Chunin Exams 3 -The forest of Death
After Anko's flashy entrance, we were off to the Forest of Death with the Heaven Scroll in hand. The tension was palpable, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to go horribly wrong. I knew Orochimaru, the Snake Sannin, was out there. The thought of crossing paths with him sent chills down my spine, but I tried to reassure myself. With Itachi-sensei still in the village, maybe the invasion wouldn't even happen.
Naruto was busy distributing the scrolls we would need to get through the exam. After some discussion, we decided it was best to wait deeper in the forest and set up camp. The atmosphere in the forest was thick with unease; every rustle of leaves and snap of twigs had us on edge.
As we were setting up, a cold voice echoed through the trees, dripping with mockery. "Well, what do we have here? The fabled Uchiha, the loudmouth Jinchūriki, and... the pink-haired girl."
I felt a shiver run down my spine as Orochimaru appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. His presence was suffocating, and I could see Sasuke tensing beside me, Sharingan spinning to life. The fight began in a blur of motion. Orochimaru was terrifyingly fast, dodging Sasuke's fire jutsus with ease, his movements almost playful as he toyed with us.
### The Fight Begins
My heartbeat drummed in my ears as Orochimaru's mocking voice cut through the tension. His presence was overwhelming, an aura of malice that sent shivers down my spine. But I didn't let fear paralyze me. If I did, we were as good as dead.
Sasuke was the first to move, hurling a barrage of shuriken at Orochimaru, his Sharingan eyes tracking every movement. Orochimaru didn't even flinch, casually dodging the projectiles with a smirk that made my blood boil.
"Stay focused, Sakura," I whispered to myself, forming a string of hand seals. "Lightning Release: Lightning Petal Storm!"
The air crackled as countless petals of lightning surged forward, each one aimed precisely at Orochimaru. But the Sannin was faster, weaving through the storm with an almost lazy grace. My eyes widened in frustration as he sidestepped my attacks effortlessly.
"Sasuke, cover me!" I shouted, drawing my kunai as I charged toward Orochimaru.
Sasuke didn't need to be told twice. He followed up with a Fireball Jutsu, forcing Orochimaru to leap back to avoid the searing flames. I used the distraction to close the distance, my kunai slicing through the air with deadly intent.
Orochimaru blocked my strike with a flick of his wrist, his movements so smooth it was as if he knew what I was going to do before I even did it. He retaliated with a snake-like strike of his own, his hand moving so fast that I barely had time to react.
I parried with my kunai, the force of his blow sending a shockwave through my arm. But I didn't back down. I twisted my body, using the momentum to bring my leg up in a powerful kick aimed at his side.
Orochimaru caught my foot mid-air, a grin spreading across his face. "Impressive… for a genin."
With a sharp twist, he threw me back, my body crashing into the ground. I gasped, the wind knocked out of me, but I forced myself to roll to the side just as a massive snake lunged at me, summoned by Orochimaru.
"Wind Release: Gale Palm!" I shouted, slamming my hands together and sending a powerful gust of wind at the snake. The force was enough to knock it off course, its massive body crashing into the trees.
But Orochimaru was already moving, a blur of motion as he struck at Naruto, his hand glowing with dark chakra. Before Naruto could react, Orochimaru slammed the Five-Prong Seal into his stomach, the sinister energy crackling as it disrupted Naruto's chakra flow. Naruto's eyes widened in shock before his body went limp, collapsing onto the ground.
"Damn it, Naruto!" I rushed to his side, panic flaring in my chest. But there was no time to check on him. Sasuke had moved to confront Orochimaru head-on, but even he was struggling. Orochimaru's speed was terrifying, his attacks relentless. Sasuke's Sharingan could barely keep up.
I pushed myself to my feet, ignoring the pain that lanced through my body. "I won't let you touch him!" I screamed, forming the seals for my next jutsu. "Lightning Release: Lightning Flash!"
A blinding bolt of lightning erupted from my hands, aimed directly at Orochimaru. He leapt back to avoid it, but I was already on the move. I followed up with a barrage of kunai, each one infused with chakra to increase its speed and power.
But Orochimaru was relentless. He dodged my attacks with ease, his eyes gleaming with sadistic amusement. And then, with a swift, almost casual movement, he struck Sasuke down, rendering him unconscious.
"No!" I screamed as Orochimaru advanced toward Sasuke, his hand glowing ominously with the Curse Mark. Desperation clawed at my chest, and I charged at him, using all the chakra I could muster. "Get away from him!" I shouted, forming hand signs rapidly.
I managed to jutsu him away, sending a powerful bolt of lightning that temporarily forced him back. For a moment, Orochimaru looked at me with genuine surprise, his eyes calculating as if reassessing my worth.
But the fight wasn't over. Blood was running down my face from a cut on my forehead, my breath ragged as I tried to stand my ground. Orochimaru's eyes darkened with sadistic glee, and I knew I was outmatched.
Before I could react, he struck again, and everything went black.
---
When I came to, the first thing I noticed was the damp, cold stone beneath me. My head throbbed, and my vision was blurry. I was in a cave, the walls slick with moisture. The dim light barely illuminated my surroundings, but I could make out the figures of Orochimaru's subordinates nearby.
"So you're awake," one of them sneered, a man with a cruel glint in his eyes. "You'll be coming with us, little Konoha kunoichi."
They were planning to take me out of the village. My mind raced, trying to think of a way out. I couldn't let them succeed. As they talked amongst themselves, I quietly began to heal myself, using the cover of darkness to hide my actions.
When I felt strong enough, I made my move. Channeling chakra into my hands, I launched myself at one of the subordinates, striking him with a well-placed palm. He staggered back, but before I could follow up, another shinobi—one of Orochimaru's sound attackers—appeared and blasted me away with a powerful sound wave. I hit the cave wall hard, my body screaming in pain.
Dizzy and disoriented, I felt myself being caught by Orochimaru himself. His grip was like iron, and I could barely move as he pulled me close, his serpentine eyes boring into mine.
"Such potential… wasted on a mere girl," he hissed, amusement lacing his voice.
Just as darkness threatened to consume me once more, a new presence filled the cave. The temperature seemed to drop as a chilling wave of power washed over us. I felt Orochimaru's grip loosen slightly, and I looked up to see a figure standing at the entrance of the cave.
Itachi-sensei.
His Mangekyō Sharingan was blazing, the red eyes reflecting the cave's dim light as they locked onto Orochimaru. The air around him seemed to pulse with energy, his very presence dominating the space.
"Orochimaru," Itachi's voice was cold, devoid of emotion. "Step away from her."
Orochimaru's grin faltered for the first time, his eyes narrowing as he regarded Itachi. "Itachi… It seems I've lingered too long."
Before I could fully process what was happening, Orochimaru released me, his serpentine form retreating into the shadows. "We'll meet again, little one," he whispered, his voice fading into the darkness.
I crumpled to the ground, my body trembling with exhaustion. Itachi was at my side in an instant, his hand on my shoulder as he checked me over.
"It's okay, Sakura," he said softly, his voice a stark contrast to the deadly aura he had just exuded. "You're safe now."
I nodded weakly, unable to find the words to respond. The ordeal had left me shaken, but the sight of Itachi standing between me and the darkness was enough to bring me back from the edge.
For now, the fight was over. But the war had only just begun.
[Ding!]
Hidden Quest: Survive Orochimaru - Success!
Rewards:
Status Points: +30
EXP: 20,000
**[Updated Status]**
---
- **Name:** Sakura Haruno
- **Level:** 28
- **EXP:** 20,000 / 70,000
- **Chakra Control (CC):** 50 → 55
- **Intelligence (INT):** 52 → 54
- **Wisdom (WIS):** 42 → 44
- **Strength (STR):** 60 → 62
- **Dexterity (DEX):** 35 → 37
- **Speed (SPD):** 46 → 48
- **Ninjutsu (NIN):** 26 → 28
- **Taijutsu (TAI):** 60 → 62
- **Genjutsu (GEN):** 70 → 72
- **Fuinjutsu (FUIN):** 0
- **Yin:** 57 → 59
- **Yang:** 40 → 42
- **Vitality (VIT):** 2500(50/hr) → 2600(52/hr)
- **Points:** 54 (Unspent)
- **Total Chakra:** 106,690 → 108,000
---
**[Skills]**
---
- **Sharingan Vision:** LVL 20/50
- **Byakugan Vision:** LVL 15/50
- **Shurikenjutsu:** LVL 25/50
- **Meditation:** LVL MAX - +1 INT to each LVL
- **Cooking:** LVL MAX
- **Yin Affinity:** 10/100
- **Yang Affinity:** 10/100
- **Yin-Yang Affinity:** 4/100
- **Lightning Affinity:** 25/100
- **Water Affinity:** 0/100
- **Earth Affinity:** 0/100
- **Chakra Sensing:** 10/100
- **Kenjutsu:** 15/100
---
**[Perks]**
---
- **Gamer's Mind**
- **Gamer's Body**
- **Friend of Uchiha**
- **Youthful Body**
- **Mental Shield**
- **Will of Fire**
- **Aura of Death**
- **Canine Friend**
---
**[Notes]**
**Status:**
- **HP:** 2600 / 2600
- **Chakra:** 108,000 / 108,000