DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO (FROM THIS CHAPTER, I'D ASSUME SASUKE'S FAVORITE BISCUIT ARE CRACKERS ;))
Ch.75 - The Chunin Exams: The Second Trial!
[Day4: Sounds Like Trouble]
- Inside Shi no Mori -
Ino's eyes fluttered open, her gaze locking onto the canopy of leaves swaying above. She lay still for a moment longer, her mind foggy as she struggled to piece together her bearings. Slowly, she sat up, her hands pressing against her aching temples.
Her vision remained blurry, but she managed to make out her surroundings. That's when her eyes fell on Shikamaru, Hinata, and Shino, sprawled on the forest floor, deep in an unnatural slumber. Confusion gripped her as she tried to recall what had happened, but her memory was frustratingly blank. The last thing she remembered was Naruto and Sasuke leaving camp to secure the perimeter. After that? Nothing. It was as if the pages of her mind had been ripped out.
"Was it a genjutsu?... A sedative?..." she murmured to herself before shaking her head to clear the unhelpful thoughts.
There was no point in speculating, not when the pressing issue was right before her. Ino decided to focus on the present—she was awake, and that was all that mattered for now. Her next instinct was to rouse the others, but an icy realization stopped her in her tracks. What if they weren't asleep but... dead?
Heart pounding, Ino rushed to each of her teammates, frantically checking for signs of life. Her breath caught in her throat until she confirmed the faint rise and fall of their chests. Relief washed over her in waves, but it was short-lived. They were alive but completely incapacitated, defenseless in the heart of Shi no Mori's perilous domain.
She knelt by each of them, gently shaking their shoulders and calling their names, but none stirred. Despite her best efforts, all three remained unresponsive. A sinking feeling settled in her chest. With her team incapacitated and Naruto and Sasuke still unaccounted for, Ino realized she was truly alone. Even surrounded by her teammates, isolation pressed down on her like a crushing weight. Protecting them and searching for the others seemed impossible on her own.
Then, movement caught her eye. Shikamaru's fingers twitched slightly, drawing her full attention. Her heart leaped with cautious hope as his eyes slowly opened.
"Shikamaru!" Ino exclaimed, her voice filled with relief and urgency.
He blinked groggily; his gaze unfocused as he struggled to process his surroundings. "Ino? What the hell happened?" he muttered, rubbing the back of his head as he sat up.
"I don't know," Ino admitted, the tension in her voice betraying her worry. "But it looks like we've been out for a while..."
Shikamaru frowned, glancing at the others still lying unconscious on the ground. "How long?..." he asked, his tone measured but laced with concern to which Ino shrugged, her frustration evident.
"I don't know... I just woke up myself..." Ino answered.
"Mendokuse..." Shikamaru muttered, sighing as he stretched. "I just hope the exams are still ongoing... It'd be a waste if all this trouble we've been through amounted to nothing..."
His nonchalant remark instantly irked Ino. "Aren't you forgetting about Naruto and Sasuke?!" she snapped, glaring at him.
Shikamaru rubbed the back of his head, exasperated. "Pipe down, Ino... Jeez. Troublesome woman..." He let out a long sigh. "I know they're not here, but panicking over it won't solve anything either."
To his credit, he had a point. Ino huffed, crossing her arms as she relented. "Fine... So, what do we do now?..."
Before Shikamaru could respond, his gaze shifted to the two still lying on the forest floor. "Wait... why didn't you wake Shino and Hinata?..."
"I tried," Ino said with a frustrated shrug. "Nothing worked. They're completely out."
Shikamaru groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "The problems just keep piling up, don't they?... *sigh* Being a chunin better be worth it."
"So?..." Ino pressed, leaning closer. "Do you think it was a genjutsu?..."
"Hard to say," Shikamaru admitted, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Did you feel like your chakra system was disrupted?..."
Ino shook her head. "I don't think so... Besides, I didn't notice any illusions or anything like that before blacking out..."
"Alright, then," Shikamaru said, his brow furrowing. "Can you check Shino and Hinata?... See if their chakra systems are affected."
"I can try," Ino replied, though her tone suggested she wasn't confident. She crouched beside Shino first, focusing her chakra to assess his energy flow. Then she moved to Hinata, repeating the process.
After a few moments, she stood and faced Shikamaru. "Their chakra systems are fine. There's nothing unusual as far as I can tell."
"Hmmm... Judging from that, we were probably sedated," Shikamaru concluded.
Ino frowned. "Who would go through the trouble of sedating us but not attacking afterward?... It doesn't make any sense..."
Shikamaru shrugged, his expression calm despite the situation. "No point wasting energy trying to figure out who did it. What we need to do now is get things in order and finish this second phase of the Chunin Exams."
He paused, thinking. "Assuming we've only been out for a couple of hours, it should still be day four inside this damn forest. Also, I remember Naruto and Sasuke heading west from the campsite before everything went blank..."
Shikamaru sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "One of us has to stay here and hold down the fort, while the other looks for those two. Despite how troublesome it is, I'd volunteer to go... But my tracking skills suck, to be honest. Ino, what about you?..."
Ino hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "I guess my sensory skills are decent enough..."
"Better than nothing," Shikamaru muttered with a small shrug. "This would be way easier if either Shino or Hinata were awake. Mendokuse..."
Ino accepted the task with a firm nod, though a knot of worry tightened in her chest. She hoped Naruto and Sasuke were alright—especially Naruto. For some reason, she couldn't quite explain, the thought of him being hurt made her stomach churn.
It only took a while for Ino to prepare herself before departing with Shikamaru and the others, "I'm heading off now," Ino said with determination in her voice
"Be careful," Shikamaru called after her to which Ino nodded.
Ino then turned in the direction Shikamaru had last seen Naruto and Sasuke, heading west into the dark, ominous expanse of the forest. Her thoughts raced, but she forced herself to focus on the task ahead.
- With Ino -
Ino moved quietly through the forest, her senses on high alert. Being alone in Shi no Mori was dangerous enough, but the thought of encountering a full team of three opponents sent a shiver down her spine. She couldn't afford to be careless.
It didn't take long before she stumbled upon her first clue. Ahead of her was a clearing, the terrain marred as though a powerful gust of wind had torn through it.
"What happened here?..." Ino wondered, her brows furrowing as she cautiously approached the scene.
Deciding to act quickly, Ino formed the hand seal for one of her clan's techniques. "Hijutsu: Shindenshin no Jutsu (Hidden Technique: Mind Body Transmission Technique)," she intoned, closing her eyes and focusing her chakra to extend her consciousness outward.
"Naruto! Sasuke! Can you hear me?... Hello?..." she called out in her mind, but no response came.
Her lips pressed into a thin line. "They have to be here somewhere…" she murmured to herself. Switching tactics, Ino performed another set of seals, activating her Kanchi no Jutsu (Sensing Technique).
While she was no expert with sensory techniques, Ino was determined to make it work. Concentrating deeply, she molded her chakra until she felt the faint traces of life nearby. Two chakra signatures flickered on her radar—weak and distant.
"They're either far away or injured…" she muttered, dread creeping into her voice. Without wasting another moment, she sprinted toward the source of the faint signatures.
- Minutes Later -
Navigating Shi no Mori's (Forest of Death) thick underbrush and avoiding its lurking predators, Ino finally arrived at her destination. Her breath hitched at the sight before her.
Sasuke lay unconscious on the forest floor, his face contorted in pain even in his sleep. Naruto, however, was in a far worse state—dangling high above the ground, ensnared by a web of thick, twisting vines. The green tendrils coiled tightly around his body, including a dangerously firm grip around his neck.
Panic surged through Ino, but she forced herself to act. She had to prioritize Naruto, who was in immediate danger. Grabbing a kunai from her holster, she took aim and hurled it at one of the vines strangling him.
The kunai struck true, slicing clean through the vine and loosening its grip. Naruto's limp body fell toward the ground. Ino darted forward, catching him in her arms just before he could hit the earth.
THUD!
The act of catching Naruto's limp form caused Ino to stumble backward slightly, her knees buckling under his weight. She couldn't help but notice just how heavy he was.
"Jeez… You're heavier than you look, Naruto," she muttered internally, adjusting her stance as she carefully carried him over to Sasuke's side.
Once Naruto was settled on the ground, Ino got to work, assessing their conditions one at a time. She started with Naruto. To her relief, he appeared relatively unharmed—save for a few light bruises scattered across his body. It wasn't anything he couldn't handle, considering his usual resilience. However, something else caught her attention.
His chakra flow was erratic, pulsing in irregular patterns that didn't make sense.
"Genjutsu?..." Ino thought, her brow furrowing. She pressed her hands together and attempted to release him from any lingering illusions, but it didn't work.
She let out a frustrated sigh. If it wasn't genjutsu, then it had to be something else entirely—something beyond her understanding at the moment. For now, there was little she could do but hope Naruto's condition would stabilize on its own.
Turning her attention to Sasuke, she noted that his condition was far worse. His body was littered with bruises and cuts, and she immediately noticed a puncture wound on his thigh. His chakra flow, much like Naruto's, was disrupted, but there was an added layer of concern—his skin was flushed, and his body radiated heat like a furnace.
"He's burning up…" Ino muttered under her breath, her hand brushing against his forehead to confirm the fever.
But after learning about Sasuke's fever, she noticed something peculiar on Sasuke's neck, a mark. Not only that, but his neck also had a bite on it which further perplexed the blonde. Ino wondered what it could possibly be, but then she set those thoughts aside and decided to focus on the present.
Fortunately, Ino had the foresight to grab supplies from their camp before heading out. She rummaged through her pouch and set to work, treating their injuries with what little medical knowledge she had.
The idea of carrying both Naruto and Sasuke back to the campsite lingered in her mind, but it wasn't practical. Even carrying one of them would be a monumental task, and leaving the other behind was out of the question.
For now, all she could do was stay by their side and tend to them as best as she could.
- With Lee -
Lee dashed and leaped from tree branch to tree branch, his movements a blur that left only fallen leaves in his wake. He had been scouting for quite some time, yet no teams had crossed his path.
Of course, Lee knew better than to engage alone. His job was to observe and report his findings to Neji and Tenten, so they could confront any teams together as one unit. Despite the apparent lack of results, Lee remained hopeful that they would secure enough points to progress to the next phase of the Chunin Exams.
As much as Lee respected Neji's leadership, he couldn't help but feel that their current approach was slower than necessary. Neji's strategy of cautious, nighttime scouting was consistent and safe, but Lee preferred a faster, more aggressive approach. Still, he chuckled quietly, attributing his impatience to his own fiery nature—something instilled in him by his mentor, Maito Gai.
Lee clenched his fists as determination flared within him. "We'll make sure to pass these exams! We won't let you down, Gai-sensei!" he thought, pushing himself to move even faster. Despite his speed, his movements remained silent, ensuring he didn't draw unnecessary attention.
Suddenly, he detected three nearby presences. Lee slowed to a halt and perched on a branch, carefully positioning himself to observe while remaining hidden.
"Zaku, are you sure you saw our main target?..." asked a boy with bandages wrapped around most of his face, leaving only his left eye exposed.
"I'm telling you, Dosu. I found that Uchiha punk," Zaku replied confidently. "Plus, he's out cold. It'll be a piece of cake!"
"Uchiha?..." Lee thought, his mind racing. He quickly remembered that Sasuke, a member of Team 7, belonged to one of the highest-scoring teams in the exam.
"Is he alone?..." the third teammate asked.
"Nah," Zaku said, shaking his head. "There's a girl watching over him and his other teammate, who's also out cold. And get this—it's that blonde punk we saw getting into a scuffle with those Suna brats the other day. She's no threat to us."
"Blonde?..." Lee mused. He sifted through his memories, piecing together the details.
- Flashback -
"There you are! For a moment, I thought you three wouldn't show..." Anko's gaze bore into Naruto, who offered a nervous chuckle in response, his discomfort palpable.
"Well, there you have it, folks! Give these three a round of applause!" Anko's declaration prompted a smattering of polite claps from the genin teams, though an undercurrent of tension lingered, as if they all sensed the storm brewing on the horizon.
"WAIT A MINUTE! WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU PUT THE SPOTLIGHT ON US?! WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!" His words echoed with the realization that Anko's intentions weren't laced with congratulations but rather with something murky and insidious. His instincts whispered warnings of deceit, and Naruto, ever vigilant, listened.
Anko's gaze, icy and unyielding, bore into Naruto like a predator locking eyes with its prey. "I'm the proctor of this exam, and I can do whatever the hell I want! PUNK! Got any problems?! Exit's that way..." Her retort was sharp, her demeanor unwavering.
"That guy?... Isn't he a member of Team 10?..." Lee muttered to himself, his thoughts racing. It suddenly clicked—if Naruto and Sasuke were together, their combined total was 1,500 points, an irresistible prize waiting to be claimed.
Lee paused, torn between his options. Time for scouting was running out, and he needed to decide quickly. He could report back to Neji and Tenten, sticking to their plan and ensuring a coordinated effort. Or he could take a gamble, tail the enemy team, and attempt to catch them off guard.
The thought of single-handedly securing 1,500 points made Lee's heart race. Maybe, just maybe, this would finally earn Neji's respect and prove his worth. His mind raced with possibilities, rationalizing the decision—if he returned to his team, this fleeting opportunity might never come again.
After throwing caution to the wind with determination etched on his face, Lee clenched his fists and made his choice. He would follow the enemy team and seize the chance.
"I see... If that's the case, so be it... Would've been better if we had the chance to encounter that sand-riddled punk..." Dosu said, his voice cold and calculating.
"Zaku, lead the way then..." Dosu commanded.
"You got it," Zaku replied, taking point with a confident stride.
Lee watched silently as the group began moving. His muscles coiled like a spring as he prepared to trail them, ensuring he remained out of sight. The stakes had never been higher, but Lee's resolve burned brighter than ever.
- With Neji and Tenten -
"He's late," Tenten muttered, her eyes fixed on the kunai Neji had embedded into the ground at their meeting spot. Her fingers tapped anxiously against her thigh. "Lee's never late... Something's up..."
Neji stood nearby, arms crossed and face calm, though his silence hinted at deeper contemplation.
"You think he ran into an enemy?... Or worse—" Tenten's voice rose, but Neji interrupted before she could spiral further.
"Perhaps," Neji admitted, his tone steady. "But there's no point in panicking. Knowing Lee, he won't go down easily. Whatever happened, we'll find him."
Tenten took a deep breath, Neji's confidence settling her nerves. She nodded firmly.
"Right," she said.
Without wasting another moment, the two set off, their movements swift and synchronized as they ventured into the dense forest to search for their missing teammate.
- With Ino -
Ino finished tending to Naruto's minor injuries and turned her full attention to Sasuke. She had just improvised a makeshift tourniquet, using a spare rag and a sturdy stick she found nearby, to stop the bleeding from the puncture wound on his thigh. It wasn't perfect, but it worked.
She dipped another rag into the cool water she'd fetched earlier, wrung it out, and carefully folded it before placing it on Sasuke's fevered forehead. Hopefully, it would help bring his temperature down, even if just a little.
Though Sasuke was still unconscious, his face betrayed his discomfort. Ino sighed heavily. Her team was suffering, and she was certain the other teams in the exams weren't faring much better. Was all this pain and struggle worth it?
Her thoughts drifted to the idea of promotion. Being a chunin meant responsibility—real responsibility. What if she wasn't cut out for it? The doubt gnawed at her, but she shook her head. No, there was no turning back now. They had come too far, and giving up would mean everything they had endured so far was for nothing.
She glanced at Naruto, frustration bubbling up.
"*sigh* Why won't you wake up already, Naruto?..." she muttered.
Her voice softened as she continued, speaking as though he could hear her. "I know there's no way you'd give up on this exam... You'd tell me 'We're going to get through it dattebayo!' with that stupid grin of yours and that little thumbs-up you always do..."
The memory of Naruto's boundless optimism made her chuckle softly, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
But her brief reprieve was cut short when a rustling sound broke through her thoughts. Her body tensed as her gaze darted toward the bushes nearby. Gripping her kunai tightly, she turned toward the noise, prepared for the worst.
From the bushes emerged... a squirrel, scurrying across the clearing.
Ino let out a sigh of relief, lowering her kunai. "For a second there, I thought someone was going to attack..." she murmured to herself.
"And that's where you're wrong," a cold voice interrupted.
Her blood ran cold as her head snapped toward the source of the voice.
Three figures emerged from the shadows, each wearing the distinct attire of Otogakure (Hidden Sound Village) shinobi. One had gauntlets covering both arms. Behind him stood a kunoichi with long, sleek black hair and a third teammate whose face was almost entirely obscured by bandages.
Ino's heart pounded in her chest. She had been so focused on treating Naruto and Sasuke that she had completely let her guard down. Gritting her teeth, she berated herself for not setting traps earlier, but there was no time for regret. She had to act now.
Her gaze flickered toward her unconscious teammates, silently willing one of them to wake up. But neither stirred.
She was on her own.
Ino's thoughts raced as she tried to devise a way out of the dire situation. Fighting three against one was sheer madness, and though she wasn't the strongest ninja, she had principles. Running away and leaving Naruto and Sasuke behind? That was unthinkable.
Or was it?
The fleeting thought of grabbing Naruto and abandoning Sasuke crossed her mind, but she quickly shook it off, disgusted with herself.
"No... I'd never do that!" she thought firmly.
Negotiation seemed like her only viable option. Maybe if she handed over their scrolls, they'd leave them alone. Naruto would be furious, no doubt about that, but she was confident he'd come around. She couldn't bear the idea of something happening to them, especially Naruto for that matter.
Ino straightened, her resolve solidifying. She made her decision.
"If you're here for our scrolls, take—"
"Wrong," Dosu interrupted coldly. "We're here for him." He jabbed a finger toward the unconscious Sasuke.
"Sasuke?! What do you want with him?!" Ino demanded, her voice shaking slightly.
"That's none of your business, blondie," Zaku sneered. "Now, you're either going to wake him up right now or we'll do it ourselves."
"We'll even sweeten the deal," Dosu added, his tone almost mockingly generous. "Take the blonde idiot and go. As much as we wanted to fight that blonde prick, he's not our main priority. Just leave the Uchiha to us..."
Ino glanced at Naruto. The offer tempted her for a moment. She could grab him and run, leaving Sasuke behind to whatever fate these Sound nin had planned. But the thought of it churned her stomach.
No. She couldn't do it.
Steeling herself, Ino stood and adopted a defensive stance, her kunai ready. Her heart pounded as she glared at the trio.
Dosu raised an eyebrow, then shrugged. "Heh, suit yourself..."
With a quick nod from Dosu, the three Sound genin sprang into action. Dosu charged straight at her, while Zaku and Kin fanned out, closing in from either side.
Ino's grip on her kunai tightened. It was now or never.
Ino swiftly pulled out a set of poison-laced senbons and hurled them toward Dosu's team. The needles cut through the air, gleaming menacingly, but the Sound nin proved to be formidable opponents. They dodged most with ease, and those they couldn't avoid were deflected with practiced precision.
Without hesitation, the three leapt into the air, positioning themselves to strike from above.
Ino's heart pounded, but she forced herself to focus, her hands flying through a series of seals. "Katon: Hinotama no Jutsu! (Fire Release: Fireball Technique)" she called out, releasing a fireball that roared toward Dosu.
"Is that all you've got?!" Dosu sneered, his single exposed eye gleaming with contempt. With a simple hand seal, he dispelled the flames, snuffing them out as though they were nothing more than a candle's flicker.
"You'll have to try harder than that if you want to make a difference!" he taunted, his voice a venomous growl.
Ino's stomach dropped as the three nin bore down on her, their shadows stretching ominously across the ground. Her kunai trembled slightly in her grip, and tears pricked the corners of her eyes. Was this it? Would she fail here, unable to protect her teammates?
She froze, paralyzed between the instinct to flee and the determination to stand her ground.
Suddenly, a voice roared through the forest.
"KONOHA SENPU! (Leaf Whirlwind)"
A green blur streaked through the air, spinning with incredible speed and precision. A powerful kick struck Dosu and his teammates mid-flight, sending all three hurtling backward. They crashed to the ground, skidding across the forest floor in a flurry of leaves and dust.
Ino stared, wide-eyed, at the scene before her. Her mind struggled to process what had just happened. As the dust began to settle, it revealed the figure of a boy standing confidently with a unique bowl-cut hairstyle and an unwavering gaze.
Recognition hit her. She had seen him during the first exam—the same boy who had been mocked by other test-takers. What was he doing here? Why had he come to her aid?
"You have to give her credit for having the guts to face all three of you alone, don't you think?..." the boy said calmly, his voice carrying an edge of both respect and challenge.
Dosu snarled as he picked himself up, brushing dirt off his clothes. "Oh yeah? AND WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?!"
The boy's expression didn't waver.
"Me?..." He straightened, striking a pose of resolute determination. "I am the beautiful blue beast of the Leaf Village—Rock Lee!"
"L-Lee-san... Why are you here?... You don't even know me..." Ino spoke, her voice trembling slightly with confusion and disbelief.
Lee didn't turn around but answered, his voice calm yet firm, "I am here to help, however... Truth be told... I only ended up here after learning that your team has a total of 1,500 points... But after seeing you being ganged up on, my objective has changed..." His words were filled with determination as he tightened the wrappings on his arms, preparing for the confrontation.
"I don't understand... W-Why put yourself in harm's way for us?... As it is, we're also your enemy..." Ino's voice shook with the uncertainty of her situation, but there was a hint of gratitude beneath her words.
Lee's expression softened, but his resolve remained unshaken. "That may also be true, but you're forgetting that we're also Konoha shinobi... Gai-sensei has taught me the importance of protecting those who are in need, and right now... That person is you..." His words were unwavering, his sense of duty clear.
"T-Thanks..." Ino replied, her voice a mix of surprise and appreciation. But despite her gratitude, Lee remained silent, his focus entirely on the upcoming battle.
"Tch... I guess it can't be helped..." Dosu muttered under his breath, clearly irritated. "Zaku, you take the Uchiha. Kin, back me up, leave 'em to me..." He said with a sharp glare at Lee, his patience wearing thin.
Lee's eyes flicked toward Ino. Although he'd observed some of her moves earlier, he couldn't help but feel uncertain about how she'd be able to cooperate with his fighting style. He remembered what Gai-sensei had always taught him: the bond between teammates was just as important as individual strength. No matter how strong he was, he couldn't fight alone.
"I've told you my name, what's yours?..." Lee asked, his voice calm but laced with quiet curiosity.
Ino, surprised by the question, hesitated for a moment before answering. "I'm Yamanaka Ino..." she said, her voice steadying as she gave him a small nod.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Ino-san. Pleasantries aside... I'd like to ask for your help," Lee continued, his tone turning serious. "From the looks of it... The odds are still against us. Despite me being here, we're still outnumbered. Not only that, but we also have to worry about keeping your teammates safe. Can I count on you?..." His words were filled with trust and a quiet sense of urgency.
Ino, her heart swelling with a sense of renewed hope and determination, nodded firmly.
Lee's eyes gleamed with satisfaction, and he turned his attention back to their foes. There was no time for hesitation now; their battle was about to begin.
"Heh... Looks like those two are coming up with a plan..." Dosu muttered, sizing up Lee with a mocking grin. "The only one to worry about is that dork with the bowl-cut... He may not look like much, but he's pretty good with taijutsu... Heh, looks like I can finally have some fun around here..." He cracked his knuckles, eager for the fight.
"You two done with your little chit-chat?..." Dosu sneered, his patience running out. Lee, however, ignored his taunts, his focus razor-sharp as he entered a fighting stance. With a swift motion, he rolled up his right sleeve, revealing the metal bracer strapped to his arm—a symbol of his readiness for whatever came next.
In an instant, Dosu charged toward Lee and Ino, his movements swift and purposeful. Kin, never one to leave her team vulnerable, provided support from a distance. She hurled senbons with deadly precision, targeting both Lee and Ino. Reacting swiftly, Ino launched her own poison-laced senbons at Dosu and his teammates, but both parties were agile enough to dodge or deflect the incoming projectiles with ease.
With a fluid motion, Dosu used his metal bracer to deflect the senbons aimed at him. Then, without hesitation, he leaped high into the air, clutching his right arm tightly as he prepared to strike from above, his figure looming like a shadow.
In response, Lee dropped to one knee, his eyes focused as he slammed his fist into the ground. The impact sent cracks rippling through the earth, and to Ino's surprise, Lee pulled out a massive root, using it as an improvised shield. Ino's eyes widened at the display of raw strength—she hadn't anticipated this level of power from him.
Dosu's right arm collided with the wooden root with brutal force, embedding itself deep within the wood. The root shattered upon impact, splinters flying in every direction. He quickly withdrew his arm, stepping back with a snarl, frustrated by the failed assault.
"You think I'd let you close with that kind of attack?..." Lee remarked, his voice calm but laced with confidence. "I may not know much about your technique, but I can tell that it relies heavily on that thing on your arm."
Dosu growled, his expression darkening. "You're right... You don't know anything about it. Come closer, and I'll be happy to show you..." He taunted, his voice dripping with disdain.
Lee smirked, his posture relaxed, before he vanished in a blur of motion.
Both Ino and Team Dosu were stunned, momentarily unsure of where Lee had gone. In a fraction of a second, Lee reappeared behind Dosu, as though he'd never left. The suddenness of his movement left Dosu with barely enough time to react.
"KONOHA SENPU! (Leaf Whirlwind)" Lee shouted, his body spinning with incredible speed as he delivered a powerful roundhouse kick. Dosu tried to block with his metal bracer, but the sheer force of Lee's kick pushed him back. Dosu barely had time to brace himself before Lee's other leg struck him directly in the torso. The impact expelled the air from his lungs, and he was sent skidding backwards, the wind knocked out of him. Though he remained standing, his feet slid across the ground, leaving deep marks in the dirt.
Lee wasn't finished. Without a moment's pause, he vanished again, his movements too fast for Dosu to track.
Dosu's eyes widened in shock, and for the first time in this fight, doubt crept into his mind. He had lost sight of Lee once more, unsure of where the next strike would come from.
Lee reappeared from his right side, his movements swift and calculated. However, Kin and Zaku were already prepared for his next move, positioning themselves to launch ranged attacks. Sensing the imminent danger, Ino reacted quickly, throwing a couple of kunais with explosive tags attached aimed at Zaku and Kin to disrupt their attacks.
Seeing the incoming projectiles, Zaku and Kin swiftly altered their focus, momentarily distracted by the interruption. "Zankūha! (Decapitating Airwaves)" Zaku yelled, extending his palms toward the kunais Ino launched. With a powerful gust of wind, he deflected the kunais, allowing him to complete his attack.
Zaku's wind-based attack collided with Ino's explosive projectiles causing them to miss their mark and detonate far away from both parties causing the forest to shake violently.
The moment Zaku finished his technique, Lee seized the opportunity. "KONOHA REPPU! (Leaf Gale)" he called out, executing a spinning low kick that hit Dosu square in the chest. The force of the kick caused Dosu to lose his balance, and he collapsed onto the ground, his body sliding a few feet.
Without missing a beat, Lee leapt into the air, performing a front flip. As he ascended, he prepared to follow up with another powerful strike. "KONOHA OTOSHI! (Leaf Drop)" he exclaimed, his voice filled with determination. His heel was aimed directly at the fallen Dosu, ready to crush him with incredible force.
Kin and Zaku saw Lee's aerial attack coming and immediately moved to intervene. Kin quickly shouted, "Zaku! I got this!" as she hurled another round of senbons at Ino. The barrage of senbons forced Ino to dodge, momentarily leaving Lee unprotected.
Meanwhile, Zaku took this opening and focused all his energy into another gust of wind. "Zankūha! (Decapitating Airwaves)" he yelled, thrusting his palms forward. A powerful shockwave of air blasted Lee off course, knocking him away from Dosu just in time. Lee's body hurtled through the air and plummeted toward the ground, his heel just barely missing Dosu.
With a resounding crash, Lee's heel made contact with the forest floor. The shockwave from the impact sent dirt and rubble flying in all directions, shaking the ground beneath them. Lee landed hard, though he quickly rolled to absorb the impact, determined to keep fighting.
Zaku exhaled a long sigh of relief, his posture relaxing slightly. He had managed to save Dosu in the nick of time—had he been even a fraction of a second slower, Dosu would've been crushed under Lee's relentless assault.
Dosu pushed himself up from the ground, dusting himself off with a cocky grin. "Heh... You're pretty fast and you're strong as well... But now that you've had your fun, I believe it's my turn now..." he said, his voice dripping with confidence. He clenched his right fist tightly, causing the metal bracer around his arm to expel small puffs of air.
Lee remained poised, watching Dosu intently, his body brimming with focus. He was eager to learn what kind of technique Dosu was planning to unleash with that bracer.
In the blink of an eye, both combatants rushed towards each other. Lee was the first to strike, aiming a quick punch toward Dosu. But Dosu reacted with impressive speed, blocking Lee's strike with his free arm. Undeterred, Lee continued his assault, delivering a series of punches. Left, right, left, right, left, right, left. Some were able to land however most were blocked by Dosu, Lee then prepared himself to strike once more by bringing his other arm around for a follow-up blow. However, this too was blocked—again by Dosu's bracer. As the two forces collided, the bracer began to vibrate violently, creating a deafening sound that instantly assailed Lee's ears. The high-pitched noise was so intense that Lee instinctively brought his arms to his head, gritting his teeth in an attempt to block the sound.
Seizing the opportunity, Dosu's fist shot forward like lightning, landing a brutal sucker punch to Lee's abdomen. The impact knocked the wind out of Lee, and he stumbled backward. "Doesn't feel so good when it's done to you, huh?! PUNK!" Dosu taunted, his voice full of mocking satisfaction.
Still recovering from the disorienting effect of the sound, Lee was unable to defend himself in time as Dosu followed up with a left hook, then a right hook—both of which slammed into Lee's face with bone-crushing force. Lee's head snapped back with each blow, but Dosu wasn't finished yet. With fluid grace, he spun around, his right arm arcing through the air and delivering a powerful uppercut. The punch collided with Lee's chin, sending him flying upward into the air. The force of the strike was amplified by the bracer, making the blow even more devastating. Lee felt his body lift off the ground as if his own weight no longer mattered, and for a brief moment, the world seemed to spin out of control.
The bracer emitted a high-pitched vibration in response to the punch, and before Lee could regain his bearings, Dosu aimed his arm at him and unleashed a blast of compressed air. The gust slammed into Lee's chest, sending him tumbling backward, crashing to the ground in a heap.
"You should've minded your own business, you bushy-browed punk..." Dosu spat, his tone dripping with venom as he watched Lee struggle to rise.
Lee slowly got to his feet, still cradling his ears as the ringing from the sound-based attack refused to fade. The persistent ringing in his ears was unbearable, and try as he might to soothe the discomfort, his vision wavered and his body felt unsteady. It was as though his equilibrium had been completely disrupted.
"What's going on?..." Lee thought to himself, his legs wobbling as he fought to remain upright. His body felt as if it was at war with itself, trying to maintain balance but failing miserably.
Dosu saw Lee's struggle and grinned. He brandished his bracer once more, then performed a quick hand-seal. The device roared to life, and the intensity of its hum filled the air, causing Lee's head to spin even more. His vision blurred, and he felt as if he were teetering on the edge of losing consciousness.
"Your taijutsu might be fast... However, let's see you outrun the speed of sound!" Dosu mocked, his voice filled with smug satisfaction.
Lee could hear the pounding of his own heart in his ears, each beat a thunderous reminder of the pain he was enduring. His breathing was ragged and labored, mixing with the constant ringing that had been assaulting his senses since Dosu's first attack.
"Sound…" Lee thought, forcing himself to focus despite the overwhelming sensation. He gritted his teeth and steeled himself to face Dosu, knowing that he couldn't afford to back down now.
"Don't tell me that I have to lecture you on what sound is in the first place... Do either of you even know what sound is?..." Dosu taunted, his voice dripping with arrogance. Lee didn't respond, his focus unwavering.
"They're vibrations..." Ino answered from her position, her voice cutting through the chaos of the battle.
"Exactly," Dosu confirmed, nodding as if explaining a simple concept to a child. "Our ears house the eardrum, which is always catching vibrations in the air..."
Lee's head was spinning as the ringing in his ears grew louder, his senses overwhelmed by the brutal assault. He clenched his fists, trying to block out Dosu's voice and focus on the fight.
"On top of that, it doesn't take much to break it... Allow me to demonstrate..." Dosu said, his voice dripping with malice as he formed the same hand-seal that had caused Lee so much pain earlier.
Lee braced himself, but before he could react, the metal bracer on Dosu's arm roared to life. It emitted a sonic wave, a pulse of destructive sound that ripped through the air and slammed directly into Lee. Ino, still positioned far away, instinctively covered her ears in response to the sheer power of the sound.
The sound wave reached him, and Lee let out a sharp, guttural yell as the pain intensified. His hands desperately pressed against his ears, but it did nothing to alleviate the torment. His vision blurred as he tried to steady himself, but the constant ringing in his ears made it feel as though he was standing on the edge of oblivion.
And then, suddenly...
~ POP! ~
Blood oozed from Lee's ears, the viscous red liquid staining the sides of his face as his eardrums were ruptured from the brutal sound wave Dosu unleashed. Each throb of pain was accompanied by the unbearable ringing, a constant reminder of the damage his body had sustained.
"Don't even bother coming up with a way to work around our jutsus... So long as you can hear our attacks, there's no outrunning it..." Dosu's eyes locked onto Lee, his gaze burning with a mixture of fury and smug satisfaction.
Lee's breath was shallow, his vision blurry from the shock, but Dosu's words cut through the haze.
"You're probably thinking you could've easily dodged my attack, if so then you're wrong and you clearly weren't listening... And second, even if you were fast enough to get away, you couldn't. And that's because you can't stay balanced. Why, you ask? That's simply because I'm also targeting your semicircular canal. When compromised, it causes an individual to struggle staying balanced..." Dosu's voice was cool, calculated, as if explaining the inevitable collapse of his enemy. The confidence in his words was unmistakable. Victory, he thought, was all but assured.
Lee staggered, the world spinning around him as if he were standing on the edge of a precipice. His body fought to stay upright, but the sensation of dizziness was overpowering, threatening to pull him into the abyss.
Dosu then turned his attention to Ino, his eyes narrowing into slits of pure rage. His patience had worn thin, and the refusal to cooperate had finally pushed him over the edge.
"And you! Don't think that we forgot about you... YOU'RE NEXT!" he roared; his voice filled with venom as he surged forward with a burst of speed.
Ino's mind raced as she saw Dosu charging toward her. Her heart hammered in her chest, but she remained resolute, her fingers flying through a series of hand seals.
"Katon: Hinotama no Jutsu! (Fire Release: Fireball Technique)" Ino chanted, summoning a fireball with a swift motion, hurling it directly at Dosu.
But Dosu was faster. He easily dodged the fiery attack, his movements fluid and precise as he closed the gap between them. He raised his right arm, preparing to strike, his eyes locked onto Ino as though she were already defeated.
But then, Dosu's eyes widened in shock. Through the haze of pain, Lee—clumsy and disoriented—charged toward Ino. His movements were unsteady, but his resolve was unwavering.
"KONOHA SENP—" Lee shouted, his voice strained but filled with determination as he swung his leg in a powerful roundhouse kick.
~ RINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG! ~
"ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Lee cried out, his face contorting in agony as he winced, his hands instinctively clutching his ears. The pain from his ruptured eardrums was overwhelming, causing his body to shake uncontrollably. His previously fluid movements faltered, his attack slowing just enough for Dosu to block it effortlessly with his free arm.
"Looks like my previous attack is still taking a toll on you!" Dosu taunted, his voice laced with arrogance, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction as he watched Lee struggle.
With Lee seemingly incapacitated, Dosu turned his attention to Ino, preparing to strike with ruthless speed. He believed the battle was nearly over, that Lee's pain had rendered him useless. However, Dosu had gravely underestimated Lee's resolve.
Lee, though battered and on the verge of collapse, pushed through the waves of pain. With unwavering determination, he managed to block Dosu's attack, positioning himself as a shield to protect Ino. But as his arm collided with Dosu's strike, the familiar, sinister hum of Dosu's metal bracer sent a chill down his spine.
The bracer vibrated with a menacing energy, and Lee, with his mind still clouded by pain, instinctively covered his left ear—the one that had ruptured most severely, the ear closest to Dosu's weapon.
But Dosu's smirk deepened, a malicious gleam in his eyes. Without hesitation, he performed another hand seal, his bracer roaring to life once more.
In a split second, Dosu redirected the blast, the sound wave cutting through the air with surgical precision.
The vibration crashed into Lee's remaining, already fragile ear, sending another wave of excruciating pain through his skull. Lee's entire body shuddered violently as he crumbled to his knees, his hands desperately clutching at his head in a futile attempt to block out the noise.
~ POP! ~
"ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Lee cried out once more, his voice raw with pain. His body gave out as he fell to his knees, more blood poured out of his ears. Moments later, he then collapsed face-first onto the ground, motionless.
"LEE-SAN!" Ino screamed, her voice trembling with panic as she saw her ally fall.
"And now, to end things..." Dosu declared coldly, raising his braced arm to deliver the final blow.
"I WON'T LET YOU!" Ino yelled defiantly, quickly hurling a barrage of shurikens at Dosu. He raised his metal bracer with ease, deflecting the projectiles with a smug expression.
"Oh well..." Dosu taunted, his voice dripping with mockery.
"Tch..." Ino muttered, frustration evident in her tone. She glanced at her pouch, dismayed to find it nearly empty. Her supply of shurikens and senbons was running dangerously low, and with it, her options were dwindling. Undeterred, she grabbed the last few shurikens and hurled them at Dosu once more.
This time, Zaku stepped in, his palms outstretched as he unleashed a counterattack. "ZANKUHA! (DECAPITATING AIRWAVES)" he roared, releasing a powerful gust of wind that propelled the shurikens back toward Ino. The force of the blast battered her, leaving her unable to evade the returning projectiles. She cried out as the blades tore through the air, grazing her arms and legs, leaving shallow cuts in their wake.
As the whirlwind subsided, Ino saw Zaku and Kin advancing on her with predatory intent. Her heart raced as she formed a rapid sequence of hand seals: Ram - Tiger - Boar - Dragon - Ram. She extended her palms toward them and shouted, "Hijutsu: Kokoro Kōshin! (Hidden Technique: Heart-to-Heart Exchange)"
Overconfident in their abilities, neither Zaku nor Kin bothered to dodge. Zaku charged forward to throw a punch, but to his shock, his body froze in place. Instead, it was Kin's arm that moved, her fist clenching involuntarily.
"What the?!-" Zaku exclaimed, bewildered.
Kin's eyes widened in panic as her body mimicked Zaku's movements, punching the air in confusion. "What's happening?!..." she shouted, trying to regain control.
Ino smirked, realizing her jutsu had worked. She had successfully swapped their motor functions, leaving them unable to coordinate their movements. She wasted no time capitalizing on their confusion. Though taijutsu wasn't her strong suit, she had no other choice.
Ino rushed forward and struck Kin with the back of her hand, the impact snapping Kin's head to the side. Twirling gracefully, she delivered a sharp elbow strike to Kin's neck, forcing her backward. As Kin struggled to retaliate, her movements controlling Zaku's body in a disjointed manner, Ino dropped low and executed a double-leg sweep, sending Kin tumbling to the ground.
"Kin! Disrupt your chakra!" Zaku shouted urgently.
"Got it!" Kin responded. Both shouted in unison, "KAI!" Their chakra flared as they broke free of Ino's jutsu.
Now unrestrained, Zaku charged at Ino with renewed fury. She quickly performed another set of hand seals, her voice steady despite the pressure. "Kanashibari no Jutsu! (Temporary Paralysis Technique)" she intoned, extending her hand toward Zaku.
Zaku's body froze, his muscles locking in place as he gritted his teeth in frustration. With Kin still sprawled on the ground and Zaku paralyzed by Ino's jutsu, she seized the opportunity. Reaching into her pouch, she pulled out the modified smoke bombs she had been saving for the right moment.
Zaku's eyes widened as he realized what Ino was planning. He strained against the invisible force restraining him, willing his body to move. The bombs rolled across the forest floor toward them before detonating in a burst of purple-colored smoke.
The noxious cloud billowed out, thick and menacing. Ino briefly glanced at Dosu, who stood off to the side, arms crossed, watching the fight without making a move. She felt both confusion and relief. Why wasn't he helping his teammates? Was it overconfidence? Arrogance? Whatever the reason, she silently thanked him for his inaction and turned her focus back to the fight.
Within the poisonous haze, there was no movement—no signs of Zaku or Kin. Ino's heart pounded. Did it work? She knew how potent the poison was, lethal even in small doses. Had she truly managed to neutralize two enemy shinobi by herself?
Her brief hope shattered as the smoke dissipated, revealing both Zaku and Kin standing unharmed, though visibly enraged. Zaku's glare burned with fury.
"You're starting to get on my nerves, blondie," Zaku growled, his voice a dangerous snarl.
"Tch…" Ino muttered under her breath, her mind racing for options. Her chakra reserves were low, her tools nearly depleted, and her body was screaming for rest. But she refused to back down. If this was the end, she would go down fighting.
Ino quickly wove a series of hand seals. Zaku's eyes narrowed, recognizing the familiar jutsu.
"Really? That jutsu? Don't mock me!" Zaku bellowed as Ino completed her Bunshin no Jutsu (Clone Technique).
A puff of smoke erupted around her, and when it cleared, three identical copies of Ino stood ready. The clones dashed toward Zaku, moving in erratic patterns to confuse him. All three began weaving the same hand seals in unison, but only the real Ino could execute the jutsu.
"Katon: Hinotama no Jutsu! (Fire Release: Fireball Technique)" one of the clones shouted, releasing a fireball aimed directly at Zaku.
Zaku strafed to the side, effortlessly dodging the attack. His smirk returned as he aimed his palms at the approaching figures. "Kaze Senpūha! (Wind Cyclone Wave)" he roared, releasing a spiraling gust of wind that tore through the clones and scattered the smoke.
When the dust settled, Ino was nowhere to be seen.
Zaku's smirk faded as he felt a sudden presence behind him. What Zaku didn't know was that Ino used another jutsu of her own, the Katon: Hi no Naka ni Kakureru no Jutsu (Fire Release: Hiding in Fire Technique) which allowed her to conceal herself alongside the fireball she released.
Whipping around, he spotted Ino mid-attack, her hands reaching for his chest. Acting on reflex, Zaku countered with a palm strike to her torso, driving the air from her lungs. Ino's eyes widened as she gasped in pain.
"Zankuha... (Decapitating Airwaves)" Zaku said, his voice low and menacing. With his palm still pressed against her stomach, he unleashed a powerful blast of air. The impact hurled Ino backward like a ragdoll, sending her crashing into a nearby tree with a sickening thud. She cried out as her back hit the solid wood, a trickle of blood escaping her lips.
"Damnit..." Ino groaned in pain.
"Took you long enough, Zaku..." Dosu sneered, his voice dripping with condescension.
Zaku shot him a murderous glare, his temper clearly at its limit.
Dosu, who had been patiently waiting for his teammate to handle Ino, stepped forward, ready to deliver the finishing blow. But it seemed that fortune favored Ino at that moment. A massive dragon made of fire roared through the forest, rushing toward Dosu and his allies with blazing intensity.
The fiery beast forced Dosu, Zaku, and Kin to back off. It missed them narrowly, crashing into the forest floor with a deafening explosion. Dirt and rubble scattered into the air, and the acrid scent of charred earth filled their nostrils.
Dosu's eye twitched in irritation as he scanned the area, wondering who had dared to interfere this time.
"Get away from Lee!" a sharp voice rang out.
Ino and Team Dosu turned toward the source of the fiery attack. Emerging from the shadows were a girl with hair styled in twin buns and a boy with piercing white eyes. Apparently, it was the girl who was responsible for the attack.
Ino's gaze shifted between them, quickly piecing together their identities. They must be Lee's teammates, she thought.
Neji's sharp eyes fell on Lee's unconscious body. He let out a frustrated sigh. "*sigh* All you had to do was follow the plan..." he thought, his irritation evident even in silence.
He then turned his attention to the enemy team and noticed the hitai-ate symbols they bore. "Konoha..." Dosu muttered to himself.
"You damn tree-huggers just keep on coming, huh? Coming out of nowhere like the cockroaches you are," Dosu sneered, his voice dripping with disdain.
Neji's expression hardened as his gaze locked onto Dosu. "That kid with the bowl-cut over there is one of us," he said coldly. "And from the looks of it..." His Byakugan (All Seeing White Eye) flared to life, veins bulging around his eyes as his chakra surged. "It's painfully clear that you messed with him, didn't you?!"
Zaku and Kin stared at Neji's activated Byakugan in shock, having never encountered anything like it before.
Even Ino, still catching her breath, was momentarily awestruck. She silently hoped that Lee's teammates wouldn't mistake her group as enemies too.
Dosu, however, remained calm and calculating, his gaze fixed on Neji. "What's with his eyes?..." he muttered, a faint curiosity creeping into his usually composed demeanor.
Neji crossed his arms, his voice steady but threatening. "If you plan to continue, then we'll have no choice but to fight at full strength."
Tenten took her stance beside him, preparing herself for battle. However, she quickly noticed Neji's confident expression waver slightly. "Neji, what's wrong?..." she asked, concern lacing her voice.
"This chakra..." Neji muttered, his tone dropping as if sensing something unnerving.
Dosu tilted his head slightly, a sly grin forming on his face. "Is that so? Then why don't you come down here and put your money where your mouth is?..." he taunted, clearly unfazed by Neji's words.
Neji's gaze remained cold and steady. "From what I see, it seems like there's apparently no need for that," he replied coolly.
Dosu's composure faltered for the first time as he noticed something strange happening nearby. His eyes narrowed as he stared at what appeared to be an unusual disturbance in the air—focused on the Uchiha's body.
- In Sasuke's Mind -
Sasuke's eyes opened, and he found himself standing in his clan's compound. For a moment, he didn't question why he was there. The silence that hung over the area was familiar—too familiar. The emptiness, something he had grown used to, was now an unshakable part of him.
He glanced around, noting that nothing seemed out of place. The same rows of houses stood in quiet solemnity, their doors shut as if guarding secrets that no longer mattered. That was when he noticed a young boy darting across the street in the distance. His curiosity piqued, Sasuke decided to follow.
The boy's path led directly to a house Sasuke knew all too well—his own. He approached the entrance and opened the door as if on instinct. The creak of the wooden frame greeted him. Stepping inside, Sasuke removed his sandals, placing them neatly by the door. His were the only pair there, a stark reminder of the solitude he bore. He was the last Uchiha, apart from the man he swore to kill.
Venturing further into the house, Sasuke's eyes scanned the dimly lit corridors, searching for the boy. A sudden sound broke the silence—light footsteps from behind. He turned swiftly, catching a glimpse of the boy before he vanished again, darting out of reach.
"Oi, wait!" Sasuke called, but the boy didn't stop.
He gave chase, the echo of small feet leading him deeper into the house. The trail ended at the living room. Just as Sasuke was about to step inside, he froze. From within, the sound of quiet sobbing reached his ears. Sliding the door open, he found the boy kneeling on the floor, his face buried in his hands as he cried.
Sasuke's gaze softened as he stepped closer. The boy's muttering became audible, though the words were fragmented. "It's my fault," the boy whispered, repeating the phrase like a mantra. The words grew louder with every breath.
"It's my fault… It's my fault… It's my fault..."
Sasuke knelt down, his hand hovering just above the boy's back, hesitant to touch him. Then, the boy suddenly snapped upright and screamed, "IT'S ALL MY FAULT!"
Sasuke flinched, his hand recoiling as the boy resumed his agonizing chant. "It's my fault. It's my fault. It's my fault…" Over and over, the words echoed, filling the room with despair.
"I'm weak…"
"I'm useless…"
"I let this happen to them…"
"I couldn't protect them…"
"I can't do anything…"
"It's because I had no power… Everyone was killed!"
"They were killed…"
"It's all because of me…"
The weight of the boy's words struck Sasuke like a blade, rendering him speechless. He took an involuntary step back, the floor creaking beneath him. The sound made the boy freeze. Slowly, the boy turned his head to face him.
Sasuke's breath caught in his throat. The boy's eyes—his eyes—seemed to pierce through his very soul.
"No…" the boy hissed, his tone shifting to something dark, something accusatory. "It's your fault. IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!"
In an instant, the pristine room around them warped. The walls darkened, splattered with blood. Broken furniture lay scattered across the floor. The air grew heavy with the metallic scent of death. Sasuke's stomach churned as his gaze fell upon the bodies of his parents, lifeless and motionless, sprawled before the boy.
The child slowly turned to face him fully. His Sharingan (Copy/Mirror Wheel Eye) gleamed like a curse, reflecting anguish and rage. Then, the boy grinned—a twisted, maniacal expression that sent chills down Sasuke's spine.
"You did this to them," the boy snarled. "You let them be killed. It's because you're weak. You did nothing but watch."
Sasuke stumbled backward, his body trembling as the boy's voice rose in intensity.
"If only I had power…"
The boy clawed at his own skin, peeling it away in gruesome layers, his voice growing louder and more distorted.
"If only I had power!"
"IF ONLY I HAD POWER!"
With a final, bone-chilling scream, the boy tore away the last of his flesh, revealing Orochimaru's serpentine eyes staring back at Sasuke.
Ino writhed in pain, struggling to push herself upright against the tree she had collided with. Her body screamed in protest, but she forced herself to focus. That was when she noticed Sasuke stirring awake. Relief flooded through her as hope reignited in her chest.
A surge of adrenaline gave her the strength to rise and stagger toward him.
"Sasu—" Ino began, but her words faltered and died on her lips when her eyes truly registered Sasuke.
Something was different.
Something had changed.
Something was undeniably wrong.
"Stand back, Ino..." Sasuke said, his voice calm, yet dripping with malice. The venom in his tone made her freeze.
Sasuke's crimson Sharingan burned brightly as he fixed his gaze on Dosu and his teammates. He didn't even turn to look at Ino as he repeated himself.
"I said, stand back..."
Ino's breath hitched, her chest tightening with fear. Reluctantly, she obeyed, stepping out of his path.
"T-Those markings… There's no mistake about it..." Dosu muttered, his unease apparent.
He stared at Sasuke, his composure shaken as black, flame-like markings began to creep across the left side of Sasuke's body. The markings pulsated with an ominous energy, and the air around the Uchiha grew heavy with a sinister aura.
Zaku and Kin shared a glance, curious by the sight. Dosu, however, was the most disturbed. How had Sasuke gotten the curse mark? There was only one person capable of placing it: Orochimaru. The realization sent a chill down Dosu's spine. If Orochimaru had already marked Sasuke, why would he order them to eliminate him? The inconsistency gnawed at Dosu's mind—it didn't add up.
"S-Sasuke, your body!" Ino called out, her voice trembling.
Sasuke finally glanced down at himself, observing the spreading black markings. Rather than concern, a twisted smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Don't worry about it... My body doesn't hurt. It actually feels good," Sasuke replied, his tone unsettling. Ino's breath caught as she struggled to process his words.
"Orochimaru... I think I'm beginning to understand what you said to me earlier..." Sasuke mused to himself, clenching his fist tightly as raw power surged through him.
"On my road to avenge all of them, there's no price too high to put power into my hands... Even if it means selling my soul to the devil," Sasuke thought, his resolve sharpening like a blade.
He flexed his fingers, feeling the curse mark's energy humming beneath his skin. "So... This is Orochimaru's curse mark... I didn't expect him to be able to move this soon after receiving it," he murmured, more to himself than anyone else.
His gaze shifted to Ino, taking in her battered state. His eyes then darted to Lee's unconscious body lying nearby. Finally, he glanced over his shoulder to Naruto, who remained motionless on the ground.
"Ino... Are those the ones responsible for all of this?..." Sasuke asked, his voice devoid of emotion.
Ino hesitated, her silence speaking volumes.
Zaku, his confidence bolstered by Sasuke's question, stepped forward with a sneer.
"And so, what if we're the ones who did all of this? What're you gonna do about it, punk?!" Zaku taunted, his voice brimming with arrogance.
The atmosphere shifted in an instant. Sasuke's Sharingan snapped to Zaku, his eyes narrowing as a dangerous energy rippled off him.
- (Naruto OST: Cursed Mark) -
Sasuke didn't dignify Zaku's taunt with a response. He simply stared, fury burning in his crimson Sharingan. The black markings on his body glowed an ominous red, spreading further across his skin like wildfire, their sinister pattern threatening to overtake him entirely.
"Heh…" Zaku smirked as he cracked his knuckles.
But unlike him, Dosu wasn't at ease. His wary gaze lingered on Sasuke, the foreboding chakra radiating from the Uchiha sending a chill through him.
"I-Impossible… This chakra… Orochimaru-sama… Why?…" Dosu thought, his mind racing to piece together the situation.
"Dosu, you told me to leave the Uchiha to you, right?! Step aside!" Zaku barked confidently. "This half-dead punk is nothing to me!" He clasped his hands together, clearly preparing to strike.
"ZAKU! WAIT! DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?!" Dosu shouted, his voice edged with desperation.
Zaku ignored him. "I'll take care of all of them! IN ONE FELL SWOOP!" he declared, channeling chakra into his arms.
"ZANKUKYOKUHA! (EXTREME DECAPITATING AIRWAVES)" Zaku roared as a ferocious gust of wind erupted from his palms. The blast tore through the forest, uprooting trees and scattering debris like a hurricane. The ground quaked under the pressure, and the air around them was filled with dust and rubble.
When the gale subsided, Zaku straightened, smirking triumphantly. "Heh! They must've been blown to pieces!"
"Who did?..."
The cold, venomous voice made Zaku's blood freeze.
Slowly, he turned his head. His eyes widened in disbelief.
Sasuke stood behind him, unscathed. Beside him were Naruto, Ino, and Lee, all safely out of harm's way.
"Impos—" Zaku began, but before he could finish, Sasuke moved.
In a blur, Sasuke struck Zaku with a single devastating blow, sending him hurtling through the air. Zaku crashed to the ground near Dosu and Kin with a heavy thud.
"Zaku!" Kin cried as she rushed to his side.
Dosu's calculating eyes darted between Zaku and Sasuke. His mind raced to comprehend what had just happened. "He's fast… He even had time to get those three out of the way," he muttered, his unease growing.
Kin helped Zaku back to his feet, but Sasuke gave them no time to recover. With a fluid motion, he began weaving hand seals.
"Katon: Housenka no Jutsu! (Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Technique)" Sasuke intoned.
A volley of small, blazing fireballs shot toward the trio.
Zaku stepped in front of Kin and Dosu, extending his palms outward. "Don't push your luck!" he shouted. "I'll extinguish them! ZANKUHA! (DECAPITATING AIRWAVES)"
Another powerful blast of air shot from Zaku's palms, snuffing out the flames. But as the smoke cleared, Zaku's eyes caught something glinting in the air.
"Impossible! He hid shurikens in the fire?!" Zaku exclaimed in shock.
The shurikens sliced through the air with deadly precision, cutting into Zaku's flesh. Blood seeped from the fresh wounds, leaving him stunned and vulnerable.
But Sasuke wasn't finished.
He yanked on a piece of wire connected to the shurikens, pulling them back. The thin, sharp wire coiled tightly around Zaku's legs, binding him in place.
Before Zaku could react, Sasuke appeared beside him in an instant. With cold precision, Sasuke placed his foot on Zaku's back and forced him to the ground. Zaku struggled, but the weight pressing down on him made escape impossible.
Sasuke grabbed Zaku's arms, pinning him completely.
Zaku was trapped—his legs bound, his torso immobilized, and his strength utterly useless against the Uchiha's merciless grip.
At that moment, Zaku realized the truth: he was at Sasuke's mercy.
Sasuke grabbed Zaku's arms and pulled them behind his back, slowly forcing them to their limits. To Zaku, it felt as though his arms were on the verge of being torn from their sockets.
Ino, watching the scene unfold, was overcome with fear. "Sasuke's chakra... It's different... What on earth happened to you?..." she thought. Her gaze lingered on Sasuke's face, and that was when she saw it—a grin. A sinister, unrestrained grin that sent chills down her spine. He was enjoying this.
"Seems like you're extremely proud of your arms, no?..." Sasuke taunted, his voice dripping with malice as he yanked harder.
Zaku twisted his head to look at Sasuke, panic flooding his eyes as he caught sight of the Uchiha's sadistic expression.
"Oi, oi, oi! Stop it!" Zaku demanded, his voice shaky with both pain and fear. But Sasuke didn't listen.
"I said stop it, damnit!" Zaku pleaded, desperation creeping into his tone as Sasuke's grip tightened, pulling his arms further. A guttural cry of pain escaped Zaku as the unnatural position of his arms became unbearable.
"Let go of me!" Zaku barked in a final act of defiance, but then, suddenly—
̴̡̨̱̲̖̺̝̺̹̲̎̅̒͘ ̶̡̭͍̘͇̥̤̮̈ ̴̧̡̗̟̟̮͎̜̮̺̻̋͂͆̎͜ͅ ̸̗͇͔̪̘̠̣̅̽̀̂̌͑̐̔̾͌͒̌͐̿ ̶̙̼̜̔͌̎ ̶̧̡̤͇̯̖͖̠̭̙͎̼̻͔̈́̊̅̆̚͝ ̷̢̡̹̠̳̦̫̞̥̘̗̦̯̑́͂̂̅̀͋̿̿͊̚͠ ̴͖̻̤̝̥͋̈́͊̿͘ ̶̲̞̗͗͌ ̴̞̠̪̗̖̥͔͍̮͔͍͎̰͇̙̂͌͒̄̆͆̉̅̏͝ ̷̺̭̩͍̹͇̞͔̮͔͈̓̓͂̊̃̔̿̕͜ ̶̜̹͚̳̖̞̙͎̙̦͝ ̸̦͈̹̘̌͋͑͗̑̄̀̈́̾̌̈́̂ ̸̛̭̱͇͙͈͎̪̫͖͕̟̥̏̏́̈̄̀ͅ ̷̡̛̫͇͖̜̮̲̯̥̙͋͛͠ ̸̛̼͚̺̓́͌̊̓͒̑͑́̓̚͠ ̵̣̞̟͈̖̰͓̜͕̑̒ ̶̨̯̱̙̉̿̉̕ ̶̡̼͖̯̳͙͎̊͂̉͑͑̈́̓̀̉͠͠C̷̩̩̟̟̮̜̀̐̀Ŗ̵̺͍̻̈́̄͆̎͒A̶̫̝̙̰̹̔̍̌͒̔́́̎́͒́͑C̴͙̰̹̊͑̈́̏̈͛̃̎̓ͅK̴̲͂͂̎̎̽!̷̢̰̩̜͔̭͚̙̼̮̂͆̌͊̽͌̈́͒̑̓̾͘͝͝͝ ̷͓̗͓̙̝̝͎̣͖̤͇͔͚̟̌̍ ̸̧̧̲̤̬̳̹̻̩̝̼͇̱͒́̅͆͜͝ͅ ̵̧̣͈̪̟̝͉̙͈̔̋̃̏̂̄̅͐̊͌̍̀̅͠ ̷̼̭̳͖́̾͐͊̎̆̀̄́̕͠ ̸̛̣͓̤͛͒͊́̉̿́̂̄͗̾̏̉͒ ̵̱̀̾̓͝͠͝ ̷̧̧͎͔͇̯͉͚̗͕̹͍͗͐ͅͅ ̶͔͍̺̩͔̭̞̎́̍̍̿̀͐̚͜͜ ̷̧̳̻͓͎̜̬̠̞̖͈͎͖̜̎̒̍̂̀͂͐̀̉̓̋̀̕͘ ̴͙͖͙̬͎͎̻̜͈̫̮͉͂̂̆̀̽́͐͆͒̒̍̓̕ ̵̛̪͚̣̜͈̙̟͇͙̒͛̓̓̽̌̅ ̵̣̫̥͚̦̫͉̮͉̺͓̪̺̫͆̓́̎̑͛̿̓͆͑͝͠͝ ̶͖̦̂́̓ ̸̢̨̛̫̱̬͍̠̞̗͍͕̳̽́͛̓͠ ̴̧̘̥͈̳̭̦͉͚̹͈̪̞̟̗̂̊̋͘ ̸̨̢͎̲̗̱͍̬̣͖̱̘̲̥̽ͅ ̴͐̾͑͛̇̓͒̚͜͠ ̵̢̱̮̭͉̳͉̭̈̅̈͗ ̵͚̮̩̉ͅ ̶̹̯̼̭̻̲̹̜̀̓̔͆̃̑̃͠
"ARGHHHHH!" Zaku cried out as his arms were forcibly dislocated, the sharp pain ripping through him. But Sasuke wasn't done. He continued to pull, ignoring Zaku's agonized screams, as though reveling in his torment.
"ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Zaku's scream pierced the forest, desperate and raw. Finally, Sasuke released his grip, letting Zaku's limp arms fall. With a merciless kick to the back, Sasuke sent him crumpling to the ground. Moments later, Zaku's body went slack; unconscious from the unbearable pain.
Ino stared in horror, frozen by what she had just witnessed. Sure, Zaku and his team were their enemies, and they had threatened to kill them, but this? This was something else. The idea that Sasuke had taken pleasure in inflicting such pain shook her to her core. She couldn't reconcile this with the Sasuke she thought she knew.
Above them, Tenten and Neji silently observed the scene, their expressions grim. Neither said a word, but both knew what they had just seen. It was a harsh truth—Sasuke was dangerous. It didn't matter if he was a fellow shinobi of Konoha (Hidden Leaf); someone like him couldn't be trusted.
Zaku writhed weakly on the ground, barely conscious, his body overwhelmed by the searing pain. Sasuke, however, had already shifted his attention to Dosu and Kin. His crimson Sharingan glinted ominously as he glared at them.
"You two are next," he said coldly, his tone dripping with malice.
Dosu felt a chill run down his spine. He knew better than to stand and fight now. The odds weren't just against them—they were impossible. Sasuke's power, combined with the presence of Lee's teammates, made staying a death sentence.
With a calculated breath, Dosu made his decision. He reached into his pouch and pulled out a scroll, dropping it onto the forest floor. "We're done here," he said calmly, snapping his fingers.
A puff of smoke materialized around the scroll. When it cleared, four pink scrolls were revealed—a total of 100 points.
"Sasuke… it's painfully clear that we can't defeat you as you are now," Dosu admitted, his tone steady despite the tension in the air. "Consider this our fee for settling things..."
Sasuke said nothing, his gaze fixed on them, unyielding and silent. Dosu continued, sensing the narrow window of opportunity.
"Allow us to withdraw from here... It may be selfish, but there's something we need to confirm as well..." He bent down and lifted Zaku's unconscious body. "That being said, if we meet again in this exam, I guarantee we won't run or hide..."
As Dosu turned to leave, his mind churned with uncertainty. "What's the point in all of this? Orochimaru-sama… You ordered us to kill him, yet you got to him first... Not only did you spare him, but you also cursed him with that mark… What are you thinking?..."
With resignation, Dosu and Kin vanished in a blur of motion, carrying Zaku with them. The clearing fell silent once more, the tension lingering like a heavy fog.
Once Dosu and his team vanished, Sasuke's curse mark flared once more. But instead of causing him pain, it simply receded, settling back into the base of his neck. Slowly, his body returned to normal. Sasuke dropped to one knee, his breath shallow, exhaustion settling in.
Ino hurried to his side, concern in her eyes. "Are you alright?..." she asked, but Sasuke didn't respond. Instead, he stared down at his hands with confusion.
He couldn't understand what had happened. The power he had felt was intoxicating, but it terrified him too. What had come over him? He knew the curse mark had amplified his strength, but at what cost? How much of himself would he have to lose to become stronger?
Ino, noticing Lee's teammates, Neji and Tenten, approaching their unconscious friend, shifted her attention. Her gaze fell on the pink scrolls Dosu had left behind, and an idea formed in her mind.
She carefully picked them up, then approached Neji and Tenten, making sure to convey that she meant no harm. "Wait!" she called out.
Both Neji and Tenten stopped, turning to face her.
"I want you to have these," Ino said, stretching out her arms with the scrolls in hand. "Thanks to Lee, he bought enough time for you to arrive and for my teammate to wake up. So please, accept them..."
Tenten looked to Neji for his input, and Neji, after a brief pause, closed his eyes and accepted the scrolls with a grateful nod.
"We accept your offer." he said quietly. "It would indeed be a shame to let Lee's efforts go to waste,"
Neji's response was polite, his voice steady, and after a moment of silence, they gathered Lee's unconscious body and left the area.
Ino's gaze returned to Sasuke, still kneeling in the same spot. Her heart weighed heavy as she reflected on everything that had just occurred. The events had shaken her perception of Sasuke, leaving her unsure of what to think anymore. She knew that the image of Sasuke she once had would never be the same.
Then, amidst the silence, a faint mumbling from Naruto broke through her thoughts. She listened closely, her ears still ringing from the recent battle.
"Wow... Teuchi-ojisan, thanks for the ramen... Itadakimasu..." Naruto muttered in his sleep, a small smile tugging at his lips.
A small, relieved smile appeared on Ino's face. At least now, she knew that Naruto was starting to recover. She realized, however, that it was time to regroup with Shikamaru and the others now that Sasuke was awake.
With a soft sigh, Ino turned away from the scene. Just one more day, she thought to herself.
(A/N: Finally finished this chapter and got some cursed mark action in this fic, I definitely don't want Kakashi to seal this bad boy and allow Sasuke to utilize it. But then again, who knows how this will pan out. Not gonna lie, I kinda forgot to make Lee interact with Naruto and Sasuke beforehand since they were on two separate teams. I guess this works out fine as well, I'll have to be transparent with all of you. While I do have a framework for this story, like ideas and stuff I want to include the way I write this story primarily boils down to how can I connect point A to point B using the story that I've already made, if that makes sense. Also, it's disheartening to see so many AI Bot endorsers popping up, offering commissions and shit. I'd be happy to see that someone followed my one and only fic, and then it turns out to be one of them. Oh well, it is what it is. I'm sure you noticed that I replaced Sakura with Ino in this chapter since she was the one to fight Team Dosu, and I hope that her fight didn't make her seem so weak, I mean she was alone, and her fighting style isn't really good for close quarters. Also, notice that I didn't use Lee's one other move just yet, I hope the payoff is worth it. In any case, I hope y'all enjoyed this one, take care, I love y'all! Cheers! ^^)