A/N: BrainII, your review perplexes me. Your first point was covered in a previous update, specifically Chapter 14, as the unusual nature of the change was pointed out by the iriatation. As a consequence, there's an actual reason behind the change in the name. Now, if you disagree with the reasoning used in the decision to change the name, I welcome debate. But please base your argument on the actual reason it was changed and not your assumptions of why it was changed, a 'spelling error' included. Secondly, you claim that this fiction was reported on grammar errors, yet fail to specify where I've been making errors. If you could be more specific about what errors in grammar are in the story, I would be able to improve the story overall—but, as it is, evidently I've already missed those errors at least once in proofreading. Thus, if I personally were to reread, it's unlikely that I'd catch the errors. A second set of eyes would be helpful in this. That is to say, if you are more specific in your review, I will have an idea of where to start in correcting grammar. Thus, I cannot respond to the relevant and germane points of your review.
The non-germane point, whether I am an idiot or not, has nothing to do with the story and at any rate can't be fixed, since fools are incurable. Please refrain from abusive comments or comments that don't relate to the story; if your comments target the author or readers rather than the story three times, I will block you.
The iron fence rose over the forbidding, vast forest. Iron walls surrounded the surface of the loam and mist. Branches cracked within the forest. A deep shadow covered the earth within. The trees creaked. Leaves spilled over the path, the crimson leaves shining in the light. The sky darkened, the sun dipping behind the mountains.
"Why's it called the Forest of Silence?!" one of the students called out.
"Because it's silent because kids who mess around die before they can scream. Now then!" Anko whipped around, raising a pointer.
"'Die before they can scream…' I'm not scared, lady!" Naruto shouted.
"Tenten!" Anko barked.
A kunai shot past Naruto's cheek.
Blood trailed downward.
Catching the kunai in midair, Anko smirked. She licked the blood off the blade. "Morons like you die quickly here…"
Naruto swallowed.
"Spraying the blood I love…"
"Should you really scare these guys like that, sensei?" a brown-haired girl questioned.
"You're the one who hurled the kunai to begin with, Tenten-chan!" Anko groaned, slapping her forehead.
This is like some perverse comedy duo… Kōju frowned.
A man in a broad-brimmed hat smirked coolly as he regarded the group.
Anko sighed. "Anyway! Each of you will be assigned to one of the thirty training arenas around the forest. Basically, it's going to be team battles—three on three. Ideally, you make it there. A wait of one hour or longer is considered a 'forfeit'. Do you understand the rules as I have explained them to you? The matches are scheduled for occurring in precisely three days, beginning at nine o'clock in the morning."
"What if someone attacks us on the road?"
"That's a problem… it can result in a forfeit." Anko smirked. "That being said, killing's generally out of the question; we proctors will do our best to prevent it. Also, if you die on the way, you will end up forfeiting. So don't forfeit."
These instructions are worse than useless! Sasuke scowled, lowering her hand. Ideally, we move quickly…
"In the official matches, of course, murder will certainly not be permitted. In the worst case scenario, you'll forfeit by killing an opponent. Out here, though, we can't keep an eye on everyone."
So killing is only permitted here. The tall, mysterious figure smirked, his tongue running up the side of his mouth. Interesting.
"Kay. Collect your scroll and number in there one at a time. Remember, you're betting your lives on this dream… Don't waste it."
One by one, the teams filed into the tent.
The sun set slowly in the distance. Purple rays filled the sky as the teams reemerged.
Remember, we're targeting the brats. The tongue snaked outward. Right. Let's go… The Hidden Grass ninja leapt away.
Naruto swallowed.
The forest trees shaded the ground. Shadows covered the space, concealing many spaces. Bushes covered the ground. Whistling and humming echoed through the forest, the chirping of cicadas and forest animals.
"Did you catch the location?"
"I got a decent look at the map… It's that way." Kōju raised her hand. "Naruto-san…" She glanced at Naruto. "We can probably get there quickly if we do a bit of scouting. I think anywhere from an hour to two hours…"
"I gotta take a leak."
Kōju sighed. "All right. You can do it right here."
"Eh?" Naruto's eyes widened.
"No way! I don't want to see that… that thing!" Sasuke declared, her eyes wide with shock.
Naruto sighed. "We live together. What's wrong about—"
"Honestly… right now, I'm more concerned with the matter of being caught off guard by the Many-Forms Technique."
Naruto blinked. "Eh?"
"It's not impossible that someone could take our forms. If we keep an eye on each other, there's no chance of that, but if someone leaves our sight, it's a threat. Someone could try to gain our trust and then attack from surprise. But it also seems, Sasuke-san, that you're dead set against letting Naruto-kun piss in front of you, even if we lose sight of him." Kōju cleared her throat. "So we'll make a passcode between the three of us."
"A passcode?"
"Yeah. If someone uses the wrong code, then don't trust it's them no matter what they look like…"
A shoot stuck upward from the ground. Not bad. The Hidden Grass ninja sunk into the ground.
"So, it's from the Black Current manga… 'A good friend is on the right side of the law. A great friend knows his friends well. A best friend is willing to become the law, if only for the evening'."
"That story is wholesome?" Sasuke sighed quietly.
"Wait; I can't remember it…"
"Naruto-kun, just do your best. It's okay if you screw up. For now, I'll hold on to the scroll…" Kōju stuffed the scroll into her pouch. "Go take your piss."
Sasuke frowned. Do you have to refer to it so vulgarly?
Naruto hurried into the bushes.
Kōju glanced over her shoulder occasionally.
A slight yelp emanated from the forest.
Kōju's eyes widened.
"Ah, that felt good! A lot came out!" Naruto zipped up his trousers, grinning all-too-broadly.
Kōju lifted her sword. "Passcode?"
Naruto raised his hands defensively. "Yare, yare… Fine, fine. 'A good friend is on the right side of the law. A great friend knows his friends well. A best friend is willing to become the law, if only for the evening'."
"Did you hear that yelp?" Kōju questioned suspiciously. She lowered her sword.
"Heh." Naruto glanced over his shoulder. He walked rapidly closer, tending to the left. "Well, in short, yes. I wonder which team was that unfortunate."
Sasuke shivered slightly.
Kōju's eyes narrowed. "That's far enough. As I thought, you're not after the scroll."
Naruto's lips curled upward in a smirk. His hands rose. Smoke gathered around Naruto's body. "You're smarter than expected. Out of curiosity… how did you learn?" the black-haired ninja questioned, revealing his true form from within the scroll.
"There's no way Naruto could remember a passcode like that." The wooden sword rose in Sasuke's hands. "Even I got what she was doing…"
"There was something else I wanted to test, too."
The ninja's eyebrows rose. "Oh?"
"I distinctly said that 'I would take the scroll'… Do you remember? But your first target was Sasuke-san… As I thought, you're after something else." Kōju gripped her sword. "But from here on out, you won't take one step closer to me."
"One step closer?" the ninja remarked. "What an amusing turn of phrase. Don't you understand?" He raised his arms. "I don't need to touch you to kill you… in point of fact, I don't even need a good reason to kill you. The only issue is; am I afraid of that blade you carry?"
Sasuke swallowed tightly.
"The answer is… no," the ninja stated helpfully. His eyes narrowed.
Kōju's eyes widened in shock. Her shoulders tensed. I feel… A sword cut through her neck. Her head lolled to one side. Her body twitched. Illusions? From his killing intent? This guy… Her shoulders shook hard. This guy!
Sasuke howled. Inchoate rage possessed her. Bright, cold crimson eyes filled her vision. She rushed forward, her hands tight on the sword.
"Sasuke-san! Don't be an idiot!" Kōju gasped. Gritting her teeth, she stabbed the sword into her leg. "Damn it…"
"Sanzengan!"
The black-haired ninja's eyes narrowed.
"Flash Technique!" White light surrounded Sasuke's body.
The black-haired ninja's fist drove into Sasuke's stomach.
Sasuke fell to the ground, howling in pain.
The black-haired ninja smirked.
The wooden sword clattered to the ground.
"Damn it! Damn!" The eyes glistened. Sasuke rose to her feet unsteadily. Her hand gripped the sword. "I'm not afraid of you any longer… Itachi!" She howled again, rushing forward.
The black-haired ninja hurled a kunai.
The kunai stabbed into Sasuke's side.
Blood splattered across the ground.
Sasuke screamed. Damn it…
White light flashed across the clearing.
The figure scowled.
Kōju came to a halt on one of the branches of a tree. Gasping, she glanced over her shoulder. "You're an idiot…" she whispered quietly. Mud Clone…
A clone rose from the ground. The clone flashed forward.
"Sasuke-san, I'm going to wrap up your leg." Kōju reached downward, tearing off a section of cloth. "And once that happens… we're going to try to find Naruto-kun."
"You heard that yelp."
"Stop it." Kōju's hands shook as she wrapped up the wound.
"He's probably beyond our help by now."
"Stop it! I won't believe that! There's no way that we're dying from this—stupid! STUPID! Test! I didn't want it anyway—"
"Pardon, but shouldn't you be paying more attention to your environment?"
A snake lashed out.
Kōju gasped. Reflexively, her arm snapped outward, blade in hand. The blade cut through the snake's head. The snake fell into two pieces. I was so scared, I couldn't see the outcome. Pay attention. Concentrate. If I think out every angle, I can figure out something. I'm sure I can!
Exam
The tree canopy exploded. Leaves blasted downward. The ground shook under the massive impact. Pieces of the trees cracked away.
Naruto yelped.
The enormous snake swallowed Naruto whole.
That thing is definitely the biggest snake I've ever seen…
The esophagus tightened.
Ah, blast it! I have to open up the snake somehow! Naruto gritted his teeth. Okay! Make it eat more than it can swallow! Shadow clones expanded the small space.
The snake's jaw unhinged.
Uh…huh. I didn't know they could do that. Naruto frowned. Uh… Plan B… Hum. Maybe if I cut open the surface? The kunai barely scratched the surface of the interior.
The snake tightened its grip.
Several of the clones puffed into smoke. Naruto gritted his teeth. Come on, think! It's not a complete loss. I can figure out a way to outsmart a stupid snake!
The gullet deepened. The breath of the snake accelerated.
Do you want my help?
"Huh?" Naruto's head tilted to the side. "Who're you?"
A friend. One who has known you since before you knew yourself. Give me a little of a directing hand… Entrust yourself to me. We will see about saving your friends.
Naruto gritted his teeth. I don't know who you are—but if you can get me out of this snake and help them, I'll trust you! Blue flames formed around Naruto's body. Naruto blinked in shock.
Sleep now, dear host… Laughter echoed through the gullet. Lightning sparked off Naruto's body. A single silver tail whirled in a circle. Lightning charged within the center of the circle. "Kitsune-Tama-Bi!" The ball of lightning shot outward.
The serpent exploded into a puff of smoke.
The ball slammed into the ground. Trees exploded. Flames rose from the impact site.
Sasuke's eyes widened. The trees fell to the ground.
The silver form emerged through the smoke and flames.
"What the hell…?"
"Ah. The jinchūriki." The dark ninja's lips curved upward. "Right on time. I hope that you don't mind… It's about time."
"You can't have…" The tourniquet tightened.
Kōju bowed her head.
"You… Please be all right…"
A halo of white lightning danced around Naruto's form. Naruto stood up straight. Naruto grinned. Fox teeth showed in the mouth. An eerie howl filled the air. The woodlands shook with the force of the howl.
Kōju lay motionless, her body trembling.
"Ah-hah… Yer people really need to stop injuring my playthings, ya know~? It's no good… it's all noo good…" Naruto remarked, his voice high-pitched and delicate.
"You must be the demon fox." The man bowed deeply, his face calm. "My name is Orochimaru."
"And ya tell me this distasteful thing…" Naruto's body sighed. "Yer still a member of that godfersaken Akatsuki, ain't ya?" Reaching into his pocket, the hand withdrew a saucer of sake.
Orochimaru shrugged casually. "I might be. I might also be completely uninvolved with them. There's no way of telling… unless you negotiate nicely."
"Naruto! What the hell is going on?!" Sasuke demanded, her eyes wide.
"Naruto-kun ain't here right now… Ya just sit down for now… Uchiha Sasuke!" A smirk grew across Naruto's face. "I'll play with ya later!"
Sasuke's eyes widened. The demon fox?!
"Yare, yare… you've put me in a very difficult situation, ya know?" Naruto sighed quietly. "Well, no biggee. I'll figure summat out to deal with ya, ya know?"
Orochimaru smirked.
Even using his chakra along with my own, I'm a little fatigued. Combining the two would assist me, but it helped only with that Kitsune-Tama-Bi… this is becoming, more and more, a fight I'll have to take rather seriously. Naruto looked upward, staring at Orochimaru.
Sasuke blinked. This is… the demon fox?
Kōju quietly clutched her sword. I'm useless… I'm so useless… Tears ran down Kōju's face. I can't do anything. Though I was the best… all I can do is run… in the presence of something like this… Tears dripped onto the grass. Kōju's hands clenched. I won't believe it… She forced herself upright.
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed.
"Hah? Ya gettin' up now?" Naruto questioned, his silver eyes widening slightly.
Kōju forced herself to her feet. "I can't trust you… Kyūbi-san. But then, I can't trust Orochimaru either…"
Naruto frowned. "So what are ya plannin' ta do?"
Kōju sighed quietly. "I don't really have a choice, do I?" She closed her eyes, her hands clapping together. This is the last technique I know. Hopefully I reach Anko-sensei… Chakra Transmission Technique!
Now's my chance! Orochimaru blurred forward.
Naruto's eyes widened.
Please listen…
Five Symbols Seal! Orochimaru's hand slammed into Naruto's stomach.
Someone…
Exam
The stone walls of the laboratory glimmered, grey stone on white rocks. The glass jars and beakers glimmered, reflecting light. A plethora of rainbows flickered from the reflecting light.
"Anko-san?"
"Eh?" Anko rubbed her head. A headache pulsed through her veins. "What's the matter?"
"Grass shinobi, dead by the gates. Their faces are melted off…"
Anko's eyes widened. "What?" A buzzing noise entered Anko's hearing. Anko gripped the side of her head, reeling. This Chakra Transmission Technique could really use some work…
Anko-sensei? This is Team Seven of Hidden Leaf. We've run into someone calling himself Orochimaru.
Anko's face turned pure white. Her hand dropped her kunai.
Anko-sensei?
"…Call some Anbu. I've got to go, now." Anko reached downward, picking up her kunai. "Tenten… You know what to do, right?"
"Sure do, sensei!" Tenten chirped, grinning.
"Orochimaru is involved. At present I don't want to call off the exam… of the present opponents of the World Council, Orochimaru is pretty much a Leaf problem in comparison to the others."
Tenten gasped in surprise.
Anko vanished. Snake scales clattered against the ground.
Exam
The forest glimmered, sparks rising through the air and wind. The embers stirred in the depths of the forest, stirred by a strange wind.
Naruto collapsed to the ground.
Sasuke's eyes opened wide. Sanzengan… I was wrong. From the beginning… I need to fight. A coward can't protect anything, even their revenge. I was wrong! Flame Style: Heavenly Blooming Lilies! She inhaled rapidly, her cheeks puffing out.
The air filled with flames.
Flames consuming the skin, Orochimaru's face boiled.
Kōju swallowed. Hurry up, Anko-sensei!
Did I get him? Did I beat him?
Kōju's eyes widened.
"Not bad… Sasuke-kun…" The figure emerged. The skin peeled away from the face.
Sasuke gulped.
"For what it's worth… I had fun. Tormenting you was amusing…" The tongue licked upward, touching the eye. "Well, there's no point in delaying now…" The snake rose from the bushes.
Orochimaru's head snapped outward.
The tomoe whirled. Sasuke screamed. A mark appeared on Sasuke's neck. The teeth sunk in slightly before releasing. "You resemble Itachi-kun a lot…" The mark on the neck whirled.
"WHAT?" Sasuke's eyes blazed. "What did you say to me?" The edges of the mark twitched. Sasuke gritted her teeth.
"If you wish to know more, then seek me out… The world is larger than Hidden Leaf, you know."
Sasuke gripped the side of her neck. "Why would I join you?"
"I know the truth… The truth about Itachi-kun."
The form vanished into the shrubbery.
Screams echoed through the forest. The flames rushed upward. Sasuke fell to the ground, gripping her neck. The flames rose higher.
Kōju swallowed tightly. "Damn it…"
The sky darkened. Leaves drifted downward. Shadows flickered across the ground. The husk of a large tree concealed the trio, its trunk rising high into the sky. The moon cast light down halfway into the tree.
Kōju sat down. She stared at Sasuke. "Please hold out a little longer…" Kōju swallowed. "Damn it; what am I supposed to say? Thank you for letting me meet her, goodbye now? No! No way would I accept that!" Kōju breathed in heavily. "It's all up to me. But I'm so small and weak…" She clenched her small fist.
Sasuke lay motionless.
What can I do? What can I do to save my friends? It's up to me. Help isn't coming… probably… Kōju gritted her teeth. It's all up to me, then… I'm so useless. I didn't fight anyone truly strong… Kōju gripped her kunai tightly. I need to help Sasuke first. She's in the most danger.
Sasuke writhed from side to side.
Kōju pressed her fingers against Sasuke's forehead. A fever. I need to lower the effects. She glanced into the woods. A set of herbs lay beneath the roots of the tree. Kōju knelt. Let me see… Stoneweed, Black Censer Rise, Bulb Rot… She sighed. Not even the vegetation is helping… She checked through her packs. I have a little left from my purchases earlier. This will have to do. She reached downward, tearing off a section of the leaves.
Sasuke clutched Kōju's arm tightly. "Where… are you…?" she whispered. Her crimson eyes flickered, incoherent.
Damn! Stay with me, Sasuke-chan! Kōju reached upward. Her finger pressed against the side of Sasuke's neck.
Sasuke screamed loudly.
I touched the mark… "Sorry!" Kōju moved her hand to Sasuke's wrist. The pulse is still high, but irregular. It's not ebbing, but that can be dangerous in itself… A sedative should cool the reaction.
Sasuke's eyes widened. Sweat dripped down Sasuke's neck.
The question is whether I want to risk that… As to Naruto… Kōju glanced over at the motionless blond.
Naruto snored loudly.
Kōju studied the surface of the body, examining the stomach and wounds.. I shouldn't have worried… nothing can kill him. She sighed after a moment. All right. We'll use the sedative. She reached into the pouch and removed the leaf.
"Kōju-san… Look, if I don't make it…"
"You don't get to die. I won't allow it." Harsh tears stung Kōju's eyes.
Sasuke frowned as sweat poured down her face. "Who said… you got to decide?"
"Me! I'm not the same as you guys…" Kōju broke off a section of the herb. She pushed it into Sasuke's mouth. "Swallow!"
Sasuke scowled. A sheet of sweat covered Sasuke's face. "I'm not going anywhere… I can't swallow. Don't just pretend like everything is going to be all right…"
Kōju bit her lip.
"In this circumstance, you shouldn't be tending to someone who is already dead." Sasuke smirked tiredly. "Keep walking to the end of your path…"
"Sasuke-san…" Kōju reached downward quickly. "Are you going to let Itachi escape you?"
Sasuke stiffened. "I don't have much of a choice," she replied after several moments. "I'm not strong like you…"
Kōju blinked. "Huh? You're plenty strong. You attacked that guy…"
"True strength lies in enduring. Sometimes, to live, you have to bow your head. You shouldn't waste your time on a weak person like me…"
Kōju brushed her hand along the outside of Sasuke's lips.
Sasuke's eyes widened. "What are you doing?"
"The Sasuke-san I know is not a defeatist! I won't confuse her with that…" Kōju coughed. "Do you know what true worth is to me?"
Sasuke blinked.
"Never abandoning one's comrades. Someone who abandons their comrades; to me, that person is the worst type of trash."
Sasuke's eyes widened.
"No… even lower than trash." Kōju exhaled. "CPR…"
Sasuke gulped. "Saving someone useless…"
"It's coming down to will, now. I'll force you to swallow, somehow. I'll force you to get back that will…" Kōju clenched her small fist. "What would Kiri Kunai do in this situation?"
"Eh?"
"Right!" Kōju leaned over Sasuke, lightly kissing Sasuke on the lips.
Sasuke sputtered. "Eh? What?!" Her fists tightened. "Urgh…"
"I never got a kiss from you…"
"What about Naruto?"
Kōju giggled sinisterly. "Oh-ho-ho…"
"No, seriously… because I am going to murder you for this!" Sasuke whispered hoarsely, her throat gulping.
"That's good. If you're angry… then you'll probably make it through. As long as you have a reason to continue existing…"
Sasuke tilted her head sideways.
Kōju swallowed quietly.
Sasuke's eyes closed. In time the fever passed.
Kōju carried Sasuke over her shoulder, walking toward the arena.
"I need a little time to recover." Sasuke stared silently up at the metal fence.
The dusty arena glistened. Silver dusted the fences, worn away by high winds and rain. Papers rested in the audience's stands. High up in the darker corner of the stand, a tall man with violet eyes looked down on the arena, his expression neutral and restrained. The white robes glistened in the hot sun.
Naruto looked downward, his face subdued. "Sorry, guys."
"Sorry about what?"
"I made a mistake, right? If I hadn't gotten swallowed by that giant snake..."
"You didn't screw us up… I did." Sasuke grimly forced open the doors, stumbling through with her arm extended into the darkness. "What time is it?"
"We have about ten minutes."
Sasuke's eyes widened.
"I had a little difficulty healing you."
"Great…" Sasuke exhaled. "Okay."
Three figures emerged through the darkness.
The dust kicked upward.
Naruto swallowed. A battle ahead…