Lazyfox: Finally, after six months I have returned with chapter 50. Guys I will give no excuses I'm just giving you this chapter please don't hate me because I love you all very much. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for the continued support you have given me.

Magic: Wow been a minute since I been here and in our break people I have become a High School Senior! In your faces bitches~!

Random: I'm working~ Oh speaking of work I get to press my button~ He was so lonely these past few months.

Lazyfox: He's on break still. I have a special guest joining us. Everyone meet a good friend of mine Monkey D. Jurabi! He has been nothing, but kind to me and has helped me finish this monster. Everyone be nice and treat him well!

Jurabi: Thanks, Lazyfox. Hi everyone, I'm Monkey D. Jurabi at your service. It has been a very long time since I actually enjoyed writing a Naruto fanfic. I'm actually wanting to start a new one at some time. This chapter has been really fun to write with my writing bae. :D

Lazyfox: Hehe I'm a writing bae I feel honored. It has been really nice to share ideas with him and everyone else who supports this story. So after a very long wait I present to you my 50th chapter special. Jurabi disclaimer please so we can begin.

Jurabi: My pleasure, ma'am. The anime/manga by the name of 'Naruto' does not belong to LazyFoxLover. It belongs to Kishimoto himself and I will always love him for bringing such an amazing manga to my life. Farewell, Naruto. I will always hold you in my heart. And...HELL YES NARUHINA IS CANON! HAHA! *clears throat* Sorry, I'm a big fan of NaruHina.

Lazyfox: As will I. LONG LIVE THE NARUTO FANDOM! You're excused because we all know it was going to happen. NARUHINA was and is too perfect not to happen. *SPOILER ALERT* To anyone who hasn't finished the manga or watch 'Naruto the Last' Okay that's done with, you all may now begin reading ^w^


"Congratulations! You all passed the first test of the Chunin exams!" Ibiki announced smiling at the crowd of candidates.

Everyone was staring at the scarred man in amazement not believing a word the man just said.

"Wa..wait what do you mean we passed? You haven't even given us the tenth question yet" Tenten said looking lost and confused like the rest of the group.

Ibiki continued to smile at the group. "There was never a tenth question to begin with, well it was more like a challenge. I was challenging you to decide if you wanted to stay or leave and that became your final question" he said with a grin.

Naruko let out a loud pained sigh as she fell back into her chair looking drained. "I was worried about nothing!" she thought sobbing to herself.

"So we pass just like that?! What about the first nine questions!? Why waste everyone's time with this stupid test?" Temari demanded.

"Don't worry that portion of the test had its purpose too. You all didn't get it at first, but throughout the testing process you discovered that the only way to pass was to cheat. By cheating you allowed yourselves to test your information gathering skills. That was the true purpose of my test as well as testing your resolves" Ibiki said still grinning.

"Well, his mood did a complete 360 on us... Makes you wonder how twisted this guy really is..." Kankurō thought to himself.

"In disguise I placed two examiners who knew the answers to all the questions. Your job was to find them carefully to answer the questions. Once you did that it was easy sailing until you reached my road block...My final question the one that counted the most" Ibiki explained.

Naruko looked horror stricken. "Y..you mean we were supposed to cheat?" she said quietly to herself with only Shikamaru and Omoi hearing her. "Arghhhhh! I knew it! I knew this test was going to screw with me!"

Shikamaru sighed at how dense his girlfriend was even though he was giving her a tender smile and rubbing a soothing circle on her hand while Omoi was chuckling quietly to himself about her simple nature.

"That idiot...I bet she never once figured out what this test was about and decided to just wing it. What a dobe" Sasuke thought fondly watching Naruko pout in her seat.

"As you know that being a ninja is a life or death job. You won't get the chances to pick or choose your missions so when you're facing different challenges that you are not accustomed to, information can be the key to your success because the more you know..." Ibiki started to say as he untied his bandana letting it fall off his head to show everyone his scars. "Can make all the difference. At time information is more important than life so make sure you know when you need to risk your life for it!"

Everyone stared at the scarred man's head feeling intimidated and sick at the same time. Each one taking in the sight of the old burn scars, screw holes and mattered flesh in their own way.

"So many horrific scars... so that's what can happen when you're being tortured" Sasuke thought.

"I knew it! I freaking knew it! These guys wanted our consent to cut open our heads and turn us into mindless zombies and experiment on us!" Omoi thought covering his head looking scared.

"Well, isn't that a pretty sight. I bet it looks better under the gloves...Too bad they'll never catch me on the other side of the table" Dosu thought with sick fascination.

Gaara stared at the man with no emotion showing in his cold sea foam green eyes.

"Another incentive to keep important information and secrets to yourself is that it will not only save your life, but protect your village in the process. Those who did not have the ability to gather the information in the correct method to last in this exam was eliminated" Ibiki said putting his headband and bandana back on.

"Okay I understand you were testing our stealth and gathering skills, but you said the tenth question was our most vital question? Why? All that did was test whether we had the guts to stay in this exam or wimp out like a bunch of pansies" Karui said.

Ibiki once again smiled at her before it turned into a sly grin. "Exactly. It tested your courage which is a key component for any worthy Shinobi. In your cases you were up against a seemingly impossible decision. Do I risk the tenth question to pass? Or do I chicken out this time and wait for next year? Those were your choices that activated your fight and flight responses."

Everyone was silent as they all listened to Ibiki's speech to understand what he was talking about.

"Think about this way. You're on a mission where you're teammates are counting on you and you're up against an enemy you know nothing about. They have you outmatched and out skilled. Now can you ignore this mission? Can you leave this mission behind you because you're scared to die and don't want your comrades to get hurt?" Ibiki asked waiting to see what their responses would be.

Suddenly a vivid picture of Zabuza and Haku appeared in the minds of Team Seven knowing the answer to this question.

"Hell no! If you tried to abandon your mission you be known as the coward who abandoned their comrades and let them down when they needed you the most. Any true Shinobi would know they have to fight even if the odds were against them because some enemies will kill you before you get the chance to run" Naruko said smirking at him remembering how Sasuke and her stood against Zabuza long enough to free Kakashi.

Ibiki smirked right back at her nodding his head. "That's right. There are some missions and times you can't run away from them. You have to be courageous and face the uncertainty and that was the true skill you needed to have to pass this test. To have the courage to put you're futures on the line, make you all true Shinobi in my book, but the trash that clings to the uncertain tomorrow of 'there's always next year' do not deserve the right to call themselves Shinobi!"

The Chunin in the room were nodding their heads knowing that Ibiki was telling the truth. As for the remaining Genin they all showed mixed emotions from happy excitement, bored expressions and blank faces.

"You all choose to answer my tough tenth question and have moved on to the next section of the Chunin exam. You all have what it takes to move forward in your careers and I wish you all the best. I look forward to seeing what you all can do.

Move forward with your heads held high and believe in your resolves" Ibiki tells them giving them all an encouraging smile.

Naruko broke out into a face splitting smile. "DATTEBAYO! WE'RE GOING ALL THE WAY!" she cheered feeling herself getting pumped up for the next part of the exam.

"Blue-eyes you're too hyper" Shikamaru sighed wondering how she gets so hyper so fast.

Ibiki chuckled at Naruko's display, finding her to be the most interesting one in the group. He was reading to dismiss them all when his sharp hearing heard an incoming projection.

Sudden the window behind the group of examiners shattered and a dark blob spun into the room. Two kunai flown from the blob embedding into opposite walls revealing a giant flag that read 'Second Chunin Exam test Proctor, Anko Mitarashi is here!'. Out from the debris dust stood a woman in her mid-twenties with spiky purple hair pulled back into a ponytail wearing fish net clothes, short shorts and a tan trench coat looking at the Genin with an intimidating glare on her face.

"You have no reason to celebrate maggots! You haven't faced my exam yet so lose the pansy jitters and straighten up! I'm Anko Mitarashi and you're all about to enter my hell! NOW LET'S GO!" yelled the boisterous female protector getting many shocked stares and an annoyed look from Ibiki.

"I see you haven't changed any Mitarashi...You went and jumped the gun again" he scolded making her blush a bit.

"Oh Shut up Ibiki!" Anko yelled before scanning the room looking annoyed. "You left twenty eight teams! You made the test too easy for them!"

"In my defense there actually seems to be a good year filled with promising candidates" Ibiki said sounding a little fond of them all.

Anko just sneered at him before she let a twisted grin appear on her pretty face making her look dark. "Doesn't matter how many there are...When they enter my test I'll cut them all in half."

Again the more timid one of the group looked a little shaken up by her proclamation, but kept their cool a bit as they awaited for further instructions.

"I'm getting excited, so let's get going kiddies! The real fun is about to begin!" she cheered leading the students out.

When the classroom was emptied leaving Ibiki alone to gather up the exams. One by one he picked them all up until he made it to Naruko's desk. Picking her exam up he let out a belly quaking laugh when he discovered the exam was completely blank.

"I can't believe I let someone move on without answering a single question... I hope to see more from her in the future" he thought fondly tucking her exam away before moving to the next exams.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Soon the remaining candidates for the Chunin exam where lead to a dense looked forest that had been completely fenced off. At the starting gate there were many signs up each one filled with warnings. In the distance the young Genin could hear the roaring beast and wildlife inside making them all shake a bit. Anko who was studying the group smirked at them enjoying every second of this.

"I like to welcome you all to the next stage of your exam. Behind me is the most dangerous forest located in Konoha that only upper level ninja are allowed to enter. Yes this beautiful forest has one name and one name only...Boys and girls say hello to the Forest of Death!" Anko announced.

Naruko stood beside Hinata and Sasuke examining the forest getting a chill from the sight of it before breaking out into a grin. "That forest might be creepy, but that's what's going to make it into an awesome adventure."

"How can you think of that creepy looking forest full of death as a place to have an adventure in at a time like this?!" Sakura hissed glaring at the grinning blond.

"Just thinking of the positives bubblegum" Naruko said still grinning. "Besides the more dangerous something is the more excited I get!"

Anko let a wicked grin appear on her face again. "We'll see how positive you'll be when you find out why this place is called the forest of death Shorty!"

Naruko felt a tick mark appear on her head before she glared at the grinning female Jounin. "I'm not short dammit! And if you think you're going to scare me away then you better think again lady!" she yelled.

"Blue-eyes why do you insist on making enemies with everyone…*sigh* troublesome girl" Shikamaru sighed rubbing his head.

Anko gave her a sweet and kind of creepy smile. "Awww how cute. You're a spirited one aren't you?" she teased, but before anyone could blink the purple haired examiner tossed a kunai slicing Naruko's left cheek open.

Naruko jerked at the sudden sting feeling her blood dripping down her face before she got locked into a headlock by Anko who was using Naruko as a personal headrest.

"Kids like you who are so full of spirit are usually the ones who die first...spilling blood everywhere they go...Exciting isn't it?" Anko asked thumbing away the dripping blood before licking it off her thumb.

Naruko shuttered in repulsion at the Jounin behavior. "And I thought Zabuza was crazy! This woman's insane!"

"My, My, My, what a wonderful sense of bloodlust floating in the air today. I see you're a woman with a keen taste" said an eerie voice from behind the two women.

Turning towards the voice Anko saw a pale skinned woman standing behind them holding up her kunai with her tongue. "Well, I do prefer my prey to be young...Their blood always taste the best" Anko teased making Naruko shudder at the sight of the long tongue.

"Don't freak out! Don't freak out! Don't freak out!" Naruko chanted in her head trying her hardest to keep her cool.

"Yes it does, but it seems you are frightening your little capture here. Where's the fun in devouring them if they're not fighting back" the pale woman said handing over the Kunai.

"As much fun as it seems you both are having trading creepy fetishes and stories the rest of us would like to move on and know what our second test is about so we can advance" Temari complained from the back beside her brothers.

Anko chuckled as she moved off of Naruko patting her head. "Wow you all really are an eager bunch. Very well, I'll get down to the explanation of my test, but before that I need you all to sign these liability forms. I'm not going to get bitched at by anyone because you all decided to head in there and get yourselves crippled or you end up eaten. So take the next twenty minutes to read them over carefully before you decide to continue on."

All of the Genin read over the papers understanding what they were getting into...everyone except Naruko.

"So I just sign this and I get to go in?" She asked.

"That's right, but be sure to-" Anko was cut off before she could warn her.

"Alright! Easy entry!" Naruko shouted signing the paper handing it to Anko.

"Blue-eyes! At least read the damn thing before signing it" Shikamaru scolded while Sasuke hit her over the head for being rash and stupid.

"What's there to think about? No matter what was said on the paper I was going to sign it anyway. I never back down from a challenge" Naruko said rubbing the sore spot on her head.

"Ah troublesome girl/dobe" Sasuke and Shikamaru sighed.

Anko was just shaking her head highly amused by the blond girl's total carefree nature. "Ohhh the excitement is mounting I can't wait for this test to begin."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Team cloud had just finished reading over their liability forms and were now seated away from prying ears so that they could discuss the next part of the test.

"So this is going to be a survivor type test...where anything inside the forest can kill us even out fellow test candidates...Sounds like my kind of exam" Karui summarized while getting excited for the test.

"I have this strong feeling of death...I think this forest is being protected by beast spirits! Those spirits can't rest in peace because something is trapping them to this world and when we enter that forest their going to suck out our souls! These exam proctors are a really clever bunch, they want to appease the spirits by making us all there sacrificial offerings! First they want us to be mindless zombie prisoners and now soulless corpses too!" Omoi cried out hysterically before getting punched out by Karui.

Samui was standing calmly next her teammates. "You two stop making light of our mission. We are not here to play, but simply to bring honor to our village and Bee-sama."

"Right..." Karui and Omoi said tamely knowing it was a bad idea to anger their silent teammate.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"Okay guys I think our best bet to getting through this test is sabotaging the other team's supplies. So the question I propose which teams should we attack first?" Sakura asked her fellow teammates in a soft whisper.

"Obviously we should hit Neji's team along with those sound ninjas. Something about those guys piss me off along with that glasses wearing guy we first talked with...they just give me and Akamaru a bad vibe...Right buddy?" Kiba asked scratching behind the white puppy's ear.

"Rah!" Akamaru bark.

"If those are our targets then that is who I will order my bugs to go after. They'll be able to get better access to the supplies than any of us" Shino tells his teammates.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Temari glanced around the area watching the other teams huddled together discussing the rules of the second test. "Well, by the looks of everything the other teams are making game plans to help benefit themselves..."

"Like any of that concerns us. If anyone of these rookies are stupid enough to try and come after us will only die in the process." Kankuro said smugly. "My only target for this part of the test is the munchkin. I owe her a little payback so I'll take my time to play with her a bit, but leave her in the running a little longer to completely make a fool of her at the end."

"Now who obsessing over someone" Temari jabbed at her brother for his earlier remarks about her being obsessed with a certain lazy genius.

"It's called getting even not obsessing" Kankuro counted.

"Will you two shut up. You will not associate yourself with the girl Kankuro...I have no time to waste playing around with weaklings...Only the blood of strong opponents will do" Gaara says scaring the older sand siblings when they saw the demonic gleam in her eyes.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"You're the brains on this team, Shikamaru. What do you think we should do?" Ino asked.

Shikamaru folded his arms adopting a thinking pose. He tries to concentrate to think of the most profitable plan, but he couldn't focus due to the amount of munching sounds from a certain gluten ninja.

"Dammit, Choji! Could you try and eat those chips a little quieter!" Ino shouted at Choji.

"*munch* Sorry Ino…*munch*" Choji said shimmering down his munching sounds.

After a few minutes of silent thinking, Shikamaru finally comes up with a strategy. "Alright, for this challenge we play it safe. We'll search for the shrines and get the maps without engaging in any combat with the other teams nor the animals we encounter." Shikamaru said.

"So just run?" Ino asked.

"No it's called stealth and silence. This is the best plan I can come up with. It's also the less troublesome one too" Shikamaru said.

"Well *munch* whatever Shikamaru comes up with *munch* I'm okay with it. He's the brains after all. *munch*" Choji agreed.

"Fine. It's a plan and it has little chance of us dying." Ino said shrugging.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"That might as well have given us the exact location of the safe house. Gai-sensei only ever trains us in the forest and in life and death situations so this test should be second nature for us" TenTen said happily.

"That's the spirits TenTen! Let's show these guys all the flames of our youth and unleash the powerful training that Gai-sensei has taught us!" Rock-Lee cheered as she started doing practice kicks and punches.

Neji was quietly observing the other teams before narrowing his eyes on Hinata and her teammates. "Let's see if you can survive this challenge Lady Hinata" he thought glaring angrily at the Hyuga heiress.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"Any ideas on getting through this forest?" Sasuke asked his teammates.

"Let's just move forward." Naruko said smiling, "We'll get somewhere that way."

"Naru-chan that only works if we have a designated destination in mind. Maybe...I can use my Byakugan to try and find one of the shrines..." Hinata offered timidly.

"Oh I forgot about that." Naruko said.

"Next time think before you open your mouth, dobe." Sasuke said.

"Oh bite me teme! I'm a go getter not a wuss who plans everything out" Naruko growled back at him.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"Do you two remember our mission?" Dosu asked.

"Yes. Attack and kill Sasuke Uchiha at all cost" Ken said looking annoyed with being asked repeatedly about their mission.

Zaku stabbed a kunai into the ground looking blood hungry. "Makes no difference to me who we fight. I'll kill anyone that stands in my way."

"Keep your cool Zaku. We stick to Lord Orochimaru's plan" Dosu ordered.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"Alright maggots times up! If you haven't decided to locate your man parts to face this forest then get the hell out of my sight! If those that have found yours bring your forms up so I can explain the objective to you all again" Anko yelled watching everyone turn their forms in.

One member from each team took their team's forms up to the front desk handling it to the man working behind the sign in table. Once the forms were in the man's hands he handed over a small supply bag. Once all forms where turned in and each team had a bag Anko began to speak.

"Here is the mission you all will face once you step into this forest. For this section of the exam you will be tested in a life and death survivor challenge. Each team will be given a small supply sack at the start of the test by the exam proctors before they are sent into the forest. Within each survivor sack you will find three empty canteens, flint rocks, some string and a poorly put together first aid kit. Once teams are inside they will have to navigate themselves to complete their mission. As a candidate it is your mission to hunt down and locate wooden shrines hidden throughout the forest to locate a map scroll with instructions on how to proceed to the next stage to complete this test. Each team will have exactly three days to complete this test and find the site for their final exam. Be warned that anything and everything in this forest can and will try to kill you. You are never safe when you enter this forest so best of luck to all participants" Anko tells them.

Again the more timid candidates gulped nervously casting uncertain looks around them while others stood ready to go. Anko observed everyone again before grinning madly.

"Here's my last piece of advice for you all... Don't die!" Anko yelled before scattering the teams to different gates with different proctors. "The exam begins in 30 minutes.

"Well that sure was the best advice anyone could give me." Naruko said sarcastically.

"Please stop agonizing the exam proctors you dobe" Sasuke growled rubbing away the headache he felt he was getting.

Sasuke felt eyes on him that set him on edge and quickly glanced around him to locate the person, but when he scanned the scattering cowards he found no one staring at them. "I know I felt someone watching us...but who? And more importantly why?"

"Hehe he's a sharp one. No wonder he's caught Lord Orochimaru's eye. I wonder how well you'll fare in this game Sasuke..."

"Hello? Earth to Sasuke? Come in Teme!" Naruko shouted waving her hand in front of Sasuke's face.

Sasuke knocks away her hand and glares at her, "Cut that out, dobe."

"Hey at least I'm worried about you. Be thankful for that, teme!" Naruko said fuming with annoyance.

Hinata giggled at her two bickering teammates. "If you two didn't bicker I don't think you guys ever talk to each other" she teased.

Naruko and Sasuke stopped glaring at each other before looking over at Hinata thinking her words over. "Yea maybe..." they said together before going back to insulting each other.

All teams stood in front of their designated gate waiting for the signal to begin. Everyone was bursting with excitement at the thought of this challenge. Anko glanced at her timer seeing the thirty minute mark was drawing closer to its end. As the minute hand meet with the hour hand the signal was up.

"THE SECOND TEST FOR THE CHUNIN EXAM...BEGINS NOW!" she ordered.

The gates were opened and every team rushed off into the forest ready for the challenge that was set before them.

"Okay guys here we go! Let's show them what we're made of!" Naruko cheered dashing ahead of her teammates.

"Dobe stick to the plan!" Sasuke yelled after her following close behind the reckless blond.

Hinata chased after her teammates determined to help them as much as she possibly could.

Sasuke noticed a low key clearing near them and decided they should gather there so Hinata could do her scan. "Hey dobe! Let me take the lead for a sec!" he yelled.

Naruko glanced back at him giving a small nod falling back so he can get ahead of her. Hinata was beside Naruko as they followed him to the hidden grove he saw in the trees.

"Okay this looks like a nice spot. Hinata take this time to use your Byakugan to see if you can spot a shrine." Sasuke said. "Dobe stay on your guard."

"I know this teme. Hinata once you find a shrine lead the way and don't worry we got your back" Naruko tells her.

"Of course." Hinata said activating her Byakugan to scan the area.

Sasuke was taking this time to think and look through the supply bag he was given.

"Okay so we do have the three empty canteens for water in here. Man...they weren't kidding about the poorly done-up first-aid kit either" he informed.

Naruko crinkled her nose up at the poor excuse of a first aid kit. "Don't even bother with that piece of junk. I have one better equipped in my pouch. Speaking of medicine once we get the location on a shrine I think it be wise for us to scope the land around here so I can find some herbs to combat any potential poison hazards we come across" she said remembering Anko's warning about their being poisonous bugs and plants inside the forest.

"Not a bad idea dobe...for once. Also be on the lookout for potential poisonings from the other teams too. Inside this forest we have no allies just each other" Sasuke said.

Naruko grinned at him. "Way ahead of you there teme. Remember how you said I was wasting time before the start of this exam? Well you were wrong because I was teaching Hinata how to make remedies from plants at Grandma's old house. While there I decided to read some of grandma Kaede's old ninja journals and found some old antidote recipes she had concocted to deal with poisons specific to the Sand village and Cloud village" she said grinning smugly.

Sasuke blinked up at the blond for a second before shaking his head. "Two good ideas in the span of a week. Don't try going for a third one or your head might explode from the pressure."

Naruko looked like her was about to explode from how red her face was getting.

"Oh screw you teme! I told you before I can have good ideas all on my own dammit!"

Hinata opens her eyes when she had finally sensed something, "Hey, I think I found a shrine."

"Great job, Hinata." Naruko cheered forgetting about her anger at the announcement.

"So where is it?" Sasuke asked.

"North from here," Hinata answered pointing in front of them, "It may take a while, but it's a shine I'm sure of it."

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's head on over there! Lead the way

Hina-chan!" Naruko cheered.

"Before that, did you sense anyone near it?" Sasuke asked.

"No, I didn't sense anyone. I would have said so if I did." Hinata said.

"Good, now let's get going." Sasuke said.

As team seven headed out into the direction Hinata had pointed out. As soon as the team left a little snake slivered out from under the bush near them. The snake made its way over to old looking tree were the pale woman from the start of the exam stepped out of it.

"Well, well, well, looks like our little trio is making their move. It's a good thing I was able to hide my chakra; otherwise, that girl with the Byakugan would have spotted me. Maybe it's time for me to introduce myself properly. Wouldn't you agree?" she said talking to the snake as she molded back into the ground.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Team eight was standing in a low sheltered tree. Together the three watched as Shino's bug shattered through the forest.

"One team of my bugs will spread out to sabotage supplies the other team will search for the shrine. When that team has located the target they will report back to us" Shino tells them.

Kiba was crouched to the ground looking excited. "A hunt is our specialty. Shino's bugs can search the high low places and well if an enemy tried to sneak up on us, Akamaru and me will sniff them out."

"Oh I'm so glad you can label you two as the useful ones. What am I?" Sakura growled.

Kiba smirked at her. "Simple, you're the bait. Good thing you have such bright pink hair and such a sweet smell, people will confuse you for a walking cotton candy stick" he teased grinning at her.

Sakura's face began to redden in both anger and embarrassment. "If I wasn't stuck on this team with you and actually thought I need you to pass this test I would strangle you now and leave you for the beast in here to eat you!" she raged stomping away from him.

"Why do you insist on making her mad? You know her Genjutsu illusions are a big help to us right now?" Shino asked.

Kiba grinned at him. "Because it's fun pissing her off to see her reactions." He tells her.

Shino just rolled his eyes under his sunglasses. "I'll never understand the relationship they have…"

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"So I say we find a place to set up as a base that is sheltered while getting a basis on where we can go to collect food and water. After we rest up and refuel we knock out some of the pest and get the map" Karui proposed.

"Sounds like a plan if it wasn't for the fact we are stranded out here in a forest that wants to kill us all" Omoi said.

"Oh suck it up you big baby! We are here to win and let is exactly what we are going to do, so quit freaking out on me and man up!" Karui yelled.

"You two go scout out for the water and food supplies. I'll set up the camp and keep lookout for any approaching teams. Meet back here in 30 minutes" Samui tells them as she jump away.

Karui stuck her nose up at him. "Just remember to make it back here and you better bring back water or I'll pummel you into the ground for the bugs to eat!" she yelled jumping away from him too.

"Why am I always the one to be left alone *sigh* oh the woes of my life" Omoi said as he too took off into the forest.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"Hinata are getting close to the target?" Sasuke asked after traveling for about an hour.

Hinata activated her Byakugan again to make sure they were still on course and to make sure the cost was still clear of any potential danger. "We should be getting there soon. It still clear but I think I can detect a small chakra signature close to the shrine. Let's approach with caution" she advised trying to make out what the chakra signature could be.

"I thought you said that there wasn't anyone near it." Sasuke said.

"I did, but this chakra signature just recently appeared." Hinata said.

"You know it could be an animal. Were in a forest and animals do live in forests" Naruko mentioned from the back.

"Oh pipe down dobe, no one asked for a backseat opinion. Well, let's approach with caution and don't pull any half-brained ideas" Sasuke ordered looking directly at Naruko when he said that.

Naruko stuck her tongue out at him. "Yeah whatever teme" she huffed.

"Such a child…" Sasuke thought shaking his head.

"He's such a jerk! Again why couldn't Shikamaru be on our team! Speaking of Shikamaru I wonder how he's doing. Probably complaining about everything being too troublesome or a drag" Naruko thought giggling a bit imagining him sighing and calling everything troublesome.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Shikamaru let out a huge sneeze out while his team was in the midst of cover. Ino and Choji both dog piled on him to keep him quiet so as not to alert the bear nearby.

The beast sniffed the air trying to catch scent of its prey again, but when he couldn't find the trace he went deeper into the woods. Once the bear was out of sight Ino whacked Shikamaru upside the head shaking him furiously.

"You idiot! You almost got us killed by that thing!" Ino quietly yelled at him so as to not draw the bear's attention.

Shikamaru was rubbing his head and ear looking at her lazily. "Geeze Ino you act like I did that on purpose. I sneezed no need to hit me and bite my head off for it."

"Oh I'll show you head biting you little...!"

"Um guys look over here" Choji called to them.

"What is it Choji?! I'm trying to beat some common sense into Shikamaru over here!" Ino growled.

"Umm don't beat him to hard Ino, I think we need him to solve this puzzle to get the map scroll" Choji tells her.

Ino dropped Shikamaru and rushed over to Choji's side to see indeed there was a shrine buried in the bushes were the bear once stood. "Way to go Choji! Shikamaru get you lazy ass over here and solve this thing!"

Shikamaru lay on the ground staring up at the sky. "Man what a drag...the first day isn't even over yet and I'm exhausted" he complained as he sat up to move. "I wonder if Blue-eyes and her team are doing okay. Hmph knowing her she's already gotten them into something troublesome, but she'll be okay she always finds a way out of trouble somehow" he thought smiling a bit as he walked over to his team.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"We're here." Hinata announced as the trio arrives at a large area with a wooden shrine at the middle. She looks around searching for the chakra signature she picked up before.

"Jackpot! Looks like we got ourselves a map easy peasy!" Naruko shouted running towards the shrine.

"Dobe! I said approach with caution not run in there half-brained!" Sasuke yelled.

That was when Hinata sensed the same chakra signature… "Naru-chan! Below you!"

"Huh?" Naruko asked in confusion and suddenly the ground broke below her before shooting her into the air as a huge animal emerged from it. "What the…?!"

"Dobe! I told you not to jump the kunai!" Sasuke shouted as he caught Naruko.

Naruko was a little dizzy from her flight. "Sorry...that thing came out of nowhere."

"What is that thing?" Hinata asked looking at the huge animal that slowly approached them. Each step it took caused the ground to shake. When it was close enough, the sun light revealed the creature to be an elephant.

"Whatever it is its going down! I'm not something it can send flying without giving it a beat down for it! Here I come you over sized blob!" Naruko yelled charging in at the large mammal.

"Why don't you ever listen to me? Come on Hinata lets go save the idiot before the elephant stomps her into the ground" Sasuke growled following behind her.

Hinata nodded keeping up behind Sasuke as he activated his Sharingan while

Naruko performed her Kage bushin no jutsu to confuse the large beast.

Sasuke decided to take advantage of Naruko's distraction by setting up his mythical flower fire technique that scorched the skin of the beast making it roar out in furry. Swinging its trunk around in furious anger. Taking a stance, Hinata then jumps over the elephant's swing and palm strikes it straight on the trunk.

"Nice one Hinata!" Naruko complemented before jumping out of the elephants range as he ran rampant. "Whoa down boy!"

After striking the elephant Hinata noticed the disruption in the Elephants chakra lines. "Sasuke-kun, Naru-chan aim for its right side and under his left tusk!"

Sasuke and Naruko nodded at her command. "I'm on it/No problem!" they said together as Sasuke delivered a powerful uppercut to the left tusk and to finish him off Naruko and all her clones delivered devastating drop kicks to its weak side.

The combination of the attacks caused the elephant's summons to be dispelled and a huge poof of smoke covered the battlefield. When the smoke cleared team seven was left on the field grinning at each other.

"Oh yea we just showed that elephant who's boss. Now let's get that map before anyone else shows up" Naruko said moving towards the shrine again.

"I'm afraid it's too late for that, little one" said a creepy voice before a huge windstorm blew through the area.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Team Gai were traveling through the forest heading to the deep center of the forest. At the center of the forest stood a giant oak tree.

"This is nothing new for us so I want to split up from here. I've dedicated three shrines in a 10,000 mile radius from this position. This is a test to see which of us can get the map first. If you run into trouble use your communicator to relay for back up" Neji ordered.

"Of course! Let the embers of our youth burn bright in our competition!" Lee cheered looking excited about the adventure.

"Right. No worries here" TenTen said.

"Good. We'll meet back here tomorrow or later tonight if you succeed in your mission" Neji said giving the signal for them to part.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"Gah! What the hell!?"Sasuke yelled covering his face from the wind blast as was Naruko and Hinata, but what the two failed to realize was the looming threat behind the blue haired Hyuga. "HINATA LOOK OUT BEHIND YOU!" he screamed over the wind to her.

Hinata hearing Sasuke's yell looked behind her to see a giant anaconda hovering behind her. The giant snake open it mouth wide ready to gobble the young girl up.

As the snake neared a frozen Hinata a force knocked into her pushing her out of the way. The force was none other than Naruko who was trying to prevent herself from getting eaten.

"NARU-CHAN/NARUKO!" Sasuke and Hinata cried as they watch Naruko get thrown into the sky before the snake swallowed her whole as she was falling back down.

"This is so gross! Get me out of here!" Naruko screamed as she got swallowed down the snake's elongated body.

"No Naru-chan! Sasuke-kun we have to get her out of there" Hinata cried getting back up on her shaky legs looking tearfully at the snake that had her best friend inside itself.

Sasuke was growling angrily at the snake not believing he let his teammate get eaten before his eyes. "You damn bastard. Get your ass out here and let our teammate go!" he growled throwing a kunai right behind the snake's head.

From the direction the kunai was going a shadowed figured jump out of the way to land before the two. The figure showed to be the pale skinned woman with the long creepy tongue.

"You're the woman from before...what are you doing here and what do you want with us?" Hinata asked

"Well, dear I'm here to see what you two eye users can do, especially the young survivor of his clan. I really want to see what you can do" the woman said licking her lips excitedly with her creepy tongue. "The map that promises one us moving on to the next stage is near us...let's begin this battle and see which one of us... will leave here alive!" she said glaring furiously at the two of them.

When Sasuke and Hinata locked eyes with the pale woman they were hit with a powerful sensation that felt like their bodies were being sliced apart. The sensation ended when they were each stabbed in the head. Both Sasuke and Hinata sunk to their knees shaking uncontrollably.

Sasuke felt so shaken up he threw up in complete terror. "What ...the hell was that?! Genjutsu? No...No this is fear...pure primal fear...His killing intent is just like Zabuza's only stronger! We have to get out of here or we're going to die!"

Hinata was rooted to the ground trying to figure out what to do. Tears were pouring down her face from pure fright. Hinata turned her head to the large snake still crying knowing if they didn't act they were going to die as well as Naruko. "I..I ha..have to move...N..Naru-chan..." she thought slowly trying to move, but failed too miserably.

"You both can no longer move. The fear you're feeling has paralyzed you where you sit, but don't worry I'll end your suffering quickly" the snake woman said holding up two kunais ready to throw at them.

Sasuke stared at the enemy trying to find the strength to move. He had to move or Hinata was going to die and he refused to let that happen. "I have to move! MOVE DAMMIT!" he yelled at himself as he plunged a kunai into his leg to override his fear sense with pain.

His plan worked long enough to get to Hinata's side and picked her up out of harm's way.

"To dispel the fear paralyzing his body he caused himself bodily harm...Oh my prey is very interesting indeed. I hope you continue to entertain me Sasuke-kun" the snake lady thought staring into Sasuke's red pupils.

"This is so gross! If I don't get out of here I'm going to become snake food!"

Naruko thought as she felt the stomach acids burning her flesh and clothes. "Okay he has to puke me up, but how?! Wait I got it!"

"I can't stop shaking! We have to run away...Maybe if I distract her Hinata can get Naruko out of the snake and we can get..." Sasuke thought feeling his panic rising again.

"You're not going anywhere!" The snake lady yelled charging at the two stunned teen ready to kill them.

Just when the two snakes were about to strike Hinata and Sasuke down a huge explosion was heard. The explosion was the sound of the giant snake bursting open with dozen of Naruko clones covering the area. The original Naruko stood on a tall branch overlooking the scene before her covered in snake blood and stomach acid.

"I...finally...got out of there guys! That by far was the most disgusting experience of my young life!" Naruko yelled shaking the snake guts off her while throwing off her ruined jacket.

"My, my quite the resourceful little troublemaker you are Naruko-chan. I thought for sure my snake pet had finished you off, oh well looks like I'll be the one to kill you instead" the snake wielder said.

"I don't think so creep! No one makes a meal out of Naruko Uzumaki! I'm about to make you pay for getting me eaten and messing with my friends you creepy snake!" she yelled dropping to the forest floor in front of Sasuke and Hinata.

"Naru-chan...thank goodness" Hinata said tearfully grateful that her friend was not lost to her.

"Hinata, are you alright?" Naruko asked.

"Y-Yes...but I'm...I'm scared...that woman..." Hinata whispered shaking in fear.

"No need to fear because I'm going to show that hag what happens when you mess with my teammates and friends!" Naruko declared ready to fight the snake woman.

"Oh how I love the courage of prey...it makes killing them all the more thrilling." The snake woman said.

"Yea, just keep talking lady because it'll be the last thing you do after I'm done with you!" Naruko shouted rushing at her.

Sasuke cut her off before she could get in close to the snake woman. "Naruko you idiot! Can't you tell this is an opponent we cannot handle! Look I know what you're here for so just take the map and leave us alone" Sasuke said showing her the map.

"What the hell are you saying teme?! That map is our ticket to passing this exam! We earned it!" Naruko yelled glaring at the raven haired boy.

"Ah, so you are willing to trade your most valuable item for you lives." The snake woman said, "Understandable in your cases...How else can the prey survive if they do not distract the predator with something that is more precious? You've made a smart choice, Sasuke-kun."

"Whatever. Just take it and leave us alone" Sasuke said tossing the map scroll towards her.

Naruko who couldn't believe what she was seeing, shaking in absolute outrage she dashed forwards snatching the scroll out of the air.

"You dobe! What the hell are you thinking?! You'll get us killed with your idiotic bravery!" Sasuke shouted at her.

Naruko turned back around and slugged Sasuke as hard as she could making him spit up blood and crash into a nearby tree.

Hinata covered her mouth and gasped in shock from the sheer brutality Naruko had displayed towards Sasuke. "N..Naru..."

"I don't know what happened out here when I was trapped inside that snake..." Naruko started to say shaking angrily as she faced the ground before looking up to face Sasuke stunned stare with a deadly glare. "But there's no way in hell a freaking coward like you is the Sasuke I know!"

"What in the world are you talking about, idiot?! I am Sasuke Uchiha!" Sasuke shouted losing his temper and patience.

"LIAR! Sasuke is a lot of things, but he isn't a dumbass coward! The real Sasuke would know that even if we give this guy our map he'll still come after us and kill us!" Naruko yelled back at him. "I don't care how strong our opponent is I'm never going to give up like you are you big freaking baby!"

The snake woman stood off to the side laughing in creepy amusement getting the trio's attention. "Naruko-chan is right you know...I can still have the map and kill you all while taking it!" she said revealing a series of seals on her arm while running a bloody thumb over the markings.

Naruko growled charging in at her withdrawing her baton. "SHUT THE HELL UP! I WON'T LET YOU HURT MY FRIENDS ANYMORE!"

"NO NARUKO! STAY AWAY FROM HER!" Sasuke yelled terrified for her wellbeing.

"Sasuke...what the hell's become of you?" Naruko thought sadly as she focused on dealing with the cause of fear in her teammates.

"Play time is over...SUMMONING JUTSU!" the snake lady yelled creating a whirlwind around herself before another giant snake appeared beneath her feet.

"Oh great another one! Well, this time I'm not going to be its snack!" Naruko yelled sending a dozen shuriken at the slimy reptile and owner.

"That will prove fruitless against me child!" the woman taunted as she blew out a ball of fire melting the sharp projectiles.

Naruko growled as she landed on a mossy cover tree limb. "Okay freak you asked for it! Let's see you dodge this!"

Naruko leaped off the tree branch holding her baton in a sword like fashion as she neared the snake. Chakra began to swirl like a huge hurricane at the tip of the baton showing how wild her chakra really was.

"So much chakra and power in such a small body? How can she produce so much?!" the snake woman thought watching Naruko close in on her.

"Now eat this! Fūton: Shinkūha blade form!" she yelled slashing the air in front of her releasing her hurricane type blade attack towards the snake and owner catching them in the powerful whirlwind.

Naruko landed on the ground watching her attack encase her enemy, but to her surprise the snake and the woman busted through her windstorm and charged straight for her.

"NARUKO!" Hinata and Sasuke screamed as they watched Naruko get slammed into before the snake slammed his tail on top of her sending her plummeting through the tree branches until she hit the ground harshly.

The snake woman was laughing as she allowed her pet to coil around Naruko's stunned body. "That was quite the good effort child, but I think it's time to end our game. Crush her!"

Hinata and Sasuke watched helplessly as the snake's coil on Naruko's body tighten to the point they both heard her bones crack under the pressure leaving their friend to scream in agony.

Sasuke was shaking in both furry and fear as he listened to Naruko's cries of pain, but he was so shaken up he couldn't move. "DAMMIT! At this rate I'll lose her and break my vow! Move body! Move damn you!"

While Sasuke was having his mental battle Hinata who was still shaking in fright knew she had to stop running from her fears and step up to save her friends.

With trembling hands Hinata formed the hand seals needed for her Byakugan. "I will not be a coward here! I will protect my friends!" she promised herself as she jumped towards the snake's head striking it with a powerful gentle fist palm strike.

The shock of the attack caught the snake off guard enough to make it drop Naruko who fell back to the ground. Hinata was in her clan's normal fighting stance facing the snake woman.

"Oh my...What a surprise seeing you standing in front me young one" the snake woman said turning to towards Hinata.

Hinata took a timid step back under the harsh look of the woman. Hinata could feel her heart beat pick up speed again from the terror she felt when looking into her cold eyes, but when she looked towards Naruko's fallen form and then to Sasuke's shaken form she found the strength and the courage to fight.

"I...I won't allow...you to hurt my friends! I..If you de..desire a fight then I shall be you're o..opponent" the young blue haired Hyuga declared fighting the stutter and shaking of her voice and body.

"She's so frightened yet her concern for her comrades is suppressing her fear... What an interesting little horde of prey I've found" the snake lady thought excitedly licking her lips in anticipation. "Well if you're so sure about that...then let's play!"

With the order given the giant snake rushed towards Hinata who jumped out of the way. She made her way to up a tall oak tree to perch on the mossy covered tree branch there she began to scan the snake to try and find the snake's weak spot.

Once she found the weak disruption in the snake's chakra in the snout of the monstrous snake the Byakugan user jumped from branch to branch to circle around the beast. Aiming to hit the snake hard in the weak spot she found, but at the last minute the snake moved out of her range and was able to land a vicious strike of the snake.

"Nice try little one, but unfortunately for you my pet is very in tuned with its surroundings, but please keep trying your best. We find your efforts quite entertaining" the woman taunted watching Hinata closely as she climbed back onto her shaky legs.

Sasuke was still rooted to his spot on the ground watching as his teammates fought against the overwhelming powerful enemy. "Hinata! That's enough, we have to get out of here!" he yelled not wanting to watch them get hurt anymore.

Once Hinata stood back on her feet she moved back into her fighting stance locking eyes with the snake summoner and beast. "N...No. I won't run away...I won't hide in the background anymore... I'm... I will protect you and Naru-chan!" she yelled dodging the snake's tail attack.

Sasuke was at a loss for words as he watched Hinata fight back against an opponent that was stronger than all of them. "What am I doing? Sitting here being a coward while Hinata and Naruko are fighting!" "Dammit I really have become a worthless coward..." he thought tightening his hands into fist until his nails dug into his flesh.

"Kyaaaa!" Hinata cried as she was grabbed by the woman's tongue and slammed through a tree branch or two.

"Looks like our little game is over my little mouse...Now that you have been caught my morsel it's time I feed you to my pet" the woman said lowering a struggling girl to the mouth of the snake.

As Hinata neared the beast's mouth a thundering smack was heard. Looking towards the sound Hinata watched as Sasuke's fist dug into the woman's face before she felt herself being let go to fall.

Flipping away from the woman Sasuke dove after the falling Hinata catching her in his arms midair before landing on the ground.

Sasuke couldn't meet his teammate's eyes as he held onto her still shaking a bit from the fear he still felt, but mostly from his self-hate for letting his team fight alone. "Hinata...I'm sorry. I was being a coward. I let that freak get into my head...I was giving him the power to control me and was letting the fear he implanted in me stop me from fighting by your side..." he apologized before looking up towards the snake summoner with a fiery glare in his eyes that displayed his angry sharingan. "But I'm not going to let him control me anymore! I refuse to be manipulated by this fear! It's time for me to fight back by my team's side!"

"It's good to see you found you're balls again teme...I was starting to worry if you were becoming a sniveling pansy!" Naruko taunted jumping to her teammate's side again. "HEY YOU SNAKE LOVING BASTARD I'M READY TO KICK YOUR SLIMY ASS!"

The snake lady raised an amused brow at them all. "Oh my...It seems you've gotten back up again. I thought for sure my pet had finished you off. We must be losing our touch if our prey still has that my spirit to still fight against us" she mused as she study each of them. "Hmmmm a Byakugan user, a sharingan user, and the Kyuubi brat...I might find more of challenge then I want if all three of them attack me at once in this state...time for me to start picking my prey off again."

Hinata caught her breath as she stood next to her team. "When I was fighting her I discovered the weak point of the snake. Aim for its nose there is a low pool of chakra flowing there" she informs them.

Sasuke nodded. "Right. Naruko you're the fastest out the three of us so while I distract the snake and its master you come in to finish it off. Hinata if you spot an open go for the woman okay."

"Yea leave it to me. I'll knock that slimy beast for a loop" Naruko growled letting a flash shine in her blood red eyes.

"I'll do my best" Hinata said activating her Byakugan again.

As one team seven moved in together towards the snake. As one the members of team Kakashi gauged the snake's attention to confuse the beast. While the beast followed the moves of the children its master had already discovered their little plan and decided to humor them so she could get her opening to take one of them out.

Once Sasuke saw Naruko and Hinata get into position he tossed a kunai in front of the snake's face drawing all its attention on him. Hinata moved in behind to prepare to strike the woman down when she watch the snake rear back hissing in furry read to eat Sasuke. When the snake closed in on Sasuke, Naruko jumped in plunging two kunai in the beast's nose killing it while Hinata went in to lunge for the snake woman.

Smirking the woman dodged Hinata's gentle fist palm strike and tossed her into

Sasuke while moving to grab Naruko with her tongue.

"Nice try children, but I'm always a step ahead of the game" the woman taunted holding a squirming Naruko in front of her.

"Dammit! Let me go you creep! Ahhhh this is so gross! If you don't put me down right now I'm going to rip this tongue out your head and strangle you with it!" Naruko threaten kicking and flailing around trying to get free.

"My, what a spirit you have...It's truly a wonder on how it hasn't broken yet after all these years..." the woman pondered as she pulled up the girl's shirt to reveal the fourth Hokage's seal used to imprison the Kyuubi in her body. "The Kyuubi's chakra is flowing out of her and molding with her very own chakra...in years to come she might prove to be a challenge, but at this stage she has no purpose in my plan.." the woman thought as she prepared a seal of her own.

"Five elemental seal!" the woman said as five purple colored orbs appeared on her hand before she slams it into Naruko revealed stomach causing the girl to cry out in pain before slowly slipping unconscious.

"NARUKO!" Sasuke and Hinata cried as they watched Naruko hang helplessly from the woman's grasp.

"She was more of a challenge than I first gave her credit for. I thought she was just a loud mouth brat, but in the end she really was no match for me" the woman laughed digging into Naruko's pouch to steal their map and burning it in her hands before tossing Naruko away.

Sasuke jumped after Naruko, catching her before she fell to the ground. Once landing on a safe tree branch away from their enemy he set her down gently. When he put her down he turned to glare at the snake woman with his Sharingan blazing.

"I won't let you get away with that! You've hurt my teammates too much for me to let you get away, so prepare yourself you freak!" Sasuke declared pulling out multiple kunai and shuriken. "I can't let myself give into fear...If I can't face this guy and protect my comrades then I can never face and kill my brother!"

The snake summoner licked her lips again in anticipation when she saw the look change in Sasuke's eyes. "His blood has come to a boil! Now the fun can really begin... Show what you can do Sasuke-kun!" she thought as she summoned multiple snakes to attack Sasuke.

With his resolve set Sasuke charged into battle jumping out of range of the hissing snakes. Performing multiple hand signs he drew in a deep breath before letting his flames fly. "Katon: Hōsenka no Jutsu!"

The small little fireballs flew and hit the multiple targets burning them all to ash in seconds, but Sasuke was not finished in his assault just yet. Taking his kunai and shuriken up he tossed them all at the snake wielder who moved out of the way of the attack. Sasuke watched each of the woman's movements and was able to predict where she was going.

Dodging the last kunai tossed at her the snake woman smirked with appreciation of the young man's skill. "Impressive...reading the situation quickly and then predicted were I'll be to try and land critical hits...Not bad, but not good enough I'm afraid!"

Sasuke saw the look of confidence in the woman's face and had to bite back and angry snarl as he focused on his task at hand. He pulled on the string attached windmill shaped shuriken to slice her from behind catching his opponent by surprise.

At the last second the woman caught the windmill shuriken with her mouth before turning back towards the panting Uchiha. "So close, but a futile try boy..."

Sasuke just smirked as he pulled the strings around the woman together catching her in his trap. The strings wrapped around the woman's body and pinned her to the tree trunk. "Never underestimate the ninja of the Hidden leaf village especially those of the Uchiha clan! Katon: Ryūka no Jutsu!"

The fire dragon attack flew down the threads leading straight to the woman engulfing her in the flames. The woman had nowhere to go and was covered in the flames. Sasuke was left panting and gasping for breath while Hinata was in a state of shock. As the flames began to ebb both teens were in a horrified to see the woman was still standing.

As the flames disappeared you could see the face of the woman was melted off in the corner of her left eye. Where the skin was melted you could see the face of a man and with the new discovery came the change in speech pattern. "I knew you were the perfect choice...The Uchiha blood runs deep within your veins stronger than that of your own brother... You really are a little prodigy and I want you for myself!" the man declared as he stretched his head out and bit into Sasuke's right shoulder.

Sasuke was gasping in pain as he felt like his blood was set on fire and he marks being burned in his flesh. Soon three comma marks appeared in the spot he was bitten as the man retracted his head. Hinata quickly moved to Sasuke's side catching him before he could fall.

"With my mark on you Sasuke-kun we'll be seeing each other soon. I've had fun playing and testing you all, but my test isn't over. I want to see more from you all so be on the lookout for your next opponents" the man chuckled licking his lips of Sasuke's blood.

Hinata was shaken up by the promise of newer enemies with both her teammates suffering badly from this fight. "W...Who are you? Wh...what have you done to my f...friends?!" she stuttered out.

"Hehehe I've given them parting gifts my dear. To test your limits and see if you all can survive this little test. As for who I am...My name is Orochimaru and when Sasuke-kun desires my power he will come to me, but until then please do try and survive my three little mice" Orochimaru said as he disappeared into the ground.

As the man left Sasuke began to writhe in pain. Gasping and clawing at his shoulder as he bellowed out in complete agony. Hearing his cries caused Hinata to start shaking as tears began to fill her eyes for fear of his wellbeing.

"Sa...Sasuke...k...kun! Please ca...calm down!" Hinata cried grabbing his hand to let him know she was there for him. The hold he had on her hand was tight as he continued to scream in pain.

Hinata felt herself beginning to panic, but before she could let her mind be consumed with fear she took deep calming breaths as she rubbed soothing circles on Sasuke's back trying to calm him down.

"Remember Hina-chan when faced in an emergency you cannot panic. Panicking will cause you to lose focus and put your patient in harm's way. As a healer it's your job to stay calm and to calm down you're patient"

Hinata listened to the words of Naruko from their lesson making her clear her head and to focus slowly on the pained boy in her arms. "Okay, stay calm and analyze the problem. He has a juncture punctuation in his neck that is bleeding profusely. Sanitize the area and stop the bleeding" she tells herself as she laid Sasuke down gently in her lap.

Grabbing her small first aid kit Hinata took out her sanitized wipes and glove so she could get to work on cleaning the puncture wounds while Sasuke continued to twitch and spasm in pain. Hinata finished cleaning the wound and began to close the wounds with the mystic palm jutsu she had been practicing on. When she was finished Sasuke's spasms had stopped, but he twitched occasionally from the pain and beginning fever.

"We can't stay here...were too exposed and with Naruko-chan and Sasuke-kun out I have to protect them... No I will protect them no matter what." Hinata thought getting up to search for a place she can allow them to rest as the sun began to set on the first day of the Chunin exam.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Hinata managed to find a nearby tree with an open resting area in between its roots. Carrying both Naruko and Sasuke was tiring for the girl. She places both of them down inside the tree and breathed a sigh.

"We should be safe here…" Hinata thought as she looks outside to check if anyone or that man named Orochimaru followed her. Thankfully, no one was there.

"Thank goodness…" Hinata whispered turning back to her unconscious friends. She borrows Naruko's medical pouch and shuffles through it hoping to find something that could help her friends out. Fortunately, she managed to find two cloths and a water bottle. She wets both cloths and place each one on Naruko and Sasuke's foreheads. Hinata pulls down Sasuke's collar to see the black mark on it.

Just looking at the symbol sent chills down the Hyuga's spine, but she endures the fear and takes out some bandages to place on the bite marks. Just when she placed the bandages on the bite mark, Hinata felt a dark energy surge from the marking, making her back up in fear, "Wh-What was th-that?" She thought still in shock from the sudden power spike. The Hyuga activates her Byakugan to witness a frightening sight, "That chakra…" She thought seeing a pitch-black chakra surrounding Sasuke's body. "What is happening to him…?"

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Off in the distance away from team seven watched six pairs of cold and malicious eyes. Waiting and biding their time to strike the three hidden leaf Genin down.

"Explain to me why we're waiting again? Their sitting ducks right now we can easily kill them now" Zaku growled itching to spill the blood of the three little brats.

"Because lord Orochimaru ordered us to take them all out at daybreak. He wants us to target Sasuke Uchiha, but if the other get in the way kill them" Dosu ordered.

"No problem there. One's already looks like she's dying and the other one is the weak link so she'll be no trouble taking out" Ken said smirking.

"Whatever. Like I said I'll kill anyone who gets in our way and I will be the one to kill Sasuke" Zaku said.

"That's fine, but stick to the plan and then you can spill blood" Dosu said getting into a comfortable spot to begin their silent vigil.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Due to keeping watch for the entire night, Hinata starts to doze off into sleep now and then, but she manages to snap her eyes open. "No...I can't fall asleep. I have to keep these two safe…"

Hinata takes the cloths off their heads to pour some more water on them to keep Sasuke's fever down and Naruko cooled off. She went to check their pulses to find Naruko's low, but calm while Sasuke's pulse was fast and quick. Taking a deep breath, Hinata allowed herself to stay calm and she activates her Byakugan to check the surroundings for any danger. Thankfully there were no traces of ninja's or deadly animals around.

"That Byakugan would be very disastrous to us if lord Orochimaru didn't warn us about it" Dosu remarked holding up the chakra barrier.

"Like it matters to us anyway. Can we attack now?!" Zaku asked quickly losing his patience.

"Didn't going off and killing the wolves pacify you, you big baby? Geez you're such a child Zaku" Ken scolded glaring at her spiky haired teammate.

"What you say to me you little bi-"

"Enough! The time is right. We will begin our attack now, do not fail in your tasks or you will answer to me is that understood!" Dosu yelled glaring at his two teammates.

"Yes," they both say reluctantly.

"Good. Now move into positions" he ordered.

Hinata clenches her eyes in pain from using the Byakugan from overuse and exhaustion, "Father warned me not to use the Byakugan when tired...it really hurts." She thought rubbing her eyes gently with a wash cloth to cool the burning she felt in them.

"Aw...the little bird is getting tired." a voice said making the Hyuga jump, "Better keep your eyes open or it'll cost you your life."

Hinata took out a Kunai and spun towards the sound of the voice. "Sh..show yourself" she demanded keeping up her guard.

That was when Zaku appeared before her with a smirk on his face, "Hello there. I see that you have something the three of us want. Now you can either be a nice little girl and get out of my way while I kill Sasuke or I can kill you first and then you're two friends. I really don't care which one you choose to do."

"Stay away! There's no way I'm going to let you hurt either of them!" Hinata said jumping into her fighting stance.

"Fine then...have it your way." Zaku said. "More pain for you means more fun for me." He said with a sadistic smile.

Hinata knew this was risky, but to she had no choice in the matter. "Byakugan! If a fight is what you want then a fight is what I will give you. Now defend yourself!" she yelled charging at him with her Gentle fist ninjutsu.

"Bring it on!" Zaku said as he dodges the palm strikes.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Above the two, Neji through narrowed eyes watches as Hinata tries her hardest to hit Zaku. "Foolish girl...she should know that using the Byakugan in an exhausted state brings pain to the user…" He scoffed activating his own Byakugan noticing two more people positioned on each sides of the fight. "Those two must be waiting for Lady Hinata's Byakugan to run out." He thought looking back down at Hinata's fight, "She is in a desperate situation. I can't believe I am bringing myself to help her…" He clenched his fist at the mere thought of helping Hinata, but then he sensed more chakra signatures, "Three more?" He asked looking at the bushes to see a familiar team, "I see...so those three have been eavesdropping too."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Even though she was giving it her all, Hinata still felt the pain from using the Byakugan in her condition. She kept pushing trying to hit the one chakra point on Zaku's body so she could deactivate his movement.

"You're really losing it, girl. This is why you never stay up late at night." Zaku taunted.

Hinata growled and lunged at the boy with a flying palm strike, but Zaku ducks under the attack and lands a punch straight in her gut sending her flying with her feet skidding across the ground.

"Is that all you got? I was expecting more from a Hyuga." Zaku taunted.

Hinata regains her composure and glares at Zaku. "You'll be wishing that was all I have to offer."

"Oh you're a stubborn one. Well, then let's see how you handle this attack!" Zaku said performing lightning-fast hand seals before thrusting his hands towards Hinata. "Zankuuha (Slicing Sound Wave)!"

From the palms of his hands came a blasting force of condensed sound waves that were heading straight for Naruko and Sasuke. Hinata gasped as she saw where the attack was heading and quickly moved to stand in front of her teammates taking the attack for them.

"Well, damn isn't that a pity I wanted to play with her more" Zaku said spitting into the dirt knowing Hinata was finished from that attack, but he was sorely mistaken.

Blood was dripping onto the ground from the cuts decoration the trembling form of the exhausted Bluenette. Gasping for breath Hinata slowly moved back to a shaking fighting stance.

"I...I...won't let you h...hurt my friends!" she yelled leaping forward again to strike Zaku.

Zaku growled under his breath as he blocked her attack. "You really asking to die now girl! I through with being nice I'll end you soon enough!"

Hinata ignored him and continued her quick and desperate assault striking his blocking arms while taking his retaliating blows. Zaku delivered a devastating kick to Hinata's abused abdomen as she hit his upper calf area. Both of them were sent flying from each other. Hinata crashed onto the ground as Zaku's feet skidded across it.

"That's it. You've gotten on my last nerve, brat." Zaku growled holding his upper calf spitting out a little blood, "This is insane. How can a weakling hurt me so bad?"

Hinata was on her hands and knees trying push herself back up. Blood was still trickling from her shredded body, but she was ignoring the pain. Slowly she got back to her feet although she was swaying on them. "I told you I was going to stop you... and give you a fight" she said softly meeting his furious gaze with her calm determined one.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Neji was unable to process what he was witnessing. Hinata, despite being at a disadvantage, was still pressing forward with a hope of winning. "There's no chance of her winning, yet...she is still fighting a battle with an inevitable end. She should be retreating, but she's still going. Why…?" He thought. "What's with the look in her eyes? Can she honestly believe a weakling like herself can stand up against these people? Foolishness utter foolishness!" he growled punching a hole into the tree he was spying from.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Hinata clenches in eyes just like before feeling the pain from using her Byakugan again. She falls on her knees again as blood dripped from her eyes.

"You're finally past your limit, kid." A voice said and suddenly, Hinata was slammed head first into the ground by Ken.

"Took you long enough to wear her out, Zaku." Dosu said.

Zaku glared at them. "Shut the hell up! I got her tired out didn't I! Now just kill her so we can kill the other two already!

"So...So you were waiting in the sh...shadows *pant* I should have known" Hinata gasped trying to push Ken off of her weaken form.

"Indeed. You put up a decent fight. It's not often we see a girl give Zaku a hard time." Ken said slamming Hinata's face back into the ground. "Now just lay there like a good little girl and watch as my friends over there kill yours."

"Good idea Ken. Make the little brat watch this. This will show her not to mess with us again" Zaku taunted walking towards the defenseless Naruko and Sasuke.

Dosu took a look at Zaku's arms, "Dammit Zaku...you were stupid enough to block an attack from a Hyuga." He thought.

Hinata watched Zaku moving towards her teammates and tried to move Ken off of her. "St...Stop! Leave them alone!" she yelled fighting to get up again.

"Just shut up! You're completely worthless to them now! You had no chance against Zaku and now you have no chance against the three of us. You and your friends are finished here girlie and there is nothing you can do to stop us" Ken mocked pulling Hinata up her hair to smirk at her. "Awww are you going to cry? What a pathetic ninja you are. You're the kind of girl that makes real Kunoichi look bad."

Hinata threw a weak palm strike at the woman, but Ken manages to catch it with her free hand. "Still have a little fight left in you, huh?" Ken asked as she slowly twisted Hinata's arm making the girl scream in pain. "Say goodbye to your precious arm, girl." Ken said preparing to rip Hinata's arm clear off.

But then, a palm suddenly hit Ken in the arm causing her to drop Hinata. "Ah!" She screamed.

"I'm afraid I can't allow you to do that" came a stoic voice that Hinata all too well.

"Nii-sama?!" she gasped in surprise to see Neji standing before her protectively. "Why did you save me?" she asked softly.

Neji looked back at her seeing all the cuts she had acquired and the damage she had caused her eyes left a bad taste in his mouth along with his stomach. "Do not mistake this gesture as a sign of affection. I am simply following my duty as a fellow member of the Hyuga clan even if it's against every fiber of my being" he said harshly before facing the sound trio.

Even though his words where harsh Hinata was smiling softly at his back touched by his actions. "Thank you Neji Nii-Sama."

"Another one?" Ken asked, "These Hyuga's are getting on my nerves." She held her arm in pain after receiving Neji's sudden attack.

"I suggest you three leave here immediately. You are outnumbered and clearly outmatched. If you continue to fight this pointless battle you will lose not only because of the numbers against you, but also with two handicaps. The odds are certainly not in your favor" Neji said glaring at them.

Zaku was glaring at the Hyuga boy with disdain clearly visible in his eyes. "Handicaps? Outnumbered? You must be really stupid kid! The only handicap is that half-dead brat behind you and those two passed out! If anyone should be giving up its you dumbass!"

"Enough rambling, Zaku. Hurry up and kill those two before we DO become outnumbered." Dosu ordered looking around, "I get the feeling this boy isn't bluffing."

"With pleasure," Zaku smirked walking over to Naruko and Sasuke; however, he suddenly froze in his tracks, "Wh-What the...hell?!"

"I would have listened to him if I was you...Man Blue-eyes what you do this time?" drawled out a lazy voice.

"Shikamaru-kun! Choji-Kun! Ino-Chan!" Hinata cried happily seeing the three of them standing protectively in front of her teammates.

"Took you losers long enough to join in" Neji remarked.

"We concealed our chakra very well. How did you see us?" Shikamaru asked.

"I sensed a chakra build up from your chip-eating friend." Neji said pointing to Choji.

"I told you to stop eating! You gave us away you gluten!" Ino scolded the sheepish looking Choji.

"My bad. I was nervous and when I'm nervous I eat and besides I had to build up in case we got into a fight" Choji said defending himself.

Dosu growled, "One interruption after another…"

"No worries," Zaku smirked holding his arms out, "I'll just blast all five of you away. Zankuuha!" He shouted, but nothing happened. Zaku was in a state of confused shock, "What the...Zankuuha!" Nothing happened, "Zankuuha!" Zilch. "What the hell is going on?! Why can't I use my jutsu?"

"You idiot!" Dosu shouted, "You let that Hyuga girl cut off the chakra points in your arms!"

"I told you you've been handicapped. Now leave here now or else you will not walk away from here with your lives!" Neji said activating his Byakugan.

"We're not leaving here until we complete our mission. Regardless of the disadvantage we will succeed." Dosu said.

"Oh really…?" Ino asked holding her arms out towards Ken.

"What is she doing?" Ken asked.

"Shikamaru watch over me okay. Mind transfer Jutsu!" Ino yelled zeroing in on Ken and taking over her body. "Mind transfer complete"

Ino's body collapsed and fell into Shikamaru's arms.

"A mind transfer jutsu...I should have known." Dosu growled.

Ino as Ken looked over at him as she placed a kunai to her throat. "Okay you two I'm giving you one last warning. Leave now or you're going to lose your teammate" she declared.

Dosu merely rushes in front of Ino and held out his right hand towards her, "Don't think that using my teammate as a shield will stop me. "Kyōmeisen (Resonating Echo Drill)!" He shouted as a fierce sound wave shot through Ken's body causing immense pain to Ino's body.

"Ino!" Shikamaru shouted.

"He attacked his own teammate. Man this is as cold blooded as they come" Choji said before gasping in pain as a high pitch entered his ears making them ring.

Neji covered his ears from the ringing sound from Dosu's attack, "Immense sound wave vibrations. The same tactic you used at the beginning of this exam" he said.

"Oh so you caught onto my little trick then too. It doesn't make any difference even if you cover your ears the sound wave will still enter body and disrupt everything inside your head" Dosu tells him. "No matter I just want to finish my mission."

Hinata stiffened up as she dug her hands into the ground. "W..Why? Why is Orochimaru after Sasuke-kun?! And what is that mark on his neck?!"

Dosu and Zaku looked surprised at the discovery. "What are you thinking Lord Orochimaru..."

Zaku just chuckled darkly as he glared at them all. "Well, hearing that you know that much means you need to die. Thanks for signing you're death note brat!" he yelled tossing multiple kunai at her.

As the projectiles headed towards Hinata they were countered by another set of kunai. "You guys are pathetic. You're totally outnumbered just learn to take a lost gracefully and leave" scolded a female voice.

"TenTen is right. It's not really honorable to fight a losing battle" Lee said standing next to his teammate.

"Great more bugs and vermin crawling out of the woodwork!" Zaku growled glaring at everyone.

"So are you all going to continue to fight this pointless battle or are you going to retreat with what little spine you have left?" Neji demanded giving his teammates a brief acknowledgement at their appearance. But then, he felt the same chakra disturbance from before. His eyes widen in shock as he turns to Sasuke's unconscious body, "That chakra from before…" He thought.

Tenten notices the look of horror on Neji's face, "What's wrong Neji?" She asked.

"We need to pull back, right now!" Neji shouted.

"What do you mean, Neji? We just got here." Lee said.

"Don't argue with me, Lee! Pull back now!" Neji shouted as Team Gai retreated into the trees.

Hinata never heard Neji sound so disturbed before and looked the way Neji was seeing that Sasuke was getting up, but he had a bunch of dark purple and black aura pouring from his body. "Sa...Sasuke-Kun?"

"Hinata..." Sasuke started to say in a low dark voice. "Who hurt you like that?" he asked wearing a dark look on his face as many black symbols crawled up his body.

Shikamaru's eyes widen seeing the look of murder on Sasuke's face, "That's not Sasuke." He thought, "Ino! Get back to your body now!" He shouted.

"H-Huh…? Wh-What..?" Ino in Ken's body asked trying to get up. She couldn't hear any sounds due to Dosu's attack. All she could see was what was happening in front of her. Shikamaru sees this and hand gestures her to get inside her body. "Oh, get in my body. Release!" She shouted getting out of Ken's body and heading back into her own.

Once back in her body Ino winced a bit from the pain. "Shikamaru...Everything is ringing and spinning" she groaned out.

Shikamaru wasted no words and picked Ino up and giving her to Choji, "Come on Choji! This will turn into a slaughter real quick!" He yelled moving to go get Naruko.

"Okay!" Choji said carrying Ino away to safety.

"Haha! Every one of them is running scared!" Zaku laughed watching everyone scattering away.

Sasuke was slowly walking over to Hinata and kneeled before her cupping her bruised cheek. "Who did this?" he asked again.

Zaku didn't like being ignored by Sasuke and gave a pissed growl. "If you're looking for the guy who beat the hell out of her than you're looking for me" he said proudly not scared of the dark look Sasuke gave him.

Slowly, Sasuke started to march to the sound ninja with dark chakra radiating from his body.

Dosu looked on feeling his throat dry up and his legs slightly shaking, "Wh-What the hell did Lord Orochimaru do to him…?"

"Finally, I get a shot at you, Uchiha. Better be ready to die today." Zaku smirked.

Suddenly, Sasuke disappeared, "Is it really me who's going to die? Don't be stupid." He said from behind Zaku and kicked him towards a tree. The impact caused the tree itself to topple over.

Hinata and Dosu were outright shocked as were the other hiding Leaf ninja stared in disbelief at the sheer power Sasuke displayed.

"Gah!" Zaku screamed as he picked himself up from the rubble and glares at the smirking Sasuke, "Damn you! I'll wipe that smirk clear off your face!" He shouted rushes straight at Sasuke to attack him head-on.

"Zaku you fool!" Dosu shouted.

Sasuke disappeared just as Zaku was about to hit him, "Huh?! Where did he-Ah!" Zaku felt a foot placed on his back. He turns to see that Sasuke had pinned him down and held his arms in place.

"So...are these the arms you used to hurt Hinata?" He asked smiling cruelly pressing his foot further in Zaku's back.

"Wh..What are you doing?" Zaku demand starting to sound scared.

"I might 'accidentally' rip your arms off, but it's a great way for me to get payback for what you did to Hinata." Sasuke said pressing even further.

Zaku felt his arms being pulled back and the strain was causing him to cry in pain. "Stop! Are you insane?! Let me go!"

Sasuke smiled hearing the sound ninja's pleads for mercy. He pulled with all his might and snapped Zaku's arm hearing both the sound of broken bones and his cries of pain.

Hinata covers her ears and turns away from the sight. "What did that monster do to Sasuke-kun?" she thought fearing Orochimaru's final warning to her might be true.

Dosu was left in a state nervousness. "His power is growing...The curse mark is evolving his chakra rapidly and yet he's on his feet again. What is this man?!" he thought fearfully.

Sasuke instantly whipped his head to Dosu's direction making the sound ninja flinch in fear, "I guess you're next then. Try not to disappoint me like this arrogant boy." He said chuckling as he walked over to him.

Hinata watched helplessly as Sasuke made his way towards the last sound ninja. Tears were prickling at her eyes knowing this wasn't her teammate. "I won't let him be taken by that monster. I won't!"

Jumping to her feet the battered young Hyuga ran towards her possessed friend and hugged him from behind shocking those watching from afar.

"Sa..Sasuke-kun...no more... let this end now... Please" she said softly holding onto the boy's shirt with shaky hands.

Sasuke stopped and glared at who had touched him, but as soon as he laid eyes on Hinata his glared turned into a look of regret. "Hina...ta…" He whispered as the black marks on his body start to retract. As soon as he returned to normal, he fell to his knees, "...I'm...I'm sorry…"

Hinata gave him a small smile. "It's alright. You're back to normal now" she tells him helping him to stay up.

Dosu stared at the two for a while thinking about what he had just witnessed, "So that was the power Lord Orochimaru had given him...but why him of all people?" He thought as he took out the map his team had obtained, "You have done well, Sasuke Uchiha." He said placing the map on the ground, "Your power is too much for us to take on and hope to defeat, so we surrender this map in exchange for our lives." He grabs hold of his two unconscious teammates and turns to leave, "I expect to see you at the end of this exam. Next time we will not show the same courtesy as I am displaying now." He finished as he turns to leave.

"WAIT!" Hinata shouted stopping him, "Why did Orochimaru order you to kill Sasuke? What was that we just saw? What does this Orochimaru want with Sasuke?"

"You are asking the wrong person, kid." Dosu answered, "I do not know why Lord Orochimaru would give such amazing power to Sasuke. My team was just ordered to eliminate him and nothing more. Why Orochimaru wants Sasuke dead after giving him such power is beyond me...there is much...I do not know…" He said as he disappears.

Hinata felt uneasy about the man's answer. "What if this happens again? Will Sasuke be okay or will he do as Orochimaru claimed he would do and seek him out?" she wondered fearing the things to come.

Sasuke stared at his shaking hands still recovering from the experience he was in, "Wh-What….was that…?" He thought in his head.

"Sasuke…" Hinata thought worriedly for her friend.

Ino and Choji were staring at Sasuke fearfully never expecting for him to go to that much of an extreme. Beside his massive power increase and black marks decorating his skin the pure look of malice and hatred that was in his eyes frightened them to the core.

Shikamaru was studying the now seemingly normal Sasuke again with narrowed eyes watching and waiting to see if he'll snap on Hinata. The young Nara turned his eyes away from the Uchiha for a moment when he felt the weight he was holding shift in his arms.

Naruko groaned softly in pain as she started to wake up. She felt like a ton of bricks were tied to her arms and legs making her feel heavy. "Stupid snake bastard..." she hissed softly trying to get up.

A few minutes passed before Naruko's eyes snapped open and she lunged forward head butting Shikamaru and knocking him to the ground as she went on the defensive looking around quickly for signs of Orochimaru without noticing the others around her.

"Where is she?! Where is that snake bastard at?!" She shouted searching around wanting payback.

Shikamaru who was underneath the now fuming blond that out a pained sigh. "Troublesome Blue-eyes... You just wake up and already causing trouble" he says scolding her lightly.

Hearing Shikamaru's voice slowly calms Naruko down as she blinks away her sudden adrenaline burst to see Sasuke and Hinata sitting a few feet away from her looking worse for wear. "Hinata! What in the world happen to you?!" she demanded hurrying over to her friends side.

Hinata gave her a small smile. "I'm glad you're okay Naru-chan" she said tiredly.

Naruko bent down in front of her and began to check her over. "Did that snake bastard do this to you? When I get my hands on her I'll make her pay for this!" she promised her injured friend.

"I'm fine...I just got a little roughed up, that's all." Hinata said with a smile. "Shikamaru-kun's team, Sasuke-kun and N..Neji Nii-sama saved me" she said softly glancing over to her Neji who was standing with his team.

Neji was more focused on Sasuke and the power he had just displayed. He didn't pay mind to how grateful Hinata was, "What kind of power does that Uchiha have? It was unlike anything I have ever seen…" he said in his mind.

Naruko took this time to notice the others now that she had finally calmed down and look back over to see Shikamaru sitting up rubbing his head while Choji was helping Ino up. "Shika! You guys really are here! Wait why are you guys here?"

"Geeze, now she realizes were here! How rude!" Ino growled getting a low amused chuckled out of Choji as he helped her limp over.

"Man...trying to explain things to you can be really bothersome. Just be happy we got here when we did" Shikamaru said booping Naruko on the forehead as his way of getting her back for the head butt and for worrying him like she did.

"Ah Naru-chan I'm here too!" Lee called walking over to them smiling brightly at them. "Sasuke-kun you have truly become so much stronger! I hope we can have a battle to test our strengths with each other!"

"...Y-Yeah…" Sasuke whispered still in shock from the recent event.

"Lee, it's time for us to move on." Neji said.

Hinata bit her lip as she got up and walked over to Neji looking down at her feet. "Th-thank you. You saved me wh-when you didn't have to..." she said looking nervous before bowing slightly to him to show how him how much she respected him and was grateful to him.

Neji's eyes widen in shock for only a second before they were cold again as he turned away from her. "I told you my actions were not done out of affection. I simply could not allow for ninjas from another village to think the Hyuga's where weak" he said harshly.

"I understand..." she said watching him walking away before his team disappeared with Lee saying his goodbyes and giving them all a cheerful wave as he left.

"Geez, what a jerk." Naruko muttered.

"Oh Naru-chan, don't speak of Neji Nii-san that way, please." Hinata said.

Naruko bit her lip to stop a retort seeing the pleading look in her eyes. "Fine. I won't say anything more about him Hina-chan."

"Thank you" she said tiredly as she started to feel light headed and dizzy as the pain in her eyes made itself known again.

"Whoa I gotcha. You really pushed yourself hard out there..." Naruko said catching Hinata before she could fall down. "Here let me fix you up."

"Y-you should still be r-resting" Hinata stuttered out feeling her eyes drooping closed. "Re-really I'm fine."

Naruko shook her head lowering Hinata into her lap. "No, it's you that needs to rest. You've done enough for me, so it my turn to look after you" she said gently running her hand through her hair.

Hinata gave her a small smile before letting her eyes closed and let Naruko lull her into sleep.

After Naruko set Hinata down in a comfortable sleeping spot she then notices the map that Dosu left behind. She walks over to it and picks it up, "Where'd this map come from? Do you know Sasuke?" She asked.

"One of the sound ninja left it." he said cupping his marked shoulder. "The one we had earlier got burned by the snake user so that works in our favor."

Naruko nodded as she pocketed the map before going back over to Hinata so she could start cleaning her up with Ino and Choji coming over to help.

With the others working on Hinata Shikamaru took this time to approach Sasuke who was keeping his distance. "I don't know what that mark is doing to you, but you better get a handle on it."

Sasuke glared at the shadow user. "I know that. Keep your voice down I don't want the dobe hearing about this!" he hissed.

"I'm not going to say anything to her, but I will say something to you. If Naruko or Hinata get hurt because you can't handle that power you got you won't have to worry about getting you revenge on you brother because I will end you before you get the chance" Shikamaru said seriously glaring at the other boy.

"...Whatever…" Sasuke muttered looking back at his team, "Don't you have your own team to take care of?"

"That's the only warning I'm giving you. I know you care about them, but if they get hurt especially Blue-eyes I won't care who you are you will be my enemy" Shikamaru warned walking away from him.

Sasuke grunted at the fact that Shikamaru had the gall to talk to him like that. It wasn't his fault that the curse mark started that fiasco. "I don't need him telling me how to protect my team! I'll protect them on my own with my own power!"

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Anko was sitting inside the office where the teams needed to find to complete her exam. So far she hasn't heard from the guards about any of the team's making here yet. Though she was taking care of the exam her mind was elsewhere.

"Why the hell have you returned to this village Orochimaru?! What can you be after?" she asked herself grabbing at her left shoulder when it started to burn.

When the purple haired woman had discovered Orochimaru was lurking inside her exam she's been on edge, but the Hokage ordered her not to make a move to find him considered the history she shared with him. The Hokage told her to focus on the Chunin exam and with a bitter taste in her mouth Anko has done as she was asked and waited for the teams to appear when they do.

"Dammit! Why did he have to come back here! It makes no sense for me to sit here on my ass waiting days for these brats to get here when I can be out there hunting that bastards down!" Anko yelled throwing her tea glass against the wall shattering it to pieces.

Two Chunin proctors took that moment to enter the room barely missing the next dish tossed at the wall by the enraged woman. "Anko-san! We have something for you to see!" they said in unison.

"What the hell is it then?!" She yelled.

"A little over an hour ago the single representative of the Sunagakure village has made it here!" one of the men said.

"What?! Impossible this test only started three hours ago!" Anko yelled.

"It true! Look for yourself Anko-san" the other man said putting a video tape inside the TV monitor.

Putting the video inside the monitor the Chunin began to fast forward through until he reached the point of the Sand village team walked in.

Anko studied the features of all three sand Genin not believing what she was seeing. "I don't believe this..."

"They completed the exam in exactly one hour and thirty minutes. I can't believe how strong these guys are" the first Chunin said.

"That's not the only thing surprising about them. The boy with the red hair doesn't have a single scratch on him...With each shrine there was a trap set up. Be it a summoned beast or a puzzle to be solved but to get to the shrines at all you had to move through this forest filled with wild beast, poisonous creatures, and unfamiliar terrain, but he comes here without a single scratch on him not even a single speck of dirt can be found on him" Anko said staring out the office window.

"Incredible...he's no ordinary ninja that's for sure" the other Chunin said swallowing the sudden lump in his throat.

"No he isn't. Even so I'm more excited about this exam even more now" Anko said giving them all a creepy grin.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Sakura felt a nudge on her cheek and she swiped her hand near her face to get rid of it. The nudging happen again making the sleeping girl growl to herself before she snapped her eyes open to see a wagging tail Akamaru beside her.

"What is it? Why you wake me up?" She groaned wanting to turn around and go back to sleep.

"Rah! Rah Rah" Akamaru barked tugging on her shirt indicating she needed to get up.

"I'm up! I'm up" Sakura yelled sitting up making Akamaru bark happily before he trotted back over towards his partner and Shino.

"Morning cotton candy head! Let's get going Shino's bugs located a shrine for us. We wasted enough time waiting for you to get up!" Kiba barked already packed and ready to go.

"Shut the hell up! I thought you said you didn't need me so why didn't you just go get the map and come back and get me?!" Sakura yelled fixing her hair as she walked over to them.

"We're a team. Kurenai -sensei would be very upset if we let out teammate alone in a death filled forest. It also would waste our time to get the map and then backtrack to you" Shino said pushing up his sunglasses.

"Whatever. Let's just get this over with" Sakura said finishing her hair and packing her stuff up.

Nodding Team eight moved out with Shino taking the lead with Kiba and Akamaru following close behind him with Sakura bringing up the rear. After a half hour of travel the team touched down in an open clearing where the shrine was located.

"We may not be first like I wanted, but at least where moving to the next test!" Kiba cheered before catching a scent on the wind making him smirk. "So are you cowards finish following us or would you like to face us like real ninja?"

"So you were able to detect us." A familiar female voice said as Karui, Samui, and Omoi appeared in front of the team.

"Akamaru and I could smell you from a mile away." Kiba explained.

"Told ya' hiding is completely useless against these guys." Samui said.

"Ah well, it doesn't really matter now. All we need is that map on that shrine, so it would be wise to step aside." Karui said.

"I don't think so. If you want that map then your going have to beat us in a fight for it" Kiba growled.

"Great...now we have to get our hands dirty. You know us fighting on a sacred burial spot is bad karma right? We are so going to get cursed" Omoi said.

"Omoi shut the hell up and get ready to fight already! Let's just get this over with." Karui yelled punching her fist together. "I've been itching to fight this whole damn time!"

"I'll take the pessimistic guy, Kiba you take the loud mouth and Shino have at it with the quiet one" Sakura said getting into her fighting stance.

"Heh didn't have to tell me twice. Let's go Akamaru!" Kiba yelled charging in at Karui.

Karui smirked as crouched on her knees, "This ought to be entertaining…" She said preparing for the duo's first move.

Akamaru jumped on Kiba's back with Kiba tossing out a smoke bomb before performing a hand seal. Karui covered her eyes thinking it might have been tear gas, but it was just a cover up for what the Inuzuka boy had planned. Out of the smoke appeared two Kiba who headed straight for Karui.

"Shikyaku no Jutsu (Ninja Art of Beast Mimicry: All-fours Jutsu)!" Kiba yelled as he and Akamaru swiped at her.

Karui quickly unsheathes her katana and blocks the coming claw strike from the two.

"Not bad, but you won't be able to keep up with mine and Akamaru's speed" Kiba taunted getting back on all fours as Akamaru and him surrounded her.

"Oh well see about that!" Karui yelled punching the ground to make it cave in to through the two of them off balance and to disrupt their attack.

Kiba and Akamaru jumped out of the way not expecting her to destroy the ground. "Wow and I thought Cotton Candy was nuts."

"I HEARD THAT!" Sakura shouted from a far.

Karui jumped up after him drawing her sword. "AND SO DID I! EAT THIS DOG LOVER! Kumo-Ryū Omotegiri (Cloud Style: Front Slice)" she yelled slashing Akamaru and Kiba midair.

"GAH!" Kiba cried holding a hand over his bleeding chest while Akamaru's transformation disappeared as he fell down. "AKAMARU!"

When Kiba hit the ground he crawled over to his best friend and saw that he was hurt, but not deathly wounded. Clenching his fist he glared at a smirking Karui. "You're going to pay for that!" he yelled charging in at her again landing a claw strike against her.

Karui stepped back from the sudden attack, but pushed forward using her strength to slug Kiba in the face, but the Inuzuka boy took the blow and countered by elbowing Karui in the face making her cry out hold her face from the pain. Kiba leaped back from her to gain distance before he came running in fast to gain momentum before spinning around like a twister.

"Gatsūga! (Man-Beast ultimate Taijutsu: Fang over Fang)" he yelled barrowing into Karui who was using her sword to guard herself.

Karui dug her feet into the earth as she felt herself being pushed back. Getting mad Karui pushed forward refusing to be beaten. "Kumo-Ryū Omotegiri (Cloud Style: Front Slice)!" she yelled clashing the two jutsu together to break the standstill apart.

Kiba landed a few feet away from her with a new slash wound adorning his upper body making him hit his knees before he hit the ground. Karui was breathing hard and was adding pressure to her bleeding side.

"Not bad dog lover...We should have a rematch when you get stronger" Karui said.

"Heh you're on Red" Kiba said from his spot on the ground.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Sakura was shaking her head as Kiba charged in blindly again. "That idiot. I swear it'll kill him to just be patient for once and actually assess his opponent."

"I know how you feel. Karui is really hotheaded so she jumps head first into things too" Omoi tells her. "Do we really need to fight? I rather not get the spirits here angry with me."

"Wow you really are paranoid, but yes we do have to fight because we're taking that map" Sakura declared taking up a fighting stance.

Omoi sighed. "I was afraid you say that. Hopefully we won't invoke a spirit's wrath. Let's have a nice fight friend of Sunny" Omoi said giving her a small grin.

"Ah...yea you two" Sakura said. "Here I come!" she yelled tossing three shuriken at him while hiding an explosive tag on one of them.

Omoi saw through Sakura little Genjutsu trick and deflected all three of them while grabbing the explosive tag.

"Wow he's so fast! I have to play this battle by ear and look for an opening" Sakura thought.

Omoi sighed really not wanting to fight the girl and causing her a lot of pain, but the serious look on her face meant he had to at least indulge her in a fight. "Man I'm such a nice guy, so please don't steal my soul and turn me in a mindless zombie" he thought.

Sakura started to performs a single hand seal. "Snake!" she called confusing Omoi by her use of one seal which made Sakura smirk in triumph as a large pink flower grew from the ground and capturing Omoi inside it. "Magen: Hanagasumi (Demonic illusion: Flower Mist)!" she yelled as the flower exploded into thousands of little pink flower petals.

Omoi jumped into the air after the explosion causing Sakura to be left stunned thinking she had him. "Wow that could have been bad. Nice try Pinkie, but you have try a little harder than that."

Sakura let a low growl escape her. "Oh I'll show you!" she said before she heard Kiba making a jab at her by calling her nuts making her angry. "I HEARD THAT!" she yelled turning to glare at her annoying teammate.

Omoi took this chance to get behind her. "Never get distracted on the battle field. You're a strong you just need more training is all" he tells her as he places a hand on her back. "Raiton: Sandāboruto (Lightning style: Thunderbolt)."

Holding back his power a bit Omoi sent an electrifying jolt throughout Sakura's body that render her paralyzed and unconscious. Omoi catches her before she hits the ground and gently lies her down.

"Geez you're too nice Omoi. I would have let her hit the dirt" Karui said watching Omoi act of chivalry.

"Eh what can I say I'm a nice guy" Omoi said grinning at her.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

The remaining two ninja who have yet to fight as they stood far apart from each other. Both Shino and Samui stared at each other as the air between them thickens in intensity.

"As the leader of your team it would be wise to call off your teammates and escape with your skin attached." Shino said as a bug crawled on his arm.

"And I should say the same to you about your team. It seems they are not aware of the situation they have put themselves into." Samui said.

"Trust me when I say, we are prepared." Shino said placing his hand up towards Samui, "Are you?" He asked as a barrage of bugs flew straight from his arm straight towards Samui.

Samui tries to outrun the bugs that started to follow her, "Homing bugs…" Samui then runs straight at Shino with the bugs following her.

"That strategy will not work." Shino said dispensing the bugs following Samui and forming a bug shield to protect himself from the strike Samui made with her tanto. Shino then blasted her with dozens of flying bugs sending her back. Samui blocks the attack with her tanto while her feet dug into the ground.

After a few seconds, Samui dispensed the bugs looking at them all on the ground.

"You are surrounded now. If you so much as take a step, my bugs will completely drain you of your chakra." Shino said, "Now I believe is the time for you to call off your teammates."

"Perhaps so, but I do believe there is a way we can settle this on mutual terms." Samui said.

"Oh? And what do you mean by that?" Shino asked.

"What say you we call this battle a draw and make ourselves a good deal?" Samui offered.

"I don't make deals." Shino said.

"True, but this deal is one you can't just ignore, not without at least hearing me out first." Samui said, "We detected another shrine north of here, but it is blocked by a large river. This shrine may be the hardest one to get to, yet the map could possibly lead a team right to the designated location we need to go. All I ask in exchange for guiding your team there is the map here."

Shino looked thoughtful for a moment. "I let you take this map and you'll guide my teammates and me to this other shrine? How am I to trust you won't lead us into a trap or hurt my team?"

"This is the Forest of Death. The exam proctor Anko-san told us that in this forest, we will not be able to see the unexpected events coming." Samui said. "Though I am from another village I can see why you would hesitate to accept my deal, but I can see you're strength and I have respect for it that is why I will not double-cross you. I much rather have your team in the finals so I can fight you again."

"I do not like this deal of yours. I detected several possible lies and potential double-crosses in your explanation." Shino said.

"Of course you would believe that we would betray you. That is why your team will be holding the map here as guarantee that we don't double-cross you." Samui said, "And I always say 'The hardest place to reach may indeed hold the most valuable item'. It's a gut feeling that shrine across the river holds the map you will need."

Shino studied her closely before nodding. "Very well, You will lead me to the shrine by yourself and if you're teammates follow us or hurt my comrades further I will not be so kind as to let you walk away again."

"Duly noted. So we have a deal." Samui said extending her hand out to him.

"Deal." Shino said shaking her hand.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Naruko was sitting beside a still resting Hinata who still looked a little pale which had Naruko upset because she couldn't use her healing jutsu on her. The young blonde girl had her fist balled tightly together as she watched over her friend/teammate.

"Damn that snake bastard! Whatever he did caused my chakra to be totally out of sync and poor Hina-chan is the one who has to suffer for it! I swear when I face that guy again he's going to pay!"

Sasuke was sitting from his team with his arms crossed under his chin as he replayed Shikamaru's warning in his mind. Clenching his teeth tightly in a snarl as he fought off the pain in his neck from the curse mark. "Dammit get control of yourself! I have to stay focus so I can get us through this stupid test" he scolded himself.

It had been five hours since Hinata fell asleep meaning the second day since they entered the Forest of Death was almost over. Sasuke knew he had to let Hinata rest more to gain back her chakra and stamina, but if they did that they might not make it to rendezvous point in the time limit given to them.

"Dobe let me see the map. We haven't even opened it yet to see where we needed to go yet" he said walking over to her.

Naruko looked up at him before grabbing the map and handing it to him. "Here. See if you can find the place we need to go. I'm going to head out to get some more herbs for Hinata to help relieve some of her fatigue and pain. If I'm not back in ten minutes switch out her rag with a new one and give her some more water" she tells him as she leaves.

"Alright...but hurry." Sasuke said not feeling comfortable being alone with anyone at the moment.

"Naturally." Naruko said with a smile as she dashes off.

After Naruko dashed off, Sasuke opened the scroll. Inside the scroll showed a map and instructions.

"Congratulations you maggots! Whoever found this map will be allowed to proceed to the final area. To get the final destination point designated on the map below. Once you arrive at this point you will be directed to where you and your team will have to wait for the exam to be called to an end. So once again congrats on not dying and I hope to see you soon!

Sincerely, Anko Mitarashi

"Why do I get the feeling there's more to this then that nut is letting on?" Sasuke growled to himself after finish reading the paragraph. As he began to study the map he heard a small whimper.

Hinata let out another whimper as she turned in her sleep showing she was in pain. Sasuke tensed up not knowing what you do to help her.

"Of all the times to leave me alone you dobe" he growled to himself.

"Looks like you could uses a hand. Do you mind if I check on her?" came a soft voice from behind them.

Sasuke suddenly went on alert and face the new person with a kunai raised coming face to face with Kabuto.

"Whoa, whoa calm down Sasuke-kun. I'm not here to fight" Kabuto said holding his hands up in defense.

Sasuke kept his eyes narrowed. "Why are you here then?" he demanded.

"I was on my way back to my team until I noticed your injured friend. I'm not like most ninja who would just attack you guys. I do kind of owe Naruko-chan from helping me in the beginning of the exam" Kabuto said.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed at the man and thought about it for a while. "You want to heal Hinata, right? I'm trusting you to her, but if you do anything bad to her…"

"I promise, I will heal her and nothing more." Kabuto said.

"Okay." Sasuke said stepping out of the way to let Kabuto get to Hinata.

Kabuto kneeled besides the resting Hyuga. Taking a deep breath Kabuto allowing a bright green aura covered his hands that he placed over Hinata to let the energy flow into her.

Sasuke watched dutifully next to them watching to make sure he was doing anything to hurt Hinata. As the treatment continued the Uchiha noticed that the pain in Hinata's face reside and the color was returning too. Soon Hinata looked much better and she was resting much more easily.

Naruko soon returned as soon as Kabuto finished healing Hinata up. "Kabuto-san? What are you doing here?" she asked setting her herbs down.

"Oh, hello again, Naruko-chan." Kabuto greeted politely, "I had to find a way to thank you for helping me get this far, so I gladly healed up your injured friend. I must say she looks to have gone through a very brutal fight."

"She did. Thank you so much I'm a little out of commission at the moment when it comes to my healing. I didn't know you knew medical ninjutsu" she said going to check on Hinata happy to see her fever was gone and her pulse was relaxed.

"Yes I dabble a little in medical ninjutsu and it was no trouble. I hope she gets to feeling better when she wakes up. I hate to leave, but I need to get back to my team, hope to see you all in the finals" Kabuto said getting ready to leave.

"Of course we'll be there. Bye Kabuto-san thank you again" Naruko said smiling at him gratefully.

"Anytime. Good day" Kabuto said leaving them.

Naruko was smiling as she went back to making the medicine. "I'm so happy Hinata's going to be okay. She should be waking up soon too. Did you find anything out when you opened the scroll?"

"Yeah." Sasuke said showing her the map, "We just need to get to the destination point indicated on here before the exam ends."

"Okay. How much time do we have left?" she asked.

"I say we have ten hours left. We were given three days and the test began at about 5 o'clock yesterday. Guessing by the position of the sun I say it's about seven now meaning were going to have to trek through the forest in the dark" he tells her.

"Travel at night? Will we even be able to see?" she asked.

"Better than failing the test." Sasuke said.

Naruko looked a little uncertain, but she knew he was right. "Okay I'll be finished making this in a little bit when I'm done we can wake Hinata up and make what little sunlight we have left useful."

"Good." Sasuke said still staying on guard in the event of a surprise attack.

After Naruko finished mixing the herbs together to create her heal slave and putting it up she moved over to Hinata and gently woke her up.

Hinata gently blinked open her eyes to see Naruko smiling warmly at her which made her smile too. "Was I asleep too long?"

"Nah~ you deserved your rest. How you feeling?" she asked helping sit her up.

"I feel fine...better really" Hinata said stretching her arms out.

"Good. We need to get going though so we can reach our destination on time." Naruko said.

"Okay. Let's get going then." Hinata said getting up to her feet.

Sasuke waited for them to join him. "Ready to go?" He asked as the two girls nodded in response. "Alright, then let's get moving. We've got a lot of ground to cover."

With that the three of them left off at quick speeds.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Sasuke looked at the map though it was hard to see it with it being so dark out. "Okay I think we're close, but be sure to stay close and be ready."

"Look who you're talking to. I'm ready for anything." Naruko said.

"Of course you are, dobe." Sasuke muttered looking at the scroll to see that words were appearing on it. "What the?"

"What happening teme?" Naruko asked looking over his shoulder.

"I think it's another message?" Hinata said reading the new message. "It says 'Face towards the light. A path will enlighten your way'" she read.

Naruko looked completely lost. "What the hell does that mean?"

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Dobe you really are an idiot" he said turning towards the moonlight and held the map up.

When the moonlight hit the scroll a light beam touched the ground beneath them. Bending down Sasuke wiped away the dirt to see a spell tag buried underneath. Picking up the spell tag caused popping sound to echo in the night air. Turning towards the sound team seven saw an underground passage to reveal itself.

Naruko looked at the stairway with suspicious eyes. "Anyone else getting a bad vibe from this?"

"Yes, but sadly we have no choice but to go down there." Sasuke said.

Naruko sighed. "Damn, I hate it when you're right. Well here goes nothing" she said taking the first step into the passageway.


Lazyfox: So was that worth the wait? I hope so because that chapter literally hurt my head. I wanted to be original/creative with the story, but also be faithful to Kishi's amazing story.

Magic: *Crying in the corner* It was so good~ Nii-chan I love you TT^TT

Lazyfox: Yay~ he hasn't seen me in a while so he's emotional. I love you too Ototo-chan *hugs her crying little brother* Oh yea please go Support Jurabi's story he's a really awesome writer and I'm not going to lie during my absence I was helping him a little bit so if angry mobs might come my way...You can send some his way too ^w^

Jurabi: Ah really?! Well I wouldn't blame them. I had you ensnared and so stuck into my 'One Piece: New Straw Hat Pirates story' (read *cough* that *cough* bytheway *cough*) that I guess you couldn't get back to your Naruto mood.

Lazyfox: I have a character in there! I love Onepiece~ Its life and love. Just like Naruto so put the pitchforks down people!

Jurabi: Right and enjoy chapter 43 also known as Tamiko's Past: Moonrock Valley! You'll love it :DDDDD It has beautiful sunsets, love and romance, and elephants. You'll love it :DDDDD Hehehe….I'm such a sadist...

Lazyfox: He's not lying about the Sadist part. Everything else I'll let you figure that out on you own... T^T My poor sweet little Tami-chan~ Okay I'm get on out of here guys. I hope you all had an awesome Mother's day, Father's day and upcoming Fourth of July!

Jurabi: That's right. I hope you have a good day and good night wherever you are. Goodbye! :D

Lazyfox: Well, until next time...

Everyone: JAA-NEE!