Chapter 21

Anko glared down her old teacher. The hate in her eyes would have killed any normal man. Orochimaru wasn’t effected by the glare and just chuckled at his once student.

“Such a hateful look, my dear Anko. Are you not happy to see your old sensei?” he asked

“Happy isn’t the word I would use to describe you. Why are you here after so long Orochimaru? What are you planning?” she ordered

“Now, now, do you really believe that I would tell you?”

“No,” Anko whipped out some senbon from her coat. “That’s why I’m going to beat it out of you.” She roared and threw the needles. Orochimaru dodged and did some hand signs.

“Senei’jashu.” He called out and a large python shot out of his mouth. Anko dodged easily and did the same seals as he did. She thrust her hand forward and four snakes shout out from her coat. Each latched on him and sunk their fangs into him. With every bit of strength, she pulled him to her and flung him into the tree. Orochimaru was dazed which gave Anko enough time to pin him down with a kunai.

“That’s good, now give me your other hand.” She said. She grabbed it and placed it in a seal. Just so he could move she pinned their hands together. She moved her free hand back to his pinned hand. She gave him an insane look and he actually looked worried. “Shocked sensei? Well, you should be. I will put you out of your misery. Souja Sousai no Jutsu!! (Twin Snake Double Assassination Technique)” The killer chakra filled into the two. Anko thought she had him.

“Still as hot-headed as ever.” A voice said. Anko turned around to see that Orochimaru was still alive. She turned back just to see the one she held was nothing but a clone. That’s when the pain hit. She fell to her knees and grabbed her side. She cried out as she forced out the kunai that traps her. “Poor Anko-chan, always doing things with such reckless abandonment.”

“Screw you.” She growled as she pulled out the kunai. She threw it at him but he easily caught it. He chuckled at her which infuriated her.

“You forgot who taught that jutsu. Plus, how would your dear otouto feel knowing that you died?” Anko eyes went wide. “Don’t you care about him?” he taunted

“What have you done to him? I swear that if he’s hurt, I will hurt you down and…” her rant was cut off as she grabbed her shoulder. She screamed in agony as Orochimaru held up hand sign.

“Temper, my dear Anko-chan, you forget who you speak to. As for your otouto, he’s fine and well. You’ve trained quite well that I considered putting the cursed mark on him.”

“No, please don’t.” she begged

“This is such a delight. Image your begging for the life of the Kyuubi container. Do not worry, I did not mark him. However, I did place my mark on someone. He’s has more talent than you ever had.” He said and put his hand down. The pain left her but she still felt like dying. He kneeled down to her. He noticed that she had tears in her eyes. It amused him greatly. “Do not stop the exams Anko. If you do I will unleash a terrible force upon the leaf village. Also, I will come back and I will kill him and anyone else that you care about. I’ll even make you watch.” With that said he sunk into the ground and disappeared leaving the injured and sobbing Anko.

--

Sakura laid her head against the trunk of a tree. She made sure to stay alert while she closed her eyes. It was a frustrating day yesterday. She had actually dragged both of her teammates to the safety of a hollow tree. She tended to Naruto and Sasuke before she moved on secure the area. She borrowed some of Naruto’s genjutsu scrolls to hide them and the traps she set. Training with Naruto had probably rubbed some of his insane side onto her. Some of her traps were designed to cripple anyone, ending anyone’s ninja career. She watched over her team with much concern. Sasuke was running a high fever and he felt so cold. Naruto’s vitals were normal, he was just knocked out. Some time in the night she drifted off but remained alert. She attributes this to Naruto’s training.

Suddenly, Sakura awoke when she felt a powerful wind. It destroyed the genjutsu seal that hide them from view. Quickly getting her bearings, she looked out and saw the three sound ninja from the first part of the exam. Sakura did not like the looks they were giving her.

“So, you’re the one who created all those traps. It was very clever but also quite stupid. It gave away your position.” Said the mummy

“It was still impressive though. Even fooled our supposed genjutsu specialist.” The brown haired sound ninja said

“Shut up Zaku. At least I was attracted to a guy.” The girl spat. Zaku growled and looked ready to kill his teammate.

“Enough, the both of you.” The mummy said. “Bring out Sasuke; we have a mission to accomplish.”

“What mission? What does that have to do with Sasuke?” Sakura demanded

“Since you’re going to die away, we’re here to kill Sasuke.” Zaku said. Sakura glared at them and drew a kunai. The sound ninja chuckled at her as they moved forward. Sakura calmed herself and concentrated. She knew that since they had a genjutsu specialist that all her genjutsu may be dispelled. She did a series of hand seals to perform the genjutsu that Naruto had given her. She only hoped that it would be enough. She ended her series and called out her jutsu.

“Kokuangyou no Jutsu!! (Journey into Black Darkness Technique)” she called out. The sound ninja stopped and watched as their world became a pitch black world. The mummy turned to the girl.

“Kin,” he commanded

“Right,” she said and placed her hands in the rat seal. “Kai!” she said. The darkness did not disappear.

“Hurry the hell up Kin.” Zaku shouted

“I’m trying but it’s not dispelling.” She told them. Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain to her shoulder. Zaku was hit from behind while the mummy caught it in his jaw. Kin attempted to dispel it again only to get another kunai to her leg. She pulled it out and it caused her downfall as she was hit with a five hit combo which ended with a throw. She didn’t fly far as she her something hard. Zaku got anger and shot her hand forward.

“Zankuuha!! (Decapitating Air Waves)” he shouted. His blast didn’t hit anything but something did hit him. He hit the ground again and growled. “Damn it, this bitch is getting annoying. I though she was the weakest of this group.”

“Shut your mouth.” The mummy said. With his one visible eye, he began to realize that the darkness was beginning to fade in and out. ‘So, this jutsu of hers is powerful but it must drain chakra. She must have so little that she is just barely keeping this jutsu up. I will admit that we underestimated her but this ends now.’ He reached for something in his pouch and pulled out a sound fork. Focusing chakra into his gauntlet, he struck it with the sound fork. The sound was deafening as it surrounded the area. Suddenly, the darkness disappeared. Sakura was on her knees and vomiting. The mummy stood up while his other teammates attempted to get there bearings and hearing. Sakura was breathing heavily and felt like she was about to pass out. She looked on as the mummy approached her.

“I’ll admit that you almost had us and we underestimated you but the game is over. Out of respect, I’ll give you the name of the person who killed you. My name is Kinuta Dosu.” He said and whipped out a kunai. Sakura was beginning to pass out as Dosu’s kunai came down on her. The last thing she saw before darkness was Dosu’s form go flying and green spandex.

--

Sakura eyes began to open up. She noticed that they were flying through the trees and she also noticed that she was being carried. The person who was carrying her had a blue shirt with a fan on the back.

“Sasuke?” she groaned out. The boy turned his head back slightly.

“Hey dobe, she’s waking up.” He called out. The blond turned around and saw that Sakura was waking up. He fell back to meet with Sasuke’s pace.

“Well, our hero has awakened. How do you feel?” Naruto asked

“I feel like throwing up.” She said. Sasuke got a frightening look in his eyes.

“Fine, let’s set down and let her rest for a while. After that, we head to the tower.” Naruto said as he jumped down. Sakura wondered what he meant by that. As Sasuke made his descent, Sakura replayed what happened in Sasuke’s fight with Orochimaru. She clearly saw that long neck freak destroy their heaven scroll. Sasuke set Sakura down and walked away from the group. Sakura looked at Naruto in confusion. Naruto sighed and put his hand through his hair. “Long story short, something happened after you passed out. Those sound ninja took out Bushy Brow, Shikamaru, Chouji and the screeching hog before Sasuke woke up and took care of them. Yet… there was something different. I don’t think you would have liked what he became. I think it has to do with that hickey on his neck.” Sakura looked at Naruto in worry and looked at the spot that Sasuke use to occupy. She turned back to Naruto.

“You said something about going to the tower but we don’t have both scrolls.” She said

“Correction, the sound was glad to give us their earth scroll and if you look in your pouch, you’ll find our heaven scroll.” He explained. Sakura was shocked and dug into her pouch. To her amazement, it was their heaven scroll. She turned back to Naruto and her saw her question. “I figured that Sasuke having the scroll would be a mistake. Everyone would guess that he had the scroll since he’s the strongest. So, I swapped scrolls before we entered the forest. I put a scroll that looked like our scroll in his pouch while I put the real scroll in your pouch.”

“Why me?” she asked

“Well, for one you are the considered the weakest of the group. Who in there right mind would place the scroll in your hands?” Naruto said

“You’re asking for a beating.”

“Whatever,” He said. He then gave Sakura a warm smile. “Sakura, I’m really proud of you. Your skills have improved and you saved the team. I have to say you’ve earned my respect.” Naruto gave her a foxy grin. Sakura huffed and chuckled. Sasuke just watched from his position. He absently rubbed his neck. It stung a bit and it annoyed him greatly. However, this little mark on his neck had granted him great power. It felt great and it made him feel stronger than ever. He would have wasted those Sound genins but Naruto had to interfere. He wondered what he could do about this power. Unnoticed by the team, Kabuto watched from a careful distance. He suppressed all of his chakra after learning about Naruto’s ability to sense chakra. He gave a smile and disappeared. Running through the trees, he let his mind wander.

‘I can see why Orochimaru-sama had such trouble with Naruto-kun. He has marked Sasuke which is good for our goal but…’ He turned back to where he left team seven. ‘Perhaps I’m over think it. Well, time to meet up with the others.’

--

Anko groaned and fluttered her eyes. She had a big frown on her face as she attempted to get her bearings. She tried to sit up but winced every time she raised herself an inch. She heard the door open and turned to see Kurenai and Iruka enter.

“Kurenai, Iruka-kun, what is going on?” she groaned out.

“Don’t you remember Anko?” asked Kurenai

“I was running through the trees and,” Her eyes went wide as she remembered and threw the covers off. Iruka and Kurenai were confused and afraid as Anko pulled out the IV’s. She moved toward the door but Iruka restrained her. “Let me go. I have to get to Naruto. He’s in danger.”

“Calm down Anko,” Iruka said

“I can’t calm down. He said that he would kill him. I can’t let that happen. I have to protect my otouto.” She said while she attempted to struggle out of his grip.

“Anko, listen to me. Naruto is fine.” Iruka said

“What?” Anko said. She stopped struggling and looked into his eyes.

“Naruto, along with Sakura and Sasuke, just entered the tower. I just placed him in a room for the night.”

“Is he fine? Did you find a mark on him?” she asked

“Aside from a few scratches, I found no mark.” Anko let out a sigh of relief and felt into Iruka chest. Iruka just help her back into bed. When he secured her and made sure that she was all right, he turned to leave but was stopped when Anko held his hand.

“Thank you.” She mouthed. Iruka smiled and blushed.

“You two are so cute together.” Kurenai teased. Iruka blushed some more while Anko felt asleep.

--

“So, you are concerned about Uzumaki Naruto? Care to tell me why Kabuto?” asked Orochimaru

“He seems much stronger and more cunning than I thought. Perhaps we should deal with him before he becomes a wrench in your plans.” Kabuto suggested

“While I do no deny your claim, he will not be a problem. Despite being trained by little Anko, he is still no match for the Uchiha.”

“Understood Lord Orochimaru!”

--

Authors’ Notes: Sorry that this took so long but I had other priorities that had to be taken care of. However, I manage to finish this chapter. It took me till three in the morning to finish. Hope you enjoy it. Later.