Chapter 9: The Cursed Mark
Rock Lee sat still on the cold boulder, eyes and ears focused on the darkening woods around him, trying to sort the ambient noise of woodland critters and wind in the trees from any sounds that could warn him of potential threats to his team.
His muscles ached for movement, for him to act, but his sensei had always held patience to be a virtue. To act just to act could be the death of a ninja. And so Rock Lee had waited for hours for the sun to set, only moving to keep his limbs from locking up.
A slight rustle of leaves caught his attention and he turned his head slightly, eyes narrowing for but a moment until he recognised the outline descending from above.
It was Tenten making her way down from her lookout post, elegantly jumping from branch to branch. "Few more minutes and that's it. No more daylight," she remarked. "It's gonna be as dark as the inside of a closed pot. How are you feeling, Lee?"
"My body calls for action," he said, jumping off the boulder. "I have been still for too long. It shall feel great to get moving again."
"Agreed. So, are we gonna move out?" she asked, turning to the third person present, who was leaning against a nearby tree.
He was a fair-skinned teen, smooth black hair hanging from his head, held back by his headband. His eyes where white, without pupil and only the barest change of colour separating the sclera from the iris. He stepped forth, commenting: "By now, most of our competitors should have tired themselves out."
"And they sure have been busy. Can't help but wonder who it was that brought explosives with them," Tenten remarked.
"All the more reason to be careful. Such devices make for fatal traps," the fair-skinned teen replied. "Let's go over the plan one more time."
"Really, Neji?"
"I don't want any mistakes," he replied a bit sharply. "We'll split up and canvas the area, find out where our enemies are camping. Evaluate which ones would make the easiest target. Do not engage, no matter how easy it seems. We meet here as soon as daylight returns. Then we will pick our target and strike as they wake up. Any questions?"
"I must confess, the sounds we heard earlier has caused me a great deal of concern for our fellow ninja. What if someone needs help?" Rock Lee asked.
"All the better for us," Neji responded coldly. "Move out." He turned and marched off, vanishing into the nearest set of bushes.
"Well, we better get going. Haven't got all night," Tenten remarked. "Hey, you okay? You're looking a bit tense."
Rock Lee's brows was furrowed, before he then turned towards her with a look of conviction. "I have made a decision," he declared. "Neji is clearly implying that if someone is in need, we should ignore that and use it for our own advantage. I am choosing to ignore that. I understand that we are all competitors and I will fight our rivals with all my heart. But I will not allow anyone to perish if I can prevent it. To do so would go against everything Sensei has taught us."
Tenten smirked. "Always the hero, eh? No, I get you. But still, let's try our best to win this round. Would be a shame to not get any further."
He gave her a thumbs up and a smile. "Do not worry. I will not hesitate to give this task everything I've got. For that is the path I have chosen to walk with you. To do anything less would be to turn my back on my comrades and the trust you have placed in me."
"Speaking of path, which way do you wanna go?" Tenten replied, looking around. "Neji went off in that direction, so I think it would make the most sense if I went this way and you go that way. Cover more ground and so on."
"That is a most sensible solution, Tenten," Lee noted. "I shall do just that. You be careful out there and watch your back."
"You too."
And with that, the two set off into the dark woods.
…
A jolt through her body woke Sakura up, her eyes snapping open and her head jerking to attention. She breathed unsteadily, trying to calm down her wildly beating heart. She looked around the hollow, then sighed in relief when she spotted her comrades. She raised her hand, wiping away the wetness that stained her cheeks.
Her sleep, what little she had managed to get, had been filled with disturbing and terrifying dreams. Of danger. Of snakes. Of her comrades dying, again and again. Each time culminating in her startled awake, fearing the worst.
But it had just been a dream. For now, anyway.
She careful crawled over and inspected her teammates. They had gone still, no longer writhing or groaning in pain. She quickly checked their pulses. They were barely even there, but at least they were still alive.
Her stomach rumbled and she fished a couple more balls out of their supplies. She ate them, never really tasting them, before making her way to the opening of the hollow. She had been up more than once during the night, each time forcing herself to check the outside, see what she could do to protect the camp, before crawling back in to collapse into tormented slumber. Her head felt fuzzy and her every muscle ached, but she forced herself onwards none the less. Her team was wholly reliant on her at the moment.
It was still quite dark, but in the distance, barely visible through the thickets, the red light of dawn was beginning to show.
She figured that in an hour or two, it would be light enough to move out. Then she could head for the edge of the forest with her friends and quit the exam. Maybe then her teammates would be able to get help with whatever Orochimaru had done with them.
A noise caught her attention.
Her hand was instantly at her side, ready to draw a kunai if needed. She slowly scanned the scene, seeking to identify the noise.
A squirrel crawled out of the thicket and stopped, sniffing the air.
Sakura exhaled the breath she had been holding, though she dared not let her eyes off the animal. She knew better than to just assume the squirrel was exactly what it seemed to be.
The animal scratched its nose, before suddenly running towards her.
Instantly, she drew her kunai and threw it, the projectile digging into the ground in front of the animal. It squeaked and immediately turned around, disappearing back into forest.
She paused, her muscles tense, before relaxing. She didn't know whether it had been a coincidence or perhaps part of some sort of trickery. But either way, the squirrel had almost blundered into her hard work. It had been rough making on it in the middle of the night, but she had successfully dug a shallow pit, filling it with sharp sticks and covered it with moss. A very basic trap, but if they were attacked, it would help her control her attackers' movement.
She briefly wondered if she was getting paranoid. But considering how often they had gotten ambushed through the first day, she could only conclude that it wasn't paranoia when people were out to get her.
She adjusted her wig slightly and leaned against the tree, trying to allow her body to rest some more as she waited for the daylight to take hold. She didn't want to sleep again. It dulled her senses and slowed her reactions. Not to mention the nightmares were driving her mad. No, better then to stay awake and on guard.
To distract herself from sleeping, she thought of her current plan. There was still a risk of them being attacked on the way to the exit. But if her theory was correct, the remaining teams would begin to move towards the middle.
And then she imagined what she'd do once she got out. First things first, she'd march straight home, hug her parents and tell them she loved them. And then she'd spend the rest of the day soaking in the local hot spring, maybe even get a massage for her poor muscles. And then she'd either got hang with Ino or, if she had managed to pass, go cheer for her and the rest of the Konoha ninjas.
She managed a smile at the thought.
She looked back into the hollow. Sasuke would probably be mad they had lost, but she hoped he'd understand why she had to get them out. And then he'd probably insist that this was because they all didn't train enough and that Kakashi would have to give them better missions so they could prepare for the next Chuunin Exam. And Naruto would probably just smile and say it was okay and thank her for saving them. Maybe declare he'd do even better next time, so much better they'd name him hokage on the spot. And then he'd invite both of them over for ramen.
She managed a sore chuckle. She could really go for some ramen at that moment.
….
Rock Lee landed on one of the thick branches of the forest and paused. So far, he had spotted three campsites where their competitors were hiding. One of which had everyone in it so badly beaten and bruised, Rock Lee doubted they still had their scroll. Still, they would make for an easy target, though he took no joy in attacking opponents who could not even fight back. But ninja life demanded pragmatism and he knew there were times where he'd need to pack away his personal feelings and do what needed to be done.
He looked towards the faint rays of sunlight, getting his bearings, as he let his inner compass turn him towards the meeting point. No doubt his comrades would be returning with their own reports.
A bird overhead flew from its hiding spot, sending several leaves whirling towards the ground.
Lee observed, then smiled. It might be unnecessary, but the need to move, to feel his body, was strong in him. Better to get it out of his system here and now.
He leapt from the branch, grabbing one leaf. He planted his feet firmly against a trunk, before pushing off again, catching another leaf. He continued jumping back and forth like this, snatching up the pieces of green, daring himself to catch them all before they could reach the forest floor.
He got ready to jump for the last one, when a sound caught his attention.
On the forest floor, writhing in panic, was a squirrel, something on its back beginning to emit smoke and sparks.
Forgetting everything about his impromptu training exercise, Lee jumped down to the creature, quickly identifying the problem as an explosive tag on the little animal's back, which was about to blow.
He grabbed the squirrel with one hand, ripping the tag from it with the other, then jumped away, cradling the critter.
Behind them, the tag detonated on the ground with a loud bang, leaving a smouldering black mark on the moss.
"That was close," Lee exhaled, before turning his attention to the shivering animal in his hand. Carefully, he began petting it. "It is okay, little one. You are safe now. That, I promise."
The squirrel slowly stopped shaking, but still looked rattled by the experience.
"It is okay. I shall protect you. You can stay with me as long as you wish," Rock Lee promised the squirrel, before gently placing them on his shoulder. Then he returned his attention to the smouldering mark.
He pondered who would do such a thing? It was cruel, but he doubted it was just some twisted person's idea of fun. Setting of an explosive tag, even a little one, was bound to draw unwanted attention. So the most likely explanation was that the squirrel had been roped into serving as a carrier for the bomb, to lend it an image of innocence. The blast had certainly been powerful enough that, had Lee not removed it quickly enough, he'd have risked an arm or a hand at the very least.
He rubbed his chin. Which meant that nearby, someone had attempted a sneak attack. And he doubted it was any of the camps he had spotted.
He looked in one direction. His team's plan had been to return to their campsite the moment the sun began rising.
He looked in the other direction. But his guts told him that someone needed help. And his Sensei had always insisted that while a ninja should have brains, they should always listen to their heart. And Lee's heart told him that someone was in over their head.
"Hang on, little squirrel," he informed his new companion, before setting off, running up the side of one of the great trees and jumping, using the branches to quickly cover distance.
If he was wrong and nobody needed his assistance, then he'd just be a little late to the meeting. It was always a possibility that their paths would take longer than expected.
And certainly better than him showing up on time when someone needed his help the most.
...
Ino, Choji and Shikamaru laid low to the ground, obscured from the surrounding area by the bush they were hiding in. It had served them well as a resting place, if a rather cramped one, shielding them from discovery by their rivals. And with the noises that had echoed through the gloomy woods both day and night, the three had been rather keen on laying low.
A faint rustling of leaves caught their attention.
"Think that was just the wind?" Ino quietly asked.
"Could be, but... No. I'm sure somebody's out there," Shikamaru remarked. "Maybe we can ambush them when they get close or..." He pushed himself up slightly so that he could peek out of their leafy hidey-hole, then sighed, burying his face in his hands, groaning: "Of course."
"Of course what?" Choji asked.
"It's Neji," he replied. "What a drag this is turning into."
"Neji!" the large ninja hissed in surprised. "He's gonna make mincemeat of us."
"Then be quiet," Ino informed him. "Maybe he'll go away."
There was a slight pause.
"I know you're hiding in that bush," Neji loudly informed them.
"So much for that plan," Shikamaru groaned.
"Wait, I have an idea," Ino said confidently. "You two stay put. I'll handle this."
Her two teammates exchanged doubtful glances, as she rose from out of the bush, undoing her ponytail with a pull on a string.
"Hello there, Neji," she greeted him a sultry voice, as she stepped out of the large bush. "I'm so happy to see you here."
The white-eyed ninja just stared at her.
"I must admit, the company has been rather dreadful so far," she continued in the same tone, leaning up against one of the big trees. "But now that you are here, well, it suddenly seems worth it showing up for this test."
He just continued to stare.
Ino giggled as she stretched, trying to get her clothes to accentuate her figure. "What's wrong, Neji? Cat got your tongue?"
Without a word, he suddenly turned and began walking off.
"Huh, wait, where are you going?" Ino asked confused.
"We have the same scroll. I have no reason to deal with you idiots any longer," he said, before jumping up a couple of branches and vanishing into the canopy above.
The blonde blinked a couple of times.
"Whew, that was close," Choji said, as he and Shikamaru exited the bush. "Guess we got lucky this time."
"We sure did." The black-haired ninja turned to Ino. "Seems like the honeypot routine didn't really work on him, huh?"
"I... That... What?" she sputtered. "I pulled out my best material and he just ignores me? Who does that? What's wrong with him?"
"Probably ain't his type," Shikamaru guessed, idly scratching his neck. "Or maybe he realised that the only reason you were acting like that was so that you could take his scroll."
"It was probably kinda obvious, yeah," Choji agreed.
"Still..." she fumed. "Whatever. At least we know we won't have to go up against him or the others."
"True. But if we want to win this, we should start looking for scrolls," Shikamaru noted. "Here's my idea. Anyone with two scrolls will head for the centre. Everyone looking for scrolls will do the same."
"So we should head for the centre?" Choji asked.
"Not directly. We'd just be caught between groups. I suggest we take a slow, circuitous route," he replied. "Likely, weaker teams will try to hang back and wait for an opportunity. Those are the teams we'll want to take on. Our combat capabilities are still limited, so we'll need to pick our targets carefully."
"Sounds like a plan," Ino agreed, as the three headed out.
...
The greenery slightly rustled, as a hand carefully moved it. Dark eyes scouted across the glade, eyeing Sakura, who seemingly had nodded off again. The ninja turned to his bandage-clad comrade. "So, Dosu, what's the word?"
The bandaged ninja had held a hand to the ground for a while. "As we suspected," he remarked in a gravelly voice. "Pittrap."
"Knew it seemed suspicious," their female companion stated. "That spot is way too sunny for how much moss grows there."
"Dumbass probably set it up during the night," the spiky-haired ninja remarked. "Too tired to notice. Might as well have set up a sign saying: Warning, trap." He turned to them. "So, we're taking her out first, then the two sleepyheads?"
Dosu nodded. "And I shall indulge your eagerness and let you have the first attack, Zaku."
The ninja grinned, as he crawled up into one of the tall trees. Balancing carefully on a branch, he mentally calculated his strike, before leaping. Flying out of the treetops in a shower of leaves, he dove towards the slumbering sentry, energy gathering in his hands to pulp her head.
Sakura's eyes opened wide at the sound of the ambush, her fingers locking around the handle of her kunai, allowing her to pull and throw it in one fluid movement. The blade shot through the thicket, cutting through a rope.
Zaku heard the creaking, his eyes registering movement out of the corner of his vision. A thick tree branch swung towards him.
The trap impacted against the side of his torso, completely changing his trajectory with a loud thwap. His eyes widened, as he realized it had knocked him towards the pit. He pushed his hands forward, releasing the built up energy.
There was a blast of air, which shattered the mossy cover. The force of the attack bounced him, allowing him to roughly land on the side of the trap. He grasped his sore side, practically feeling the bruise form. "You pink bitch!"
"You're one to talk, trying to ambush me," she replied, slipping her fingers into her tekko in case he attacked again. "I knew someone had to be skulking around out there ever since that squirrel."
"Clever," Dosu noted, as he and the female ninja jumped out of the thicket. "A semi-obvious trap to distract from a hidden trap."
"You knew?" Zaku asked.
"Had suspicions."
"You asshole."
"You're a ninja. You should be able to handle it."
Sakura let her gaze wander across the trio. It took her but a moment to register the three figures. She recognised them immediately as the team from the new ninja village, Otogakure. "What do you want?"
"Your scroll, of course. What kinda dumbass question is that?" Zaku asked annoyed.
"Well, sorry to disappoint, but you're too late. We were already relieved of our scroll," Sakura replied, carefully shifting into a combat stance. "So you're better off bothering another team."
"Well, what a shame," the girl remarked. "If you're telling the truth." A cold smirk manifested on her face. "But even so, wouldn't you agree that we're better off with fewer rivals around?"
Sakura tentatively took a step back, her heart rate slowly building up. "Look, we... I was gonna leave the exam once my teammates wake up. Please, just... Just leave us alone."
"We will. Once we're done with you," the spiky-haired ninja commented aggressively, cracking his knuckles.
"Kin, take the right side," Dosu ordered.
"On it," she said, stepping forth.
Sakura paused, her eyes shifting between the two assailants as they prepared to flank her.
Zaku paused, then dashed forward the moment she looked to his comrade.
And then something impacted into the ground in front of him, kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Huh, whahurgh!" he sputtered, as a foot lashed out, catching him in the stomach and launching him back.
"I hope I do not intrude, Sakura," Rock Lee declared, as the cloud settled. "But it struck me as most unfair that you would have to face three ninjas alone."
The pink-haired shinobi blinked, before turning her attention to Kin. "I mean, I'll take the help. Thanks."
"What the fuck are you and your stupid bowl-cut getting yourselves involved for?" Zaku growled, as he got back up. "What is she, your girlfriend?"
"Heh, no, that is not an honour bestowed upon me," Rock Lee replied. "No, I could not let you so savagely attack a weakened opponent. Besides, what you did to my new friend here was most cruel and unjust." He gestured to his shoulder.
Kin blinked. "Is that... The squirrel?"
"The very same. I found this poor little guy out in the woods, with your explosive tag attached," Lee continued, as he gently put the animal down. "And now, you will pay for your actions."
Zaku scowled and threw the first punch. Lee deflected it with the back of his hand and delivered a strike with his other one.
The youth stumbled back, clutching his face with a: "Fuck, my nose." His pained complaining was cut of with a kick to his abdomen, briefly stunning him, before Lee's heel slammed into the side of his head, sending him spinning to the ground.
Meanwhile, Sakura found herself fighting Kin. The black-haired ninja was a cautious and calculating fighter. She threw a high punch and Sakura blocked. But the follow-up attack came too fast for her tired body to react. She stumbled as the attack impacted against her chest, before another strike hit her brow.
She stumbled and scowled, as Kin stepped in to take advantage of the opening. The pink-haired ninja blocked the next jab, before delivering a strike of her own, hitting the Otogakure shinobi's shoulder with a metal reinforced impact that sent her reeling.
Kin leapt back to avoid another attack, grimacing slightly as she clutched her shoulder. The strike had been way stronger than she had anticipated someone in Sakura's condition could deliver. She flexed her fingers a couple of times, before approaching again.
Zaku spat as he pushed himself off the ground. "Alright, you jumpsuit wearing asshole," he growled. "Now you're gonna fucking get it."
Lee shifted his stance slightly, awaiting his opponent's move.
The rude ninja smirked as he felt the pressure build, before thrusting his hands forward, releasing a shockwave.
The other ninja jumped, leaping over the attack, which slammed into the greenery, ripping bushes apart and sending sticks flying in all directions.
Kin raised a hand to protect her face from stray projectiles, before yelling: "Watch where you're aiming!"
"I'm trying to get rid of this slippery asshole," Zaku yelled back, as he fired another blast upwards at Lee.
The jumpsuit wearing ninja was faster, jumping from branch to branch as shockwaves tore into the canopy, sending down a rain of leaves and branches. He was about to fire again, when he felt a firm hand on his shoulder. He turned his head, meeting Dosu's singular gaze. After a brief moment, he looked away with a: "Tsch. Yeah, yeah, I know."
"Good. Then stop embarrassing yourself," the bandaged ninja said, as he rolled up a sleeve. "He's skilled. We'll take him on together."
Lee paused, eyeing the newcomer. And more importantly, the newcomer's arm. It was completely covered in metal, with the forearm being especially bulbous and with numerous holes in it. The jumpsuit-clad shinobi wasn't sure what it was, but no doubt his opponent intended to use it to gain an edge.
Sakura threw another punch, which Kin dodged out of the way of. The pink-haired ninja exhaled carefully, trying to maintain her steady breathing. Her body protested the action and she knew she didn't have the stamina for a prolonged fight. She had to end things quickly and then help Lee. She noticed Kin stepping back to increase the distance and she decided to use the moment, lunging forward with a strike.
The black-haired shinobi was prepared for a counter-attack, having hoped to bait the other ninja. She parried the blow and twirled around it, letting the momentum carry Sakura forward, before launching a kick into her back.
Sakura's eyes widened at the painful impact. She tried to turn to fight back, but Kin had already initiated another attack, the black-haired ninja's knuckles slamming against the side of her head. She stumbled and fell down on all fours, gasping for air. She tried to push herself back up, but her body refused to listen. She suddenly felt a tightening as Kin grabbed hold of the brown strands of her wig, before placing a kunai to her throat.
"Now, be a good girl and maybe we won't feel like killing you," Kin informed her.
Sakura gritted her teeth, but complied. She needed a moment to recuperate and as long as she had a blade to her throat, fighting back was liable to go horribly wrong.
Zaku raised his arms, firing another blast.
Lee jumped in response, the branch he had stood on splintering. This time, he landed on the ground and rushed for the black-haired ninja. His opponent had not seem skilled in taijutsu and used his ranged blasts as his most potent offence. Taking him down would be the easiest and reduce the battle to a one on one match.
Zaku tried to quickly readjust his aim, but the jumpsuit-clad shinobi was too quick. Lee attacked with a flurry of strikes, two of which were roughly blocked, before the third and subsequent ones slipped past the Otogakure ninja's defences. Sequential blows to head, shoulders and stomach made Zaku almost dance as he was beaten backwards.
Out of the corner of his eyes, Lee noted Dosu rushing in, swinging his metal-clad arm. He pulled his head back, just out of the way of the strike, the holes whistling as they went by.
Suddenly, it struck him like a whip, a sharp pain in his ears accompanied by nauseating vertigo. His dodge backwards became a stumble, as he tried to regain his sense of balance.
Dosu immediately rushed in again, taking advantage of the confusion, swinging his encased arm at the disoriented ninja.
This time, Lee blocked it, while landing a punch to the bandaged shinobi's chest, forcing a pained grunt from his opponent. Before he could land another blow, the migraine inducing pain blossomed again, causing him to flinch.
Dosu reared his arm back and planted it in the disoriented ninja's chest with force.
Rock Lee gasped as the air was smashed out of his lungs, vibrations spreading like rings in the water from the point of impact, making his muscles quiver like jelly. He stumbled back, ears ringing, head hurting and his limbs refusing to cooperate. He opened his eyes, as Dosu rushed forward again.
And then he jumped.
The bandaged ninja had only a second to open his eye in surprise, before Rock Lee's heel caught the side of his head, knocking him to the ground.
But Zaku was right behind him, rushing forward as Rock Lee unsteadily landed, the jumpsuit-wearing ninja's legs almost collapsing under him. Zaku struck forward with both palms, firing a blast from both directly into his opponent's chest.
Rock Lee was launched backward, crashing into the greenery with an audible thwunk. The entire glade seemed to spin and he found even breathing to be painful. He grabbed a nearby branch, trying to steady himself, his eyes watering and his stomach doing the most impressive flip-flops.
Zaku grinned and raised his hands. "Time to send you and your dumbass haircut to the afterlife."
Kin looked up and yelled: "Drop the one-liners and just finish him off, would ya?"
Sakura, noting the distraction, sank forward.
"Huh? Sit up straight, would ya?" the black-haired ninja commented and pulled back at Sakura's hair.
Only to stumble as the wig came off.
The pink-haired shinobi rose and spun in one fluid motion, her metal reinforced fist catching Kin in her midsection. Her eyes bulged in their sockets as she practically folded around the impact of Sakura's knuckles, her body lifting off the ground as she was hurled back. Before her opponent could even land, she had already spun and charged Zaku.
Dosu, who was still getting back up, noticed the incoming shinobi. "Zaku. Left side!"
The black-haired shinobi turned to face the incoming ninja. "Trying to save your boyfriend? How cute." He raised a hand and fired a blast at her. The moment it impacted against her, there was a puff, a branch bouncing back across the ground.
"She's on your right!" Dosu called.
"Substitution. Child's play," the rude ninja commented, as he turned towards her. "Think you can keep that up, Pinkie?" He fired another blast and the Sakura he faced exploded into leaves.
"Above!" Dosu ordered.
Zaku looked up, noticing his enemy descending upon him. He smirked and fired, before turning. "Now, where will you..."
"ZAKU, SHE'S STILL THERE!" Dosu yelled.
The black-haired ninja turned back, his face becoming a mask of surprise. While the blast had slowed her fall and no doubt done damage, Sakura had taken it and continued her fall. "OH FU...!"
Her fist collided with his head. His skull went down, impacting against the ground with great speed and such force that his legs immediately went up in the air, flipping him over on his stomach.
Sakura's breathing was heavy, as she tried to get back up. A sudden sense of nausea slammed into her and she bent over, evacuating the content of her stomach. Her body was cramping up and the great amount of chakra she had expended pulling her stunt had left her very close to killing herself.
"Well, that was an impressive trick," Dosu noted, as he sauntered closer.
"I'm... Not...," she gasped, as she forced herself back on her feet. "My friends... I'll... Protect them... Even..." She coughed again, a mixture of bile and blood staining her lips and chin. Her leg buckled and she stumbled forward.
Only for Rock Lee to catch her. "Don't worry, Sakura. I shall assist you still," he swore.
"Good... Because... Don't think... I got much... Fight left..." she replied, smiling weakly.
"Fucking... Bitch..." Zaku groaned in a distorted voice, as he began pushing himself back up. Blood flowed from his crumbled nose, his upper lip having split from the impact. Already, his flesh was swelling, forcing his left eye shut. He spat blood, a few fragments of teeth bouncing across the ground. "I'll fucking..." He coughed and spat some blood. "Fucking end you."
Beyond the pit, Kin began to push herself up. "Oh Sage, my stomach," she hoarsely groaned. "I think I broke a rib." She winced. "Or five."
Zaku managed a slightly lopsided smirk as he raised his arms, as Lee stepped in front of Sakura. "Time to put the happy couple on blast."
"Not so fast!" Ino yelled.
Zaku's remaining open eye twitched, as he spun around and yelled: "WHAT THE FUCK NOW!?"
"Geez, calm down," Shikamaru said, him and his two teammates having entered the glade. "We're right here."
Kin blinked. "What do you three want?"
Ino pointed. "You back off from my best friend right this instant. I'm not going to let you creeps kill her."
"Oh, come the fuck on," Zaku erupted. "Why does every fucking twat around here want to play the protector? First, it's this stupid piece of bowl-cut shit, and now you three."
"Because we Konoha ninja stick together," Choji informed him. "Now back off."
"Yeah," Ino agreed. "Bet you must be running low on chakra by now. While we're all rested. So you can bet we'll kick your butts if you try anything."
The rude ninja took a moment to parse what she said, then laughed.
The blonde blinked. "What was so funny about that?"
"Hmm, sounds like this is gonna be a drag," Shikamaru groaned. "I don't think they'll back down."
"Chakra? I'm not going to be running out anytime soon, you dumbass ninja," Zaku said and held up his arms. "You see this?"
Sakura paused and studied the flat of his hands, finally noticing something she had missed in the heat of battle. At the bottom of his palms were a set of small openings.
"What's that?" Choji pondered.
"This, you tub of lard, is the future," Zaku remarked. "I've never learnt a single one of your stupid jutsus. I had this built into me, allowing me to blast with the best of you. What do you think of that? You ninjas always think you're better than us, but everything that makes you special, turns out, you can just fucking make it." He smiled. "And unlike you, I don't need to burn any energy from my body. This machine just sucks it out of the environment. I can keep going all fucking day. So if you wanna throw down, be my guest. After having to deal with these bitches, I feel in the mood to bust some heads open."
"A machine," Sakura whispered. "I never imagined you could make something like this."
"It does explain things. He fights like a street brawler. They all do," Lee noted. "They probably all have enhancements like him. And it allows them to fight on the same level as us."
Sakura's brows furrowed. "What in the Sage's name is Otogakure?"
"That's quite interesting. Not to mention quite the headache," Shikamaru noted. "Still, I'd never hear the end of it if I suggested we quit. So we're gonna be sticking with fighting you." He turned his head. "Choji, you take Mr. Braggart over there."
"On it," the large ninja said, stepping forward.
"What, you're throwing the fat kid at me?" Zaku taunted. "What are you gonna do, try and eat me?"
Choji paused, then smirked. "No. But I will make you eat your words." Then he charged forward.
Zaku responded by lining up both his hands and firing a massive, continuous blast.
The large ninja planted his feet, holding his arms up in front of him like an x. The blast collided with him, washing over his body like a wave of water over a rock.
"Huh? How are...?" Zaku began with confusion. A feeling which only intensified as his opponent stepped forward. "What?"
"You're not the first to insult my family, the great Akimichi clan," Choji loudly stated, moving closer. "And you won't be the last. Doesn't matter to me. I'll show you all the power handed down to me by my ancestors."
Zaku now realized that only his continuous attack was keeping any distance between him and his angry opponent. "Dosu, help!"
The bandage-clad ninja moved to flank, but found himself nailed to the spot. "What..." He looked down, noticing that his shadow was suddenly connected to a different shadow. A long one that stretched from Shikamaru's position, where the other ninja held his fingers folded in a gesture of concentration.
He smirked. "Sorry, you're not going anywhere. We did a little spying before dropping in and I don't think letting you and your metal arm close to anyone is a good idea."
Kin scowled and raised her arm. Suddenly her eyes went blank and she stumbled.
Zaku stared as Choji closed in. "Kin, what the fuck is wrong with you?"
"Sorry," she responded, looking up with a smirk. "Your friend is currently taking a nap."
Zaku's eye flickered between the large ninja approaching him, his weirdly acting friend and then finally to Ino's prone, unmoving body. He had no idea how, but he did get an idea of what had happened. "Son of a...!" Choji's fist collided with his face, sending him reeling and interrupting his attack.
The large ninja took the opportunity and charged forward shoulder first, impacting against his opponent's chest and hurtling the rude ninja backward.
Sakura blinked. "Wow."
"That's Choji for ya," came a hoarse voice and Sakura looked to the side to see Naruto slowly crawling out of the burrow. "It's mostly muscle you know. Guy's as... As strong as a... A uhm... Bear."
"Naruto," Sakura said relieved. "You're okay?"
"Yeah. I'm fine... Let's... Let's show these creeps," he tried, slowly getting up, only to stumble again.
"Naruto, I share your passion and your will, but the body has limits that can only be pushed so much," Lee advised. "Please, neither you nor Sakura are in a place to fight. Let us, your friends, aid you for now. I'll protect you and I have faith that our allies will deal with these brigands."
"No, I'm.. I can..." The blond's legs buckled and he fell on his ass. "Maybe... Maybe you have a point..." he groaned. "I feel so weak."
"That's okay," Sakura said, as Lee carefully let her down next to him. "Ino and the others seem like they are handling this."
"Oh, you... You fat fuck..." Zaku groaned, as he got back up. "When I..."
Choji grabbed his opponent's wrists and held them up. "What now?" he asked with a smirk.
"Let... Me... Go..." Zaku hissed, as he tried to rip himself free, kicking the opponent a few times for good measure. "You asshole. Just wait until..." His words were caught off by Choji's knee meeting his midsection, reducing his cursing to a hoarse gurgling.
"Ino, any closer to figuring out what her thing is?" Shikamaru asked, feeling his chakra rapidly burning out.
"I... No... She's really struggling..." Ino in Kin noted. "I'm... I'm running low on..." The black-haired woman stumbled, then looked up with a furious expression. "You wanna see what my 'thing' is?" she asked, raising her right arm. "Then let me show you."
Shikamaru stared as her hand flipped down like a hinge, leaving the inside of her wrist exposed, revealing metal plating and a small tube. "Great. Just what I need." He broke the connection and jumped aside, as the wrist began rapidly firing something with a thwimp sound. Landing behind a tree, Shikamaru watched as the greenery around him was perforated by needles fired at high speed.
Finally freed, Dosu stumbled and quickly took in the situation. Kin had rolled up her sleeve to insert another clip of needles, Ino was getting back up, Shikamaru was in cover and Zaku was being beaten up by Choji. He rushed forward to aid the black-haired ninja.
Choji noticed the approaching enemy shinobi and hurled his captive aside to face him. He threw the first punch, but Dosu ducked under it, slamming his metal gauntlet into Choji's stomach. The large ninja gasped and stumbled backwards, clutching his mid-section, his muscles quivering and his bones aching from the impact.
Zaku pushed himself up, his every muscle protesting the action. With grim fury, he got ready to blast Choji from the side.
"Lay down your arms right now," came a voice from above, as Neji and Tenten stepped forth on one of the forest's massive branches.
"What? No! No! NO! NO! FUCK OFF!" Zaku screamed. "GO THE FUCK AWAY! WHO ARE YOU ASSHOLES?!"
Tenten looked to Rock Lee. "Hey, Lee, how are you feeling?"
"Slightly dizzy, but I am otherwise doing fine," he replied with a thumbs up.
"You idiot," Neji commented. "Why did you get yourself involved?"
"Sorry, but I found the actions of these ninjas to be unacceptable. They would have callously killed our fellow ninja. I could not let that happen."
Tenten smirked. "You surprised, Neji?"
"No, sadly not," he groaned, before announcing: "I won't repeat myself again. Back off now."
"No. No, I've fucking had it with all of you," Zaku hissed, raising his arms and pointing it at the newcomers. "You think you're better that me? YOU THINK YOU'RE BETTER THAN ME!? BECAUSE YOU'RE A NINJA!? I'LL SHOW YOU!"
"Zaku..." Dosu warned him.
"I'LL KILL YOU!" the Otogakure ninja yelled, almost frothing with fury. "I'M GONNA KILL ALL OF YOU!"
"No. You won't," a cold voice came from the burrow, low but clear enough that everyone heard. Slowly, Sasuke stepped out of the hiding place.
"You're okay," Sakura stated relieved. However, her relief soon turned to horror.
Black marks crawled across his skin, radiating from the mark on his neck, slowly moving to cover more and more of his body in a pattern of dark, jagged spots. His sharingan was active, the crimson eyes only adding to the teen's eerie appearance.
"Sasuke," Naruto slowly began. "How are you feeling?"
The Uchiha heir smiled, a grin bereft of warmth and care, containing only a sadistic, predatory joy. "I feel..." he began, a rapturous look coming over him. "Powerful."
"So, you finally show yourself," Zaku noted, turning towards him with a slightly maniacal glint.
"Back off," Dosu warned him. "We're in no condition to take on the target."
"Target?" Sakura echoed in confusion.
"I'll get you. You and your stupid ninja friends. I'm going to fucking..." Zaku continued, only to be cut off by Sasuke suddenly breaking into a sprint. He raised his hands and fired a blast, but the raven-haired shinobi leapt over it.
Sasuke landed right behind him, his foot launching out and slamming his heel into his opponent's spine.
Zaku yelped in agony and fell forward, only for his momentum to be halted by Sasuke grabbing his wrists and pulling his arms back, planting a foot on his back.
"So, you seem to be pretty fond of your arms from what I heard," Sasuke noted with cold mirth. He put pressure on the other ninja's body with his foot, pulling his arms back harder. "But what can you do without them I wonder?"
"What are you... Let go. LET GO!" Zaku yelled with rising panic, as he struggled to free himself.
"What is he...?" Naruto began with concern. "Is he...?"
Sasuke smiled and slammed his foot down, pulling back with his full strength.
A loud pair of cracks echoed through the glade, quickly followed by a prolonged, agonized howl.
Zaku rolled on the ground, screaming in pain, his shoulders shattered and his arms bent unnaturally out of shape.
"That... Will do the trick," Shikamaru commented, eyes wide.
Sasuke turned towards Dosu with a blood-curdling expression ."And now it's your turn. You will never hurt one of my teammates again."
The bandage-clad ninja stepped back, quickly weighing his options. "Alright, you win," he said, as the Uchiha heir approached. "I will surrender our scroll to you."
"Not good enough," Sasuke noted, stepping closer. "I wonder what would cripple you more? Losing that shiny arm of yours? Or perhaps your last eye? Maybe both?" He was suddenly stopped by someone wrapping their arms around him.
"Sasuke, stop," Sakura pleaded. "It's over. He's surrendered." She froze as he looked back at her, his eyes filled with a smouldering hatred. She shivered. "Please... Just stop..." she begged.
Slowly, the sharingan vanished, its colour fading to normal. The spots began receding, sinking back into the mark. He shivered and then collapsed, breathing unsteadily.
Dosu exhaled, then reached into his backpack. "As promised," he said, throwing the scroll to them. "Our scroll. Kin, pick up Zaku. We're leaving."
"On it," she said, carefully picking up her still gasping and sobbing teammate.
As the Otogakure ninja began leaving, Sakura paused, then asked: "You called Sasuke your target. Why? What is he to you?"
Dosu paused, then looked back. "I am not at liberty to say. But I doubt that will surprise you."
Sakura sighed. "No. Not really," she quietly noted, as the three vanished into the thicket.
"Hey, how are you holding up?" Naruto tried, crouching down next to them.
Sasuke, shivering and trembling, placed a hand over the mark, feeling the coldness radiating from it. "What... What's happening to me?" he asked with fear in his voice.
"I don't know," Sakura sighed hollowly. "I really don't know."