(And welcome to my next update, everyone. Hope you enjoy it.)
As squad seven was facing down someone riding atop a giant snake, they looked like they were at the ends of their ropes, until...
"Fire Ball Jutsu!" the giant snake was hit by three fire ball blasts throwing it off focus causing the one riding it to jump to another tree branch, while the snake poofed away.
Team Kappa landed beside Squad Seven, as Naruto spoke, "Are you guys ok?"
"We're fine, thanks." Sakura said in relief.
"What's going on here?" Hun inquired.
"We were attacked by this lone grass ninja who seems to be particularly interested in Sasuke." Sai explained, as all eyes fell on Sasuke.
"An admirer?" Karai asked rhetorically.
"If only." he replied.
The two teams looked at the ninja who dropped down to the branch they were standing on, "So Foot Clan shinobi? This is a treat."
Naruto squinted, "I don't think you're really a grass ninja."
"Oh?"
"Naruto, what do you mean?" Sakura asked.
"I've done countless research before during and outside the academy. And snake summonings aren't exactly a common summoning for just anybody. Very few actually exist who can. But one person I know exists that has been known to be partial to snakes."
"Who?" Sai asked.
Naruto squinted, "Orochimaru, one of the legendary Sannin!"
Karai and Hun were shocked, while Sasuke and his team were confused. Their concerns increased as their opponent laughed again in a different tone and spoke in a different voice.
"How very impressive of you to figure me out so quickly," he began before ripping off his face to reveal his true one which was pale white like Sai and his eyes were snake-like, "I am as you say Orochimaru of the Sannin."
Karai spoke up, "You were once a ninja of this village, until you were discovered for experimenting on human lives!"
"You're spot on, my dear." Orochimaru smirked.
"But why?" Hun asked, "You were one of the best in Konoha, so why do such a thing?!"
"I am a researcher, and research requires studying and test subjects. And what I aim is something that can be done with the use of Sasuke and his bloodline."
"His bloodline?" Sakura asked.
"Sharingan." Sasuke squinted.
"Correct. With your sharingan I will learn all the worlds jutsu! That is why I am here. So be a good little child and give me what I want." Orochimaru beckoned him forward.
Sasuke frowned, as Naruto shielded him, "You want Sasuke, you gotta go through me!"
"With pleasure." Orochimaru reached into his throat and pulled out a sword.
"Ugh, that is sick!" Karai gagged.
"Naruto can you actually take him?" Sai asked.
"Not a real chance. If you all thought Zabuza was a tough shinobi, this guy is in a whole other league. But I'll stall, while you guys get away."
"We can't just run from a fight!" Sasuke argued.
"You don't look like you're in any position to be fighting!" Naruto retorted making Sasuke reluctantly sigh in agreement.
"Sasuke is mine!" Orochimaru attacked Naruto as the two engaged in swordplay, while the others made a run for it, "Striking Shadow Snakes!" he extended his left arm out as multiple snakes were released from his sleeve.
"Look out!" Hun called, as Karai drew her sword and started slicing the snakes before they could reach them.
"Keep moving!" Karai ordered, as they picked up the pace.
Naruto and Orochimaru continued to clash their swords, as the Sannin frowned, "I grow tired of your meddling, boy!"
"If you're tired, I suggest you lie down!" Naruto tried fighting back harder, but Orochimaru who had years of experience started fighting back before knocking Naruto onto his back while his sword impaled the tree behind them.
As Naruto laid on the branch Orochimaru looked down at him snickering, "I suppose I'll kill you first, and then go for Sasuke." he was ready to impale Naruto, only to sense something and jump away before many snakes tried to strike him.
Naruto looked seeing landing on the branch was the proctor Anko, "Instructor Anko?" he asked.
"You ok, kid?" she asked.
"Yeah. I'm good." Naruto said, as he managed to get up and retrieve his sword, as the two stared Orochimaru down who noticed the woman.
"Anko, my dear, it's been so long." he smirked.
Anko smirked back, "Wish I could say it's good to see you again, sensei. But then I'd be lying."
"You still have that sense of humor I always liked about you."
"You have some nerve coming back to the village after all this time!" Anko frowned.
"But I just had to come and see the newest generation of shinobi our village has raised. Particularly one I am invested in." Orochimaru explained.
Naruto spoke to Anko, "He went after Kakashi's squad and wants Sasuke for his Sharingan."
Anko hearing that automatically knew what that meant and spoke to her former master, "You'll be dead before you can get to him!"
"We shall see." Orochimaru disappeared.
Anko sighed, as Naruto spoke, "How'd you know to come here?"
"We found the bodies of one of the shinobi participants with their face stolen so I came to investigate, and wouldn't you know it? My former sensei was behind it all." she explained.
"Now what?" the boy inquired.
"I got to report this to the Hokage. You continue with the exams." Anko ordered.
"Yes, ma'am." Naruto confirmed, as Anko left, while Naruto took off.
As Naruto trekked through the forest he started slowing down, "I can't keep going like this. I need to find a place to rest." he told himself before going down trying to find a secure place to recuperate.
He eventually found an open tree trunk that didn't look like anything was living in it. He ducked into it and curled up inside as sleep crept upon him.
Eventually he heard the sound of birds chirping, and Naruto began to wake. He peeked out of the tree trunk and looked around, "Morning? I slept all night?! I got to find Karai and Hun asap!" he began to calm down and got into the lotus position and started to meditate. Using the technique he learned while training under his father he concentrated and cleared his mind of all distractions focusing only on his teammates.
With his mind clear he was able to listen harder and sense things better. He could hear the sounds of other shinobi in the forest, until he heard a familiar voice.
"Naruto!"
Naruto's eyes shot open and he gasped, "Karai!"
He got up and grabbed his sword before taking off in the direction he sensed her, "At least she's alive and Hun have to be alive." As he felt he was closing in, he was suddenly met up by his Foot Ninja comrades from before.
"Naruto!" Danny called.
"Guys!" Naruto gasped.
"Where are Karai and Hun?" Freddy inquired.
"I'm trying to find them, and I won't have you guys delaying me!" he answered irritated.
"Relax, we're not here to fight." Shinsho assured him.
"You're not?"
"We already got our butts kicked by you guys, we don't need a repeat out here." Freddy explained.
"Good point." Naruto admitted.
"If they're in danger we'll help." Danny offered.
"Thanks, guys." Naruto said, as they continued on.
Soon as they got closer they saw up ahead Karai and Hun and Sasuke were taking on another team of shinobi composed of two boys and a girl with all three wearing headbands with musical notes. As they were fighting Sakura was laying on the ground with her hair cut to shoulder length while watching as Sai was tending to her wounds.
"Those are Oto shinobi." Naruto noted.
"And Kabuto said that village sent the least amount of shinobi to participate." Freddy recalled, as they overheard Kabuto as he explained things to Naruto and the rookies from Konoha.
"Let's go join the party." Naruto suggested, as the four readied themselves.
Meanwhile, Sasuke, Hun, and Karai stood ready for another go at their opponents who had been fighting them for some time.
"You Foot Ninja are impressive, but even you will not stand forever." one of the boys who had his whole body wrapped in bandages save for one eye spoke.
"Same for the Uchiha here. Lord Orochimaru will award us gratefully." the second boy said smugly.
The girl spoke, "Dosu! Zaku! Keep your heads in the game!"
The first one identified as Dosu spoke, "You're right, Kin."
Before the two sides could engage again, Naruto and his other comrades dropped in, "Jeez you guys sure know how to bum a guy out starting a party without him." Naruto began.
"Naruto!" Hun cheered.
"You're all right!" Karai said in relief.
"Glad you all are too." Naruto said equally relieved.
Sakura looked at the others accompanying Naruto, "More Foot Ninja?"
"We're here to help." Danny assured her.
"You'll need it." Zaku warned them.
"Let's go!" Naruto called, as he led Freddy, Shinsho, and Danny against the three shinobi.
"Let's see how you like this!" Zaku put his arms out and showed these tubes from his palms that released a blast of wind blowing Naruto back but his feet landed against a tree trunk and jumped off it forming hand signs.
"Shadow clone jutsu!" he summoned a clone and the two landed back at Zaku engaging him.
Shinsho attacked Dosu who fought back before revealing these metal gauntlets he wore on his arms, "What're those supposed to be?" the Foot ninja asked.
"Let me show you." Dosu tapped one of them and suddenly Shinsho felt an unpleasant sound coursing through him.
"AH! MY EARS!" Shinsho strained.
Dosu laughed, until his head was impaled with a shuriken killing him, courtesy of Freddy. Without Dosu his sound jutsu ended and Shinsho regained his senses, "Thanks, Freddy."
"No prob."
"Dosu!" Kin gasped seeing her comrade killed.
She had no time to think more on it, as Danny engaged her before forming hand signs, "Wind style zephyr blade jutsu!" he sent a powerful just of wind that started leaving cuts all over Kin's body as she screamed. He body was cut up so much she died from it and fell to the ground.
"And then there was one." Naruto looked to Zaku.
"I'm not scared of you!" Zaku was about to use his air tunnels again, only for Naruto to dash in and slice them off with his sword shocking Sakura.
"Oh, my..." she gasped.
"He cut them right off." Sai said surprised.
Zaku cried, as blood poured through where his arms supposed to be before he died from the blood loss.
"Incredible." Sasuke gasped.
"Well done." Naruto told his comrades who nodded in thanks.
"Naruto!" Karai ran over and hugged him.
"Karai!"
"Good to see you in one piece, man." Hun said, as the boys fist bumped.
"Same for you guys."
"What was going on here?" Danny asked.
"And why wasn't Naruto with you guys?" Freddy asked Karai and Hun.
"We'll explain everything." Hun answered.
As Hun, Sasuke, and Sai explained everything to the other three Foot shinobi, Karai was cutting and straightening out Sakura's hair.
"Wow, Karai. How did you know to cut hair so well?" Sakura asked.
"My mother would do this for me a lot."
"I see." Sakura replied, as Karai finished before pulling out a small mirror.
"What do you think?"
Sakura looked at her shorter hair, "I like it. Thanks."
"No prob." Karai smiled.
"And that's what happened." Sasuke finished explaining to the others.
"Figures Orochimaru wasn't here alone." Naruto sighed.
"I can't believe you fought a Sannin, Naruto." Danny said in shock.
"Fought, yes. Defeated, no." Naruto admitted.
"Still the fact you held out is still something to be proud of." Freddy noted.
"Yes. A Sannin can rival that of a Kage level shinobi." Shinsho added.
"Yes, but shouldn't we check to see what scroll our opponents have?" Sai suggested.
The others looked in agreement, before checking the corpses of the three, until Naruto called out, "Hey, Karai! Hun! We got us an Earth Scroll!"
"Yes!" Karai pumped a fist.
Danny pulled out another scroll, "And we'll take their Earth Scroll while we're at it."
Sai then found something, "Sasuke, it seems these guys had two Heaven Scrolls on them."
"Which means all three of our teams qualify." Sasuke noted.
"Well, that's good." Sakura sighed in relief.
"We should part ways here, so we don't attract too big attention." Naruto suggested.
"Agreed. We'll see you all at the tower." Danny said, as he and his team vanished.
"Will you guys be ok?" Hun asked Squad Seven.
"We'll be fine." Sasuke assured him.
"If you say so." Karai replied.
"Good luck to you all." Naruto said, as he and his team took off.
(And there you have it. I killed off Team Sound to make room for the other Foot Ninja team. I'll see you all next time.)