Chapter XXII
When he and Sakura later meet up with who they thought was Naruto, Sasuke suspected something is wrong when Naruto said the password word for word unlike the real Naruto with the impostor revealed to be the Kusagakure ninja Shiore. Swallowing his scroll. You are Watching Naruto Episode 28 english subbed at Narutoget.
Hey readers, yeah I'm surprised about how quick this happened. Getting a new chapter done this quick is surprising. This chapter is the second stage's start and it's going to be vastly different than canon so wait for that. I'll say this however, Hinata will not end up with Naruto and nor she with him. With the huge number of Sekirei in the story and other story-based events that will be happening Hinata being with Naruto simply won't work. Also, if you don't like how I'm doing you have full rights to write your own NaruHina based story if you want, that's what fanfiction is for after all. I can't think of anything else to add so I'd like to thank my coauthors ncpfan and Jose19. So let's get going on with reviewer responses.
BruddaJokka: Well mine will be MASSIVELY different from canon in terms of the things that happen so you should read during the whole section. I actually can't think of many stories I've read that take show the chunin exams that are the same as canon and have what came before be any good.
Hell is fun21: What do you mean where are they? They're there in the story, always have been. No, he hasn't winged Karasuba. What gave you the idea that he would?
megabassEXE: No, I won't. There are just too many things involved with my story that make her being a Sekirei not work. Besides, I never said that Karin was a Sekirei anyway.
blue-hart: I haven't ever said she was a Sekirei, because all of the powers she's shown so far are powers she's had in canon. So there's no confirmation she's a Sekirei. How is bringing those two in breaking the fourth wall? Yes, Shiina's powers are the same and equal as canon.
lostsoldierS636: First, I already said her being a Sekirei wouldn't work because there are so many story points that would conflict. Her fight against Shikamaru is an important part of his character development and unfortunately as it stands now I have no plans to spare her, so apologies for that one but I simply don't have a reason to do so right now.
F-14 Tomcat Love: Yes, I know that the council as it exists in my story is not from canon. I have a question for you. So? It's a story point that I like and have seen before, which is how I came up with it as an idea. This is fanfiction. I am able to alter the story as I wish and I found the council to be a useful tool for the story, and I am fully aware of Japan's dictatorial history. However, I felt that fabricating a council, since this isn't the universe of Naruto from canon, the inclusion of the Sekirei and MBI in the world should make that obvious. As a result the rules of this world and how it works will be different from canon, and the council is one of those differences.
GREAT CELESTIAL-DRAGON: I can't say whether Jiraiya knows about the Sekirei or not. Don't worry, every character's selection of Sekirei has been finalized so Naruto's selection of Sekirei isn't affecting anyone else.
Markus-Antonius: In the latest chapters of the manga I'm starting to dislike everyone. The story's gone to shit and I'm not certain Kishimoto hasn't just lost it. Although because of Karin's harsh experiments by Orochimaru it had serious negative effects on her and were she with Naruto, in my story I mean she's lost a cause in the manga, he'd be the perfect one to help her. But that's only if I pair her with him, I may not be doing that.
Team Seven stood in front of one of the gates leading into Training Ground Forty-Four, or the Forest of Death.
Naruto looked down at the scroll in his hand - the Heaven Scroll. This meant that he and his team needed an Earth scroll before they could complete this stage of the Chunin Exams. He sealed it away in a storage seal, then looked to the gate and saw a piece of paper on it. He took it off the gate and said with a smirk, 'Look, guess Matsu was right. We can summon them here.'
Sasuke and Sakura nodded and all three formed the tori seal and then slammed their right hand on the ground, causing three bursts of smoke to erupt, one from each shinobi; Naruto's obviously being the largest.
As the smoke cleared, Team Seven's Sekirei were revealed.
Naruto watched as the gate opened and said, 'So, shall we get going then?'
The whole group nodded and got ready to go when Taki said, 'Hold on a second!'
Naruto almost tripped and turned around to say, 'Err, what?'
Taki blushed embarrassed and said, 'Well, Matsu and I aren't combat types, so we can't tree hop as fast as you guys.'
Matsu waved her hand and said, 'Don't worry about me, I'll be fine.'
Taki raised an eyebrow and then said with a sigh, 'Alright, I can't tree hop that well.'
Naruto nodded and said, 'I've got a solution. Taki, I'll have you swept off your feet in no time!'
Taki smiled excitedly in response, 'Really?!'
As the group hopped through the trees, Taki was sitting on her ride, looking ahead, and feeling very disgruntled.
She sighed in disappointment and moaned, 'This isn't what I had in mind when he said he would have me swept off my feet.'
'Did you say something dear?' Mitsuko asked.
Taki sighed and said, 'No, nothing.'
'Very well,' the fox said as she continued to follow the rest.
At the same time, Team Eight stood out front of their gate and Kiba took notice of the same piece of paper on the gate and turned to Shino and said, 'Hey, this thing says you 'n I can summon our Sekirei here.'
Shino raised an eyebrow and asked, 'You can do that?'
Kiba twitched an eyebrow and asked, 'You mean your Sekirei didn't tell you that?'
Shino shook his head and said, 'No. Sai can be…confrontational.'
Kiba sighed and rubbed his head and said, 'Alright, it's simple. Just use the tori sign and then slam your hand into the ground, that'll bring all the winged Sekirei you got straight here, like a summonin' jutsu.'
Shino nodded and the two did just that, dual bursts of smoke appearing.
Sai appeared beside Shino and Kiba's Sekirei beside him. However, Kiba had three additional Sekirei.
Hatae, a tall Sekirei with short black hair that fell as curtains from either side of her face, baggy eyes, a revealing bikini top that exposed much of her large breasts and skull-patterned jeans that had open seams on the inner side. She had claw-knives stowed on her belt.
Chiyo, a Sekirei of average height with short, messy black hair and pale irises, and who wore arm length, black leather gloves, a small bikini top over her small chest, a pair of leather heels, black pants with one leg cut short and a single thigh-high stocking patterned in skulls.
Lastly was Yuna who had long black hair tied into a ponytail with bangs framing her face, a matching bikini top to the others, a pair of leather heels, black pants with the left leg cut short, a black ribbon tied around her waist that billowed out behind her, a standard black glove on her left hand but her right glove was arm-length and patterned with skulls.
Shino sweat-dropped and asked, 'New Sekirei?'
Kiba nodded and said, 'Damn right. I winged all three at once.'
Yuna smiled slyly and said, 'Yes…it was quite a surprise for us as well. All reacting to the same man.' She then ran a hand on Kiba's cheek and said sultrily, 'But I can't say I'm disappointed.'
Narashino moaned and said, 'Ohhh, would you stop touching him!'
Yuna chuckled darkly and said, 'He's my Ashikabi too, you know.'
Narashino just pouted and said, 'C'mon, let's go.'
Hinata could only sweat-drop at her teammates' antics.
Team Nine stood outside their own gate as Neji noticed the sign and said, 'Lee, we are permitted to use our Sekirei here.'
'Right!' Lee responded with a fist pump.
Neji turned to Lee and asked, 'What is it Lee?'
'How do we bring them here?'
Neji sighed and said, 'You truly are a fool. I'll explain it once so pay attention.'
After explaining the method both Neji and Lee summoned their Sekirei.
Summoning both Katsuragi and Namiji to the spot.
Tenten blinked and said, 'Oh…so that's what a Sekirei is.' She then hitched and said, 'Urk, maybe…that woman Naruto brought in was a Sekirei too.'
'Say something Tenten?' Neji asked.
Tenten laughed embarrassed and said, 'No…nothing at all.'
Neji sighed and then said, 'Then let's get moving!'
All five then took off into the forest.
Team Ten had finished summoning their own Sekirei as well.
Ino had summoned Shiina and Kusano and Choji had summoned Yashima. They both froze when they saw who Shikamaru had summoned.
Two Sekirei. In addition to Natsu Shikamaru now had a second Sekirei.
Ikki, a tall Sekirei with short black hair, an Eastern style shirt, bloomers and tall, white, high-heeled shoes as well as twin kodachi she held in reverse.
Ino twitched an eyebrow and asked, 'How did you get two Sekirei?'
Shikamaru shrugged and said, 'Don't ask me. But it's a real drag to take care of them both.'
Ikki lightly tapped Shikamaru's head with the butt of her sword and said, 'I thought we said you shouldn't use that phrase anymore.'
Shikamaru sighed and said, 'What a drag.'
'Ow!' resonated throughout the forest.
Team Seven and their Sekirei jumped through the forest for a moment before Naruto turned and said, 'Hey, why don't we stop here for a minute?'
Sasuke raised an eyebrow but nodded and the group came down to the ground and stopped.
Naruto pulled out a map and said, 'Why don't you guys plan a route through the forest?' He then began to walk away.
'Why aren't you going to help?' Sasuke asked.
Naruto turned back and said, 'Ah…well I've got some…business to handle.'
Sasuke nodded and said, 'Right.'
Naruto then walked away and Sakura asked, 'What's wrong with him?'
Sasuke glanced at her and then said, 'Let's just wait for him to get back.'
Sakura raised an eyebrow but shrugged and helped Sasuke look at route.
After a moment several of Naruto's Sekirei glanced to the side concerned.
Sasuke noticed this but ignored it.
A moment later Naruto came back with a sigh and said, 'Well, that took longer than I expected.' He then stop in a frozen expression. 'Hey, what's gotten into you guys!?' he shouted.
Ororo and Toyotama had Naruto stopped, Toyotama with her blade pointed at his heart and Ororo with a blade of ice at the base of his neck.
Toyotama narrowed her eyes in disgust and said, 'You are not Naruto. What happened to him?'
Naruto groaned and asked, 'What're you talking about? Of course I'm-!'
'Nay! Thou art not Naruto! We hath felt through the Bond that he encountered resistance, plus,' Tsukiumi accused, pausing.
'Plus?' 'Naruto' asked.
'Naruto is right-handed, not left,' Matsu said, adjusting her glasses.
'Naruto' snarled and jumped out from between the two blade-wielding Sekirei. He landed on a branch above the group, all of whom were ready to fight, and smirked darkly and said, 'Not bad. I don't know how you figured it out so quickly, but give me your Heaven Scroll, or die.' He then exploded in smoke, revealing a Rain ninja with spiky black hair and dark eyes who wore a yellow jumpsuit that was stitched up the middle, a pair of sandals, a Rain headband that covers his entire head, a rebreather and a sash around his face with eyeholes cut in it. He snarled and threw several kunai at the group, which were deftly blocked by a long white piece of cloth.
'What the?' the Rain ninja said in confusion.
'Hey!' Naruto shouted.
The Rain ninja turned as Naruto landed next to him and asked, 'How'd you escape?'
Naruto snarled and said, 'Che, I've spent my whole life getting out of sticky situations, your pathetic ties were useless.' He pulled out a custom kunai and said, 'I hope you're ready to pay for going after my friends.'
The Rain ninja raised a kunai and said, 'Give me your best shot.'
Naruto just smirked at him.
The Rain ninja grunted as he lost consciousness and fell to the ground.
Naruto jumped down and his clone dispelled.
Naruto then sighed and said, 'Well, that was a pain.'
Musubi and Matsu then hugged him and Musubi said, 'Ohhh, I'm so glad you're okay.'
Naruto blushed as he was pressed in between the two women, Matsu suddenly pressing herself harder before Naruto deftly freed himself.
That, however, caused the two Sekirei to fall, accidently kissing each other.
Naruto lost a drop of blood from his nose as they fell apart, Sasuke just face-palmed.
Musubi tilted her head in confusion while Matsu adjusted her glasses, her eyes hidden by glare, and said, 'Uhuhuhu, I wonder what would happen if two Sekirei came into 'intimate' contact.'
Hearing that Naruto swiftly slapped a hand over his nose.
Tsukiumi moaned in annoyance.
Sasuke sighed and said, 'Hey, we've got a problem.'
Naruto shook his head awake and asked, 'What is it?'
Sasuke nodded and said, 'We were lucky that we were all together when that fake you showed up, that way your Sekirei could tell it wasn't you. But it won't be that easy the whole time. We need some way to identify each other, Sekirei and all, when we're separated.'
Sakura nodded and said, 'A password maybe?'
Naruto sighed and pointed to Musubi, the fist-fighter pointing to herself in confusion and tilting her head.
Sakura nodded in recognition and sighed as well.
Matsu got everyone's attention and said, 'I have an idea.'
'What is it?' Naruto asked.
Matsu adjusted her glasses again and said, 'It's a seal, an old one. When you make a certain hand sign it glows. If you want I can apply the seal to each of our left hands.'
Naruto looked at the others and they all nodded, one by one going to Matsu to get the seal applied.
After applying the seal to Homura and making sure it stayed and said, 'Alright, now I'll show you the hand sign.' She then raised her left hand, palm facing her, and extended her index and ring fingers, the seal pulsing with light momentarily.
Nodding each of them repeated it, though Naruto had to teach it to Musubi more thoroughly.
Naruto sighed and said, 'Here, let me show you.' He then grabbed Musubi's hand manipulated her fingers into place, the seal glowing.
'Oh, Musubi understands now,' Musubi said. She then hummed and said, 'Ahh, that breeze feels good.'
'Breeze?' Naruto said in confusion before he noticed something strange and said in shock, 'Crap! Everyone, hang on to something!'
Almost immediately a massively powerful tunnel of wind formed, blowing everyone different directions.
'Naruto!' Ororo shouted, managing to grab onto him and Musubi as they were blown away.
Homura held Sakura to him as they were blown through the tunnel, Sasuke managing to grab Yahan's hand before they were separated.
'Uuuhhhh,' Naruto groaned as he woke up from his disorientation. He sat up with a grunt and looked around, Musubi was lying flat on a tree nearby and Ororo was lying against a corner. He stood up and snarled as he felt a twinge in his shoulder. He walked over to Musubi and shook her shoulder, saying, 'Hey, Musubi, wake up.'
'Aaauuu,' Musubi moaned before waking up. She rubbed her eyes and said, 'Oh, Naruto. Where are we?'
Naruto stood up and walked over to Ororo, Musubi behind him, and said, 'I don't know. This isn't a spot in the forest I immediately recognize.' He shook Ororo's shoulder and said, 'Hey, c'mon, time to wake up.'
Ororo tensed for a moment before waking up and easing her eyes open. She looked at Naruto and asked, 'Are you and Musubi alright?'
Naruto nodded and said, 'Yeah, I had something wrong with my shoulder but the Nine-Tails fixed it.'
Ororo nodded with a smile and stood up. She looked around and then said, 'Sadly, I do not remember coming through this portion of the forest.'
Naruto walked out to the middle of the tree branch and said, 'Yeah, neither do I.' He sighed and rubbed his head saying, 'Finding our way to the others will be a pain.'
Musubi nodded and then shouted, 'Naruto! Look out!'
Naruto turned to her with a raised eyebrow before a giant snake came out of nowhere and snapped down on the branch he was standing on, taking him with it before slamming onto the ground.
'NARUTO!' they shrieked in matching horror.
The snake turned to them and hissed in annoyance, lunging at them.
The two Sekirei jumped away as it smashed onto the tree.
'Naruto! You give him back!' Musubi shouted in fear and anger.
Ororo narrowed her eyes angrily and raised her right hand and said coldly, 'You will pay for that.' The wind around her began to shift, then began to spark. She opened her hand and placed it to her side, palm out. She formed a large disc of swiftly oscillating wind, which was then enhanced with lightning chakra. She pulled her arm back and then tossed the disk and shouted, 'Lightning Saw!'
The spinning disk of wind and lightning passed through the snake's midsection, suddenly causing it to separate in a spray of blood as the snake fell and then vanished in a burst of smoke.
'Naruto!' Musubi shouted as she and Ororo dropped down to the ground.
Sasuke groaned and eased his eyes open. As his eyes adjusted to the light above him he looked around and then up. He smirked amusedly.
Yahan had placed his unconscious form in her lap, but had fallen asleep herself. As she felt movement she flinched and then woke up and said with a warm smile, 'You're awake.'
Sasuke nodded and sat up. He then stood up and looked around. He turned to Yahan and asked, 'Did you meet up with any of the others?'
Yahan stood up and said with a nod, 'Yes. Sakura and Homura as well as Uzume, Satellizer and Taki.'
Sasuke nodded and asked, 'How about Naruto and the others?'
Yahan shook her head and said, 'No, not yet.'
'Sasuke!'
Sasuke turned to see Sakura and Homura approaching.
'You're awake,' Sakura said happily as she and Homura walked up to them.
Sasuke nodded and asked, 'Where are the others?'
'They went to look for Naruto. Homura and I tried to get our bearings but we couldn't find any markers,' Sakura said. She then looked around with a frown and said, 'I don't recognize this spot. We mainly stuck to one area before.'
Sasuke nodded and tensed when he heard rustling in the bushes nearby.
All four got into battle-ready positions as Naruto burst out from the bush, falling flat on his face.
Sasuke sighed and said, 'You should be more careful Naruto, you almost had a few kunai in your chest.'
Naruto chuckled uneasily and said, 'Oops, sorry 'bout that.'
Sasuke shook his head and flashed the sign for the seal.
Naruto rubbed the back of his head and said, 'Oh, yeah. It got ruined, my hand got scraped up and when it healed the seal was damaged.'
Sasuke narrowed his eyes suspiciously but didn't say a word.
Uzume then dropped down and said, 'I couldn't find him.' She then turned to the side and said, 'Oh, Naruto.' However, she narrowed her eyes and glanced at Sasuke.
Sasuke nodded and said, 'Hey Naruto, come here. I have a replacement for the seal.'
Naruto grinned and said, 'Cool.'
As he approached Sasuke threw several kunai and Naruto jumped back.
Naruto glared at Sasuke in anger, 'What the hell?!'
Sasuke narrowed his eyes and said, 'Matsu's a seal master. There's no way her seals can be degraded so poorly. Plus, Uzume indicated that you aren't actually Naruto.'
Naruto sighed and then smiled deviously and said, 'My my Sasuke. You are just as sharp as they say.' He exploded in smoke and revealed Shiore.
Sasuke snarled and said, 'You. What do you want?'
Shiore chuckled darkly and said, 'Oh, what I want is simple. Your deaths.'
Sasuke prepared a kunai and said, 'We're going to be harder to kill than that you bastard.'
Each of them prepared for battle at the same time.
Shiore chortled and pulled something from behind him, an Earth Scroll.
Sasuke and Sakura snarled at him.
Shiore snickered and said, 'I see. You want my Earth Scroll, since each of you have the Heaven Scroll.' He snickered again as his tongue extended inhumanly out of his mouth and wrapped around the scroll. He tilted his head back and swallowed the scroll, saying, 'Well now. It seems you'll only get the Earth Scroll by cutting me open, so one of us is going to die.' He narrowed his eyes amused and said, 'But who?'
Each of the group snarled and Sakura thought, 'He's…he's disgusting.'
Shiore snickered and pulled down the eyelid on his left eye and stared intently at Sasuke and Sakura.
The two of them then froze as two kunai shot from beside Shiore and slammed into their foreheads.
They sat still as images of their own deaths filled their minds.
'G-genjutsu?' Sasuke thought in fear. He then narrowed his eyes and thought, 'No. It's just…killer intent. Just by feeling it, I was envisioning my own death. I've never experienced anything like this.'
Homura and Yahan felt their fear and Homura prepared fire in his hands and said, 'I don't know what you did but I'll make you pay for doing that!'
Shiore chortled and said mockingly, 'I bet you will. Or die trying.' He began walking forward with two kunai in hand and said, 'Don't worry, I won't make it too painful.'
Homura began to sweat and turned to Yahan and said, 'I think we need to get out of here.'
Nodding she and Homura grabbed their Ashikabis and left the area swiftly with Uzume.
As the smoke from the vanishing snake dispelled Ororo and Musubi dropped down to find Naruto lying on the ground covered slime, groaning.
Musubi looked at him confused while Ororo raised a hand and poured water onto him.
He shot up and looked around and said, 'Huh, what happened? Am I alive?'
Ororo giggled at his actions, causing the blonde to tilt his head. She looked at him with an amused smile and said, 'You are fine Naruto. You were devoured by that giant snake but Musubi and I managed to free you.'
Musubi shook her head and said, 'No way! Musubi didn't do anything, you did it all Ororo!'
Ororo looked down is slight abashment and Naruto said with a smile, 'Thanks, Oro.'
Ororo smiled and said, 'Of course.' Getting more serious she said, 'Now, we need to go and find the others. I would imagine they're starting to get worried.'
Naruto nodded and turned then said, 'Right, then let's get going.'
He leapt up to a tree with Ororo and Musubi behind him.
'Hey, I'm alright now,' Sasuke said weakly to Yahan.
She nodded and the five of them dropped down.
Yahan and Homura set Sasuke and Sakura down and all five sat down on one of the large branches.
Sasuke sighed and said, 'This is bad. We have to get out of here.'
Yahan looked at Sasuke sadly, feeling his fear through the bond and watching as he trembled just sitting on the ground.
Sakura looked at Sasuke worriedly but stopped when Homura put a hand on her shoulder.
Homura nodded and said, 'Don't worry. We should be just far enough away that he won't find us immediately.'
Elsewhere, three blurs arrived on the edge of the village, heading straight for the Forest of Death.
All three raced for the forest and arrived near the edge, the center of the three gaining a sadistic smirk as they entered over the edge.
As the remnants of Team Seven sat on a large log Sasuke noticed two chakra signatures heading their way fast.
'We've got someone coming, fast,' Sasuke said.
Uzume put up her hand and said, 'Don't worry, it's just Tsukiumi and Toyotama.'
Sasuke nodded as the two of them rushed past them, Tsukiumi shouting, 'Do not just sit there on thy rumps! Get thee hence!'
Sasuke raised an eyebrow and looked to the side. His eyes widened and he shouted, 'What the hell is that?!'
A giant snake appeared in the trees beside them and made to bite the branch, the group scattering as it did.
Sasuke landed on a nearby branch and asked, 'Has that thing been chasing you the whole time?'
Tsukiumi clenched a fist and said in frustration, 'Aye. It hath been on our tails since that gust of wind took us. And now, t'would seem that it wisheth to do battle.'
Sasuke trembled slightly as he thought about the clearing, Yahan grabbed his hand and nodded with a smile.
Sasuke sighed and said, 'I don't think fighting this thing is a good idea.'
Homura nodded and added, 'I agree.'
'Watch out!' Sakura shouted as the snake lunged at the branch they were on.
The snake bit it but failed to hit anyone, then began winding up the tree before lunging out, at Sasuke.
Sasuke snarled as it charged at him. He prepared to dodge but suddenly saw Shiore's face in his mind. His eyes widened in terror and he then pulled out several shuriken and shouted, 'Stay away!' He threw the shuriken at the snake, hitting it on the sides of the head, killing it.
The snake immediately fell over, still.
However, its side began to crack and everyone watched in horror as Shiore came out of the hole formed.
Shiore chortled and said, 'Kukuku, you can never let down your guard. A predator's prey must constantly keep attentive, or die.' His tongue then flopped out of his mouth and flopped ominously before Shiore immediately stretched his body out and wrapped around the tree he was on, charging straight up for Sasuke.
'Sasuke!' Yahan shouted.
'No!' Sasuke shouted as Shiore neared.
Shiore immediately redirected his attention and dodged as a whirling sound was heard before the Executioner's Blade slammed into the trunk of the tree.
Everyone looked up, Tsukiumi and the others of Naruto's in hope, as Naruto, Ororo and Musubi stood on a trunk high above.
Musubi pumped a fist and said, 'We're finally here!'
Naruto smirked and said, 'Sorry about bein' late guys.'
'Naruto!' Matsu shouted, the others with her.
'Matsu!' Naruto said happily as she joined him and the other two.
Shiore narrowed his eyes and whispered to himself, 'Matsu? Kukuku, how interesting.'
Matsu looked from Naruto to his target Shiore and asked, 'What's going on?'
Naruto shook his head and said, 'Don't ask me, Sasuke knows more about it.' Naruto then jumped from his spot on the tree to his blade. He planted his feet on the tree and picked up the Blade and said, 'I don't know who you are you creep, but you won't get away for hurting my friends. Got that?' He then looked at Sasuke and the others and flashed his seal, everyone else reciprocating.
Shiore narrowed his eyes and said, 'How amusing. You really think a bunch of genin and a few Sekirei can beat me?'
Naruto raised an eyebrow and asked with a frown, 'How do you know about the Sekirei? I don't see any around you.'
Shiore chortled and said, 'That…is my own secret, Naruto.'
Naruto narrowed his eyes and thought with a snarl, 'This guy is dangerous. I may not be able to handle him myself.'
'Heh, just let me know when things get too tough. I'll be glad to take over and break his neck,' Menma snarled.
'Not going to happen,' Naruto said as he stuck the Executioner's Blade to his back.
Sasuke trembled and looked at Shiore then to Naruto and clenched his fists.
Yahan frowned and thought, 'This is bizarre. How could Sasuke be this scared? This is bad.'
Naruto narrowed his eyes and disappeared in a burst of smoke, confusing Shiore.
Naruto reappeared next to Sasuke and said, 'Come on Sasuke, calm down. You faced off against Karasuba, you can handle this guy.'
Sasuke clenched his fists and then said, 'You don't get it! This guy's killer intent by itself is almost deafening! I…I just want to get the hell out of here.'
Naruto sighed and then asked, 'Sasuke, are you hurt?'
Sasuke raised an eyebrow and then said, 'No, not much.'
'Good, then I can do this,' Naruto said, before he slugged Sasuke right in the face, slamming him into a tree.
Sasuke looked at Naruto in disbelief and then shouted, 'What the hell was that for?!'
'Because you're being an idiot! You faced off against the leader of the Discipline Squad, Zabuza and a bunch of Sekirei and this Grass genin is scaring the crap out of you?' Naruto challenged.
Sasuke heard his words and clenched his fists in frustration.
Naruto then narrowed his eyes and said, 'If you can't face this guy you'll never face Itachi.'
That got him. Sasuke's blood ran cold and his entire body froze. He then eased up and smirked, with a light chuckle. He stood up and said, 'Thanks, Naruto. You're right, I won't stand a chance against him if I can't take this bastard.' He looked at Naruto with a smirk and asked, 'What do you say to us clobbering this guy?'
Naruto grinned and said, 'Yeah, all of us.'
Shiore chuckled and said, 'I hope you're prepared.'
Naruto put a hand on the Executioner's Blade and said, 'Guess we'll just need to wait and see.'
Shiore narrowed his eyes and then launched at Naruto and Sasuke, both of whom jumped away to dodge him.
'Water Celebration!' Tsukiumi shouted as several blasts of water shot at Shiore.
Shiore dodged the attack threw kunai at Tsukiumi, a wall of ice appearing in front of her, Akitsu jumping down and shooting several ice spears at the Grass ninja, piercing his torso.
'Got him!' Musubi shouted happily.
'Not quite,' Naruto said in frustration.
Shiore's body then began to melt into more mud.
Naruto got his sword ready and said, 'This isn't even close to over.'
Shiore reappeared on another branch and said, 'Alright, let's get this started, shall we?' He pulled out multiple kunai and tossed them straight at Tsukiumi and made a hand sign and said, 'Shadow Kunai Jutsu!'
The eight kunai turned into forty as they approached the blonde Sekirei. She raised a hand and began to launch an attack when Ororo descended beside her and shouted, 'Twister!'
A ball of air condensed in front of them and began to spin in a large twister, stopping the kunai and redirecting them at Shiore.
Shiore snickered and jumped out of the way.
'You die here,' Sasuke said coldly as he pulled out his chokuto and charged at Shiore.
'How interesting,' Shiore said as Sasuke approached. He pulled out a kunai and blocked Sasuke's blade with his kunai. 'You've gotten your second wind,' Shiore mocked.
'And it'll blow you away,' Sasuke shot back, launching away from him and landing on a branch below.
Shiore turned as Naruto approached and slashed at him. Shiore rolled midair to avoid the blade and launched a kick at Naruto.
Naruto brought up the broad side of his sword and blocked it, grunting as the force sent him flying back.
'Water Arrow!' Tsukiumi shouted as she sent a multitude of arrows at Shiore.
'Ice Spears,' Akitsu said plainly as her ice spears joined Tsukiumi's arrows and flew at Shiore from the opposite side.
Shiore merely smirked as the spikes impaled him, his body melting.
Tsukiumi landed on another branch and snarled, 'Dammit. He is fast.'
Shiore reappeared out of another tree and threw more kunai out.
Tsukiumi prepared to block them but Satellizer dropped down and used her blade to block them.
Tsukiumi smiled and said, 'Ah, Satella. Thank you.'
Satellizer nodded and said, 'Of course.'
'Don't celebrate just yet ladies,' Shiore said as he charged at the duo.
'I don't think so!' Naruto shouted as he came from above with his sword.
Shiore jumped away from Naruto, who followed after and attempted to cleave him in half.
Shiore smirked and bent back to dodge the blade. He then retaliated with a kunai jab.
Naruto snarled but Musubi came from the side and grabbed him, getting him out of the way.
The two dropped down and Naruto said, 'Thanks.'
Musubi pumped her fists and said, 'Right!'
Shiore landed on a tree branch and said, 'This is getting interesting. I'll just need to make sure this isn't a waste of my time.' He looked up at them and placed a hand over his headband and said, 'In case you are curious, I pay no affiliation to the Grass.' As he removed his hand, a Sound Village symbol replaced the Grass Village sigil.
Elsewhere in the forest, the three blurs jumped from tree to tree.
The lead figure turned her head slightly in the direction that she felt incredible malice emanating from and smirked, 'Soon, I'll see your face and know who you are.'
The lead figure then stopped causing the two following her to stop, revealing the three to be Karasuba, Haihane and Benitsubasa.
Benitsubasa raised an eyebrow and said, 'Hey, Karasuba! Why'd you stop?'
Karasuba pointed in front of her.
Benitsubasa and Haihane turned to look where Karasuba was pointing.
Benitsubasa narrowed her eyes in concentration and then flinched and shouted, 'Hey! Those are the Leaf brats from the bridge. Let's go and take 'em out!'
Karasuba raised a hand and said with a stern look, 'No. For now we will watch.' She smirked and added, 'I want to see what he does.'
Benitsubasa tilted her head and asked, 'You mean the Uchiha idiot?'
Karasuba merely snickered.
Shiore scanned around and said, 'Ahh, fifteen against one. That hardly seems fair.' He pulled out a kunai and said, 'How's about I change those odds?'
Naruto tensed and said, 'Just try it asshole.'
Shiore then launched into the air and everyone jumped at once as well.
Sasuke jumped from tree to tree at different angles before finally launching at Shiore again. He slashed at Shiore's torso but missed, receiving a knee to the gut in return for his efforts; Shiore spun midair and kicked Sasuke away into a tree.
'Sasuke!' Yahan yelled as Sasuke was kicked away.
Naruto snarled and charged at Shiore and slashed in his abdomen, pinning him to a tree. Naruto smirked and said, 'I win.'
Shiore smirked and said, 'Not quite.' Shiore closed his mouth and then heaved before looking up and opening his mouth wide, a copy of himself coming out as the head expanded sickeningly.
'HAH!?' Naruto shouted in confusion.
Matsu froze as she watched that.
Shiore stood on the trunk and chuckled.
Matsu turned to Naruto and shouted, 'Naruto! We need to get out of here, now!'
Naruto raised an eyebrow in confusion, but could feel her deep-seated fear at that moment. He narrowed his eyes and then shook his head and said, 'I can't. If he's this dangerous,' he then narrowed his eyes and said, 'he can't be left alive.'
Karasuba tightened her grip on her sword as Naruto spoke. As he turned his face briefly, she was able to get a good look at him. What she saw made her eyes go wide and take an almost imperceptible gasp. 'No…it can't be,' she thought, '…is he…their son?'
Sasuke pulled several kunai into his hand, one on each finger in the ring and one between each finger, and then threw them at Shiore, formed a hand sign, and shouted, 'Shadow Kunai Jutsu!'
The nine kunai multiplied into forty-five and barreled down on Shiore.
Shiore chortled and jumped away, as did Naruto.
The kunai embedded into the trunk with multiple clunks.
Sasuke jumped at Shiore and slashed at him, missing.
Sasuke jumped away and Tsukiumi shouted, 'Water Celebration!'
Shiore flipped backwards to dodge the shots of water that came at him.
Naruto landed next to Sakura and said, 'Sakura!'
Sakura nodded and went through hand signs, as did Naruto.
'Water Style: Water Trumpet!' Sakura shouted.
'Wind Style: Divine Down Current!' Naruto shouted.
As their two jutsus came close the water wrapped around the twister and became a twisting torrent of water.
'Collaboration Ninjutsu: Divine Water Torrent!' they shouted together.
The twister of water slammed into Shiore and pinned him against a tree, but Shiore regurgitated himself again and escaped into the air, right before Musubi came from the side and punched at him.
Shiore smirked as he blocked her punch and then spin-kicked at her.
Musubi ducked and said with a confident smile, 'Compared to Miss Landlady, you're slow.'
Shiore narrowed his eyes suspiciously and kicked upwards, slamming into Musubi's chin and sending her away, but Ororo managed to catch her on a bubble of air.
'Musubi!' Naruto shouted, he then turned to Shiore and said, 'You'll pay for that!' He launched at Shiore with the Executioner's Blade reared back.
Shiore ducked the blow and uppercut Naruto in the chin, sending him tumbling down.
Naruto landed on a tree below and then shouted, 'Uzume, now!'
Shiore was suddenly wrapped in Uzume's veils. He snarled but then widened his exposed left eye when he saw Naruto going through hand signs.
Naruto then inhaled and shouted, 'Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!' He exhaled a stream of fire at the wrapped man, setting him ablaze.
'AAAAHHH! GAAAHHH! GRRAAAGGGHH!' Shiore bellowed as his body was burned with the combination of the flames and the accelerating properties of the veils.
Naruto dropped down and said, 'Sorry about making you lose one of your veils.'
Uzume shook her head with a smile and said, 'I'm just glad he's gone.'
'Kukukuku…' a demented chortle echoed through the area.
Matsu's eyes shot wide and everyone else looked around in surprise.
'Oh come on!' Naruto shouted as he watched the burnt 'corpse' of Shiore melt into mud.
A tree trunk next to Sasuke began to warp.
'Sasuke! Look out!' Matsu shouted.
Sasuke turned and jumped out of the way as a seeming beam of blue light shot from the warped tree trunk, and then descended back in. Shiore then walked out of the tree trunk, a chunk of skin on his right eye burned off.
Sasuke's eyes widened when he saw that there seemed to be another face under Shiore's. The exposed chunk of skin showed a narrow eye, pale white skin, a purple, fang-like marking around the eye, and a single yellow iris with a slitted pupil.
Back at the entrance to the Forest of Death, Anko was reading a book while she ate dango, eating the last one off the stick and tossing it a tree. She smirked and said, 'A perfect Leaf insignia.'
On the trunk of the tree the dango sticks had been tossed to form the shape of the Leaf Symbol. There were close to a hundred sticks; Anko really liked her dango.
As she continued reading an ANBU appeared next to her. 'What's up?' she asked.
'We have a problem. I think you need to see this,' he told her.
Anko narrowed her eyes and closed her book.
She followed the two ANBU to a small graveyard where she was shown three bodies.
She narrowed her eyes in disgust and examined the bodies and then noticed Shiore's body and asked, 'Hey, how long have these bodies been here?'
One of the ANBU looked at her and said, 'About twelve hours.'
Anko raised an eyebrow in curiosity and worry and said, 'That doesn't make sense.'
'Why ma'am?'
'Because, this one right here,' she pointed to Shiore's body, 'was at the entrance to the Forest of Death. That was four hours ago.'
The ANBU raised confused eyebrows and one said, 'So what does this mean?'
Anko sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose and then said, 'I'm not sure. Gimme a minute to examine the bodies and I'll see if I can find anything.'
The ANBU nodded and she knelt down. She narrowed her eyes and then widened her eyes and had a cold sweat when she rolled the body over, freezing when she did.
'What's wrong?' an ANBU asked.
'Their…their faces are gone. And what's more,' she paused and clenched her fists and teeth, and then said, 'I know whose work this is.'
She stood up swiftly and turned to them and said, 'Go alert the Hokage! Tell him we have a level-S intruder in the exams.'
'Yes ma'am!' they said and took off.
Anko bit her thumb and mumbled, 'Dammit. Kid, you'd better be okay or I'll kick your ass.'
Naruto and the others stood in front of Shiore as he had just appeared from a log.
Naruto snarled and said, 'Dammit. This guy just won't die.' He raised an eyebrow and turned around and saw Matsu behind him, shocked at the terror he could feel through his Bond with her. It was actually starting to affect him. He narrowed his eyes and jumped back to her and asked, 'Matsu, what's wrong? Who is this guy?'
Matsu clasped her hands together and swallowed nervously, unable to speak.
'Matsu,' Naruto said a little more forcefully, putting a hand on her shoulder.
She turned to him and could feel the calming emotions from him. She sighed and said with a low glare, 'Naruto. That's not a Grass ninja.'
Naruto raised an eyebrow and asked, 'Who is it?'
'That's…Orochimaru,' Matsu said gravely.
Naruto felt his entire body go cold as he looked at 'Shiore' and thought, 'Orochimaru? Anko told me about him. He was…her sensei. He infected her with a Curse Mark. The Curse Mark of Heaven she called it. He performed twisted experiments on her, and then left her for dead. He's a monster.'
He heard Kurama growl in his mind and say, 'Yeah. I know him. Kushina knew him as well. He had a rather demented interest in her, I still don't know why. But he's a freak to the end. Naruto, fighting him is suicide. You would need to draw on my power completely and practically hand over your body to that thing to beat him.'
'I'm not a thing you piece of shit fox. Besides, if you give me control, I can take this guy out. I'm not as worried about collateral damage as you,' Menma offered.
'Not a chance. I don't want you to have a chance to hurt everyone, not again,' Naruto snarled back.
'Fine, have it your way,' Menma said coldly.
Naruto adjusted his grip on his blade and said, 'If that's true, then even the Nine-Tails says we're in trouble.'
Matsu gulped and said, 'We are. He's not just powerful, he's one of the Sannin, three of the most powerful ninja to ever live.'
Naruto narrowed his eyes in frustration and then sighed and said, 'In that case, running is useless.'
Matsu turned to him in surprise.
He said plainly, 'If he's really that powerful, he'll be equally fast, and he'll chase us, track us and find us without fail. The only way to end this is to either defeat him, or fight him until he gets bored.'
Matsu could feel his conviction and belief in that declaration through the Bond. She, too, was certain that it was true. There was no running from this battle. Victory was the only option, however impossible it seemed.
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes and said, 'I see. You know who I am, now, do you? How interesting. Then I suppose I don't need this anymore.'
He reached up to the torn piece of his fake face and pulled it off like a leather mask. It revealed his face underneath - a long face with pronounced cheek bones, amber-colored eyes with slitted pupils and purple markings resembling snake fangs on his face. He smiled slyly and said, 'Ahh, this feels much better.' He rubbed his face and said, 'Keeping my face hidden under that mask was getting uncomfortable.'
Naruto narrowed his eyes and snarled.
Sasuke tightened his grip on his sword.
Sakura leaped to their side and assumed a defensive fighting stance.
All of the Sekirei with them also assumed various fighting stances, ready to use their powers to assist their Ashikabis.
'Things are about to really get going,' Naruto said.
Orochimaru snickered and then hacked, before reaching his hand down his throat and pulling. He then pulled out a jian with a brown handle wrapped in bandages, a light brown hand guard and a blade which appeared to glow with blue light.
Matsu adjusted her glasses and said, 'Be careful. That's the Kusanagi Blade. It can cut almost anything and has the ability to extend infinitely.'
Naruto smiled weakly and said sarcastically, 'Thanks for raising my hopes.'
Matsu shrugged and said weakly, 'Sorry.'
Naruto redirected his attention and said, 'Don't think we'll just surrender, you freak! We'll fight you until you're dead!'
Orochimaru chortled and said, 'Oh, I was counting on it. It would be far too boring if you merely surrendered or died without a good fight.'
With that last word, the battle resumed.
Tsukiumi attacked first, raising her arms and shouting, 'Water Arrows!' Several arrows formed and then shot at Orochimaru.
He easily jumped and dodged the attack.
Satellizer came up from behind and slashed at him.
He twisted and ducked under the attack and kicked her in the stomach, slamming her into a tree before extending the blade of his sword out to strike her.
A wall of water formed and blocked the strike, allowing Naruto enough time to get behind the wall and grab Satellizer right as the Kusanagi's blade burst through the wall.
Orochimaru retracted the blade and landed on a branch.
Sasuke ran up a branch and charged at Orochimaru, Yahan on the opposite side.
Yahan shot her wire blade at the Sannin, who easily jumped to avoid the strike but got embroiled in a blade-lock with Sasuke.
They pushed away from each other and landed on the branch below.
The two then charged at each other, slicing and slashing in perfectly mirrored form to each other before locking blades.
Orochimaru snickered and said, 'How amusing. You're using a copy of my Kusanagi Blade.' He narrowed his eyes slyly and said, 'I still remember the day I gave that blade to Fugaku. He was quite pleased.'
Sasuke narrowed his eyes and put more force into his strike and pushed Orochimaru away, before charging in and slashing several times, each time the Sannin dodging lazily.
![Naruto team shira Naruto team shira](http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20150126171528/naruto/images/c/c9/Shiore.png)
After a few moments Orochimaru smirked and slashed upwards, knocking Sasuke off balance. Orochimaru attempted to stab at him but Naruto came in from the side and kicked him away.
Orochimaru landed on a tree trunk but immediately jumped as black flames flew at it.
Rias stood several branches away launching blasts of black flame at Orochimaru.
Orochimaru deftly avoided each blast, by either jumping or curling around a tree like a snake before launching out, getting struck by a powerful blast of wind.
He landed and looked up to see Ororo looking down at him angrily.
She condensed water in her hand and formed it into a spear before freezing it and launching a barrage of spears at Orochimaru, Akitsu doing the same from behind.
Orochimaru merely smirked and shed his skin as they struck him. He jumped up to a higher tree branch and jumped almost instantly as Homura came close to hitting him with blasts of fire, launching volley after volley.
Each volley was either dodged or deflected by the Sannin. He landed momentarily and formed several hand signs before inhaling and saying, 'Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!' He exhaled a blast of flame that almost instantly split into multiple smaller blasts.
'Pathetic,' Homura insulted and used his own flames to stop the attack, revealing the shuriken hidden in the fireballs. 'Damn!' Homura shouted as he crossed his arms.
'Water Style: Raging Waves!' Sakura shouted and spat out a stream of water to deflect the shuriken.
Homura landed on a branch nearby and nodded to Sakura with a grateful smile.
Naruto landed on another branch and thought, 'This isn't going to work.' He made a half sign and said, 'Release!' His body then fluctuated for a moment, before he vanished entirely. 'If there's a time to test it,' he thought, pulling out several kunai, 'it's now!' He tossed the kunai and formed another half sign and said, 'Shadow Kunai Jutsu!' The six kunai became thirty.
Orochimaru snickered and was about to insult Naruto before he saw what kind of kunai they were. 'Impossible,' he thought before going through hand signs and saying, 'Wind Style: Air Bullets!' He spat out small blasts of wind to deflect most of the kunai.
One, however, broke through and stuck into the tree.
Orochimaru snarled and jumped back, right as Naruto appeared in a flash and swung his sword wide. Orochimaru brought up his blade and blocked the blade, snarling as he felt the intense strength behind the attack which launched him away.
He landed on a different branch and extended the blade out to Naruto.
Naruto brought up the flat side of his blade and the Kusanagi's blade hit the broadside of the Executioner's Blade and sent Naruto flying off into a tree, grunting as he did.
He snarled as he watched the Kusanagi Blade slowly dig through the Executioner's Blade and thought, 'Dammit! It's cutting through! This is bad.' He strained to push it away as Satellizer came down from above, using the angle of her blade to knock Orochimaru's sword away and down, though it left a long gash in the Executioner's Blade.
Satellizer dropped down to a branch and smiled as Naruto nodded to her before jumping at Orochimaru again. He slashed down and the snake-Sannin dodged to the side. Naruto charged at him and went with a flurry of strikes.
Orochimaru had a harder time dodging Naruto's strikes but eventually jumped back to put distance between the two of them.
He turned with a snarl as Musubi came up from behind with swing after swing in swift succession, Orochimaru barely able to get a chance to kick her away and jump away from the group.
Sasuke jumped at Orochimaru again, except this time his blade was now coated in lightning chakra.
He came up behind Orochimaru, the Sannin widening his eyes in surprise as Sasuke plunged his sword in from his back and straight through the front with a smirk. His smirk turned to a frown when he realized the 'blood' was actually mud and Orochimaru turned into a mass of mud, falling onto Sasuke and sending him crashing to a branch below.
Orochimaru swiftly jumped out of another tree and frowned as Toyotama came from above and attempted to stab him in the back. Orochimaru twisted his body like a snake and wrapped around Toyotama's body, tightening like a python as the two slammed into a branch below. 'You may be a Sekirei, but you still need to breathe,' Orochimaru taunted as he squeezed tighter and tighter, until he heard a snap and Toyotama shrieked in pain.
'Get the hell off of her!' Naruto shouted and jumped off of a branch and reached out a hand and shouted, 'Rasengan!' He reached Orochimaru and slammed the ball of chakra into the man's face, getting him off of Toyotama and sending him crashing into a tree below with a large dust cloud.
Naruto panted and then ran over to Toyotama and said, 'Toyo! Are you alright?'
Toyotama coughed and said with a nod, 'Yes, I'm fine.'
Naruto sighed in relief and then clenched his fists and scowled angrily at Orochimaru.
With the Discipline Squad, Karasuba wrestled to regain control of her focus while trying to watch the fight, 'Get a grip, Karasuba! Now isn't the time to let your guard down or get distracted!'
Benitsubasa sighed and said, 'Damn, those idiots are pretty good.'
Haihane chuckled darkly and said, 'Yeah, I think killing them would be fun.'
'What do you think Karasuba?' Benitsubasa asked. She raised an eyebrow and repeated, 'Karasuba?'
She raised both eyebrows as she saw Karasuba standing, leaning against the tree with her hand over her chest and her cheeks stained lightly.
Benitsubasa raised an eyebrow and said, 'Hold on. You're not reacting are you?'
Having regained control over herself, Karasuba glanced back at Benitsubasa with a smirk and said, 'I'm not certain, but I'm really enjoying this little fight.'
Benitsubasa furrowed her brow in confusion and returned her attention to the battle at hand, Karasuba doing the same.
Naruto stood up and said, 'You'll pay for that. I don't like it when people attack my friends.'
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes and said, 'Oh…you're one of those. How boring. You'll only get angry if I slight your friends in some way? Perhaps I'll need to fix that, won't I?'
Naruto snarled and said, 'Don't count on it.' He then smirked.
Orochimaru turned to the side as Sasuke came charging from the side, slashing at the Sannin.
Orochimaru jumped back and then charged in himself, stabbing at Sasuke.
Sasuke brought up his sword to block it and hold Orochimaru in a deadlock.
Orochimaru snickered and said, 'How amusing. What will you do now?'
Sasuke just smirked.
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow and then heard chirping behind him. He turned and saw Sasuke, the real Sasuke, charging at him with a ball of lightning in his hand.
'Lightning Style: Chidori!' Sasuke shouted as he approached Orochimaru, piercing his jutsu through Orochimaru's chest.
Orochimaru snarled and shed his skin again, jumping away.
'Dammit!' Sasuke snarled and watched as Orochimaru landed several feet away before extending his blade at him at high speeds.
'Shit!' Sasuke shouted as he moved to bring up his sword.
Orochimaru smirked, Sasuke widened his eyes and Naruto narrowed his eyes as blood splashed onto the branch they stood on.
Anko dashed through the forest heading which direction caused her shoulder to burn the most. She hissed and stopped for a moment and put her hand on her left shoulder, a mark resembling three tomoe glowing bright orange as she panted.
She snarled and said, 'You bastard, if you touch my little Goldilocks…I'll kill you.'
After collecting herself she took off from her spot again.
Naruto and Sasuke looked on in surprise as blood splashed onto the branch they and Orochimaru stood on.
Sasuke tensed and then shouted, 'NO!'
Orochimaru's blade hadn't pierced Sasuke, Yahan had intercepted the blade, it sticking out through her chest, her hands holding it still, blood dripping from them.
Orochimaru snarled and said, 'Stupid girl.' He then roughly pulled his sword out of Yahan's torso, more blood splashing down as she stumbled forward.
Sasuke ran forward and caught Yahan in her arms as she fell down. 'Yahan!' he shouted in fear.
Yahan looked at him with a smile and asked, 'Are you alright?'
He shook his head and said, 'You idiot, I'm fine. Why'd you do that?'
Smiling she said, 'Because, I don't want you to get hurt…I just acted. I hope you'll…forgive me.' Yahan's body then went limp.
Sasuke froze entirely, his eyes becoming glazed over. His body pulsed as he tightened his grip on her body. 'No…' he said in despair as tears began to fall from his eyes. 'No,' he said angrily as he began to tremble. 'No!' he shouted as he grit his teeth hard enough to draw blood. 'NO!' he shouted to the sky before focusing his attention on Orochimaru, a hateful glare in his eyes. The tomoe in his eyes began to spin, faster and faster before they merged in the middle, the red of his eyes sinking into the middle before bursting out into a six-pointed star shape in deep crimson. 'Damn you!' Sasuke shouted in rage.
'GAH!' Orochimaru bellowed in pain as his body was engulfed in thick black flames. He pointed his head at another branch and regurgitated himself out, unharmed.
He sighed and said, 'Well, well. So, you've awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan. I'm surprised.'
Sasuke panted heavily, tears still staining his cheeks.
Naruto clenched his fists and then jumped at blurring speeds towards Orochimaru.
Orochimaru turned to the side and jumped as Naruto slammed the Executioner's Blade down with enough force to shatter the branch.
Karasuba's body began to pulse. She could feel the young blond's anger at the Snake Sannin. It confused her that he was so angry over the death of a Sekirei that wasn't his. She would have normally called such a person foolish, but…she recalled that HE would have had such a response, as well.
Naruto glared at Orochimaru hatefully.
Orochimaru chortled and asked, 'Oh my, tell me: why would you give a damn about that boy's Sekirei? Her death doesn't directly concern or affect you in any way.'
Naruto grit his teeth and said fiercely, 'You're right: Yahan wasn't my Sekirei.' He then scowled furiously and shouted, 'But she was my friend! Just like Sasuke is my friend! And I won't stand for this!' He clenched his fists and watched Sasuke hold Yahan's body, crying his eyes out. He clenched his fists until they bled, and then his body pulsed. His form then began to glow dark purple, his hair began to wave before it lengthened and turned from sun kissed blonde, to midnight black and his whisker marks thickened heavily.
Naruto took in a big breath and then exhaled. His expressionless face then twisted into a bloodthirsty smirk and he looked at Orochimaru. He then examined his hands and said, 'So…this is what it's like on the outside.' He flexed his fingers and said, 'It feels…good.'
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes curiosity.
Matsu looked at Naruto worriedly as she felt his usual positive emotions turn black as night and asked, 'N-Naruto?'
He looked at her and said annoyed, 'No. I am not Naruto.' He grinned maliciously and said, 'I am…Menma!'
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes further before grinning and flexing his own fingers. He looked to the side as Sasuke scowled at him and then jumped to join Menma on his spot.
He turned and said, 'I don't care what you call yourself, but Orochimaru's mine.'
Menma grinned darkly and said, 'Be my guest.'
Sasuke scowled and then put up half a hand sign and said, 'Release!' His body swished for a moment before he drew his blade again, and then charged at Orochimaru in a blur.
'This is getting interesting, kukuku,' Orochimaru chortled as he brought up his sword to block Sasuke's flurry of strikes. He jumped back and charged in, swinging at Sasuke.
Sasuke stumbled back just long enough for Orochimaru to vanish, and then come from another angle. He swung his blade to counter Orochimaru's strike and got knocked off balance as Orochimaru came from above.
Sasuke snarled and widened his left eye, yet again setting Orochimaru's on fire with thick black flames.
Orochimaru shed his skin to escape the blaze and Sasuke pursued him, swinging at the Sannin midair.
Orochimaru ducked the attack and grasped Sasuke's neck and tossed him against a tree, extending his arm like the neck of snake around Sasuke's neck, choking him.
Naruto's Sekirei were almost all immobilized, due to the feelings they got.
Menma sat on the branch, watching Sasuke's beating with demented glee.
The feeling filled each of Naruto's Sekirei with disgust - such a dark feeling from someone who was usually so bright.
Karasuba watched as well and clenched her fists in annoyance, her body no longer reacting. Her eyes, however, narrowed in frustration as she watched Menma. The sheer hatred that she would have indulged in normally – that she had indulged in until she caught sight of this battle – was something that she now found…repulsive. It was absolutely disgusting – the feel of it made her skin crawl.
As much as she wanted to ponder the reason for this, she kept her focus on the battle at hand.
Menma chuckled to himself as he wondered aloud, 'How's it feel, Uchiha scum? To get beaten and battered, hm? Once I think you've had enough…I'll intervene…' he trailed off and grinned darkly before saying, '…and kill you myself.'
Sasuke grunted as he ran out of air. Acting quickly, he turned his sword to a reverse grip, surged lightning chakra through the blade and then sliced upwards, severing Orochimaru's arm.
Orochimaru snarled as his arm was severed and jumped back, deciding to shed again. He looked at the panting form of Sasuke amusedly and said, 'Yes…you will make a fine vessel.' He then looked to the side as Menma approached and asked, 'What do you want?'
Menma cracked his knuckles and said, 'Simple. I just woke up, I'd like to test my new body. I'd say kicking your ass would be a good test.'
Orochimaru smirked and said, 'You…you are different. You aren't that same boy, are you?'
Menma frowned and said, 'No, my name is Menma.'
'Menma, hm? Interesting. I have time,' Orochimaru said amusedly, getting his blade into a ready position before saying, 'I'll play with you.'
Menma smirked and then vanished, his form merely blurring from existence.
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow and then suddenly flew off to the side, crashing through multiple trees, coming to a stop when he smashed into a thick one, embedding deep into it. He groaned and said annoyed, 'My, my. You're stronger than I expected.'
Menma then blurred into existence in front of Orochimaru. A confident smirk on his face and his arms crossed. He looked at Orochimaru and said, 'That was easier than I thought.'
Orochimaru chortled and said, 'Kukukuku…don't get comfortable yet.' He pulled himself from the tree and said, 'I'm not that easy to kill.'
Menma flexed his hands, his pupils becoming slitted, and he said, 'Good, I want to have some fun first.'
The two of them then vanished in a blur.
Sakura and the others looked around in confusion, unable to see Menma or Orochimaru, hearing only loud bangs and crashes, the sounds of the two of them fighting at near supersonic speeds.
Eventually they reappeared with their swords crossed, evil smirks on both their faces.
Orochimaru chortled and said, 'You're good. I'm surprised.'
Menma grinned and said, 'Here's more!' He pushed against the Sannin and pushed him away, before jumping in the air and spin-kicking the pale-skinned man away roughly. He smirked and said, 'Yes…I can feel more of it.' His hair then became messier and unkempt, his nails elongated, his canines became longer and his already slitted pupils turned dark red. Red chakra then began flowing off of him and Menma sighed in relief before saying, 'Ahh, I can feel it. The pure power flowing through me. It's so wonderful.'
Orochimaru stood up and noticed the charka coming off of Menma and said with a smirk, 'I see. So that's it.' He turned to the side as Sasuke began charging him again. He smirked and jumped away, towards Menma.
Sasuke huffed and chased after him.
When they landed Orochimaru stood with Sasuke in front of him and Menma behind him.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes and then flowed lightning chakra through his blade and charged at Orochimaru.
The Sannin smirked and jumped over the strike and landed behind the two boys. He then extended his arm in a snake-like manner towards them.
'Chidori: Senbon!'
Orochimaru's arm was then pelted with a hail of senbon made of lightning chakra, going limp in the process.
The clone that fired the attack dispelled and Sasuke said angrily, 'I'm going to kill you here, Orochimaru.'
Orochimaru snickered and said, 'You can't.'
Sasuke narrowed his eyes and then smirked.
Suddenly a third Sasuke burst up from within the branch and shoved his lightning charged sword through Orochimaru's back, pinning him to the branch.
The other clone dispelled.
Sasuke held Orochimaru there, pinning him with lightning chakra and looked at Menma and said, 'Naruto! Use your Rasengan and take him out now!'
Menma narrowed his eyes and then grinned darkly and nodded. He formed a Rasengan in his hands and charged at the two of them.
Orochimaru, who was truly pinned to the branch, widened his eyes in terror as the ball of chakra neared his head, but then got redirected at the last minute.
Menma grinned sadistically and swung his Rasengan up, embedding it into Sasuke's stomach. Rending his clothes and tissue before it burst and sent Sasuke flying and crashing into the tree trunk behind him, Sasuke flopping to the ground weakly.
Sasuke slowly and weakly raised himself up and glared at Menma and asked, 'What…the hell…Naruto?'
Menma snickered and walked over to Sasuke and grabbed the top of his head, a bundle of hair in his hand and lifted Sasuke up crudely and asked with a sadistic grin, 'How's it feel, Uchiha scum? To get betrayed by a friend, and then attacked and beaten? Huh?'
Sasuke winced as he felt pain throughout his entire body and asked, 'What the…hell are you…talking about?'
Menma snarled and pulled back his fist, and then slugged Sasuke in the face and said, 'I'm talking about,' he paused to hit him again, 'the time,' and again, 'your clan members bound me,' and again, 'tortured me,' and again, 'and tried to kill me!' He reared back his fist and said, 'You know, I'm almost glad they're gone. Why don't you join them!?' He then barreled his fist at Sasuke but his fist stopped immediately. Menma raised an eyebrow and looked to the side.
Musubi had shown up and held his hand in a tight grip, a sad frown on her face. She deepened her frown and asked, 'Please. Stop this. There's no need to go this far.'
Menma glared at her and said, 'You know nothing! Now, let go of me!' He released Sasuke, reeled back his left fist, and then swung hard.
Every person present could only look in shock and horror as Musubi was sent flying away before she fell down and landed on a branch below, tumbling roughly before sliding to a stop.
Menma snarled and said, 'Stupid girl.' He walked forward to continue his assault on Sasuke but found he couldn't move. 'What the!?' he looked down and saw his feet encased in ice.
He turned around and saw Akitsu, the normally ice-faced woman, now sporting an expression filled with pain, anger and betrayal. She then narrowed her eyes and said simply, 'You aren't Naruto.'
Menma snarled and then said, 'You think this will hold me?!' He then twisted his feet and shattered the ice and began to run forward at her, however he winced in pain as he stopped, dropped to his knees and grabbed his head in pain. He then began to bellow and cry out in agony.
Akitsu and the others, who had gathered by her, frowned in confusion. The Bonded Sekirei even more so due to their Bond giving them polarizing emotions from Naruto's side.
'GRRAAAGGHH!' Menma howled in pain. 'NO! Stay out!' he demanded.
'No! This is my body! And I will NOT let you hurt my friends!' Naruto shouted in his subconscious before regaining control. His features returning to normal, his nails shortening, his canines shortening, his whisker marks thinning, his eyes returning to normal and his hair shortening and returning to its normal blonde. Naruto stood up weakly and wobbled as he struggled to balance himself.
Sasuke snarled as well and made to stand up.
Orochimaru chortled and said, 'I do apologize, but I have business to attend to. However, I will leave the two of you with my gifts.' He charged forward towards Naruto with his hand splayed out, five purple flames on each finger and slammed it into his stomach and shouted, 'Five Pronged Seal!'
Naruto shouted in pain as he felt his connection to Kurama weaken.
Orochimaru then leaned forward and bit Naruto's neck, his canines extended into fangs.
Naruto howled as Orochimaru jumped past him. The bite marks shrunk and vanished before an assortment of three tomoe in a circle appeared on his skin. Naruto then fell forward.
Orochimaru jumped onto a branch above Sasuke and extended his neck, biting Sasuke as well, eliciting the same reaction.
After he dropped to his knees, the same three-tomoed mark appeared on Sasuke's shoulder before he passed out.
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes maliciously before he melted into the tree.
'Naruto! Sasuke!' Sakura shouted.
Most of Naruto's Sekirei ran to his side and saw him writhing in pain as something seeped through his body.
Homura narrowed his eyes and then jumped down to Musubi, finding her unconscious on a branch. He walked over and pulled the neck of her shirt down in the back slightly. He sighed and said, 'Good. Her Crest is still there.' He picked her up in a bridal carry and then jumped up to the higher branches.
Uzume had both Sasuke and Naruto secured in her veils.
'Homura, what should we do with them?' Sakura asked.
Homura sighed and then looked around and said, 'We should get them,' motioning to Sasuke and Naruto, '…and her,' motioning to Yahan's body, 'and find somewhere safe to set down for a while. We'll need time to recover. And time to figure out exactly what happened to them.'
Sakura nodded and turned to Ororo who nodded and motioned her hand towards Yahan. A gust of wind picked her up and carried over to the group.
Sakura frowned sadly, her lower lip twitching in sorrow. She shook her head vigorously and then said, 'We'll look for somewhere with good cover and low to the ground. Most of the ninja will be higher in the air for tree hopping.'
Everyone nodded and Sakura turned and thought, 'Hold on you guys, we'll get you out of here.'
To the side of their fight, Karasuba sighed and clenched her sword and then said, 'Come, Haihane, Benitsubasa. We will be checking on the other Ashikabi and Sekirei.'
Benitsubasa raised an eyebrow and said, 'Whatever, you sure you're alright?'
Karasuba turned to her with a sickening smile and said, 'I will worry about me, Benitsubasa.'
The pinkette shrunk back from Karasuba's overly sweet words, the group heading out for the rest of the forest.
Elsewhere in the forest, Orochimaru's body slowly formed from a tree trunk, finally peeling the last of his body out he looked around with a sigh.
At the same time, Anko was swiftly sprinting through the forest, running along straight trunks and jumping from branch to branch, looking for her targets.
As she continued running she thought, 'I sense him…'
Orochimaru looked around and then backed up against a tree trunk, his body beginning to melt into it while suspended upside down.
Jumping down from a tall tree she thought, 'Orochimaru…he's close.'
She landed and leapt through the rest of the forest.
As she approached, Orochimaru slowly opened his eyes.
Anko then walked up to where he was suspended within a tree.
When Orochimaru saw her he snickered and said, 'It's been a long time…Anko.'
Anko merely scowled at him and walked forward before saying, 'You're an S-rank criminal. And that is precisely why I'll kill you, even if it means I have to die in the process.'
Orochimaru chuckled and said, 'I'd watch what you say, dear Anko. You don't want that wish coming true.'
'I don't care,' she said coldly, equipping several kunai. 'It's my job, as your former student, to kill you!' she then made to throw the kunai at him.
'No,' Orochimaru said, his mouth bulging before a snake shot out of it and right at Anko.
She jumped up in time to dodge the attack, and the debris and dust cloud it made.
She skidded up a tree nearby, the snake redirecting and heading straight for her.
It lunged forward and wrapped around her arm, pulling her down, but she managed to resist enough to land on the tree below, right back in front of Orochimaru. She scowled and tensed her hands, then thrust at Orochimaru and shouted, 'Striking Shadow Snakes!' Multiple snakes then came out of her sleeves and launched at Orochimaru, pinning him to the wall. 'You won't get away this time!' she shouted before tugging on the snakes and pulling Orochimaru to her and out of the tree.
She whipped him against the tree opposite her and retracted her snakes. She then ran forward, pinned his rightt hand with her left and stabbed a kunai through both. She released the kunai and looked him in the eyes and said, 'Now…I've got you, and you won't get away.' She then grabbed his left hand with her right and said, 'Orochimaru-sensei, I'm going to borrow your left hand.' She then formed a short series of hand signs with his hand and hers.
His eyes widened and he said, 'That sign is…!'
She smirked at him, sweating heavily and said, 'That's right. You and I, we both die right here.'
She clenched her eyes shut and said, 'Ninja Art: Twin Snake Sacrifice-'
'Kukukuku…are you trying to die?'
Anko's blood ran cold as she turned around to see Orochimaru appear out of the tree.
He smirked and said, 'That…is a Substitution.'
She turned back around and the Orochimaru she pinned turned to mud and melted. Her face turned helpless in response.
'You're one of your village's special jonin, I wouldn't suggest using those forbidden jutsu I taught you so flagrantly,' Orochimaru taunted.
Anko snarled and pulled the kunai from her hand and threw it at Orochimaru.
He raised a hand and caught he kunai, saying, 'I told you already. It's pointless.' He then made half a hand sign and surged his own chakra.
Anko tensed and grabbed for her neck as he did that and groaned in pain.
Orochimaru tossed the kunai to the ground and walked over to her.
'Why…are you here?' she demanded weakly.
Orochimaru feigned insult and said, 'We haven't seen each other in so long, Anko. And yet you treat me so coldly. I'm hurt.'
She panted heavily and asked, 'Are you here for the Hokage?'
Orochimaru shook his head chuckling and said, 'No, no. My forces are still too weak for that. In that mindset I was planning on 'reserving' a few of the outstanding members of the village.'
Anko glared weakly at him before dropping to her knees, her body throbbing with pain.
'In fact,' Orochimaru began, 'I just gave two exceptional young genin that same mark only a short while ago.' He then knelt down and said, 'You see, there're a few boys in this village I'm interested in.'
Anko glared at him and then widened her eyes and snarled, 'You bastard. You do as you want like usual, but those boys…they'll die!'
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes and said, 'I see, there is one you care for, is there not?'
'Go to hell,' Anko retorted.
'Is it the Uchiha?' he asked, getting only the usual snarls out of her. He then narrowed his eyes and said, 'Or perhaps…the blond one.'
Anko grit her teeth and clenched her fists.
Orochimaru stood up and said, 'Perfect! It seems you may be of use to me yet, dear Anko.'
Anko forced herself up and said, 'I…will never…help you.'
Orochimaru chortled and said, 'Oh, but you will. You do remember what one of the most important ingredients for activating the Mark is, do you not?' His smirk widened as he said, 'Hatred, and pain.'
Anko then froze as she felt a searing pain in her chest.
'And you, my dear,' Orochimaru began from behind her as his mud clone yet again melted, 'will provide the perfect source.'
Anko looked down to see Orochimaru's Kusanagi Blade pierced through her heart.
He removed the sword and she stumbled forward, turning as she did and said with widened eyes, 'You…bastard…' She then began to lose consciousness as she stumbled back, and fell from the treetops to the ground below.
Orochimaru snickered darkly and said, 'You always were my favorite, Anko.' He then vanished in a flash of purple flames.
And there's that chapter. I hope you guys enjoyed it, or most of it. I'd like to hear your reactions to all of it, and yes the ending is permanent. This was a rather dark chapter wasn't it?
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