(Thanks for coming back to read the third chapter of the series. I hope you give it a chance and read a few chapters before deciding to drop it. I do warn that the series is planned to be very long and probably won't be completed for at least 3 years. I love feedback and constructive criticism, so please leave a review so I can improve my writing and storytelling skills. Enjoy!)
"One more thing, you have until the end of the day to snatch a bell," explains Raj, "Ready? Begin!" At his signal the test begins and Sakura and Kuroda dash off into the bushes to hide. "Alright, it looks like they have all hidden themselves pretty well," thinks Raj before he looks over and sees Jando still standing in front of him, "…I guess not." Jando shifts his stance and widens his base into a fighting stance.
"Umm…what are you doing?" inquires Raj irked by the stupidity of his new pupil.
"I can't get a bell if I go run and hide. So the only option is to attack," responds Jando as he charges forward, "Byakugan!"
"That is right," thinks Raj as he dodges Jando's first blow, "I forgot this kid is from the Hyuga clan. However his Gentle Fist Taijutsu isn't really up to par, plus I am guessing he didn't really do well in strategy courses. Oh well, I guess I will have to teach him." Jando charges in again, his fingers dart in towards Raj's chakra points intending to disrupt them. Yet Raj casually dodges and slaps the attacks away.
"Technique number one of a shinobi: Taijutsu," comments Raj with an air of superiority. Raj seems to have the upper hand in the following melee, but then Jando lands a strike to the chest. Raj liquefies and his Water Clone is destroyed.
"Water? What the..?" exclaims Jando.
"Technique number three of a shinobi: Ninjutsu," says Raj appearing behind the Hyuga boy. Then he kicks Jando in the gut and easily knocks him to the ground.
"I guess this Raj Fujo is pretty decent, but he doesn't seem like Jonin material to me," thinks Kuroda as he observes the fight from his hiding spot, "There are a lot of open spots in his defenses, or is it that he is purposely leaving himself open? Either way I think it is time to get things moving." Kuroda creates four shadow clones and launches them into attacks. They sprint out of the forest and attack the Jonin from all sides. Raj is surprised and gets overwhelmed by the simultaneous and unexpected assault.
"Four clones?" thinks Raj as he smashes his elbow into the face of the nearest clone, "I don't remember reading anything about that in the profile. Impressive, he must have been hiding the fact that he could use them."
Raj is knocked backwards away from the four clones and he quickly performs seals, "Good idea Kuroda, however it is not going to be that easy. Fireball Jutsu!" A large ball of fire erupts from his mouth and engulfs the clones. Two of the clones are destroyed, but the other two manage to escape with minimum damage. The grass in the surrounding area is singed away leaving mostly dirt behind.
"Wow, amazing!" thinks Sakura as she observes from her hiding spot.
"Sorry but I don't need your lessons," says Kuroda appearing behind the Jonin.
"What? How did you…?" says Raj before the young Genin lands a devastating kick to his spine.
The real Kuroda starts performing hand signs as his remaining clones go in for another attack. "Earth Style: Headhunter Jutsu!" announces Kuroda.
"From below?" thinks Raj looking down as he recognizes the Jutsu. Yet the clones are already on him and one of them throws a punch aimed right for his face. Raj brings up both hands to block it. However Kuroda takes the opening and his hands pop up from the ground and grab hold of the Jonin's ankles.
"Damn!" curses Raj. The second clone is fast enough to take out a kunai and cut off the bells before Raj is sucked underground. The real Kuroda pops up and chops the Jonin on the back of the neck knocking Raj into unconsciousness. He retrieves the bells from his clone and then they disperse into white smoke.
"He ...won?" thinks Sakura as she makes her way out of the bushes, "Kuroda actually did it." Jando walks over and is dumbfounded at what he just saw. Sakura starts realize, "He doesn't even look tired? I didn't even do anything. I can't believe I am so weak compared him. He is amazing; I never knew he was this good."
Jando stalks over with an enraged look, "Damn it! How could that guy beat Raj-sensei? He made it look like it was nothing. How come I was not able to get a bell?"
Kuroda says, "So there are only two bells here. That means only two of us can pass. I will give one of you the other bell if you give me something in return."
"What do you want?" asks Sakura.
Kuroda replies, "Well if you really want to become a Genin of this village then Jando, you will have to give me one of your eyes. As for you Sakura, you will have to give me your life." Both of them are taken aback by such a request.
Sakura questions, "What do you mean my life?"
Kuroda explains, "I want you to bend to my will. I want you to follow every order I give without hesitation, even if it means sacrificing your own life. Don't be mistaken though, this doesn't only benefit me. It will let you become very powerful as well. As for you Jando, I think it is clear why I want one of your eyes. The Byakugan is a very powerful Kekkei Genkai and anyone with it has the upper hand against an opponent."
Jando begins contemplating the offer, "Is this guy serious? He wants one of my eyes. This is crazy, I can't do that. I wouldn't be able to fight with only one eye. Yet if I don't give it to him then I won't become a Genin and I will be stuck as the failure of the Hyuga clan. What the hell am I supposed to do?"
Finally Sakura declares, "I…I'll do it. If that is what it takes to become a Genin then I will do it."
Kuroda takes out a scroll and tosses it to Sakura, "Well then just sign your name in blood on this contract to bind the agreement." Without really thinking about it she makes a small cut in her finger with a kunai then puts her signature on the bottom of the scroll and then hands it back to him. "Jando stay here and watch Raj to see if he wakes up," orders Kuroda after he tucks the scroll away, "Come on Sakura I need to do one more thing."
Kuroda walks with Sakura until they find a secluded area. After checking to make sure no one else is around he tells her, "All right, now that we are alone, take off your clothes." She hesitates and a surging pain goes through her body. It is so strong and violent that she falls down on to her hands and knees.
Kuroda speaks forcefully, "Did you think this was just a game Sakura? This is real. That pain you are experiencing right now will happen every time you try to disobey me. It is a part of the contract you signed. It is not fatal, but it hurts a lot. You should have read the contract before you signed it, but now this is what you have to live with for the rest of your life. Now as I said, take off your clothes."
Regretfully Sakura begins to remove her clothes, stripping them off shamefully, piece by piece, until her body is exposed. She tries to hide her private parts from his eyes by covering them up with her hands and arms. Yet this attempt to keep her most precious areas unseen is ended when he has her lie down on her back with her arms to the side.
Kuroda shows no excitement or intrigue at seeing the naked body of the opposite sex nor does he show any smugness or superiority. In fact he is not emotional at all and rather indifferent about the situation. He then kneels over her and places his hands a few inches above her body. He moves his hands around over her as if scanning for something. "Lie still and be quiet, this will only hurt for a few seconds," he says once he locates the spot above her belly button.
He takes out a kunai and carves a symbol similar to an exploding tag into her flesh. Then he makes a few hand signs and pours some of his chakra into the mark. After a minute the mark dims and soon is no longer visible and skin looks like nothing ever cut into it. "You are to tell no one about what I just did," Kuroda orders sternly, "You can redress now."
Sakura attempts to quickly put her clothes back on trying not to show her confusion and discomfort with the event. Yet this attempt fails because her small hands shake as she tries to re-zip and button her clothes and trembling tears wet the tips of her eyelashes.
Once Sakura is dressed and in control again they return to where Jando is still standing around looking stunned. Kuroda looks over at Raj and is disappointed to see him still knocked out. He pulls Raj out of the ground with a simple tug and says, "Follow me."
"Where are we going?" inquires Sakura.
"To see the Hokage," he replies.
(What will the Hokage have to say about this turn of events? Read the next chapter to find out. I forgot to mention, if you want more information on my characters you can see their bios on my profile page. Be warned, there may be some spoilers. Also I'm in the process of getting pictures drawn for the characters, but I have no idea how long that will take. If you're interested in drawing and have a DA account then send me a Message. Enjoy the next chapter, and please review.)