Chapter 13: Forest of death part III
"GALE PALM!" Zaku cried out as he went flying through the air and slammed into a tree and slumped, they looked in shock, Mamoru smiled as he looked at Naru standing there shaking.
"Naru." Shikamaru said with a smile.
Naru stood there panting hard, her body shook.
"You're finally up." Shikamaru said, Naru glanced in his direction.
"Naru, are you okay?" Sakura asked, she nodded slightly and walked forward and glared.
"So what, just one more to kill." Kin said and threw some senbon out, Naru dodged them easily, they looked at her in shock.
She sent her chakra out to locate the enemies but could only send her chakra out a little, she closed her eyes trying to tap into Kyuubi's chakra but couldn't get a hold of his chakra. What's going on? She thought, she heard whistling and her chakra picked up some shuriken flying at her, she flipped and dodged. I gotta be careful, with no extra chakra, I'm not gonna last long. She thought.
Kin launched at Naru, Naru pulled out kunai and dodged Kin's swipes, she felt her energy start to slip, suddenly a loud whistling sounded and Naru screamed in pain holding her head as the sound waves crashed into her ears, blood dripped from her ears and she couldn't move, she felt light chakra shooting towards her and cried out as senbon sliced against her and she heard a light ringing and bells.
'Bells?' she thought.
Out of pure instinct Naru turned towards the sound and she moaned as she collapsed but caught herself on her hands and knees.
"NARU!" She heard Shikamaru yell, she grunted and pumped what little chakra she had out and could barely make out Kin standing there, she moaned and got up slowly, she walked up and panted, Kin launched more senbon out. "Naru duck!" Shikamaru yelled.
Naru focused and disappeared in a lighting bolt, Kin gasped and cried out as Naru's foot connected with her jaw sending her rolling. She slumped and growled in anger, her eyes shining in anger, Naru moaned and fell to the ground, her vision blurred and began to fade to black.
Kin launched toward Naru pulling out some senbon, Shikamaru cursed as his exhaustion slowed him down from saving Naru, he watched as Mamoru snarled and slammed Dosu in the side smashing some ribs and his arm. The snow leopard launched at Kin and used his chakra to extend his claws, she screamed loudly as his claw caught her shoulders ripping into it, she slammed into the ground and slammed into the tree, a loud pop sounded and she passed out.
Naru moaned and struggled to get up but couldn't move, Mamoru ran over to her and nuzzled her gently, she shook in pain and looked at him.
"Are you okay?" he asked, she panted but didn't answer him.
"Alright, enough of this crap!" Zaku snarled. "Dosu, let's get rid of these second rate wannabees." he said and smirked.
"Then you must be third rate." they all turned and saw Neji and Tenten standing in a tree.
"More Konoha ninja's, they keep appearing out of the woods like bugs." Dosu said, Neji glared.
"Lee." Tenten said in concern.
"You blew it." Neji said. "You pummeled our teammate …." he said and closed his eyes. "No does that and get's away with that!" he barked opening his eyes revealing his byakugan, they gasped.
'It's like he's looking through us.' Dosu thought, Neji shifted then stopped.
"Well? Are you gonna come down and do something about it?" he asked with a sneer, Neji closed his eyes.
"Looks like I wont have to." he said, suddenly a large burst of chakra, they all turned, Sakura sighed in relief, as she saw Sasuke standing up finally.
"Sasuke!" she said then stopped as Sasuke looked up, black flame like marks were spread on the left side of his body and purple chakra swirled around his body.
"Sakura, who did all of this?" he asked.
"Sasuke-kun?" she said, Ino blinked in shock.
"It was us." Zaku said, Sasuke glared at him.
"You guys huh?" he said.
This is what the girl meant, what is he thinking?! Dosu thought thinking about his master Orochimaru.
"Sasuke-kun?" Sakura called.
"It's okay, it's power." he said flexing his hand. "He made me realize, I am an avenger, this is my path." he said.
"Who cares." Zaku said. "I'll blast you away kid." he said.
"Naru! Get out of there!" Shikamaru called from the bushes, she stumbled a little, Mamoru grabbed her by her shirt and dragged her away, she fell to the ground, he nuzzled her gently.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"I dunno." she said wobbling in place slightly. "What's going on?" she asked, Mamoru peeked up and saw Sasuke launch at Zaku and slam him into the ground before grabbing both his arms and jerking them up instantly dislocating both. "What did he do!?" Naru asked.
"He just dislocated both the boy's arms.
"STOP!" Sakura screamed and hugged the Uchiha making him stop, the marks glowed red and they slowly moved backwards and the boy collapsed.
"Please! Let us go!" Dosu pleaded holding Kin and Zaku up. "Here." he said and rolled the earth scroll to them.
"Wait! What did this Orochimaru do to Sasuke?!" Sakura asked. "Why did you attack us!?" she snarled.
"I don't know why, he just told us to find him and kill him." Dosu said. "I promise the next time we battle, we will not flee." he said and took off with both of his disabled teammates.
Sasuke panted and looked at his hands, he shook slightly and gulped, Sakura held him gently, Mamoru picked Naru up and got her on his back, she held him and moaned in pain, Shikamaru ran up to her.
"Are you okay?" he asked, she shook and nodded slightly.
Tenten jumped down and ran to Lee, Neji looked at Sasuke then at Naru and hummed quietly before heading down and grabbed his teammate with Tenten and they left.
"We gotta get to the tower." Sakura said. "Can you walk Sasuke-kun?" she asked, he got up slowly and wobbled slightly but straightened and nodded.
"Let's stick together." Shikamaru said, they looked at him. "We both need a heaven scroll, our chances double with two teams together." he said, they nodded. Even though secretly he just wanted to stay near Naru, he didn't like how pale her skin was and he was concerned with the blood from her ears.
"Let's get out of here then." Sasuke said, they nodded and headed out together dodging traps and animals.
They arrived in the woods closer to the tower, they snuggled down looking around carefully.
Just then a team jumped down in the clearing, Shikamaru peered and saw the Konoha hatai-ate's on their head.
"We need the earth!" one teammate hissed. "We got an extra." he said.
"Will you shut up!" the leader said. "We could be being watched right now!" he said.
Shikamaru bumped Ino, she nodded and slowly made her signs and focused. Shintenshin no Jutsu! She said in her mind before she collapsed, her spirit shot out to the leader, he gasped and stumbled slightly, Ino's spirit took over his mind and body and began to rack his information for the scrolls.
Suddenly her spirit was shot back into her body. "In the bushes!" he barked pointing, they jumped back.
"How?" she panted.
"I'm a Konoha ninja! I know about your jutsu's." he said and smirked.
"Fine we'll do this the hard way." Shikamaru said. "Guys get ready." he said.
"I'm tired." Chouji whined.
"Just think Chouji, the sooner we beat them, the sooner you can eat." Shikamaru said.
"Let's go!" he cheered, he smirked and rolled his eyes.
Chouji focused. "Baika no Jutsu!" he said, his body expanded as a ball and he launched at them, they dodged, he hit the tree and bounced back, the girl of the team cried out as she was slammed into by him, he stopped and blinked a few times. "Oh, I'm gonna be sick." he moaned.
Sasuke slipped up behind the team quietly followed by Naru with Mamoru, Sakura stood back farther just in case anyone tried to run and to keep her eyes open for genjutsu and traps.
"Ready?" Sasuke whispered, Naru nodded a little and reached for her fan, her head swam slightly and she shook her head. "Go!" he whispered, Mamoru launched out the bushes and tackled the girl, she screamed and struggled, he pinned her to the ground, her teammates turned and cursed and went to launch, Naru stood up and yelled swinging her fan knocking the other back, Sasuke ran through signs quickly.
'Katon: Hosenka no Jutsu!' the fire shot out and the remaining member jumped in the air dodging them and saw some movement, he watched Shikamaru's shadow grow waiting for him, he hit a branch and kicked up higher before his hand brushed some wire, he gasped as he hit a wall of wires and they wrapped around him pinning his arms together, he cursed and struggled as he hit the ground harshly.
The leader of the team got up slowly and ran at Naru who was wobbling a little, he landed a harsh kick to her chin, she cried out and hit the ground hissing in pain.
He launched at her with a kunai, he landed above her and pinned her down, she coughed and struggled to get free.
"Die!" he barked and brought the kunai down right near her face but he froze and cursed, Naru panted and shook in fear.
Shikamaru stood behind him using Kage Kubi Shibari no Jutsu, he cursed and sighed, he focused and a sickening crack sounded the man slumped slightly, Shikamaru got up and dropped the jutsu, he fell on Naru, she groaned in pain, Shikamaru ran up and pushed him off of her, she panted and shook.
"Naru? What's going on?" he whispered.
"I can't... m... my ch...chakra.." she stuttered and gulped with a whimper, he heard Mamoru roar and tackle the girl again to the ground before biting her neck and the other was caught in Sasuke's fire jutsu and burned.
"It's okay." he whispered. "It's okay." he said, she sniffled and shook, he held her gently and gulped.
"Got 'em!" Chouji said holding up the two heaven scrolls, he handed on to Sasuke and kept the other.
Mamoru trotted up to Naru and Shikamaru, he looked at the cat and nodded. "It's Mamoru." he whispered, he gently helped Naru up, she got on Mamoru's back and held him, he sighed.
"Thanks." she said, Shikamaru smiled.
"It's no problem. I'll always have your back." he said, she smiled at him before moaning as she felt her head spin slightly. "You need to get checked out."
"Let's go." Sasuke said panting. "Before anyone else shows up."
"Shouldn't we do something about them?" Sakura asked.
"No, it's casualties, Anko even said we'd start to die when this started, if you want to bury them then go ahead." Shikamaru said, Sakura gulped and nodded.
Shikamaru held Naru's arm as Mamoru walked next to him, they broke through the small brush and looked at the tower in relief and joy.
"Finally." Sakura said.
Ino and Chouji moved to Shikamaru who let Naru's arm go, Sasuke stood next to Naru and Sakura behind him.
"Thanks." Sasuke said, Shikamaru nodded and they split ways and went into their own doors shutting them.
"Okay, so we open the scrolls..." Sakura said, Sasuke nodded and pulled both out, he and Sakura opened them and he grunted in shock as it began to expand and smoke poured from it.
"Loose 'em!" he barked and threw the scroll, Sakura followed and she cried out as smoke shot out, Sasuke stood on guard but relaxed once he saw Iruka standing there.
"Hey kids! Long time no see." he said and chuckled.
"Iruka-sensei!" Sakura said in relief of the chunin sensei, he smirked and his eyes landed on Naru and gulped.
"What are you doing here?" Sasuke asked.
"Well I'm here to congratulate you all on passing!" he said and smiled, they sighed. "Normally I'd take you all out for ramen but we'll have to wait." he said and smiled then took in their beaten up look. "You guys look like you went through a ringer." he said.
"So, why are you popping out of those scrolls?" Sakura asked pointing.
"The spell on the scrolls was designed so that we chunin could greet the applicants at the end of the second exam, it was just pure luck that I got you all!" he said rubbing his head at the lie that he just told, since he had begged Anko to be their news bearer.
Sasuke looked at him then frowned. "What would of happened if we had opened the scrolls early?" Sasuke asked, Iruka smirked.
"Sharp as ever Sasuke." he said and chuckled, he picked up the scrolls and closed them. "This exam was to test your ability to remain within the mission rules and guidelines. You were specifically told not to open the scrolls until you arrived in the tower. Our orders were very specific, anyone standing around an open scroll was to be knocked out until the end of the exam." he said.
"Whoa." Sakura said and sighed in relief. "So, what are you doing here? I mean besides congratulating us."
"Well see this scroll above me?" he said then blinked a few times and cleared his throat. "I am here to make sure you understand it. See this message is sent directly down from Sandaime-sama." he said.
"What does it mean?"
"If the words 'Heaven' refers to the human mind and the 'earth' refers to the human body." he said and cleared his throat. "If qualities of heaven are your desire acquire wisdom and knowledge to take your mind higher. If earthly qualities are what you like you must train your body in the fields and prepare to attack." he said.
"I still don't understand..." Sakura said with a slight frown.
"Okay say for exam if you were slower in learning and knowledge, you would have study more and read books to do missions. And say if you were weaker physically you'd have to train harder in physical stamina and skill." he said. "Once you obtain both qualities of heaven and earth, no mission, no matter how dangerous will be a wrong path for you." he said. "You'll be walking a safe path even in the most dangerous of missions." he said.
"Well, what about that blank part!" she said pointing to the blank spot, he looked up. When both Heaven and Earth are opened together. The path of peril will be the righteous path forever and blank is the secret way that guides us on from this place today." he said. "The blank is what a chunin is, the word would be 'Jin' which means one person or all people." he said. "The challenge of seeing who would survive these five days was a part of the exam designed to test the applicants basic chunin abilities. And you all passed with flying colors! Chunin are the unit commander class responsible for leading their teams. They can only do so by a combination of intelligence and strength, I can't emphasize enough, learn it. Live it. Believe it from the bottom of your heart. Keep this in your mind as you more on to the next part." he said. "That's the entire message." he said and smiled, they smiled at him and sighed in relief, Mamoru puffed and Naru rubbed his head gently. "You all made it fairly quickly. Follow me and you'll get a room so you can get cleaned up and rest in." he said, they nodded and followed him out.
He showed them their room which they were going to share together. Iruka bit his lip as he watched Naru slowly sit on the bed and Mamoru nuzzle her gently. He turned as a knock sounded and Kakashi came in with a smirk.
"Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura said and smiled.
"Yo!" he said with a wave and sighed. "Sasuke, come with me." he said, the boy nodded and got up and followed the jounin out.
"Sakura, there is a cafeteria and a small supply place you can get soap and such." Iruka tempted.
"Oh thank goodness! I'll be back!" she yelled and ran out shutting the door.
"Naru." he said, she looked at him and gave him a tiny smile, he bent down and cupped her cheeks. "Hey, are you okay?" he asked.
"I'm fine." she said and sighed, he rubbed the blood that was on her ears.
"You don't look it." he said. "Come on, let's get you checked out." he said, he looked and saw Mamoru sound asleep, he picked Naru up and she rode on his back and he carried her to the medics office.
"What happened?" the nurse asked.
"We had a run in with a sound team, they hit my eardrums." Naru said, she began to examine her ears carefully. "You have a small sliver in your ear drums." she said pulling back.
"What does that mean?" Iruka asked.
"It means that you need to stay far away from loud noises for a while." she said. "If not it could get bigger and you could lose your hearing in this ear." she said. "Your left is just irritated." she said and turned she rummaged in her drawer and pulled out a bottle of cream. "I want you to use this ointment, just put it on a cotton ball and place them in your ears, leave them in for at least two hours." she said, Naru nodded and held it. "Do that four times a day for a week, and the wound should be healed and your hearing should be back to normal." she said. "I'll do the first one." she said took it and gently spread them on the cotton ball and placed them in Naru's ears gently, Naru nodded and took the ointment and bag of cotton balls, Iruka carried her back to her room.
"Can you still hear me?" he asked.
"Yeah." she said and sighed.
"Be very careful, I know you know this but... still." he said, she smiled.
"I will be." she said and kissed his cheek, he smiled with a blush and carried her back to her room.