In the last chapter, Orochimaru, a traitor from the Hidden Leaf Village, creates curse marks to enhance combat abilities, ensure loyalty, and facilitate his ability to transfer to a new body every three years. He needs a successor to continue his work and to destroy Konoha. Kabuto, a spy, is chosen to manipulate a boy with immense potential to become Orochimaru's successor. Kabuto reveals that Naruto Uzumaki, a boy from the Hidden Leaf, could be that successor if he survives the curse mark.
Five years later, Naruto participates in the Chunin Exams as a member of Squad Seven, led by Kakashi Hatake. The group encounters Orochimaru in disguise and engages in battle. After being defeated, Orochimaru brands Naruto with the curse seal of hell. Subsequently, Naruto is abandoned by his teammates and taken by three Sound Ninjas.
00000000000(Forest of Death)00000000000
Three figures were jumping through the trees. "Why does Orochimaru-sama want us to help this brat? What's so special about him, and why am I the one carrying him?" The first figure, who had spiky black hair and dark eyes, carried Naruto over his shoulder. He wore a beige shirt with two black stripes and three prints of the kanji for death (死, shi) down the front. His forehead protector resembled that of the Second Hokage. This was Zaku Abumi, a Genin from the Hidden Sound Village.
The second figure was a female who responded annoyed, "Shut it, Zaku! We didn't know we were supposed to kill the Uchiha, but Orochimaru-sama changed his mind at the last minute." She had fair skin, black eyes, and very long black hair almost reaching her calves, tied with a violet ribbon near the end. She wore a forehead protector, a pale green vest resembling a flak jacket, snake-patterned pants with a snake-patterned skirt over them, and a snake-patterned scarf around her neck. This was Kin Tsuchi, a Genin from the Hidden Sound.
"Shut up, both of you. Orochimaru-sama gave us orders, and we must follow them. He also mentioned that the brat has potential and is vital to one of his plans. Gaining his trust is our primary focus right now," said the third figure. His face was mostly covered in bandages, leaving only his left eye and eyebrow visible. He wore a large poncho with long sleeves, a snake-patterned scarf around his neck, and a straw raincoat protruding from the back of his scarf. His hunched back made him appear smaller than he was. This was Dosu Kinuta, the final member and leader of the Sound team.
This team of Genin was sent to the Chunin exams to kill Sasuke Uchiha, but the mission suddenly changed. Orochimaru met them in the forest and ordered them to change their mission to gain the trust of the Uchiha's blond teammate. The only information they got from him was that the two had fought, and Orochimaru was impressed with the brat and wanted him on their side.
The three of them soon returned to their camp, with Zaku laying Naruto on the ground. As they regrouped, Zaku furrowed his brow in contemplation. "Do you think we can pull this off?" he asked, a hint of doubt creeping into his voice. He had never been one for manipulation; his usual methods relied on brute strength and intimidation.
Kin, her eyes sharp and calculating, stepped forward and knelt beside Naruto. "We have no choice," she said, her tone firm. "Orochimaru-sama wants this boy on our side, and we need to make it look genuine." She brushed stray leaves off Naruto's forehead, a surprisingly gentle gesture that caught Zaku off guard.
Dosu, always the strategist, stood slightly apart, resting his hand on his chin. "Trust is built on vulnerability and understanding," he mused, glancing at his companions. "We need to show him that we're not enemies… at least not for now." As the trio discussed their next steps, they realized they had to forge a bond with the boy. They decided to stay close while he was unconscious, ready to respond to any threats.
Kin considered sharing stories of her hardships—something she rarely did. However, for this mission, it might help foster a sense of empathy. "Maybe we can start by protecting him from any threats while he's still unconscious," Zaku suggested, standing up straighter. "It could help him trust us when he wakes up."
It was a solid plan. Based on the kid's behavior, he didn't seem to get along with his teammates. The group appeared dysfunctional; most of the rookies ignored him, except for the Hyuga girl. While the kid seemed happy on the surface, Dosu noticed an underlying anger, frustration, and sadness in his eyes. Kin observed this as well, though to a lesser degree. They all agreed and stayed near Narto, waiting for him to wake up.
00000000000(Naruto's mindscape)00000000000
In the depths of his mindscape, Naruto found himself surrounded by darkness, a suffocating void filled with echoes of laughter and whispers of scorn. Memories of the villagers' disdain wrapped around him like chains, heavy and unyielding. He could see their faces twisted in hatred, and feel the weight of their glares as if they were physical blows. The sharp sting of rejection clawed at him, digging deep into the scars of his heart.
But today was different. It wasn't just the memories that haunted him; it was something else, something sinister, creeping into his very soul. Orochimaru's curse mark had begun to take root, its dark energy swirling within him, awakening a part of himself he had long buried.
From the shadows emerged a figure— a younger version of Naruto, but twisted and altered. The boy's eyes were strikingly different; the whites were gone, replaced by a vivid yellow and red, slit like a serpent's gaze. This doppelgänger bore the weight of the curse mark with pride, a smirk dancing on his lips as he approached.
"You want to ignore this?" the cursed Naruto taunted, his voice echoing with a strange, haunting confidence. "You think they'll ever accept you? The Nine-Tails is a monster, and you are just its vessel."
Naruto clenched his fists, shaking his head defiantly. "Shut up! I'll prove everyone wrong—I'll become the Hokage!"
The cursed copy laughed, a hollow sound that echoed ominously in the dark. "Become Hokage? Is that really what you want? To be the leader of a village that hates you? They see you as nothing but a monster—a container for the very thing that destroyed them. Do you think the Hokage cares? He knew all along why they hated you."
"I don't believe you!" Naruto shouted, but uncertainty tangled with his words. Memories clawed at his mind: the sidelong glances, the whispers, the closed doors of opportunity pressed against him. In this darkest corner of his psyche, those truths twisted like barbed wire.
"Why do you suppose that it took a traitor to come out with the truth that has for so long been concealed?" the dark Naruto figure asked, taking a step closer, and thereby entering Naruto's personal space in a manner that made Naruto uneasy. "Although it is a fact that Mizuki has performed an act of betrayal against the village wherein he was formerly a member, he was, in reality, telling no lies about your situation or the feelings of others concerning you. The villagers harbor an extreme hatred towards you merely because you possess the fear-inducing Nine-Tails caged in your very person. And as for the Hokage? He has been cleverly telling lies and weaving them into tales to maintain your ignorance about your parents' identities! What else could he be concealing from you?"
What other secrets may be interred and concealed, lying underground beneath layers of deceptions and lies?
"No! He would n't—he couldn't possibly do that kind of thing!" Naruto vehemently protested, with a crushing and desperate compulsion to hold on to the belief that the man he had idolized all this while was revealing to him the entire and unabashed reality.". "He can and has done it," The cursed form retorted, tilting his head as if considering a puzzle. "Look at the village, look at how they treat you! An orphan boy living with a living nightmare deep inside him. Behind the Hokage's proud face is the same fear that drives the villagers. They will never accept you." But, the village. There are some individuals who know and see me for who I am," he stammered, with desperation gradually creeping into his voice.
Maybe so, but it seems like practically everyone sees the beast, doesn't it? You're just a tool to be exploited for their benefit as far as they're concerned. We're just a means to an end in their grand design. Do you think that they truly care about us or our well-being? You're just being a fool, blindly believing everything that they tell you. Have you thought about what will happen when our generation finally discovers the truth that's been hidden from us? Do you think your friends will accept you back then? Are you prepared for such a revelation and its consequences?
Naruto paused for a moment, the doubts churning within his chest like a tumultuous storm that would not abate. Before he could even resist the nagging memories of the fight that had so strongly impacted him, something strange shifted in the air about him. Abruptly, the cursed Naruto charged forward with fierce resolve, his hands clamped onto Naruto's shoulders as if attempting to impart a desperate message.
"I know well the desires that truly dwell within your heart, Naruto," the shadow softly whispered, now with its voice reduced to a faint echo that resonated in the recesses of his mind. "It is to be loved and accepted by those around you that your heart most of all desires, and yet here you are, solitary in loneliness, weighed down by the huge burden of your existence. You yearn for the admiration and accolades of a village which, instead of embracing you, would rather hide you in the depths of darkness."
"No… please…" he stuttered, yet the tug was unyielding. Despair gripped his chest, and he felt the strings of Orochimaru's curse mark curling around him, constricting like a rope.
"And that's precisely the reason why you aren't going to fight this." In the blink of an eye, the cursed Naruto underwent a dramatic transformation, morphing into a thick cloud of ominous black smoke. This dark mist swiftly surrounded Naruto, bringing with it an overwhelming and chilling wave of darkness that enveloped him completely. The shadowy substance infiltrated his very essence, acting as a parasitic force with a relentless determination to entwine itself with his soul in an unbreakable bond.
The last sound that echoed in the mindscape was a piercing scream—Naruto's voice, raw and filled with anguish, as the shadows claimed him. At that moment, he felt the fear, hatred, and corruption of Orochimaru's curse mark take hold and fuse with him. Unknown to him, a new beast was being created within Naruto's body, one that may even rival the Kyuubi in power and be far more deadly.
00000000000(Real world forest of death )00000000000
Zaku, Kin, and Dosu are resting back are the camp. Zaku and Dosu stayed together looking through their food, weapons, and supplies. Kin was looking after Naruto. He had gained a fever and was burning up, so Kin removed his jacket and placed a wet cloth on his head. He kept shaking and muttering. She made out a few things he said, and she didn't like what she heard. He was muttering stuff like "why me, not a demon, don't hurt me, and I don't want to be alone." Kin could paint a picture from those words, and she didn't much like the image she saw. From what she could make out, he was an outcast and was treated badly.
Behind her, Dosu came and rested his body against the sturdy trunk of a tree, which provided some support for him as he continued to methodically check their supplies and weapons. His usually stoic nature, which was renowned for its calm and composure, was now quite obviously edged with an undercurrent of concern as he periodically snuck glances at both Kin and Naruto. "We can't stay here forever, Kin," he said, his voice firm but with a hint of urgency. "It's already 4 hours since we arrived. If we don't leave soon, another team might discover our location, and it will be extremely difficult for us to protect him while we fight at the same time."
"I know, give me an hour, and I will get out of this area and find a new spot to set up camp," Kin replied. They had a mission, and they couldn't gain his trust if the kid were killed. As she continued to look after nNarutoshe suddenly felt and pulse of chakra coming from Naruto. Dosu must have felt it, to cause he turned his toward the prone form of Naruto. Zaku also seemed to have noticed because he jumped from the branch he was standing on and landed on the other side of Kin.
Before Kin was able to check the unconscious form of Naruto, there was a sudden and unexpected burst of chakra release, something that took her by surprise. Following this, a dark and malevolent chakra began to seep from Naruto's body as if the curse mark he bore was being activated with utmost intensity. The black marks, which appeared ominous and foreboding, rapidly spread to half of Naruto's body, resembling blotches of water that had been splashed carelessly upon his body. This foreboding alteration, however, did not end with the marks on his body; there was an equally drastic alteration in the color of his hair, which changed suddenly from its usual sun-kissed blond to a bright and fiery blood red. His whisker lines become more dense, his teeth turn into fangs as well, and his nails become claws. Unknown to the sound team, the curse mark moves from Naruto's neck to the spot atop his back between his shoulder blades and increases to the same size as the Reaper death seal on Naruto's stomach. When the changes were done, the curse mark resided and the curse mark went back to a passive state.
The sound team was shocked by what they saw. Kin and Zaku didn't know what that was, but Dosu did. He knew the curse mark was bestowed upon Orochimaru's bodyguards and other loyal ninjas. This kid, having met Orochimaru, wanted this kid in sound much more than he thought.
When Naruto finally came to from unconsciousness, his vision was foggy. It took several moments before the world cleared. He blinked hard, trying to adjust to the dim light. When he notices the sound team, he freaks out, kicks off the ground, pulls out two kunai from his pouch, and gets into a fighting stance. "Where am I? What's going on? Don't come any closer."
Naruto was confused, not able to make sense of the precise reason why the sound team was in their area, but deep inside, he had a nagging feeling that whatever was happening had to be something very serious and disturbing. As he started perceiving the tangible tension that hung in the air around them, it was quite unexpectedly Zaku who moved to dispel the silence and spoke up. "Listen here, we need you to know that we don't mean you any harm; if we wanted to, we would have killed you easily the first time we met you deep in the forest." In addition to that, you still have your scroll, so there is no need to get upset over it; just calm down and take a deep breath." Naruto took his time, moving cautiously as he carefully checked his weapon pouch, and to his relief, he found that the earth scroll was indeed still safely inside. Zaku continued to reason, "Besides that, we have already acquired the needed scrolls necessary to pass the exams successfully, so at this moment, there is no reason whatsoever for us to get into any form of conflict." Slowly, Naruto began to put his Kunis back into his weapons pouch, but he was still on guard and visibly tense.
Dosu moved forward, "We found you knocked out cold and brought you to our camp." Naruto recalled, then stopped remembering what had happened, getting ambushed by that grass ninja and battling them, getting bitten then abandoned by his teammates. His face twisted in rage, remembering that. His teammates abandoned him and left him to die in the middle of a forest with a plethora of deadly animals and a multitude of enemy ninjas.
Naruto seethed after being left behind by his teammates in the Forest of Death following the grisly fight against Orochimaru. The betrayal hurt. He knew they did not get along and hated each other, but to be abandoned and left to die like that. Just thinking got his blood boiling. Then put his hands up to his face, halting just short. Why did he have claws? His whisker marks were rougher as he touched his face.
Kin, noticing the confusion written all over his face, took it upon herself to explain what was going on by stating, "While you were unconscious, there was a sudden change that took place, and we were left perplexed by the unexpected twist of events. But as you can see, the changes are very pronounced and difficult to ignore." She then went on to reach out to Naruto, offering him a small mirror that had been conveniently placed nearby. When he looked into the reflective glass, he was left utterly immobile with shock at the sight that greeted him. Rather than the familiar tanned blond hair that he had grown accustomed to identifying as his own, he was faced with an altogether different visage staring back at him. Instead of the familiar face he had been anticipating, he was confronted by hair that had undergone a drastic transformation, now sporting an incredible blood-red color that was as shocking as it was frightening. He stopped to examine his new face in meticulous detail—a face now characterized by deeper whisker marks and longer fangs that jutted aggressively from his mouth, making him appear wild and otherworldly.
He was in shock at what the hell happened to him with the changes in his body, he wasn't sure what to think. Then he realized the villagers would now have more of a reason to attack him and call him a demon with the changes on his body. Plus, he still didn't know what Orochimaru did to him. He was only conscious enough to hear Orochimaru reveal himself and then his teammates, who left him for dead. He bristled at the thought that most likely the council would let Sasuke pass the exam even tho you need all your teammates to pass.
Kin, seeing an opportunity to gain some trust from their target, walks forward and grabs Naruto's hand, getting his attention. "You can stay with our team, we already have the scrolls to pass the test, so it should be fine." Mentally thanking Kin for the opportunity, Dosu followed along, "She's right. You should stick with us, it will be better until we find your team." Thinking about it, they were right, he needed rest so he could recover from his fight with Orochimaru. Even then, if he were at 100%, he would still have to search for his teammates, and with all the other teams and the deadly creatures living in the forest, it would take a lot of time to find his team. Though Naruto didn't want to deal with his so-called teammates.
Finally relaxing and letting his guard down, Naruto decides to hear Dosu's team out. He grabs himself a seat on a fallen tree and sits down. The sound team does likewise. Now that you've finally relaxed a bit. Naruto realizes how he was able to think somewhat clearly and feels a little better than he was initially.
Normally, he would have difficulty listening and understanding stuff, and we need things explained more simply, but right now the usual fog around his mind seemed to fade he was able to think a lot faster.
Observing the fact that Naruto had completely relaxed and let his guard down, Dosu seized the opportunity to take the initiative in introducing himself, along with his fellow teammates. "Allow me to introduce myself," he began, "I am Dosu Kinuta, and these individuals standing beside me are my esteemed teammates. This is Zaku Abumi, and next to him is Kin Tsuchi." As he mentioned each name, both of his teammates acknowledged the introductions by giving a subtle nod in recognition when their names were called out.
"Naruto Uzumaki" reciprocated the greeting. "Now I need to ask what happened to leave you stranded. And we found you recovered, and cuts and bruises, and no one else was around," Dosu asked
Zaku through in his two cents, asking, "Yeah, the whole place was destroyed, multiple large branches and broken trees were all around you."
Naruto lets out a sigh. He did not wish to discuss this with anyone, let alone recall it, but he recalled that these guys did assist him, and up until now, and they could have attacked him at any point. Plus, so far, they're way better than his group, so I suppose he could play along and inform them how he came to be that way.
I was cut off from my team by a sudden, powerful wind jutsu that intervened. Following my separation from the group, I came across, suddenly and terrifyingly, a gigantic snake. In a desperate battle to live, I killed the snake and returned to my squad to find a strange figure—a grass Ninja. It was none other than Orochimaru, a renowned missing-ninja. I had no clue at all that I was battling Orochimaru when we fought until a long time afterward.
At that particular moment, I was managing to some degree to get in a few decent hits here and there; however, it became more and more apparent that the majority of my attempts to hit were being parried, skillfully blocked, or, for the most part just ignored by him at every conceivable opportunity.
Naruto continues speaking, completely unaware of the shocked looks on the faces of the sound team. "I could tell easily that he was only playing with me for his entertainment. Then, out of the blue, he whipped out a sword from within his mouth, which immediately made me resort to a defensive position. I was having a very hard time keeping up with him, but after a bit, I did manage to catch a second wind, which enabled me to shift gears and go on the offensive."
He left out the fact that he had used the Ninetails chakra during the fight didn't want more people to hate him. "He then hit me with some type of jutsu to try and knock me out for a time, and then bit me."
"I fell unconscious for a while after that event, only to awaken again and hear him unveiling his true nature to my other team members. By then, Naruto took several deep breaths to remain calm as he recollected the memory. Meanwhile, my female team member, Sakura, approached and took Sasuke, kicking me painfully when I was down and holding me responsible for the entire situation. Thereafter, she simply left me there to suffer on my own and completely deserted me in my time of need."
Naruto clenches his fist at the memory he was still very much pissed about that he had to deal with enough crap now he has to deal with being abandoned by his team no less. The darker part of his mind thought of finding his team just so he could have the pleasure of crushing them himself. He stopped at that thought, where did that come from, shaking himself out of his thoughts and burying that darker thought. The sound team was shocked. They knew that he met Orochimaru; that much they knew, but to battle Orochimaru is not something anyone in the Hidden Sound wishes to do. This child battled with Orochimaru, sure, he didn't realize until later, but still, that's an accomplishment in itself to battle him, even if he was just pretending.
Then there was the reality that his team left Naruto to die. Sure, the only reason their team was formed because they performed well. But they could put aside their differences to get a mission done and work together. Hell, an experienced Ninja knew that it was better to be in a team. everyone in sound new that.
A team allows the members to cover each other's weaknesses and be able to complete the mission effectively and efficiently. It was a common rule. Everyone in sound, new you didn't have to like each other, just so long as you finish the mission, that's what matters. And here they thought that Leaf Ninjas were always big on teamwork and cooperation, evidently, in this team, the exception to the rule. Hell, even from the first look, you could tell that Naruto's team was dysfunctional from the start. Kin, what's the first to get out of her stupor and gave the Uzumaki a sympathetic look." I'm sorry that happened to you," and she meant it. Being abandoned with not a nice feeling, she can understand that much being thrown away by your family at an early age before Orochimaru found her and brought her to Hidden Sound.
Zaku was in the same situation as well, with a feeling of a bit sympathetic regarding the matter. "For sure, that is too bad. But you are welcome to stick around with us until we can locate that team you spoke of, or at least until you happen to stumble upon another scroll—whatever works out for the best for you, my man."
Naruto, seeing this, felt a little better, replying, "Thanks, appreciate it." It was nice getting someone to give their sympathy to him. He never really got that, and the people he did get any form of sympathy or kindness from could only be counted on one hand.
Dosu speaks to the group, "Now that you're awake, we can pack up and get ready to leave earlier. We've been in this spot for too long, and we need to move before another team shows up. "
"Looking at Naruto, if we do run into another team, we can take their scroll while we're out there." Naruto nods in response, indicating his agreement with this plan. Their team has likely waited a long time for him to awaken, and remaining stationary for an extended time behind enemy lines is always a dangerous risk that we need to avoid at all costs.
30 minutes later, the team was all packed and ready to move. Naruto, ready to continue traversing before his death, tied his jacket to his waist instead of putting it on. Had his weapons checked and was about 70%, so he could keep up with the group.
Naruto then turns to the team. Zaku was prepared and appeared keen on departing. Kin appeared relaxed but was prepared. Dosu, he couldn't read him due to the bandages over his face, but he seemed to be ready as well.
With a full group and set, they all leaped into the trees. Tree-hopping along, Naruto did not see how Dosu looked at him. "So far, so good. he trusts us much more than his team, not that it's surprising or anything, but we keep going at this pace, he'll be back and hidden sound in no time, and Orochimaru will be happy with us," he thought