Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ The Irony of it All ❯ Grass Nin Trouble ( Chapter 20 )

Chapter 20: Grass Nin Trouble

 

"Now, which one of you has the scroll?" the ninja sped forward, catching the group off guard. The ninja sped to Rayne's left, going after Sakura. Her eyes tracked him going in slow motion, Sakura barely had time to let her eyes widened however.

"Sakura!" She leaped to her left, grabbing her and the two of them fell to the ground. The ninja missed and did a flip, winding up behind them. Sasuke jumped up, doing a series of handsigns.

"Katon Housenko no Jutsu!" (Fire element, Phoenix Fire) Rayne and Sakura covered their heads as a rain of Sasuke's fire balls targeted the rain nin. The rain ninja managed to avoid all attacks and jumped up, meeting Sasuke in kunai combat. The two tried deflecting each other but both ended up jumping away from each other. The rain ninja then began jumping through the trees, Sasuke following.

"Sasuke, be careful!" Sakura yelled after him, scrambling to her feet and chasing Rayne who ran after the two.

"Sasuke!" Naruto yelled as the rain nin passed over a tiny clearing where a tied up Naruto was laying.

"You loser!" Sasuke threw a kunai that landed right next to Naruto, but cut his ropes.

"I see a weak spot, lucky me!" the rain nin announced. The ninja threw kunais at Sasuke but he jumped down, swinging on the branch. However, the kunais lodged themselves into the tree branch and when Sasuke swung down he realized they had exploding bombs attached.

"Kuso..." Sasuke cursed.

"Sasuke!" As the tags exploded Rayne grabbed Sasuke by the wrist and the two of them landed on the ground, both in kneeling positions. Just then, the rain ninja appeared right behind Sasuke, putting a kunai to his neck.

"If you move, I'll kill you."

"No you don't!" Rayne pulled out a shuriken only to have her wrist grasped by the rain ninja's free hand.

"Hand over the scroll," the ninja spoke.

"Sasuke!" Sakura exclaimed, having finally caught up. The ninja glanced back at their pink-haired teammate, giving Sasuke time to stand up. Naruto jumped over to the two guys, sending a kunai at the enemy. The ninja jumped up, releasing Rayne. Sasuke smirked.

"I didn't get him..." Naruto realized, crouching on the grass.

"You're always late, Naruto," Sasuke said as Rayne stood up. The kunai neared the ground. Sasuke lifted his foot, attracting the kunai to the soles of his shoe. He lifted his leg and kicked, sending the kunai flying at the rain nin. The kunai whizzed at the rain nin but he dodged it, watching it fly past him. In the meantime, Sasuke jumped up at the ninja with a kunai in each hand and as the rain nin turned around, there was Sasuke, piercing the ninja in the stomach with his kunai.

"Sasuke!" Sakura called out again.

"Sakura!" Rayne yelled, running toward her "Watch for his teammates!" Sakura gasped and fumbled for a kunai. Rayne's attention went up to Sasuke who had glanced down to her and Sakura, his Sharingan activated. The rain ninja broke away, blood flying from his wound. Rayne quickly reacted, jumping up to stop the ninja. Unfortunately, as she went to grab the ninja, he flung a kunai at her causing her to be caught off guard and fall down to the trees like the ninja's blood. Rayne was caught by Naruto and the two of them landed on a large tree branch. She hurriedly scrambled from his arms and stood on the branch, looking up to the rain nin.

"Coming alone was not a bright idea..." The rain ninja muttered before jumping off and disappearing through the trees. Sasuke stared after the ninja from the ground. “He got away...”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Team seven sat in a circle in a clearing surrounded by huge trees. Sasuke and Rayne wiped off the last bit of blood with the wet washcloth they had until they were both clean from the rain ninja's blood.

"If the four of us get separated, we can't trust anyone even if they look like one of us," Sasuke commented.

"Okay, we've got that...but what do we do about it?" Rayne asked, sitting in-between Sasuke and Sakura.

"We need a password," Sasuke said.

"Password?" Naruto echoed. Rayne looked across to him. "Yeah, that way if one of us approaches, we ask the password and if they don't get it right, we know it's an enemy."

Sakura nodded. "Alright, so what will it be?"

"I'm only gunna say it once so listen carefully," Sasuke ordered. They all nodded.

"First, you'll have to ask, 'What is the ninja song Ninki?'. The answer is 'It is a good chance when a large number of enemies are making a scene. There are no hideouts even in a quiet place. It is important for a ninja to know the right time. The time when an enemy is tired and has his guard down."

Sakura nodded confidently. "Okay."

"Man Sasuke, you sure know how to set the sinister mood, you should have sang it," Rayne said, leaning back on both arms.

"Rayne, this is serious!" Sakura said, looking over to her.

"So am I," she replied with a bored look.

"Um...can you say it again?" Naruto asked, making her and Sakura turn their attention back to him and Sasuke. Rayne shaking her head.

"Duh Sasuke, you should have chosen a simpler password, like 'cat'." Naruto sent her a short glare making her let out a soft chuckle.

Sasuke stood up. "No Naruto, I said I'd only say it once."

"Gosh Naruto, you couldn't remember that? I memorized it!"

“Wow Sakura, you want a award?” Rayne said clapping her hands. Sakura glared at her which she shrug her should and point to Sasuke. “It's okay Naruto, I didn't remember the whole thing either. No thanks to Sasuke. That's why it should be easly.”

"I just want to make sure I heard everything right," Naruto said quickly toward Sakura and Sasuke. He then grins at Rayne.

"I'll keep the scroll," Sasuke said.

Naruto and Rayne stared up at him. "Why?"

Sakura glared over at the two. "Don't question Sasuke, Rayne, Naruto!" Rayne glared at her but took the scroll from her bag and tossed it to Sasuke.

"But wait Sasuke..." Naruto started as Sasuke put the scroll away. "Ouch!" Everyone turned their attention as he let out his gasp of pain.

"Naruto what-" Rayne stopped as blood trickled from a cut on Naruto's right cheek.

“What the...” Rayne jerk her head behind her, not listening to anyone else.

"Rayne?" Sakura questioned, worry racking her voice.

“No way…” Rayne then jumped up and glance at her three teammates. All of a sudden, a huge blast of wind whipped through the trees. Not just a gust of wind, like a whole whirlwind, from the ground to the tips of the trees. All of team seven planted their feet to the ground, hands protecting their faces, except for Rayne, crouching on the ground. She then jumped high above and scream over the wind,

“Hey, losers,” causing the three to perk their ear up. “Don't die!” She then landed somewhere in the forest, away from the group.

“Rayne!" she heard someone holler over the wind. Yards from their group, three ninjas appeared. One was the grass ninja girl from earlier, who had handed Anko back her kunai.

"You two go have fun somewhere else," the girl spoke and her two teammates disappeared.

 

(SASUKE'S POV)

I hid under a bush, a kunai out wondering where Rayne went. What did she mean by what she said? “Hey losers, don't die!” Just then I sensed something. I stood and looked behind me. I eased a bit as I saw it was only Sakura.

"Sasuke!" she sighed with relief. She ran forward but I quickly reacted. I halted her, kunai out. "Ninki?" She stopped.

"Oh, right! It is a good chance when a large amount of enemies are making a scene. There are no hideouts even in a quiet place. It's important for a ninja to know the right time. The time when an enemy is tired and his guard is down." I relaxed, bringing my kunai down. I guess I was relieved. I look around, looking for any traces of Rayne. I guess Sakura was wondering the same thing.

"Where… where's Rayne?"

"I don't know..." Suddenly, Rayne land about five feet away from us. I jerk my head and face her,

“Ninki?” I ask. She groans and put her hand under her chin in a thinking position.

“Something about enemies… time, and when they're guard is down?” She then gave a frustrated sigh and glare at me,

“How should I remember you cross-dressing idiot? I did recommend a shorter password `cause I couldn't remember every detail.” I saw Sakura glare at her as I lower my kunai and nod. She then walks up and stood next to us.

“Where's Naru?”

"Hey everyone! Are you guys okay?" I stood up straight as Sakura and I looked over to see Naruto running up to us.

"Naruto! Wait!" Sakura halted Naruto with an outstretched arm. "Password?"

Naruto stopped with that stupid grin on his face. "Oh, yeah. It is a good chance when a large amount of enemies are making a scene. There are no hideouts even in a quiet place. It's important for a ninja to know the right time. The time when an enemy is tired and his guard is down."


(THIRD PERSON POV)

Sasuke threw a kunai at Naruto, which Naruto jumped to his left and fell to the ground to dodge.

"Hey! What the hell Sasuke!" Naruto shouted.

"So this time we have someone good enough to dodge an attack..." Sasuke spoke.

"Sasuke! He got the password right!" Sakura exclaimed.

"That's the problem," Sasuke responded.

"What?" Sakura asked.

"Remember when Rayne asked why I picked such a long password?" Sakura nodded as she glance at the other raven hair teammate behind them.

"It's because I knew Naruto would never be able to remember it. This password wasn't so much as for us, but for those who just happened to be listening." Sakura's eyes widened with understanding as the imposter Naruto rose to his feet.

"Plus, the way he dodged that kunai is much different than the way Naruto would have dodge it," Sasuke spoke. "Naruto's" astonished expression turned into a sly grin. His tounge appeared, running over his lips in a hungry manner.

"I see, you are a cunning one, Sasuke-kun." In a large blast of smoke, the grass ninja girl appeared, straw hat slightly tilted over her face. The ninja removed her hat with a sinister smile. "You never let your guard down, do you?" Sasuke's eyes hardened as he moved in front of Rayne and Sakura.

The girl chuckled. "It looks like I can have more fun than I expected..." she licked her lips again, the long tongue reaching way past her lips.

“She's so creepy...” Sakura shuddered, a serious expression on her face. Sasuke glare at the rain nin.

“So we have one teammate missing…”

“Rayne.” He called behind him. However, the grass nin smirk.

~~~~~~~~~~

Naruto's back was on the ground, his legs resting clumsily on a tree trunk, a large skid mark in the dirt trailed him.

"Ouch..." Naruto moaned, managing to flip himself in the right position. Naruto got to his knees and looked around. "Hey...where did Sakura, Rayne and Sasuke go?" Naruto looked up, his face whitening along with his eyes as a large shadow loomed over him. The shadow belonged to a large snake. No, a LARGE snake, where as if it was stretched out would be as long as two of the Forest of Death's trees.

"I-it's HUGE!" Naruto exclaimed. Naruto's mouth hung open as the snake's tounge rattled and it neared the blonde. Naruto stared at the snake and jumped out of the way as the snake lunged at him, it's head crashing and knocking over the tree. Naruto tripped over on his landing and landed on his bum, staring up at the huge snake. Naruto moved to get away but the snake's tail lunged out and wrapped Naruto in its endless body. Naruto struggled against the hold but only just got him squeezed harder. Naruto yelled out in terror as the snake opened its massive jaw and swallowed Naruto whole.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Sakura and Sasuke watched as the grass ninja slowly pulled an earth scroll out with a smirk. Rayne walking in front of the two but closer toward Sasuke.

"You want this don't you?" the girl asked, holding the scroll up to her face. The girl once again licked her lips before placing the top of the scroll in her mouth and pushed it in, swallowing it. Sakura screamed and Sasuke let out a gasp of terror and confusion.

"Now...let's begin..." The girl pulled down an eyelid. "Let's fight with our lives." Sasuke's eyes widen as he was on the stomach by Rayne, who swiftly turn around and kick him.

“Sasuke!” Sakura cried watching him fly backward. He looks up at Rayne.

“Rayne! What are you doing?!” He shouted. Rayne smirk and threw a kunai up and down with her right hand.

“You're smart…” She then caught it and went into a throwing position. “But you have a weak spot with this girl!” She then threw the kunai at Sasuke.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

“Where are you…” Rayne softly whisper jumping from tree to tree. She finally caught sight of it, red. She continues following it, oblivious to the people trailing her.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sasuke roll over to dodge the Kunai thrown. Sasuke and Sakura's eyes then widened as the grass nin came into view and `Rayne' vanish. Suddenly, everything around them disappeared. They were surrounded by an orange light, their bodies being torn apart, blood coming from every part of their bodies. Then everything went black as images of kunais piercing their heads came to them. Then it stopped. The two fell back breathing deeply. Sasuke threw up as tears whiled in Sakura's eyes. Sasuke managed to sit up, glancing to the girl. “She...she just made us witness our deaths....” Sasuke glanced over at Sakura, tears pouring down her face. “She's worse off than me...” Sasuke tried to get to his feet but just got knocked back on his backside. He breathed heavily. Sweat ran down Sasuke's face as he stared at the grass ninja. “She did...she showed us our deaths...she's just out to kill...if we stay here...we die!” The grass woman stood in front of the two, her eyes closed and a smile on her face.

"Sakura?" Sasuke turned towards his teammate but it was useless. The female sat there, shaking with tears still pouring uncontrollably. The woman stared, death in her eyes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Get me out!" Naruto yelled from inside the snake as it slithered threw the forest.

"Let me out!" He hollered again, repeatedly stabbing the inside of the snake with his kunai.

"Dammit!" Naruto yelled as his crushed body was pushed further down the snake's body. Naruto struggled, pulling out his riceball but he dropped it and it immediately disappeared in the acid of the snake's stomach.

Naruto let out a yell of horror. "Am I gunna melt like that riceball!?" Naruto was moved down a bit more and he clutched at the snake's insides in terror.

"No! Let me out! Let me out!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rayne finally stop at a clearing.

“Stupid weasel! Come out!” She shouts to the trees. She heard chuckles behind her.

“Weasel? So you only came out here because you saw him? Huh,” She turn around to see Ichiro and this gang, him and Chikara smirking while the two girls were smiling sadly

“It's time for you to join us, Rayne-sama” Chikara said, with his smirk still on his face. Rayne growl, reach behind her and flung kunais at the two. The two girls ran back into the forest, leaving the two boys to fight her.

“We'll go get the rest!” Mitsuko shouted behind her back with Chikara nodding and faced her,

“We'll take care of Rayne-sama” Ichiro smile at Rayne.

“You'll see soon enough, Rayne-sama. You only belong to us, only protect by us, and only need us, no emotions whatsoever.” Rayne glare at the two boys,

“I don't' know what's going on but,” Rayne close her eyes and reopen them to show that she activated her sharingan. Rayne went into her fighting stance and smirk,

“Come.”

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You can't move, right?" the girl smirked. Sasuke tried his hardest to stand up, but he just couldn't. “She's going to kill us! Move! MOVE!” Sasuke's hands slowly reached for a kunai. “Move!” Shakily, Sasuke pulled the kunai from it's holster. “Move!” Slowly, Sasuke managed to get shakily to his feet, but his form was hunched over slightly. “Come on, move!”

The girl smirk. "And just what are you going to do with that kunai?"

“I...can't move!”

"Relax, I'll end this quickly..." the girl spoke, taking out two kunai and walking towards Sasuke and Sakura. "You won't have time to suffer." Sasuke's eyes widened. “Move body! MOVE!” The girl raised the kunai and in a few seconds, they were released from her hands.

“MOVE!”

There was a splatter of blood.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The snake coiled around itself, sleeping in a clearing.

“Am...am I going to die here?” A picture of a smiling Iruka flashed in Naruto's mind. “Iruka-sensei...old man Hokage...Konohamaru...Kakashi-sensei...Sakura-chan...Sasuke....”< br>
Naruto's eyes widened. “That's right! I have to beat him!” Naruto's fingers managed to get together and began to handsigns.

“And there's also....” Suddenly the snake was blown to pieces from the inside. "Rayne-chan!"


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Blood was spilled on the ground in front of the grass ninja's shadow. She stared at the blood with a smile as Sasuke and Sakura sat in front of her no more. Kunais stuck into

the tree behind where Sasuke's and Sakura's heads were moments before.

The girl smiled. "I see. So you overcame fear with pain." Behind a thick tree, Sasuke looked out at the girl. Sakura sat beside him, staring at the kunai in Sasuke's leg. Sasuke breathed heavily, glancing down at his leg as well.

The girl smiled. "Very good Sasuke but..." the girl walked over toward the `Rayne' from before. “What about your other teammate?”

"Sasuke we-" Sakura began, but Sasuke put a hand over her mouth, watching the grass ninja and `Rayne' with an angry expression.

“Rayne… where is she?! Did the grass nin capture her…? We have to leave but we can't just leave no knowing where Rayne is…”

“Sasuke looks so worried...” Sakura thought. Sakura's eyes widened as a shadow loomed over them. Sakura pulled against Sasuke's arm and once she finally got free.

"Sasuke! SNAKE!" Sasuke looked to his left where a huge snake lunged at them. Sasuke let out a yell and him and Sakura jumped away.

"I didn't even realize!" Sasuke yelled, jumping onto a tree branch. Sakura landed on the opposite tree branch watching the large snake wind itself around a tree trunk. The snake latched out at Sasuke again but he jumped away again. Sasuke's eyes widened in horror as the snake's face turned into the face of the girl for a split second.

"Don't get near me!" Sasuke yelled in terror, throwing shuriken at the snake. The snake shreiked in terror and its head fell on a tree trunk, blood pouring from its mouth. Sasuke landed on another tree branch, panting.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

“Come.” At that one word, Ichiro and Chikara dash toward Rayne. She manage to block the attacks from Chikara and lay a few blow herself on him. However, when Ichiro came, she jump back a few feet. Ichiro ran head on at her, attempting to punch her in the stomach. Rayne crouch down and swirl her leg in a circle motion kicking Ichiro's feet from under him. However, he bend backwards, hands on the ground and kick her jaw upward into the air. He was now in a handstand and twirl his hands around while spreading his legs out and kicking her in the stomach. Rayne flip in the air and started doing hand signs.

“Mizu no Muchi” A water whip form in her right hand. She then made the whip wrap around the trunk of a tree, helping her land.

“Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu!”

“FÅ«ton: Daitoppa!” Rayne heard from behind her. She saw the familiar big flame ball aiming toward her. She manage to dodge that but right after it was a big gust of wind blowing her from her feet.

“Kaze Geashi!” She mutters and deflect the wind.

“HyÅton: Tsubame Fubuki!” she shouted and ice needles appear. She grab a few and threw them at the tw-? There was only one boy now, Chikara. Rayne threw ice at him but look around her for Ichiro. While landing on a tree she make handsigns.

“Secret art: shadow raven jutsu!” A big black raven appear from the sky and cover Rayne. It then fold it's wings and vanish. Chikara, after deflecting all the needles look up to see Rayne vanishing. He growl and glance around. Rayne appear behind him and kick him in the back, hard. He flew threw the air and crash into the trees. Rayne dash toward him but was caught from behind by Ichiro. She kick him and face him, forgetting Chikara for a moment. At that moment, Chikara grab Rayne from behind. Rayne stuggle in his grip but Ichiro walk calmly up to her and lift her chin so she can face him.

“I hate you so much right now Ichi-!” Rayne's eyes widen as she was cut off by Ichiro kissing her. She felt him push something into her mouth and force her to swallow it. He step back and smirk at the dozing off girl in front of him.

“You'll see soon enough, Rayne-sama,” Was the last thing before Rayne fell unconscious. Ichiro carries her bridal style and jump into the forest with Chikara following.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You can't let your guard down even for a second, Sasuke-kun," the ninja spoke. "Prey always need to be on the lookout for their predators.” Sasuke's eyes widened as the snake's body cracked open and out came the grass ninja. She then face to her left, Sasuke following her gaze turning to his right.

“Ah it looks like they got her.” Sakura also follow her gaze and gasp. Ichiro and Chikara appear from the forest with an unconscious Rayne in Ichiro's arms. Ichiro smirk at seeing Sasuke's glaring face. He stops and gently stroke Rayne's face.

"Don't touch her!" Sasuke growl as the grass nin went to take her from Ichiro's arms. The girl stopped while both she and Sakura looked up to Sasuke at his call.

“Sasuke… he really cares from Rayne….” Sakura thought solemly, “He never care for me like that…” She shook her head, she should be thinking of how to get out of this situation, nothing else. The grass nin smirked.

"You want this girl back?"

Sasuke scowled. "Give Rayne back to us!" The girl smiled hauntily. She licked her lips. "I don't know if I want to..." Her tongue went out further, licking Rayne's neck and face. Rayne's body simply went limp.

“Rayne!" Sasuke called out. The girl smirked, neck jolting out at Sasuke.

"This is going to be fun." As the grass nin's neck shot out to Sasuke, she was stopped by a rain of weapons. She stopped and cluelessly looked up.

"Sorry Sasuke...." Sasuke turned around. There stood Naruto, high up in a tree, several trees away with his arms crossed and a smirk set on his face.

"I forgot the password."

"Naruto!" Sakura cried out in relief. The grass ninja wasn't happy however and sent Naruto a look of pure hatred.

"Naruto! Don't get involved!" Sasuke shouted. "Run! This ninja's way above you!"

"Sasuke, don't-!" then Naruto stopped. He looked from Sasuke to Sakura. "Where's Rayne?"

"Look's like you've defeated my snake, Naruto?" Naruto looked to the grass ninja who was pulling her neck back into her normal body formed. His eyes widened to see Rayne in his arms. He stared at her unconscious form for a moment before turning to glare at Sasuke. "Sasuke, you idiot! How did Rayne get into her clutches!"

"It wasn't my fault!" Sasuke yelled back. The grass ninja chuckled, causing everyone to turn their attention to her. She stared at Naruto.

"You too then? Is this girl that important to you?" Naruto scowled as the grass ninja ran a finger down her cheek and neck. Sasuke stared at the grass ninja. “What...what can I do? I need to get Rayne out of there...or she'll be killed for sure....”

"So you're picking on the defenseless! Well you pick the wrong person to pick on!" Naruto yelled down to the grass ninja. "Well now that Uzamaki Naruto has arrived, I'm gunna beat you to a pulp! That's Ray-nee-chan you're holding and I won't let you take her from me!"

“Crap! We're all going to die at this rate!” Sasuke clenched his teeth while the grass nin look at Naruto with an amuse face, along with Ichiro and Chikara.

“Sasuke....” Sakura worried from a tree away. Sasuke deactivate his Sharingan. “It's the only thing we can do....”

"Wait...." Naruto's smirk vanished and he looked to Sasuke, as did the grass ninja. Sasuke reached into his kunai pouch and pulled out the group's Heaven scroll.

“Take this, give us back Rayne and leave us in peace." Sakura's and Naruto's eyes widened. “What!?” The grass ninja smirked.

"Sasuke! What are you doing!?" Naruto yelled. "You're just gunna hand over our scroll!"

"Shut up!" Sasuke snapped, turning to Naruto's form.

"What!" Naruto stepped back slightly.

"I see, you are smart. The only option for a prey is to hand the predator something else in order to save itself," the ninja spoke.

"Take it," Sasuke said, tossing the scroll to the grass nin. With a flash of orange, the scroll was taken into Naruto's hand and he landed on Sasuke's branch.

"You! Don't butt in!" Sasuke yelled at Naruto, turning to him.

"Shut up!" Naruto yelled as he turned around, pulled back a fist, and punch Sasuke. Sasuke's eyes widened as he was knocked back, flew, and landed two trees away. He wiped away the blood coming from his mouth, glaring over at Naruto.

“What...what are you doing!?" Naruto breathed heavily, looking over at Sasuke. "I may have forgoteen the password, so maybe I can't be exactly sure...but, I know, you can't be the real Sasuke."

"Naruto! What are you saying!" Sakura shouted.

"You idiot! I am the real Sasuke!"

"The idiot and coward I see in front of me isn't the Sasuke I know. The Sasuke I know wouldn't give up without a fight. The Sasuke I know wouldn't act so defenseless. The Sasuke I know...wouldn't waste anytime when a comrade is in danger! Especially Ray-nee-chan!" This took Sasuke aback slightly. Sasuke's gaze moved over to Rayne's unconscious form in the grass ninja's arms. “Rayne...”

"I may not know how strong he is..." Naruto continued, attracting Sasuke's attention again. "But there is no way that this is all there is."

Sasuke's eyes hardened. "You idot! Even if we did fight, Rayne would get hurt!"

"So we get her back first!" Naruto immediately yelled in response. There was a silence between the two, a faint wind blowing threw their hair. Sakura watch, her eyes wide. The grass ninja smirk. "You really want Rayne-chan back this badly?" All of her teammates looked over. The grass ninja held her tighter.

"Then you really will have to put up a fight because Rayne-chan, is mine. She's my path for victory."

“Victory?” Sasuke echoed in his mind.

“What is this woman talking about?” Naruto's eyes were wide. The girl smirked again. "Now this fight has gotten very interesting...." Sakura's eyes widened slowly as the grass nin brushed the bangs from Rayne's face as her's got closer to Rayne's. The ninja's tongue hung out only slightly as her mouth neared Rayne's.

Thwump

Two kunai were embedded in the bark behind where the ninja's head had been moments before. The girl smirked before looking up at an angry Sasuke. She chuckled.

"Very interesting Sasuke-kun....very interesting..." Through Naruto's own anger, he managed to think calmly to himself. “Why does this grass chick keep saying 'kun' and 'chan'?” He glanced to Sasuke.

"Now..." the grass ninja flip Rayne over and hand her back to Ichiro then face the group again,

"I think it's time to kill you all." The grass ninja bit her finger. Placing her now bloody finger at the top of her forearm and spread a line of blood down her arm through the tatoo. Naruto scowled, taking out a kunai and rushing at the female.

"Stop messing with us!"

"Naruto! No!" Sasuke yelled. Naruto just kept running. He jumped up, coming down at the grass nin with his kunai.

"Summoning move," the ninja muttered before quickly starting a series of handsigns. Another whirlwind of wind came, pushing Naruto back. Trees started breaking apart and in their place was another large snake, exactly the same as Naruto had faced earlier. The grass nin stood on the snake's head.

"Naruto!" Sakura yelled as the snake rose, going after Naruto's airborne body. As the head got over Naruto's body, it came crashing down but Naruto moved out of the way, the snake's head merely smashing into the tree behind Naruto.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Outside the clearing, three chuunins stood, observing the scene in front of them. Blood splattered over the Buddist statues. In front of the white statues were three bodies.

"So three dead grass ninja?" one spoke.

"This is...amazing..." one spoke, scratching his head. "Go, alert the Second Examiner there is a problem, tell her to come here immediately."

"Yes." one of the chuunin disappeared.

~~~~~~~~

"Ah, nothing beats the sweet taste of Danga..." Anko said, munching on her dumpling from atop a trading stand. Anko took a sip of her soda.

"I guess after this I'll go to the tower before the early birds get there." Anko ate the last of her dumplings and thew the toothpick over to a tree, where she had formed the leaf symbol out of toothpicks. The chuunin appeared on the ground, immediately reporting.

"Anko, we have a problem!" Anko clapped her legs together several times.

"What is it?"

"Corpses! Three of them!" the chuunin responded. Anko responded with a bored look.

"There's something strange about them. Please come with me," the chuunin pressed.

"Strange?"

~~

Anko stood in front of the three corpses.

"They were three genin of the Grass Village, here for the Chuunin Exam," one of the chuunins told Anko.

"But as you can see..." another one spoke.

"They're faces...wiped clean off...." Anko spoke. Her face grew grim as her right hand clamped over the left side of her neck. Sweat ran down Anko's face as she held her neck. “There's no doubt...this technique...it's defiantly his....”

"Show me the pictures of the grass ninja," Anko ordered. “Why is he here?”

"Right away..." the chuunin handed over the pictures of the grass nin.

Anko's eyes widened. “No....”

"Here's your knife..." the grass nin with a long tounge handed Anko back her kunai.

"Thank you."

Anko shook her head, remembering the memory.

"This is serious. You three let Hokage-sama know about this right away. Tell him we need reinforcements in the Forest of Death, stat!"

"Yes!" The three chuunin disappeared and Anko clenched her neck again. “What is he doing back in Konoha?”

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Naruto panted, kneeling on a tree branch. The ninja's snake stared down at Naruto, it's tounge going in and out.

"Such cute pray...don't you think Rayne-chan?" the ninja spoke, her tongue coming out again and licking her cheek, her head on Ichiro's forearm.

"Stop touching her!" Naruto yelled in anger. The grass ninja chuckled.

"Are you going to come save Rayne-chan?" she turned her head at Sasuke. "How about you Sasuke-kun?" The snake's tail lashed out, breaking the branch Naruto was on.

"Naruto!" Sasuke yelled out. Naruto fell, crashing threw branch after branch as he fell to the ground. Naruto finally hit a branch that he didn't break through and blood squirted out of his mouth. Sasuke watched with clenched teeth before closing his eyes and looking down. Naruto fell towards the snake's mouth. The snake's tongue slithered,

“Naruto…kun…” Rayne mutter, making Ichiro look down at her.

“Huh, Naruto-kun.” He said loudly. “Even unconscious you call out to them.” Naruto, hearing both Rayne and Ichiro, opened his red eyes. He did a backflip in the air.

"What!?" the grass ninja called out as the snake retracted and Naruto flew backwards, staring at them with a demonic look. The grass nin narrowed her eyes.

"Is this kid....?"

“Ray-nee-chan called me…” Naruto cried out loudly before pulling his arm back into a fist and lunging himself forward. “Ray-nee-chan? What's his connection with her…” The grass nin thought on the snake. With anger, Naruto began a furry of punched to the snake's nose.

"Naruto's...gone beserk..." Sakura spoke. The snake's tongue whacked Naruto off, sending him flying backwards. Naruto just went right back but the grass ninja opened her hand, palm facing up and blew, a huge fireball now flying and encasing Naruto. Naruto let out a cry of pain and fell down again, soon landing hard on a branch.

"Those eyes...I am sure of it now," the girl spoke, staring at Naruto.

"Th-that's Naruto?" Sasuke asked himself.

"Okay now..." the girl turned to Sasuke. "It's your turn." Sasuke tensed up.

"Sasuke-kun...how will you fight?" The large snake lunged at Sasuke.

 

“Who are you?” A young boy asked the little girl while crouching down. He move some hair out of her eyes and she looked up at him with her dark purple eyes.

“K-Kouseki Rayne…” She mutter softly the boy had to strain his ear to hear. He gave a hn and stood up.

“Uchiha Itachi.” Rayne look up, seeing his hand. She took his hand and he pulled her up. She cautiously look around.

“Is… is he still here?” Itachi look at her with an eyebrow raise.

“Who?”

“That… that man. The one that…” her eyes widen and she gasp and glance around.

“What's wrong?” Rayne look at Itachi and grab his hand pulling him.

“My brother! Please help me look for him!”

 

“Sasuke! Move!” Sakura shout at Sasuke, the grass nin coming closer.

 

 

“Itachi? Itachi-sensei?” Itachi turn slightly and glance at the girl behind him, looking at him with her purple eyes. “Where are you going?” the boy, Itachi search the little girls' eyes, looking for something.

“With an Uchiha…” He started. Rayne tilt her head in confusion.

“Uchiha?” Rayne echoed.

“Sasuke!” Naruto yulled, taking off from his branch as Sasuke stood, paralyze in fear.

“Aren't you an Uchiha, Itachi-senei?” Itach bend down to her level and put a hand on hear head.

“Take care of him…”

“Who?”

“He will be…”

“What?”

“Nevermind. You might not ever learn. When the time comes, I'll come back, okay Rayne…chan.” Rayne beamed at him, he never called her Rayne-chan before. She nodded enthusiastically

“Okay Itachi-sensei!”

 

 

"SASUKE!"

Everyone gasped. Naruto slowly turned around as he held the snake off from getting to Sasuke. Sasuke stared, wide-eyed, as did Sakura.

"Sas...uke..." Rayne murmur.

“Rayne?" Sasuke whispered. The grass nin's eyes hardened as she slowly turned her head to look at her. Her eyes were clear, like she was in a dream state but she twitch her hand a bit.

"Sasuke...help...me..." She managed to get out before slipping back into unconsciousness and saying, “Ita…” Sasuke stood, staring at her with wide eyes. He watched her unmoving body as the grass ninja smirked. "Well well...."

 

“I have to hurry....” Anko told herself as she quickly hopped through the forest.

"Rayne..." Naruto muttered. “She saved us… again…”

“Ra-Rayne?” Sakura worried in her mind. “Wha..wha....” Suddenly a tongue wrapped itself around Naruto's body, lifting him up.

"Minor set back. I didn't expect Rayne-chan to outburst like that.... especially to..." the grass nin's eyes set on Sasuke.

"Hey! Let go you snake bastard!" Naruto hollered, drawing the ninja's attention back to him. The girl's tounge brought Naruto closer to her so that they were only a few feet away. The girl preformed a simple handsign as her face got closer to Naruto's. On the girl's right hand, each fingertip started to glow an eerie purple. The end of her tongue lifted up Naruto's jacket, revealing his bare stomach.

“So...it has surfaced?” the girl questioned as a black seal was shown on Naruto's skin.

"Gogyo Fuuin!" (five element seal) The girl brought back her hand and then shoved them into Naruto's stomach. Naruto let out a death curling scream as the girl's purple fingers met with his flesh.

"Sasuke! Please help Naruto!" Sakura screamed. Sasuke just stood there, still staring at Rayne. Naruto's eyes quivered momentarily before they closed as he slipped in unconsciousness. “Ray…nee…chan…”Naruto fell limp and the girl released him and he hurtled toward the ground, crashing through tree branch after branch. The girl held up the Heaven scroll that she had taken from Naruto before she had dropped him.

"Naruto!" Sakura called out. She took out a kunai and flung it at Naruto. The kunai caught Naruto's jacket, pinning him to a tree. Then Sakura turned to Sasuke.

"Sasuke, what's wrong?" tears whelled in Sakura's eyes before they hardened, she stared at Sasuke. "Naruto may be a nusence...he may be dumb...but...but...but at least he's not a coward!" Sasuke's eyes widened before he closed his eyes. The shadow of that man played at the edges of his mind, those piercing eyes....

 

"Foolish broher. If you wish to kill me, hate me, detest me and survive in unsightly ways. Run...run...."

Sasuke shook from his painful memories. His face scrunched in anger and rememberance.

 

"Run and cling to life"

Sasuke opened his eyes, Sharingan shining bold. “No!” The grass ninja smirked. “He's definatly part of the Uchiha Clan. His blood must be making him excited....” Sasuke stared hardly at the ninja, Sharingan growing stronger with his chakra. Sakura smiled with relief.

“Sasuke-kun..." The snake disappeared from underneath the grass ninja, leaving her on a high branch opposite of Sasuke. She smirked. Sasuke stared.

“Rayne....I will save you....”