I don't own Naruto. In other news…I'm back and ready to type! Got the Bon Jovi "You Give Love a Bad Name" playing and I'm pumped! Hooyah, let's get this show on the road! Bringing to you live:

Bad Romance Chapter 8! Showdown of the Mind! Kushina vs. Orochimaru!

Kushina stood in front of the Kyuubi's cage, her arms crossed in front of her chest and her green eyes burning holes into the swirling mass of dark chakra forming in her daughter's mind. She knew what this was, she remembered little Anko's dealings with the curse seal and was prepared to evict this particular tenant immediately.

"Kushina…"

"I know Kyuubi, don't worry I plan to deal with this nuisance myself." The fox behind her growled as the purple colored mass began to take shape.

"Then allow me to assist you whirlpool princess." Kushina looked over her shoulder, a small grin on her face. She knew why the fox was offering to help but couldn't help but take the chance to rile the beast up.

"Oh how sweet Kyuubi, going soft on me?" The mammoth vulpine snorted and snarled.

"Do not read into it Kushina, it's bad enough I have to share your child with you. I will not allow another to claim what is mine." Kushina closed her eyes and smiled, the fox while helping her and protecting Naruko's mind for selfish reasons was at least willing to help, that she was thankful for. She watched as the chakra mass slowly took the form of Orochimaru who seemed surprised at seeing Kushina standing there looking at him. Kushina used her connection to her daughters chakra to begin forming her chakra chains.

"Kukuku, I see I am not alone here, and is that Kushina-chan I see? The years have done wonders for you my dear." Kushina smirked, her chains were slowly moving towards the snake sannin as she did not move from her position.

"And I can say the same for you Orochimaru. I don't suppose I could just ask you to leave my daughter's mind now could I?" Orochimaru was surprised, Kushina was the Kyuubi brat's mother? That would explain a lot about the blonde haired girl…

"Kukuku, I'm sorry Kushina-chan but-" Orochimaru rushed Kushina, the blade of his Kusanagi blocked only by a net of Kushina's chakra chains. Before the sannin could comment or continue his attack several barbed hooked chains flew out from the darkness, spearing right through the snake only for him to explode in a puff of smoke.

"Hmph, I knew it wouldn't be that easy to take you out, now come out and face me you coward." As Kushina's eyes scanned the area in front of her Orochimaru began to slowly rise from the water behind her, his sword in a position to run her through. A earth-shattering roar reminded Orochimaru the Uzumaki matron was not the only person in the jinchuriki's mind as the Kyuubi's claw came down upon the snake who switched with a clone at the last second, reappearing in front of Kushina, his blade drawn defensively in front of him.

"Damn, I missed him." Kushina smiled, sure Kyuubi could do nothing but keep her backside protected but it was better than nothing.

"Well if you didn't roar he wouldn't have seen it coming." A snarl was her only response as she focused on the sannin in front of her who began throwing up snakes from his mouth, releasing a living carpet of serpents.

"Now what will you do Kushina?" Orochimaru's triumphant smile faded as Kushina created a rotating circular dome around herself with the barbed chains, she had seen Hiashi use the kaiten once and it gave her an idea on how to use her chains both offensively and defensively. Slowly the dome expanded outward destroying the snakes one by one. A small hole opened in the dome and kunai tipped chain fired outward nearly grazing the snake sannin's cheek before retreating back into the now collapsing dome. Both ninja merely started each other down, each trying to figure out a way to gain an upperhand on the other.

*Outside of Naruko's Mind*

Sakura looked at her two teammates and placed cold compresses on their foreheads, it wasn't much but it was all she could really do right now. She sniffled as she realized Sasuke was right, she didn't really have any skills to help benefit the team, sure she was smart but smart only got you so far.

"You know Naruko, you're lucky. I can see why Sasuke-kun seems to be interested in you over any other girl. You seem to have this confidence that I only wish I could have. Maybe…maybe Sasuke-kun really does like you more…" She looked at her blonde teammate and smiled knowing she couldn't answer back, if she could her response would be…interesting to say the least. Despite what the blonde said aloud, she did have feelings for the Uchiha, even Sakura could see it. She watched as the seal thing on her neck seemed to be fading in and out while Sasuke's stayed a nice solid color. She looked at Naruko and with a smile poked her shoulder.

"But just because I admit Sasuke-kun might like you more doesn't mean I'm giving up got it? We're now rivals for Sasuke-kun's heart got it Naruko?" When her teammate didn't answer she became depressed realizing she was left alone to defend herself.

Team Nine looked at each other before checking the sky. Neji sighed and stood up, cracking his neck, a habit he picked up when Naruko was in his class.

"Okay we've got plenty of food and water and most teams are resting, all three of us will scout the area and regardless of whether you find anyone or not we'll meet back here in thirty minutes, understood?" Tenten nodded and Lee did a hand salute though he seemed troubled which did not go unnoticed by Neji.

"Lee, what's wrong?" Lee shook his head trying to shake the feeling that Naruko was in some kind of trouble but found he couldn't.

"It is nothing Neji-san, I just have a bad feeling about Naruko-chan is all." Neji nodded, knowing how close the two were, Tenten upon hearing this became worried as well.

"I hope she's fine." Neji while he didn't necessarily like Naruko, didn't hate her either and knew both of his teammates cared a great deal for the blonde powerhouse and with a sigh he came to a decision.

"Alright, if you happen to find Naruko or her teammates, make sure they are okay, sound good?" Both his teammates perked up at hearing this and it made Neji smirk knowing they were focused again.

"Alright…Go!" In the blink of an eye, all three took off.

Nearby where Sakura was tending to her teammates, three figures were watching her, their mission was simple: to assassinate Uchiha Sasuke.

"Remember you two, we attack at daybreak." Dosu, the mummy wrapped ninja said, watching his target intently.

"Our target is Uchiha Sasuke right?" Kin, the female of the group questioned.

"Yeah but if the other two get in our way we're allowed to kill them right?" Zaku the other male asked with a bloodthirsty grin.

"But of course."

Sakura was tired, she stayed up all night to make sure no one would attack her team and the sleep deprivation was getting to her, she had never stayed awake an entire night before in her life so she was drained completely. The sun shone through the trees hitting her in the eye making her wince at the brightness.

"Now I see why Naruko hates you-" A sound behind Sakura made her draw her kunai out of reflex, though her hands were shaking as she held it. She turned, ready to defend her teammates from…a squirrel.

"You got to be fucking kidding me." Sakura didn't know what to be more annoyed about, the fact she was scared by a squirrel…or the fact she was cursing like her potty-mouthed teammate.

'…Now I know I've hung around Naruko too long.' The squirrel began to move towards her and she launched the kunai at it, before it could set off the traps she set last night.

'Phew, that was close.'

Meanwhile the sound trio was watching Sakura.

"Huh, think she noticed the explosive tag on the squirrel?" Dosu shook his head.

"No, it's something else, I think it's time we pay her a visit."

Lee hopped from tree to tree, careful not to make too much noise, as he landed on a particularly thin branch he noticed several leaves fall from the branch. A fire erupted in his eyes as he gave himself a personal challenge.

"If I can catch all twenty of these leaves before they hit the ground, Sakura-san will begin to like me. But…if I miss even just one…my love will be unrequited and…she may even call me names like 'caterpillar brows!'" The fire in Lee's eyes erupted even further as he leapt off from the tree, intent on catching all twenty leaves.

One by one Lee caught the leaves….nearly snapping his spine on another branch but as he reached for the last one he noticed a squirrel struggling in pain as smoke was spewing from its back. Lee dove for the squirrel ripping the explosive tag off its back and throwing it at the closest tree.

"Who would do such a horrible thing to you little guy?"

Sakura was just about to fall asleep when a voice jolted her awake.

"Awake all night huh?"

'Not these guys!'

"Why don't you be a doll and wake up Sasuke-kun, we'd like to fight him." Sakura narrowed her eyes and drew a kunai.

"What are you talking about? I know someone named Orochimaru is pulling the strings! What's his purpose?" The sound trio were surprised that the girl knew their master and that he was in charge of them.

"What is this weird mark on Sasuke-kun's neck? You did this to him and now you want to fight? What is wrong with you?" Dosu was surprised to hear Sasuke had received a curse mark, why would Orochimaru send them to kill Sasuke only to give him a curse seal beforehand?

"Whatever, hey Dosu I'll kill the girl and take care of this Sasuke guy." Before Zaku could charge he was stopped by his bandaged teammate.

"Wait Zaku, hmm you know girlie, a booby trap is pointless unless it goes unnoticed." Dosu watched the girls face as he pulled away her ground booby trap.

"She scared away the squirrel to prevent it from setting off the booby trap, kill her." The three sound ninja leapt upwards to take advantage of the terrain only to see a giant log falling towards them.

"Hmph, nice try girlie but-" Dosu only stuck his palm outward and the log shattered into pieces.

"-You'll have to do better than that, you have no talent, a person like you stands no chance against guys like us. Now for us to-"

"KONOHA SENPUU!" The three sound nin were each kicked away by a green whirlwind, their bodies slamming against nearby trees. Sakura was about ready to defend herself when she noticed who was standing in front of her.

The Beautiful Green Beast of the Hidden Leaf: Rock Lee

"Well then, looks like I'm just in time. Are you alright Sakura-san?" At her nod Lee turned towards the trio, standing in his Strong Fist stance.

"Who the hell are you?" Zaku yelled, this guy's look alone pissed him off.

"A freakin' knight in green armor as my best friend would say."

Orochimaru dodged another chakra claw from the now three tailed Kushina as he was running out of options now. He made a grave tactical error in marking the Kyuubi brat. Only now as Kushina's corrosive claws sliced into his arm did he realize he underestimated Naruko's mental defenses. Every time he dodged Kushina's claws or chains he would always end up close the fox's cage and would get swiped at. He might have to use that jutsu he figured and began his transformation.

Kushina could only watch as Orochimaru began to transform into a large white snake, his serpentine body made of smaller snakes.

"Now Kushina-chan, look upon the face of your destruction!" The great snake rushed towards Kushina who began forming a tailed beast ball, while it wouldn't be anywhere near as powerful as the four tailed menacing ball it would be enough she sufficed as she swallowed the chakra ball firing it from her mouth a split second later, the red energy racing across the floor like a comet, parting the water that was now knee deep in height. Orochimaru twisted his body to avoid the attack, not knowing the attack explodes as he felt flames wash over his body when the ball collided with a wall and erupted. Kushina saw this as her chance and called upon her chains watching as they pierced the skin over and over until the great serpent could move no more.

"I…I can't move…what…did you do to me?" Kushina released the Kyuubi's chakra, watching as the water level began to lower.

"Simple, you're about to go away…permenantly."

"W-Why are you here?" Lee smiled at Sakura and scratched under the squirrel's chin.

"I will always appear when you are trouble." Sakura watched as the green-clad genin released the squirrel and got into a stance.

"T-Thank you Lee." Lee smiled.

Being the hero was awesome.

"I told you before. I'll protect you with my life."

'Gai-sensei, I did it, I have achieved awesomeness!'

Dosu closed his eyes and grunted.

"Zaku, you can have Sasuke-kun, I'll take care of them." The bandaged sound nin began his charge towards Lee.

'From what I can tell, Sakura-san is no condition to fight.' Dosu leapt into the air, expecting the taijutsu specialist to dodge…he didn't expect the freak to rip out a giant tree root to block him.

"I'm not going to simply dodge your attacks, I have seen your attacks before, and I will crush them with my own."

"Gah this sucks! We can't find any weak guys!" Ino complained, grabbing her head in annoyance.

"Troublesome, unfortunately the only guys weaker than us would be Kiba's team, because I am not going after Naruko, I don't want to be confined to a hospital for the rest of my life."

"Hey look! Sasuke and Naruko are knocked out cold! And Sakura is fighting!" Ino was surprised to hear this and hoped her friend was okay.

"Hmm Lee's late." Tenten was surprised at her teammate's tardiness.

"Usually he's accurate when it comes to time." Neji sighed, he knew what that meant.

"Knowing that fool he ran into the enemy…or Naruko, let's go find him."

"Yeah" Both took off hoping to find their wayward teammate.

'Gai-sensei, I'm going to use the technique, to protect someone precious to me!' Lee activated his first inner gate and as Dosu landed the green beat vanished, only to reappear right under the sound nin, driving his foot into his chin sending him skyward.

Dosu had no idea what was going on and could hear the leaf genin behind him.

"It's over." Before he could react Dosu's body was wrapped up in the bandages covering the leaf nin's arms.

"Shit! He's not gonna be able to do anything like that!" Zaku began going through handseals, hoping to save his teammate.

"Omoto Renge!" Lee had to smirk as he piledrived the sound-nin's body into the ground only to realize the earth was a lot softer than it should have been.

"Phew, looks like I saved your ass Dosu." Said sound-nin dragged his body up from the dirt, surprised at how much damage he took even on such soft earth.

"Yeah you did. Man what a terrifying technique! My body is aching from only a soft patch of earth. But now it's my turn."

'Damn, my body still isn't….' Lee managed to dodge only for his body to go stiff.

"And my attacks, are at the speed of sound."

Lee couldn't help but throw up at the immense vibrations coursing through his body and felt his right ear rupture.

"And now to deal with you girlie…" Dosu leapt at Sakura only to be buffeted by Lee's attempt at another whirlwind kick.

"I see, well try this!" Dosu swung his melody arm at Lee watching with glee as the genin blocked it and he used his chakra to damage the taijutsu user's inner ear drum.

"Lee-san!" Sakura threw several shuriken at the sound-nin only for Zaku to blast them back at her with his modified arms.

'Air pressure, he blasted back my shuriken?' Sakura stopped as she felt someone grab hold of her hair.

"My such pretty hair, so much luster to it. Trying to catch a guy's eyes are we? Zaku, kill Sasuke in front of this bitch, teach her a lesson."

"Heh, good idea Kin."

'No Sasuke-kun! I can't let them hurt you! Naruko wouldn't let this happen! I'm tired of always being protected, this time…this time I'm going to protect those who are important to me…' Sakura drew out her last kunai making Kin smirk.

"Pft, that won't work on me." Sakura's chuckle caught her attention.

"Heh, who said it was for you?" Sakura slashed back and cut her hair, hair that she had spent years growing, washing, and brushing.

'I always thought I was a good ninja. Always cheering on Sasuke-kun, I would lecture Naruko as if I was better than her, but all I did…was watch them leave me behind, and now Sasuke-kun has his eyes on Naruko, well no more, this time…I'm gonna be the one protecting you guys.'

Before Sakura could do anything everyone felt a pulse coming from the comatose Uchiha.

"What the hell?" Everyone present could see Sasuke slowly standing, his body moving from his deep breathing.

"Sasuke-kun! You're awake!" Sakura was glad at least one of her teammates was up. Slowly the Uchiha walked towards his teammate, he could see she was battered, bruised, her arms were cut up and her hair was now butchered.

"Sakura…who did that to you?"

"S-Sasuke-kun?" The Uchiha kept his eyes on the three sound nin, the black flame markings of the curse seal wrapping around his body.

"Who did it?" Dosu was shocked at seeing the curse seal on Sasuke's body, this could turn ugly really quick if he didn't think fast.

"We did it!" and there went Zaku ruining it.

"Sasuke-kun…you're body."

"I'm fine Sakura, in fact I feel great. Watch out for Naruko for me, she's still unconscious. Now to deal with you three." The Uchiha avenger's focus was now solely on the three sound nin.

'Shit, his chakra is way too large! We've been setup!' Zaku on the other hand wasn't afraid.

"Dosu, this'll be easy. Just watch."

"No Zaku! Don't you realize-"

"Ultimate Zankuuha!" Zaku arms created a massive blast of air pressure, enough to easily kill a human, the attack kicking up enormous amounts of dust and debris. When the dust cleared Sasuke was nowhere in sight.

"Told you, I blew his ass away!" The cold voice from behind Zaku made his blood run cold.

"Blew who away?"

Before anyone knew what was going on Sasuke backhanded Zaku away before reappearing and kicking him upward. Dosu could only watch as Sasuke appeared behind Zaku, holding his arms back as he slammed his body into the ground, his foot firmly placed on his spine as the Uchiha went about breaking the sound-nins arms.

"One down…"

Sakura was shocked, this…this wasn't the Sasuke she knew. This thing was a monster, he was not the boy she knew, the boy she trained with, the boy she cared for. Sakura could see Sasuke stalking towards Dosu with a menacing gleam in his eye and took off after him her arms wrapping around his body preventing him from going any further.

"Please…Sasuke-kun…please stop." Sasuke looked at her and slowly the curse seal began to recede.

'Looks like we're saved…for now.' Dosu pulled out his teams heaven scroll and laid it on the ground.

"Here, take it. We cannot defeat you at this time, but know that if we meet again we will neither run nor hide." Dosu took his chance and collected his team members, and just in time too as another team arrived on the scene.

"Lee!" Tenten leapt down and began checking her teammate over while at the same time admonishing him for doing foolish things. Neji meanwhile watched as Sakura looked over Sasuke and decided to go check on Naruko who was still unconscious.

Neji as he looked over the foul-mouthed blonde seriously hoped this was the last time he would have to take this exam.