The Chunin Exam Finals had arrived, and Team Cosmic Dragon was excited to begin.

"This is it, team," Nicole declared. "Today is the Finals, and it is time to show them the full power of everything that we have learned and more."

"You said it, sis," Naruto agreed.

"I can't wait to put everything I've learned to the test," Lincoln said, beaming.

"This is going to be awesome," Sakura predicted.

"I know, Sakura," Fu agreed. "I can't wait."

"Me too," Rin admitted.

"Let's hope we all make Chunin and show everyone how powerful we are," Juri boasted.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Juri," Nicole cautioned. "We may have come a long way, but we can't let overconfidence cloud our judgment."

"That's right," Sakura agreed.

"We have a huge journey ahead of us after today, and we have a powerful enemy we must face in order to save the world," Ami added.

"That's right," Akiko agreed. "Obito will pay for everything he has done."

"He will pay," Yamiko vowed.

They walked up to the stadium's entrance.

"Go get them, Team Cosmic Dragon," Izumo urged.

"Good luck in there, guys," Kotetsu encouraged.

"Thanks, you two," Nicole replied.

As they walked in, the stadium was packed, and everyone was cheering.

"Wow!" exclaimed Nicole. "Everyone turned out for this."

"No kidding," Lincoln responded. "It's as though everyone from the Five Great Nations came for this moment."

"They sure have," Naruto observed.

They joined the combatants, and Lord Third appeared and gave his welcoming speech.

"Welcome to everyone from the Five Great Nations. Today is a special day for you all, and we have a very special treat for you. It is the finals of the Chunin Exams. Now, two months ago, we had an astounding series of events befall our great nation of ours. Our own Nicole Knudson, Lincoln Loud, Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze, Sakura Haruno, Fu, Juri, Ami Mitarashi, Akiko Suzuki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Yamiko Kaguya from Team Cosmic Dragon have killed S-Rank Criminal Orochimaru."

Everyone cheered for them as Nicole and the team waved to them.

"Thank you, everyone!" Nicole shouted. "But we had to do what was necessary to protect the safety of the 5 Great Countries and to put an end to Orochimaru's reign of terror once and for all."

"Yes," Lincoln agreed. "Orochimaru was a danger to everyone on the planet, and he had to pay the full price for his crimes."

Lord Third laughs. "You're far too modest. We also recently learned that my successor, Minato Namikaze, has recently returned from the dead because of special circumstances, and we are grateful to have him back after everything that has happened."

"Yes," Minato confirmed. "It's good to be home, Hiruzen."

"I'm glad to have you back, dad," Naruto admitted.

"Me too, son," Minato replied.

Lord Third laughs. "Yes. Now, without any further delays, let the finals of the Chunin Exams commence!"

Everyone cheered.

The proctor for the finals was Genma Shiranui.

"Genma-sensei," Naruto greeted him. "It's been a while."

"That it has Naruto," Genma noted. "Wow! You look so much like your father. I can't believe some people are so stupid that they will believe anything."

"I know, sensei," Naruto agreed. "But we no longer have to worry about the disgraced Civilian Council meddling in our business."

"That's true," Genma agreed. "I'm glad they're gone. All right now, would everyone but Nicole Knudson and the five mystery opponents leave the arena." he shouted to the spectators.

Nicole remained in the arena, where she was up against five unknown opponents wearing black cloaks.

The finals began.

Battle 1: Nicole vs. Mystery 5

"Let's give them a good fight," Nicole suggested. "But first, would you all reveal who you are?"

"Certainly."

They revealed themselves to be the Sound 5, Orochimaru's Elite Bodyguards.

"The Sound 5!" exclaimed Nicole. "So you all are my opponents."

"That's right. I'm Tayuya of the North Gate."

"I'm Kidomaru of the East Gate."

"I'm Sakon of the West Gate."

"I'm Jirobo of the South Gate."

"And I'm Kimimaro Kaguya, Leader of the Sound Four."

"It's a pleasure to meet you all," Nicole said with a nod."Kimimaro, we have been looking for you."

Kimimaro replied, "Why is that?"

"3 months ago, we found a member of your family who had been kidnapped by Gato to be sold on the black market," Nicole explained.

Yamiko came out. "Kimimaro."

"Yamiko?" questioned Kimimaro. "It is you. I thought you were dead."

Yamiko yelled, "Kimimaro!"

They hugged for the first time in nearly a year.

"Nicole, I am forever grateful that you found her," Kimimaro said.

"It was my pleasure, Kimimaro," Nicole responded. "But, also, you don't look very good."

"Yes," Kimimaro confirmed. "I have a terminal, unknown disease that will kill me."

"Let me see if I can cure you," Nicole offered.

Nicole fired a stream of water and wrapped Kimimaro in it, and found a shocking discovery.

"That's no disease he has," Nicole clarified. "It's a deadly poison. Orochimaru gave it to him."

Nicole removed the poison from him and placed it in a jar. It was a purple liquid. The water healed his lungs.

The water splashed away, and Kimimaro could breathe normally again.

"I'm cured," Kimimaro declared. "But how?"

"This was the cause of your disease, Kimimaro," Nicole revealed. "You had a lethal poison in your system that was destroying your lungs. If you hadn't gotten rid of it, it would have killed you in less than 12 hours."

Nicole handed him the jar.

"Thank you, Nicole," Kimimaro responded. "I am forever in your debt, and I will go to the Leaf and tell you everything you need to know about Orochimaru."

"You're welcome, Kimimaro," Nicole replied. "You are more than welcome to join us. But that won't be necessary since we already know everything about what Orochimaru was up to."

"Of course," Kimimaro acknowledged. "I'd best get going. This is going to be rough. We have a lot to talk about, Yamiko."

"Yes," Yamiko agreed. "Nicole, thank you."

"You're welcome, Yamiko," Nicole replied.

Kimimaro and Yamiko left.

"Sorry about that," Nicole apologized.

"No worries," Sakon replied. "I can tell that they were family. Let's do this while we're still young."

Nicole answered, "Oh, I plan to."

Nicole then went Super Angel 4, and she was ready. "Let's dance."

Nicole changed the arena back to Earth's early days.

"Where the crud are we?" Tayuya wondered.

"This is what the Earth looked like 3.6 billion years ago," Nicole explained. "The earth was still too hot to support life, and the atmosphere was too poisonous. The oceans are forming, the water is scalding hot, and exploding volcanoes have erupted everywhere on the surface."

"This is amazing," Sakon uttered. "I had no idea Earth was like this."

"It is very interesting," Jirobo added. "I don't think any of us knew about all of this."

"Yeah," Nicole agreed. "I have us protected in a powerful force field that keeps the poisonous air and scorching temperatures out."

"Good thinking," Tayuya commented. "But there is no fucking way that you can win against all four of us, you bastard."

"Tayuya, watch your language," Jirobo admonished.

"Oh, shut up, fatso!" Tayuya shouted back.

"Sheesh, do you kiss your mother with that mouth?" Nicole gasped.

Nicole dashed forward and punched all four of them in the face with lightning speed. She fired an energy blast, and they all substituted and appeared behind her.

"EARTH STYLE: SPHERE OF GRAVES!" Jirobo shouted.

Jirobo threw a huge rock at Nicole, who grabbed it and threw it back at him faster than a bullet fired from a gun. It hit him, and he slammed into a rock with tremendous force.

"Whoa!" exclaimed Naruto. "That was incredible."

"That's one down," Sakura announced.

"No," Naruto answered. "I can still sense his energy signal."

"Crud!" shrieked Tayuya. "Use the Curse Mark!"

They had progressed to the first stage of their curse mark forms.

"Well then, it's time to kick it up," Nicole suggested.

Nicole released more power, and Jirobo exploded from the ground and dashed, and pulverized everyone.

"If this is all the Sound 4 are made of, it's pathetic," Nicole commented.

They became enraged and entered their Level 2 Curse Mark Forms.

"Impressive," Nicole noted. "So these are your Curse Mark Forms."

"Yes, and in these forms, our power is enhanced tenfold," Kidomaru explained.

"This is a great gift, courtesy of Lord Orochimaru," Sakon added.

"Your energy levels have risen significantly, and Sakon, I see you have a twin brother," Nicole observed.

"Yes," Sakon confirmed. "Say hello, Ukon."

Ukon greeted her. "Hello to you, Nicole."

"Pleasure to meet you," Nicole replied. "Let's see how they fare."

Nicole and the Sound 4 charged at each other, resulting in a tremendously powerful thunderous shockwave that produced an incredible gust of wind.

DISTURBED THE GAME PLAYS

Nicole and the Sound Four were really going at it, and thunderous shockwaves were emitted with every punch and kick, rattling Prehistoric Earth to its core. Massive explosions rang out as massive towering flames roared all over the planet and torrents of lava blasted high into the sky. The entire planet was shaking ferociously under the sheer magnitude of the fight. The fight was so explosive and ferocious that it was unbelievable.

Three hours later, they stopped, and Nicole was not even exhausted, while the Sound 4 was panting heavily.

"You all have given me an incredible challenge, and I commend you," Nicole concluded.

"We appreciate it, Nicole, but we haven't even begun to fight," Jirobo declared.

Nicole asked, "How so?"

"You see, our loyalty to Lord Orochimaru gave us another unique gift," Sakon continued. "After you killed him, Kabuto made us a promise a long time ago, and here is the result of that."

"Humor me," Nicole responded.

"We have witnessed many jutsu while standing by Lord Orochimaru's side," Sakon explained. "But, the ultimate is the Reanimation Jutsu."

"The Reanimation Jutsu?" Nicole wondered. "Don't tell me. Orochimaru killed all four of you and gave you a whole new level of power in the Curse Mark?"

"Yes, you are correct," Sakon confirmed.

In a flashback, Kabuto told the Sound 4 about how Team Cosmic Dragon had killed Orochimaru and how to harness a level of power in the Curse Mark unlike any other.

"Blast that Team Cosmic Dragon!" screamed Kabuto. "They killed Lord Orochimaru! I'll make them pay dearly for this and send them all to the Netherworld! How dare they!?"

"We want to get revenge on them for killing Master Kabuto," Sakon explained.

"Yes," Jirobo agreed. "We want power. Power as a shinobi."

"So it shall be," Kabuto answered. "Impressive for all of you. You will require a vengeful heart in order to access the next level of power within you. The Curse Mark's power will rapidly increase if you have a strong desire for revenge."

"What's the connection between that and the Reanimation Jutsu?" Kidomaru wanted to know.

"The emotions you four learned from overcoming your fear of death in that laboratory are resentment and hatred for Lord Orochimaru," Kabuto explained. "No, an even stronger feeling. I'm sure you vowed to avenge Lord Orochimaru one day, even if it meant dying in the process. That feeling you get when you can hate someone so much. When you are killed, you take it with you. that hatred for the person who killed you. You die believing that if you could be resurrected, you would only seek revenge. You will reappear as someone seeking vengeance thanks to the reanimation jutsu. You will gain power, unlike anything you have ever had before. Your consuming desire for vengeance will be the source of your newfound strength. Embrace that power. Take pleasure in it. Revel in its might."

Flashback ends.

"Today, just as in the past, we belong to Lord Orochimaru," Sakon declared.

A huge blast of wind blew at Nicole, and she sensed their energy levels skyrocketing.

"We are Lord Orochimaru's very own Seekers of Vengeance!" Kidomaru declared.

The four of them radiated malevolent purple auras of pure evil.

"The intense hatred and resentment that we feel towards you for killing Lord Orochimaru will allow us to unleash the full depths of our power!" Jirobo added.

"As things stand now, no one can stop us," Ukon declared. "Not even you!"

"And don't even think of lumping us in with all the other people you killed, you filthy piece of trash!" Tayuya snarled.

The skies darkened with storm clouds, and lightning struck everywhere, sending shockwaves across the land. Nicole wasn't even moved, and she was ready to face them, her aura stronger than ever.

"So Kabuto killed you and resurrected you with the Reanimation Jutsu to exact revenge on Team Cosmic Dragon for killing Orochimaru," Nicole understood. "You guys are all insane. It's time for me to take it to the next level."

Nicole's power increased even more, and then a dome of stars and cosmic energy appeared around her, exploding in a massive explosion of stars and cosmic energy. Nicole was changed forever. She wore black and purple clothes, had purple angel wings, and purple eyes with sclera that had endless voids of space in them. Her hair was long and black, reaching all the way down to her legs. She had a dragon with a star in its claws emblazoned on her forehead. She was now a Super Angel 10,000 Star Dragon.

"Let's see how you do against me as a Super Angel 10,000 Star Dragon, my most powerful transformation," Nicole suggested.

Nicole dashed forward and fired an energy blast, instantly vaporizing Jirobo, Sakon, Ukon, and Kidomaru.

Tayuya saw this and was scared of Nicole's power.

Nicole resurrected her, teleported behind her, and placed her hand on the back of her neck. "SEAL PURIFICATION!"

Nicole directed some of her energy at Tayuya's Curse Mark, and it completely destroyed Orochimaru's evil power within her and erased all evil within her. Tayuya fainted as it changed from black to blue.

The arena reverted to its original state, and the spirits of Kidomaru, Sakon, and Ukon, as well as Jirobo, appeared, and Nicole pulled out the Book of Vile Darkness.

"You three are damned and cursed for eternity," Nicole declared before chanting an incantation. "Aldruon Enlenthranel Vosolen Lirus-nor!"

Nicole sealed them in the Book of Vile Darkness, and their information revealed terrible backgrounds plagued by evil from the start.

Nicole carried Tayuya back to the lobby, where she had won her match, and everyone cheered wildly.

Kin Tsuchi arrived, and she noticed Tayuya.

"I take it you know her Kin?" Nicole asked.

"Yes," Kin confirmed. "She's my best friend, and I thought Orochimaru killed her." She started crying. "That monster lied to me! I'm so sorry, Tayuya! I thought I'd lost you forever!"

Tayuya woke up. "What happened?"

Kin called out, "Tayuya!"

Tayuya gasped. "Kin!"

They hugged each other and were reunited.

"Tayuya," Nicole stressed. "I destroyed Orochimaru's evil inside you with my power and purified the Curse Mark. You can now use the Curse Mark on yourself without any negative repercussions."

"Thank you, Nicole," Tayuya replied. "I'm so sorry. I tried to kill you."

"It's all right," Nicole assured her. "Orochimaru was a threat to the entire planet and had to be destroyed. He was the number two target on Team Cosmic Dragon's list."

"That's right," Kushina agreed. "Wait a minute. Tayuya, what were your parent's names?"

"Takeo and Harumi Uzumaki," Takuya revealed.

"I thought so," Kushina admitted. "You look so much like your mother. Harumi was my older sister. She and her husband left the Hidden Eddie to visit friends when it was destroyed."

"So, I guess we're cousins, Tayuya?" asked Naruto.

"It would appear so, Naruto," Tayuya answered. "I'm glad I have my family again. Orochimaru killed them and poisoned my mind with so much evil. I was a monster."

"It's not your fault, Tayuya," Nicole emphasized. "Orochimaru is to blame for everything he did."

"I owe you my life, Nicole," Tayuya replied.

"A life is never owed when it is saved out of friendship," Nicole explained. "That's what I learned from my father."

"That's right," Naruto responded.

"Yep," Lincoln agreed.

"By the way, Nicole, is Karin here?" Tayuya asked.

"Yes," Nicole confirmed. "She is now a Leaf Ninja, and she's here with us."

"I'm glad you're okay, Tayuya," Karin admitted. "I knew there was good inside you."

"Thank you, Karin," Tayuya said gratefully."All I needed was a little help."

"That's right," Nicole agreed.

Battle 2: Naruto vs. Gaara

Naruto was facing Gaara in the 2nd match.

"Let's give them a good fight, Gaara," Naruto suggested.

"I wouldn't have it any other way, Naruto," Gaara replied.

ADRIAN VON ZIEGLER'S WOLF BLOOD PLAYS

Naruto spread his wings and fired an energy blast at Gaara, which hit the ground and exploded, and Naruto used the dust as a smokescreen and punched him in the face. Gaara went flying and crashed into the wall.

Gaara was defeated with just one punch.

"Wow!" exclaimed Naruto. "That was short."

Genma looked over Gaara.

"Naruto wins!" declared Genma.

Everyone cheered wildly, and Gaara was rushed to the infirmary.

Feathers dropped from the sky suddenly and without warning.

"The Temple of Nirvana Genjutsu!" shouted Naruto. "RELEASE!"

The genjutsu was dispelled, and explosions rattled the village.

"It begins!" Nicole cried. "LEAF VILLAGE PREPARE FOR WAR!"

The Invasion Has Begun!

Continues in part 9