Forest of Death
Erza's eyes locked onto Orochimaru, her gaze narrowing as she tracked his every movement. Her surroundings blurred into nothingness, the trees, the ground—everything beyond Orochimaru faded. It was as if she and he were the only beings left in the world. Every move she made, every breath, was guided purely by instinct.
Orochimaru, for his part, couldn't help but be intrigued. Very few ever managed to keep up with him for this long, let alone a young genin. The girl's movements, her calculated precision, and the way she adapted reminded him of someone else—a memory that lingered in the depths of his mind like a persistent shadow.
Itachi Uchiha.
The name sent a chill of frustration through him, his teeth grinding involuntarily. Orochimaru's expression twisted for a fleeting moment—a flash of anger that he quickly suppressed. Itachi, that child prodigy who had once humiliated him, forcing him to abandon his ambitions and retreat like a wounded animal. The humiliation still burned fresh in his mind.
But that was irrelevant now. He had already marked Sasuke, the very person who would surpass even Itachi. It didn't matter how strong this girl was; she would not alter his plans.
"You're a legendary ninja of the Sannin, so what the hell are you so distracted about?" Erza's voice cut through the air, snapping Orochimaru from his thoughts.
Before he could respond, she appeared behind him, faster than he'd anticipated.
"Ice Release—Icicle Spear!"
The ground erupted with shards of ice, a spear-like formation shooting up from beneath him. The pointed ice struck Orochimaru squarely in the abdomen, the impact forcing him to stumble forward, directly into Erza's waiting path.
She seized the opportunity, spinning on her heel and delivering a powerful kick that sent him rocketing upwards. As Orochimaru hurtled through the air, Erza flickered out of sight and reappeared above him, her fist wrapped in a thick casing of ice.
"Take this!" she roared, slamming her fist down onto his chest.
Orochimaru's body crumpled under the force, a gush of blood spurting from his mouth as he crashed into the ground. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the forest floor, the trees shuddering from the sheer force of the blow.
Erza landed lightly a few feet away, breathing heavily. She could feel it—the strain on her chakra, the weight of the Seigan's activation pressing down on her like a vice. If she were anyone else, the backlash alone would have knocked her out cold. But she wasn't just anyone. She would not falter here.
Yet, despite her efforts, her vision began to blur. The world around her sharpened, then dulled, then sharpened again as the strain of maintaining her focus took its toll. The icy flames around her blade flickered and dimmed as her chakra reserves waned.
She watched, eyes wide with disbelief, as Orochimaru's body slowly began to stir.
"You're good," Orochimaru murmured, his voice raspy. He pushed himself to his feet, his movements languid, almost casual. "I'll give you that. But…" His grin widened, eyes gleaming with sadistic amusement. "It's still not enough. Not nearly enough to kill me."
Erza's heart sank. Her strongest attacks hadn't even left a lasting mark. And now, she had nothing left.
With a quick series of hand signs, Orochimaru summoned a new swarm of serpents from his sleeve. The massive snake they had struggled against earlier dissolved into smoke, replaced by a swarm of smaller, more agile serpents that slithered menacingly towards her.
"Stay back!" Erza shouted, raising her blade. But when she tried to move, she found her legs pinned in place.
She glanced down and saw, to her horror, that a snake had coiled around her ankles, its cold scales binding her with unyielding strength.
"When—?" Her eyes darted around frantically, searching for an opening, a weakness—anything that could give her an advantage.
"Are you looking for this?" Orochimaru's voice was mocking as he dangled her blade casually between his fingers.
Erza's gaze narrowed, anger flaring within her. Without her sword and with her chakra almost completely depleted, there was no way she could fight him off. The three behind her—Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura—were all unconscious, unable to defend themselves. She was their last line of defense.
"It's over," Orochimaru declared, his smile widening. "Now, be a good girl and—"
The serpents lunged, fangs gleaming in the dim light. Erza braced herself, raising her arms to block, but there was nothing—no impact, no pain. Instead, the air shifted, and a figure in a dark cloak appeared between her and Orochimaru.
"Itachi Uchiha!" Orochimaru snarled, his face contorting with a mix of rage and shock. "Why are you here?!"
Itachi stood calmly, his expression unreadable. His crimson Sharingan eyes glowed faintly in the darkness, tracking every movement Orochimaru made.
"My little brother," Itachi said quietly, his voice even. "And my pupil. Those are my reasons."
Orochimaru's eyes flickered with realization. "Your… pupil?" He glanced briefly at Erza, his eyes narrowing. "So, that's why. I knew she reminded me of you."
Itachi didn't respond. In a flash of movement, two shurikens materialized in his hand, spinning through the air toward Orochimaru. The second shuriken, however, curved suddenly in mid-flight, aimed directly at Erza.
What—?!
But before it could reach her, a sharp crack echoed through the clearing, and Erza blinked. Itachi was there, standing in front of her, the shuriken caught deftly between his fingers.
"Are you hurt?" Itachi asked, his voice soft.
Erza shook her head slowly, her gaze still locked on Orochimaru. "I'll be fine," she replied. Then, glancing at Sasuke's crumpled form on the ground, she added, "You might want to check on him. He—he was bitten. There's a mark on his neck."
Itachi's expression didn't change, but his eyes darkened slightly. "I see. I'll take care of it. But you should go. The Anbu are close. They'll handle the rest."
"But—"
"Take your sword," he interrupted, tossing her the blade. "Go."
The Preliminaries Begin
An hour later, the preliminaries for the Chunin Exam were in full swing. The tension in the air was palpable, the weight of the recent battle still hanging over them all. Security had been doubled, proctors stationed at every possible entry point.
Erza stood on the platform, her expression calm but her mind racing. Her fight with Orochimaru still replayed in her mind—a stark reminder of her limitations. But she wouldn't let that deter her.
"Get ready," Anko announced, her voice echoing through the room. "The preliminaries will be one-on-one matches. You'll fight until one of you can't stand, or until you surrender. If you wish to drop out now, speak up."
Several candidates shifted nervously, some stepping forward to withdraw. But Erza's eyes were elsewhere, scanning the faces around her until they landed on a familiar figure in glasses.
Kabuto.
Her gaze hardened. Something about him was off. If Orochimaru was still lurking, then Kabuto might be one of his pawns.
"Good," she murmured softly. "Let's see who's really hiding in the shadows."
The matchups would start soon. And when they did, she would make her move.