Phase 3: Insanity
Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction based on multiple existing anime/manga series. The characters and settings used in this story belong to their respective owners and creators, and no copyright infringement is intended. This story is purely for entertainment purposes and is not intended to infringe upon any existing intellectual property. I do not own any of the original works that inspired this fanfiction, and I fully support the original creators and their works.
(Hello, hello. Little Author Rant before we dive into the Chapter. Don't read this if ya don't want to, This is regarding Gaara's death and also subsequent CANON ALTERATIONS.)
(Do take note, that Gaara's death wasn't a spontaneous or of-the-moment thing. Gaara's shippuden significance is GONE from Akira's memories. And from many considerations, there were more demerits for Akira than merits to simply keep him alive in his plan. I, the Author, do know of the future and Gaara's significance and I DO know that the plot is irrevocably changed as a result of his death WHICH IS PERMANENT!)
(I don't know if I have to be crystal clear bout this, or if it's obvious - But I try to follow the logical consequences of Characters' actions according to their PERSONALITY. Mistakes, Genius ideas, and so on and so forth. As a result of divergence, some Characters stay alive: Haku and Zabuza are ALIVE for example, while Gaara is dead. This will continue in the future. Some will live, some will die.)
(Example of divergence in the exam! More participants = more lots = diversified arrangements in the gates = THE SAME ENCOUNTERS LIKELY WON'T HAPPEN.)
(That's it! XD)
I'm also occasionally chilling in JaxWolf4's (Author of Nah, I'd Adapt) Discord Server. It's a chaotic lobotomy mess. Not for the faint of heart.
Here's the link:
Disc: HrPrTeam
(Credit to Spilngosplongo for the Beta Reading Labor!)
To the websites where I can paste the picture.
Here's the current state of affairs as of the START of this Chapter! (Credit to Glorious4EyedKing for the PEAK work)
-Story Start-
-Third Person POV-
Barely ten minutes had passed since the start of the exam.
Whether it was thanks to the noisy ambiance of the flowing river, or the surrounding nature and flora - Uchiha Sasuke and Haruno Sakura failed to notice any ongoing scuffle in their surroundings.
Exhaling a breath of the moist air, Sakura's steps slowed down as she casually walked on the wet coarse stone by the shore of the river.
She did little to mask the sound of her feet impacting the coarse and wet stone beneath her, the sounds of nature doing all the necessary masking for her.
"Think it was a good idea to let Akira take the scroll with him? I get that no one could steal it from him when he's shoved it down his shadows, but..." She inquired lightly.
He grunted, "Whatever he's decided to do isn't a good idea." He replied with a hint of distaste and irritation.
Leveling a look at the frowning Sasuke, Sakura shook her head, offering their next course of action, "We should head along the river. It passes through the center and we should find a team... Though we're two people against three."
"Inconsequential. I'll take two, you take one." He answered quickly, his eyes narrowing at the other side of the shore, beyond the dense flora and trees where snakes slither and rabbits roam.
It appeared as if his words were prophetic, as not a moment later, wind bullets flew past the deep flora, heading straight for the two members of Team 7.
Sasuke easily weaved past the projectiles, throwing kunai in retaliation mid-dodge.
Sakura quickly rolled away with a thud, weaving hand signs as she stopped her roll, "Water Style - Water Bullets!"
Taking a deep breath, she spat out speeding bullets of water from her mouth, with pinpoint accuracy, they met with the other Wind Bullets and canceled them out.
Sasuke's kunai were met with a loud clang as they shot towards the flora, having been repelled by their opponents.
"Reveal yourselves!" He called out.
No response came.
He smirked, and with but a single hand he took in a big inhale of air, "Fire Style - Great Fireball Jutsu!"
At his proclamation, a giant fireball shot forward toward the dense flora.
Lacking means to block the scorching fireball, out of the flora, jumped three Shinobi donning Sunagakure headbands, as an explosion of fire ensued.
Three boys roughly 14-15 years of age.
They didn't seem keen on conversing as they shot toward Sasuke and Sakura with smirks of anticipation.
Their steps loudly reverberated on the river water as they dashed towards the Team 7 members on the other side, they ran in an organized formation the steel kunai gleaming with poison.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed as he smirked, ignoring the smell of burnt foliage drawing his own kunai. "Sakura, avoid getting cut."
She huffed as she weaved handsigns, "Yeah, I figured." Her expression was a degree more serious than Sasuke's, concentration decorating her features.
They stood side by side, "Do as I told you!" Sasuke's muscles bulged as he shot forward in a surprising burst of speed.
The Sand Shinobi did not anticipate such acceleration, as they wildly swung their kunai at Sasuke who reached melee range.
The smirking Uchiha had easily weaved between their swings, his kunai glistened red as he cut through the arm tendons of the Sand Genin in the center.
"GAAAAAH!" He roared in agony, as his hands helplessly limped to the side.
"Tonda! You bastard!" The Sand Shinobi to his left quickly kicked Sasuke, who blocked with his forearm.
Being pushed a little to the side of the river, Sasuke kept tight control of the chakra of his feet, so as not to drop into the river water.
The injured Sand Shinobi attempted a knee strike on Sasuke, only to be intercepted by...
A sudden punch from his teammate on the right.
It was a powerful haymaker, winded up with chakra, as the already injured Sand Shinobi shot past the river and landed on the shore with a loud thud, barely holding onto consciousness from the pain.
The bewildered left teammate gaped at the friendly fire, he turned to the perpetrator who called out with glee:
Sakura smirked, "Even out the odds. Now it's fairer, don't you think?"
Gritting his teeth, he barely dodged Sasuke's punch, as he was suddenly put thoroughly on the defensive in a Taijutsu exchange.
Punch, Kick, Kunai.
It was a rapid exchange that lasted but a few seconds.
An exchange he lost.
With a loud guffaw, a powerful kick in the abdomen sent the Sand Shinobi to the shore as well.
Only leaving the one under Genjutsu, who had noticed his disarray - "Release!"
Clicking her tongue, Sakura sent Kunai flying toward the now-standing Sand Shinobi.
He was also met by Sasuke's relentless Taijutsu, and as he blocked Sasuke's kick to the face, Sakura's kunai was mid-trajectory.
"Sasuke! Now!" She yelled.
Sasuke tilted his head to avoid the kunai, whilst the Sand Shinobi blocked it with his own, retaliating at Sasuke with a kick of his own, having no breathing room to weave any jutsu.
Nodding, Sasuke let go of the chakra allowing him to stand on the river, as he plummeted to its rather shallow depths, dodging the kick's trajectory.
The fluid and heavy feel of water hadn't hindered him one bit, as underwater combat was always a prospect and possibility, so training for that had never been squandered.
Using the bottom of the river as a jump pad, he launched himself forward, grabbing the kunai that sunk in the water.
Stabbing the Sand Shinobi in the knee.
Bending over in pain, he could not even scream before Sasuke's punch broke his jaw with a crack and sent him similarly to the shore, albeit separated from his teammates.
The two other teammates slowly rose despite the pain, adrenaline coursing through their veins.
Only to be met with a kunai on each of their necks.
Sakura, with a sinister smile gently stroked the dual-wielded kunai on their necks, drawing but a thin line of blood, "Scroll please~?"
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The Sand Genin were not fools, having their life threatened and having been thoroughly embarrassed and brutalized, offering their scroll was their only option.
Having been left to rot by the river's shore, Sasuke and Sakura pressed forward along the river.
"A Heaven Scroll... If we find Akira we can just head straight and finish the exam. The river cuts through the center, after all. There's an intersection just ahead, we follow it to the right. This is the best route, given the Tiger's territory is on the northern end of the river, past the Center Goal." Sakura frowned as she pointed.
"Hn." Sasuke grunted in affirmation.
Staring at the open sky, Sakura couldn't help but mumble, "A little anticlimactic, though. I'd expected more of a challenge. But then again... You pretty much took care of those three almost on your own, Sasuke-kun. And my Genjutsu really worked out, huh!" She mentioned with a hint of pride.
"Why are you surprised it worked? They're not bad, but still riffraff compared to what I've fought." He confirmed with a nod.
"I mean... Elite Genin are supposed to take this Exam, so I was just surprised my Genjutsu was that effective given it's the first time I used it in live combat..." She admitted with a smile.
"Most Shinobi are horrible with Genjutsu," Sasuke mentioned.
"Guess so. Hehe." Sakura rubbed the back of her head sheepishly.
A moment of awkward silence ensued.
Sakura hummed in slight irritation, her internal voice raging, 'ARGH! WHERE IS THAT GUY ANYWAY!?'
Although Sasuke was similarly irritated, he hadn't brought up the topic, and it made her want to ignore the elephant in the room as well.
But she's lost her damn patience!
"Sasuke-kun, you got an idea where he is or what he's trying? Emphasis on Idea. I know you're mad as well." She voiced her frustrations.
He grunted in annoyance, leveling an even look at her, "It doesn't matter what he's planning or doing. We'll pass. Easily at that. It's his lack of faith that grates me. His act isn't fooling anybody but himself."
Sakura mumbled, raising her hand sheepishly, "Erm... He did seem a little scary earlier."
Sasuke gave her a seething glare of disappointment.
To which she started sweating lightly.
Sighing, he elaborated, "That's because you don't really know him. He's always scary, but he doesn't choose to be scary for fun like he's painted himself earlier."
"I see..." Sakura nodded in understanding.
'So he's putting on an act, for... Ah?'
She shook her head, "Well... He should finish up whatever he's planning soon. I'd rather get rid of the blood on me in the Center rather than this nasty forest."
While Sakura has been through much worse circumstances in this Forest Of Death.
It doesn't mean she likes being dirty.
Sasuke arched an eyebrow at her complaint, to which she replied with a huff, "I'm still a young maiden you know?"
She deadpanned at him, wagging her finger, "Matter of fact... Are you sure we shouldn't stop and let your clothes dry? Are you even comfortable walking like tha-"
Her words were cut short by a loud, booming roar followed by electricity and thunder.
Sasuke and Sakura's eyes shot towards the source.
It was very distant, yet, nevertheless, it was so large and looming that they could clearly make out its shape as it towered over the giant trees.
A large white snake, with layers of scales and bone-like armor, and many pairs of obsidian feathered wings charged with electricity.
It lasted for but a few moments, before promptly melting into Liquid Shadows.
Sakura's mouth gaped, muttering lowly, "T-That's not something native to this forest..." She emphasized her knowledge of this place.
Her insinuation was clear.
Whatever this was...
It was brought here by one of the Genin Contenders.
Sasuke's expression hardened, "That's Akira's..."
Sakura tried her best to keep her voice low, nevertheless, she shouted, "Wha?! THAT'S HIS?!" She pointed at the former spot where that snake was.
Sasuke nodded, not a hint of hesitation crossing his features, "It's the first time I've seen that thing, but that's definitely his going by the liquid shadows..."
He turned to meet Sakura's eyes resolutely, "We have to hurry over there. For him to use something like that... Means there's someone that strong."
Sakura hesitated for but a moment, but nodded with a resolved smile.
Her voice was nervous but she was keen on helping, "Alright. Let's go."
Their muscles bulged, as Sasuke shot forward, Sakura doing her best to keep up.
The Last Uchiha's mind raced, 'He's never used that back in the Land Of Woods...'
The implications of that statement allowed a pang of dread to run through his whole being.
A shiver went down his spine, but Sasuke's choice was firm:
He'd help his friend.
-------------------------------
From tree branch to tree branch.
Dashing through the tallgrass of the clearings.
Sasuke and Sakura ran through the Forest with gusto.
Their eyes scanned for any potential teams given the large number of Shinobi in this relatively small forest.
"No one yet... I think they smartly scattered..." Sakura mentioned as she ran beside Sasuke.
He nodded with a slight smirk of amusement, cutting through his gaze of concentration, "I doubt anyone would want to take part in whatever that was." Mentioning the gigantic lightning-winged snake.
Then, suddenly, Sasuke's instincts flared, as he turned to his left, throwing a bundle of shuriken, to Sakura's surprise.
Her muscles tightened as she paused beside Sasuke, glaring at the approaching figure of...
"Akira..." Sasuke muttered.
The aforementioned Akira approached with a disarming smile, the shuriken firmly caught between his fingers.
"Hey guys! Been fine without me?" He called out as he approached.
Sasuke and Sakura exchanged looks.
'Is he done with his business then?' Sakura's gaze conveyed.
Sasuke shook his head, mumbling lowly, "Uncertain, but there is an easy way to check."
Sasuke and Sakura nodded collectively, as they yelled, ""Stop!""
Tilting his head, Akira paused, inquiring, "What's the matter?"
Sasuke had an easy solution to his suspicion.
He smirked, pointing at Akira, "Summon a single Whiskers for me. Pull out something from the Shadows. Dive into the Shadows. Do anything to prove you are actually Akira."
With a sudden, sickening change of atmosphere.
Akira's disarming smile twisted into an inhumanely large broad and gleeful grin, "Splendid..."
Sasuke and Sakura's muscles tightened, as they took on a stance, their eyes narrowed at the fake Akira.
As his transformation started being undone, they hadn't moved an inch.
Sakura voiced her concern, "I'm getting bad vibes off of this guy..." She frowned as she drew a kunai.
Sasuke frowned as well, "He's trouble." Drawing a kunai as well.
The transformation was undone, revealing a woman with a Grass headband.
"Creepy..." Sakura mumbled, tightening the grip on her kunai.
He was eyeing the two of them like pieces of meat, there was no concern in those eyes.
It was as if...
They were mere prey.
It was a subconscious message, conveyed with pure body language, that prompted Sasuke's activation of the Sharingan, as three and two tomoe respectively gleamed in his eyes.
It may be mere bravado.
But the feeling of... Unease was unmistakable.
It sent shivers down his and Sakura's spine.
The hairs on their body stood on end.
The creepy woman licked her lips with an obscenely long and large tongue.
"A defiant little kitten." She leveled a look of anticipation at Sasuke.
"A harmless little bird." She turned to Sakura with the same look.
She giggled in a disturbing way, "I wonder... Where's the tricky little Deer?"
Sasuke's eyes narrowed dangerously at the creepy woman, his glare questioning.
She elaborated, "So many rabbits in this forest... Shadows have quite a bitter taste~ Their Master oh so elusive." Gesturing at the sky, where that large snake was prior, answering Sasuke's unasked question.
"What are you getting at?" Sasuke questioned pointedly, his eyes narrowed.
Feeling the glare of the sharingan sent a wave of ecstasy for the woman, as she ignored his inquiry, "Ah... Those beautiful, defiant eyes... The prized possession of the Uchiha. Their namesake."
The temperature dropped significantly, as the woman suddenly exclaimed with a change of tone, "It's a shame they are wielded by prey. The last of their great legacy." She shook her head in shame.
Adding, "Itachi's gaze... Was that of a lion." Her words prickled down Sasuke's pride and ego.
Hitting exactly where it hurt.
Nevertheless, he didn't let her get a rise from him, he echoed once more, in a silent fury, "What. Do. You. Want?"
Sakura wanted to look at Sasuke in worry, but, she couldn't let her gaze leave the dangerous woman's visage for even a second.
Her rapidly beating heart and paling expression were adequate warning signs.
A creepy grin etched onto the woman's face, as she pulled out a scroll from her pocket.
It was an Earth Scroll.
"You have a Heaven Scroll, correct? Then let us play... A little game~" She started.
Promptly, she opened her mouth and grotesquely swallowed her scroll whole, like a snake.
Sasuke and Sakura's eyes widened in alarm at the sight, whilst a familiar sensation enveloped Sakura.
She couldn't place her finger on it, but this woman reminded her of Anko, albeit on a whole other level of maliciousness.
The disturbing woman gulped the scroll, turning to the two Genin.
The temperature dropped to subzero, as a heavy weight crashed down onto the shoulders of Sasuke and Sakura at her words:
"With our lives on the line... Let's begin the battle for each other's scrolls."
'Killing intent!' Rang out in Sasuke's mind.
More potent than Kakashi's.
More potent than Faceless's.
It was even more potent than Itachi's.
More potent than any Killing Intent he's ever experienced.
Images of his death flashed onto his mind as he broke into a cold sweat.
Shaking his head, he collected himself but a moment later, his eyes glaring at the woman.
At the ready to fight, despite the heavyweight and dreadful sensation.
The creepy woman's eyes widened for a moment, and a degree of respect washed over her features.
He turned a single eye to Sakura, who could barely hold herself together, her limbs shook as she was considerably worse off than Sasuke - She began to hyperventilate.
Without taking his eyes off his opponent, he pinched Sakura's side.
She yelped lightly, an awkward sound amid the tense situation.
But it served its purpose, as she blinked and exhaled a calming breath, "Thanks. Sasuke." Her eyes were glued to the enemy.
He replied quickly, "Thank me if we get out of this alive."
His statement left her in a stupor, as Sasuke's own thoughts confirmed her suspicion of the direness.
"We have to run. If the Killing Intent tells me anything... It's that this woman is stronger than Kakashi-sensei... She might even be on the level of the Hokage or an S-Rank." Sasuke's voice was low.
S-Rank or Hokage Level.
'The thought that we are prey... No wonder.' Sakura shivered, trying her best to fight against the urge to just give up, cry, or beg for their lives.
She mumbled the most vital question, one that even Sasuke was reluctant to answer:
"Can we even run away?"
Sasuke bit his lip, 'If Akira was here... No. Work with what you have.' He nodded to himself.
Sasuke's Sharingan narrowed at the Grass Shinobi, his next statement was a promise of what was to come:
"We won't go down without a fight." His voice echoed in the clearing.
The Grass Shinobi smirked wickedly, licking her lips once more, "Naturally... Without such struggle. How could I partake in the thrill of the hunt?"
Wordlessly, in a swift motion, shuriken went flying from the woman's sleeve towards Sasuke and Sakura.
With resounding clangs of steel meeting steel, they managed to block the shuriken.
Then, in an instant, the woman's figure appeared before Sasuke who smirked, "I can see your movements." Blocking her precise strike aiming at his chest with her right arm.
Sakura weaved hand signs, backing away to not be within their exchange range.
The Grass Shinobii smirked, easily slapping Sasuke's offensive away with but a single arm, his frustration rising as they were in a rapid exchange.
"But can you react~?" She smirked, as a snake appeared out of her sleeve.
Its bite was aimed at Sasuke's neck, who leaned his head back, stabbing the snake's head in a gory display to quickly kill it.
His hand was already on the move to barely block the woman's powerful kick with his elbow, sending him flying into a tree.
"GAH!" He roared in pain.
Gritting his teeth, he noted, 'Stronger than Akira's Shatter Fist.'
Sakura didn't cry out for Sasuke, her hand signs were complete, as she unleashed her most powerful Genjutsu, "Crushing Snake Constriction!"
The Grass Woman's eyes gleamed with amusement and realization as she paused for a moment, noting snakes under her, which were quickly crushed underfoot.
She turned to the frustrated and uneasy Sakura.
The look sent shivers down the pink-haired girl's spine, as she gritted her teeth, the Genjutsu having been broken in under a second.
Her tone was laced with glee, "How poetic... So you're the third contractor of the snakes? Anko's little runt? Maybe this little bird might not be so harmless after all~"
Sakura's eyes widened in realization, "Orochimar-"
"Correct~" A hand shot towards Sakura's throat, she could barely react, her kunai flying towards the arm a note slower than the arm itself.
Only to be intercepted by Sasuke's kick, and a deep exhale of fire, "Dragon Fire Jutsu!"
At a speed feat, as if teleporting, the now-named Orochimaru's figure appeared on top of a tree branch, overlooking the wary and disgruntled duo.
Sasuke cracked his neck, "Orochimaru... Of the Sannin. Are you certain?" He asked Sakura, his gaze not leaving the gleeful snake's sight.
A scream of agony.
Two screams to be exact.
They reverberated from afar, reaching the clearing.
It prompted a look of curiosity from Orochimaru and a turned head from the two teammates.
Sakura shook her head, ignoring the concerning screams for a more pressing matter.
She elaborated to Sasuke, "Anko-sensei was a former apprentice of his. Can you think of anyone else this strong that uses snakes?"
Sasuke truly wanted to ask the question of what a S - Rank Rogue Shinobi Of The Leaf was doing here, playing with children in the Chunin Exams.
But... That doesn't matter.
What matters is... Surviving.
Sakura turned to Sasuke, "Do you have a Jutsu that could take care of him if it hits?" She offered.
A shadow of a plan formed in her mind, as her expression hardened in resolve.
Sasuke leveled a momentary look at her, nodding, "What have you got in mind?"
She whispered, "It's clear he's playing with us. Holding back. I'm betting the creep can end us whenever he wants to."
Sasuke wanted to protest, but he knew deep down it was true.
He'd probably last a minute before getting his throat slit.
And that, thanks to his Sharingan's perception.
She nodded, "Then let's punish the bastard. If this works, we can at least get an opening to run away. Best case scenario? It kills him."
Sasuke smirked, "That's the kind of news I like to hear."
Sakura giggled amid the tension and adrenaline, "Hehe, glad I can be of service."
Orochimaru tilted his head, smiling lightly, "You two finished? I was being awfully cordial, my dear prey... But do show me what you've thought up in your pointless struggle~"
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Team 8 was having a lovely time in the Forest Of Death.
The amount of Shinobi in this phase was mind-boggling and some of the gates were incredibly close to one another it seemed.
With tracking being their specialty it was quick work to find another team within a few minutes of the exam.
But due to the density... This Leaf Genin Team was already fighting with another Leaf Genin Team.
So what did the Talented Clan Genin do?
Obviously... They poached the rewards from the winning exhausted team.
To their glee, the two other teams were relatively evenly matched, so the exhausted team barely put up a fight.
Here they were:
Two Earth Scrolls.
One Heaven Scroll.
And a big grin.
...At least on Kiba's face.
Hinata was just happy they were safe and healthy.
Whilst Shino was silent in his contented state.
Until they didn't have that much of a good time:
Relatively close to their location, out of the blue - A snake of epic proportions with obsidian lightning wings appeared in the distance.
So they did what any smart Genin would have done at such a sight - They pivoted and bolted right in the other direction.
With the help of sneaking around, as well as their Clans's Prized Techniques:
Byakugan, Akamaru, and Shino's insects - They avoided all the other similarly-minded teams who decided to head the other way.
They didn't need to fight anyone else, so, they ran and zigzagged across the forest with the intent of heading straight to the center without any conflict:
Jumping across the foliage, a petty argument characteristic of them ensued:
"It's called being smart! Not cowardly!" Kiba asserted.
"Convince yourself as much as you want. Why? Because you're as hardheaded as Uzumaki." Shino retorted.
"G-Guys, I think we should calm dow-" She froze suddenly.
As did her teammates at the sudden, very close, screams of agony.
"Ignore it!" Kiba shook his head, as he pointed ahead.
"Keep moving!"
"ARF!"
His other teammates nodded at the prospect, not keen on arguing or otherwise.
They moved and moved, until Shino reported, "My bugs are detecting a large fire ahead as well as explosi-"
A loud explosion, formed out of a collection of many smaller ones, reverberated, as the wind blew.
"ARF!" Akamaru barked with a degree of worry.
Kiba's eyes furrowed, "What?!"
"ARF! ARF!" Akamaru whimpered, fear evident in his barking.
Kiba's shoulders slumped, as he bit his lips.
He turned to his teammates, "Sasuke and Sakura are in great danger. They're fighting someone insane. We're going to help."
Shino and Hinata's eyes widened and they exchanged weary looks.
Nevertheless, they nodded, pivoting straight towards the fight, their muscles clenched and strengthened with chakra.
-------------------------------
The metallic scent of blood, the odor of poison, and the stench of snakes.
A gruff and damaged clearing within the forest.
An arrow of flame gathered densely in Sasuke's hands, drawn and ready to be let loose.
Sweat trickled down his face, both from the emerging heat and pressure, as his Sharingan blazed in concentration.
Sakura was in a precarious situation, her left arm bitten and clutched tightly by a snake, whilst out of her right hand, a snake measuring a dozen feet managed to coil onto Orochimaru, keeping him stuck in place.
Orochimaru's grin never left his face, as he gazed in clear intrigue at the two Genin who had appeared to have caught him.
Her expression was pale and she was feeling nauseous, nevertheless, she managed to stammer out through the pain:
A loud, enraged, outcry, "END HIM! SHANAROOOOOOOOO!"
Sasuke smirked, with a sudden movement that had bewildered the injured Sakura, he pivoted his aim to a tree a distance away, "YOU CANNOT ESCAPE THESE EYES! OROCHIMARUUUUUUUUU!" He roared.
The Jutsu was unleashed as the arrow flew through the air, hitting the tree in a concentrated powerful burst of flame, engulfing it fully.
"S-Sasuke?" Sakura stammered out in perplexion, as she noticed the Orochimaru she had so desperately tried to catch, was but a...
Snake Clone.
Her hands were currently out of commission, so with brutal efficiency, she fought off the snakes with any tool she could muster.
She bit through the head of one small snake, spitting it out along with blood.
Kicked another.
Sasuke ran forward and decapitated the rest with a kunai, joining her by her side.
Dropping tiredly on the ground, she muttered, "He... Was hiding in that tree?"
Sasuke nodded, expressing his worry, "You all right?"
She shook her head, her tone bitter, turning to look at the bleeding, poisoned injury left by the snake bite. "Poisoned. I've got an antidote in my pack. But we should run while we can, my legs still wor-"
Her words were caught in her throat, at the sudden ensuing sounds of clapping.
It felt like a mockery of all their efforts thus far.
Their... Pointless struggle.
"Phenomenal! Positively outstanding!" A gory Orochimaru walked out of the fire, his skin and face melting grotesquely in front of them.
He applauded, and the applause felt even more of a mockery.
"Is... Is he immortal?" Sakura shook her head, not understanding how one could just... Be so unfazed as he was literally being melted alive.
It was a dreadful and mind-boggling sight, a familiar one.
"Just like Faceless... Do they use the same trick? We might need to hit him one more time, Sakura." Sasuke quickly acknowledged in distaste.
"Hmm~?" Orochimaru hummed unbothered as he ceased his applause.
Suddenly, out of the undamaged flora of the burnt landscape, a horde of 54 Rabbits with glowing tags jumped toward Orochimaru.
Sasuke and Sakura's eyes widened in recognition.
Sasuke was quick on his feet, he lifted Sakura in a princess carry, "Heh?" She mumbled suddenly, the tension disappearing for a moment in her little world.
"We have to run, that's our chance." He stated with a straight and worried expression.
Before she could mumble out a response, many small explosions rang out from Orochimaru's position.
Fusing into a much larger explosion, sending shockwaves and destroying the grounds, scorching the landscape and setting trees aflame.
Maybe Sakura's feet did work, but Sasuke was still faster even when carrying her.
His feet were undamaged, he could run.
He ran and ran.
Ignoring the stench of burnt wood, rabbit and otherwise.
Ignoring the heat from behind him.
With his quickening breath, his Sharingan analyzed all landing positions and scanned the surroundings.
He ran as best he could, each of his steps rumbled the ground and branches he landed on, if not destroying them outright.
No discretion was used.
Orochimaru played with his food.
This is the consequence.
He ran for a good minute...
Until his eyes caught onto something.
A long neck was approaching him at a speed he could barely react to, yet his eyes managed to see the movement nonetheless.
However...
He couldn't dodge with Sakura in his arms.
Sakura noted this, as she bent her body to kick the head to intercept the impact.
Only... For the neck to bend unnaturally and for her to miss.
Her desperate movement separated her from Sasuke's grip and she dropped to the ground from the air, landing with a painful thud, gasping in pain, "GAH!"
With his hands now available, he gripped onto the neck as it attempted to bite him.
It was a struggle of strength, and he was holding his own.
His eyes caught onto the actual body, it was flying to meet with the neck.
'At this rate...' Sasuke gritted his teeth.
He let go, allowing the neck to bite him, as he attempted a desperate move:
His hands shot towards Orochimaru's eyes, planning to blind him and pierce them.
Only for him to pause an inch from them.
The reason?
Agony.
Pure.
Unadulterated.
Agony.
He screamed, like he never had before, "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Unattaching himself from Sasuke's neck, his elongated neck met with his body, and he exclaimed with a hint of sweat, "Almost had me there, Sasuke-kun... This was the first time someone almost managed to take advantage of this particular Jutsu."
Sasuke dropped to the ground with a thud, the pain from the fall was minuscule compared to the agony going through his veins.
'Poison?!' He managed to bring to the forefront of his mind, yet not managing to notice the Curse Mark forming on his neck.
Orochimaru noted, impressed, "You really are brothers. The power in those eyes of yours may even surpass Itachi's someday."
Sasuke couldn't even stammer out a response, the agony was too great.
He couldn't move.
Yet he could hear every word coming out of Orochimaru's mouth.
He was...
'TOO WEAK!' He roared in frustration in his mind.
Again.
In an exam that was supposed to be all but so easy.
He was proven again, that he was but a frog in a tiny, tiny well.
That illusion was broken when he faced the Land Of Woods situation with his team.
And that truth was brutally and helplessly shoved into his face now.
He was too weak to stop Itachi.
Too weak to deal with the situation in the Land Of Woods.
So weak that he could only flail helplessly alongside Sakura against this... Monster.
How could he ever avenge his clan with such... Weakness?
How... Repulsive.
It made his stomach churn as he puked, not from the pain, but from the shame and weakness of his being.
Orochimaru didn't miss the detail, emphasizing, "Seek me out after this exam, if you want more power. Only if you pass, that is." He chuckled sinisterly.
Sakura, barely holding onto her consciousness screamed, "WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM?!"
Orochimaru turned to Sakura, "A gift. I would have given you one too, however..." He chuckled, "I wouldn't want dear Anko-chan to hate me even more. My heart wouldn't be able to take it!"
Sasuke, stuck in an emotional storm of self-loathing, hatred, fury, and power lust all neatly packaged in a wave of indescribable agony, promptly lost consciousness.
Tears pooled beneath Sakura's eyes, "E-Even with all that..." She hiccuped, her nails digging into the dirt and grime, blood on her lips.
All her training, and her desperate attempts.
It had done zero damage.
But then, as if Sakura's unheard prayers were answered, an interloper appeared:
"FANG OVER FANG!" A sudden shout reverberated, as in the spot where Orochimaru stood a rotating object struck, crushing the ground.
Orochimaru easily backed away, as Team 8 revealed themselves standing beside Sasuke and Sakura.
Their gazes fixated on Orochimaru's visage.
Fear, concern, and apprehension stitched on their expressions.
Leveling on them a disinterested look, Orochimaru turned away, and promptly... Disappeared.
Silence.
An eerie silence, barring the sounds of flames a decent stretch behind them.
The sweating figures of Team 8 hadn't let their guard down.
"Is he gone?" A sweating Kiba echoed, turning his head left and right.
"I don't see him." Hinata nodded, her eyes narrowed in concentration and Byakugan clearly active.
"ARF!"
"Yeah, let's keep watch. Shino, you can tend them, right?" Kiba inquired, his tone deadly serious.
Shino nodded and acted without delay. Turning to the barely conscious Sakura, he rushed to her aid.
His shaded gaze gleamed, "What's your situation? Why? Because I must know how to tend your injuries." His tone had no humor in it.
Sakura's hopeless tears were exchanged with tears of joy, as she barely plastered a smile, grunting in pain, "I-I've been poisoned on my arm, the antidote's in my pack."
"What about Uchiha?" He added as he took out a bottle from her pack.
"I-It's the green one, with the red label... Sasuke-kun's... I don't know. But bring him here."
Shino nodded as he administered the anti-venom to Sakura, his teammates keeping watch.
Once more, from the distance, an eerie collection of screams reverberated.
This time, it was much more muffled, signifying that whoever was responsible...
Was thankfully far away.
"Where's Akira?" Shino inquired further, bugs converging beside him.
Sakura's teeth grit, her eyes narrowing in spite of the pain, "I-I'd like to know that... Myself." She grunted in a mixture of indignation and hurt.
-------------------------------
The sounds of combat:
The clattering of steel.
The cries of fury.
The explosion of Jutsu and tags.
The smell of burnt flesh.
The screams of torment.
These are sounds that would usually warrant concern or turning of the head.
The wise uninvolved party would avoid unnecessary combat.
But to the wisest party?
These sounds are but melodies of opportunity.
Such was the thought process of a Team from Takigakure.
Two girls and a boy roughly, each respectively appeared around the age of 13-14.
Such young Genin prospects were a matter of fact for a Village renowned for producing skilled Jonin.
Their Genin to Jonin ratio surpasses that of all Hidden Villages.
Regardless, these Genin were cunning, as they dashed towards the source of the outcries of agony.
Hoping to find easy pickings.
They approached and approached, sounds of... Whimpering? Grew ever louder.
Pausing a distance away, the girl leading the Genin Squad stretched her arm to cease the charge of her teammates.
The sight before them sent shivers down their spine, and an uncanny sense of dread overwhelmed them:
It was but a pair of boy and girl.
According to their bands, these were Shinobi from Sunagakure.
Clothes, bloodied and grimy.
Their legs were viciously bent out of shape.
They crawled, laid on their bellies - Barely holding onto their consciousness as they crawled through mud, dirt, spikey shrubs, and more in an act of gritty determination.
The boy seemed to have the most trouble, as he was carrying a scrambled Sunagakure Puppet on his back, making his crawl that much more unbearable.
The bizarre aspect of the sight was that they seemed to be following something.
The three Waterfall Genin turned to narrow their gaze on a lone Green-Furred Rabbit.
It was leading them somewhere, of that, there was no doubt.
Their mind raced.
Who could have done this?
Why even do this?
Why even go through such needless cruelty?
...They were smart enough to know, that whatever Team was strong enough to brutalize another for their amusement, they needed to get away.
Now.
The other, meeker girl gasped, but the boy put his hand in her mouth, shaking his head to not let out a sound.
The boy whispered, alert, "We turn around... And quietly walk away." He urged.
The two girls nodded, "Good plan." The leader hushedly stated.
Slowly turning around collectively, caring not to make a sound.
They gasped, loudly, throwing kunai and shuriken in a panic.
A barrage of projectiles that was easily dodged by their not-so-pleasant surprise.
He cheered, a broad smirk on his face, "Great! You spared me the trouble of catching you guys!" He clapped happily.
He may have looked cheery, but his injured visage was apparent:
Small stabs from small sharp objects, likely needles, on his arm.
His shirt was roughly torn, and a visible few cuts were on his face from Wind Style Ninjutsu.
Tightening their guard, the girl pressed forward, "You're after us?" She bought time, her eyes scanning the surroundings for the confident boy's teammates.
Tilting his head, he corrected, "Not exactly. I'm just making sure those who I don't want to play, don't get to play. You get me~?"
"What kind of bullshit are you saying?" The boy bluntly inquired, as he waved hand signs, hiding his hands in his sleeves.
He hummed, trying to piece together a proper analogy, "Hmm... I got it! To those whom I think would be fun to mess around with. To those with faces that annoy me... Consider me..."
The temperature dropped greatly, as their breath quickened and their hearts began to pound.
"Judge, Jury, and Executioner for this Clown Exam." He smiled sinisterly.
-------------------------------
The evening sun dimmed over the horizon, bleeding the sky with its light.
A fitting atmosphere for the ensuing chaos in the Forest Of Death.
The screams of agony only grew more common as time trickled by.
An eerie, disturbing atmosphere enveloped the forest.
None felt it as well as Uzumaki Karin.
Someone... Something was running around the entire Forest, selectively picking out and demolishing Teams.
She warned, nay, pleaded for her teammates to hide.
After much, ungrateful verbal abuse spouted at her for her plea, they relented.
...Noticeably, their hiding was poor, much poorer than anticipated.
A large bear broke into their hiding spot, her teammates fought in her stead.
She was never Shinobi material.
Neither were they, as they seemed to struggle with the large bear, yet Karin's senses noticed a disturbing fact:
She stammered out a panicked, "I-It's coming! We need to run! Get away from the bear! We've got a couple of minutes before it's too late!"
Shigeri clicked his tongue, "Whatever it is! We'll deal with it and you heal u-GAH!" His words were cut short by the bear's paw cutting his chest, a large claw mark that would definitely scar.
In a rage, Shigeri charged back, his kunai barely piercing through the thick hide of the bear, whilst Nori's katana made a decent slice across the bear's face.
"LIKE THAT! PRESS FORWARD!"
It was after five grueling minutes, that the mighty bear was felled.
Falling onto the ground with a loud rumbling thud, blood pooling beneath him.
But it was not without damage for the two boys, as they approached the blank-faced Karin.
Her expression was hopeless.
She knew...
Yet, from the fact none of the chakra signatures that thing encountered had disappeared, so it hadn't killed anything.
That was Karin's only placating hope.
"Now! Heal us!" Shigeri commanded, gesturing to Karin the usual.
Pulling off her sleeve, they bit down on her skin, as rejuvenating chakra enveloped them.
Her gaze lifted upwards, to a tree branch.
A wide-eyed and curious gaze met with her hopeless one, "You're a sensor." A statement, not a question.
But that didn't seem to be his point of interest.
Her two teammates quickly turned to the intruder, one of them already shot out a fireball at the tree branch.
Only for the boy to appear beside them, his hands shot forward, grabbing their heads.
They resisted, as kunai flew to his head.
Using their heads, he lifted himself in the air, and in the same breath promptly bashed their heads together.
They guffawed loudly, and two chops to the neck dropped them unconscious, leaving a stupefied and fearful Karin.
She mumbled, "A-Are you going to torture me?"
He huffed, waving his hand dismissively, "None of that. But I don't have time right now. You can heal?" He asked.
Karin frowned, her eyes scanning the injuries of the boy in front of her.
The speeding bullet that bulldozed through her fellow Genin Competitors was just a boy her age.
'I didn't expect a boy my age to be the one behind those screams...' She couldn't wrap her head around it.
Nevertheless, this reaction and question were familiar to her.
Her ability was... After all... Extraordinarily rare.
She nodded meekly, meeting his dark green eyes with her own.
He pointedly added, "Can you restore Chakra?" His words came out with a rumble as if it was of the most vital importance.
With a note of hesitance, she nodded, "Yes. But not more than once a day."
The boy's eyes danced with joy, as he offered, "I'll give you the Earth Scroll that you need, as well as leave you a rabbit to safely lead you and your teammates when they wake up to the Tower... In exchange, restore my Chakra." His tone left no room for argument.
Karin knew this wasn't an offer, but an order.
A demand that she could not refuse.
And refuse she did not, after all, what else could she do given the situation?
The only thing she wondered was...
'How'd he know I need an Earth Scroll?'
Pulling out her sleeve, his eyes glanced evenly at the scars on her arm, Karin nodded, "Bite my arm."
Nodding, he did as he told, not lowering his guard or gaze from Karin, which gave her a modicum of cruel amusement deep down.
'Does he think I'll try to attack him when he's vulnerable? After I've seen what he can do?'
With a lowered head and opened jaw, he lightly bit on her skin, prompting a grunt from Karin.
It was a familiar feeling, so this wasn't anything new.
Except for the boy.
His shallow wounds slowly stitched together as the rejuvenating chakra enveloped him and entered his system.
But more than that...
He rose up, clenching his fist and lowering his gaze, he mumbled and was truly exasperated...
"I'm... Full?" His voice was radiating disbelief.
Karin sighed in exhaustion, lowering back her sleeve, her internal voice begging for this boy to leave.
Smirking, he... Took out a scroll from his shadows, "As promised." He gave it to Karin.
And to further her bewilderment, a Rabbit appeared out of his shadow decisively sitting behind her.
"Hide here, once your teammates are awake, he'll lead you to the Tower." The boy commanded.
Karin blinked for a moment but nodded despite her perplexity.
Looking over his shoulder, he muttered a genuine, almost relieved, "Thank you." Before he disappeared.
...For a good hour, Karin couldn't make heads or tails of that boy's intentions.
She really thought he'd just torture her after he got healed.
To Be Continued!
-Author Note Start-
No Omake today. Too tired my guysssssssss
I'll compensate with an Omake special or something next chapter, cause that has INSANE Omake potential.
Anyway, hope the chapter's been to your enjoyment.
Akira's been a naughty naughty boy, but he's got a plan in motion.
He also got a Full Restore from Karin, which is nice.
...Wouldn't have been very nice if he didn't, I'll tell ya.
Ahem!
We'll be seeing the rather silent Team 10 soon.
Orochimaru's talking like a philosophical discord moderator. But I think that's just like him.
As you can see, Sakura's a Snake Genjutsu Maiden (Work In Progress).
Akira's friends aren't very happy with him (Understandable) Yay!
I haven't done this in a while, but allow me to say...
WUJI MY GOAT! MY GLORIOUS GOAT! DESTROY THAT GOJO SLAYING (HE'LL COME BACK) FUCKER!
ALSO CURSE YOU GEGE!
I have the distinct feeling we are NOT going to know what Yuji's domain does.
-Down here is the copy paste stuff-
If ya'll feeling frisky and rich you can donate to my P A T R E 0 N to show some nice and kind support.
Here's the link:
patre0n.com/BurgerNoTomatoes
As always people! If you see any inconsistencies, wrong information, Illogical statements, etc... Notify me, please! I'll fix it ASAP! And or explain it later on in case I had planned to make it vague in the first place.
Also, all comments, reviews, constructive criticism and so on Are much appreciated! I especially love Constructive criticism because it allows me to improve the story in real time! I try my best to follow your advice!
I enjoy responding to you all! So do send them comments! Also, ideas are also welcome! I'm not that creative so assistance from you guys is always nice! Yup!
I hope you lovely people have a fantastic rest of the day/week. And I'll see you in a week's time or so :P
I made a whole ass Excel Spreadsheet to keep track of scrolls and active teams in this Exam since it's necessary for Akira. Damn, I am a tryhard. Here's this week's random fun fact.
-Author's Note End-