DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO (THERE'S A SNAKE IN MY BOOT!)
Ch.72 - The Chunin Exams: The Second Trial!
[Day3A: Strength of Thy Vessel]
- Inside Shi no Mori -
(New Base Camp)
It was a sunny day in Konoha (Hidden Leaf), though the sun's brilliance barely touched the heart of Shi no Mori (Forest of Death). The forest's dense canopy blocked most of the sunlight, save for a few golden rays filtering through the gaps in the leaves. The area was eerily quiet—serene, almost—but perhaps too quiet for comfort. What might have been unfolding in other parts of the forest mattered little to Teams 7 and 10. For now, they were wholly absorbed in their own struggles.
Three days had passed since the start of the test, and those days had not been kind. They had faced ambush after ambush, their original camp had been compromised far too quickly, and two teammates had been severely injured. To say the test was becoming tedious was an understatement. For both teams, survival in this relentless environment demanded constant vigilance and resourcefulness.
Thankfully, Shino and Hinata's conditions had significantly improved, thanks in no small part to Naruto and Ino. While Ino had done most of the heavy lifting with her knowledge of medicinal herbs and remedies, Naruto deserved credit for diligently gathering the necessary materials from the forest. Together, they had managed to stabilize their injured teammates, though the recovery was far from complete.
Ino had proven herself adept at treating poisonings—knowledge she had begun cultivating as part of her training in handling toxins. Still, she had been cautious. Antidotes were a precise science; using the wrong one could worsen the condition rather than alleviate it. With limited tools and no way to definitively identify the poison their enemies had used, she had wisely refrained from using her wolfsbane-specific antidote, fearing it might be ineffective or harmful.
Instead, she relied on natural remedies. She prepared activated charcoal from wood, knowing its ability to bind toxins in the gut. Mixing it with dokudami (poison blocker/stopper), she leveraged its reputed antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties to cleanse the body more broadly. To address nausea and stomach pain, she used a combination of mugwort and wild ginger. As for treating the wounds, she resorted to applying the plantain leaves that Naruto gathered directly to wounds caused by the poisoned senbon.
While these remedies worked wonders, Shino and Hinata were still far from battle-ready. Their improved condition, however, allowed the group to relocate to the new, safer campsite that Sasuke and Shikamaru had scouted earlier.
The new location was a quiet haven, secluded and defensible, with access to fresh water and an abundance of food sources. So far, things had gone smoothly. The teams established a night-watch schedule and solidified their plan to leave at dawn on the fifth and final day of the test.
That evening, the watch fell to Sasuke and Naruto. Despite the tenuous relationship between the two, Naruto didn't seem to mind the pairing. He shrugged off any tension and accepted the arrangement without complaint.
Sasuke, on the other hand, reacted differently. Upon hearing the plan, he remained silent, but a flicker of intrigue crossed his face. His dark eyes glinted with thought as an idea began to take shape. He kept those brewing notions to himself, for now, leaving everyone else none the wiser to what was turning over in his mind.
- Hours Later -
It was late in the afternoon, around half past three o'clock. The sun hung low in the western sky, its golden light spilling through the sparse gaps in the forest's dense canopy. Though the forest was still illuminated enough to see, time was slipping away. In a couple of hours, the forest would once again plunge into the shadowy embrace of night.
With the changing light signaling their turn for watch duty, Sasuke and Naruto were tasked with setting up ninja wire around the camp—an early-warning system to alert the team of intruders. Shikamaru handed them coils of wire and gave clear instructions before the two set off into the forest, leaving the others behind.
Minutes later, they had reached a good distance from camp, an area suitable for securing the perimeter. Sasuke and Naruto worked in silence, threading and tensioning the wire with practiced precision. Thanks to Shikamaru's guidance the previous day, Naruto now understood the intricacies of setting up the trap. Sasuke, naturally adept with ninja wire, moved with practiced ease, ensuring no slack would compromise its sensitivity.
Yet as they worked, Sasuke's mind was elsewhere. A thought had been gnawing at him since earlier, a stubborn itch he couldn't ignore. How much had Naruto truly changed since their academy days?
Back then, Naruto was average at best—mediocre in ninjutsu (ninja techniques), clumsy in taijutsu (body techniques), and far from intellectual in strategy. To Sasuke, the blonde had always been an annoyance, buzzing around with loud proclamations of greatness that rarely materialized.
But now, things were different.
Naruto's recent actions had caught Sasuke off guard. His growth was undeniable, his strength unsettling. And though Sasuke hated to admit it, the thought of being surpassed by someone he'd always dismissed as inferior sparked an uncomfortable sense of insecurity. It wasn't just about pride. It was about the gap between where he was now and where he needed to be.
He needed to be faster.
He needed to be stronger.
HE NEEDED TO BE BETTER.
Moreover, it wasn't a gap Sasuke was willing to let widen. And so, he made his decision. Stopping his work abruptly, Sasuke turned to Naruto. "Fight me," he said, his tone calm but commanding.
Naruto froze mid-task, looking up in confusion. "Huh?..."
"You heard me," Sasuke repeated, his voice steady.
"I heard you, but… Why?..." Naruto replied, his brows furrowing.
"What's with all the questions?... Do you want to fight or not?..." Sasuke pressed, his tone carrying an edge of impatience.
Naruto hesitated, unsure what to make of the sudden challenge. "I don't have time for this. Let's just finish setting up before it gets dark—"
"Coward," Sasuke interrupted sharply, his words cutting through Naruto's objection. "I should've known better than to expect anything from you..."
The jab hit its mark, sparking irritation in Naruto. He straightened up, glaring at Sasuke. This wasn't the usual cold indifference or dismissive insults he was used to. This was different. Sasuke was pushing him, and Naruto couldn't figure out why.
Part of him wanted to ignore it. They had a task to complete, and wasting time on Sasuke's ego-driven whims seemed stupid. But another part of him—one he couldn't quite silence—wanted to fight back, to show Sasuke how far he'd come.
"Fine, Sasuke... You're on," Naruto finally said, his voice tinged with determination.
Hearing Naruto's agreement brought a rare flicker of satisfaction to Sasuke's face. Without needing further words, the two knew exactly what to do.
It was a ritual they both understood well, reminiscent of their sparring sessions back at the academy. Each fighter moved to create a measured distance between them, the space crackling with unspoken tension. Then, in near-perfect unison, they raised their hands to perform the Tairitsu no In—the Seal of Confrontation.
The gesture was simple, yet its meaning was profound: a declaration of intent, a mutual understanding that this fight wasn't just about victory, but about growth and testing one another's resolve.
With the formalities complete, the forest seemed to grow quieter, as though holding its breath. Neither made a move immediately, each studying the other, waiting for the first sign of action.
And once the battle ended—whether in triumph or defeat—they both knew what came next. The fight would conclude with the Wakai no In, the Seal of Reconciliation. Locking the same fingers they used to perform the first seal, they would acknowledge their bond as comrades, reaffirming the respect shared beneath their rivalry.
But that moment was far away. For now, there was only the clash that awaited.
Naruto and Sasuke stood motionless, their gazes locked, each measuring the other in silence. The forest seemed to hold its breath, amplifying the quiet anticipation of their impending clash.
But before they could begin, an unnatural gust of wind tore through the area, strong enough to send a shiver down their spines. The sound wasn't just the usual rush of air; it carried an eerie, howling undertone that set their nerves on edge. Both instinctively turned toward the source, their focus shifting from each other to the unsettling phenomenon.
Suddenly, something blurred past Naruto—a flicker of movement so fast that his eyes couldn't track it. A moment later, he felt a sting on his cheek. He raised his hand to the spot, pulling it back to find his palm streaked with blood.
"What the hell was that?..." he muttered; his voice taut with unease.
Before Sasuke could respond, the whistling sound intensified, growing closer, sharper, like a blade slicing through the air. Without warning, a violent torrent of wind descended upon them. Leaves, twigs, and dirt erupted in a chaotic storm, the force so immense that even the towering trees around them swayed precariously, their branches creaking under the strain.
Naruto and Sasuke braced themselves, instinctively channeling chakra to their feet to anchor their bodies to the ground. Despite their efforts, the gale's sheer power overwhelmed them, its seemingly sentient force tearing at their balance.
However, the wind didn't relent; it intensified, battering them with relentless ferocity. Then, as if it had a will of its own, it surged, lifting both of them off their feet and flinging them in opposite directions like rag dolls caught in a hurricane.
Both boys cried out as they disappeared into the chaos, swallowed by the storm. When the wind finally subsided, the forest lay in shambles. Broken branches littered the ground, and a path of destruction carved through the trees bore witness to the tempest's wrath.
Naruto and Sasuke were gone, their presence erased by the unnatural force. Only the eerie stillness that followed remained, as though the forest itself mourned their sudden absence.
- Somewhere in the Forest -
"You know what to do…" The voice dripped with malice, carrying a dark, unspoken promise. A devious grin spread across the individual's face. Her unnaturally long tongue slithered out of his mouth, tasting the air as though savoring the impending chaos.
"I'll go alone…" he added, her tone calm yet laced with an unsettling edge.
Her accomplices exchanged quick glances, their silence speaking volumes. Without a word, they nodded in unison and disappeared, their forms dissolving into shadows as they moved with unnerving speed to fulfill their orders.
Left alone, the individual chuckled softly, her sinister grin widening. The atmosphere grew heavy, the air thick with foreboding as she turned toward her intended direction, her presence exuding an aura of menace that seemed to seep into the very earth beneath her.
"Now then... Let's put your vessel to the test, shall we?..." she said to no one in particular.
- With Sasuke -
Sasuke crouched low behind the dense foliage; his breath shallow as he scanned the area. The forest around him was eerily quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves swaying in the breeze. He strained his ears, hoping to catch even the faintest sound, but was met with a suffocating silence.
"Nothing..." he thought, attempting to reassure himself.
"I'm afraid there's no one there…" a voice murmured from behind.
Sasuke's blood ran cold. His eyes widened in disbelief as a chill coursed down his spine. Someone was right behind him.
"How?..." He berated himself. "How didn't I notice?..."
Heart pounding, he spun around, kunai drawn, only to find himself face-to-face with an unsettling figure crouched mere feet away. The individual's dead eyes bore into him, their unnervingly calm demeanor sending alarm bells ringing in Sasuke's head.
Without a second thought, Sasuke leapt backward, landing on a sturdy tree branch to put as much distance as possible between them. His sharp gaze never left the stranger.
The figure below tilted their head slightly, observing Sasuke with an eerie, almost predatory interest. Something about them was familiar, gnawing at the edges of his memory. And then it hit him—the stranger who had returned Anko's kunai before the exam began.
"Who are you, and what do you want?..." Sasuke demanded, his voice steady despite the storm of unease churning inside. "If you're after my team's scroll, I've got bad news for you. I don't have it,".
The figure's lips curled into a subtle, mocking smile. "Who I am is irrelevant," they replied in a tone dripping with menace. "And you misunderstand—I have no interest in your scroll. My purpose here is far simpler… I've come to test the strength of your vessel, Uchiha Sasuke..."
The words struck Sasuke like a blow. His mind raced. "How does she know my name?... Has she been watching us this whole time?...". But one phrase stood out, chilling him to the bone. "The strength of my vessel?".
The forest was still, the oppressive silence broken only by the faint hum of cicadas in the distance. Sasuke's eyes remained locked on the figure before him, his muscles taut and unmoving. Neither dared to make the first move, as if an invisible force had frozen time itself.
Sasuke's gaze sharpened, unblinking. He refused to look away, convinced that even the briefest lapse in focus would allow the stranger to vanish. His mind raced, searching for any sign of weakness, any hint of the stranger's intentions.
The figure returned his stare, but this was no ordinary glare. It was a predatory, piercing look, brimming with malice. The air grew heavier as an unseen pressure bore down on Sasuke. A suffocating aura of murderous intent radiated from the stranger, cutting through the stillness like a blade.
Sasuke's breath hitched. His pulse quickened, each beat pounding in his ears like a war drum. His wide eyes betrayed the terror swelling inside him.
And then, his mind fractured under the weight of the figure's gaze.
Grotesque images flooded his consciousness—visions of his own demise, vivid and unrelenting. He saw himself engulfed in flames; his body mangled beyond recognition. Blood painted the forest floor, pooling beneath a twisted tree as a kunai pierced his skull. Each scenario was more horrific than the last, each detail seared into his mind with unyielding clarity.
Sasuke's breathing stopped for a moment. His knees wobbled, threatening to give out beneath him. He struggled to draw breath, the air feeling thick and heavy in his lungs.
He tried to shake off the visions, to ground himself, but the terror clung to him like a second skin. His legs turned to jelly, and his breathing came in ragged gasps. Even his thoughts were a cacophony of fear and disbelief.
"G-Genjutsu?..." Sasuke murmured, clinging desperately to reason. "It had to be—it had to be..." he thought to himself.
But rationality did little to quell the storm raging within him. A wave of nausea overtook him, sharp and sudden. He clutched his stomach, doubling over as his body betrayed him. The bile rose faster than he could suppress it, and with a heave, he collapsed forward, vomiting onto the forest floor.
He stayed there, trembling, as the oppressive aura slowly receded. Above him, the figure loomed silently, their expression unreadable, their presence suffocating.
Sasuke then tried to get up on his feet once more, however his legs simply would not cooperate with him as he stumbled backwards once again.
"No, that's not it..." he thought to himself, "How is it possible for me to sense this person's thirst for blood?..."
"What the hell is going on?!... Just looking into her eyes made me think of death... W-Who... Who is this woman?!..." he said in his mind
As much as he did not want to meet her eyes with his, Sasuke forced himself to look at the stranger before him. It was a miracle that he was still alive at the point because the woman before him could've moved at any time. Instead, they remained still and continued to look at Sasuke with a sinister look.
Sasuke tried to feel his legs but couldn't feel any sensation, it was like his legs were sentient at that point, quivering uncontrollably on their own.
"It's no good... T-There's no way I can defeat this person... I-I have no choice but to flee... If I can't... Then the only thing waiting for me is..."
̵̡̣̬͖̽ ̶̡̛̹̞̖̾̏̕ ̵̗͎̬̻͙̾̃ ̵̡̣̬͖̽ ̶̡̛̹̞̖̾̏̕ ̵̗͎̬̻͙̾̃ ̸̡̙͇̅͂̐͠ ̸͚̯̎͒ ̸̮͕̄ ̷̰͌̌͊̇̃ ̴̡̲̗̦̻̍̆̄͛ ̶̛͓͐́̓͜ͅ ̶̟̝͌̋́ ̴̦̮̬̯͗́͛͘͝ ̴̲̫͕͋͒̌ ̸̢̝̍̓̏ ̴̘͙̀̎̑͘ ̷͍͕͇̹̐͑̂̿ ̸̗͕͊͛̏͗͘ ̶̹̱̪͒̐̉̚͜͜ ̴̨̧̯͕͋̉ ̶̬̉̈́̊̚͜ ̸̦̊͐͋ ̶͚̱̕ ̵͖̭̲̬̽͌͛̏̚ ̶̡̈́͗͐̀ͅ ̴̛͎̼͍͈̖͆͛͒͝ ̵̛͖̳̣̞̩̽̚͠ ̸͔͉̋̏̒ͅ ̷͉̦̲̌͑̃ ̴̰͂͛̈͘ ̵̼͖̤̒̔̾͘ ̶̼̪̦̠̞͘ ̸̣͍͐̾̚ ̸͉̘̘̗͋ ̵̱̖̒ ̴͎͍̑ ̷̖͠ ̴̫͍̾ ̷͂͜ ̵̮̄̎ ̵̰̤́͊̋̇̽ ̵̛̤͖̱̿̓̕͝ ̴̡͕̼͂ ̷̨̫̲̯̺̓̅̏̽͗ ̴̞̩̮̱̀̌͗̐ ̶̢̥̭̃͂ ̷̲͒͂͊͝ ̸̝̲̺͇̈́̈͝ ̶̜̟̼͚̋͆̋͝ ̷͍̖̐̑͋̇͛ ̷͍̽̉͘̚ ̸̻̐ ̴̤͛̃̕ ̴͎̄̋̊̇ ̵͉̳̜͛͋̉ͅ ̸͙̒́͘ ̸̭̺̦̹̉̕͜͝ ̷͙͖̅̀̌ ̸̡̮͚͇̎̓̈̃͜ ̷̝̟̐͑̋̎̃ ̵̡̡̢͚̩̍͛́͊ ̷͈̖̲̫̂ ̸̖̝̜͉͛̄ ̵̠̂͑͠ ̸̖̮̅͒͜͝ ̷͔͖͉̝̑̽̽̂͝ ̴̡̖̣̩̹̓̇̿̇̄ ̵̢̗̪͓͚̈́͒ ̸̛͇̭̄̾͂̓ ̴̤̒͌͘ ̵̮̎ ̶̳̒̋̔͠͝ ̷̧͈̰̿̑ ̸̦̅͘ ̵͕͖̰̏̈́ ̵̙͋̓͜͝ ̸̲̳̥͗̀͠ ̴̡̫̥̍͐̀̇͑ ̵̧̰͕̩͊͆͜ ̷̭̫̰͙͇̔̿͠ ̴̧̳̌̓̀̈̍ ̶̢̫̜̫͋̌̍͜ ̵̺͉̼͔̈́͒͗͆ ̶̘͖͕̀ ̶̥̃Ḑ̶̹͖̩̅E̸̳̒̑̄͊̄A̵̲̜̺͋̂̒̒T̸̻̳̙͈̖͑Ĥ̸̥͋̌ͅ ̸̡̙͇̅͂̐͠ ̸͚̯̎͒ ̸̮͕̄ ̷̰͌̌͊̇̃ ̴̡̲̗̦̻̍̆̄͛ ̶̛͓͐́̓͜ͅ ̶̟̝͌̋́ ̴̦̮̬̯͗́͛͘͝ ̴̲̫͕͋͒̌ ̸̢̝̍̓̏ ̴̘͙̀̎̑͘ ̷͍͕͇̹̐͑̂̿ ̸̗͕͊͛̏͗͘ ̶̹̱̪͒̐̉̚͜͜ ̴̨̧̯͕͋̉ ̶̬̉̈́̊̚͜ ̸̦̊͐͋ ̶͚̱̕ ̵͖̭̲̬̽͌͛̏̚ ̶̡̈́͗͐̀ͅ ̴̛͎̼͍͈̖͆͛͒͝ ̵̛͖̳̣̞̩̽̚͠ ̸͔͉̋̏̒ͅ ̷͉̦̲̌͑̃ ̴̰͂͛̈͘ ̵̼͖̤̒̔̾͘ ̶̼̪̦̠̞͘ ̸̣͍͐̾̚ ̸͉̘̘̗͋ ̵̱̖̒ ̴͎͍̑ ̷̖͠ ̴̫͍̾ ̷͂͜ ̵̮̄̎ ̵̰̤́͊̋̇̽ ̵̛̤͖̱̿̓̕͝ ̴̡͕̼͂ ̷̨̫̲̯̺̓̅̏̽͗ ̴̞̩̮̱̀̌͗̐ ̶̢̥̭̃͂ ̷̲͒͂͊͝ ̸̝̲̺͇̈́̈͝ ̶̜̟̼͚̋͆̋͝ ̷͍̖̐̑͋̇͛ ̷͍̽̉͘̚ ̸̻̐ ̴̤͛̃̕ ̴͎̄̋̊̇ ̵͉̳̜͛͋̉ͅ ̸͙̒́͘ ̸̭̺̦̹̉̕͜͝ ̷͙͖̅̀̌ ̸̡̮͚͇̎̓̈̃͜ ̷̝̟̐͑̋̎̃ ̵̡̡̢͚̩̍͛́͊ ̷͈̖̲̫̂ ̸̖̝̜͉͛̄ ̵̠̂͑͠ ̸̖̮̅͒͜͝ ̷͔͖͉̝̑̽̽̂͝ ̴̡̖̣̩̹̓̇̿̇̄ ̵̢̗̪͓͚̈́͒ ̸̛͇̭̄̾͂̓ ̴̤̒͌͘ ̵̮̎ ̶̳̒̋̔͠͝ ̷̧͈̰̿̑ ̸̦̅͘ ̵͕͖̰̏̈́ ̵̙͋̓͜͝ ̸̲̳̥͗̀͠ ̴̡̫̥̍͐̀̇͑ ̵̧̰͕̩͊͆͜ ̷̭̫̰͙͇̔̿͠ ̴̧̳̌̓̀̈̍ ̶̢̫̜̫͋̌̍͜ ̵̺͉̼͔̈́͒͗͆ ̶̘͖͕̀ ̶̥̃ ̵̡̣̬͖̽ ̶̡̛̹̞̖̾̏̕ ̵̗͎̬̻͙̾̃ ̵̡̣̬͖̽ ̶̡̛̹̞̖̾̏̕ ̵̗͎̬̻͙̾̃
- Earlier -
(With Naruto)
Much like Sasuke, Naruto was sent flying by the same powerful gust of wind. Unlike his teammate, however, Naruto landed in a completely different part of the forest. Fortunately for the blonde Uzumaki, he escaped with only minor injuries, though his clothes and skin were smeared with dirt from skidding across the forest floor.
As he stood up and tried to get his bearings, a loud hiss pierced the air. It wasn't the hiss of explosive tags he was used to—it was something far more ominous. Opening his eyes, Naruto froze at the sight of a massive serpent just a few meters away, its body coiled, and its eyes locked onto him.
"Holy crap..." Naruto muttered, his voice barely above a whisper, as the colossal snake hissed again, sizing him up.
"This thing's even bigger than Gouzan..." Naruto thought, remembering the time he and his team had faced the massive bear. But this was no bear. This was a predator unlike anything he'd encountered before.
The serpent slithered closer, its movements slow and deliberate, as though savoring the moment. Then, without warning, it lunged at Naruto with terrifying speed. Naruto barely managed to dive out of the way as the snake's massive body slammed into the ground, sending dirt and dust flying everywhere.
Naruto scrambled to his feet and ran, channeling chakra to his legs to increase his speed. But even with his enhanced agility, the serpent was relentless. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw its tail closing in fast. Despite his efforts, it caught him within moments, coiling tightly around his body.
The constriction grew tighter, leaving Naruto unable to even squirm. He gritted his teeth as the serpent brought him closer, its gaping maw opening wide, ready to strike.
"This is bad... This can't be how I go out..." Naruto muttered, panic rising in his chest as he stared into the dark abyss of the snake's mouth.
Before he could act, the serpent lunged and swallowed him whole. Naruto's muffled screams echoed briefly as he slid down the snake's throat, but soon, even those faded into silence.
- With Sasuke -
"Oh?... Can't move already?..." the woman sneered, her tone dripping with malice, each word slicing through Sasuke like a blade. "And here I thought things were about to get interesting..."
Sasuke lay trembling on the forest floor, his body refusing to obey him. A cold sweat drenched his skin, and his breathing came in shallow, labored gasps.
"Move..." The word echoed in his mind like a desperate mantra. He willed his legs to respond, to get him out of the paralyzing grip of fear.
"Move, damnit..." Yet his body betrayed him, his limbs unresponsive, as though they had been weighed down by invisible chains. A deep pit of dread settled in his stomach.
"This woman's going to kill me..." Sasuke thought as his mind went into overdrive.
His eyes darted to his kunai holster. Summoning every ounce of resolve, Sasuke attempted to reach for it. His arm trembled violently, moving at an agonizingly slow pace, as if underwater.
"Move! Move!" His mind screamed, his focus narrowing to the kunai nestled in its sheath.
With great effort, his trembling fingers closed around the handle. He tightened his grip, the cold steel grounding him just enough to stave off complete panic.
He positioned his other arm to brace himself, forcing his body to inch off the ground. "Even if it's just a little... Move!"
The woman's gaze sharpened; her interest clearly piqued. She cocked her head, a sinister smile curling her lips. "Hmm, a kunai? And what exactly do you plan to do with that?"
A fresh wave of terror coursed through Sasuke. His grip faltered for an instant, the kunai slipping slightly in his shaking hand, but he refused to let go. His wide eyes locked onto the woman's, the sheer weight of her presence pressing down on him like a tidal wave.
"I can't move!" His thoughts raced frantically.
The woman took a slow, deliberate step forward, her movements unhurried and dripping with malice. From her belt, she retrieved her own kunai. "Fret not," she said mockingly, her voice smooth as silk but laced with venom. "It'll all be over before you know it... I'll even make it painless,"
To Sasuke's horror, she raised the kunai to her mouth, her unnaturally long tongue snaking out to lick the blade. The gesture wasn't just grotesque—it was a display of dominance, a predator savoring the moment before the kill.
"Truth be told," she continued with a sinister chuckle, "I had hoped you'd entertain me more... Too bad. Perhaps I've expected too much from you..."
Her tone was casual, almost bored, as she raised her kunai. Without hesitation, she hurled it at him with terrifying speed.
For Sasuke, time slowed to a crawl. The blade gleamed as it tore through the air, its trajectory unmistakable. His mind screamed, his instincts roaring louder than his terror.
It was now or never.
SPLAT!
Blood spattered across the forest floor, staining the earth a vivid crimson.
- With Naruto -
Darkness engulfed Naruto, the oppressive, slimy walls of the serpent's body pressing against him from all sides. The air was thick with a noxious stench, each breath burning his lungs. He coughed, gagging against the suffocating humidity, his entire body slick with the serpent's digestive fluids.
The only sounds were the nauseating squelch of shifting flesh, the rhythmic pounding of his heart, and his labored, uneven breaths.
Naruto clenched his teeth. This wasn't the end. It couldn't be. The thought of giving up wasn't even an option for him.
Assessing his situation, he wiggled his arms and legs. The movement was restricted, but he could still move—barely. It was enough. Slowly, he twisted his body, trying to shift into a prone position. His hands slid along the slimy interior, and he gritted his teeth, pushing himself upward.
The effort was painstaking. Every slip threatened to send him deeper into the serpent's gullet. But he didn't stop. Inch by inch, Naruto maneuvered his body, ignoring the burning ache in his muscles and the sting of digestive juices against his skin.
Finally, he managed to stabilize himself. He still wasn't free, but progress was progress.
He reached for his kunai, fingers brushing against the worn handle. It was the kunai Ino had lent him back in Mori no Kuni (Land of Forests). Naruto paused, his grip faltering. The blade had seen better days; it was chipped and dulled from countless battles. The thing probably won't cut through paper, let alone a monster.
Reluctantly, he returned the kunai to its holster and fumbled for the newer one their sensei had given them. His fingers finally found the blade's cold steel. Pulling it free, he tightened his grip, ignoring the sharp sting as the blade nicked one of his fingers. Blood trickled down his wrist, mixing with the serpent's foul fluids.
"Here goes nothing..." Naruto muttered through gritted teeth.
With all his strength, he plunged the kunai into the serpent's flesh.
Nothing.
The blade barely scratched the surface, glancing off with a dull scrape.
"Tch... Figures, guess that's out of the question then..." he muttered bitterly, frustration boiling in his chest. He shoved the kunai back into his pouch, his mind racing for a solution. As he did, something slipped out—a small soldier pill.
The pill tumbled through the slimy terrain, rolling into a crevice. Naruto watched as it dissolved within seconds, melting into an unrecognizable goo.
His eyes widened. A chilling realization gripped him. This thing's stomach was already starting to digest him.
A wave of panic surged through him, but Naruto shook it off. He couldn't afford to lose focus. He needed to get out—and fast—or he'd end up nothing more than a puddle of mush.
"Come on now… Think, Naruto… Think!" his mind raced as he struggled to devise a way out of his dire predicament.
The first idea that sprang to mind was to use explosive tags. But he immediately dismissed the thought, shaking his head. "Nah... There's no way to guarantee I'd survive the blast in here,".
He needed another plan, something less suicidal. That's when it dawned on him—a jutsu! But even with that spark of inspiration, one crucial question remained: Which jutsu could actually get help him out?
As Naruto racked his brain, his stomach let out an ill-timed growl.
He winced, "Man… I could really go for a bowl of ramen right now…" he thought, the image of a steaming bowl flashing unbidden in his mind.
Realizing how ridiculous he sounded even in his own head, Naruto scolded himself. "Ramen?!... Seriously?! Focus, idiot! Focus!" he said as he shook the distracting thought away. Yet, oddly enough, that fleeting moment of normalcy seemed to jog something in his memory.
A grin tugged at the corner of his lips. "I got it!" he muttered under his breath.
Forming the familiar hand seal, his hands moved swiftly, fueled by renewed determination. "Don't fail me now… Tajū Kage Bunshin no Jutsu! (Multiple Shadow Clone Technique)" he roared, his voice echoing through the serpent's innards.
In an instant, dozens of clones appeared, crammed together in the snake's confined belly. The pressure was immediate. From the outside, the enormous serpent writhed and hissed, its scaled body bloating unnaturally. Each new clone added to the swelling mass, straining the creature's body beyond its limits.
Naruto didn't let up. He kept conjuring clones, ignoring the grotesque sounds of the snake's insides stretching and groaning. The serpent, now far too heavy and distended to move, could only squirm helplessly as its body reached its breaking point.
With a deafening,
POP!
, the snake's body exploded. Blood, flesh, and digestive fluids erupted like a geyser, drenching the surrounding forest in a rain of gore. Naruto and his clones were thrown out in all directions, landing with loud, wet thuds amidst the carnage.
The real Naruto groaned, wiping a sticky glob of slime off his face. He then turned his attention at his clones, who were already celebrating. "Yeah! We did it!" they cheered, some leaping into the air as well.
Naruto grumbled under his breath, his nose wrinkling at the stench clinging to him. "Great... Now I smell like snake guts... This is gonna take forever to wash off..." he said.
Still, he couldn't deny the relief flooding his chest. He was alive, and free at least. Naruto thought to himself that he would pick being covered in snake guts over being snake excrement any day of the week.
As he stood amidst the serpent's remains, his thoughts quickly shifted.
"Sasuke... I need to find him..." Naruto though as he wondered what happened to him? He clenched his fists, determination replacing the earlier panic.
"No time to waste. Gotta find him and figure out what's going on," he said in his mind.
- With Sasuke -
Sasuke sat slumped against the base of a tree, his back pressed to the rough bark as he struggled to catch his breath. His chest rose and fell in rapid, uneven bursts, his body trembling from the strain. He hadn't been pushed this far in a long time—not like this.
He cast a glance down at his right thigh, where blood seeped freely from the self-inflicted wound. The kunai still jutted out, its blade slick and glistening crimson. Sasuke had stabbed himself to force his body to move—to push past the paralyzing fear and dodge the woman's projectile at the last possible second.
It had worked. Barely. The sound of the woman's kunai embedding itself in a tree nearby still echoed in his ears. He hadn't dared to look back. Instead, he'd run, fleeing as fast as his legs could carry him.
Now, he grimaced, wrapping his hand tightly around the hilt of the kunai. With a sharp intake of breath, he yanked it free in one swift motion. Pain erupted in his thigh, sending jolts through his entire body. Sasuke gritted his teeth, a guttural groan escaping his lips as blood began to flow more freely from the wound.
The kunai slipped from his trembling fingers, landing beside him with a dull thud. Blood dripped from its edge, pooling in the dirt.
Sasuke's breathing remained heavy as he turned his gaze over his shoulder, scanning the forest. "Is she still following me?..."
"If I don't move soon, she'll find me," his thoughts raced, panic settling into the pit of his stomach. "But how?... How do I get away in this condition?..."
Before he could formulate a plan, a faint hissing noise reached his ears. His eyes widened in alarm. He turned his head slowly, and there it was—a massive serpent slithering silently toward him, its cold, unblinking eyes fixed on its prey.
Sasuke's heart leapt into his throat. The snake lunged without warning, its jaws snapping open to reveal rows of glistening fangs. "Shit!" Sasuke cursed, pushing off the ground with every ounce of strength he had left. He vaulted into the air just as the serpent's fangs sank into the tree trunk where he had been sitting, splintering wood with a sickening crack.
The tree groaned under the force, shards of bark scattering in all directions. The serpent hissed in frustration, its fangs momentarily lodged in the trunk. Sasuke used the precious seconds to create some distance, landing unsteadily on a nearby branch.
"I let my guard down. Damn it!" Sasuke berated himself, sweat dripping down his brow. "I was too shaken to notice the snake until it was too late,".
But the reprieve didn't last long. The serpent wrenched its fangs free with a powerful tug, its massive body coiling around the trunk in preparation for another strike. This time, it lunged with terrifying speed, its gaping maw aimed directly at him.
Sasuke's crimson Sharingan (Copy/Mirror Wheel Eye) flared to life, the world sharpening into slow, agonizing clarity. Yet his body refused to move, paralyzed by the memory of the woman's piercing gaze. The echo of her murderous intent sent fresh chills racing down his spine.
"ARGHHHHHHHHHH! Stay away from me!" Sasuke roared, breaking through the fear as he hurled a flurry of shuriken with all the strength he could muster. The sharp projectiles whizzed through the air, slicing into the snake's open maw.
The serpent thrashed violently, hissing in pain as blood poured from its wounds. Its massive body slumped, its head crashing into a nearby tree with a sickening thud. Sasuke landed on another branch, panting heavily as he observed the fallen creature.
But relief was short-lived. Sasuke's Sharingan caught something strange—the serpent's flesh began to crack and peel, splitting open like a grotesque cocoon. His eyes widened in horror as a familiar figure emerged from the snake's corpse.
"Now, now… Don't let your guard down, not even for a moment," the woman's voice cooed, dripping with malice.
Sasuke froze as the woman stepped fully into view, blood and viscera dripping from her form. It was her—the same stranger who had hunted him earlier.
"A prey must always stay tense, must always run desperately from its predator. That is the infallible law of nature," she continued, her eyes gleaming with sadistic delight.
Her movements were unnatural, almost serpentine, as she slithered across the ground. Then, with a single, fluid motion, she coiled around a tree trunk like the snake that had carried her. Her speed was unnatural, impossible to track—even for Sasuke's Sharingan.
Before he could react, she lunged at him, closing the distance in a heartbeat. Sasuke's body locked up, fear and exhaustion overriding his instincts. He opened his mouth to scream, but the sound was drowned out by a sudden barrage of shuriken cutting through the air.
The woman halted abruptly, twisting her body to avoid the incoming projectiles. Her gaze snapped upward, her expression darkening.
"Sorry for being late, Sasuke..." a familiar voice called out from above.
Sasuke's head jerked toward the sound. There, perched on a high branch with his trademark grin, was none other than Uzumaki Naruto. "If anyone's going to beat him to a pulp, that'll be me-ttebayo!" Naruto said defiantly.
The woman remained eerily still; her golden eyes fixed on Naruto from afar. There was a flicker of amusement in her gaze, an unsettling intrigue that sent a shiver down Sasuke's spine.
"Naruto!" Sasuke's voice was urgent, strained with equal parts fear and anger. "I know you're trying to act cool and help me, but don't! Don't get involved at all! Just get away from here! She's—she's on a completely different level!"
The woman let out a soft laugh, her lips curling into a sinister smile. "Oh?... It seems you managed to take care of that giant snake rather brilliantly, Naruto." she said as she clapped her hands slowly.
Naruto crossed his arms, frowning as a thought crossed his mind. His eyes narrowed as recognition dawned. "Wait a second..." Naruto's mind raced as he stared at her, piecing it all together. "This is the same person I ran into during that argument with our proctor". His gaze darkened as he remembered the massive serpent that had nearly swallowed him whole. "She's the one behind that attack!".
"Why isn't he listening to me?!" Sasuke's mind was racing, panic creeping in with every passing moment. "Just leave already, Naruto! There's no point in both of us dying here...".
But Naruto didn't budge. Instead, he pointed at the woman with fiery determination, his voice cutting through the oppressive air. "Oi, oi, oi! Why don't you leave us alone, huh?! You clearly interrupted something earlier! And for that, I, Uzumaki Naruto, am gonna wipe the floor with you!".
Sasuke gritted his teeth, frustration bubbling over. "You idiot! At this rate, we're both going to die…" He clenched his fists, his thoughts spiraling. "What should I do?... How do I stop this?..."
And then, amidst his frantic thoughts, a memory surfaced—a phrase the woman had uttered earlier. It replayed in his mind, clear and deliberate:
- Flashback -
"Who are you, and what do you want?" Sasuke demanded, his voice steady despite the storm of unease churning inside. "If you're after my team's scroll, I've got bad news for you. I don't have it."
The figure's lips curled into a subtle, mocking smile. "Who I am is irrelevant," they replied in a tone dripping with menace. "And you misunderstand—I have no interest in your scroll. My purpose here is far simpler… I've come to test the strength of your vessel, Uchiha Sasuke..."
With the way the woman phrased her words, a realization struck Sasuke: she wasn't after Naruto—she was after him. The weight of the moment settled on his shoulders as he deactivated his Sharingan, letting his crimson eyes fade back to onyx. Slowly, he stretched his arms out, his expression firm and resolute.
"It's me you're after, right?... Fine. Go ahead. I'm all yours. Just leave the others alone," Sasuke said with a steady voice, though the tension in his posture betrayed his internal conflict.
Naruto's eyes widened in shock, disbelief written all over his face. "Oi, Sasuke! What the hell are you doing?! Giving yourself up to the enemy?!" he yelled, his voice filled with urgency and anger.
"Just shut up, Naruto!" Sasuke snapped, cutting through Naruto's protests. His tone was sharp, final. For a moment, the blonde was speechless, stunned into silence by his teammate's words.
The woman's eerie smile widened as she observed the exchange. "I see... It seems you are at least sensible. That, I can grant you." Her tone dripped with mockery. "The only thing the 'prey' can hope for from the 'predator' is to present other food in hopes of being spared, is it not?..."
Sasuke nodded slowly; his jaw clenched.
A devious grin spread across the woman's face as she prepared to pounce. Her movements were serpentine, her form a blur of menace as she lunged toward Sasuke, ready to claim her prize.
But before she could reach him, an orange blur shot through the air, barreling into Sasuke with incredible force.
Sasuke gasped as the impact sent them both flying through the air. They crashed into a nearby tree branch, Naruto landing on his feet with practiced grace while Sasuke skidded across the branch's surface, coming to an abrupt halt thanks to friction.
Groaning, Sasuke scrambled to his feet, anger flashing in his dark eyes as he turned to face Naruto. "You moron! Why'd you do that?! Don't you understand the situation we're—"
His words were cut short by a sharp crack as Naruto's fist connected squarely with his face. The punch sent Sasuke stumbling back, blood dripping from a split in his lip. He barely managed to land safely on a lower branch, his hand brushing his mouth as he tasted the metallic tang of blood.
Glaring daggers at Naruto, Sasuke growled, "What the hell are you doing all of a sudden?!..."
"I should be the one asking you that!" Naruto shot back; his voice full of conviction. "Stop acting like you're doing me a favor by sacrificing yourself! Neither of us is going to die here! Yeah, I get it—we're not exactly best of friends. But there's no way I'm letting a comrade die on my watch!"
"You should've just left me behind!" Sasuke argued, his tone bitter and frustrated.
"Listen to yourself, Sasuke!" Naruto retorted, his blue eyes blazing with intensity. "The way I see it, you're the coward here! How can you be so sure she'll stop just because you hand yourself over to her, huh?!... Think about it! You're the one acting like an idiot who doesn't understand the situation!"
Naruto's words struck a nerve, silencing Sasuke as he stared at the blonde in stunned disbelief.
The woman chuckled, her amusement cutting through the tension. "Naruto... you're absolutely right," she said, her voice silky with malice. Slowly, she raised her sleeve to reveal a snake tattoo coiled around her left forearm, its intricate design unnervingly lifelike.
"Uchiha Sasuke... I could kill you right now," she said, her tone dripping with cruelty, "but where's the fun in that?..."
With a sinister grin, she bit her thumb, drawing blood. Using the crimson streak, she traced a line down the length of her tattooed forearm.
Naruto, sensing her intent, wasn't about to give her the chance to act. "Oh no, you don't!" he shouted, springing into action. Forming a quick hand seal, he declared, "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu! (Shadow Clone Technique)"
Three shadow clones appeared in an instant, moving in perfect sync with their creator. The clones launched the original Naruto into the air with incredible speed, propelling him directly toward the woman.
Naruto brandished his shimako (frost-steel) kunai, determination burning in his eyes.
"Don't! Naruto! Stop it!" Sasuke yelled; his voice tinged with desperation. But the Uzumaki ignored him entirely, his faith in Sasuke seemingly shattered.
The woman remained unfazed by Naruto's charge. With a calm yet menacing demeanor, she swiftly wove a series of hand seals: Boar - Dog - Bird - Monkey - Ram. "Kuchiyose no Jutsu, (Summoning Technique)" she intoned, her voice carrying a sinister edge.
A sudden gust of wind exploded around her, obscuring her figure momentarily. The tree she had been standing on was obliterated, splintering into countless fragments. In its place coiled yet another massive snake, its sheer size and presence making Naruto's eyes widen in shock.
The enormous serpent wasted no time, surging toward Naruto with terrifying speed and ferocity. Still suspended midair, the blonde ninja found himself momentarily helpless, a perfect target.
But Naruto, known for his unorthodox tactics, wasn't about to give up so easily. Thinking quickly, he formed another hand seal and countered with a jutsu of his own. "Fūton: Reppūshō! (Wind Release: Gale Palm)" Naruto shouted, extending his palm forward.
A powerful gust of wind erupted from his hand, propelling him backward through the air. The sudden burst of momentum carried him out of the snake's trajectory just in time, its massive maw snapping shut inches away from him.
- Outside of the Forest -
The chirping of birds filled the air as the afternoon sunbathed the landscape in hues of orange and yellow, its light casting long shadows across the ground. Amid the serene ambiance, a grim scene disrupted the peace—a small clearing littered with three lifeless bodies.
The corpses lay sprawled amidst puddles of blood, the crimson liquid staining the nearby ground and even the base of an ancient, weathered statue. The grotesque sight made the three Konoha proctors in their gray uniforms pause, their faces a mix of confusion and unease as they inspected the area.
"I'll be damned..." one of them muttered, breaking the silence.
"What the hell happened here?..." another asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.
"Beats me," the first proctor replied, shaking his head. "But one thing's for sure…"
"And what's that?..." the second pressed.
"We've got a problem—a big one at that..." the first proctor said, scratching his head in frustration.
"What are your orders then?..." the third proctor asked, his voice steady despite the grim scene before him.
"Inform Anko. She's in charge of the second exam," the first proctor instructed firmly.
"Understood," The third proctor disappeared in an instant, vanishing in a swirl of leaves with a well-executed shunshin.
- With Anko -
The area was quiet, save for the soft crunch of dango and the occasional clink of a sake bottle. Anko Mitarashi sat leisurely on a tree stump, savoring her favorite combination of sweet snacks and alcohol. Around her, dozens of discarded dango sticks jutted from a nearby tree trunk, forming a scattered yet deliberate pattern resembling the Konoha insignia. She took another bite, followed by a swig of sake, letting out a satisfied sigh.
"Ahhh... Nothing beats dango and sake," she murmured, leaning back as if she hadn't a care in the world.
She lazily tossed her last empty stick at the tree, perfectly adding it to the makeshift emblem. "That hit the spot," she said, brushing crumbs off her lap. "Guess I should head to the central tower soon, just in case. Maybe I'll open it up tomorrow afternoon… Yeah, that works,"
Her musings were cut short by a sudden puff of smoke at the base of the tree. As the smoke cleared, the figure of a proctor emerged, urgency written across his face.
"Anko-sama! We have a problem!" he reported breathlessly.
Anko groaned, rolling her eyes. "Really?... And just when I was starting to enjoy myself," she muttered before sitting up straight. "*sigh* I guess it can't be helped... Alright then, what is it?..."
"We found corpses! Three of them!" the man replied.
Anko's expression remained nonchalant. "So?... Dead bodies, big deal... Those aren't exactly groundbreaking news for us shinobi now, are they?... We see dead bodies all the time, big whoop..."
"These are different!" the proctor insisted, his tone strained. "I can't quite explain it, but something about them is... Strange. You need to see it for yourself!"
Anko raised an eyebrow, her interest mildly piqued. "Hmmm... Strange, huh?..." She stood and stretched, taking one last swig of sake before tossing the bottle aside. "Fine. Lead the way."
With a swift motion, both shinobi vanished in a blur of leaves, their Shunshin no Jutsu (Body Flicker Technique) leaving only the quiet rustle of disturbed foliage behind.
- Outside of the Forest -
"I checked their possessions, as well as their identification... Apparently, they're a team from Kusa who registered for the Chunin Exams, but..." The first proctor trailed off, gesturing at the corpses sprawled before them. "As you can see..."
Anko knelt down, her sharp eyes scanning the bodies for any detail that could provide answers. Her gaze lingered on the grotesque state of the corpses, smooth and featureless where their faces should have been.
"No faces," she muttered, her tone cold and analytical.
"Yeah..." the first proctor confirmed, his voice uneasy. "It's like they've been melted away... I've never seen anything like it..."
Anko's hand instinctively moved to clutch the left side of her neck and shoulder, her fingers pressing against the spot as if trying to suppress something painful. Her teeth clenched, and for a brief moment, her composed demeanor cracked.
Her mind raced. "He's here. This jutsu... That bastard... Why is he here?... Why now?..."
Whirling around abruptly, she locked eyes with the proctor who had summoned her. "Hand me the ID photos of these genin!" she ordered, her tone leaving no room for argument. "They should be attached to their applications."
The third proctor quickly complied, pulling out three pieces of paper from a folder and handing them over. Each had a photograph attached, along with basic details.
Anko's fingers tightened around the papers as her sharp gaze darted between the photos and the faceless corpses. Her heart pounded in her chest as she examined the images closely, her instincts piecing together what her mind didn't want to admit.
"This one's face was stolen," she murmured, her voice low and dangerous. Then, as realization struck, her eyes widened. The puzzle pieces clicked into place with chilling clarity.
- Flashback -
"Here... You dropped something..." The voice, dripping with an eerie calm, shattered the silence like a shard of glass.
Anko simply smiled as she turned to face the owner of the voice, her demeanor remaining composed and unyielding, though her eyes gleamed with a lethal glint. "Ohhh, how kind of you. Thanks for going through the trouble of returning it!" Her smile laced with lethal intent.
But the person behind her only smiled back, their gaze unnerving, their presence suffocating. Anko's tone shifted, her words sharp as a blade, her killer intent simmering just beneath the surface. "Though, I'd appreciate it if you didn't stand behind me, thirsty for blood..." Her warning hung in the air like a heavy fog, pregnant with the promise of consequence.
"If you don't want a swift death, that is..." Anko's voice, laced with a hint of venom, was a dagger aimed at the heart of uncertainty.
With a deft motion, Anko retrieved the kunai from the person's tongue, the appendage retracting with an unnatural swiftness, a grotesque dance of flesh and metal.
"Well, it's just that the sight of fresh blood got me riled up..." The person's reply was casual, almost nonchalant, but beneath the surface lurked a darkness that sent shivers down the spine of others.
"So, back then, they were already... Damnit... " Anko's thoughts trailed off, her breath hitching. A bead of sweat rolled down the side of her face as the gravity of the situation sank in.
She turned to face the three proctors, her expression hardened, every trace of her earlier nonchalance gone. "This is bad," she declared, her tone sharp and commanding. "You! Inform Hokage-sama about this immediately—don't waste a second!"
"Yes, ma'am!" the first proctor replied, vanishing in a blur of motion.
"You!" Anko pointed at the second proctor. "Request the ANBU Black Ops to dispatch at least two squads to sweep the forest. Make sure they're prepared for anything."
"Understood!" the second proctor responded before disappearing.
As Anko turned on her heel, the remaining proctor called out, "Anko-sama! What about you? What's your plan?..."
Without breaking stride, she answered, her voice resolute. "I'm heading into the forest to track them down. You got that?!..."
The man nodded before vanishing like the others.
Left alone, Anko paused for a moment at the forest's edge, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the dense trees ahead. The ominous quiet seemed to mock her.
"So," she muttered, her voice laced with equal parts determination and dread, "you've finally decided to come back and pay us a visit, huh?... What you're planning this time..."
With that, she disappeared into the forest, her form a blur against the looming darkness.
- To Be Continued -
(A/N: Can't wait to try and revamp Anko if I'm being honest, I really liked her in the early days of Naruto. I mean seriously! I kinda expected great showings from her. Sadly though, the side-characters were placed on the sidelines as time went on. Not only that, she a baddie! I'd let her ruin my life HAHAHA, just kidding - or am I? In any case, I got some ideas for her which would hopefully breathe new life to her character, that'll be all for this chapter. Hope y'all enjoyed and always take care! Cheers ^^)