Chapter Six

A/N Chunin exams part 2 and Forest of death

"Let's get this paper started!" Ibiki slams his palms unto the examiner table grinning viciously at the fresh batch of exam candidates. The genin hurriedly scrambled into their seats trying to avoid displeasing the proctor. Ibiki chuckles, pulling out a numbered tab and presenting it to the crowd.

"One by one, you will come up and take a number that will determine your seating."

"We won't be sitting together?" Sakura mutters disheartened by the distance. Naruto gives her a reassuring smile.

"It's not going to be for long." he said looking towards Sasuke who's decided to stand away from them. Naruto frowns.

'What's his problem?' he thinks. Naruto feels Suzumebachi shrug in his mind.

"At this point who knows." Naruto pays it no mind, going up to collect his number. 53. He tosses his team mates another smile before going to sit at his designated spot.

"Naruto-kun." He hears after a moment, sitting beside him is Hinata, who smiles softly at him, he could tell she was nervous neither of them had expected a written test and while both Naruto and Hinata could hold their own it was certainly unforeseen. Naruto looks down at the back of the paper just as he's about to turn it around Ibiki speaks.

"Do not turn your paper over, before we proceed I'll need to establish some rules." He said picking up a piece of chalk to begin writing on the board. The genin watch him silently as he writes.

" Number 1. This exam uses a subtraction system, you all start with ten points with each question being worth one point. If you get all questions right you keep your ten points." Ibiki explains. "However failing a question reduces your mark by one."

"Number 2. This is a team exam, passing and failing is determined by the combined scores of your team."

Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke collectively gulp, but between the three of them they were sure they could manage.

"Number 3. Any one caught cheating will have two points subtracted for every offense."

"And finally those who lose all ten points will be failed along with their teammates." Ibiki said enjoying the stricken looks of the genin, many of them were beginning to panic and it wouldn't be long before Ibiki and the other invigilators began catching cheaters.

"The test will last one hour, begin!"

The sound of multiple papers turning at once fills the exam hall, Naruto and Hinata read through the paper skimming quickly to see what they could answer. They weren't going to be able to answer all of it.

Question No 10: The question will be revealed 45 mins after the test begins, listen to the examiner closely before attempting.

"Well that's certainly suspicious." Kurama said as he read through Naruto's eyes.

'What do you think it's going to be?' Naruto asked quickly going through some of the simpler questions. A few of them were practical but that tenth question, Ibiki must have had something up his sleeve.

Naruto looks around him, some of the genin were already making moves and some of the invigilators were already taking names.

'Why would a ninja exam put such difficult questions to genin?' Suzumebachi asked.

"They want us to cheat." Naruto mouths to Hinata, the girl nods and silently activates her Byakugan looking all around, she nods discreetly to Naruto.

All around them, creative cheating methods were being employed, everything from mirrors on the ceiling to the copying of writing motions. Some Oto ninja even used the very rhythm strokes of the pencils to decipher the answers. Truly a ninja exam.

Everyone stops suddenly as a kunai lodges itself into the test papers of one of the participants.

"Messed up five times in a row, you failed." one of the invigilators said, the boy pales and from somewhere in the back his teammates curse as they walk out of the hall. Tension sky rockets amongst the genin as they become more desperate.

30 minutes in a a few teams had already left, Naruto was getting used to it, he watches them walkout, heads bowed in shame.

"Better luck next time." Suzumebachi said. "Only 15 more minutes to the final question." she said. Naruto looks around spotting a few of his fellow rookies and Sakura behaving weirdly.

'Ino must have possessed her.' He thinks with a smirk, Shikamaru would have no problem with this test. Kiba looked to be grinning as Akamaru barked answers to him, it was only a little bit obvious but Naruto guessed he wouldn't be caught without any actual proof.

Ibiki slams his hand on the wooden table. "It's time for the tenth question." he said grinning. Naruto sits up, narrowing his brows. Had fifteen minutes passed already?

"Here it comes." he said.

Kakashi sat in the lounge area with the rest of the jounin sensei waiting to see how the exam went. He had faith in his team, Sakura would have no trouble with the questions, Sasuke could be surprisingly resourceful and Naruto...

Kakashi sighs internally, Naruto was the genin he felt he knew the most and the least about, he was skilled. Naruto would sort himself out.

"I heard they got Morino Ibiki as the proctor for the written portion." Kurenai sighed. "What a sadist."

Asuma chuckles beside her.

"Understandable, he's a pro."

"A pro what?" Kurenai asked curiously. Asuma exhales a puff of smoke from the cigarette he smoked.

"At torture and interrogation." Asuma replies. Kurenai recalls she'd heard something about that. Ah yes. Tokubetsu jounin Morino Ibiki, head of Konohagakure's TI unit. She shivered, wondering what mental strain her students must be under.

"This first portion might be more difficult that we thought." Kakashi sighs again sinking back into his seat.

'Don't let me down now.'

"The tenth question is a matter of choice, you must choose whether or not you're going to take it." Ibiki said.

"What happens if we choose not to take it?" Temari asked. Ibiki's eyes zeroed in on her. He snorts.

"You automatically fail of course, you can come back and try again." he smirks. "But if you choose to take it and fail, you forfeit the right to any Chūnin exams in the future." immediately there are cries of outrage from all genin involved.

"That's impossible, there are people who've taken the Chūnin before sitting here right now." Kiba said. Akamaru barks in agreement.

"Unfortunately for you, this year it's me and these are my rules." Ibiki said flashing the genin a chilling smile filled with killing intent.

Naruto looked to Hinata who nods at him. She clenches her fist in resolve to take the question. Naruto nods back, he already knew Sasuke would take the question, that just left Sakura. Already he could spot her mulling Ibiki's words over in her mind. Deciding whether to take the question or not.

It was all up to her, Naruto had already promised he only wanted to do this if his team came along with him. And if Sakura didn't want to, it would give them time to hone some more skills and for her to be a kid a while longer.

She spots him watching her, Naruto gives a thumbs up and a reassuring smile. The pink haired girl smiles back nodding with the same resolve he saw in Hinata. Her thumb comes up as well.

"Those who do not wish to take the question raise your hands." Ibiki said.

One by one genin begin to leave, filing out of the hall in sad groups of three, Naruto began to worry that some of the genin in his year might want to leave.

"I'll ask again if you're going to quit this is the last time to do so." Kiba growls, it's animal like almost wolfish. He grins.

"Don't under estimate our resolve old man!" Kiba yells slamming his fist on the table Akamaru barks loudly, resonating around the class room. The other genin look toward the Inuzuka boy with a hint of annoyance.

"What my colleague is trying to say is, drawing this out any further is pointless, those who lack resolve have left already." Naruto said turning playful eyes to the proctor, "So what are you waiting for?" Ibiki looks over the remaining genin with a cruel grin. 78 participants left, 'Still too many.'

Ibiki chuckles soon it turns into a full blown laugh, what interesting kids, the Chūnin exams had some interesting participants this year.

"Everyone still remaining I congratulate you, you pass the first test."

"What?" Sakura deadpans, 'It's just like Kakashi-sensei's test all over again, fake outs must be really popular amongst these guys.' she thought.

"Then what was the point of all this? If the tenth question was the real deal?" Temari asked getting annoyed, all espionage, wasted.

"By now you must have figured out it was a test on information gathering. They served their purpose, we wanted you to cheat and had intentionally placed hard questions along with Chūnin who knew the answers."

Temari sat back pouting.

"Just as I thought." Naruto and Sasuke muttered to themselves.

"Those that cheated poorly of course failed." Ibiki said removing his bandana and revealing his heavily scarred scalp, many genin paled at the sight and even Naruto winced.

"What kind of life had this guy lived?" Suzumebachi asked.

'The life of a ninja." Naruto replies.

"Information is very important, there are those who would kill to get their hands on it, you do well to remember that." he said placing his bandana back on his head now that he had made his point.

"The tenth question was to test your resolve, if you're given a mission with an enemy who's skills you know nothing about do you avoid it? Pass it by on the off chance you can protect yourself and your comrades? You don't!" Ibiki said. "The ninja life is not for those who will approach it with weak resolves. Understood?"

The genin nod.

Ibiki chuckles again. "Good luck."

A large black mass crashes in through the window forcing the ninja in the group to get on guard, the cloth unravels revealing a woman and a banner that read second portion. The woman stood confidently dressed in a fishnet body suit with a mini skirt and a large coat over her.

"I'm Mitarshi Anko, the second instructor for the Chūnin exams." she looks over the genin, counting silently. "78? Ibiki you left 26 teams, are you going soft?"

"Don't underestimate these genin Anko, there are some outstanding one's this year." Ibiki said staring pointedly at Naruto.

Anko snorts.

"The second test should cut the numbers in half." she said. "All of you follow me!"

As Ibiki collected the papers he looked through them.

'Number 53 as I recall that's where the blonde was sitting.' he picks up Naruto's paper and begins to read it, the blond got most of them right but the most interesting thing was a tiny scrawl at the bottom that said 'turn over'.

Behind the paper was a simple seal used to pass secret messages across. Ibiki releases it.

"Intruders in the village. Snakes." Ibiki read out loud, there must have been a reason the blonde put it there, and Ibiki knew he wasn't referring to the foreign genin.

These exams were certainly interesting. He shoves the paper in his pocket, he would report to the Hokage with what he found.

Anko led the genin to large fenced area marked with all sorts of warning, to many of the teams they didn't know what this place was, but Naruto knew it well. Shi no mori, the forest of death.

"What a coincidence." Suzumebachi said.

"Indeed." Kurama agrees, when Naruto's bee and hornet hives progressed faster that they could manage he'd transported the hives here, to mingle with the local insect life. Naruto was just in time to see the progress of all his extensive breeding, no doubt Shino would too.

"Welcome to the area for the second exams, training ground forty four, the forest of death." Anko said, predictably many of the genin quivered but one in particular didn't instead he looked on with hard eyes, scanning the surrounding area.

'Uzumaki Naruto, well he's certainly grown.' Anko thought fondly, remembering how he used run around the village as a kid. Odds were high that he'd be here, but what were the odds she'd be his proctor?

Feeling playful she retrieves her kunai and flings it in Naruto's direction, the blonde acts fast catching it, Anko attacks, Naruto blocks anticipating the kick. Anko swipes at him with another kunai but Naruto dodges swiftly enough to avoid his cheek being cut.

'His skills have really grown.' she thinks.

From behind Anko she and Naruto feel another presence.

Anko draws a kunai only for a long tongue to extend and offer the kunai Naruto had thrown after he caught it.

"I think this belongs to you my dear." a womanly voice said. Anko receives the kunai, letting go of Naruto in the process.

'There it is again.' Naruto thought, 'The smell of snakes.' it wasn't like Anko, the smell was faint on her most times, this woman on the other hand was drenched in it. The only known snake user, had been the Sannin Orochimaru, an S-Rank missing nin that harboured a grudge against Konoha. But this couldn't be him right?

"Thank you." Anko said sweetly. "But try not to sneak up on me, you could die." both Anko and Naruto watch the woman chuckle then saunter away to join their team. Creepy.

"Before we progress, I'll need you to sign these waivers." Anko said displaying a sheet of paper with words all over them. "People die in this part of the exam unfortunately and as such we can't allow it to fall on the village if you do. As my assistants pass these out I will explain the second part of the exam to you." she said.

"This is a test of survival." Anko looks to the faces in the crowd as she spoke. It was simple enough half the teams would be given an earth scroll and the other half would be given a heaven scroll. To pass the test they needed both scroll, obtained through any means necessary and to get to the tower in the forest. They had five days to do it.

"There are three things that will disqualify you, Not making it to the tower, losing a teammate which also means no killing a teammate as well. And finally looking into the scrolls before reaching the tower." she said. "Exchange your waivers for scrolls and get moving."

Sasuke watches the teams move, analysing which members would have the scroll, he spots Gaara and his team grab their scroll and wait to enter at their gate. He grits his teeth. How could Naruto be anything like that guy? He thought about dying in the forest of death, how the proctor warned them about starvation and succumbing to the elements.

Would his team survive? Could they really? He didn't want to lose hope now.

Sakura was thinking along the same lines, she wasn't the best at survival even when they went on the academy's scheduled camping trips to the nearby forests she dreaded the experience. Now it was going to be her exam and she could die. She swallows, her mouth feeling dry, the only one who seemed to be fine with it was Naruto.

The blonde busied himself speaking to Shino and Hinata. It stung that he wasn't so carefree when speaking to them but she had no one to blame but herself. Thinking of how she'd previously treated him made her cringe. Hopefully they could fix that. The bell sounds, telling the genin to get to their gates.

"Time to go." Naruto said. "Good luck Shino-kun, Hinata-chan." they nod at him, wishing him luck. They would see each other again he hoped.

"They're strong, they'll survive." Kurama said reassuring Naruto. The blonde shakes off his worries approaching his teammates at the gate.

"Ready?" Naruto asked. Sasuke nods, Sakura gives a shaky nod in response. "Don't worry." he places a hand on her shoulder. "We'll look out for each other."

The gates fall open and all the teams rush into the forest. Naruto and Sasuke's minds work rapidly to come up with a plan.

They stop between the giant roots of some trees, listening. Soon the piercing shriek of a man was heard, resonating through the forest. Sakura gasps, feeling a surge of fear. Had she just heard a person die?

"Already?" Naruto muttered. Some of these guys work fast, he couldn't help but remember the blood thirsty Otogakure ninja that attacked Kabuto. Team seven had to be wary of them.

"We need to come up with a plan." Sasuke said, the raven haired boy took a deep breath and said through gritted teeth. "I'm open to suggestions." Naruto lips quirk in amusement, Sasuke fighting his control freak tendencies was a bit funny, it also seemed he'd forgiven Naruto for whatever transgression he'd committed, he'd have to ask about that later.

"We need to protect our scroll." Naruto said sitting crosslegged on the grassy forest floor.

"You do it." Sasuke said. Naruto tilts his head only a little bit surprised at the suggestion.

"What do you think Sakura?" The pink haired girl nods going along with Sasuke.

"Though not for the reason you think." She said putting up one finger. "People would expect Sasuke to have it because he's an Uchiha and therefore they'd assume he's the strongest person to defend the scroll, no one really knows about your abilities Naruto." she said. Naruto considers her words then nods in agreement.

"I'll protect the-" Naruto pauses.

"What is it?" Sasuke asked immediately on high alert, Naruto puts a finger to his lips shushing them. He picks up a small pebble and scribbles on a small unmarked part of the floor.

'We are not alone.' Sasuke, Sakura and Naruto exchange glances. Sasuke and Sakura soon sense someone just beyond the foliage surrounding them. Sasuke inclines his head in the direction of the intruder, Naruto nods.

"Konoha: Shunko." Naruto said activating his technique.

Bluish white chakra envelopes Naruto and soon the sound of howling wind had covered him.

A figure flies out of the bushes, chuckling. It was an Otogakure ninja, just as Naruto thought, they were the ones to watch out for.

"Looks like you stupid rookies are not a dumb as I thought, though I'll be taking that scroll now if you don't mind." he rushes at Sakura who quickly grabs a kunai and gets into a stance. Naruto gets in front of her in an instant round house kicking in the Oto ninja in his face and sending him crashing into a nearby tree. The ninja gasps for air as the wind was quite literally knocked out of him. Naruto doesn't let up in his attack, flying after the guy and punching him, damaging the guys' mask and tearing up his face in the process as the wind cut through his skin.

He and Suzume-chan had found that Naruto's wind elemental chakra powered the shunko in a very different from the reiatsu version. It didn't just enhance him, the wind chakra had the ability to shred a person to pieces.

Suddenly, Naruto's knocked back by the force of pressurized sound.

"Damn, they're stronger than I thought." The Oto nin said trying to flee, Sauske throws a kunai, pinning him to a tree before unleashing his combination of hand seals.

"Katon: Goukakyuu no jutsu." Sasuke said spewing flames from his mouth, Naruto jumps back from the sheer force of it, everyone knew what happened when you mixed wind and fire.

Naruto kicks, sending a wave of wind towards the fire for an explosion. The Otogakure ninja stood no chance and found himself knocked out.

"Impressive." Sasuke said as Naruto deactivated his technique and places his jacket back on, it had flown off when he attacked with his version of Shunko, he really needed to work on a backless outfit if he intended to keep using it.

"You too." Naruto replies, Sakura puts her kunai away sadly, once again she couldn't do anything. "Hey Sakura, that was very brave too." Naruto said flashing her one of his smiles. She looks to Sasuke who nods.

Naruto quickly searches the guy who had an earth scroll like them. Naruto seals it into his jacket like he did the first one.

"Now we have two earth scrolls, just incase something happens to the other one." he said.

In the shadows, the strange woman from before watches them. 'What an interesting turn of evens.' she thought slinking back into the shadows.

Team 7 rushes through the trees in a straight line trying to put some distance between them and any other team so they could recoup and come up with a plan. If they were to be attacked now by someone stronger than them, they could be in serious trouble.

"You might have to use a tail for this portion kit." Kurama said.

'I hope it doesn't come to that.' Naruto replies. 'Suzume-chan's shikai will also come in very handy if we encounter any more troublesome Oto ninja.'

Team 7 come to rest in a place that seemed safe enough, Naruto listened for anyone else then created a couple clones to search the area.

"I'd forgotten you actually knew how to do that." Sakura said massaging her feet.

"Make clones?" she nods.

"Compared to your other skills it just seems to ordinary, well as ordinary as ninjustu can be." They laugh good naturedly.

"I know what you mean." Naruto said. Sasuke said nothing during the whole interaction, simply watching Naruto get along with Sakura. The Uchiha wanted to ask Naruto why he was so close with the members of team 8 but most of all he wanted to understand his own feelings.

Naruto was so strong and kind, he looked out for all of them and that made Sasuke feel weird.

"Sasuke?" he vaguely hears Naruto calling his name, he shakes out of his thoughts.

"What?"

"Are you alright, you seemed out of it." Sakura said in concern. Naruto seemed worried as well, it made Sasuke's cheeks turn pink, he coughs into his hand.

"I was just thinking about getting a heaven scroll, I don't want to have to spend a night here." he said.

"I feel kinda bad about attacking other teams, we might have to fight our friends." Sakura said. Sasuke wanted to say something about taking the exam seriously but one look at her downcast face silenced him. He rubs the back of his head thinking of something comforting to say.

"We won't hurt them, we just have to steal their scrolls." he said, Naruto looked proud of him, it made his stomach turn.

Naruto feels all his clones dispel at once, making him sit up abruptly just about to warn his team mates, before he can get a word in a harsh winds blows, team 7 knew this wasn't any ordinary wind but a hurricane caused by another ninja, there was a enemy in the area and they'd been caught off guard. Naruto could feel himself being blown away from his team and carried off but he swears he's not going to leave them. Pulling out his ninja wire, he ties it to a kunai and throws.

The throwing knife embeds itself in a tree and Naruto's able to hang on for just a minute. The wind stops leaving Naruto to fall, he catches himself mid air looking around to see where he wound up, he couldn't detect Sasuke or Sakura around so he must have been a ways off. He begins running in the direction he flew in from hoping he didn't get there too late.

"Who are you." Sasuke shouted brandishing his kunai threatening, the tall and creepy woman from before stood across from him and Sakura with the rest of her teammates who fly off in separate directions leaving only her. She chuckles sinisterly at the two kids. She shows them her scroll, it's a heaven scroll the one they're looking for. Sasuke glares while Sakura get's into a stance behind him, Naruto wasn't here right now and they had to do their best.

"You want my scroll right?" she asked once again sticking out her absurdly long tongue and curling it around the scroll, she then swallows it before facing them. "Then you'll be prepared to fight for it right? To the death."

Suddenly the area is overwhelmed with killing intent, the same type they felt on the bridge with Zabuza but worse. Sasuke grits his teeth cursing as he sees Sakura's legs tremble. They shake and quiver but the girl remains standing glaring back.

The enemy flings several kunai at them, Sasuke unleashes the fire ball technique once more, but when it clears the enemy is gone. Sasuke looks around, trying to sense where they could be hiding.

'Crap we have to run.' Sasuke thought swiftly grabbing Sakura's wrist and bolting off, it they couldn't see the other ninja maybe their luck would allow for an escape.

As Naruto moves through the forest he hears a soft hiss follow him, the creatures of the forest of death were particularly large and particularly deadly which is why he chose to house his hives in this area. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw it, a giant beige coloured snake with dark spots followed, like it was hunting him. Naruto frowns, he couldn't afford to be slowed down just because some one wanted lunch.

"Back off hebi, unless you want some serious indigestion." Naruto said. From above the snake lunged, diving towards him, Naruto barely dodges nearly getting swallowed in the process. He curses growling at the delay. "Guess I have no choice, I need to end this quickly." he lands on one of the tree branches and unsheathes his sword. "Jintenki Shakusetsu Suzumebachi." Naruto's hand is enveloped in a white glow and the sword is replace with a yellow and black gauntlet.

The snake appears again but this time Naruto's ready for it. The snake dives forward again, mouth wide open.

"Nigeki Kessatsu!" Naruto swipes the snake's side twice leaving Suzumebachi's beautiful crest behind, he lands on a tree not even glancing behind him to see the exploded carcass of the giant snake.

Sasuke and Sakura sit panting from the long run.

"Sasuke-kun are you alright?" Sakura asked, Sasuke faces her nodding, he looks just over her shoulder to see something large moving towards them at a fast pace.

"Sakura jump!" they dodge watching as a giant beige snake slams it's snout into the trunk of the tree they'd been resting on a moment before. The snake recovers quickly, bending upwards and lunging at Sasuke. He fires a bunch of kunai at it, trying to hit a vital area. The snake fall with a pained hiss, dead.

The creepy woman emerges from the side of it chuckling.

"In a competition like this you shouldn't relax even for a second. Prey should always run from the predator you know." in a flash the woman is racing up the tree Sasuke landed on but before she could get to him something slashes her cheek and a butterfly crest blooms where she's cut.

"Sorry for the hold up." Naruto said glaring hard at the woman. "I would't try anything if I were you all I have to do is cut you once more and Suzume-chan's poison will do it's job." Sasuke sighs in relief knowing Naruto was back and he wouldn't have to fight on his own. Now that the blonde was here they could think up a plan just like before.

Naruto remembers the lady well, the one who smelled of snakes and had returned Anko's kunai. So much made sense now, but what did she want?

"Are you guys alright, Sasuke, Sakura?" Naruto asked.

"Just a few scratches and bruises, we're fine." Sakura replies feeling a weight come off her shoulder. She feared for his life, thinking he'd gotten seriously hurt.

"I see you've also defeated one of my snakes Naruto-kun, most impressive." the woman said. Naruto glared harder, so it had been this creep that sent the snake after him. It must have been a summon.

"What do you want? A scroll?" Sasuke asked locking eyes with Naruto who understood.

'Good thinking.' Naruto thought. 'This enemy probably doesn't even know we have two.' Naruto retrieves the scroll

The woman begins laughing again.

"Why would I ask you for the scroll?" she lifts her sleeve and swipes her blood across the seal. "When I can just kill you and take it? Kuchiyose no jutsu!" a massive snake appears on command, larger than the previous two. It was as big as a building, as big as the Hokage tower even.

"Beast mode now!" Kurama shouts in Naruto's mind, the blonde barely had a chance to transform before the woman punches him, sending him through some branches while the snake went for Sasuke and Sakura. The pink haired girl screams loudly Sasuke stands in front of her wanting to protect but one glance at the gaping, fanged maw of the snake had him frozen in fear.

A foot crashes down into the snake's head sending it head first into the ground, Naruto jabs it with his shikai watching the crest grow on the snake's face.

"I don't think, you understand just who you're dealing with. Nigeki Kessatsu!" Naruto said jabbing the stinger in one more time. The snake shrieks before the crest envelopes it.

"Mitarashi-san come quickly." one of the Chūnin assistants said. His tone made her take the situation all the more seriously, he leads her to a group of assistants looking over three dead bodies. Something about them seemed familiar. She couldn't tell as their faces had been horribly rotten off, they had been dead for at least a couple days before the second exam even commenced.

"These are their ninja identification cards ma'am." one of the assistants said handing it over to her. Anko glances over the pictures and a chill runs up her spine. Staring back at her, was the face of the woman who had returned her kunai with a long tongue.

"Alert the Hokage immediately and send ANBU into the forest, we have several intruders in the Chūnin exams."

A long tongue suddenly makes a grab for Naruto but the blonde avoids it, red chakra swirls behind him in a cloak. The woman laughs, retracting her tongue.

"You've lost me another summon, but it was worth it to find out the Kyuubi brat is still alive." she hissed. Naruto narrows his eyes. How could a foreign ninja know of Konohagakure's greatest secret.

"Katon: Goukakyuu no jutsu." Sasuke said blowing a stream of fire straight at the woman, with some help from Sakura a line of ninja wire is attached to her and the stream of flames hits' the intruder straight in the face.

Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura wait for the smoke to clear. A series of sinister chuckling is heard.

"As expected of an Uchiha, to be able to use the sharingan at such an age." Sasuke gasped, when had she noticed that he activated it?

"I found testing your powers to be quite fun but I had no idea I'd walk into such a surprise." she said looking at Naruto who was still covered in his fox tail cloak. The three ninja gasp as the woman's skin began to fold, peeling off like a suit of some kind and underneath malicious eyes stared back at them.

"I sense that your powers will soon surpass your brother's Sasuke-kun."

Sasuke's eyes widened, this person, they knew his brother?

"Who the hell are you!" Sasuke shouted in anger. The woman only smirks at him, pulling out the heaven scroll.

"My name is Orochimaru and if you ever want to see me again. You must pass this exam." Suddenly his neck extended, heading straight for Sasuke who couldn't move.

"Shiten Koshun!" Naruto shouts, Baigon, Lily and Hinagiku fly creating a barrier over Sasuke, Sakura and Naruto. Orochimaru's face slams into the barrier and Tsubaki lunches cutting right through Orochimaru's chest. The Ninja curses not expecting such and attack.

"Tsubaki return!" Naruto calls. Orochimaru sinks into the ground once more vanishing. Naruto releases his Shikai breathing hard, his one tailed cloak fizzles out and he falls to the floor exhausted. He'd never used all his skills at once.

Sakura and Sasuke are at his side at once.

"Naruto!" they yell in synch, checking over their teammate.

"I'm fine, I'm fine just a little exhausted. But we got the heaven scroll. Just have to take a small nap." Naruto said passing out.

"Naruto!" the two of them shout again. But calm down when the notice the gentle rise and fall of his chest. Sasuke gives a fond laugh, of course Naruto's strength would give out now, that guy was in a league of his own. 'Orochimaru' Sasuke swore he'd heard that name before. The raven haired boy hefted Naruto unto his back.

"Sakura it's up to us to protect him now, we have to make camp." Sasuke said fully conscious of the blonde's weight. Why was he so heavy? Looking up at the sky Sasuke finally notices how dark it had gotten. They really were going to have to spend the night surrounded by enemies.

"Let's go."

They move unbeknownst to them a team of Otogakure ninja are watching.

"Orochimaru-sama said we attack at daybreak." the lone girl said to her teammates.

"Right, the target is Uchiha Sasuke." one of them replies. The last boy glances over the ninja who were about to make camp.

"We can kill the other two right?" he asked with a blood thirsty grin.

"Yeah, of course."

Sasuke and Sakura lay the sleeping Naruto down then devise a plan to guard the perimeter. They could hold their own against the other ninja and Sakura was at least still capable of fighting.

"I think we should stay awake until Naruto wakes up." Sasuke said. Sakura looks at him like he's crazy.

"But Sasuke-kun, what if he's asleep for the whole night. You need rest too, we should sleep in shifts and I'll wake you if it's anything I can't handle." Sakura said cheerfully. Sasuke appreciated her spirit, he needed a bit of that right now. Maybe she wasn't so bad. Sasuke lays down beside Naruto to take a nap.

"Oh and Sakura." he said.

"Yes, Sasuke-kun?"

"Good work out there today." he said. Sakura's face is coloured with surprise. Had Sasuke really just complimented her? She discreetly pinched herself. Nope it wasn't a dream. She nods, giving him a thumbs up and a smile.

"Rest up okay."

Sakura didn't intend to wake Sasuke up for his night shift. Feeling too guilty to, Naruto and Sasuke had once again fought a majority of the battles while she stood off to the side. No, she decided, she would watch over the two of them while they slept and when the sun came up she would carry one. Sakura wanted to protect them too. Sasuke and Naruto's soft snores echoed around her, she wondered when the blonde would wake up.

'Those looked like some seriously high level moves.' she thought. 'Ah no matter, if he doesn't wake up we'll just carry him, we got the heaven scroll after all.'

Night passed uneventfully, soon dawn came and with it, rays of sun light pierced through the darkness. Sakura still stood watch over her team mates.

'They must have been more tired than I thought.' she thought. Something moves through the tree catching her attention, Sakura goes on guard drawing a kunai. A chubby squirrel stumbled out of the forest, she sighs in relief. She pauses. 'Wait a minute.' she recalled falling for that back in Nami no kuni. Looking closer she could see that the creature had something stuck to it. She throws her kunai with perfect aim scaring the creature off, on it's back she could see there was an explosive tag.

"A trap?"

Lee catches the squirrel just as the explosive tag is about to go off.

"Who would do such a thing?" he mutters to himself watching the rodent run off. "Strange."

Sakura once again fights sleep off just barely, rubbing her eyes she yawns. The only thing keeping her company was counting the blades of grass along the forest floor. She hoped the other woke up soon so they could get to the tower already.

"Rough night?" a voice asked from behind her. Spinning around, now wide away she's met with three Otogakure ninja. Sakura has to wonder what they had against them in particular. This was the third Otogakure team to attack team seven.

Two boys and one girl who frankly looked annoyed by their presence all dressed in the white and black colours of their village.

"What do you want?" Sakura asked trying not to let fear bleed into her voice.

"Wake Sasuke up I want to fight him." one of them demanded. Sakura's mouth hangs open, what was she supposed to say to that?

"Why do you guys keep attacking us in particular? Is it because of this Orochimaru person?" she glares hard. "Go away!"

The Oto nin with dark spiky hair laughs.

"I'll kill you just for that remark." he said.

"Wait Zaku, look at the grass." the other boy said motioning to the grass in front of the make shift camp. "Traps, clever girl."

"Kill her." Just as the sound ninja are about to attack Sakura cuts a piece of ninja wire behind her, a giant log falls from above swinging in an arc and knocking them off the tree branch. Sakura sighs thinking that was last of it.

"Why you little-" Zaku growled. Sakura grabs a shuriken from her holster ready to fire. Until she hears.

"Konoha Senpū!" a whirl wind blows hard against the Otogakure ninja forcing them to take cover against the harshness. Lee lands in front of Sakura with a smirk

"How can three of you pick on one person it's honesty disgraceful." he said. Sakura is glad to see him but once against she had to be save through someone else' efforts.

"Sakura-Chan are you alright?" Lee asked refusing to take his eyes off the enemy.

"Lee I'm okay." she said trying to stand, but her knees give out from exhaustion. "We have to hold out until either Sasuke-kun or Naruto wake up." she told him.

"You're in no condition to fight let me take care of this." Lee tells her. "Trust me." he said flashing a charming smile.

The Oto nin in the middle covered in bandages rushes forward, Lee acts punching the ground and using a piece of land to block.

"I've seen your attacks before, I'm not going to let you get close." he said.

"That's what you think." Zaku said with a snigger, the girl smirked as well, Sakura guessed they had something off their sleeve and she didn't want to find out what.

"I'm going to try to wake them." she tells Lee rushing to Naruto and Sasuke to begin shaking them.

Lee continues to face off against the sound ninja, using a technique she had never seen before, it left Lee shaking and Sakura didn't want to know what would happen if he failed.

"Your attack may be high speed, but us Otogakure ninja move at the speed of sound." Dosu said. He punches out at Lee and though the Konoha nin avoids the punch he feels the effects of the attack.

"Lee!" Sakura screams.

"Even if you dodge my fist the sound will attack you." Dosu said lifting his hand to show them his arm brace containing a series of holes.

Dosu attacks again but Lee dodges delivering a spinning kick the enemy did not expect. Dosu sound attacks again and Sakura could see Lee's ears bleeding, she gasped. If he hadn't come along... would she have even stood a chance. She looks over Sasuke and Naruto's sleeping faces. They must have been beyond exhausted if they weren't waking up now.

Ino, Choji and Shikamaru stumble across the fight and pale, against the Otogakure nin Lee and Sakura seemed to be losing badly.

'Sakura, Naruto-kun.' Ino thinks. "We have to help them."

"Are you crazy, against those guys what can we do?" Shikamaru asked.

"I don't know but..." Ino faltered in her words.

"Kin grab the girl." Dosu said once he'd finally defeated Lee, the Konoha genin lay in a heap on the floor while Sakura armed herself. Kin smirked thinking it would be easy. She lunges.

Sakura dodges and with an open palm strike hits Kin in the chest with all the force she could muster.

"I know I'm not like these two but don't underestimate me." Sakura said clenching her kunai between her fingers. Kin wipes the blood off her lip not expecting the girl to be that strong. The pink haired girl looked like every other Konoha genin.

"What are you waiting for, is this rookie proving too much for you." Zaku taunted in the background.

"Shut up you idiot, you couldn't even detect her traps." Kin retorted. The dark haired girl fishes the senbon out of her pocket and throws it. She smirks as it hits Sakura only for the image of the girl to fade away.

"What Genjustu?" Kin gasps feeling the air fly out of her lungs. Sakura drops, throwing a sweeping kick and knocking the Otogakure nin off her feet. She then jumps back to Sasuke and Naruto. Sakura focuses her chakra

"Doton: Shinjū Zanshu no Jutsu" she said. Punching the ground all of a sudden Kin screams as she's pulled under ground until only her head is left visible.

Sakura is panting hard, she didn't know where the strength came from but she was glad to have it.

"Seems we underestimated this delicate flower." Dosu taunts. "Zaku why don't you take care of this." Sakura gasps. Against that guy, she stood no chance.

Before she could blink Dosu had gabbed her by the hair and dragged her to the center.

"Pardon me for messing up your hair. Oi Dosu kill those three."

"No!" Sakura screamed. Grabbing a kunai, though it pained her, the only reason she'd make it out of this was if she cut her hair. The long hair she'd grown for Sasuke-kun's affection. But if she didn't cut he'd die.

She shears the hair right off leaving Zaku with a handful of pink tufts. He attacks her, Sakura places her hands in a seal and Zaku barrels into a log.

"Kawarimi!" he curses. Kin, who's still just a head in the ground struggles.

"Zaku behind you." she said giving away Sakura's position. Zaku slashes but is once again met with a log.

"Stupid girl is this the only technique you know." he said looking around. He feels something come from above him. "Heh another stupid substitution." he laughs striking up wards, Sakura dodges landing on him and pinning his arms down with just her teeth. She stabs through his palm with her kunai before Dosu knocks her off.

"You little bitch!" Zaku shouts yanking the kunai out of his hand. Sakura pants hard, she could feel her chakra reserves getting low. One more technique.

"Doton: Moguragakure no Jutsu." Sakura vanishes into the ground before they can catch her, the earth spits her back up in front of the sleeping Sasuke and Naruto.

"Sakura." A hand rests itself on her shoulder. "Thanks for having our backs." Naruto said smiling at her. Tears well up in her eyes. He was awake, he was finally awake. Sasuke too.

"Sakura, who did that to you?"

Neji heaves a sigh as he grows tired of waiting for Lee.

"Let's go look for him, he probably passed out raining or something." Tenten said with a fond eye roll. Lee was a great teammate, she loved the guy but honestly. Neji chuckled shaking his head. He stands, dusting off his short.

"Lets go."

Zaku snorts. "What do I have to be afraid of, some half dead freak and a bumble bee."

Naruto yawns, stretching his arms over his head until he hears a pop. He'd slept longer than he thought. Glancing over Sakura he could see she was bruised, dirty and shaking. He frowns, how dare these guys hurt his teammate.

"Bumble bee. I actually don't mind being called that." he said. Sakura smiles through her tears glad to see them.

"Zaku be careful with those two." Dosu said narrowing his only visible eye. Zaku doesn't listen.

"Ultimate Zankuuha!" he yells unleashing air waves upon team seven and rising hell. "Blown away." Zaku grins.

When the dust clears, a yellow triangular shield is over team seven protecting them from the technique.

"Sasuke I'll leave him to you. I'm going to heal Sakura." Naruto said activating the shun shun rikka. Sasuke nods then activates his sharingan, faster than Zaku could see, Sasuke moves, kneeing the Oto nin in the stomach and watching him crashing to a thicket of trees.

"Who did you blow away again?" Sasuke said with a bit of sass. Naruto shook his head, he was rubbing off on the Uchiha too much.

Zaku returns with a vengeance blasting away at them once more.

"Katon: Hōsenka no jutsu." Sasuke said blowing a multitude of fire balls at Zaku, he puts his hand up blowing them away fires go out but hidden within them a shuriken. Zaku braces himself, Sasuke dives under him.

"Zaku he's below you."

"You bastard!" Zaku shouts sweeping his foot up in a kick, Sasuke jumps over him, landing on his back and kicking him in the face.

Kin finally gets out of the ground only to have her teammate crash into her. Dosu narrows his eyes, watching Naruto heal Sakura, he attacks them, lifting his arm.

"Koten Zanshun." Naruto doesn't even need to look away from his healing shield to know Tsubaki had cut through the equipment on Dosu's arm.

"I see through your little technique." Naruto said as Tsubaki returned. "Tell your team that if they value their lives they'll leave." Naruto glared.

"Zaku, Kin fall back." he said.

"But Dosu what about-"

"We've collected the information Orochimaru-sama wanted, let's go." Taking the scroll out of his pocket he throws it to Naruto, it was another heaven scroll.

"You've beat us this time but when we meet again, we will neither run nor hide." Dosu said, he and his teammates vanish. Sasuke brings Lee over to Naruto, allowing him to extend the shield over the injured boy.

A kunai flies at them, Sasuke deflects it.

"What do you think you're doing to our teammate." a feminine voice asked. Naruto could see a young girl about their age dressed in a Chinese style shirt and pants. Her hair was done in two buns and her brown eyes stared intensely at them. Beside her a boy with long dark hair and pale eyes looked ready to fight, Naruto could immediately tell it was a Hyuga.

'This must be who Hinata-chan was talking about.'

"I'm paying him back for rescuing my teammate, this is a healing capsule." Naruto said. The girl sighed in relief.

"Sorry about that, I'm Tenten." she said introducing herself. "This is Neji, we came looking for Lee after he vanished."

"Understandable."

Ino runs out of the bushes panting and worried.

"Sakura, Naruto-kun, Sasuke-kun are guys alright I saw the whole fight!" she said kneeling by Sakura's side.

Shikamaru and Chouji join her, coming slowly out of the forest where they hid.

"We wanted to help but there wasn't much we could do." Ino said clenching her fist, even Sakura had fought like crazy but Sasuke was able to drive them off, the Uchiha could be really cool.

"It's the thought that counts." Naruto said. Sasuke snorts. Naruto dispels the dome. Slowly Lee wakes up, he blinks the sleepiness out of his eyes.

"Lee!" Tenten calls. "I've told you to stop going off on your own, you could have been in serious trouble if the Uchiha kid didn't wake up!"

"Where are they?!" Lee asked looking around for any signs of danger.

"We drove them off." Naruto said crouching down to be at Lee's seated level. "Thank you Lee, I'll make sure to pay you back sometime. What you did was very admirable." Lee beams brightly at Naruto.

"I couldn't leave Sakura-Chan to take on those guys, not when I knew she couldn't defend herself. It's against my ninja way."

Naruto smiles back at him. "I'm glad to hear that." Neji said nothing, instead watching Naruto like a hawk. He'd never seen a healing jutsu like that before, both Lee and Sakura looked as fresh as when they entered the forest. It was effective.

"Looks like I need to work harder, I couldn't even beat those guys. I can't even match your speed Naruto." Lee said. Tenten looks at Naruto in shock.

'How fast is he then?' she thinks.

"All in due time, it's just work and patience." Naruto said. "I have the utmost faith you'll get there Lee."

"Sakura-Chan, the next time we meet, I'll be a stronger man." Lee promised with a fierce passion burning in his eyes. Sakura smiles.

"I'll look forward to it, Lee."

"Let me fix your hair." Ino offers sitting down behind the pink haired girl. "You were really awesome back there Sakura." Ino said a she cut off some uneven strands with her kunai.

"I really don't know what got into me." Sakura admitted. "I just know I had to protect Naruto and Sasuke-kun."

"And you did." Ino said. 'You've come so far Sakura."

While the teams got along, Sasuke and Neji scrutinize each other, both of them were from clans specializing in dōjutsu so a rivalry was already expect.

"Lee say your good byes, we're leaving." Neji orders. Lee seemed down to go but a smile from Sakura cheers him up instantly.

Team ten soon decides it's time for them to leave too and bid team seven good bye. Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura begin their walk to the tower, it was already the afternoon on the second day. Naruto worries, neither Kurama-kun nor Suzume-chan had spoken since he'd woken up. That battle must have tired them out too. He'd wait, if nothing happened he'd go into the mind scape himself.

A growl from Sakura's stomach alerts Naruto to their hunger, it must have been weird for them to go so long without food. They were almost near the hives anyway, a quick detour wouldn't hurt, he needed some honey any way. No doubt Shino would have already passed by here as it was a direct route to the tower.

"Do you guys mind if we make a quick stop somewhere?" Naruto asked. Sasuke looked at him wondering where Naruto could possibly want to go in this place. Now that he thought about it the blonde had known where he'd been going since the first time they entered, he was even able to find them right as Orochimaru was about to land a devastating attack.

"Where are we going?" Sasuke asked.

"Just to visit some old friends, how do you feel about raw honey?" Sasuke and Sakura share a glance at the blonde's cryptic words but nod nonetheless, this was Naruto and he could trust them right?

"Bees!" Sakura screamed almost at the top of her lungs before Sasuke put a hand over her mouth trying not to alert the giant flying insects. Some of them as big as grown men. Naruto on the other hand simply walked right towards the giant hives, seemingly uncaring. He turns to look at them.

"Come on." He said waving them over. Sasuke and Sakura shake their heads in synch leaving Naruto to shrug and walk on.

Naruto was glad to see the hive thriving, he would usually come and check on them monthly but the mission to wave country had left them growing a bit wild. The bees and wasps recognized him or at least recognized that their chakra signature and his were the same. They bumped their heads against him and fluttered their wings. Naruto laughed, unable to do the same because he didn't have wings. He begins flaring his chakra, pulsing it in a welcoming rhythm, the bees reciprocate before flying off to work.

'Wonder what I'd look like with a pair.' Naruto thought.

There were hornets around as he reared bees and hornets together but they didn't hate each other, instead it looked like the wasps and hornets were protecting the bees.

"I've done well, Shino would be proud." Naruto said noting the development. Could it be that the similar chakra signatures was what was keeping them from harming each other. Did they all see each other as family.

Naruto unfortunately didn't have time to ponder this. The bees bump him, leading him to a fresh comb of honey they knew Naruto wanted to saw off for his teammates. He could visit the queen later when he came back. On getting there he noticed someone had already beat him to it. A tender smile comes over his face.

'That Shino-kun.' he thinks feeling his chest go warm with affection for the other boy.

Naruto gets to work, sawing and sawing off the large honey comb until it could barely fit in his arms. The bees behind him stretch their tongues out getting a taste of the honey. Soon the area is over come with angry buzzing and he hears a familiar scream.

'Sakura.'

He rushes back to where he left them to find the wasps angrily advancing on his teammates. He stands in front of them flaring his chakra until the wasps calm down.

"Friends." Naruto said pulsing his chakra in familiar rhythm. After a lot of buzzing the wasps flew away.

"What happened?" Naruto asked. Sasuke looked sheepish and Sakura blushed.

"Well one of them came really close so I hit it, it started buzzing really, really loudly." Sakura began. "Sasuke-kun hit it again and that's when the wasps attacked." Naruto sighed.

"The bee was curious about you Sakura." Naruto said. "Next time I'll introduce you guys." a chill ran up Sakura's spine, she puts her hands up.

"No thanks, did you get what you came for?" Naruto looks back to the gathered honey combs and presents it to them.

"Freshly made honey combs." He said. Sakura looks glad for something to eat, she bites in, sighing. Sasuke is hesitant, but with a little urging from Naruto he eats as well.

"Say Naruto, how come the bees really like you?" Sakura asked, ever the inquisitive ones.

"That's because I bred them." Naruto replies.

"Like the Aburame clan breeds bugs?" Sakura asked almost choking on her honey comb. Naruto nods.

"Initially it was just me but Shino-kun and I-" Sasuke stands abruptly, clearly bothered by something.

"I'm going to get water from the lake I saw nearby." He said.

"Don't get into any trouble while you're there." Naruto joked. Sasuke says nothing as he leaves. "What's gotten into him?" Naruto asked getting worried, had the battle with Orochimaru done something.

"Sasuke-kun's been acting a little weird since the exams." Sakura admits.

"When this is over maybe we'll talk about it." Naruto said. "Meanwhile I've got an Idea about how we can get to the tower super fast."

"You're not thinking what I think you're thinking are you Naruto." Sakura said suspiciously. Naruto's reply is a cheeky smile.

"We're going to ride the hornets." Naruto announces once Sasuke arrives. The raven haired boy stares at him like he's an idiot wondering what had possessed the other boy while he was away.

"And have you ever done this before?" Sasuke asked taking a sip from the canteen he filled. Naruto wraps up the rest of the honey combs they didn't finish figuring he could give some to Hinata.

"Not really, but I'm sure we can make it work."

Sasuke and Sakura watch Naruto communicate with the large hornet the size of a horse, the insect flutters it's wings as it seems to understand what Naruto is saying. Naruto mounts it, climbing unto it's back. The hornet takes of, flying with near super sonic speed.

They come down and Naruto's hair is messier than it usually already is.

"So yeah, we're riding." Naruto said.

"You can't be serious." Sasuke deadpans.

"What better way to reach the tower, we have two earth scrolls and two heaven scrolls that makes us a target. By walking there we're putting ourselves in danger. People will be waiting to ambush us and steal our scroll." Naruto reasons. "It's only a short fly."

Sakura gets up from the fallen log.

"Naruto's right, fighting while you were out was honestly exhausting, I don't want to get in any more fights, not when they could be avoided." Sakura said with hardened eyes. Sasuke wondered when she had stopped deferring to him. Instead the girl that stood before him was confident in her decision involving giant flying insects. Sasuke sighs heavily.

"Let's do it."

"Naruto!" Sakura screams as she's lifted off the ground by a giant hornet. Sasuke is holding on to his ride for dear life and only Naruto seems like he's enjoying himself. The hornets zig zag to through the sky at first but after getting a handle on the chakra signatures Naruto shows them where to go.

Soon they're zipping through the sky. The tower comes into view and Naruto tells the hornets to drop them right in front of it.

The bugs land, gently head butting Naruto, he pets them one last time before they fly off.

"Those things are really loyal huh?" Sakura said. Naruto beams at her.

"I care about them a lot." He said. Sasuke pushes the tower doors open and strides right in, Naruto rolls his eyes. What was with the attitude?

The hall was empty when team seven steps in, no one was around to greet them or inform them that they had passed the test or not all the greeted them was a single poster on the wall.

"I think it's time to open the scrolls." Sasuke said. Naruto nods in agreement. Sakura looks unsure.

"What if it's against the rules?" she asked watching Naruto retrieve one heaven scroll and one earth scroll.

"Nows the time for a leap of faith." the blonde tosses the heaven scroll at Sakura who catches it. "Together on three. One, two, three!" they pull the scrolls open looking at the seal work written within it.

"A summoning jutsu!" Sasuke remarks pulling his teammates back, they drop the scrolls and right before their eyes the area is covered in a plume of smoke. Standing before them is Chūnin instructor Iruka.

"Iruka-sensei?" Naruto asked.

"Long time no see right Naruto?" Iruka said with a welcoming smile, Naruto is so shocked, he doesn't speak. "Well done, getting here on the second day all three of you pass congratulations."

Naruto finally snaps out of it, smiling gently at the academy teacher.

"Thank you and it's good to see you too Iruka-sensei." he said. Iruka hugs him, once again surprising Naruto.

"I'm so proud of you Naruto. These five days were to test the basic abilities needed to become a Chūnin and you guys got here in two." he squeezes the blonde until Naruto hugs back. Sasuke and Sakura relax, sinking to their knees in relief. A crazy snake man, multiple battles, passing out in the forest and a ride on the backs of giant hornets. Finally, they'd made it. Iruka pulled away.

"On to the third and final test with you all. Be careful out there alright?"

"I will Iruka-sensei, it was so nice seeing you again. I'll try to stop by the academy more." Naruto promised.

"You guys are allowed to rest here until the deadline. I'm sure you'll need it." Iruka said.

"Finally, a warm bed and maybe a hot bath." Sakura said blissfully. Naruto laughs behind her.

"Here's everything I was able to learn in the second portion of the exams." Kabuto said handing a ninfo card to Orochimaru who had shed his skin disguise.

"Excellent, I wasn't able to mark Sasuke-kun in forest with the nine tails brat defending him but maybe now that he's here..."

"It will be easier Orochimaru-sama, the ninja will let down their guard." Kabuto said. Orochimaru chuckles, yes it would be easier to mark Sasuke here and if he survived... Well Orochimaru could see how strong he really was.

It was getting dark out again as Naruto stared out the window. He would be sharing a room with Sasuke while Sakura got a room to herself, Suzume-chan and Kurama-kun still weren't talking to him and Naruto was getting worried, but now was also an opportunity to speak to Sasuke about his behaviour.

The door creeks open and Sasuke walks in, blank expressing with his hands shoved into his pocket. Now's his chance.

"Sasuke can we talk." Naruto said sitting on his bed. Sasuke shoots him a glare.

"What about?"

"You've been acting really weird since the first test and I just want to know if everything's okay with you. If you're in pain I can heal-" Sasuke doesn't let him finish before he's heading towards the door. Naruto, using his speed, shushins in front of Sasuke.

"There you go again! You can talk to me." Naruto insists.

Sasuke keeps silent glaring hard at Naruto. It was like he was angry at someone other than Naruto but was currently focusing all his anger on the blonde.

"Did I do something wrong?"

"Just forget it!" Sasuke snaps trying to move Naruto out of the way. Naruto doesn't budge. "Get out of my way!"

"Not until you tell me what's wrong, you're not mad a Sakura too right?"

"This has nothing to do with her, it's me! It's all me." Sasuke huffed. Naruto lets him through and the other boy storms out of the room.

Naruto follows after a moment but when he runs right around the corner, he finds Sasuke on the ground.

"Sasuke!" Naruto yells rushing toward him. The other boy is groaning and scrunching his face in pain. Naruto picks him up, throwing one of Sasuke's arms over his neck. There didn't seem to be anything outwardly wrong with him.

"I need a medic!" Naruto yells. Some of the other attending ninja in the building hear his cry and rush.

"What happened they ask."

"I just found him laying there!" Naruto said watching as Sasuke is placed on a stretcher.

"Sasuke-kun! Naruto what happened?" she asked in alarm.

"He was angry at me and when he stormed out I followed him and found him like that." Naruto said.

"Can't you heal him?" She asked, tears welled up in her eyes.

"I don't know what I'm healing Sakura, there isn't a scratch on him."

"Hokage-sama." Anko said once she finally stood before the Hokage, strangely enough Ibiki was in the room too, the two of them seemed to be holding a test in their hands, one that looked like it belonged to a Chūnin candidate.

"Let me guess an intruder in the exams."

"Orochimaru, I encountered him in the forest of death, he's after one of the kids!" she said nearly falling to her knees, the battle with the snake Sannin had been long and hard, she barely didn't make it.

Hiruzen stands abruptly, almost spitting out his pipe in the process. Orochimaru? Here? Now?

"He must be after someone on team seven, why else would Naruto have written this." Ibiki said. So the kid had been right. Snakes indeed.

"We can't cancel the exams he'll slip out of our clutches!" Anko said.

"And we won't, not until we know what he's after." Hiruzen said "Or rather who he's after."

Naruto and Sakura sit by Sasuke's bed in the infirmary, the administration of pain killers had seen that he stopped grunting in pain and had fallen into a restful sleep. Naruto hated the fact that his team mate was in pain and he couldn't do anything about it. He just didn't know what was wrong. Sakura had been just as confused. She chewed her lip nervously watching Sasuke's face. Naruto rests a hand on her.

"He'll be okay Sakura, he's a fighter." She nods, wiping the tears pooling in her eyes.

"You're right. We just have to wait for him to wake up."

Somewhere in the building Orochimaru smiles.

List of Justu

Konoha Senpū: Leaf whirlwind

Katon: Goukakyuu no jutsu: Grand fire ball technique

Katon: Hōsenka no Jutsu: Pheonix flower technique

Zankuuha: Decapitating air waves

Konoha Shunko: Naruto's version of the Shunko technique

Doton: Shinjū Zanshu no Jutsu: Ground hog decapitation technique

Kawarimi: Replacement technique

Doton: Moguragakure no Jutsu: Hiding like a mole technique

Kuchiyose no jutsu: Summoning technique

Jintenki Shakusetsu Suzumebachi: Sting all enemies to death Suzumebachi

Nigeki Kessatsu: Death in two steps

Thanks for reading