(Yes, I know it's been such a long time. But I'm trying to get back into my stories here. So enjoy.)
After the run in with Air Terror and his drones, Squad Seven took shelter in a tree trunk to replenish their chakra and such. As they rested, Naruto was still in thought over what was going on with Air Terror.
'So Air Terror's not the mastermind here. Rather someone else is leading him and those drones. Question is who?' he thought to himself.
"Naruto?" Sakura asked grabbing his attention, "Are you ok?"
"Oh, yeah I'm ok. Just thinking."
"About Air Terror?" Sasuke guessed.
"Exactly. He's working for someone and that someone wants Optimus, Megatron, and the others."
"And there's no clue as to who this one leading Air Terror is." Sakura added.
"Precisely."
"You can worry about that in the morning. It's been a long day and we could use some sleep." Sasuke said.
"Right, but we'll need protection." Naruto noted, as he concentrated and summoned Tigatron and Inferno.
"What are your orders, my royalty?" Inferno inquired.
"We need to rest up for the night, but this forest is filled with dangers, including other shinobi teams partaking in the Chunin Exams," Naruto explained, "So I want you two to stand guard and on the look out for any dangers in the area."
"As you wish, Naruto." Tigatron answered.
"And should it happen to be another team, see if they have a heaven scroll on them."
"As you command!" Inferno saluted.
"Rest now, you three. We'll take it from here." Tigatron said, as he and Inferno took their posts and started pacing back and forth allowing Squad Seven to get some sleep.
The trio slept the night away, as Tigatron and Inferno kept vigil over the surrounding area. When daybreak rose, the two transformers reported.
"Nothing on my end." Tigatron told the Predacon.
"All clear on my end too." Inferno replied.
"Then we've done our job, let's wake the kids." Tigatron suggested, as the two approached and nudged Naruto.
"Rise and shine, your royalness!" Inferno spoke up.
Naruto groaned, as he opened his eyes, "Morning already?"
"Indeed it is." Tigatron confirmed.
"I must've really been out." Naruto yawned, as he saw Sasuke and Sakura awaken as well.
"I really needed that sleep." Sasuke stretched.
"Me too." Sakura agreed.
"I assume you're all prepped and ready to resume the exams?" Tigatron inquired.
"We sure are." Naruto confirmed.
"Then will you no longer require our services, my liege?" Inferno asked.
"You two go on back to base and recharge. We'll handle things here." Naruto dismissed the two who teleported off.
"Well, we're rested and all, but we still need to find a heaven scroll." Sakura noted.
"Right," Sasuke replied, "We'll search around and see if we can find any other teams."
"Then let's get moving." Naruto ordered, as the three headed out.
Squad Seven made their way around the forest keeping both eyes opened and looking around all sides, "So far it's quiet." Sakura told her teammates.
"I know. And I don't like it." Sasuke said suspiciously.
"Neither do I." Naruto agreed.
Still they proceeded with caution, until Naruto sensed something, "Down!" he yelled, as he and his team hit the dirt before almost getting nailed by a barrage of kunai.
"Close one!" Sakura gasped.
The three looked seeing a team of Stone ninja appear, "Lucky dodge." one of them told the three Konoha shinobi.
"Let's see if they can do it again." the second one said, as he readied more kunai.
"Naruto!" Sasuke called.
"On it!" Naruto summoned two shadow clones, as they engaged the one holding kunai.
The second one looked to Sasuke, "Looks like you're mine!"
"Bring it!" Sasuke beckoned him.
As the second one engaged Sasuke, the third turned to Sakura, "And I get the cute one." he snickered.
Sakura frowned, "Don't get any ideas!" she armed herself with a kunai.
The two squads fought each other with Naruto and Sasuke making good work of their opponents, but Sakura was having difficulty.
"What's this?" her opponent asked with a laugh, "Do you not have anything fighting skill at all?!"
Sakura didn't answer as she kept trying to defend herself only for her opponent to kick the kunai out of her hand, "Now you die!" he was prepared to stab her with a kunai of his own.
"Sakura!" her teammates called.
Before the Stone ninja could land a blow to Sakura, someone landed a kick to him. Squad Seven saw it was Kabuto who knocked the Stone ninja out unconscious.
"Hope you don't mind me dropping in." he greeted them.
"Kabuto?" Naruto asked.
"Small forest isn't it?" Kabuto joked.
"What're you doing here?" Sasuke asked with a hint of suspicion.
"Aside from also competing in the Chunin, I was out scoping the area around here."
"And where's your squad?" Sakura asked.
"I sent them on ahead of me with both our scrolls."
"So your team already has both scrolls?" The Uchiha inquired.
"That's right. Why you guys still don't?" Kabuto wondered.
"Not anymore!" Naruto called, as he pulled out the scroll they needed off of one of the Stone ninja, "We got us a heaven scroll here!"
"Thank goodness." Sakura said in relief.
"With both scrolls we can get to the tower now." Sasuke noted.
"Listen, why don't we go together?" Kabuto suggested, "I know the route to it. Believe me I've had plenty of time to learn everything about this forest during my several times taking the exams."
Sasuke and Sakura felt unsure, until Naruto spoke up, "I think it's a good idea, Kabuto."
"Naruto, are you sure?" Sakura asked in concern.
"Remember, we're all in competition here." Sasuke reminded him.
"I'm aware of that, Sasuke. But Kabuto saved Sakura. And it's just him here. Reckon if he'd even think about trying to pull a trick on us, we'd be able to handle him ourselves."
"Naruto has me there." Kabuto shrugged.
"I suppose so." Sasuke sighed.
"Then we better get going," Naruto ordered, "Kabuto, lead on."
"Right." Kabuto said, as the four continued on through the Forest of Death.
As they made their way, Naruto enlightened Kabuto of what went on with them during their time in the forest.
"Really? Well, those drones and this Air Terror sure weren't part of the dangers in the forest we were briefed out." Kabuto joked.
"I know, but we managed to hold our own until we had help to drive them off." Naruto explained.
"You guys must've been lucky."
"Maybe, but next time luck won't have any part of it." Sasuke replied.
"I admire that determination." Kabuto smiled.
Eventually they arrived at the tower where they saw two more shinobi waiting. The two looked to Kabuto as one in glasses spoke, "Kabuto, where were you?"
"We've been waiting forever here." the second teammate who had black ocular lenses.
"Sorry, guys. Got held up, but I'm here." Kabuto apologized.
"Thank you, Kabuto." Sakura thanked him.
"We really appreciate it." Naruto added.
"Hey, forget about it." Kabuto replied, as the two squads went in different entrances to the tower.
As Kabuto and his team entered through one way they were met by Orochimaru, "How kind of you to look after them, Kabuto."
"Well, I'm just doing my own job after all," Kabuto said humbly, "After all, that is my roll here in the Chunin Exams. To conveniently help others when they need it. Or if they're worth helping. Besides we gotta keep up to date on the participants in these exams. Especially if they're being targeted by creatures not native to this planet." he finished with his eyes squinting.
"I know," Orochimaru agreed, "Well, we need to keep an eye on things in case something more like that occurs." Kabuto nodded in agreement.
Back with Squad Seven, they looked around the room, as Naruto spoke, "We're said to open both scrolls when we reach this place."
"Looks like we should get it over with." Sakura said, as they pulled out both scrolls.
They opened their scrolls and dropped them on the floor, when poof there stood Iruka, "Hey, guys. Glad ya made it."
"Iruka-sensei?" Naruto asked.
"How'd you get here?" Sasuke inquired.
"Those scrolls you were assigned to obtain was actually a summoning scroll. When you obtained both and opened them together you were able to summon me here," Iruka explained, "And I'm here to congratulate you for passing the second part of the Chunin exams."
"Thanks." Sakura smiled.
"You three should go and rest up. I can tell you've been through a lot out there." the academy instructor suggested.
"You have no idea." Naruto replied, as he and his squad went to one of the room at the tower to continue to recuperate.
Once they rested, Naruto looked to his watch and activated it displaying Oracle, "Naruto!" the A.I greeted.
"Oracle. Sakura, Sasuke, and I made it to the tower. We completed the second half of the Chunin Exams."
"Excellent news, Naruto. I'll be sure to alert the Maximals and Predacons of your success."
"Much appreciated." he said, as their transmission ended.
Sakura got up and walked to the bathroom area where she looked into a mirror. She looked at how long her hair was in the mirror and knew she wasn't a real shinobi. Even with her grades and all her fighting prowess left much to be desired. Their fight against Zabuza, Air Terror and his drones, even against the Stone ninja made her see she had to change.
She nodded, before taking a kunai and cut her hair letting it drop to the floor behind her. Sakura then started straitening her hair out to make it even and clean. When she was finished, she looked at her reflection seeing she looked more professional and less like a pretender.
'I've got to get stronger just as I promised my teammates before. I won't be riding anyone's coattail again.' she thought to herself.
(And there you go. Much like Orochimaru not being a villain in this story, neither is Kabuto. Rather he is also used in the exams to gather intel on shinobi participants so they can keep their record books updated, and occasionally help a team every now and then. See you all next time.)