Orochimaru watched with amusement as the genin scattered, a veritable swarm of shadow clones filling the forest. It was an impressive display, he had to admit. The boy's chakra reserves were truly remarkable. Still, such tricks wouldn't be enough to fool a ninja of his caliber.
He closed his eyes, extending his senses outward. The forest was alive with chakra signatures, most of them identical copies of the three genin. But there - three distinct signatures, moving rapidly away from his position. He smirked. Did they really think it would be that easy?
With a series of hand seals, two mud clones rose from the earth beside him. "You know what to do," he instructed them. The clones nodded, each racing off after one of the fleeing genin.
Orochimaru himself turned his attention to the last signature - Sasuke Uchiha. His prize. The hunt was on.
He moved through the forest with predatory grace, following Sasuke's trail. The boy was good, he had to admit. He'd taken care to minimize his tracks, using chakra to stick to the undersides of branches and leaping across gaps to avoid leaving an obvious path.
But Orochimaru wasn't an S-rank ninja for nothing. Minute disturbances in the bark, the faintest traces of chakra residue - all of it painted a clear picture to his experienced eyes.
"Clever boy," he murmured, a note of anticipation in his voice. "But not clever enough."
He increased his pace, closing the distance between them. Up ahead, he caught a flash of movement - Sasuke, darting between the trees. The boy was fast, but Orochimaru was faster.
"Running already, Sasuke-kun?" he called out, his voice echoing through the forest. "And here I thought you wanted to test yourself against me. To see how you measure up."
He saw Sasuke falter for just a moment, his head turning slightly at the taunt. Good. The boy's pride would be his undoing.
Orochimaru launched a barrage of shuriken, forcing Sasuke to break his rhythm and dodge. The Uchiha retaliated with a handful of kunai, but Orochimaru batted them aside effortlessly.
"Is this really the best you can do?" he taunted. "I expected more from the last loyal Uchiha. Perhaps your brother was right to spare you after all. You're hardly worth the effort of killing."
Sasuke's eyes flashed red, the Sharingan activating as anger overcame caution. He spun, hands flashing through seals. "Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu!"
The massive fireball roared towards Orochimaru, who simply stood his ground. At the last moment, he opened his mouth impossibly wide, a torrent of mud pouring forth to extinguish the flames.
"Better," he said, licking his lips. "But still not good enough."
Sasuke was already moving, using the cover of his jutsu to put more distance between them. Orochimaru gave chase, marveling at the boy's speed and agility. Yes, he would make an excellent vessel indeed.
The pursuit continued, Orochimaru herding Sasuke deeper into the forest. He was careful not to overtax the boy - after all, he needed him in good condition for what was to come. But he couldn't resist pushing him, testing his limits.
A volley of snakes shot from Orochimaru's sleeve, forcing Sasuke into a series of acrobatic dodges. The Uchiha retaliated with a brace of shuriken, each one trailing nearly invisible wire. Orochimaru's eyes widened slightly as he realized the trap, but it was too late.
The wires wrapped around him, pinning his arms to his sides. Sasuke landed on a nearby branch, a triumphant smirk on his face. "Got you," he panted.
Orochimaru chuckled, the sound sending chills down Sasuke's spine. "Very impressive, Sasuke-kun. You've exceeded my expectations." His body seemed to liquefy, slipping free of the wires as if they were nothing more than a minor inconvenience. "But you'll have to do better than that if you want to survive."
Sasuke's eyes widened in shock, and he barely managed to avoid the retaliatory strike. Orochimaru's neck extended impossibly, his fanged maw snapping shut inches from Sasuke's face.
"You're beginning to bore me, Sasuke-kun," Orochimaru said as his neck retracted. "I think it's time we moved things along, don't you?"
With that, he launched into a series of attacks that forced Sasuke steadily backwards. The Uchiha fought valiantly, his Sharingan allowing him to predict and counter many of Orochimaru's moves. But it wasn't enough. Not nearly enough.
Sasuke found himself being steadily driven in a specific direction, though he was too focused on survival to realize it. Orochimaru was herding him, guiding him towards a predetermined location.
Meanwhile, Sakura raced through the forest, her enhanced senses on high alert. She could hear the sounds of pursuit behind her, and her heart raced with fear and adrenaline.
She'd known splitting up was risky, but she hadn't expected Orochimaru to be able to track them so quickly. She hoped Naruto and Sasuke were having better luck than she was.
A kunai whizzed past her ear, embedding itself in the trunk of a nearby tree. Sakura didn't slow down, pushing herself to move faster. Her enhanced leg muscles burned with the effort, but she couldn't afford to stop.
"Now, now, little rabbit," Orochimaru's voice called out, sounding far too close for comfort. "Why don't you stop running? I only want to talk."
Sakura gritted her teeth, refusing to respond to the taunt. She knew engaging with the Sannin would only slow her down, and speed was her only advantage right now.
She leapt from branch to branch, her keen hearing allowing her to track the movements of her pursuer. He was toying with her, she realized. If he truly wanted to catch her, he could have done so already.
That realization sent a chill down her spine. What was Orochimaru playing at?
She didn't have time to ponder that question as a massive snake burst from the underbrush, its jaws wide and ready to swallow her whole. Sakura reacted on instinct, her powerful legs propelling her into a leap that carried her clear over the serpent's head.
As she sailed through the air, she flung a handful of smoke bombs behind her. They detonated on impact, filling the area with thick, acrid smoke. It wouldn't stop Orochimaru for long, but it might buy her a few precious seconds.
She hit the ground running, not daring to look back. The sounds of pursuit had faded slightly, but she knew better than to think she'd lost him.
Suddenly, her sensitive ears picked up another set of footsteps approaching rapidly from her left. Her heart leapt - could it be one of her teammates? Or was it another threat?
She veered towards the sound, hoping against hope that it was Naruto or Sasuke. As she burst through a thick patch of foliage, she found herself face to face with...
Sasuke.
Relief flooded through her, but it was short-lived. The look of terror on Sasuke's face told her all she needed to know. He was being pursued as well.
"Sakura!" he gasped, grabbing her arm. "We need to move, now!"
They took off together, pushing themselves to their limits. Sakura's enhanced hearing picked up the sounds of two pursuers now, closing in fast.
"Where's Naruto?" Sasuke asked between breaths.
"I don't know," Sakura replied, her ears twitching nervously. "I haven't seen him since we split up."
Sasuke cursed under his breath. "We need to find him. We stand a better chance together."
Sakura nodded, though she wasn't sure how they were going to manage that while being chased by one of the most dangerous ninja in the world.
They burst into a small clearing, and Sakura's instincts screamed at her to stop. She grabbed Sasuke's arm, pulling him to a halt.
"Wait," she hissed. "Something's not right."
Sasuke's Sharingan activated, scanning the area. "I don't see anything," he said.
"I can hear... something," Sakura said, her ears twitching. "It's faint, but-"
She was cut off as the ground beneath their feet suddenly liquefied, becoming a sticky morass that trapped their legs. Sasuke struggled, but the more he moved, the deeper he sank.
Sakura managed to leap clear, her powerful legs giving her the boost she needed. But as she landed on a nearby tree branch, she realized with horror that Sasuke hadn't been so lucky.
Orochimaru rose from the mud, his golden eyes gleaming with triumph. "Well done, Sakura-chan," he purred. "You very nearly ruined my little surprise. But in the end, it doesn't matter. I have what I came for."
Sasuke struggled against the mud, but it was a futile effort. Orochimaru approached him slowly, savoring the moment.
"Let him go!" Sakura shouted, her voice filled with desperation.
Orochimaru turned to her, a cruel smile on his face. "Oh, I don't think so. Sasuke-kun and I have so much to discuss." His neck began to extend, stretching towards the trapped Uchiha. "But don't worry, I haven't forgotten about you. My clone should be along any moment to keep you company."
As if on cue, another Orochimaru stepped into the clearing. Sakura's eyes widened in horror as she realized the trap they'd fallen into.
"Now then," Orochimaru said, turning back to Sasuke. "Where were we?"
Orochimaru's neck extended towards Sasuke, fangs glistening with venom. Sakura watched in horror, helpless to intervene as the Sannin's jaws clamped down on Sasuke's exposed neck.
Sasuke let out a choked scream, his body convulsing in agony. Black markings spread outward from the bite, staining his pale skin in an intricate, curse-like pattern.
Orochimaru retracted his neck, licking his lips with obvious relish. "There," he said, his voice a satisfied purr. "That should do nicely."
Sasuke's struggles grew weaker, his eyes rolling back in his head as he lost consciousness. The mud that had trapped him seemed to soften, allowing him to sink deeper.
"Sasuke!" Sakura cried out, every instinct screaming at her to go to him.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Sakura-chan," Orochimaru said, his clone moving to block her path. "That curse mark is quite potent. Nine out of ten die from the experience."
Sakura froze, her eyes wide with fear and horror. She looked from Sasuke's motionless form to Orochimaru, silently pleading.
"Don't worry," the Sannin said with a cruel smile. "I'm leaving him in your... capable hands. Do your best to keep him alive. It would be such a waste if he died now, after I went to all this trouble."
Sakura's fists clenched, her entire body trembling with a mixture of rage and terror. "Why?" she demanded, her voice cracking. "Why are you doing this?"
Orochimaru chuckled, as if her question amused him. "Oh, Sakura-chan. You are a delightful creature, truly. So full of surprises." He reached out, running a pale finger along the curve of one of her ears. "I simply had to meet you in person."
Sakura flinched away from his touch, suppressing a shudder of revulsion.
"Don't be like that," Orochimaru chided. "We're going to become... quite well acquainted, you and I. I have so many plans for you, my dear."
He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "This was merely a small test, you see. A chance for me to gauge your abilities firsthand. And you did not disappoint."
His tongue flicked out, running along the edge of her ear in a grotesque parody of affection. "I may send another... test your way before this is over. But for now, I'll leave you to tend to Sasuke-kun."
He stepped back, his eyes roaming over her body in a way that made Sakura's skin crawl. "Do take good care of him, won't you? I would so hate for anything... untoward to happen."
With a final, unsettling smile, Orochimaru and his clone melted back into the earth, disappearing from sight. Only then did Sakura allow herself to move, leaping down to Sasuke's side.
He was pale, his breathing shallow and labored. The curse mark pulsed with an ominous, malevolent energy that seemed to seep into the very air around them.
Tears stung Sakura's eyes as she cradled Sasuke's head in her lap, her fingers gently brushing the sweat-soaked strands of hair from his face.
"Hang on, Sasuke," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "Just hang on. I'll get you through this, I promise."
She looked around the clearing, her ears twitching as she strained to pick up any sign of Orochimaru's return. But the forest was silent, the only sound the faint rustling of leaves in the wind.
Orochimaru's words echoed in her mind. He would be watching her, testing her further. A shudder ran through her at the thought.
But she couldn't dwell on that now. Sasuke needed her, and she couldn't afford to fail him. Not after everything they'd been through together.
Steeling her resolve, Sakura gathered Sasuke into her arms, preparing to move him to a safer location. She would find Naruto, and together they would figure out a way to get through this.
----------------------------------------
The Orochimaru clone cursed under its breath as it chased after Naruto through the dense foliage of the Forest of Death. Being a mere mud clone with limited chakra, it couldn't unleash the full arsenal of jutsu at its disposal. Instead, it was reduced to engaging the blonde genin in mostly taijutsu combat.
At first, the clone had found a certain catharsis in pummeling Minato's offspring. Each solid hit landed was a small victory against the man who had stolen the title of Hokage. But as the fight dragged on, the clone's initial satisfaction gave way to mounting frustration.
Naruto, it seemed, had an inexhaustible supply of energy and an equally endless stream of chatter.
"Hey, Snake Face!" Naruto called out as he dodged another kick. "I thought you were supposed to be some big, scary S-rank ninja! But all you're doing is chasing me around like we're playing tag!"
The clone's eye twitched. It lunged forward, aiming a vicious strike at Naruto's solar plexus. The boy managed to roll with the hit, but the impact still sent him crashing through a nearby bush.
"Oof!" Naruto grunted, scrambling back to his feet. "That the best you got? My Academy teacher hit harder than that!"
"Insolent brat," the clone snarled. "You should show more respect to your betters."
Naruto's grin only widened. "Respect? For a creepy old guy who wears makeup and plays with snakes? Yeah, I don't think so!"
The clone's frustration reached a boiling point. It wanted nothing more than to silence the irritating child permanently. But its creator's orders were clear – the boy needed to survive so the other two could participate in the next stage of the exams.
As they continued their cat-and-mouse game through the forest, the clone noticed something. Naruto's taunts, while still aggravating, seemed to have taken on a deliberate edge. The boy was intentionally trying to get under its skin.
"Oh ho," the clone chuckled darkly. "Trying to provoke me into making a mistake, are we? How... quaint."
Naruto's eyes narrowed slightly, the only sign that the clone had seen through his strategy. But instead of backing down, the genin doubled down on his efforts.
"Provoke you? Nah, I'm just pointing out the obvious," Naruto shot back. "I mean, seriously, what kind of loser infiltrates a chunin exam just to pick on some kids? Don't you have anything better to do? Like, I don't know, get a life?"
The clone's patience snapped. With a snarl of rage, it launched a devastating kick that caught Naruto square in the chest. The force of the blow sent the boy flying backward, crashing through several branches before landing in a small clearing.
As Naruto struggled to regain his breath, the clone landed gracefully in the clearing. It was about to unleash another barrage of attacks when it realized they weren't alone.
Three Kusa nin stood frozen in shock, staring at the scene before them. The clone recognized one of them as the full-blooded Uzumaki it had noticed during the written exam. How fortuitous.
For a moment, confusion flashed across the faces of the Kusa nin. One of the male genin even started to address the clone as if it were their comrade, likely due to the clothing it still wore as part of its disguise.
"Shiore? What's going on? Who is this kid, and why are you-"
The genin's words died in his throat as he got a better look at the clone's face. Recognition, quickly followed by horror, dawned in his eyes.
"You're not Shiore," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Who are you? What have you done to our teammate?"
The clone ignored the questions, its attention focused solely on Naruto. The fight had depleted most of its already limited chakra reserves. It was time to wrap things up.
"Well, Naruto-kun," the clone said, its voice dripping with false sweetness. "This has been... entertaining. But I'm afraid our little game must come to an end."
Naruto pushed himself to his feet, wincing slightly. Despite the beating he'd taken, determination still burned in his eyes. "Giving up already? And here I thought you were just getting warmed up!"
The clone's lips curled into a sneer. "Oh, I assure you, I'm far from finished. But for now, I have more... pressing matters to attend to." It cast a significant glance towards Sasuke's last known location. "Do give my regards to your teammates. I'm sure we'll be seeing each other again very soon."
Before the clone could dispel itself, however, the two male Kusa nin sprang into action. Despite the protests of their female teammate, they launched themselves at the Orochimaru clone, weapons drawn.
"How dare you!" one of them shouted. "What have you done with Shiore?"
The clone's eyes narrowed in annoyance. How disrespectful. Did these insignificant genin truly believe they stood a chance against even a fraction of Orochimaru's power?
With movements almost too fast to follow, the clone lashed out. Its hands became blurs, striking with pinpoint accuracy at vital points on the attacking genins' bodies.
The two boys didn't even have time to scream. They crumpled to the ground, dead before they hit the forest floor.
The female Kusa nin – the Uzumaki – let out a strangled cry of horror. She took a stumbling step backward, her eyes wide with terror as she looked from her fallen teammates to the creature wearing her comrade's face.
Naruto, who had been struggling to his feet, froze at the sudden, brutal display of violence. "You... you bastard!" he growled, his hands clenching into fists.
The clone merely smirked. "Come now, Naruto-kun. Surely you didn't expect me to let such an insult go unpunished?" It turned its gaze to the trembling Uzumaki girl. "Consider this a valuable lesson, my dear. In the world of shinobi, weakness is not tolerated."
With a final, mocking bow, the clone began to dissolve, its form melting back into the earth from which it had been created.
As the last traces of the clone disappeared, silence fell over the clearing. Naruto stood there, his body tense, eyes darting around as if expecting another attack at any moment.
The Uzumaki girl seemed to be in shock, her gaze fixed on the lifeless bodies of her teammates. Tears streamed down her face, but she made no sound.
Naruto took a hesitant step towards her. "Hey," he said softly, his voice a far cry from its usual boisterous tone. "Are you... are you okay?"
The girl flinched at the sound of his voice, her head snapping up to stare at him with wide, fearful eyes. For a moment, it looked like she might bolt.
Naruto held up his hands in a placating gesture. "Whoa, easy there! I'm not gonna hurt you, I promise. That creepy snake guy is gone now."
The girl's eyes darted around the clearing, as if expecting Orochimaru to jump out at any moment. When no attack came, she seemed to relax slightly, though wariness still radiated from every line of her body.
"Who... who was that?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "What did he want?"
Naruto's face darkened. "His name is Orochimaru. He's a missing-nin from our village, and apparently, he's got some kind of creepy interest in my team."
The girl's eyes widened in recognition. "Orochimaru? One of the Legendary Sannin? But why would he..."
Her voice trailed off as her gaze fell once more on her fallen teammates. A choked sob escaped her throat.
Naruto shifted uncomfortably, unsure of how to handle the situation. He'd never been great at comforting people, but he couldn't just leave her like this.
"Listen," he said, taking another cautious step forward. "I'm really sorry about your teammates. That bastard Orochimaru, he's gonna pay for this, I swear."
The girl looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "But why? Why did he kill them? They didn't do anything wrong!"
Naruto's fists clenched at his sides. "Because he's a monster," he said, his voice hard. "He doesn't care about anyone but himself."
The girl nodded slowly, wiping at her eyes. "What... what am I supposed to do now?" she asked, her voice small and lost.
Naruto hesitated. He knew he needed to get back to Sasuke and Sakura – who knew what kind of trouble they might be in? But he couldn't just abandon this girl, either.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Karin," she replied softly. "Karin Uzumaki."
Naruto's eyes widened in surprise. "Uzumaki? Hey, that's my last name too!"
Karin looked up at him, a flicker of interest breaking through her grief. "Really? But... but I thought..."
"Yeah, I know," Naruto said with a sheepish grin. "Blonde hair, blue eyes – not exactly the Uzumaki look, huh? But it's true, believe it!"
Despite everything, a tiny smile tugged at the corners of Karin's mouth. "I've... I've never met another Uzumaki before," she said softly.
Naruto's grin widened. "Well, now you have! And us Uzumakis gotta stick together, right?"
Karin nodded hesitantly, some of the tension leaving her shoulders.
"Listen," Naruto said, his expression growing serious again. "I've gotta get back to my team. That creepy snake guy might be after them too. But I can't just leave you here alone."
He thought for a moment, then snapped his fingers. "I know! Why don't you come with me? We can help each other out!"
Karin blinked in surprise. "But... but what about the exam? We're supposed to be competing against each other."
Naruto waved his hand dismissively. "Ah, who cares about that right now? There's a crazy S-rank missing-nin running around! I think that's a little more important than some stupid test, don't you?"
Karin hesitated, looking back at her fallen teammates. "I... I can't just leave them here," she said softly.
Naruto's expression softened. "Yeah, I get it," he said. He created a shadow clone, which immediately set to work digging graves for the fallen Kusa nin.
"My clone will take care of them," Naruto assured her. "We can come back later and do a proper burial, okay? But right now, we need to get moving. It's not safe here."
Karin nodded slowly, her eyes lingering on her teammates one last time before she turned back to Naruto. "Okay," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll come with you."
Naruto gave her an encouraging smile. "Alright! Let's go find my team. And don't worry – I'll keep you safe, believe it!"
As they set off into the forest, Naruto couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to get a whole lot more complicated. But he pushed those thoughts aside. Right now, he had to focus on finding Sasuke and Sakura.
----------------------------------------
Sakura crouched in the small hollow she'd found, her eyes never leaving Sasuke's pale face. She'd managed to forage some berries and nuts, along with a few strips of dried meat from their supplies. It wasn't much, but it would have to do. She'd also found a small stream nearby and filled their canteens.
Sasuke stirred fitfully, his brow furrowed in pain. Sakura bit her lip, worry gnawing at her insides. Whatever Orochimaru had done to him, it wasn't good. The strange mark on his neck pulsed with an ominous energy that made her fur stand on end.
"Shh, it's okay," she murmured, gently lifting Sasuke's head. She trickled a little water into his mouth, careful not to let him choke. "You're going to be fine. We'll figure this out."
But even as she said the words, doubt crept in. They were alone in a dangerous forest, separated from Naruto, with a crazed S-rank missing-nin after them. And now Sasuke was incapacitated. The odds weren't exactly in their favor.
Sakura shook her head, forcing those thoughts away. No, she couldn't afford to think like that. They'd faced tough situations before and come out on top. This time would be no different.
She carefully laid Sasuke back down and crept to the entrance of their hideout. Her enhanced senses swept the area, searching for any sign of danger. Nothing immediate, but she couldn't shake the feeling of being watched.
Sakura slipped out of the cave, her movements silent. She needed to leave some kind of trail for Naruto or other Leaf nin to find them, but it had to be subtle. Too obvious, and she risked leading enemies straight to them.
She settled on a system of small notches in tree bark, placed at irregular intervals. To most, they'd look like natural damage. But someone who knew what to look for might be able to follow the pattern.
As she worked, Sakura couldn't help but berate herself. They should have come up with a plan for regrouping if they got separated. It was a rookie mistake, and one that could cost them dearly now.
"Some genius I am," she muttered, her ears drooping slightly. "Can answer any question on a written test, but can't think of basic survival tactics."
She finished her markings and made her way back to the cave. Sasuke was still unconscious, but his breathing seemed a little steadier. That was something, at least.
Sakura had just settled back down when a prickle ran down her spine. Her ears twitched, picking up the faintest rustle of movement. It wasn't the wind. No, this was deliberate. Someone was out there, trying very hard not to be noticed.
For a moment, she considered staying hidden. But no, that would only delay the inevitable. Better to face whatever was coming head-on.
With a deep breath, Sakura stood and walked out of the cave. She stopped in a small clearing, her stance deceptively relaxed.
"You can stop hiding now," she called out, her voice steady. "I know you're there."
For a heartbeat, nothing happened. Then, like shadows detaching from the forest itself, six figures emerged. Sakura's eyes narrowed as she recognized the Sound ninja from the first exam.
The one with bandages covering most of his face – Dosu, if she remembered correctly – stepped forward.
"Well, well," he said, his voice muffled by the bandages. "I must say, I'm impressed. Not many would have sensed us so quickly."
Sakura didn't respond, her mind racing as she assessed the situation. Six against one weren't great odds, especially when she was trying to protect an incapacitated teammate.
Dosu tilted his head, studying her. "Though I must say, it would have been wiser to try and escape once you realized we were here. Standing your ground against superior numbers isn't exactly the smartest move."
Sakura allowed herself a small shrug. "What can I say? I'm not the type to abandon a teammate."
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Her casual tone seemed to throw them off balance for a moment. Good. The longer she could keep them talking, the more time she had to come up with a plan.
"Tell me," she continued, "did Orochimaru send you?"
That got a reaction. The Sound nin tensed, exchanging quick glances. Dosu's visible eye narrowed.
"And how would you know about Orochimaru-sama?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.
Sakura kept her expression neutral, even as her heart raced. So there was a connection there. That was valuable information, if she survived long enough to report it.
"Oh, you know how it is," she said lightly. "Run into one S-rank missing-nin in the forest, you start to wonder if there might be more."
Dosu studied her for a long moment before speaking again. "We're here to test Sasuke Uchiha," he said finally. "Where is he?"
Sakura raised an eyebrow. "Test him? Sorry, but visiting hours are later. You'll have to come back another time."
A chuckle came from one of the other Sound nin – the boy with spiky hair. Zaku, she thought his name was.
"Gotta admit, she's got spunk," he said, grinning.
The girl with long black hair – Kin – scoffed. "Please. Look at her. She's practically a stuffed animal. This won't take long."
Sakura bristled at that, but kept her expression neutral. Let them underestimate her. It would only work to her advantage.
The other three Sound nin hadn't spoken yet. Sakura glanced at them, trying to gauge their intentions. The girl wrapped in bandages was glaring at her with undisguised hatred, as if Sakura had personally offended her somehow. Strange.
The black-haired girl next to her placed a hand on her shoulder. "If you want to sit this one out, go ahead," she said softly. "We can handle it."
The boy with them said nothing, but the metallic snick of his odd shears opening and closing spoke volumes.
Dosu waved a hand. "No need. My team will handle this."
Sakura's mind raced. She needed to buy more time, to figure out a way out of this. Her eyes darted around the clearing, taking in every detail.
Dosu's eye followed her gaze. He chuckled. "Looking for escape routes? I'm afraid that won't work. You see, we've already noticed your little traps."
He gestured to a spot on the ground where Sakura had carefully concealed a snare. "Honestly, it's a bit sloppy. I'm starting to think I might have overestimated you earlier."
Sakura said nothing, but inwardly, she smirked. Good. Let them think they had the upper hand.
The Sound nin tensed, ready to attack. Sakura braced herself, chakra flowing to her legs.
They leapt forward as one, sailing through the air towards her. Sakura waited until the last possible second, then yanked on a nearly invisible wire.
A massive log came swinging down from the trees, directly in the path of the attacking ninja. For a split second, surprise flashed across their faces.
Then Dosu's arm shot out, his strange gauntlet glowing. A high-pitched whine filled the air, and the log shattered into splinters.
But Sakura was already moving. She used the momentary distraction to launch herself forward, spinning into a powerful kick that caught Dosu square in the chest.
The Sound nin went flying backwards, crashing into a tree with a satisfying thud.
"Dosu!" Zaku shouted, his hands coming up. Strange holes in his palms began to glow with chakra.
Sakura barely had time to brace herself before a blast of high-pressure wind slammed into her. She went tumbling through the air, but managed to twist and rebound off a tree limb.
As she sailed back towards the clearing, Sakura's hands flashed through seals. Four illusory clones sprang into existence around her, each one diving towards a different opponent.
Kin's eyes narrowed, her hands moving in a blur. Senbon with small bells attached went flying, passing harmlessly through the clones but headed straight for the real Sakura.
Sakura prepared to dodge, but suddenly the world seemed to tilt. The bells on the senbon were ringing, creating a disorienting genjutsu that threw off her balance.
She stumbled for just a moment, but it was enough. Zaku's next air blast caught her full in the chest, sending her crashing to the ground.
Sakura rolled to her feet, panting. This wasn't good. She needed to end this quickly, before they overwhelmed her.
A shadow fell over her. Sakura looked up to see Dosu looming above her, his gauntlet raised.
"I'll admit, your technique isn't bad," he said. "But it's a bit old-fashioned, don't you think?"
The gauntlet came down. Sakura barely managed to substitute herself with a nearby log, wincing as it was pulverized by whatever strange jutsu Dosu used.
She landed a short distance away, her mind racing. Old-fashioned, was she? Well, sometimes the classics were classics for a reason.
"You're right," Sakura said, allowing herself a small smirk. "The basics might be old-fashioned. But they're also the foundation of all ninjutsu."
Sakura faced off against the Sound trio, her muscles tense and ready. She knew this wouldn't be easy - three against one rarely was. But she'd trained for situations like this. She just had to stay focused and look for an opening.
Dosu made the first move, rushing forward with his gauntlet raised. Sakura dodged to the side, only to find Zaku waiting with his palms outstretched. She barely managed to leap over the blast of air he sent her way.
As she landed, Kin's senbon whistled through the air. Sakura deflected most with a kunai, but one grazed her arm. The small bell attached to it rang, sending a wave of disorientation through her. She stumbled, giving Dosu the chance to land a solid hit to her ribs.
Sakura went flying, crashing into a tree trunk. She pushed herself up, wincing. That was going to bruise.
"Is that all you've got?" Zaku taunted. "And here I thought Leaf ninja were supposed to be tough."
Sakura didn't bother responding. She needed to conserve her breath. Instead, she charged forward, aiming for Kin. At the last second, she pivoted, throwing a punch at Dosu instead.
But Zaku was there, blasting her back with another gust of wind. Sakura tumbled across the ground, coming up in a crouch.
This pattern repeated itself several times. Every time Sakura tried to engage one of them, the other two would interfere. It was frustrating, but also informative. With each exchange, she learned a little more about their fighting styles and abilities.
After one particularly vicious combo that left her gasping for air, Sakura allowed herself a small smirk. "You know," she panted, "for all your fancy techniques, you're really just one-trick ponies, aren't you?"
That got their attention. Dosu's eye narrowed. "What did you say?"
Sakura pushed herself to her feet. "You heard me. You've each got one special move, and that's it. No versatility, no adaptability. It's actually kind of sad."
Zaku snarled. "I'll show you sad, you little freak!"
He raised his hands, chakra gathering in his palms. Sakura tensed, ready to dodge. But at the last second, she feinted towards Dosu instead.
Just as she'd hoped, Kin moved to intercept her. But Sakura had already changed direction, heading straight for Zaku.
Zaku's eyes widened in surprise, but he recovered quickly. He unleashed another blast of wind, the air pressure intense enough to slice through tree bark.
Sakura grinned. "You know what your weakness is, Zaku? You have to brace yourself to launch that attack. And once you do, you can't move or redirect it until you're done."
With that, she slipped past his attack, moving faster than he could track. Before he could react, she'd driven a kunai deep into his arm.
Zaku screamed as the delicate airways in his arm were disrupted. The wind technique backfired spectacularly, sending him crashing into a nearby tree.
Sakura didn't have time to celebrate. Dosu was already moving to attack her, his gauntlet humming with dangerous energy.
"Not bad," he growled. "But you won't catch me off guard so easily."
Sakura danced back, avoiding his strikes. "Maybe not," she admitted. "But you've got a weakness too, Dosu. You rely way too much on that metal arm of yours. It makes your attack patterns easy to read."
To demonstrate, she split into two overlapping figures - one real, one a basic clone. Both attacked Dosu from opposite sides.
Dosu's eye darted between them, trying to determine which was real. At the last second, he chose correctly, bringing his gauntlet up to block Sakura's strike.
But the illusion had hidden Sakura's true attack. A kunai whistled through the air, burying itself deep in Dosu's gut.
He staggered back, clutching at the wound. "How... how did you..."
Sakura didn't bother responding. She was already moving towards Kin, the last member of the trio still standing.
Kin's eyes widened in fear, but she recovered quickly. Her hands blurred as she launched another volley of senbon, bells tinkling ominously.
"Nice try," Sakura called out. "But that trick barely worked the first time, when I wasn't ready for it. Your genjutsu targets human hearing - and in case you haven't noticed, my hearing isn't exactly human anymore."
To prove her point, Sakura's rabbit ears twitched, easily filtering out the disorienting sound of the bells. She charged forward, gripping a kunai with both hands as she prepared for an overhead strike.
Kin's eyes widened in panic. She brought her arms up in a desperate attempt to block the incoming attack.
But at the last second, Sakura's instincts screamed at her to move. She aborted her attack, twisting to the side just as a massive pair of shears sliced through the air where her head had been a moment before.
Sakura's dodge, while saving her from decapitation, left her vulnerable. She felt something wrap around her legs, tripping her up. Looking down, she saw inky black tendrils snaking up her body.
"You idiot boys," a harsh voice rasped. The girl wrapped in bandages was moving towards Zaku and Dosu, a medical kit in her hands. "Can't you handle one little girl without getting yourselves torn apart?"
Sakura struggled against the black tendrils, but they only tightened their grip. She felt herself being yanked backwards, into the arms of the long-haired girl who'd stayed out of the fight until now.
"My, my," the girl purred, her hair writhing like living shadows as it constricted around Sakura. "You put on quite a show, little rabbit. But you really should have paid more attention to all your opponents."
The girl holding Sakura tightened her grip, her living hair wrapping further around Sakura's arms and legs.
"You know, I almost feel sorry for you," Kotohime said, her voice dripping with false sympathy. "Fighting so hard against Lord Orochimaru's generosity. Look at what he's given us."
She nodded towards Zaku, who was being treated by the bandaged girl. "The power to command the very air itself. Kin's bells that can shatter minds. Dosu's melody arm that can break bodies just as easily."
Her hair rippled, squeezing tighter. "He gave me mastery over every strand of my hair, made it as strong as steel cables. And Kamikiri's shears?" She laughed. "They could rival any of the Seven Swordsmen's blades now."
The boy with the shears stepped forward, the massive blades gleaming in the dim forest light. He didn't speak, but the way he tested the edge of his weapon spoke volumes.
"But you and your teammates?" Kotohime's voice turned harsh. "You spurn his gifts. Mock his power. As if you're somehow above it all." She leaned in close, her breath hot against Sakura's ear. "How foolish can you be?"
Sakura gasped as the hair tightened, squeezing the air from her lungs. The girl pulled her close, wrapping her in a mocking embrace from behind.
"Don't worry," she whispered in Sakura's ear. "It'll all be over soon."
The boy with the giant shears stepped forward. "Kotohime, hold her still. I'll take care of this."
Kotohime laughed, a cruel sound that sent chills down Sakura's spine. "Relax, Kamikiri. Let me enjoy this for a moment. It's not often I get to snare such interesting prey."
Sakura's mind raced. She needed to get out of this, fast. Her hands were pinned to her sides, making most jutsu impossible. But maybe...
With a burst of desperate strength, Sakura managed to bring her hands together in a quick series of seals. It wasn't perfect, but it would have to do.
"Hari Jizō!" she gasped out.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, Sakura's pink hair began to grow and harden. She wasn't skilled enough with the technique to make it grow much longer, but what she lacked in length, she made up for in sharpness.
Kotohime screamed as Sakura's newly steel-like hair impaled her in multiple places. She released her hold, stumbling backwards as blood seeped from her wounds.
Sakura staggered forward, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Each inhale sent a sharp pain through her side - at least one rib was cracked, maybe more. Blood dripped from her hair, staining the pink strands crimson. But despite the pain, despite the exhaustion, her eyes blazed with determination.
"You idiots," she spat, glaring at the Sound ninja. "You absolute fools. Do you even realize what you've done?"
Kotohime clutched at her wounds, shock and anger warring on her face. "What we've done? We've become strong! Lord Orochimaru gave us power beyond-"
"Power?" Sakura cut her off with a harsh laugh. "Is that what you call it? Let me tell you something about power."
She tore off her gloves, revealing the stubby black claws that tipped her fingers and the soft pink fur that covered her arms.
"You think this makes me weak?" she demanded, flexing her clawed hands. "You think it makes me some kind of joke? A plush toy?"
Her eyes swept over the group, lingering on Zaku and Dosu's injuries. "I did that. Me. The cute little rabbit girl. And I did it without relying on some sick freak's 'gifts'."
Sakura kicked off her heels, fully exposing her reshaped, rabbit-like feet. The pink fur extended up her legs, disappearing under her dress.
"Since when do appearances mean anything to a real ninja?" she snarled. "We're supposed to be deceptive. To use every advantage. But you? You sold your souls for party tricks."
She pointed at Zaku. "You. All that power, and what good did it do you? One precise strike, and your precious airwaves are useless. Some gift."
Her gaze shifted to Kin. "And you. Genjutsu through sound? Please. Any competent ninja can break that with a moment's concentration. It's flashy, sure, but ultimately worthless in a real fight."
Dosu tensed as Sakura's attention turned to him. "That arm of yours? It's a crutch. Take it away, and what are you left with? Nothing but hot air and empty threats."
She glared at Kotohime. "And you. You think controlling your hair makes you special? Newsflash: the Leaf has an entire clan that can do that and more. You're not unique. You're not gifted. You're just a cheap imitation."
Sakura's eyes locked onto Kamikiri's massive shears. "And those overgrown scissors? They might be impressive to civilians, but against a real weapon master? You'd be disarmed in seconds."
Her gaze swept over all of them, disgust evident in every line of her face. "You followed the first person willing to give you a crumb of attention. The first one to offer you an easy path to power. And in doing so, you've made yourselves nothing but puppets. Slaves to Orochimaru's whims."
Sakura stood tall, ignoring the pain that radiated through her body. "You want to know what real power is? It's not some jutsu you can't even fully control. It's not a weapon you barely know how to use. Real power comes from within. From dedication. From pushing yourself beyond your limits every single day."
She touched the Uchiha fan earrings she wore. "I devoted myself to someone who will cherish and respect me. Someone who sees my worth beyond just my abilities. Can you say the same about Orochimaru? Do you really think he cares about any of you beyond what use you might have?"
The Sound ninja shifted uneasily, some of them unconsciously taking a step back from the fury in Sakura's eyes.
"Let me tell you what's going to happen to you," Sakura continued, her voice low and intense. "Best case scenario? You'll be cannon fodder. Sent on suicide missions until you're no longer useful. Worst case? You'll end up on one of Orochimaru's lab tables, picked apart so he can study whatever alterations he's made to you."
She shook her head, a mixture of pity and disgust on her face. "You had a choice. You could have worked hard, could have become strong through your own efforts. Instead, you took the easy way out. And now? Now you're nothing but expendable pawns in someone else's game."
Sakura's hands clenched into fists, her claws digging into her palms. "But me? I chose the hard path. I pushed myself beyond what I thought possible. I changed my very body through my own efforts, not because some creep offered me a shortcut."
She glared at each of them in turn. "I am Sakura Haruno of the Hidden Leaf. Future matriarch of the Uchiha clan. And I will not lose to a bunch of second-rate knockoffs who can't even see how thoroughly they've been played."
Sakura's words hung in the air, a challenge and a declaration. The Sound ninja shifted uneasily, glancing at each other. For a moment, it seemed like her speech might have gotten through to them.
Then Zaku sneered, flexing his patched arm. "Big words from a little rabbit. Let's see if you can back them up!"
He thrust his palms forward, unleashing a blast of compressed air. Sakura's ears twitched, giving her just enough warning to dodge. The attack tore through the spot where she'd been standing, shredding bark and leaves.
Sakura didn't waste time responding. She charged forward, her enhanced legs propelling her faster than Zaku could track. Her fist connected with his jaw, sending him stumbling backwards.
Dosu moved to intercept, his melody arm humming with dangerous energy. But Sakura had learned from their earlier exchange. She dropped low, sweeping Dosu's legs out from under him. As he fell, she grabbed his gauntlet and wrenched it off his arm.
"Not so tough without your little toy, are you?" she taunted, tossing the gauntlet aside.
A flurry of senbon flew towards her. Sakura's ears twitched again, helping her pinpoint their trajectory. She twisted, avoiding most of them, though one grazed her cheek.
Kin smirked, more senbon at the ready. "You're not the only one who can learn, little rabbit."
Sakura's eyes narrowed. She charged forward, weaving between Kin's attacks. At the last second, she feinted left, then struck right. Her fist connected with Kin's solar plexus, driving the air from the other girl's lungs.
As Kin doubled over, gasping, Sakura grabbed a fistful of her long hair. With a vicious yank, she brought Kin's face down to meet her rising knee. There was a sickening crunch as Kin's nose broke.
Sakura spun, using Kin's body as a shield against another of Zaku's air blasts. The force sent both girls tumbling, but Sakura managed to roll with it, coming up in a crouch.
Her breath came in ragged gasps. The exhaustion from her earlier fight was catching up with her, and fresh bruises were blooming across her body. But she refused to give in.
Kotohime's hair lashed out like angry serpents. Sakura ducked and weaved, the strands missing her by mere inches. She retaliated with a handful of shuriken, forcing Kotohime to use her hair as a shield.
"What's wrong?" Sakura taunted. "Can't handle a little rabbit?"
Kotohime snarled, her hair writhing with fury. "I'll show you what I can handle!"
The living strands shot forward again, too many for Sakura to dodge completely. Several wrapped around her arms and legs, lifting her off the ground.
Sakura gritted her teeth, fighting against the constricting hair. With a burst of chakra, she managed to bring her hands together in a familiar seal.
"Hari Jizō!"
Once again, her pink locks and fur hardened into steel-like needles. They sliced through Kotohime's hair, freeing Sakura from her grasp.
As Sakura landed, Kamikiri rushed forward, his massive shears gleaming in the dim forest light. Sakura ducked under his first swing, the blades passing so close she could feel the wind of their passage.
She retaliated with a series of quick jabs, targeting the pressure points Hinata had shown her during their training sessions. Kamikiri's movements slowed, his arms growing heavy and unresponsive.
Taking advantage of his sluggishness, Sakura darted in close. She grabbed his wrist, twisting it sharply. The giant shears fell from his nerveless fingers.
But before Sakura could press her advantage, a blast of sound slammed into her. She stumbled, her ears ringing painfully. Dosu had retrieved his melody arm and was back in the fight.
Zaku joined in, unleashing another air blast. The combined attacks sent Sakura flying backwards. She crashed through several branches before slamming into a tree trunk.
Sakura slumped to the ground, gasping for air. Every inch of her body screamed in protest as she tried to push herself up.
The Sound ninja regrouped, advancing on her prone form. Despite their injuries, they still outnumbered her five to one.
"Just give up already," Zaku sneered. "You've put up a good fight, I'll give you that. But you're done."
Sakura glared up at them, defiance burning in her eyes. "I'll never give up," she spat. "Not to the likes of you."
Kamikiri retrieved his shears, testing their edge with a thumb. "Stubborn little bitch, aren't you?" he growled. "Fine. Have it your way."
He raised the massive blades, preparing for a killing blow. "Die, bitch!"
Sakura tried to dodge, but her exhausted body betrayed her. She stumbled, losing her footing on the uneven forest floor.
Time seemed to slow as the shears descended towards her. Sakura's mind raced, searching desperately for a way out. But her body refused to respond, muscles locked up from exhaustion and pain.
Just as the blades were about to connect, a blur of motion interposed itself between Sakura and certain death.
A hand shot out, grabbing Kamikiri's wrist in an iron grip. The shears stopped mere inches from Sakura's face.
Sakura's eyes widened as she took in the figure standing protectively over her. "Sasuke...?"
Sasuke stood tall, his grip on Kamikiri's arm unwavering. But something was... different. Strange markings covered half of his body, pulsing with an eerie light. The air around him seemed to warp and twist, filled with a malevolent chakra that made Sakura's skin crawl.
When Sasuke spoke, his voice was low and dangerous. "No one," he growled, "speaks to my wife that way."
Before anyone could react, Sasuke tightened his grip. There was a sickening crack as Kamikiri's arm broke like a dry twig.
Kamikiri screamed. Sasuke didn't even spare him a glance as he tossed the Sound ninja aside like a piece of trash.
The other Sound ninja stumbled back, fear evident in their eyes. They had thought Sakura was a formidable opponent, but this... this was something else entirely.
"S-Sasuke," Sakura stammered, struggling to her feet. "What... what happened to you?"
Sasuke turned to look at her, his Sharingan blazing. For a moment, Sakura thought she saw something soften in his gaze. But then he turned back to the Sound ninja, and his expression hardened once more.
"You hurt Sakura," he said, his voice dripping with cold fury. "For that, you'll pay."
The bandaged Sound ninja - the one Sakura hadn't fought directly - stepped forward, chakra gathering around her hands. But before she could make a move, Dosu grabbed her arm.
"No," he said, his voice tight with fear. "We need to retreat. Now."
"But-" the girl started to protest.
"Now!" Dosu snapped. "We're no match for him like this. We need to regroup."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "You think I'm going to let you leave?" he asked, taking a menacing step forward. "After what you did?"
The Sound ninja tensed, ready for a fight. But before things could escalate further, Sakura's legs gave out. She collapsed to her knees, the last of her strength finally spent.
Sasuke was at her side in an instant, supporting her with one arm while keeping his eyes on the enemy. The concern in his gaze was at odds with the malevolent aura still radiating from him.
"Sakura," he murmured. "Are you alright?"
Sakura managed a weak nod. "I'll... I'll be fine," she gasped out. "Just need to catch my breath."
Sasuke's jaw clenched. He clearly didn't want to let the Sound ninja escape, but he was unwilling to leave Sakura's side.
Finally, he turned back to the group, his Sharingan spinning ominously. "Get out of my sight," he snarled. "But know this - if I ever see any of you again, I won't hesitate. I'll kill you on sight, exam rules be damned."
The Sound ninja didn't need to be told twice. They gathered up their injured comrades and fled into the forest, not daring to look back.
Sasuke turned to Sakura, cradling her gently in his arms. Sakura's eyes were drawn to the strange, pulsing markings that covered half of his body. A knot of worry twisted in her gut.
"Sasuke..." she began, her voice trembling slightly. "That seal... are you sure it's safe?"
He brushed off her concern with a shake of his head. "I'm fine," he assured her, his eyes roving over her body as he checked her for injuries. "I'm more worried about you."
His gaze settled on her face, and something indescribable flickered in his eyes. "You know," he murmured, "I think this might be the most beautiful you've ever looked."
Heat flooded Sakura's cheeks at the unexpected compliment. Before she could formulate a response, Sasuke leaned in and captured her lips with his own.
Sakura froze, her mind struggling to process what was happening. Sasuke – her Sasuke – was kissing her! She had dreamed of this moment countless times, but nothing could have prepared her for the reality.
And yet... a small, nagging voice in the back of her mind reminded her that this might not be entirely Sasuke. That the strange markings, the surge of power, the uncharacteristic words and actions – they could all be a result of that ominous seal's influence.
But even as that worry gnawed at her, Sakura found herself melting into the kiss. She had waited so long for this, fantasized about it more times than she could count. And now that it was happening, she couldn't bring herself to pull away.
When they finally broke apart, Sakura was breathless, her cheeks flushed and her heart pounding. She searched Sasuke's face anxiously, half-afraid that he would dismiss the moment, push her away again like he so often did.
But the tenderness in his gaze held firm. In fact, as Sakura watched, the strange markings began to recede, fading from his skin until they disappeared entirely.
Sasuke tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering on her cheek. "Rest now," he murmured. "I'll watch over you."
Sakura wanted to protest, to ask him about the seal and what had just happened between them. But her eyelids were growing heavy, fatigue crashing over her in waves. Secure in Sasuke's arms, she allowed herself to drift off, her worries momentarily forgotten.
As sleep claimed her, she could have sworn she heard Sasuke whisper, "My wife..."
But perhaps it was just a dream.