The Turning Point
"Ah, Sakura's in danger. Don't worry Sakura I'll protect you, you can count on me" Naruto muttered, a red blush staining his cheeks as he rolled over in his sleep happily.
"Ugh, what a pain waking him up is going to be" Shikamaru sighed as he and Choji examined Naruto.
"I can kick him if you want?" Choji offered happily.
Sasuke and Sakura sat together quietly, waiting for Naruto to wake up. Sasuke had asked Sakura not to mention the cursed mark and Sakura had agreed. Sasuke had calmed down a bit but he was still quite weak as was Sakura. Team 7 needed time to rest and to recover.
Sakura let out a quiet sigh and Sasuke looked at her quickly. "Are you okay? Does something hurt?" he demanded.
"No I'm fine" Sakura lied.
Everything hurt after her fight with Zaku and Dosu. Not to mention the bruise Sasuke had caused was throbbing like crazy. Sasuke clearly felt awful for what he had done to her under the effects of the cursed mark. If she even flinched, Sasuke was drawn to her in an instant. Apparently his overprotective side had made an appearance; the Uchiha boy had made it clear to her that he would be there to protect her until she was able to heal herself.
Honestly, she was a little frustrated by these actions already but Sakura had the sense not to push it. She supposed this was his way of apologising even further for what had happened, Sakura just hoped it didn't become suffocating. She didn't want Sasuke treating her any different just because she was injured, they were all injured.
She knew if they could find somewhere to rest and recover, Sakura could heal her injuries and be able to help her team find an Earth Scroll and make it to the tower in the centre of the forest in time.
The Sound Ninja happened to have been carrying a Heaven Scroll as well so it was less than useless to Team 7. Sakura had already made up her mind about what she wanted to do with the Sound scroll.
Truthfully, she just wanted everything to go back to the way it was before Orochimaru had come and bitten Sasuke. But clearly that wasn't going to be the case.
"Hey! What about this" Choji asked as he waved a huge stick in Shikamaru's face.
"Hmph, fine but you have to be the one to hit him" Shikamaru decided, not wanting to get any more involved than he already was.
"GAHHHHHHHH!" Naruto yelled loudly and shot up. A huge lump was now forming on the top of his head from where Choji had hit him.
The loud boy quickly scanned his surroundings, he saw Sasuke and Sakura sitting together both looking very battered and bruised and that blonde Yamanaka girl carrying the bushy brow kid. Suddenly Naruto stiffened.
The grass ninja!
"EVERYBODY HIDE! That freaky snake lady, where could she be hiding!?" Naruto yelled out across the clearing.
Sasuke and Sakura exchanged glances, so he had finally woken up. Choji began poking the lump on Naruto's head with the stick he had used to deliver it.
"You're such a pain" Shikamaru said, annoyed at Naruto's outburst.
Naruto ignored him and instead zeroed in on his teammates. Sasuke looked the same as he had from the fight with the snake lady. But Sakura, whose skin had not received a single scratch, was battered, bloody and bruised.
"SAKURA-CHAN! SAKURA-CHAN!" Naruto yelled out as he sprinted towards his teammates.
"What is it Naruto?" Sakura asked, preparing herself for his onslaught of questions.
"Y-you're arms and face and legs. They're all bruised and bloody. W-what happened?" Naruto wondered softly as he reached out to touch the bruise that Sasuke had caused.
Before he could even get close, Sasuke had snatched his hand away and was glaring at him.
"Don't touch her dobe, she's hurt!" he snapped at Naruto.
"Teme! I'm just trying to see if she's okay sheesh. What's wrong with you!?" Naruto replied angrily.
"Nothing, just don't touch her" Sasuke seethed.
"She's my teammate, I can check to see if she's okay!" Naruto retaliated.
"Both of you stop it. Don't worry Naruto, I fell down an embankment when I went looking for herbs to try and help you and Sasuke. There was a bush full of thorns. I fell into it and got all cut up" Sakura explained, frustrated.
"Oh okay Sakura-chan. That still doesn't explain the teme over here with his bad attitude. Unless you too are finally-" Naruto trailed off.
Sasuke shot him a dirty look and Naruto immediately shut up to the confusion and annoyance of Sakura. She was tired of this over protective routine already.
"So what's with you guys, why are you here? What happened?" Naruto asked Shikamaru and Choji.
"Explaining this to you is going to be such a drag" Shikamaru sighed.
"There was an altercation with some ninja. Everyone here showed up to help" Sakura said quietly.
Sakura's not making a huge deal out of this at all. It's good of her to do that for her teammates, Ino thought as she overheard the conversation.
Lee was heavier than she expected and she began to struggle a little. Suddenly a girl with two buns on top of her head appeared in front of her.
"I can take it from here Ino" the girl said, her arms outstretched. Ino deliberated for a moment but handed the green spandex boy over.
"ALRIGHT LEE THAT'S ENOUGH! SNAP OUT OF IT! PULL IT TOGETHER OKAY?" Tenten yelled angrily and shook Lee by the shoulders hard.
Lee flopped unceremoniously on the ground and peered up at his teammate. "Tenten, what are you doing here?" he asked, confused and exhausted.
"I'm here to help you out. What do you think?" Tenten replied.
"Those Sound Ninja, where are they?" Lee asked as his eyes wandered over to Sakura and Team 7, he swallowed back a gasp of horror at the pink haired girl's appearance.
"Sasuke took care of them, don't worry Lee. But why did you get mixed up in all of that?" Tenten pressed, annoyed.
"Sakura, she was in trouble. I had to do something to help her" Lee replied, despondent at the thought of Sasuke being able to take care of the Sound Ninja.
"That was pretty damn stupid don't you think!?" Tenten reprimanded. Lee stayed quiet; he didn't really have an argument for that.
"AH-HA! I thought that it was you I saw Bushy Brows!" Naruto teased and ran over to make fun of Lee.
"Naruto! You had better not be saying anything bad about Lee!" Sakura stalked over and punched Naruto hard.
Man what happened while I was asleep, everything is opposite now, Naruto thought as he lay on his back completely dazed.
"Lee, I would like to say thank you for helping me against those ninja. You didn't have to but you did so anyway. I am sorry I wasn't strong enough to get back to help you in time, and I am sorry you got hurt because of me. But you have taught me a few things about strength, just from your actions today. I will remember these and try to become better" Sakura said and gave the green spandex boy a smile.
"Thank you Sakura, but I guess my efforts alone were not good enough. Sasuke you are as good as your reputation, to chase off those ninja. Not like me, I just got beaten" Lee said sadly.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed, did that Lee guy really get beaten or was he just looking for sympathy? He was out cold when Sasuke had woken up, so he must have.
If he didn't get beaten, Sakura wouldn't look the way she is now. If he had got beaten up that badly, it's a miracle Sakura even survived. Lee is much stronger than her and yet she's standing whereas he wasn't. What happened while I was out?
With those thoughts in mind, Sasuke subconsciously moved closer to Sakura and eyed Lee carefully.
"The Lotus of the Leaf Village blooms twice Sakura, when we meet again I will have become a stronger ninja I promise" Lee said solemnly.
"Yes, when we meet again I will be stronger as well" Sakura affirmed. Reaching into her ninja pouch Sakura retrieved the Heaven scroll the Sound Ninja had left on the ground.
"Lee, I would like to offer this scroll to you and your team. As a thank you for helping me protect my teammates" Sakura said and extended the scroll towards Lee.
Sasuke and Naruto looked surprised at Sakura's suggestion but then quickly remembered that they already possessed a Heaven scroll and had no need for a second one. Lee and Tenten looked confused and reluctant to take it.
"Hn. Take it. Like Sakura said, we appreciate what you did for us, and that'll make us even" Sasuke said, a little more forcefully.
"That won't be necessary Uchiha" The Hyuga boy appeared next to his teammates after observing the exchange from up in the trees.
"Hn. Hyuga, nice to see you again" Sasuke smirked, clearly not meaning it.
"Thank you for the offer Sakura but we are a strong team of three and our sensei would not be pleased with us if he found out that we were taking charity scrolls from Kakashi's squad" Neji said, monotone and Sasuke narrowed his eyes.
"Neji is right Sakura, but thank you! I wish you and your team best of luck and we will see you at the tower!" Lee exclaimed, in a better mood. Tenten nodded and with that Gai's team disappeared.
"I don't like him" Sasuke stated, annoyed. Sakura rolled her eyes and caught Ino's eye. Getting up from the ground, Naruto made his way over to his teammates.
"What are we going to do with that extra Heaven scroll?" Naruto asked and rubbed the lump on his head.
"It's too dangerous for us to exchange it or use it as bait with other ninja. We need to recover from our injuries" Sasuke said.
"I'm going to offer it to Ino's team. They didn't have to step in and help but they did. I expected less from her and she proved me wrong. So I think it's there's, they'll take it. They sustained injuries trying to help me and wasted valuable test time" Sakura said before calmly walking over to Ino.
Neither Naruto nor Sasuke argued and both watched their teammate walk towards her long term rival.
"Is Sakura-chan alright? What happened to her?" Naruto asked Sasuke, concern for his female teammate etched in his voice.
"I don't know" Sasuke replied quietly.
"Hey Ino" Sakura called out.
"Hm, oh it's you Forehead. Come to thank me for all my hard work saving your butt" Ino replied.
"Hmph, yeah right. But I came to give you and your team something as a thank you for helping me protect my teammates" Sakura said and tossed the Heaven Scroll at Ino who caught it.
"A scroll?"
"Yeah, a Heaven one. We don't need it which tells you more than you need to know. But it's yours. We're even, you helped me out and now I've helped you out" Sakura reasoned.
Ino smirked and moved closer to Sakura. "Alright, we'll take it Forehead but don't you think this means I'm bowing out and giving Sasuke all to you" she hissed.
"I'm going to tell you again. We're not fighting over Sasuke cause I'm not interested in him like that anymore" Sakura spat, her diplomacy gone.
"Whatever. I saw him getting all close with you after the fight and even now he has his eyes on you constantly. He's protective of you, all because you managed to play the sympathy card and let him push you" Ino said angrily.
"Let him push me? I was trying to stop him ripping that Sound ninja's arm off. Didn't you see that he wasn't himself?" Sakura hurled back.
"No I've noticed, before this exam. The way he's looking at you now. It's changed since the academy. I put it down to his exposure to you and your wicked conniving ways Forehead. It's not over" Ino declared and disappeared into the forest with her teammates.
"Stupid Ino-pig!" Inner yelled and Sakura smiled, it was good to have Inner back. Now if only she could figure out what Inner did in that fight?
"Sakura-chan! Sasuke-teme says we should head towards this river. We can find fish and you can heal yourself!" Naruto called out happily.
"Naruto you idiot why would you yell that? Do you want to get attacked again!?" Sasuke scoffed and hit the blonde boy over the head.
Sakura smiled, she was glad to have her teammates alive and well again.
"Yes! Time to eat! Shadow Clone Fishing Jutsu!" Naruto yelled as he and a handful of his clones jumped into the water.
Sasuke stood perched at the edge of the river, kunai in hand and ready to capture the fish that Naruto would scare out of the water. Three fish broke to the surface and in a matter of seconds Sasuke's kunai had pinned them to the nearest tree. The fish flapped around before going lifeless as Naruto emerged from the river breathing heavily.
"Seriously is that all you can do? Three? You need to go and do it again. I could eat three fish myself" Sasuke huffed.
"Well if you think it's so easy, why don't you get wet and I'll stand on the shore" Naruto argued back.
"Hey do you guys need a hand?" Sakura asked, walking over from the team's makeshift camp.
Most of the cuts and bruises were healed almost completely; Sakura had used her chakra and Tsunade's ointment to heal herself to the best of her abilities. But what had helped the most was being able to get a full night's sleep with Sasuke and Naruto insisting they would split the watches between themselves. Sakura was so tired she didn't have the energy to argue, but she awoke feeling re-energized and refreshed.
"We wouldn't if Naruto would just scare more fish out himself" Sasuke grumbled.
"Sasuke-teme!" Naruto threatened from the water.
"Let me have a go. That water looks refreshing and I need to feel clean somehow" Sakura offered, trying to stop the arguing. She definitely didn't miss that.
"Sakura, are you sure you can handle it?" Sasuke asked, genuine concern seeping into his voice. The only bruise that had refused to heal was the one he had left on his teammate.
A constant reminder of how badly I screwed up, Sasuke thought.
"Really Sasuke I'm fine. Besides that water looks way too good to pass up" Sakura reasoned and began to strip off.
Sasuke could feel his face heating up as his teammate undressed down to her spandex ninja pants and a singlet. Naruto grinned like an idiot, clearly admiring the view. Sasuke noticed immediately and flung a kunai straight for his head in anger.
"YAH! Sasuke!" Naruto yelled as he dodged the kunai.
"Well stop looking at her, you pervert" Sasuke countered, trying to control the jealous thoughts in his head which demanded that he be the only one to see Sakura undress.
"Stupid brain" Sasuke muttered, his teenage hormones getting the best of him.
"What was that Sasuke?" Sakura asked mildly.
"Hn. Nothing, are you getting those fish or not?" Sasuke growled.
At least he seems to be returning to his normal self, even though it's annoying, Sakura thought as she dived into the river letting the cool water wash over her.
Swimming right to the bottom Sakura channeled chakra into her fist and punched the riverbed. Not hard enough so that it would cause major damage and draw attention to her team. But it was enough to scare three more fish out of some dark crevices and up to the surface. Sasuke threw his kunai and Team 7 had a total of 6 fish.
"Sasuke, I made that fire. I just need you to light it okay" Sakura said, getting out of the water along with Naruto.
"Okay, the quicker I light it the quicker you and the dobe can get dry. Then we need to talk strategy" Sasuke said, gathering up the fish and trying not to steal glances at Sakura who was wringing out her long hair.
"Cook the fish and then put the fire out. Don't worry about us; it's easier to dry off because the sun is out. The smell of cooking food is bound to draw animals and other ninja to us" Sakura replied.
"Yeah! Let's go! I'm starving!" Naruto shouted happily.
"You know it's already been four days since the second exam began. We're not going to be breaking any records and we only have twenty four hours left" Sasuke observed, poking the fire.
"You're right. I wonder how many teams have already got their two scrolls and finished" Sakura wondered aloud as she gazed into the fire.
I wonder when the fish is going to be cooked! I could eat a whale! If I'm quick enough I can grab the two biggest fish before the others even notice! Naruto thought as his stomach grumbled.
The fish had finally cooked; the blonde boy was true to his word and grabbed the two biggest fish. Sakura noticed but didn't say anything, she was glad to be eating a decent meal. Grabbing her canteen she tipped the remaining water onto the fire to put it out. Both she and Naruto had dried out in record time and donned their ninja clothes again.
Team 7 ate in silence, each deep in thought. An idea poked and prodded its way to the forefront of Sakura's brain, as depressing as it was she felt she had to share this new revelation with her teammates.
"I think we need to consider the possibility that there will be no more Earth Scrolls left" Sakura said, quietly taking a bite of her fish.
"Well that's cheerful isn't it" Sasuke snapped and Sakura glared at him.
"Whatever, you said it yourself Sasuke. We've been out here for four days and used up roughly 80 percent of the time, only 13 teams can pass because there are only thirteen pairs of Heaven and Earth scrolls. There are 26 teams and 78 candidates out in the forest looking for them" Sakura explained, doing the mathematics.
Naruto looked up from his food and Sasuke tried to keep up with her train of thought.
"If those odds weren't bad enough, we need to remember all of the found Heaven and Earth scrolls that have been secured by other teams. There is the possibility one team could have more than just one set" Sakura finished.
"We need to get serious then, and make up for the time we've lost. The next enemy we face could be our last chance" Sasuke said.
Sakura stood up and grabbed the canteen. "I'll go and fill this up and then we can start to leave" she said and began to walk towards the river.
"Wait, I'll go with you" Sasuke said. Sakura shot him a confused look but didn't refuse him.
"Dobe, instead of stuffing fish in your mouth be on you guard" Sasuke instructed and Naruto pulled a face.
"What's with you wanting being alone with Sakura-chan all of a sudden?" The blonde boy asked, eyebrows wiggling suggestively.
"Nothing, I just have some stuff I need to say to her" Sasuke snapped, stuffing his hands into his pockets.
"Stuff like confessing your feelings or telling her that bushy brow isn't the man she deserves. Ya know she seemed pretty taken with him when we were – OW!" Naruto glared at Sasuke who had thrown his fish bone at Naruto's head.
"Shut up, idiot" Sasuke grumbled and headed down to the river.
"Hmph, stupid Sasuke. He's just grumpy about this Earth Scroll we need to find. Hey wait a minute!" Naruto said and tipped his bag upside down. Three scrolls fell out.
I know just what to do, this way we'll get an Earth scroll and we won't have to fight a single enemy!
"We haven't had a chance to talk about it" Sasuke said as he sat next to his female teammate who put the canteen in the water gently and filled it.
"Talk about what?" Sakura asked, feigning ignorance.
"The mark on my neck and what happened to you because of it" Sasuke said solemnly.
"You don't have to apologise anymore for pushing me, we're passed it now" Sakura sighed.
"You've been interested in this whole medical ninjutsu thing right? What do you know about it?" Sasuke asked.
"Nothing, I don't know why he bit you or what exactly happened. From what you were saying and from what Orochimaru had said it seems as though you're tied to him through that mark. When the mark was activated you mentioned something about being an avenger and that Orochimaru gave you the power to do that" Sakura replied quietly.
For a while neither of them spoke.
"He said he would come back for you. Or that you would go to him, seeking power" Sakura started, her voice wavering a little.
"I wouldn't I mean I want the power but I won't follow him. Look at what he did to you and Naruto. Look what I did under the influence of it" Sasuke muttered his eyes trained on the bruise on Sakura's arm.
"You won't be able to help it. Not if he's marked you in that way. That guy is a freak, who knows what's going to happen to you now" Sakura said in a worried tone.
"I don't need his help! It's my job to avenge my clan and mine alone. I don't need other people" Sasuke snapped.
"The mark, Kakashi-sensei should know about it when we finish the exam. I can keep the information from Naruto but not from him. He might know some seals or removal techniques" Sakura said evenly.
"Hn good point" Sasuke replied in a neutral tone.
Sakura stood up and looked happily at the canteen that was now full of water. They could finally head back and start looking for the Earth Scroll they needed. Sasuke got the message and stood up as well and suddenly stiffened as did Sakura.
They both sensed it, a foreign enemy chakra coming from the direction of their makeshift camp.
Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura immediately thought and sped off in the direction of their blond haired teammate.
Kabuto fixed Naruto with a hard look. "I can't believe you were about to open that scroll, you have no idea of the repercussions" he said gravely.
"Naruto!" Sakura called out as she and Sasuke saw an unknown ninja crouching over their teammate.
Sasuke quickly charged forward kunai in hand and Sakura followed, dropping the canteen full of water. Once they were close enough to see who it was, both Team 7 ninja stopped and looked at Naruto in confusion. Kabuto quickly explained that he had arrived just in time to see Naruto attempting to open the Earth Scroll and copy its contents into one of his own scrolls. His plan was to disguise it as a Heaven scroll so that they would not have to fight anymore ninja. Sakura could see the merit in what he had been trying to do but they were forbidden to open the scrolls, Sasuke was less than pleased.
"I can't believe you almost did that dobe" he said angrily.
"You're lucky I came along when I did. There have been others who have broken the rules and tried to look at the scrolls. What happens to them isn't pretty, the scrolls are protected by a powerful hypnosis jutsu as a trap for anyone who tries to read them" Kabuto explained and Naruto looked at the ground guiltily.
"You're Kabuto right, you were at the registration. What are you doing out here by yourself?" Sakura asked, after Orochimaru she felt her suspicion was justified.
"Don't worry, I'm not after your Heaven Scroll" Kabuto reassured them.
"If you were, you would have swiped it from Naruto when you had the chance. So that means you're looking for an Earth Scroll too?" Sasuke asked.
"No, I happened to have a run of luck. I was just on my way to the tower to wait for my teammates" Kabuto said holding up both a Heaven and an Earth Scroll before turning his back. Sasuke's eyes widened.
"I'll fight you for it" Sasuke declared much to the shock of Naruto and Sakura.
"Are you serious?" Kabuto asked, turning around.
"Of course. Sorry but I don't have time to play nice" Sasuke said monotone.
"Back off Sasuke! This guy saved our butts if you remember?" Naruto yelled angrily.
"He's right you know if it wasn't for Kabuto, Naruto would have looked in the Heaven Scroll and we would have been out of this exam for sure" Sakura chimed in.
"Both of you shut it; it's about surviving and winning out here. Nothing else matters" Sasuke growled.
"Well that's a flat out lie" Sakura glared at her teammate.
"What!?" Sasuke snapped back.
"If you really believed that, why would you have openly challenged him to a fight? You could have just jumped him when his back was turned, that's what a ninja would do" Sakura reasoned.
"Impressive Sakura. But it's okay; I actually admire Sasuke for it. So I'll do you a favour. I'll show you the path you should take. But we should leave now, I sense the competition will be close at hand" Kabuto said.
Hearing this, a male ninja hiding in the trees close by quickly vanished and Kabuto smirked.
Team 7 and Kabuto promptly took off through the trees. Along the way, Kabuto explained that the remaining competitors would be converging upon the central tower on the last day of the exam. He explained that it was best to wait in hiding and take a scroll from a team that way. But there were pitfalls; all the other teams without scrolls would be following a similar plan.
Kabuto also explained the notion of collectors, those who would gather extra sets of scrolls to use for various purposes. Bribery, to help teams from their own village and some would hold onto the scrolls to use them against other stronger teams further down the line.
"So you brought us along, because you're frightened?" Sasuke smirked, bouncing off a tree branch.
"You bet I am" Kabuto admitted but to Sakura he didn't sound scared at all.
Night had fallen when they had finally been able to come down from the trees and rest for a minute. They could see the tower from their position.
At least the end is in sight now, Sakura thought.
"Oh yeah! Bring it on!" Naruto yelled loudly into the night. Sakura, Kabuto and Sasuke all froze as they heard something move.
Naruto quickly flung his kunai towards the disturbance which turned out to be a giant centipede crawling up a tree. The creature struggled a little before dying.
"Oh, it's just a centipede" Naruto said.
"Just a centipede! That creepy thing is as big as a bus!" Inner whined and Sakura agreed. It was huge!
"Hey Naruto, keep it down would you. If you go crashing through the forest you'll draw out all the collectors. The idea is to make it through undetected" Kabuto said tiredly.
Team 7 and Kabuto proceeded to head towards the tower using all the methods they could so as not to be detected. Sakura crawled through the long grass quietly and even Sasuke ventured under water. After a while it became clear what was happening, well to Sakura at least. They had walked much further than probably needed. They should have been there by now, but the tower looked the same distance away that it had when they started.
Turning around Sakura's worst fears were confirmed. There lay the centipede that Naruto had killed about an hour ago. They were walking around in circles, but they weren't lost. It was a genjutsu.
"Everyone stop. Look at this, we're caught in a genjutsu" Sakura said and her teammates plus Kabuto quickly caught on to what was happening.
"Ah! That stupid bug!" Naruto yelled out.
"So it seems someone is playing games with us then. We were so concerned with not being seen by anyone that we didn't see we were walking around in circles" Kabuto said, annoyed.
"What's their game?" Sasuke asked.
"They're probably trying to wear us down and then strike when we're frustrated and physically exhausted" Kabuto deduced.
"So like now for instance?" Sakura asked.
"Exactly, they'll be coming soon" Kabuto replied, adjusting his glasses.
As if on cue, hundreds of clones in black clothing with metal masks across their mouth began to crawl out of trees, from under bushes and logs and began to slowly walk towards Team 7 and Kabuto.
Much to the delight of the three ninja concealed in the trees above.
Hey guys,
I'm a couple of days late but I hope you like the chapter! ^^ I should be able to finish up the second part of the exam in the next chapter and then we're onto the preliminaries. Feel free to review with any feedback you might have. Thanks so much to everyone who has been reviewing and favoriting this story! :D