Chapter 35 The Serpent

Everyone followed Anko as she led them to the area where the next exam would be taken. Some place called the Forest of Death. Either way Naruto's main concern was for Anko not to see him. He could still remember her so called training sessions. Though they did help Naruto in the long run, it was at the cost of near constant pain and humiliation. It was not exactly something Naruto wanted to do again or even remember. She stopped in front of a huge forest where the sounds of various animals could be heard just in the distance. Anko began to explain the rules for the next part of the exam. Every team would get a scroll, either a heaven or an earth scroll. You had five days to find the other scroll on another team and get to the center tower. To pass, you could not look in the scroll and the entire team had to make it to the tower. Anything was allowed. At that mention several murmurs of the other chunin hopefuls expressing the idea of outright murdering the competition could be heard.

As the rules were being said Naruto noticed Konohamaru and two other children his age coming into view.

"What is he doing here", asked Naruto.

Sakura ans Sasuke looked as the three young ones walked up to Naruto.

"Hey Konohamaru, why are you here", asked Naruto.

Konohamaru shrugged.

"Well we are here for an interview for an article, but there was something Important I need to tell you", said Konohamaru.

Konohamaru motioned for Naruto to follow him. Naruto looked back to Sakura and Sasuke.

"I'll be right back, I'm going to go see what Konohamaru wants", says Naruto.

Sasuke nodded.

"Just don't be to long", says Sakura.

"This will only take a second", says Naruto.

Naruto turns back around and follows Konohamaru a good distance out.

"Ok so what is it", asks Naruto.

Konohamaru looks at Naruto inquisitively for a moment before relaxing his posture.

"Do you remember that black material you vomited up", asked Konohamaru.

"Yeah, did Brainiac finish his analysis", asked Naruto.

Konohamaru nodded.

"What was it", asked Naruto.

Konohamaru was silent as he tried to think of the right words to say. He looked back to Naruto and took a small breath.

"It was you, or parts of you. The analysis shown that you literally vomited human flesh, your own flesh", said Konohamaru.

Naruto stared at Konohamaru silent for a moment. No words came out for almost a minute. The look on Naruto's face was one of confusion and Naruto shook his head.

"What, flesh. Whats going on", asked Naruto.

"Well, the Deep One seems to believe that since you are no fully longer human, you are expelling the parts of you that is human, or once was human. We aren't to sure. The scientist believes differently, though I doubt his beliefs are anything more than insanity", said Konohamaru.

"What do you mean", asks Naruto.

"Well, you see he seems to believe that you have committed auto cannibalism on yourself and using your regeneration to survive it while you eat pieces of yourself. He also says if that is true he has never felt closer to you", said Konohamaru.

Naruto actually turned a little green at that.

"Theres something wrong with Brainiac, tell him I have not done anything of the sort. That is disgusting. Anyway what do you believe", asked Naruto.

Konohamaru crosses his arms as he leans against a tree.

"As much as I hate to admit it, I have to agree with the Deep One. The fact that you threw up after using a technique from the Necronomicon makes it possible. We believe that when you do something, you will adapt faster than normal, but you will expel the human parts faster rather than burn them off your body. Either way just something to look out for in the future", says Konohamaru.

Naruto nods.

"Other than that the summoning contracts are near. By tomorrow they will drop the scrolls down the escape hatch. So far the Dove scroll has not been found, we believe it to be lost", says Konohamaru.

"Great, that was ment to be Hinatas scroll. Either way at least we have the others. Once the exams are over we will know who to invite into the CDA", says Naruto.

"If you say so, anyway I have some work to finish after this. Be careful, while time has changed a bit, I do remember something bad happening in that forest in your history. All I know is it involved one of your teammates. Though that was an old timeline the danger could still happen", says Konohamaru.

"Alright, good to know, thanks. Anyway I should be getting back to the others", says Naruto.

"Yeah I still have to interview some one, this should be uneventful", says Konohamaru with out so much as a hint of emotion.

Naruto smiled as he went back to his team.

"Sorry about that", says Naruto.

"What was that about", asked Sakura.

Naruto shrugged.

"A few questions for the interview, nothing much", says Naruto.

Sakura shrugs. They wait for a while as Konohamaru and the other two children interview several people. Naruto sat on the ground and went over what Konohamaru tole him. He did not know whether it was good news or bad news. He did not get a chance to think for long when a kunai flew towards Naruto. Slicing a small cut on his cheek. He rubbed the cheek then his eyes widened when he saw who threw it.

"Umm, hi Anko", says Naruto.

Anko smirked as she grabbed Naruto by his neck under her arm.

"Where have you been, I have wanted to test out your new moves for like, forever now", said Anko.

While choking Naruto answers her.

"I've been busy. Please stop choking me", says Naruto.

He doesnt, if anything she sqeezes harder. Sakura looks at the scene giggling a bit.

"You know Naruto", asks Sakura.

Anoko looks up to Sakura while still holding a now blue Naruto.

"Yep, trained him my self before he graduated", said Anko.

"That wasn't training. That was torture", said Naruto now purple as he struggled to free himself.

Anko released her grasp and Naruto fell to the ground sucking in as much air as he could. He look to his teammates. Sakura was suppressing a giggle, while Sasuke only smirked. Naruto coughed for a few moments.

"Anko, helped me in my taijutsu style, most of it involved breaking my bones in different places. You broke my arm twenty-three times, never in the same spot", said Naruto.

"Crybaby, you heal fast anyway", said Anko smirking.

"You broke my arm repeatedly, in the exact same spots, for three hours straight. Then you chased me down with a kunai", said Naruto.

"Hey it worked didn't it", asked Anko.

Naruto only sighed. Anko smirked.

"Thats what I thought", said Anko.

Anko patted Naruto on the back, a little hard and left back to the front of the gates. Sakura walked up to Naruto smiling. Naruto didn't like that smile, he really didn't like that smile.

"So she trained you huh", asked Sakura.

"Say anything, and I will end you", says Naruto.

Sakura laughed.

"I'm not going to say anything", says Sakura as she walks off smiling.

That was when Sasuke walked up.

"So she was the one who taught you that weird style huh", asked Sasuke.

"Yeah, that she did. I still feel sore sometimes. I swear she was going to kill me", says Naruto.

Sasuke nods.

"I see", says Sasuke as he looks back at Anko.

"Sasuke trust me, don't just don't. You will die. If it wasn't for a certain multi tailed fox I'd still be in the hospital", says Naruto.

Sasuke shrugged while Sakura giggled.

After a while everyone was handed a consent form to sign. Naruto took a look at the fearful look on Sakura as she stared at the paper.

"Whats wrong, afraid of a little dismemberment", said Naruto through a smirk.

Sakura glared at Naruto.

"Thats not funny", says Sakura.

"Neither is Anko's training", says Naruto.

Sakura's glared intensified as she signed the paper quickly. She smirked at Naruto as she handed it in. They waited patiently as the others gave in their forms. That was when team 8 walked up.

"So ready to get your ass handed to you", asked Kiba.

"I sincerely doubt that's going to happen", said Naruto.

He took a brief glance at Hinata before turning nervously back to Kiba. It didn't escape him. He smirked and narrowed his eyes.

"What was that", asked Kiba.

"What was what", asked Naruto.

Kiba only laughed. Hinata was blushing slightly. That was when Naruto felt an elbow in his side. Sakura leaned in.

"Talk to her", she whispered.

Naruto leaned in slightly.

"Now is not a good time", whispers Naruto back.

"Come on, you can do it", says Sakura.

"We can hear you you know", says Kiba.

The air was silent for a few seconds. Naruto began to sweat as he looked at the shadows on the ground. Suddenly finding them very interesting.

"Well", said Kiba.

Naruto's eyes did not move.

"How much do you weigh shadow", says Naruto as he stares at the ground in an attempt to confuse Kiba into leaving.

Apparently it had worked as Kiba's face turned confused. He shakes his head.

"Whatever", says Kiba as he walks off with the rest of team 8 following though Hinata did stay still for a second before walking off head down.

Naruto chose that moment to look up. He turned to Sakura who was looking at him with narrowed eyes that said 'idiot'.

"What", says Naruto.

Sakura only shakes her head.

"Idiot", she says.

"What, listen I have too much on my plate to care for romantic relationships at this stage of my life. And lets not forget that she is the heir to the most powerful clan in the village and I am an ostracized orphan", says Naruto.

Sakura only looks to the sky with a mock romantic expression on her face.

"Just like the fairy tales", she says overly dramatic.

"Laugh it up Sakura, laugh it up", says Naruto.

"Come on Naruto, it wont hurt. As long as I known you you have never shown any interests in girls, your hormones are going to explode. Hell back at the accademy some of us girls thought you were gay, until we noticed you never really looked at anything other than books", says Sakura through a smirk.

The reaction was one not expected. Naruto was actually thinking it over and that caused Sakura to pause. Her mind was actually going blank, apparently she believed he was thinking over his sexuality.

"No I don't think I care for either gender in such a way, and am uncomfortable with the subject. Obviously it's something to be looked into, after all I don't have a problem speaking to girls, as you are attractive and I speak to you and I was fine talking to Hinata just fine until I discovered her feelings", said Naruto.

He turned his head to see Sakura blushing.

"You think I'm attractive", she said.

Naruto narrowed his eyes.

"You didn't hear anything I said did you", he asked with only irritation in his voice.

"No I heard what you said, it's just I never expected you of all people to call anyone attractive. Anyway you have some problems with romanticism Naruto. Maybe I can help you with that", she said.

Naruto only raised an eyebrow.

"As I said I find the concept of anything like that an alien concept. Strictly speaking I consider myself asexual", says Naruto.

Sakura only slapped her forehead.

"You're hopeless"

Naruto only shrugged.

"Well as someone who can create thousands of exact copies of himself does it surprise you that I am asexual", said Naruto grinning.

"Your not a germ Naruto", says Sakura irritated.

It was only a few seconds when Sasuke came walking back.

"I got the scroll, lets get to our gate", he says.

Sasuke raises an eyebrow when he sees Sakura's face.

"Something wrong", he asks.

"Apparently, Naruto is asexual", says Sakura.

Sasuke only glances at Naruto for a second before turning back to Sakura.

"Really, huh. Well I'm not surprised. Anyway we have a heaven scroll", said Sasuke.

"Well then we'll keep our eyes peeled for an earth scroll", says Naruto as he got up.

Sakura let out a sigh.

"My teammates are morons in the romance department", says Sakura to herself as she gets up.

They head off to there gate. Waiting for the buzzer to go off. Naruto turns to his teammates.

"Oh yeah, I got something", he says as he fiddles in his pockets. He pulls out a deck of cards.

Sakura looks at it in confusion.

"Is that Kabuto's deck", asked Sakura.

"Indeed, we now have information on everyone here. He shouldn't have revealed them, he may be from our village but information is quite useful. I couldn't let him have it all for himself", said Naruto.

"Not bad, looks like we got a good start", says Sasuke.

"Yep, only I can see them but we have five days. I'll go over the information with you both latter", said Naruto as he put the deck back in his pocket.

"Well, at least we can know what we are going to be dealing with", says Sakura.

They patiently wait. After only a few seconds the door opens and the buzzer goes off. They jump and leap from tree to tree, but Naruto stops them after only a minute.

"What is it", asks Sakura.

"Now that we are alone I have something for you both", says Naruto.

He reaches in his pocket and pulls out two Kunai.

"These are special Kunai I have been working on", says Naruto.

"They don't look special", says Sasuke.

Naruto walks up to a tree and after a bit of struggling breaks the blade. He walks back to them. They look at him with confusion as he cuts himself on the blade. He dripps his blood on it. After only a second the Kunai repairs itself until it looks brand new. They both stare at the blade eyes wide.

"These Kunai can use the iron in human blood to fix themselves", says Naruto.

They each take the blade and put it in there kunai pouch.

"Wow, how did you come up with something like this", asks Sakura.

"Well I was doing some research on Zabuza, apparently his sword does the same thing, after some trial and error I found a way to copy it. Now these are not ment to be thrown, they are to be used as melee weapons. Blood will heal even small scratches so they can never be damaged", says Naruto.

"Have I told you lately you are a genius", asked Sakura as she examined the blade..

Naruto smiled.

"You don't say it enough", says Naruto.

"These will come in handy later. Not bad Naruto", says Sasuke.

Naruto nods.

"Alright, so I say before we continue we find a nice secluded spot and go through the cards. They will let us know who are pushovers, or who to avoid. Needless to say we should stay away from the sand ninja. I really don't want to fight a psychotic Jinchuuriki who probably has better control over his tailed beast than I do", says Naruto.

They walk for a while until they find a small area to hide while they look over the cards. Unfortunately since only Naruto was capable of seeing there information he had to relay it to them verbally. Some of the cards were useless such as those who failed the first test though they were still kept. Never know when the information would be useful. The process took a while. Before they got a chance to finish a low howl came from the forest. Then a great wind. Naruto created a tentacle with each hand to wrap around Sakura and Sasuke so they would not be separated. Though Sakura was obviously repulsed by it she did not voice her concerns. Then the wind suddenly stopped. Naruto dispelled the tentacles. Each got ready in a battle stance. Back to back they all looked at there surroundings. There was a low rumbling. Naruto creates a dozen clones who go out to explore the surrounding area.

"Keep your eyes peeled. I got a bad feeling", says Naruto.

"What have we here, cornered prey that meets it's predator", speaks a creepy feminine voice.

Then Naruto is flooded with memories. All of his clones were taken out at the same time. Going through his memories Naruto did not even see who killed them.

"Who ever this is just took out my clones at the same time, and I didn't even see their face", said Naruto.

"Great, alright just watch for anything", says Sasuke.

That was when, ever so calmly a female ninja walked from the forest. The headband showed she was a Grass Ninja.

"Who are you", asked Naruto.

A long tongue came from the ninjas mouth as she grinned. Naruto raised an eyebrow. Something about that was, for lack of a better term familiar. She looked up smiling with a smile that could creep out even Naruto to a miniscule degree. It was creepy, but it was no Cthulhu.

"Brave aren't we", says the girl.

Naruto looked to Sasuke for a second and nodded. Sasuke nodded back. He turned to Sakura. He gave her a nod as well, which she returned. They turned back to the grass ninja. She reached behind her back and pulled out an earth scroll. They wasted no time.

"Now", said Sasuke.

Naruto and Sasuke both disappeared in a puff of smoke while Sakura jumped into the forest running from tree to tree throwing kunai at the grass ninja who effortlessly dodged them. Naruto had emerged from a puff of smoke next to the Ninja, first lashing out with a tentacle. The grass ninja dodged by bending in a way much like Naruto did. Sasuke appeared on the other side of the ninja attempting to grab the earth scroll. Then suddenly the Ninja turned into a mound of human shaped mud. It continued moving with only Naruto aware of the change.

"She replaced herself with an earth clone", said Naruto.

As the words left his lips the clone melted.

"Interesting, your eyes even let you see when something is an elemental clone. I'm impressed", said the voice.

Sakura leaped back to her teammates. They all went back to back again to see the forest around them.

"There's something about this ninja that is really familiar", says Naruto.

"We can discuss that later, right now concentrate on finding her", said Sasuke.

There was not even a hint that the ninja was ever there. They waited for a while for a hint of her existence when a low hissing sound could be heard. They looked to the source of the sound as their eyes all went wide. Slithering toward them was a massive snake.

"That is one big ass snake", says Sasuke.

"Biggest damn snake I ever seen in my life, kill it", screams Sakura as she launches all manner of weapons at the beast. Obviously she was no fan of snakes judging by the hysterics in her voice.

Sasuke disappeared in a puff of smoke before immediately appearing next to it. Using a kunai he stabs the snake in the eye before disappearing again. When he appeared next to Naruto and Sakura he was breathing heavy.

"I should lay off on that move", said Sasuke.

"Burn the damn thing Sasuke", said Sakura.

"You really hate snakes don't you", asked Naruto.

"It's fifty fucking feet long", screamed Sakura.

Naruto disappeared in a puff of smoke. He stabbed the snake in it's other eye, blinding it. He appeared by Sasuke. As soon as he did Sasuke ran up to the blinded serpent. It thrashed around. Sasuke did several hand signs before bringing his hand to his mouth.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu", said Sasuke.

The larges ball of fire flew from Sasuke's mouth as it burned the snake to a crisp. He jumped back to the others.

"Well thats one problem, wheres the grass ninja", asked Sasuke.

"I think she is still hiding", said Naruto.

Then the flames around the chared snake died. A small bump appeared on the creature. The grass ninja slowly emerged from it's corpse. Sakura turned green.

"That is just wrong", she said as the ninja crawled out of the serpent.

"So that was a summon. That settles it. You are Orochimaru", said Naruto.

The ninja began to laugh.

"Well, you figured it out", said the ninja as the voice turned more masculine, though it still had a level of creepiness to it, more so than even the voice before.

The Ninja pried off his own face revealing a man who's face was as pale as a corpse and hair as black as shadows. He walked up to them slowly.

"So you are just as smart as I have heard. You impress me Naruto. Though right now I have more pressing matters to attend to", said Orochimaru.

In a flash Orochimaru disappeared in a blur. Running so fast that he left after images he ran toward Naruto. The next thing Naruto knew Orochimaru's knee was slamed into his stomach. Naruto fell to the ground out of breath. Sasuke attacked Orochimaru with taijutsu but Orochimaru only blocked the attacks with ease.

"You also impress. Yes, you will make a fine body", said Orochimaru.

Hearing that Sasuke actually froze for a second. In the blink of an eye Sasuke found himself flying toward a large tree. Sakura attempted to cast a genjutsu on Orochimaru, though he merely ignored it. Sakura then seen her own death play before her very eyes. She was frozen in fear. Naruto was the first to get up. He sent clones afer clone at Orochimaru who took them out without even looking at them. Naruto was getting frustrated. He lashed out with a tentacle which was grabbed by Orochimaru. He yanked on it before Naruto had time to dispel the tentacle. He flew right into Orochimaru's out reached fist.

"If this is the best you can do I am not impressed, perhaps you were not as interesting as I believed", said Orochimaru.

Orochimaru turned to Sasuke who just sent a ball of flame right toward Orochimaru. It hit him dead on. When the attack ended Orochimaru stood smiling. There was not even a hint he was just engulfed in fire. He slowly walked toward Sasuke as he cast the same Genjustu on him that he casted on Sakura. Naruto got up. He ran up to Orochimaru creating different hand seal with each hand.

"Y'Golonac Bite", said Naruto.

A fanged mouth appears on Naruto's hand much to Orochimaru's surprise. Naruto grabbed Orochimaru's arm. He could feel the teeth on Naruto's palm sinking into his flesh. The bite burned. Orochimaru flung Naruto into a tree as he breathed heavily. Orochimaru calmly looked at the chunk of flesh taken out of his forearm. It bled constantly. He concentrated a simple jutsu in an attempt to heal the wound but he froze solid. No matter what he did the wound would not heal. The blood did not even dry it just continued to bleed. A small snake came from his clothing and wrapped around the wound. He turned toward Naruto. He walked up to him.

"What was that boy", asked Orochimaru with venom in his voice.

Naruto began to laugh.

"Y'Golonac's bite. it takes a lot out of me. It creates a wound that can never heal. It will bleed untill you are out of blood", said Naruto.

The snake wrapping the wound gripped tighter. Orochimaru lifted Naruto by his colar.

"Is that so, well I think I should show you what happens when the prey attacks it's predator", said Orochimaru as he lifted Naruto with one arm.

To his continued confusion Naruto only laughed.

"You like snakes huh", asked Naruto.

Orochimaru said nothing.

"You know you just lost right", said Naruto.

Orochimaru just smiled.

"And why is that", asked Orochimaru.

Naruto lifted his head to look right into Orochimaru's eyes.

"Because you just looked in my eyes", said Naruto.

As soon as Naruto said those words Orochimaru felt himself being sucked into Naruto's eyes.

When Orochimaru opened his eyes he found himself in the middle of what appeared to be a jungle and a large temple. He could see various snakes of all shapes and sizes slithering around the temple. Orochimaru raised an eyebrow at these snakes. He knew much about snakes, but he could not identify a single one of the snakes that slithered around. He walked toward the temple. Once inside the number of snakes began to grow as did their size. He could see snakes over thirty feet long as they slithered around the ground. After walking through the temple of snakes Orochimaru came to stand in a massive room with only a huge well in the center of the floor. He walked up to the well. There was only darkness in the well and the sound of hissing. As he leaned in closer the hissing got louder and louder until he saw massive yellow eyes staring at him. Orochimaru jumped back as a huge snake with arms crawled out of the well. Orochimaru was in awe of its size. It was bigger than any summon he had bar none. The creature had a mane much like a lion, but instead of hair it was made of small individual snakes. The massive beast reached out with fingers like serpents. Orochimaru jumped back as the massive creature began to attack.

Every thing Orochimaru did only resulted in the massive creature to get a small wound that would bleed snakes. These snakes would only slither back into the wounds and heal it from within. The massive beast hissed. This caused every snake in the temple to slither toward it. They would slither into open wounds on the massuve beast increasing its already impressive size. It crawled out of the well to stand on very human like legs coveren in scales. It walked toward Orochimaru hissing at him. When it attempted to attack again Orochimaru threw everything he had at the creature. Though the snakes it bled would always return. For the first time in his life Orochimaru found himself fighting a creature he could not possibly win against. He closed his eyes.

Naruto threw up more of the black vomit as his eyes burned from using his power on Orochimaru. He felt in pain again. He could not move an inch without feeling like he was on fire. His only solice was that Orochimaru was still trapped within the truth Naruto decided to show him. Though it did not last long. Orochimaru snapped out of it an only stared at Naruto. The anger in his eyes were obvious. Naruto was beginning to question whether the truth he chose was a good idea.

"What was that creature", asked Orochimaru.

Naruto was shocked, it seemed as if it had no effect on Orochimaru. Needless to say Naruto decided to remain quiet. He walked over to a unconscious Sakura.

"Tell me it's name or I kill her in front of your eyes", said Orochimaru.

Naruto sighed in defeat. He weakly looked up to Orochimaru.

"Yig, The father of Serpents", said Naruto.

Orochimaru dropped Sakura unceremoniously causing her to wake up she crawled away from Orochimaru. There was a serene smile on his face and a far off look in his eye. It was the look of a man who was truly at peace.

"Yes, a fitting name for such a noble creature, no not creature. God, it was the face of God itself", said Orochimaru.

Naruot's eyes widened. There was an effect on Orochimaru. He was literally going to worship the creature. Naruto had no idea how to take that. What happened next was unusual. Orochimaru, with the same serene smile on his face turned around and walked away. Naruto could swear he heard him say a prayer. His eyes widened as he watched the snake wrapped around Orochimaru's arm healing the bite wound by fusing with his flesh.

Orochimaru turned around to face a now conscious Sasuke while Sakura was looking over him. He looked down at them before doing a few simple hand seals. His neck extended and his head shot off toward Sasuke.

"No", screamed Sakura. She leaped in front of the head.

Orochimaru's teeth sank into her flesh. Sasuke tried to get up to help her but as she fell he found Orochimaru's fangs sink into his neck. Naruto was in too much pain to even Move. Both of his teammates were screaming in pain. Orochimaru turned back around.

"I am a disciple of Yig, the father of serpents. I shall spread his teachings to the faithful. With the body of the Uchiha I shall live forever. Praise the Father of serpents", said Orochimaru as he left seemingly ignorant to also infecting Sakura.

Naruto with what energy he had left limped over to his teammates. Both were out cold. Sasuke had an unusual seal on his neck. Sakura had a similar seal on hers. Naruto sat down next to them. Slicing his thumb he summoned a Shoggoth to protect them. He then meditated to enter his mind. If he was going to do anything he first needed to be energized in the event someone came upon them. Hopefully the fox was feeling generous.