the waivers, so she wouldn't be held responsible for any deaths, of which were most likely to happen in the Forest of Death—especially since a majority of the Genin were hungover from last night's party. Sasuke was definitely having regrets when Anko so blatantly brought this fact up. She was enjoying his and everyone else's misery.

Sasuke sighed and adjusted his sunglasses—an accessory a good majority of the Genin that had gathered at Training Ground 44. He had Naruto to thank for the sunglasses, otherwise Sasuke would have had to face the evil that was sunlight.

…

Sasuke was not exactly in the mood to be serious. His head was throbbing, his stomach was growling from skipping out on breakfast, and there were too many damn things on this waiver for him to even care. And as much as he wanted to complain, Sasuke couldn't.

Poor Chōko was having trouble reading her waiver, so Naruto had to help her out, considering the fact that she had switched out her glasses for sunglasses. The two of them had also skipped out on breakfast, and for the Akimichi, that was a very bad thing. For Naruto—Sasuke just felt bad about letting his surrogate little brother skip out on breakfast because of him.

"How did I even end up on the roof?" Sasuke asked out loud.

It was a question that Naruto and Chōko couldn't even begin to fathom. Luckily, for all of them, they received an answer from a certain Iwa kunoichi, who decided to drop by and say hello.

"I think that was Ittan and I, ahaha…" Kurotsuchi had the best timing, Sasuke thought sarcastically. "So is it normal for Konoha to have shinobi sign waivers or is this something new?"

"Hell if I know…" Sasuke let out a puff of air as Ittan and Akatsuchi joined them.

"It's just a ploy to mess with everyone's heads." And there was Ino and her team.

Sasuke could already feel his body tense up, just in case Ino decided to be physically affectionate with him. It wasn't as though he hated physical affection, it was just that Sasuke wasn't comfortable with the implications Ino's affections held. He was especially uncomfortable with how close Ino had been the other day, before the written exam.

"S-Soft…" Sasuke hated that word right now…he just hated it so much.

"Chōko, you mind coming here for a second?" Shikamaru suddenly asked Chōko.

Chōko wasn't in the mood to question anything and just did as she was told…only for Shikamaru to stuff an unwrapped ration bar into her mouth. Shikamaru looked annoyed as he usually did whenever someone was being, "troublesome."

"Don't skip out on breakfast," Shikamaru said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out two more ration bars. "Same goes for you guys."

Even though Sasuke was sure that Chōko and Naruto had enough food packs in their backpacks, they had all agreed on making it seem as though they were the least prepared team and kept everything in their sealing scrolls. As they were in fact considered rookies, this would only make the other teams underestimate them. Of course, with how infamous Chōko had become, Sasuke was starting to question whether or not that plan would work…

Still—it was nice to see that Shikamaru was fussing over them, as he usually did with Ino and Chōji, in his usual Nara way. He was still the laziest person Sasuke had ever met, but Shikamaru was capable of being very caring in such a subtle manner.

"So what happened to have kept all of you from eating breakfast?" Chōji asked, his attention focused on his sister, like the overprotective older brother he sometimes was.

"They were looking for me all morning because they didn't know where I was." Sasuke still felt bad for that, even though it wasn't his fault he woke up on the roof to the Uchiha compound.

"Where were you?" Ino crossed her arms as she looked at him.

"The roof…you have those two to thank." Sasuke wanted to know what it was that went on through Kurotsuchi and Ittan's heads when they left him on the roof.

"I can vaguely recall saying something along the lines of, 'This is going to be funny' and that's about it." At least Ittan had an idea…

Kurotsuchi thought for a moment. "That sounds about right."

"I guess that explains why I found you two slumped against the stairs, laughing." Akatsuchi nodded his head.

"Hey—you'll never guess what happened to Chōjūrō!" And there came the Hōzuki and his team.

Suigetsu might have been a little too loud for anyone's comfort, as shown by how everyone all flinched. Kiri seemed so irritated, and Chōjūrō looked both pained and embarrassed.

From there, every one of their friends, save for Karin, who was with her teammates, began joining them under the tree. Even though they have waivers to sign, that still didn't prevent them from spending some time together. It was the least they could do, since they wouldn't be able to see each other once their teams had gone through those gates.

Sasuke was not looking forward to that. He was especially not looking forward to the seals that were going to be imprinted on everyone's skin, for safety precautions. According to Anko, while it was usual for the Chuunin exams to be merciless, this time, things were going to go a little different.

To reduce the amount of Genin killed during the Chuunin exams, seals have been created in order to allow a Genin a better chance at survival…and a better way to salvage their corpses. Anko liked her dark humor, and Sasuke was aware that she was deliberately using it to mess with them by blatantly explaining that it was better to send back an intact body than a bag full of random bones.

When activated, the seal sent up a flare for the ANBU to come and get the person who activated the seal, in case of an emergency or death. This also would signal that the person was dropping out of the Chuunin exams, if alive when activated. If dead, the seal acted as a repellant to any animal trying to go after the corpses. Anyone who had not reached the tower by the end of the time period—which was five days—would have their seals automatically activated.

It seemed like a simple enough procedure, though Sasuke suspected that the visiting Kage and their representative teams had something to do with the decision. Of course, Sasuke didn't really care much for it, as he was currently staring at the white-feathered chicken that Kankurō was carrying.

"Where did you—" Sasuke's eyes widened. "You didn't."

Kankurō grinned. "I named him Clucky!"

Sasuke arched his brow at this. He was quite sure that chicken was female, unless otherwise…then again, he never paid much attention to the Uchiha clan chickens. Though, he might have, when he was much younger. He certainly recalled an incident where he let loose a chicken inside the meeting hall during a meeting at the Uchiha compound when he was only three years old. Sasuke had gotten help from Shisui with that.

…

Sasuke truly missed that bastard… "So you're not going to give it back?"

"I stole Clucky fair and square." Kankurō held the chicken closer to his chest. "'Sides, he seems happy with me…right, Clucky?"

Clucky continued to cluck as Kankurō stroked the chicken's feathers. Gaara was looking at the chicken quite enviously and Temari just face palmed.

"You know what—just keep the damn chicken." Sasuke wasn't even caring for them, like the Genin who typically took on the D-rank mission to maintain the chicken coop at the Uchiha compound. "I don't even know how you're going to keep that thing alive in the Forest of Death."

Kankurō grinned. "We'll see."

"At least we'll have a source of food…" Temari sighed. "Oh, and if you haven't noticed, Kankurō…Clucky's a girl."

Kankurō paused for a moment and nodded his head. "Right…sorry about that, girl."

Clucky just continued to cluck, very much oblivious to the hell that everyone was eventually going to be subjected to once everyone entered the Forest of Death. Sasuke honestly felt sorry for the chicken…assuming she didn't make it past the first day and if so, the rest of these five days.

"Wait, if Kankurō is able to bring a chicken, why can't I bring my kits-ttebayo?" And there goes Naruto…

"Because you have nine of them," Sasuke tried to be logical. "Do you really want to bring them into the Forest of Death?"

…

"Not really…" Naruto made a face.

Sasuke sometimes wondered what it was that went on in Naruto's head. Though, at the moment, he noticed how distant Neji was with Chōko, even though he was usually quite close to her, whenever they met up—especially when Lee was near. And yet, Lee was also keeping his distance as well, his face rather red every time he glanced at Chōko.

Chōko also seemed rather embarrassed to look at the two…

"Did something happen between you three?" Sasuke asked Chōko, Neji, and Lee.

He was not expecting their faces to go completely red. They almost reminded him of a tomato…

"N-Nothing happened!" Chōko was quick to blurt out.

It was much harder to see what Chōko was truly thinking while she was wearing those sunglasses, but Sasuke could still tell that she was lying. He had known Chōko quite a long time to pick up on her mannerisms. She was so easy to read once you figured her out…at least, that is how Sasuke felt. Though, Shikamaru was better at it than he was—that, Sasuke knew for sure.

"Please refrain from asking anymore questions." Neji adjusted his sunglasses.

Sasuke arched his brow at this. "Okay…so, if you guys don't mind me asking, where did everyone wake up?"

"Home—I got lectured by my parents…" Sakura frowned. "Tou-san was more lenient about it, but Kaa-san wasn't too used to the idea of a thirteen-year-old getting drunk."

"I think it's normal for civilians to forget how different life can be for shinobi." Haku smiled as he patted Sakura on the back in a reassuring manner. "I woke up in my room…I think Zabuza-sama said he found me stumbling around town before he brought me home."

"Yamato-sensei said he dragged me home from the party." Sai sighed. "He said I was an emotional mess…w-was I?"

…

Nobody could really answer Sai's question. It probably didn't help that no one really paid much attention to each other once the alcohol had been distributed. Well—Naruto might have an idea, but he wasn't too sure.

"Anyways, Shikamaru said he found me under the park slide." Ino grinned as she rubbed the back of her head. "How I got there, I don't think I'll ever know…"

"Shikaku-san said he found Shikamaru and me sleeping with the deer in the Nara clan forest." Chōji laughed.

Shikamaru made a face. "I cannot even begin to think on how we ended up in the forest…"

"Otou-san found me in the Aburame clan garden." Out of all of them, only Shino didn't appear out of place with his sunglasses. "Hinata-san and Kiba-kun were with me."

Bark!

"Don't forget Akamaru!" Kiba grinned as Akamaru made his presence known on top of his partner's head.

Hinata stifled a giggled. "Kiba-kun and Shino-kun were sleeping so peacefully together."

…

"Hinata!" Kiba's face was extremely red. "Why?!"

"Heehee…" Hinata covered her mouth as she giggled.

"Hinata-san, why are you so quick to exclude yourself?" Shino tried to act calm, but his face was just as red as Kiba's.

"I woke up before you two—that's why!" Hinata smiled innocently.

Sometimes, Sasuke wondered if the same thing that happened to Hanabi was also happening to Hinata. Though, unlike with Hanabi, Sasuke knew that it was Chōko who had a great influence on Hinata. After all, the two were each other's first female friend.

"Yugito-sama and Bee-sama took us back to the inn we were staying at," Karui decided to explain her and her teammates' location when they woke up.

"Ay-sama wasn't looking so hot when he woke up…" A small bead of sweat rolled down the side of Atsui's face as he rubbed the back of his head.

"What if don't make it through the second part of the Chuunin exams?" Omoi frowned. "Ay-sama might banish us from Kumogakure for disgracing our home…"

"Oh for the love of—Omoi, stop overthinking things!" Karui scowled at Omoi.

"The old man wasn't exactly happy to find out we were hungover come the morning," Kurotsuchi tried to reassure the Kumo-nin. "So if it makes you feel any better, we might be in the same boat."

"It's a good thing Han-san and Rōshi-san were there to take us back to the inn." Akatsuchi nodded his head.

"Those two are definitely okay." Ittan seemed rather pleased.

"Do you think our Kage are laughing at our expense?" Kiri decided to ask such a question.

…

…

"Let's just try to make it through these five days!" Chōjūrō laughed nervously.

"You know, I really don't like how close we are…" Suigetsu huffed. "This is going to make things difficult once we're in the Forest of Death."

"Aww, is the Hōzuki actually worried about hurting people?" Chōko seemed so amused with Suigetsu's comment.

"Shut it, flat one!" Suigetsu snapped. "I just don't feel like killing anyone!"

"Still, I don't think I have ever seen you so conflicted when it comes to such situations…" Chōjūrō looked just as amused as Chōko. "Are you sure you're Suigetsu?"

"Fuck off!" Suigetsu was pissed off. "I still like killing, just…"

"Aah, so that's what it is!" Kiri smirked. "You can't kill anyone who you know personally."

Suigetsu clenched his sharp teeth. "Shut up!"

"I think we should stop teasing Suigetsu…" Chōjūrō chuckled.

"So…" Temari began. "Sasuke…I think might have contracted myself with one of your clan's summons."

Sasuke arched his brow at this. "Which one…?"

Sasuke was aware that his clan had various summons and, had he not already contracted himself with Kakashi's ninken, he would have gone after one of the scrolls lying about in the Uchiha compound.

"Weasels…" Temari simply said. "This morning, there was one who scared the crap out of Baki-sensei."

"Weasels…oh, them…" Sasuke felt himself smirk when he recalled the weasels. Funnily enough, Itachi never contracted himself with the weasel summon. Sasuke assumed it had to do with the comment Chōko had said when they had first met her.

"So you're not mad?" Kankurō asked.

"Pfft, I already contracted myself with Kakashi's ninken, so I don't really have any need for weasels." Sasuke wasn't like his clan—he was more lenient about things. "Have fun with them."

"Riiight…" Temari seemed relieved.

"We'll still be friends, even if we have to take each other's scroll, right?" Gaara suddenly asked.

…

…

Gaara's question really brought everyone discomfort. It wasn't exactly easy to imagine the "what if" scenario of having to battle each other for a scroll. The requirement was that each team had to have both scrolls, the Heaven and Earth scrolls, when they reached the Tower. They had five days to do it…

"The old man would have berated me for letting something as friendship get in the way," Kurotsuchi confessed. "But I don't really care for what he has to say—I'd rather we just do our best."

"No holding back!" Akatsuchi smiled.

"And trust me—I'll know if anyone is holding back." Ittan would know, based on the experience that came with age.

"It is an insult to hold back…" Neji remarked. "Please do not hold back."

"Indeed!" Lee agreed wholeheartedly. "Instead of fretting over the status of our friendship, think of it as your chance to see how everyone has grown over the years!"

"Lee is right!" Tenten nodded her head. "Even though most of us have only known each other for a short time, this is a good time to reveal our abilities. Everything that we have been training for will determine the outcome."

"We're definitely not like everyone else." Omoi sighed. "We are so different, that I just wonder what it is that the other teams think of us."

"Who gives a crap?!" Atsui exclaimed. "If anything, they should be jealous of us hotshots!"

"Whatever happens, happens." Karui smiled. "Though—I do apologize if we go a little too hard on any of you guys."

"Assuming it isn't you who gets their asses kicked!" Kiba grinned as Akamaru barked in agreement.

"We shall not go down so easily…" Shino adjusted his glasses.

"And while I won't be holding back, I will suggest that you give up if you're up against Neji-nii-sama or me." Hinata smiled as she twiddled her fingers. "The Jūken can be quite dangerous, and I do not wish to hurt any of you."

"Nor do I, but we will do what we must." To think that Neji and Hinata had once been distant, it was almost unbelievable, even though Sasuke had seen how the two had once been.

"Hey Sakura—you better watch your back!" Ino smiled as she wrapped her arm around Sakura's shoulder.

"I should be telling you that!" Sakura laughed.

"Medic-nin can be quite deadly." Haku smiled innocently. "And while I do not have the same abilities as Sakura-san, I am just as well-informed about the human body as hers, so do try to be careful."

"You know, I don't think we have ever seen Sai fight…" Chōji brought up a point.

"All the more reason to avoid him." Shikamaru sighed. "How troublesome."

"It certainly pays to keep certain things under wraps." Sai smiled, though it was anything but a genuine smile.

"This is stupid…so stupid…" Suigetsu looked so irritated, and yet…the tears that were streaming down his cheeks said otherwise. "It would have been better if I didn't know you, because…"

"Now, now, Suigetsu." Chōjūrō tried to pat Suigetsu on the head, only for his hand to come in contact with water. "It isn't like you to get so worked up over something."

"Despite all he has done, he is still just a kid." It was most definitely not out of place for someone, like Kiri, to call Suigetsu a child. Suigetsu might have been a Genin, but he was only just thirteen years old, as opposed to Kiri's twenty. In the eyes of civilians, Kiri would be seen as an adult.

"We are only human!" Chōko was quick to bring up.

"No matter what happens, we'll still be friends!" Naruto stated. "Okay, dattebayo?"

Temari laughed. "That's right…"

"You hear that, Gaara?" Kankurō smiled at his younger brother. "No matter what happens, we'll still be friends."

"Right…friends…" Gaara seemed so assured, but Sasuke wasn't sure if he was, as his eyes were hidden behind the sunglasses he wore.

With sunglasses, it was much easier to lie without one's eyes giving anything away. Despite that, Sasuke could tell that, apart from Gaara, everyone had spoken directly from the heart. They had meant what they had said…

"Just what are we?" Sasuke found himself asking aloud. He knew that they were friends, but there had to be more than that. It just seemed so strange that twenty-eight people can be so friendly with each other, despite the stakes.

Right now, it was almost time for everyone to start turning in their waivers. Then, they would receive their seals, and finally, they would be set loose inside the Forest of Death. To be so at ease with the thought of having to fight one's friends…it just made Sasuke want to know what kind of people they were.

…

Sasuke wasn't that surprise when Chōko had answered his question in her own, unique way. He might have arched his brow at the fact that she decided now was a good time as any to sing. However, it was her words to the song that gave Sasuke an idea just who he and everyone else was.

"We are fighting dreamers,

Heading for the top!

Fighting dreamers,

Fighting for what we believe in!

Oli Oli Oli Oh~!

Just go my way!"

Chōko just smiled, despite most likely being uncomfortable with the stares that were on her. She never was one for attention in such a manner. And yet—attention just loved to come to her. Even before Sasuke had first met Chōko, she still managed to find ways to put her existence out in the open. It was never deliberate, but if it wasn't for the fact that she wore glasses, broke all those doors, and was surrounded by so many friends, Sasuke would have never noticed her the way he had when he spoke to her for the very first time.

What Sasuke had never once admitted, was that he had been jealous of Chōko. She had everything that Sasuke wanted—attention, family that was always there, and people who just wanted to be her friend. And yet, it was thanks to her, Sasuke was able to get what he had wanted.

If she hadn't invited Naruto that day, Sasuke would have never met his little brother. He would have continued calling the Uzumaki, "Dead-last." He wouldn't have had anyone when he had lost everything.

…

Sasuke smiled as he wrapped his arm around Chōko's shoulder. "Right here, right now—Go! Let it out like a straight liner! Right here, right now—Burn!"

Chōko stared at him for a good four seconds before a wide grin crossed her face. She was happy, because this wasn't the first time she had sung this song. At the same time, she was embarrassed because that meant he had heard her, because Chōko usually sung this song to herself as she tried to force herself to climb down a tree during training.

What Sasuke had never told Chōko was that he always heard, because contracting himself with Kakashi's ninken ended up heightening some of his senses. It had its pros and cons, the cons being that Sasuke's sensitive hearing made it worse when he was hungover. Of course, that could easily be avoided, as Sasuke had no plans of ever drinking again. Unless otherwise, of course, Sasuke didn't have a firm grasp of the future.

"Down a difficult road,

Filled with endless struggles.

Where do you think you are going,

Following someone else's map?"

Though, what he did know was that this friendship they all had was something special. Sasuke wondered how often so many people from differing backgrounds could get along so easily. They were definitely different from everyone else.

"An insightful crow,

Comes along to tear the map.

Now open your eyes,

And take a look at the truth!

Yeah!"

Sasuke could tell when the others joined in when Chōko continued to sing, never mind that they didn't know the lyrics like him and Chōko.

"There's nothing to lose,

So let's GO!"

Sasuke was sure that everyone was staring at them, wondering what it was that was wrong with them, but he didn't care. He just couldn't. None of them could.

"We are fighting dreamers,

Heading for the top!

Fighting dreamers,

Fighting for what we believe in!

Oli Oli Oli Oh~!

Just go my way!"

This was who they were, and Sasuke wouldn't trade anything in the world for it.

…

…

Sasuke could feel his heart beginning to race as he and his teammates followed after the Chuunin, who was leading them toward one of the forty-four gates around the arena. He was afraid, but he couldn't let Chōko and Naruto know that. After all, it was up to him to keep some sort of balance in this team. It was also his job to keep the two of them safe.

It was half past two when the gates were finally opened and the first thing Chōko did before any of them had run off was detonate a smoke bomb. That gave them enough time to set up a distraction, with Sasuke and Naruto creating their own shadow clones. As Chōko had not learned how to make her own shadow clones, one of Naruto's clones covered for her.

Overall, six shadow clones had been made. One set of three would stay until the smoke cleared before entering through the gates. While that went on, the other set would follow the real Team Kakashi through the gates, eventually going their own separate way to throw off any one that had decided to target them.

If anything were to happen to the clones, Sasuke and Naruto would have an idea of who was targeting them. It also gave them a better chance to scout different areas of the paths they were taking through the Forest of Death and gather information from there after the clones dispelled themselves. It was killing two birds with one stone…

And Sasuke was quite proud to have thought up such an idea—though he had a little help from Chōko and Naruto. He couldn't have done any of it without them. Hopefully, the three of them could make it through the first day without any confrontations. Sasuke was not in the mood for conflict—neither of them was.

The headaches still lingered and they were only fortunate that the huge trees blocked out a good amount of sunlight. This allowed them to discard the sunglasses, and with Chōko's glasses back on her face, neither Sasuke nor Naruto had to worry about her shitty vision. Though, these same trees would prove to be a hindrance once the sun started to set. Thankfully, with summer, came long days—though the weather wasn't exactly pleasant. It was hot and humid, and those screams, just now, sounded too close for comfort.

Barely an hour into the exam, and things had already escalated.

"Do you think we should set up another distraction?" Chōko asked, shortly after they had stopped walking.

At the moment, their current position was on the ground floor, with the decoy teams having taken to the trees. Where they were, neither of them knew and they wouldn't until the clones had dispelled. One thing that Sasuke was quite glad about was that no one knew about Chōko and her fear of falling. Otherwise, everyone could have easily seen through the decoys.

Though, there was only so much the clones could do, as a sensor, like Karin, would be able to see past the deception. And really, it wouldn't be that good of an idea to repeatedly use such a distraction.

"Until those clones dispel themselves, we should refrain from making any more," Sasuke said. "You need to save your smoke bombs."

"R-Right!" Chōko understood. "And I guess it wouldn't be smart to make more shadow clones, since you don't have Naruto's stamina."

Sasuke nodded his head. "Exactly."

"So how are we going to work out our camping arrangements, dattebayo?" Naruto asked a great question.

"We should talk about it," Sasuke replied. "And while we're at it, we should start walking."

It was never a good idea to stay in one place for too long—especially in this death trap of a forest. Hopefully, everyone was still too hungover to try anything. Then again—that scream they had heard earlier made Sasuke think otherwise.

Of course, that was not to say that it wasn't some poor team coming across the wildlife in this forest.

Roar!

…

"Was that a tiger?" Sometimes, Sasuke wished Chōko kept her mouth shut…this was one of those times.

Apparently, the Forest of Death was home to tigers…lovely.

"I think we should move to higher ground." Sasuke was starting to feel vulnerable staying on the ground after making that frightening discovery.

"Can I take a piss first?" Naruto asked unabashedly.

Sasuke stared at Naruto for a good minute before face palming. "So many ways to word that sentence and you chose that?"

Sasuke truly wondered what went on in Naruto's head.

"Ehehehe, so can we-ttebayo?" Naruto smiled sheepishly.

Sasuke face palmed. "Five minutes—not here! Go into the bushes—I don't wanna see it."

"Be careful!" Chōko cautioned Naruto as he left to do his business.

…

…

"So…" Sasuke began. "How is this going to work for you?"

Chōko blinked a few times and narrowed her eyes. "Are you really asking me that question?"

Sasuke felt his face heat up from embarrassment. "L-Look, you're the only girl on our team—I might as well."

How the hell did Kakashi do it?

"I'll go when I need to go." Chōko huffed as she crossed her arms and looked away. "Geez, so nosy…"

"Tsun-tsun…" was all Sasuke could think. He might have embarrassed Chōko, the small blush tinging her cheeks saying all. There were just some questions that were better left unasked, when it came to her. "Maybe that's how Kakashi did it…"

"Man! So much came out!" And it looks like Naruto was back. "I feel great now-ttebayo!"

Naruto really was lucky that Chōko wasn't like other girls, because most girls would have reacted negatively to Naruto's comment. Or, in the case of Hinata, would have freaked out.

Chōko was amused…and armed—why was she armed?! Sasuke really had no time to ask as Chōko threw an array of kunai at Naruto. Naruto was only fortunate enough to dodge. He was also quite fortunate that Chōko was still wearing her glasses, so her aim wasn't as accurate as it could have been, but at the same time, Chōko rarely missed…

"She missed on purpose." Sasuke could tell Chōko was making an impression and the reason for it, as he had just noticed, was because that was not Naruto. No one on this team kept their weapon holster on their left side.

"The hell was that for, dattebayo?!" The imposter did a good job at acting like Naruto, right down to the verbal tic.

Chōko smirked as she took off her glasses. "I suggest you tell us where the real Naruto is, because I won't miss this time."

And she meant that.

"You really should have tried better when you transformed into Naruto." Sasuke could also tell the imposter forgot about the small scar on Naruto's cheek. "You never know how much even a little scar could matter. And for the record, Naruto isn't left-handed…"

There was also the fact that the imposter didn't smell like Naruto, but Sasuke wasn't going to let that slip (nor was he going to mention that Naruto usually took a lot longer than that to do his business). The last thing Sasuke needed was for others to learn about his heightened sense of sound and smell. He was better off letting Kiba being known as the only one capable of such. Otherwise, it would expose a well-kept secret of Kakashi's and that didn't seem too fair.

"Hmph!" Smoke quickly enveloped the imposter, a sign that the transformation had been dispelled. "I guess I was just unlucky."

Once the smoke cleared, the imposter was revealed to have been a shinobi from Amegakure, as shown by his hitai-ate. He had spiky black hair and wore a white jumpsuit and a rebreather. He was taller than they were and also appeared to be older.

"You really ought to get your eyesight checked, because it seems as though yours is worse than Chōko's." Sasuke smirked. "Though, I should give you props for deciding to face us on your—"

Sasuke trailed off when his ears picked up the rasping of rebreathers…multiple rebreathers. The Ame-nin wasn't alone—oh no. Which meant that this confrontation was a set-up.

"Motherfucker." Sasuke reached into his holster, pulled out as many kunai as he could hold in one hand, and threw them in a manner that covered as much area in the direction he felt the rasping sounds from the rebreathers came from. He was lucky…so very lucky when he had done that, because the Ame-nin's teammates had been so close to ambushing Chōko—had he not heard them when he did and interrupted them.

While the two other Ame-nin might have dodged his kunai, Sasuke had done what he had intended to—expose their presence to Chōko.

"Suiton Teppōdama!" Five balls of condensed water shot out of Chōko's mouth.

No one ever expected a kunoichi from the Land of Fire to possess an affinity for water. And when Chōko said she wouldn't miss, she didn't. Even if she had said that toward the Ame-nin who had disguised himself as Naruto, her threat still extended to his teammates.

The other Ame-nin were lucky that she had aimed for their knees. The sickening crack that came after the impact said all—they weren't going anywhere after that. And while that went on, Sasuke took the opportunity to attack the remaining Ame-nin.

The Ame-nin was still wide-eyed from shock—probably because he found out why Chōko had ended up in the Bingo Books the hard way. He was lucky…he only knew partially what Chōko was capable of.

It was better that way, Sasuke thought. Otherwise, another secret that Kakashi had been trying so hard to keep would have been exposed. Even now, Sasuke still couldn't believe Chōko, of all people, had killed the Demon Brothers. Of course, it had all been an accident, but it still surprised Sasuke. Chōko was unpredictable, that was fact.

But Sasuke wasn't as merciful as she was—that was most definitely a fact. It was a fact that the Ame-nin found out firsthand when a kunai was plunged deeply into his arm—courtesy of Uchiha Sasuke.

"I'll ask again for her—where is Naruto?" Sasuke looked the Ame-nin straight in the eye, Sharingan activated for a good measure.

Sasuke still had a long ways to go before he could use his Sharingan effectively, but he was still capable of using it to intimidate people who have heard about it. Based on the look of terror in the Ame-nin's eyes, he had heard of the Sharingan.

"U-Uchiha!" the Ame-nin rasped out.

Sasuke was impressed with how the Ame-nin were capable of tolerating pain…but for how long? Sasuke was honestly curious and he hadn't received an answer yet…

"Gah!" The Ame-nin reacted predictably toward Sasuke twisting the kunai in his arm.

"Where is Naruto?" Sasuke wanted an answer…and he wanted it now.

…

…

Shattered kneecaps—that's what Chōko had left the other two Ame-nin, Mubi and Kagari, with after using the Teppōdama on them. When Oboro, the Ame-nin that had transformed himself into Naruto, found out about this, he was quite compliant to listen to what Sasuke had to say—especially after he found out that only Sasuke was capable of healing him. Unless he wanted to lose use of his left arm, which he most definitely did not want when he begged Sasuke to heal him.

"I can't do much about the other two, so I'd suggest you activate the seal." Everyone had gotten a seal placed on a certain part of their body—for Sasuke, it was on his left arm, which was hidden under his arm warmer. "You won't be able to get anywhere with them, so you might as well drop out now before something else gets to you. And while you're at it, give us your scroll."

Even if they also had a Heaven scroll, Sasuke could still find use in it. Of course, as it turned out, this team had an Earth scroll. Sasuke was very quick to pocket the scroll, as Chōko had the Heaven scroll on her. It had been agreed on that Naruto was not to be trusted with the scroll, for reasons involving his tendency to get in trouble—such as now.

"We got lucky this time…" Chōko sighed in relief as she came back with Naruto, who had been tied up and hidden behind a tree. "If that had been me…"

"I would have burned them." Sasuke did not like it when his friends were targeted. He did not like it at all—not one bit. "And if you even consider coming back after us after I finish healing you, I'm going to burn you alive."

Sasuke looked at Oboro straight in the eye, Sharingan still activated.

…

…

"Did you really have to threaten him-ttebayo?" Naruto asked Sasuke, long after they had left the trio of Ame Genin to the mercy of the ANBU that would eventually come after them, as Oboro had activated the seal on the back of his hand the instant Chōko, Naruto, and Sasuke were starting to leave.

"Yeah, I did." At least, Sasuke felt it did. He needed to make a point—otherwise, he would have had to potentially deal with an Ame-nin that was taking chances.

"At least we have an Earth scroll~!" Chōko chirped. "Now all we have to do is worry about getting to the Tower!"

"Before that, I think now is a good time as any to dispel the shadow clones." After their encounter with the Ame-nin, Sasuke now wanted an idea of what it was that the shadow clones had seen as they were navigating the area above them, in the trees. "We might find something useful."

And they did. Along with that, Sasuke and Naruto now had an idea of the wildlife thriving within the Forest of Death. Tigers were indeed one of them, as were leeches (ick), bears, and, much to his displeasure, snakes. Chōko did not take too well to this and was trying her best to stay calm.

"I'll make sure to keep any snakes away from you," Sasuke assured Chōko.

Chōko bit her lip. "Promise?"

"Promise…" Sasuke wasn't going to let any snake near Chōko…nor Naruto. Hell—any snake that crossed Sasuke's path was going to get its ass killed. Sasuke just hated snakes…he hated them so much. "So there should be a river straight ahead of us if we keep going in this direction. I think it's best we find a way to settle down now, even though we still have hours before dusk."

The flare the seal had sent up might have attracted unwanted attention. The last thing Sasuke needed after one confrontation was another.

"So how are we going to do that-ttebayo?" Naruto asked.

"How about we dig a burrow or something?" Chōko suggested.

"How do you suppose we—never mind, I know how, so a burrow it is." Sasuke recalled that he had the ability to summon ninken… Though, he wasn't too sure how Hanī would react to having Miriku brought into such a dangerous place, he was willing to take his chances. "Besides, I already gave her a bath."

Shiba Inu did not like water…Sasuke found out the hard way when Miriku acted as though she was dying as Sasuke was giving her a bath. And by the gods, was Miriku ever so loud—Hanī definitely owed him a favor for going through that hell.

"Maybe while we're in the burrow, we should send out shadow clones to continue exploring-ttebayo?" Naruto was much smarter than he let on. "I can handle it—so don't worry, Sasuke."

"Okay, so we have a plan." Sasuke was pleased. "So let's keep moving."

"Right!" Naruto and Chōko agreed.

…

…

In hindsight, Sasuke shouldn't had let Miriku to dig out their burrow. While the three-month-old Shiba Inu was much more capable than any of them had expected, after seeing how her pristine white fur had gotten so dirty from the dirt…Sasuke really had regrets.

"Ugh, Hanī is so going to make me give her a bath again…" Sasuke face palmed.

"Oh boy—Shiba scream." Despite what she said, Chōko was smiling. She was looking forward to it. To her, there was just something hilarious to how a Shiba Inu practically screamed when it came in contact with water.

"So one set of the shadow clones ended up saving Team Darui from giant spiders," Naruto suddenly said.

"Aww, fuck…" Chōko did not like spiders, so that meant Sasuke had to be prepared to set anything with eight legs on fire.

The things he did for his friends…

"How far are they from us?" Sasuke wanted an idea—just in case.

"They're within our range, but not close enough to find us easily-ttebayo," Naruto replied. "They have a Heaven scroll, so I don't think they'll be fighting us anytime soon."

"That's good to hear!" Chōko seemed relieve. "I was worried that we might have to go up against them…"

"Instead of worrying about them, how about you help me clear up the dirt pile that's here?" Sasuke honestly wondered how they were going to get rid of the massive pile of dirt…that kept getting bigger and bigger, because Miriku was still digging.

"I got this!" Chōko reached into her pocket and pulled out a sealing scroll to get rid of the dirt.

Sasuke stared at Chōko for a moment, not expecting that as her answer. "Right—I guess that'll work."

It's better than doing nothing.

Bark! Bark!

At least Miriku was having fun…

"So what do we do until then-ttebayo?" Naruto asked.

Sasuke thought for a moment before turning his attention to the river that was near them. "I think we should dunk ourselves in the river—I mean, covering up our scent would be a good idea, in case any of the wildlife has picked up on it already."

It was better to be safe than sorry.

…

Nearly an hour later, Sasuke realized that the burrow wasn't going to work out. While a great idea at first, in order for it to truly work out, they needed quite a lot of time, a ninken that wasn't a three-month-old puppy, and an environment that wasn't as pressing as the Forest of Death. Really, had they been in any other situation, a burrow would have worked out perfectly.

"I get you!" Good thing Chōko understood. "Truth be told, I don't think a burrow would have worked out anyways, since someone could have been watching us this entire time."

And just like that, Chōko had managed to make the situation even worse.

"Okay, that's it—we're leaving this spot." Sasuke knelt down to pick up Miriku, who was currently rolling around in the dirt. He briefly wondered how exactly a puppy like her was eventually going to become a ninken like her mother. "I'm not taking any chances."

Rustle!

Almost instantly, Sasuke and Miriku turned their heads, bodies tense and eyes very much alert. Sasuke was somewhat surprised with how in sync he and Miriku had been. Though, at the same time, Sasuke was concerned. The fact that Miriku had also reacted with him was enough to tell him that he wasn't just hearing things.

"Sasuke, what's wrong-ttebayo?" Naruto asked, most likely perplexed with Sasuke and Miriku's behavior.

Sasuke stayed quiet, focusing on every little thing that went on around them. Something had moved…and whatever it was, it had been close.

Growl.

And it still was, as denoted by how agitated Miriku had become. Her fur bristled and her teeth were bared as she growled. Miriku could tell something was wrong, and Sasuke knew it as well—he just didn't know what to do. Miriku, at her current age, was a ninken that relied entirely on her instincts. Sasuke wasn't like that.

Right now, at this current moment, questions were flooding his head. Questions regarding what he should do, should he do it, and what would happen if he did—it came all too fast for him. Sasuke wasn't that used to thinking on the spot like this. Especially when he needed more time to gather information, otherwise he could potentially jump into an unfavorable situation.

Suddenly, a tiny sliver of wood grazed Naruto across the cheek. It was so sudden, that Sasuke almost stopped to question why something like that would happen. Then Chōko yelled at them to watch out.

And it was at that moment, a strong, forceful gale tore through the trees in their direction. Dirt, loose leaves, and twigs filled the air, obscuring their vision. Whatever signs of aggression Miriku was showing had ceased almost immediately as she started whimpering, burrowing her head into Sasuke's chest as he quickly tried to figured out what to do in his current position. He quickly glanced around, decided to take cover under some bushes that were nearby. He waited there, trying his best to calm Miriku down as he waited for the gale to die down.

There was no way that was natural. Someone had attacked them with a Fuuton technique—a B-rank, at least, or maybe even higher than that. It seemed too powerful to have come from a Genin. But then, Itachi was also rather powerful when he was still a Genin.

The thought that there was possibly a Genin around that was just as powerful as Itachi didn't settle too well with Sasuke. It just made him realize how dangerous their opponent was. Miriku must have noticed as well, considering how quiet her whines had become.

"Shh, shh…" Sasuke stroked Miriku's fur. "It's okay, girl—you don't have to stay. Go on, leave…please? Your mother's probably worried about you."

Sasuke was honestly touched with how reluctant Miriku was to leave him, even though the way she had her tail tucked in between her legs showed how scared she was. Still, it was for the best that she would leave. After all, Sasuke didn't want someone as inexperienced as Miriku getting hurt.

Miriku still let out a distressed whined before she finally disappeared in a puff of smoke. It was at that moment that Sasuke heard a sound behind him. Immediately he got off the ground and turned around, a kunai in his right hand. He let his guard down slightly when he saw it was just Chōko…and immediately tensed when he recalled the Ame-nin who had transformed into Naruto.

"What if…?" Sasuke couldn't help but think. He needed to do something quick to verify that this was indeed his friend…

…

…

"What was it that you told Nii-san when you met him and me for the first time—and how old were you when you said it?" This was information that only Sasuke and his friends should know…after all, they haven't brought it up since Itachi left.

Chōko blinked a few times and then narrowed her eyes. "Really? Of all the questions to ask me, it's the one about Weasel and not the molar I lost in Kirigakure or how you accidentally learned the Mystical Palm Justu from Sakura?"

That…was definitely Chōko.

Chōko crossed her arms. "Oh, and I was five when I called him a weasel—because Chōji and I turned five that day."

Definitely Chōko—now Sasuke felt a bit bad for doubting her, but it was for the best.

"Sorry about that—just making sure." Sasuke sighed as he lowered his kunai. "I mean, with what the Ame-nin did with Naruto…"

"Nah, I get ya." Chōko understood. "You okay?"

"Somewhat…I had to send Miriku back." Sasuke exhaled shakily. The attack had really left him shaken up. "You?"

Chōko pursed her lips. "I'm…scared."

She most certainly looked scared. And when Naruto decided to show up then and there, Chōko nearly shrieked.

"Oops—sorry, Chōko-chan…" Naruto frowned. "Didn't mean to scare you-ttebayo…"

Chōko stayed tense as she stared at Naruto. She swallowed hard, taking a step forward as she asked, "What's our team name?"

Naruto blinked a few times. "What do you mean, Chōko-chan? Isn't it Team Kaka—"

Chōko didn't even allow Naruto time to finish as she rushed up to him and punched him right in the crotch. "Wrong!"

Sasuke flinched visibly, almost tempted to cover his own crotch as a result from watching the scene before him. Still, he was glad Chōko did what she did, because that was not Naruto. For the second time, it was an imposter and said imposter had keeled over onto the ground in immense pain. Chōko had not held back when she had punched the imposter in the crotch.

Why does this seem so familiar?

It shouldn't have been that familiar, but it was. And while Sasuke should have been relieved to see that Chōko had incapacitated the imposter, there was still a sense of unease that plagued him. There was something wrong with this, but what?

"We might get called Team Kakashi, but our actual name is Team Spiky Hair." It was a joke name of sorts, but it still gave them a sense of unity with it. At least, that's how Sasuke felt about the same, since all of them had spiky hair. "So who the hell are you?"

"I see…that nothing much has…changed." The imposter smirked, which was not a look that suited the face they were currently sporting. It was unsettling, seeing someone with Naruto's face looking like that. Sasuke was almost relieved when the imposter dispelled the transformation.

Of course, there was something unnerving about a Kusa-nin talking to them, as if he had met them once before. And while that might have been the case, considering last night's party and what happened prior to the start of the second part of the exams (this was the same Kusa-nin who had handed Anko back her kunai), that still didn't explain the underlying level of familiarity in the Kusa-nin's tone. From how quickly Chōko had distanced herself from the Kusa-nin, she must have noticed it as well.

"I think we should leave," was the first thing she whispered to Sasuke once she was at his side.

Just as Sasuke was about to respond, he stopped. Just now—he could have sworn he had just seen himself and Chōko get killed. His body refused to move, and his voice was lost from him. The Killing Intent coming from the Kusa-nin was just too potent. Sasuke felt sick…he felt so very sick.

Because there was something too familiar about this Killing Intent—it shouldn't have been, but it was. Why?!

Why, why, why, why, why?

"Huurk!" Sasuke retched, the contents of his stomach emptying themselves onto the ground. He shivered, his heart pounding so fast and hard within his chest, he almost felt as if it could explode at any given second. The air was so heavy, that he could barely breathe.

Swallowing hard, Sasuke diverted his eyes to the side to check on Chōko. She was far off worse than he was. Tears were streaming down her cheeks. Her eyes were wide, and unlike him, she was completely still, fear having rendered her paralyzed.

Just a second ago, the two of them had acted so boldly when the Kusa-nin had transformed into Naruto. Now, the tables had been completely turned and it was they who were now at the mercy of the Kusa-nin.

"Even now, you still react the same way." The Kusa-nin chuckled darkly. "I was expecting quite a lot of improvement from the both of you—but I guess I was just expecting too much."

Who are you?!

Sasuke clenched his teeth, still speechless as ever. His mind screamed, demanding an answer how it was this Kusa-nin seemed so familiar.

"I was going to offer you an Earth scroll to go along with your Heaven scroll." The Kusa-nin pulled out an Earth scroll from his pocket and held it out for the two of them to see. "But it appears you already have your own Earth scroll. At least, I assume you do—unless that flare was for something completely different."

How long?!

This Kusa-nin had been observing them. For how long, Sasuke didn't know and his voice still refused to cooperate with him.

"No matter." the Kusa-nin said before shoving the Earth scroll down his mouth, swallowing it whole. "When this is over, only one of us will have the scrolls…and a pulse."

Someone, help!

Sasuke could feel the tears beginning to well up in the corners of his eyes. He wanted to escape—to live, but he just couldn't move his body. Maybe if he could, he could activate the seal…he could get help, but…would it arrive fast enough? Or would it just bring more unwanted attention to them?

Move, move, move, move, move!

Alarms were practically blaring through his head as Sasuke watched the Kusa-nin take one step at a time toward him and Chōko.

"I have to hand it Konoha—to have created such clever seals." The Kusa-nin smirked as he held up his right arm and pulled back his sleeve, exposing the red seal that was imprinted on skin. "If only they had been put to good use from the exact moment everyone had passed the first part of the exam, then maybe you might have just lived to see another day."

Sasuke felt his stomach churned, as he couldn't do anything but just watch as the Kusa-nin ripped off seal that was imprinted on flesh. The Kusa-nin had just ripped off his own skin, without once flinching nor crying out in pain.

Who is this guy?!

"If you even think about activating your seal, I will do to you what I had just done to myself." The Kusa-nin wasn't messing around when he threw the piece of flesh he had just ripped off into the nearby river. "After all, it would be rude for anyone to interrupt our reunion after so many years."

What…?

"Maybe now is a good time as any to finish what we had once started." The Kusa-nin smirked. "What do you say, Uchiha Sasuke?"

"Aahh…" was all that came out of Sasuke's mouth. There was his voice, and it sounded so helpless.

How does he know my name?!

"Truth be told, I was expecting more of a struggle from you." The Kusa-nin licked his lips with his freakishly long tongue. "After all, you are Uchiha Itachi's little brother."

"H-How…?" Sasuke managed to ask.

"Hmm?" The Kusa-nin paused for a moment. "Oh, do you still not know who I am? I would have assumed, since your friend certainly seems to recognize me. After all, it has almost been five years since that day…"

Hiss!

Sasuke's eyes widened. Somehow, without him even noticing, a giant snake had coiled its body around Chōko. This was not good… Right now, Sasuke could tell Chōko was struggling to act the way she usually did around snakes, but the fear still kept her paralyzed.

"Move, move, move…" Sasuke tried to will himself to move, his kunai shaking within his grip. He knew he could move, but it was difficult. Unless he did something now, the Kusa-nin would soon be near them and the giant snake…

"H-Help…" That voice just now…that was Chōko—and she had sounded so terrified. Sasuke hated when she sounded like that…because it was almost as if she was seconds away from death. And the thing was that this was exactly how she acted around snakes…because the last time a giant snake had coiled itself around her body was the first time she had almost died.

It's happening again!

And Sasuke couldn't do a damn thing about it because his body refused to move. There was no one to save them this time around. There was no bargain to be made, either. What was worse, it was just them two alone, with him.

The sudden realization hit Sasuke so hard, he nearly retched again. This Kusa-nin was not who he appeared. No—he wasn't even a Genin. This person…their banter…their familiarity—everything, screamed Orochimaru.

Move!

Sasuke didn't even yelp when he plunged his kunai into his thigh. All he did was dispel the genjutsu that had been set up to screw with their psyches and bring back many unwanted memories. He almost didn't catch it…he almost didn't catch the genjutsu, until he had activated his Sharingan. That thought plagued Sasuke's mind as he quickly lifted Chōko off the ground, carrying her in his arms as he jumped into the branches high above them. He hoped that it was enough to distance the two of them from the missing-nin that had traumatized them so badly all those years ago.

Thump!

Thump!

Thump!

"Bleeeeeeegghhh…" Sasuke was nearly tempted to drop Chōko out of disgust when she suddenly threw up. Of course, that wouldn't have been fair for Chōko, who had gone through hell, thanks to that genjutsu and Killing Intent. Sasuke almost felt like throwing up himself when he recalled how he had nearly mistaken the genjutsu for reality. He could have hurt Chōko…he could have hurt her, had he not activated his Sharingan and caught on to the genjutsu.

"I'm sorry…I'm sorry…" Sasuke found himself frantically apologizing to Chōko. "I'm sorry…I'm sorry."

He wasn't supposed to hurt his friends. He was supposed to heal them. That was his job as this team's medic-nin.

"I'm sorry…" Sasuke could tell Chōko was struggling not to cry as he held her close to himself. He wanted to cry…he wanted to cry so badly, but he couldn't because he had to stay strong. He had to stay strong for all of them.

Where's Naruto?

Sasuke was growing paranoid with each passing second the knuckleheaded blond was absent. He had almost forgotten that he still had a kunai sticking out of his thigh. He carefully set Chōko down onto the branch they were on and took the time to pull the kunai in his thigh. Sasuke swore under his breath, the pain finally deciding to register itself fully. Quickly, he used the Mystical Palm Jutsu to heal his leg.

As he healed his leg, Sasuke paid close attention to his surroundings. He listened carefully, trying his best to look past his and Chōko's frantic heartbeats for anything that sounded out of place. When he noticed a sudden change in Chōko's breathing and pulse, Sasuke stopped healing himself and quickly grabbed onto her hand. He managed to drag the two of them away from the giant snake that had almost chomped down on them with its huge mouth and sharp fangs. That time—that snake was real.

This was bad…this so very bad. Prolonged exposure around snakes was definitely not good for Chōko's mental health. Of course, Sasuke wasn't doing so well, either, and he was struggling to keep calm. He had to.

And yet, shortly after Sasuke and Chōko had landed on a nearby branch, any thoughts of staying calm went out the window when Sasuke had noticed that the snake was still going after them. He screamed and pulled out as many shuriken as his hands could hold out of his holster, throwing them all at the snake that lunged at them.

"Stay away!" The fear and desperation was evident in Sasuke's voice. He had tried…he really had, but just now, he had reached his limits. Sasuke just couldn't stay calm anymore. Not even the sight that his shuriken had hit the snake eased his nerves.

The snake recoiled violently, its head collapsing onto a branch where it then began to bleed out. Sasuke wasn't even allowed a moment to relax as the snake's skin began to break apart and peel back. From out of the snake's corpse, came out Orochimaru, his body hunched over almost unnaturally.

"You guys shouldn't relax for even a moment." Orochimaru was almost admonishing them. "Prey should always be trying their best to run away…in the presence of a predator, that is."

Orochimaru suddenly lunged forward, his body coiling and stretching, almost as if he had been a snake. It was like something out of a nightmare—a nightmare that no one could wake up from. And just before Orochimaru could even reach them, a wave of shuriken and kunai interrupted him.

Sasuke had never felt so relieved, especially since it was Naruto, of all people, who had thrown those shuriken and kunai. Naruto grinned widely as he stood on a distant branch, crossing his arms as he loudly yelled, "Not on my watch, dattebayo!"

"N-Naruto!" Chōko exclaimed.

"What took you so long?!" Sasuke found himself shouting, almost in anger. He had been so concerned…

"I got eaten by a snake-ttebayo." Naruto made a face. "It was seriously gross—but that's not important. Now who the hell is that guy?!"

Orochimaru chuckled darkly. "Have you forgotten as well? I would have figured you, of all people, would remember my snakes."

Naruto's eyes widened. "You! What are you doing here, dattebayo?! And why do you look different?!"

That was a question that Sasuke had been wondering himself, but didn't have much time to really contemplate on it, as he had been too busy keeping himself and Chōko out of trouble.

Orochimaru ran his tongue over his mouth, smirking afterwards. "Stealing the face of this body was easy. Poor bastard was drunk out of his mind."

It took Sasuke a couple of seconds to realize that last night's party had some rather mortal consequences for some of those who had been attending. "M-My bad…"

"It's not your fault…" Chōko tried to reassure him, but she was just as shaken up as he was. "Really, it's not…"

"As for why I am here…I have felt the need to finish some business we had started all those years ago." Orochimaru pulled back on the sleeve covering his left arm, exposing a strange tattoo on his wrist that had been hidden under the cloth. He bit down on his thumb and then smeared the blood over the tattoo on his wrist. "You three have caused me so much trouble, that I am at a loss at what to do with you. Should I let you live, or…should I kill you?"

"Shut up!" Naruto yelled as he ran recklessly towards Orochimaru, armed with only a kunai. "I'm not letting you hurt my friends again, dattebayo!"

As reckless as Naruto was acting, Sasuke couldn't help but feel envious. Naruto was probably scared, and yet…he didn't let fear control his actions.

I'm not like this.

Sasuke hated how he was acting. He should be helping Naruto and instead, he was just letting the blond act alone. And yet, when he saw the gigantic snake that Orochimaru had finished summoning, Sasuke froze. He couldn't move—he couldn't leave Chōko alone, either. All he could do was watch as Naruto was knocked off the branch, the snake having used its tail to attack.

Naruto crashed through several branches before a solid, sturdy tree trunk brought him to a sudden stop. Blood came out of his mouth upon impact, consciousness soon fading afterwards. The sight of seeing Naruto's lifeless-looking body fall the way it did was horrifying, even more so when Orochimaru's snake moved closer, its eyes closely watching Naruto as he fell.

"N-Naruto!" Sasuke couldn't believe what was happening. For the second time in his life, he was going to lose Naruto, unless he did something…but what could he do?!

Just as Naruto's body neared the snake's mouth, Sasuke heard something that sounded almost like a growl. It was right after hearing the growl that Naruto suddenly sprang back to life, yelling as he slammed his foot down onto the top of the snake's mouth.

"EAT SHIT!" Naruto yelled.

Sasuke had never seen Naruto look so mad. He could practically feel the rage emanating from the blond. It was almost sickening, and yet…Sasuke couldn't help but think that Naruto was doing this all to protect his friends. Naruto was trying to protect them…

"Let me go, dattebayo!" Naruto's screams snapped Sasuke out of his thoughts.

Sasuke's eyes widened when he saw that Orochimaru had restrained Naruto, using only his long tongue. "J-Just what is he?!"

"I was wondering why such an unimportant-looking brat like you would have caused me so much trouble," Orochimaru mused as purple chakra began to glow from his fingertips, almost like fire. "Who would have thought that the hostage I picked nearly five years ago was the container of the Kyuubi? If I had known, maybe things would have turned out differently."

Then, without any warning, Orochimaru slammed his fingertips into Naruto's stomach.

"Naruto!" Sasuke screamed, his eyes widening when he saw Naruto's body go limp. He clenched his teeth when Orochimaru flung Naruto's body over his shoulder, not caring for what happened to the blond. Sasuke couldn't just let Naruto fall like that—he couldn't! "Naruto!"

Sasuke flung a kunai in Naruto's direction, hoping it did what he had intended it to do. Relief washed over him when he watched the kunai pin Naruto to a tree. Chōko could have easily done such a task, but with that giant snake out and about, she was helpless.

Trauma was nothing to laugh at. This was why the Yamanaka clan encouraged shinobi to get therapy after traumatizing missions. Chōko was only unlucky that her trauma was practically untreatable at her age—not without severely risking her health, that is.

Fortunately, for the both of them, Orochimaru decided to dismiss his summon. At the same time, this could have also meant bad luck for the two of them. Clenching his teeth, Sasuke prepared himself for anything. He could hear Chōko retching behind him, probably still recovering from her prolonged exposure around a snake. He was honestly amazed how she hadn't broken down. That was definitely a first…

"I don't think it's a good thing, though." Sasuke could tell it had taken a toll on Chōko's health. At this point, she was only still conscious from sheer willpower alone. She must have been extremely concerned for him… "It's okay, Chōko—I can handle this."

"How sweet…" Orochimaru practically mocked him. "Watching over a deadweight like her must mean that she is someone really important to you."

Sasuke did not like the sound of that. It could only mean that Orochimaru is trying to use that to his advantage…just as he had done with Naruto and Itachi.

"No—I won't let it happen again…" Sasuke only had one chance right now…and he had to make it count. He bit down on a kunai, his eyes focused on Orochimaru as he armed himself with a shuriken in one hand and four kunai in another. Then, without warning, he threw the kunai at the missing-nin.

Orochimaru dodged predictably, and that is exactly what Sasuke was going for. Sasuke latched onto a nearby tree, using it as leverage as he threw the shuriken in his hand left hand at Orochimaru, all whilst swing his entire body at least once around the tree. Before he had made a full circle around the tree, Sasuke had been able to see Orochimaru jump over the shuriken.

"I can't screw up now!" Sasuke carefully took out the kunai in his mouth, taking a moment to infuse it with chakra to give it the extra force he needed when he threw it.

For a third time, Orochimaru dodged. He seemed rather overconfident that Sasuke's attacks kept missing…to the point he had not been able to see the wire that had been tied onto the kunai until after it had passed by his head. From there, Orochimaru could see the wires that were just over his shoulders that weren't there before. He traced the wires back to Sasuke, noticing the Uchiha was clenching his teeth down tightly on one end of the wire, the other end currently tied onto the kunai that had just been recently thrown.

When Orochimaru looked over his shoulders, Sasuke almost felt like smirking when he heard the Sannin exclaim, "This is…the Sharingan Windmill Triple Attack!"

Sasuke felt slightly sick to his stomach when he thought the shuriken embedded itself into Orochimaru's face. Then Orochimaru turned his head and showed that he had caught with his teeth.

"Hehe…too bad," Orochimaru taunted.

Of course, Sasuke still had a few tricks up his sleeve. Orochimaru didn't notice that until after the flames from Sasuke's Dragon Fire Jutsu were traveling down the metal wire. It was one surprise attack after another. And when the flames from the attack had set Orochimaru's face on fire, Sasuke released the wire in his mouth, his jaw feeling somewhat sore from how hard he had bitten down. He shuddered when he heard Orochimaru scream in pain, the flames burning his face.

"Or rather, the face that he stole…" Sasuke panted heavily as he watched Orochimaru burn. His breath hitched when Orochimaru continued to move, even after the flames finally stopped burning.

"To be able to use the Sharingan so well at this age…" Orochimaru mused. "You truly are the man that carries the Uchiha blood."

Sasuke hated whenever someone spoke of him like that. It just reminded him of the countless times the council had tried to set him up with someone, because he was the last of his clan still living in Konoha. He hated the council…he just wanted to live his life, not worrying about his status as the last Uchiha. Instead, he had to worry about the council trying to set him up with his own friends.

So far, Chōko was the only girl they had suggested, but Kakashi had shot it down almost instantly, with a little help from Chōza when he heard his daughter was being used for such an occasion. Sasuke worried of the day the council would try again with someone like Hinata. Knowing them, they would want to see what exactly the outcome would be if a Sharingan user and a Byakugan user were to have offspring.

"Fucking bastards…" Sasuke was terrified.

"Just as I thought…" Orochimaru smirked as burnt skin began to peel, exposing even paler skin underneath. "I want you."

At that moment, Sasuke felt something wrap around his neck. When he looked to his side, he saw that Chōko had given him her scarf. She smiled weakly at him as she continued to wrap her scarf around his neck. Sasuke had no idea what this would achieve, but it did help in easing his nerves.

"I had fun testing your powers." Orochimaru placed a hand to the hitai-ate he wore. At that moment, Sasuke felt as though he couldn't move. "You really are brothers. I sense power in your eyes that surpasses Itachi."

Sasuke felt sick upon hearing that. Even though he wanted to ask what happened to his brother, the fact that Orochimaru had been testing him just terrified him. Is that why Orochimaru had attacked Sasuke and his friends?

"If you wish to see me again…then survive and pass this exam." Orochimaru chuckled darkly before pulling out the Earth scroll he had swallowed earlier. "And of course, defeat my men, the Oto-nin trio."

"Go to hell!" Sasuke never wanted to see this man again…ever! "We were better off without you in our lives!"

Because of this bastard, Itachi had to leave…

"Now that won't do…" Orochimaru's hands formed into a seal. Almost instantly, his neck started to extend itself, almost like a snake, with his head lunging towards Sasuke, fangs bared. It was almost as if Orochimaru had intended to bite Sasuke.

Sasuke wanted to move out of the way…but he couldn't. He was sure that Chōko was the same, since her hands were still gripping the fabric of the scarf she had wrapped snugly around his neck. And yet, it was that same scarf that had gotten in the way of Orochimaru's teeth when he had tried biting down on Sasuke's neck.

Clang!

Teeth had met with metal and it took Sasuke until then to have realized that Chōko no longer had her hitai-ate around her neck. When she had placed her scarf around his neck, she had also given him her hitai-ate. They had gotten so lucky with the placement…

"Ever since that snake got on my neck…I never liked exposing my neck." Chōko always made it a habit to cover her neck unless otherwise…why she had done it, Sasuke never really knew the answer until now. "I always thought, what if something tried to bite me on the neck…and then I got to thinking, just now…what if he tried to bite you."

Never before had Sasuke felt so grateful for Chōko's random thoughts. He had nearly gotten bitten, had it not been for her.

"Thank you…" Sasuke found himself saying, even though he should have saved it for when after they were no longer in danger.

Orochimaru was not pleased with the results, looking rather annoyed with Chōko's actions. Sasuke was worried he was going to bite her instead of him, since her neck was now completely exposed.

"You have been a thorn in my side since we have first met." Orochimaru began as his head returned back to his body, neck no longer extended as it had been previously. "Even now, you still managed to get in my way. Truth be told—I am quite impressed with what you have become since our first meeting."

Sasuke's breath hitched when Orochimaru suddenly appeared so close to him and Chōko. The Sannin's attention was still only focused on Chōko.

"A D-rank in the Bingo Books, known as the Butterfly of Doom…" Orochimaru continued. "You have certainly made a name for yourself when you decided to punch me in that specific location that day…I had been ridiculed for it, as well. I should return the favor while I am at it—especially since you decided to get in the way of the little gift I wanted to give Sasuke."

THUD!

Sasuke's eyes widened as he watched Chōko's unconscious body fall onto the branch they were standing on, just mere seconds after Orochimaru had knocked her out.

"I prefer to keep someone like her quiet for what I have planned next." Orochimaru turned his attention to Sasuke. "Of course, if you wish to take her place, all you have to do is say the word."

"Wh-What are you going to do?" Sasuke found himself asking.

"I am going to continue from where I had left off…but on her, instead of you." Orochimaru smirked. "Since I am feeling rather nice, how about I tell you about the one in ten survival rate that comes with my gift?"

"One in ten?" Sasuke didn't like the sound of that.

"I am quite sure someone like you would survive it without any problems, but her…" Orochimaru chuckled darkly as he knelt down by Chōko's side. "Well, let's just see if she is lucky or not—"

"Wait!" Sasuke exclaimed. "I'll—!"

"You'll, what?" Orochimaru looked expectantly at Sasuke.

Sasuke clenched his teeth. If he went through with what Orochimaru was offering, he was only going to render the actions Chōko had done to keep him from getting bitten to be for naught. And yet, if he didn't do anything, Orochimaru would bite Chōko instead…and according to Orochimaru, there was only a ten percent chance she would survive.

…

…

"Just leave her alone…" Sasuke was done losing people. He couldn't risk it…not even for a moment. "I'm sorry, Chōko…"

"It seems I have chosen well." Orochimaru sounded too damn smug for Sasuke's liking.

But it's all for a good cause…right?

Sasuke screwed his eyes shut when he felt Orochimaru start to pull off the scarf wrapped around his neck. When he felt the air come in contact with his skin, he shuddered. He could finally understand the awkwardness that Chōko felt whenever she had her neck completely exposed.

"It's now or never…" Sasuke clenched his teeth as he waited for the sharp fangs that would clamp down on his skin…

But they never came.

Instead, Sasuke's ears were greeted with the pained screams of what appeared to be a girl. His heart practically stopped when he recognized the voice. When he opened his eyes, Sasuke felt his blood run cold. It had never occurred to him, as he kept his eyes closed, that someone could have come across him and Chōko, in their current predicament. It had also never occurred to him that someone could have used the Kawarimi, using him as the replacement in order to take his place when Orochimaru decided to bite down.

So when Sasuke saw that it was Team Yamato's Haruno Sakura that had taken his place, he was horrified. He was horrified at the thought of losing Sakura to the ninety percent chance of death that came with Orochimaru's bite. It hurt to hear the pained screams that came after Orochimaru had bitten down.

And when Sakura's teammates had arrived to the scene, with Kusagakure's Karin at their side, Sasuke couldn't even begin to explain what had just happened. All he could do was watch as Sakura continued to scream, her hands pressed over the bite that Orochimaru had given her on her neck.

"S-Sakura!" Sasuke yelled as Sai helped him stand up. Why did he need help standing up?!

"Kanashibari no Jutsu…" was all Sai told Sasuke before turning to look at Sakura.

"What happened here?" Haku asked as he armed himself with senbon.

"I told you someone was following them!" Karin huffed as she activated the seal on the upper part of her left arm, sending a red flare up into the sky. "My team is going to be so pissed at me for doing that, but fuck them! I don't even want to stay in Kusagakure—I want to move here!"

"What the hell?!" Sasuke was confused.

"You know how I'm a sensor?" Karin asked Sasuke. "I've been keeping an eye on all of you rather closely…and when I noticed something was off when it came to your group, I sorta ditched my team to go get these guys."

"We thought she might have been trying to lead us back to her team in order to battle for our scroll…" Haku looked rather embarrassed. "I mean, she had an Earth scroll on her and our team was given a Heaven scroll…"

"Why did Deko do that?" Sai looked rather confused.

Really, why exactly did Sakura take his place like that? Sasuke couldn't even begin to think of a reason. For now, he was just glad that Orochimaru had finally let them be, since Karin had decided to activate her seal. Orochimaru wasn't even given a chance to take in the sudden change in situation.

With Orochimaru gone, Sasuke was no longer paralyzed. He rushed over to Sakura's side, his heart pounding as he continued to hear her scream. He hesitated to touch her, tears welling up in the corners of his eyes as he watched her writhe in pain.

"Wh-Why?" Sasuke was supposed to have gotten bit, not Sakura… "Why did you do this?"

There was a ninety percent chance that she was going to die!

"Please don't die…don't die!" Tears streamed down Sasuke's cheeks as he held Sakura closely to his chest, her hand tightly gripping his. "Don't die…don't die…"

Why was this happening? Why?!

"Don't die…" Sasuke sniffed as he saw a mark appear where Sakura had been bitten. The mark was black in color and consisted of three tomoe. Was that what was supposed to be on his neck? "Don't die…"

When Sasuke noticed the Earth scroll that Orochimaru had left behind, he was almost tempted to burn it, but he refrained from doing so. He had to stay calm…he just had to. He was so glad that Karin, Haku, and Sai were around. He was really glad when Karin had been the one to bring Naruto down. He was just so relieved to see Haku checking Chōko over, confirming that she was completely fine, just unconscious.

"Is Deko okay?" Sai asked, despite being able to see and hear that Sakura was still screaming in pain.

Sasuke was almost tempted to snap at Sai, but stopped himself when he realized Sai looked so concerned. If Chōko was still conscious, she would have probably smacked a sticker onto Sai's hitai-ate…as soon as it was appropriate, that is. Right now, Sakura wasn't doing so well and Sasuke was just so worried that she could die.

It was supposed to be me—not her!

Sasuke choked back a sob when Haku told him they had to leave. Karin told them that she could sense shinobi coming their way, most likely trying to take advantage of the confrontation that had already occurred here. Before they had left, Karin had handed Sai her Earth scroll.

"There's not much use it has for me now." Karin tried to lighten up the situation, but it was already grim as is. "Be careful, the sun's starting to set."

And with darkness, came even more danger. Sasuke was not looking forward to the long night he was going to spend with Team Yamato. With two of his teammates, plus the only skilled medic-nin, currently incapacitated, Sasuke had no other choice but to team up with Haku and Sai. Not that he had any problems with that, of course, he was quite used to them as housemates and very much appreciate the help they gave him. He was just…very depressed that it had to come to this.

"I am so sorry…" Sasuke told Haku and Sai as he hefted Sakura onto his back. She had finally stopped screaming, though she was still very much in pain.

"She chose to take your place—just focus on trying to keep her safe now." Haku was just as concerned as Sasuke.

…

…

That night, after Sasuke, Haku, and Sai had found a place to settle down under the large roots of a tree, Uchiha Sasuke cried for the first time that day. It was while he was placing a damp towel on Sakura's forehead (the pink-haired girl having developed a fever over the night), that Sasuke had finally lost his composure. The entire time, he had been trying his hardest to stay calm, but now…he had reached his limit.

He was only lucky that he wasn't alone, because Sasuke wasn't sure how he would have reacted, had Haku and Sai not been there with him. Naruto and Chōko had yet to wake up. Haku and Sai were keeping a vigilant eye while Sasuke continued to watch Sakura for any signs of improvement. So far, she had only gotten worse, her breathing having grown erratic…but she was still alive.

"She's still alive…" Sasuke could cope with that. He could very much cope with that.

We're still alive…

…

…

…

---

A/N So did you guys know that if a Sharingan user and a Byakugan user mated, their offspring would have one Byakugan and one Sharingan? Well, now you know!

That aside, wow, look at how long this chapter is! And by the by, this was Sasuke's first POV chapter! Yeah, he's quite different than I'd expected him to be. Of course, it was only appropriate that he got the POV, considering what happens in the Forest of Death. Still, what was supposed to happen didn't because deviations occurred. First, it was Chōko actually trying to be a direct change, while the true cause of divergence was Sakura, who had taken Sasuke's place. You guys have Karin to thank for this and while she wasn't with everyone else when they were bonding before they entered the Forest of Death, she still does care for her friends/acquaintances. Even if she's only known them for a short time, the fact that they have been so friendly to her has left a huge impression on her.

A reviewer has brought up how easily some of these characters become friends. It kinda does feel a bit like wish-fulfillment, but one of the things I was hoping this would show is that, unlike the adults, the younger shinobi are more willing to let go of the past and create new bonds. They might have been encouraged by their Kage (like the Iwa and Kumo teams) to befriend the others, but what actually happened is that they managed to get along so well with them.

Anyways, last night's party is hinted throughout this chapter, Temari got contracted with the weasel summon, Kankurō stole a chicken and named it Clucky—speaking of Clucky, ChibiFoxAI and I didn't exactly notice the name until AFTER I pointed it out. We had almost forgotten about Naruto the Abridged series and Clucky was just a name that was put up that sounded like something Kankurō would give a chicken, so yeah… It's pretty hilarious how that ended up happening. XD

By the by, in case anyone was wondering what happened last night, ChibiFoxAI has a one-shot post up on her account. She has been waiting since December for that one-shot, in case any of you guys are wondering. The two of us have anticipated it, so please do take the time to check it out. Credit goes to her for the idea of the flare seals, in case anyone is wondering! It was her brilliant mind that had created them! ^^

So as of recently, I've noticed some reviewers making mention of how "weak" or "useless" Chōko is for not having anything special. Now I kinda want to correct this and say that whenever I bring up the fact that Chōko punched Orochimaru in the crotch, it shouldn't be taken lightly. Because when she was eight years old, she had managed to hurt an S-ranked missing-nin who usually gives many people a hard time. People who are known to have even touched Orochimaru are Itachi and the Sandaime Hokage…and Sasuke, but only for a brief moment and he had the Sharingan to help him.

Chōko had none of that and again, she was only eight, younger than anyone who had ever been up against Orochimaru. And she had managed to not only punch him in the crotch, but she also managed to land a Teppōdama on him, which has been known to crack ribs when she was only eight. So again, do you really want Chōko to gain any special abilities to make her less ordinary? Just think about it.

A HUGE thank you goes to the reviewers who defended Chōko and like her the way she is!

Anyways, shout out goes to nic611 for being reviewer #660, FredFredNineNine for being reviewer #666, Llyrica for being reviewer #670, and anonymous reviewer angel for being reviewer #680. Honorable mentions go to MademoiselleViette (lovely name by the way), llat-2 for pointing out how many sources of people's pain can be tracked back to Danzō, Empress of Murk (cool name) for reviewing for the first time!

I hope you guys enjoyed this super long chapter! POV may or may not shift back come next chapter (I'm still debating it), but hopefully, I get it up as soon as I can. Until next time, everyone! KD out! XD