Chapter 23: Orochimaru Part 3: Burden!

It was known that Orochimaru was previously part of the Leaf Village. However, the part that was mostly unknown was that of his childhood. When he was younger, the landscape of the Leaf Village was an adventure to him. The forests, the jungles, the hidden secrets. And it's never changing geography. It was something he learned and memorized to his advantage. It goes without saying he had ways to exploits certain areas. And one of those areas was the Forest of Death.

He glided seamlessly through the forest, with the natural grace of a dancer. His feet almost never touching the branches, or so it would appear by a bystander. A sadistic smile never leaving his feature as he felt his target closer. Even though there was a major setback, it only made it more fun. Frustrating, but fun nevertheless. It seemed that his Uchiha target was traveling in a pack, which was just his luck. This generation had a lot of heirs taking part in the exam; Orochimaru knew chances were that his traveling companions were made up of heirs. He licked his lips and did a side glanced over his shoulder making sure Kabuto was still following behind him.

Four shadows dropped in front of Kabuto, blocking him from advancing. Having ANBUs intervene meant time was running out. Kabuto nodded in the direction of his sensei as if saying that he'll catch up later. Orochimaru whipped his head back to the path in front of him. There was no room for games. No time for the presentation of power. He would just have to go in, and in one quick swoop, snatch the boy.

Chouji sat on a branch of a tree, one arm hugging an assortment of fruits he had previously picked. While one hand took bites out of a peach. It was finally morning, and he was on the lookout while Ino and Shikamaru decided on their next move. His teammates were standing on a small forest clearing. Ino with her hand on her waist and Shikamaru with a scowl on his face. They had tried to find opponents who were weaker than them. But so far, they hadn't had any luck. There was a team with some red-headed guy who took most of the other weaker teams out.

"Shikamaru, you might not want to hear it, but the only team we might have a chance against is Hinata's team," Ino said earning a look of disbelief from his teammates.

"What about Sasuke's team?" Chouji said, almost timidly.

"Are you saying you think Sasuke's team is weaker than us?!" Ino asked, accusingly.

"That's not what I'm saying at all..." Chouji replied.

"I can't betray my Sasuke like that!" Ino paused to upon seeing Shikamaru merely crossing his arm and stood his ground, challenging her. "What? We all made an agreement with team 8 that if we run out of options, we'll go after one another."

"You're so fickle. Just a few days ago you were willing to let Sasuke and his team fail the exam." Shikamaru decided not to remain quiet after all.

"Hinata told you about that?!" Ino asked. She took a moment to sigh. "What happened to the new and improved you who said you didn't want to waste energy on debating?"

"Alright, I apologize for irritating you." Shikamaru said sarcastically, effectively ending the banter.

Chouji's attention hadn't been on them for some time. Seconds ago, he had noticed an insect flying in front of him. Once the insect knew it had his attention, said insect started gliding in the air side to side. Confused at this, Chouji only assumed that it wanted a bite of his food.

"No, go gather your own food!" Chouji said to the insect.

This got Ino and Shikamaru's attention.

"Who are you talking to?" Ino asked.

"Shino's bug, I think it's trying to challenge me."

"I don't think that's the case at all," Shikamaru commented. "It's warning us about something."

"Hinata's team might be in trouble! Remember the guy with the red hair?" Ino said. Choiji stopped eating, having lost his appetite.

"Then let's go!" Chouji said, dropping his food on the ground, no longer caring about it. "Show us the way, Mr. Bug!"

Most chunins and Jounins were tasked with making sure no one enters or leaves the village alive. Upon hearing this, the leaders inside the room made sure to make their concerns be heard. Their main worry was their children. They were still out there inside the forest of death.

Shikaku rubbed his temple, trying to ease a migraine he was getting from hearing everyone talk over one another. He would probably never understand why the Hokage does random things that creates chaos. It would've been better to keep this operation small. But he understood that meant getting Danzo involved. He sighed and walked over to the Hokage's desk and turned his head towards everyone.

"Orochimaru is a single target with many minions under his command. Ino-Shika-Cho is going into the forest and escort as many genins as we can back to safety. It goes without saying we will be biased and probably try to find our kids before moving to someone's else." He said dryly. As he was done speaking, twenty kunais had been thrown his way. The Hokage, who happened to also be standing in the same trajectory, ended pierced by a single Kunai. His hand casually removed the kunai which struck his robe, but not his skin.

The Hokage sighed. Whenever they get together, is almost like they revert to children themselves.

Tsume Inuzuka moved through the crow and slammed her fist down on the Hokage's desk and glared at Shikaku for dodging.

"Oi, you better make Kiba your priority or I'll make sure you regret it."

Chouji's dad, ever the peacekeeper, placed an arm on her shoulder.

"We'll do, Tsume."

No one seemed to address her behavior as it was common to them by now.

Inoichi merely smirked. It was so like Shikaku to want to stir things up with Tsume, even though conflicts were a nuisance. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that Tsume and Shikaku had been close childhood friends at some point.

Inoichi pushed himself off the wall and was the first one out the door, followed by Choza and Shikaku.

After they were gone, Tsume turned her heavy gaze to Hiashi, expectantly. She was never good at talking with the Hyuga clan. But if their children could work together as a team, why can't they?

Hiashi nearly froze, having misunderstood her intention. He believed he might possibly be her next target as Hinata and Kiba were on the same team. He decided not to add to her already tarnished mood.

"I'll send my most capable eyes to aid you, lady Tsume." Hiashi said as impassive as he could be.

She raised an eyebrow, curious as to why he was leaving the safety of his daughter at the hands of others.

"Never seen someone so eager to miss out on the action." She commented.

"Just like the lord third Hokage sends his soldier, I send my own in my stead." He replied.

"-Actually," As a cue, Hiruzen walked to the window to stare outside. "I can't ignore this opportunity which presented itself. Orochimaru is my burden." He then turned around and addressed all the pair of eyes that were on him.

"The Hyagas of your choosing will be under the command of Shibi Aburame." The Hokage said to Hiashi. "As for you, Shibi, your goal is to make sure the citizens are safe. Orochimaru seems to like to kidnap human lives and experiment with them. It's important that everyone is accounted for."

Hiruzen then turned to Tsume. "You will follow me into battle." Tsume grinned smugly at this, at the chance to be chosen by the Hokage himself as his backup.

Hiashi and Shibi did not object with the arrangement. Without Shikaku around, Tsume was likely to get out of control and not follow anyone's order.

Sumo is: Thank you! I am excited to still have you as a reader. Here's another update because I was afraid the flow will leave me. (I don't know when I'll go dormant again.)