Chapter 21
"All right, you so-called Genins. Here's what gonna happen, I will give you this form to fill up. This is to make sure if you die in the second exam we will have no responsibility." Anko's grin got even bigger and more sadistic as she looked over all those who now looked hesitant." Some of you are definitely not coming back alive that's for sure. You have five minutes to make up your mind. After filling it up I will talk about the next exam."
"Hmm, she is enjoying it too much... Definitely a sadist. What do you think about it, Sasuke? Do you think it's hot?" Naruto was also having fun pulling Sasuke's leg as Sakura looked at Sasuke, curious about his answer.
"Don't create problems when there is no need for any. And Sakura I am not interested in that kind of thing." Sasuke said taking the lead. Sasuke found it awkward to talk about.
"Naruto, keep the teasing for some other time we have to take it seriously. The exam is as important as it is dangerous... Besides it's not like we haven't noticed you giving attention to that red-haired girl with glasses, if you don't want Hinata to know that stay on the topic for now. " Sakura was more than a little worried after seeing how the proctor was sure that some of them would die.
"I know, I know. It's just I am trying to lighten the mood a little. You don't have to worry too much about the exam I am prepared for this just follow me." Naruto's mind was elsewhere as one of his shadow clones just gave him the information that one of the grass village shinobi team just met their end at the hand of the snake Sanin. Who was also targeting them...
'Mission Monkey's stick is now official. Let's see what kind of butterfly effect it will create. Orochimaru don't be a bigger disappointment than what you already are.'
Sometimes later most of the genin teams went back with filled-up forms. Only a few teams decided that they would not take the second exam.
Naruto passively sensed the people and couldn't help but be surprised at the fact that Orochimaru's chakra was suppressed to the point he was not able to see through him. With his passive sense, he could only sense him as just another genin. As for going all out sensing Orochimaru, he decided against it.
"So, you all decided to take the next exam. Make a line. We will give one half of you the earth scroll and the other half the heaven scroll. A team will pass the second exam by reaching the tower in the middle of the forest of death, under five days that is. And they will have to have one earth and heaven scroll with them. Killing is allowed." Anko's grin turned sadistic as she let the pressure increase.
"Just try to not die."
-Hiruzen Sarutobi-
Sitting on his office chair he couldn't help but think about his situation. His table only had a few papers on it, the detailed information on the genins that were taking the second part of the chunin exam.
'But why am I having the feeling something is not right... Or something is going to happen, something big.' Looking at the bustling village below and people busy with their daily lives he couldn't help but fall into thinking.
After all, he was the leader of the village and his decisions would impact the lives of people who were under him.
The reasons for his worries were many. For starters the abnormal behaviour of his friend Danzo, who now decided to go back to his home and act like he was listening to the Hokage's order from the beginning.
'Like anyone believes that. He is up to something and doesn't want the blame to fall on his head. Or stop people from pointing fingers at him.'
Taking out his trusty old smoking pipe, a small use of his Chakra to light it, he put it in his mouth. As the room started to get filled with smoke he felt the worries lessen a bit.
'The village is already on a tight guard, but the lower number of people for the right job is more than clear. I even have lowered the number from the borders but it's not enough.'
His worries were not just about his old friend their so-called ally Suna Village was also a cause for concern.
He blinked, a little surprised. Putting the pipe down on his table, he stood up, walked toward the windows of his office and opened it.
"Come in. I don't have the time to play with you Jiraya." Just as he said soon the figure of Jiraya appeared inside the office. But one thing Hiruzen noticed very clearly, there was no jovial smile on Jiraya's face that he was so accustomed to.
'It seems my student is also not having a Good time.'
"What are you doing here? It's already quite surprising for you to meet me, but to think you are here to meet me without Anbu telling me about your antics. So, you did not go to the hot spring?" He sat on his chair his eyebrows frowned a little. Those were more him confirming than questions. And true to his gut feeling it was really not a piece of good news.
"Old man, I am really not in the mood for making any jokes. I want to ask you what happened to the agreement we made about protecting the Hot Spring village?" Jiraya's question made it clear it was about the hot spring village, though he wondered what bad thing could happen to that village in such a short amount of time.
And the reason was simple. Even the borders of Leaf were far less safe than before, they needed more manpower to handle things for the chunin exam. And hot spring village was not even that important for the village, and it always had few Leaf ninjas to protect it, no matter what the agreement was.
The reason was also pretty simple, value. The only time the value of Hot Spring Village increases is war.
"Jiraya you don't know. The village is under great pressure, a lot of important people are coming here, and their protection is very important. The manpower is already getting pretty stretched thin, I even had to call people back from the border to try and make it up. I don't know what happened but believe me, my hands are tied maintaining the village..." he took off his hat and put it on the table, after a moment he looked Jiraya directly in his eyes.
"What happened?" In the office room, the words felt heavy somehow.
"I first thought of going to the Land of Rice paddies, the new sound village is suspicious. But decided to send my summons to do the job and have a chat with Tsunade." Jiraya walked to the window and sat on it.
"From time to time Tsunade goes to Hot Spring Village, thought even if I don't find her it will give me some chance to relax... Oh, how wrong I was..."
"When I reached there I found the entire village in chaos, people trying to run for their lives. The village was under attack by a cult, that I later found out called the cult of Jashin. They were like madmen not caring about anything, even critical injuries were not enough to stop them. The only way to kill them is to cut off their head."
Hiruzen's eyes gave away how shocked he was. Hiruzen only knew little about that cult. As far as he knew that cult would appear from time to time and disappear.
"I don't know if I should say it as fate or what I was able to take down most of the cultists and stop the chaos... But the damn cultists wanted to sacrifice the villages and the ninjas of the village. So, most of them were too injured to be saved. If only Tsunade was there at that time! I did what I could do to help... Still, hundreds have died. " Taking a deep breath."They have decided to officially declare and stop being a shinobi village. Because of my help, they were grateful but they decided to no longer be an ally of Leaf and become a neutral country."
"It's not like they even have enough shinobi to continue as a shinobi village."
Hiruzen closed his eyes thinking about it all. It was such a tragedy! But he had to think as the Hokage, he could already see ways to make Hot Spring Village change its stance, but it would have to wait. He already had too much on his plate. One step at a time.
"It is truly unfortunate, that something like that happened." Hiruzen chose his words carefully knowing full well Jiraya was just asking for confirmation. "You did what you could've done at that time. No one is blaming you for it. I will send a team to track down the remaining cultists and take care of them."
Just then his head whipped toward the windows. Outside of the office on a small rooftop, a scroll lay there... Which was not there a minute ago...
-Naruto Uzumaki-
I am a little surprised to see Jiraya of all people, then again it is not that big of a change. And it will only help me have another card. I think I left Jiraya with quite a good impression at that time.
The only problem is that Jiraya will never go all-out against Orochimaru, he is quite foolish in that regard. However, that doesn't mean I think of him as a fool. Looking down on Jiraya is not something I can afford, if things go as they are going he is going to become my biggest backer.
That aside as we are running through the forest for a while. My shadow clones are helping us clear much faster. And my teammates know to trust me.
"Sasuke, we may need to use plan Z. Just make sure to be ready." Don't want to see trouble after making all that preparations. "We will be meeting a Sand team up ahead, they have a heaven scroll. After that, we will try to go to the tower."
I can see how serious he is now that even I am not sure about enemies' capability and already telling them to get ready for escape.
"How is there someone so strong? Why didn't you say anything back at the first exam?" Valid question.
"There was no one like that in the first exam. It is not that hard to guess that a person is not a genin. I don't know what that shinobi's purpose is but safe to say nothing good."
"Sakura will be your responsibility if plan Z starts... On that note Sakura you have to make sure not to make mistakes, otherwise all of us will be in trouble." Orochimaru is truly something else, just after entering the forest the snakes are helping him. I can think of another way for him to find us and that is by trying to sense my Chakra, after all even if I try to hide it most of the time, I have a massive amount of Chakra.
"I am worried about it. What are the Procters doing? Aren't there strong ninjas keeping an eye on the forest?" Sakura I really want to tell you that only the Hokage or a Sanin can stop that Snake.
"Don't know but it's probably because of how carefree the examiners are. We should stop talking we are almost there."
I move fast leaving the two behind. In just a few moments I find three sand ninjas, none of them seems to know my presence. A glance at their face and they are just some fodders that were not even able to pass in the canon timeline.
Three male sand ninjas. Two of them covered most of their faces using bandages and the last one with an eyepatch covering his left eye. I only care to remember that much.
Without any sound two shadow clones appear next to me, with Shunshin I reach so fast to my target that he doesn't even notice me. The eyepatch is busy talking to his teammates.
Everything is like slow motion in front of my eyes as a palm thrust hit his rib breaking a few bones and cracking some more. The gasp of pain and shock at the sudden attack clearly visible on his face, and so was his confusion.
Bamb Bamb Bamb
"Ahhh!" "What the!" "Bitch! "
In that instant, my shadow clone gives the same treatment to his teammates. As the force of the attack makes them lift and fly away I easily take out the heaven scroll.
After all none of them are aware of me. But their reactions are quite funny at the same time.
An easy one-sided fight that ends just like that... More like an ambush as they were able to do nothing to hinder me. As for not killing them. That will have to be for a different time.
"You bastard! You ambushed us! Fight like a-." I have to give a thumbs up to the sand team leader, who at least has the brain to realize their situation and not run his mouth without thinking. The smack to his teammate to stop his trash talk shows that.
Sasuke and Sakura arrive just to see it all, sand genins are alive but no longer capable of participating in the exam.
"I am showing you mercy. It hasn't been long since the exam started just go back if you don't want to become easy pray for other ninjas who may or may not be as mercyful as me... Or just become food for the animals." Using my shadow clones is my way of being a little cautious. A substitution to get out of any trap.
I only get a reply with silence as they look at me wearily. Ungrateful much.
" You are already done... Leave some for me." Sasuke says that but he doesn't mind it. I know his mind is elsewhere.
"They are weak. Just wait for your rematch against Neji. Or you can get your ass handed to you by Lee. Hmm, maybe Tenten can give you a good challenge... Or not I don't know how she will do against you." To that what can I say Sasuke is quite strong and has more options.
"This forest is really giving me bad vibes. As Naruto said we should just go to the tower." Sakura's nervous face makes me stop for a moment. Closing my eyes I start to sense my surroundings. Opening my eyes I looked at my teammates seriously a serious look on my face.
"We are starting plan Z."
-Orochimaru-
He leisurely walked through the forest, for someone of his calibre it was nothing more than a walk in the park. There was also no need for him to hurry he could go anytime and play with his pray. All the things were going as he had planned.
Now he would just have to give the young foolish Uchiha the motivation that he would need to come to him for more power. Just like his information told him the young Uchiha was nothing else but had the greed for power.
"But to think the village has weakened to such a degree... Truly Sarutobi Sensei can't even keep his servents under control." His smile told the story, he was enjoying manipulating things from behind. As for looking down on his sensei, it was because of Danzo. Danzo Shimura was the main reason for him to have such an easy time.
"But it's such a pity that the Uchiha clan is now history. With the entire clan alive I could have gotten so many experimental subjects... Now I just have to do with young Sasuke."
His summons were keeping track of his prey, team 7. Just like Jiraya, he could summon small snakes as well. And because of keeping an eye on them, he got the information as fast as possible. Orochimaru paused his walking as his smile vanished from his face with a frown.
"That's not very nice of you young Kyubi host... You just gained my ire. When I find the real you, I will make sure to break every bone in your body." Orochimaru's frosty voice was heard before he vanished from his place. In a split moment he was there and the next moment it was nothing more than an afterimage.
About a minute or so later he found Team 7 running through the forest. But Orochimaru did not look happy, with a flick of his wrist three kunai flew towards the fleeing Team on genins. Each kunai was fast enough to slightly injure them with a small cut.
Poof Poof Poof
And just like Orochimaru expected all of them turned into smoke showing that they were just shadow clones transformed as Team 7.
"I have underestimated your sensing capability... Or you somehow found out the danger I possess... Or it is just a plan for the chunin exam? Whatever it may be you have turned my easy job much harder. And for that, you will have to pay." A dark look was on his face.
After all, if he wanted to continue on the hunt to find the real Team 7 he would have to go through at least a thousand teams of shadow clones. He had half a mind to give up for the time being and take action later.
Just then he looked to his right. The next moment strong wind slammed into him. It was not even strong enough to make him fly away. He didn't even try to dodge it because he wanted to see who his attacker was.
"It would've been more than enough to send any no-name genins flying." His tongue came out licking his lips. He was a little interested, but at the same time, he wanted to go and beat up a few shadow clones to vent his displeasure.
"Whoever-". Orochimaru was cut off as massive winds slammed into him, surprising him with the power behind it. Not even mentioning the fact the winds came from four directions and collided where he was standing. He instinctively wanted to move out of that place.
But all that left his mind as massive fireballs came from another four directions, mixing with the winds, spreading very fast and moving towards him. It all happened very fast, so fast that Orochimaru was sure it was not only an ambush but there was a strong team of Jonins attacking him. Otherwise, he couldn't see anyone being able to use that much Chakra just for an ambush. On a genin at that... Or maybe they had found out about him?
'Doesn't matter. I will just put them in their place.' His chakra moved as he tried to move under the ground, it was the best way for him to not suffer the attack coming for him.
When he was almost underground his snake eyes widened, but this time with shock. Without any time to think having found himself in far bigger danger than he had initially thought.
The entire place he was standing as well as the underground was filled with hundreds of paper bombs.
The next moment it was all at once as the firestorm hit him and all the paper bombs exploded.
*BOOOOOOM*
Instead of it being a continuous explosion it felt more like one massive explosion. Almost a hundred meters from the centre turned into a crater. Inside the crater lies an almost burned corpse.
A hand came out of the corpse. The next moment Orochimaru heard.
"Combination jutsu Firy inferno." It was like the voice coming from everywhere. He knew it would be too late. This time with all he had he moved to underground as fast as he could. Not caring about the sound of explosions and the melting ground that was still hurting him.
"Huff huff huff." More than a kilometer away from that place Orochimaru came out. This time he was almost at the edge of the forest next to the gates. His condition didn't look good. And without a second thought, he again used his jutsu to shed the body.
The new uninjured Orochimaru looked pissed, his killing intent filling the whole surrounding. In that entire ambush, he had been on the defensive and couldn't do anything other than try to survive. Not to mention the fact that how the attacker tricked him from the very beginning and even after seeing his fake corpse they did not stop.
"Do they want to turn me into ash before being satisfied... " Orochimaru's mind was moving very fast trying to piece things together.
"That is not a bad idea either." Orochimaru felt his body shake as he jumped back looking at the new arrival. The voice of the person he could never forget.
In front of him stood none other than his former sensei Sarutobi Hiruzen.
-Third person POV-
The entire surrounding fell silent. Even the animals around knew better. Orochimaru looked at his former teacher Hiruzen with shock-filled eyes. It was not in his plan all that not even mentioning the fact that his snake skin substitution jutsu also costs him a lot of Chakra. He was in no way in good shape to fight his former teacher.
As for reanimation jutsu. It was his trump card, and he would not use it till the right time to make the best use of it.
On the other hand, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked like he was ready for war. He was in his battle dress. The only thing missing would be the lack of his monkey summon.
Orochimaru didn't know but Hiruzen was also shocked to see Orochimaru. His face was serious and he was ready for a battle to the death.
"Orochimaru what is the reason you are here? As a traitor of the leaf, you should be hiding in holes. Or running like a coward was not enough. This time I will show no mercy and the same mistake will not happen again." There were a lot of things in the Third Hokage's mind but he had to find out the reason for his traitor of a student's presence. And he knew hurting Orochimaru's ego was the easiest way.
To that Orochimaru's shocked expression turned to anger. His mouth turned up showing a sadistic smile. "Sarutobi sensei, you talk too much. But it is to be expected. So, who were the people to ambush me? Or I will have to get that out of your mouth after I pierce your heart with my Kusanagi sword."
Sarutobi was a little confused hearing that but didn't show that on his face. The reason he found Orochimaru so easily was the uncontrollable killing intent. After all, Hiruzen was a natural sensor, unlike Orochimaru.
'We can investigate that later.' Hiruzen thought as his ANBU squad surrounded the place.
Orochimaru was watching Hiruzen's face trying to get more information. The next moment he had to jump away from his place, as a massive Rasengan smashed there making a big crater.
BOOOOM
"Orochimaru, I hope you will forget about running away. This time we will talk while you are bound head to toe with seals." The figure of Jiraya appeared as the dust cloud settled.
"Kukukuku... Jiraya and Sensei... I gave you two too much credit, you two are still hopeless." Orochimaru laughed with his creepy smile. He had two reasons for that, one was to get more time to recover. The other was so he could see why Jiraya was still holding back.
The comment about catching was a clear indication, that Jiraya wanted to catch him alive.
"And here I thought you two have made up your mind." Orochimaru grinned and his hands moved as fast as lightning he bit his thumb, and in a flash, he went through the hand seals.
"Summoning Jutsu."
"Summoning Jutsu."
"Summoning Jutsu."
Just as Orochimaru used his summoning jutsu both Hiruzen and Jiraya did the same.
PUFF
PUFF
PUFF
After two massive clouds of smoke, Gamabunta and Manda appeared. Compared to them Enma didn't look that special. But Enma turned into Bo staff to help Hiruzen.
" Is this a student-teacher reunion or something... Just make sure to not make the same mistake as before." Enma said to Hiruzen as he was also ready.
"No, my old friend, we can no longer show any mercy, we are too old for that." Hiruzen swiftly moved with his staff and vanished from his place.
"JIRAYA, YOU HAVE THE GALL TO SUMMON ME AFTER ALL THAT." Gamabunta's booming voice could heard throughout the entire forest. Gamabanta complained but his attention was on Manda.
"Bunta, I know it's my fault, but we have to take care of this before anything," Jiraya said on top of Bunta thinking about summoning Shima and Fukasaku. He was not sure he could stop Orochimaru from running away even with the help of his sensei.
"OROCHIMARU, I HAVE NO INTEREST IN GETTING BEATEN JUST TO SAVE YOU." Manda's angry voice showed his displease. Manda was sure he could take on Gamabunta, but Third Hokage and Enma were big no-no for him.
"You just have to get me some time and I will give you double the sacrifice," Orochimaru said grinning. 'It will not take long, Kabuto don't think about betraying me.'
On the other side of the forest.
Kabuto and his teammates couldn't help but feel nervous. At first, it started with massive explosions. Huge fire jutsu were being thrown out like nothing and massive explosions.
At the very least it ended after some time, much to their relief. But all that ended with the booming voice of Gamabunta.
"There's no question about it, master Orochimaru is fighting lord Jiraya. Both Manda and Gamabunta are also present... It will be very dangerous to get any closer to them." Kabuto muttered to himself thinking about what he should do. On the one hand, he could go and help Orochimaru, but that would result in him losing his cover before the right time. Or he could wait.
"What should we do?"
"Should we go and try to help lord Orochimaru-sama?"
Kabuto had to keep himself from punching his two teammates. Even he felt it would be hard to meddle in a battle of that calibre and here two weaklings were thinking about joining it.
"No, we will not. We will only be a burden to him if we go there. We should do the job we were given." Kabuto said that but he had already made up his mind to go there after fooling his teammates.
Just then Kabuto paused, he glanced as he saw a small white snake coming toward him. Not caring about his teammate's reaction he lowered himself and let the snake climb up his hand.
"Hiss his hiss hiss." While the other two did not understand what the snake was saying Kabuto's face turned serious. He just got a new assignment to do.
"You two make an earth clone and disguise it as me to clear the exam as fast as possible. I have something to do." Fixing his glasses Kabuto said in a cold voice.
"Did Orochi-" Kabuto had to jump away from there as his two teammates turned into Swiss cheese, and dozens of kunai went through them. It happened so fast that they didn't even realize it. Only after seeing Kabuto jumping away that they notice it.
As a lot of blood started to flow out of their body they could only look at it in a daze. Before dying they didn't even realise what happened to them.
Kabuto did not care about hiding as he started to run as fast as he could, his back full of sweat. If he was a little late his fate would have been the same as his teammates. He could no longer stay hidden.
'Who was that? Why do they want to kill us? Are they even genins?' Kabuto had a lot of questions in his head. After all like Orochimaru others could also join the exam.
'But why target us like that? Do they know our hidden identity? Or it is simply the way they operate?' Just then Kabuto had to jump away and dodge a kunai. It was so fast that he was able to barely evade it.
'What!' Kabuto exclaimed in his mind as he noticed how even after clearly evading the kunai there was a clear cut on his dress. Gritting his teeth he looked around fully expecting another attack.
"Why are you attacking like that? If you want the scroll you can have it, why kill my teammates?" Kabuto was looking around to see the attacker. His mind ran a mile just to think who could be the enemy.
"It's just your team's bad luck." Kabuto put his full attention to the person who came out. He couldn't tell who the person was as the new person wore a dark cloth hiding his face. And even seeing the body Kabuto couldn't tell who the person was.
"You can have the scroll. Let me go." Kabuto tried one last ditch effort. And before getting any reply he moved fast reaching his attacker. Kabuto's smile turned sadistic as he felt his hand touch his attacker.
'You are done for.' His Chakra scalpel touched the person's neck and he knew what would happen next.
But before he could react the person suddenly moved closer to him. Kabuto could only open his eyes in shock as a thought went through his mind.
BOOOM!
Kabuto went back flying as most of his clothes were burned by the explosion, he was also badly injured. But his body started to glow as the injuries started to fade very fast. The burns on his body were healing so fast that in just a few moments he would be back to his normal self.
'He is here to kill me!'
Kabuto quickly tried to sit up, but before he could stand up and run two hands came out of the ground and caught his two legs in an iron grip. Kabuto's body exploded with Chakra trying to escape, he tried to enhance himself. Just then two kunai flash past him.
Thud
Thud
Kabuto could only look at his two arms where his hands were before. His mind was
filled with the fear of death as he looked at how his blood gnashing out. Deep down he knew he was going to die. It was it for him.
And that's why when he lifted his head and saw a burning fire coming toward him he didn't even try to move. Besides his two legs were halfway buried and caught in a strong grip.
' Is this it...'
That was the last thought before the fire engulfed Kabuto.
***
Authors note: I am back. Decided to increase the word count to 5000 or so. I mean I am thinking about updating weekly and this should be the minimum amount.
You can read up to 5 advanced chapters and support me at p@treon.com/NahinS77