Forest of Death III

Author's note

Forgot to add this note before publishing, I'm taking a small trip, won't be able to write or publish this weekend, sorry guys, we'll be back to normal next week.

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I opened my eyes, blinded by the daylight, I raised an arm to cover them, until I grew accustomed to it, I don't know if I was lucky that no one attacked me while I laid in here or unlucky of attracting Orochimaru's attention to the point of him wanting me as a potential vessel for his soul, then again using the Storm Flame to destroy the Cursed Seal was something I didn't expect to work, and I unlocked a new Realm, one that gave me access to all the memories of the last time I was human, and with them, all the facts that I was missing about this world, it was early in the morning, at this point Lee is looking for Sakura, Neji should be looking for him, and the Sound Three are stalking Sakura, if I hurry I can meet with Neji and Lee at Team seven location.

But before any of that happens, I need to check my condition, first the Heaven Scroll is still on my bag, I have a small headache, but it will be gone with time, I drank some water, and stretched my body, just before I jumped to the nearest branch I remembered my new abilities, something I should try now and not as an experiment during a combat situation, I focused the same way I do when using the other Flames, I willed the gravity to stop is influence in me, slowly I was lifted from the ground by the air, I did the same with a rock but this time I reversed and increased the gravity pull on it, it flew upwards or fell to the sky since we are talking about gravity, it took one second to fall twenty meters in the air, then I reproduced the experiment with my body, same result, the only thing I noticed strange was that I didn't feel the pressure from the increased gravity, maybe the Earth Flame protects me from any side effect that it can cause.

Satisfied by the results, I landed on a tree branch, keeping the Earth Flame active I changed my gravity to zero once again, allowing me to increase my speed with less effort, every time I met and obstacle I just had to change the way the gravity influenced me to avoid it without effort, surprisingly unlike the other Flames, the Earth Flame didn't seem to consume any kind of energy and if it did, it was quickly replenished by more, possibly I was using Natural Energy unconsciously, it did say that this will help me achieve a unique Sage Mode.

I sharpened my senses, trying to find battle signs, I felt Saske Chakra at the distance, it was dark and full of hate and bloodlust, the same way my Chakra was during the Cursed Seal attempt of corruption, a few seconds later I heard Zaku's Sound Wave followed by his screams of pain after Saske dislocated his arms, I ran faster than before adding a Gravity impulse to my movements, trying to close the distance, Saske was walking towards Dosu, leaving an incapacitated Zaku on the ground, Sakura ran to stop him, hugging him from behind and bringing him back from his rage state, unfortunately by the time I caught up, the action was over, Ino was carrying Lee and the others were tending to Naruto and Saske who were still in a weakened state.

"I think you have something that belongs to me" I said to Ino, landing in front of her, she threw Lee to the side, totally forgetting he was injured, trying to catch me in her arms, I took a side step dodging her "this is not the time for that" I crossed my arms in the shape of an X, Ino pouted and tuned around indignant at my comment, I just chuckled and grabbed Lee from the ground.

"Lee, if you don't wake up right now, I will tell Guy-Sensei about the time you stole his vest" I whispered in his ear, Lee jumped away.

"YOU WOULDN'T DARE!" he said, pointing at me with his index, "you promised me that it was going to be a secret between us, and in exchange I will vote for you to be the second in command!" he yelled.

"SO THAT'S WHY YOU WON!" Neji jumped from the tree he was standing ready to kick me, "CHEATER!" I jumped dodging his kick, Lee unable to react in time, was kicked instead, I laughed in the air, landing unharmed.

"Is good to see everyone is okay, now let's be honest, even if Lee didn't vote for me, Guy-Sensei was going to pick me" I said with a smile, Neji snapped his tongue, and Lee was trying to regain his breath, Sakura approached us as soon as we stopped our antics.

"Lee! Thank you, if you weren't here, I wouldn't be able to wake up, I've become stronger thanks to you" Sakura said looking at Lee's eyes with a smile, he smiled back, but soon his joy was replaced with sadness looking at Saske.

"We need to leave now, we still need one scroll" I tried to distract Lee, who just nodded at my direction "it was nice seeing all of you, but we are in the middle of a test, so unless you want to fight us, I suggest don't waste more time here!" I told everyone present.

"Even me?" Ino asked in shock.

"Specially you!" I replied "I'm not looking for a pretty face and a nice body, I mean I do, but that is a plus, we are ninjas, we are ninjas, and we this is the Chunin Exam, we are supposed to be fighting each other to the death" I chuckled, I kept walking towards a random direction, signaling Lee and Neji to follow me.

"Was that really necessary?" Lee asked, earning a disappointed gaze from Neji.

"Absolutely, they just went through a traumatic and life-threatening situation, and already relaxed to the point of forgetting the danger is still lurking" I honestly replied, there was some tension in the air Neji stopped in the next branch, and turned around facing Lee.