Tayuya's POV (Ikam's Hidden Base - Land of Iron)
Tayuya had lived what most would call a complex life. Her parents had been slain by an unknown shinobi. She only survived because the two were hiding her. When she came out, she had discovered her village razed to the ground. In just one night, her life had been destroyed. She had wandered the surrounding woods of her home until she ran into a bandit group. She had suffered greatly for this. She had been nothing more than a slave to them. Things had slowly grown worse as she matured. On the night they decided to use her in yet another soul-breaking way, her master had arrived. Orochimaru and several of his Sound shinobi had been hired to slay the group for their crimes. Orochimaru, seeing her once the criminals had changed, had made her an offer. Join him or be left to suffer in the cruel world. Indeed, it had not been much of a choice. She had been prepared to suffer with the man. After all, a man taking a young woman with him often meant cruel things.
But he had treated her well. She had been fed, clothed, and treated like a human. From that point on, the direction of her life had become apparent. As long as she served her master faithfully, she knew she would be sheltered from the cruel world. So she had begged the man to make use of her. He had merely smiled and accepted her pleas. Soon, she had received training. She had not intended to become a kunoichi, but with the word of her savior, she threw herself into the training. Soon, she became more than an orphan clutching at the legs of her savior. She became powerful, wanted, and even respected. It grew her confidence to levels she never dreamt of. She became brash and obnoxious, but to her shock, Orochimaru never chided her for it. She was accepted…
So, as she and three comrades secretly traversed the hilly, snowy terrain of the Land of Iron. Sneaking into a land infamous for its protection and dislike of shinobi. Truthfully, she and her comrades did so with casual ease. After all, shinobi were simply too stealthy and tricky for the samurai patrol. Soon, they arrived deep in the land of Iron. At least a couple hours away by foot. They walked towards what appeared to be a large hill of snow. Tayuya and Kidomaru both weaved through hand signs before calling out.
"Temperature Seal: Rising Heat!"
"Temperature Seal: Rising Heat!"
The large hill of snow steamed suddenly. Kanji glowed from beneath the snow, light rays piercing through the snow. As the kanji grew brighter, the snow started to be unearthed, revealing a natural cave entrance initially hidden by it.
"Not half bad," Kidomaru said with a smirk. "I can see why Orochimaru-sama wants these players."
"Stop with the flowery stuff. Our hideouts are hidden just as well as these Uzumaki shits." Tayuya countered hotly.
"Watch your mouth, Tayuya. A lady needs to act dignified-" Jirobo started before being slugged by the woman in question. The large man barely budged from the blow.
"Shut it, shit for brains! Your fatass has no room to discuss class!" Tayuya yelled at the large man.
Kidomaru cackled while Jirobo merely frowned, not saying anything to engage further.
"Be on your best behavior," Sakon said with a smile. "We are meeting with trash, but Lord Orochimaru wants us to behave like genin."
"Furthermore, they may be trash, but lord Orochimaru seems to think they may be dangerous," Ukon added as the group descended the natural cave. The walls were covered in the same kanji that had melted the snow, meaning they used Fuinjutsu to keep the cave warm. There was no need for light as well. The glow from the kanji lit the way to the cave's center. After a minute or two of winding paths, they entered a large chamber. The floor of the chamber was covered in a large, warm rug. Several rooms were closed off. The chamber contained a large fire pit that was cooking some kind of prepared meat. Ikam was resting near this firepit in a large luxury chair. Facing the Sound Four as if he knew they were coming. To his left stood his second and comrade, and from what Orochimaru had told them, his lover, Mishio Uzumaki, as well as Leifazu, who was cooking the meat in question. All three watched as they approached, seemingly at ease with them coming to them.
Tayuya felt her blood boil at this but held back her rage. For now, her master needed these men and their assistance. In time, they would pay to consider themselves equal to Lord Orochimaru. Interrupting her thoughts was once again the voice of Sakon.
"Ikam, I believe? We were sent by our Lord, Orochimaru. You will assist us in the mission we were given." Sakon said, his smile eerily similar to the old Japanese folklore of the yokai - -Oni. Before he could continue or Ikam could respond, there was the sound of air rushing by him as suddenly Mishio appeared in front of Sakon with her blade at his throat.
"You should be careful about the way you talk to Ikam-kun." She whispered darkly. "Or I'll kill the lot of you regardless of what your master wishes." A hand suddenly emerged from Sakon's chest, grabbing the blade.
"Or what? You think trash like you can threaten us?" Ukon said cockily as his head emerged next to Sakon's. Mishiro seemed shocked for a second before suddenly appearing in the middle of the Sound Four, their faces contorting in disbelief as she thrust her blade toward the back of Sakon and Ukon. But before she could pierce the two arrogant men, something unexpected happened.
A white blob suddenly appeared from their body, stopping the blade and throwing Mishio back. White Zetsu had emerged from the body of Sakon and Ukon. Both screamed in terror. This was not normal. He didn't have any presence. He gave away nothing, almost as if his traces were something one of his origins could not understand. He was virtually otherworldly….
From another nation?
From another dimension?
Another consequence of inhumane experiences?
From another WORLD?
Leifazu raced forward, drawing two battle axes and leaping up to cleave him in two. Black Zetsu chose that moment to emerge from the ground with a raised arm. Both battle axes slammed into the arm and shattered.
Both blobs converged into one another, raising their hand in the air, stopping further advances. They merged into one, taking a humanoid shape with the body split into a black and white side, respectively, with a venus fly trap covering most of their head, revealing a single eye and teeth smiling through it.
"Oh dear, it appears the Master was right to send us as insurance!" White Zetsu chuckled as he stood before the Sound Four with his twin. "Good thing I marked them with my spore!"
"Such it would seem. Though he will be disappointed, the group was so antagonistic." Black Zetsu added. "We figured there may be tension with this group, so I was sent to ensure nothing regrettable happened."
Ikam stood and snapped fingers; Mishio and Leifazu stepped back in this silent order. "Well, it seems things started off on the wrong foot. Usually, for such disrespect, I would have you killed. But dead bodies have a way of stopping successful partnerships." He laughed at his joke as he stopped in front of the six. "Luckily for you all, none of my men were injured. If they were, your death would be painful."
The Sound Four looked on furiously as Black Zetsu considered his response. "Lucky indeed, we cannot afford or allow them to die. Do you intend to carry out his request?"
"So it's a request now?" Leifazu chuckled. "Are we sure I can't just cut them?" He asked as he drew more axes from his person.
"They did disrespect you, my beloved," Mishiro added as her body tensed, preparing for battle.
Ikam merely chuckled. "It matters little. They know I could slay them if I please. Besides, Orochimaru has been rather helpful, but ending a relationship as beneficial as this would be a shame. I will indulge you for now. What is the request?"
"Our lord merely wishes for a distraction when the Sound Four make their move!" White Zetsu gleefully informed. "Tell them, Sakon!"
Sakon looked just as angry as the rest of the Sound Four, finally taking his eyes from Zetsu, though he did keep an eye on him in the form of Ukon. Surely upset, they were considered nonfactors of this meeting. "Our Lord intends for us to kidnap two subjects of interest to you as well as us." He explained.
"The targets in question?" Ikam asked.
"The targets of this level are Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha," Kidomaru explained with glee.
"I can see why my beloved would be interested in killing more Uzumaki filth. But it is hardly worth the risk for one measly shinobi. Even a jinchuriki. We have no interest in such." Mishio countered as she sat on the arm of Ikam's chair.
"Now, love." Ikam countered merrily. "Your thinking is too simple." Mishio sent him a questioning glance, but Black Zetsu answered.
"For one reason or another, the Akatsuki are after the jinchuriki."
"And we're aware that you, like our Lord, attempted and failed to defeat their leader. Hell, those shitheads want both of our groups dead." Tayuya inserted her usual flavor of politeness.
Ikam hummed loudly at this, raising a hand to his mouth as he thought. His odd eyes with kanji in them eyed each Orochimaru group member. "I can see why he offered this. You will have your distraction, " he said as he rose and stomped from the room. Mishio followed him quickly. "I'll retire for now, but take Leifazu with you. He will be more than enough for this. Any qualms?"
"None." Black Zetsu answered. He and White Zetsu led the Sound Four out of the cave. Turning them to address them once they had made some distance.
"Your orders hasn't changed too much now! You are to kidnap both Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha alive! As long as their heart is beating, it should be fine!" White Zetsu said happily.
"It is important that this mission goes well. As such, Leifazu, one of our spies, and I will create a suitable distraction. You are to go out with White Zetsu and capture the two during this. Be careful, but it could be problematic for any of you to be captured. White Zetsu will either save you or eat your corpse." He informed them gruffly. "We will wait until the break between the Second and Third Tests. Understood?"
"As our master wishes." The four said as they bowed. All of them were determined to succeed and prove they were not as useless as Ikam had treated them
Team Three's POV (Trial of Nio - Land of Iron)
Kabuto watched patiently as his team limbered up. As far as he could tell, there were no notables in them. Their chakra levels suggest they were more average Genin than most. He supposed most would be concerned about such a thing, but he felt it would work out nicely in this case. One was a confident martial artist from the Sand shinobi named Shira. He was an older Genin who wasn't exceptionally skilled in ninjutsu or genjutsu. But he used an odd style of Taijutsu, which he seemed rather proud of. Next was a slightly more interesting man named Benottio, who spoke like a thug and even wielded a straight razor. He was quick and intelligent but hailed from the Village Hidden in Waterfalls. So likely was lacking in the power category. Lastly was a Mist shinobi under the name of Chojuro. He was shy and nervous. He seemed unreliable. Enough so before they even seemed to plan much, Benottio and Shira had decided he would be the Lord. Being the "weakest". The leader had been elected to be Shira as the oldest.
The samurai that had led them to the starting place of the exam. He had explained that the Lord must be on a horse whenever traveling. Explained the wristbands they all had been outfitted with that would glow in stripes as points were scored. As well as, if they got injured, they had tags that would allow them to be withdrawn from the game and treated. A kindness not often given during the Chunin Exams but inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. Kabuto would not allow such things to happen after all.
Kabuto and his group had been led to their path. The group decided that Benottio and Chojuro would ride on the horse while Kabuto and Shira patrolled the forest on both sides. Kabuto had been wracking his brain on how to pass the exam before he felt a burning sensation on his shoulder. A signal was given to him from his master. He had been a Genin for a while now and was told he would be given a chance to act outside his identity. He smiled at this as he stopped suddenly. Before moving at speeds that no Chunin hopeful could match. It was nice to finally move at his own speed. Benottio and Chojuro did not notice him as he flew back across the path. Shira, perhaps sensing Kabuto's killing intent, suddenly spun as Kabuto arrived behind him.
"HA! You scared me to death there." Shira said merrily, not even noticing Kabuto suddenly flying in and touching his chest. By the time he finished his sentence, he was collapsing. Kabuto had used his chakra scalpel to slice his heart in two. Shira was dead before he even hit the ground. His mouth spitting out his lifeblood.
"You have no idea," Kabuto replied cheerily to the now dead corpse. His eyes trailed up to the two remaining teammates, suddenly body flickering behind them as they made eye contact. Chojuro stopped his horse with a skid as the two looked at the man in front of them. "We should stop for now, " he said cryptically with a smile.
"W-why?" Chojuro asked nervously.
"There is no need for dumb questions. This bastard isn't on our side." Benottio answered.
"What do you mean?" Chojuro asked as Benottio hopped off the horse. The man pulled his straight razor and took a stance against the smiling Kabuto.
"He has a stain on his outfit; I'm almost certain it's blood. We would've heard combat, so he must've sneaked and attacked someone. Notice anything else?"
"W-wait, where is S-Shira?" Chojuro asked as he seemed to be considering running. 'Shira would have surely shown up by now! Where was he?!'
"Dead," Kabuto replied simply. "You two will be joining him, of course. Once, I've had fun, though. Do you know how hard it is to pretend to be a weakling? I mean, it's purposely walking on one leg. Oh wait, you're both weak. I'll make sure to hold back against you. I want to stretch my legs!" He said with a smile as he activated his chakra scalpels.
"Funny bastard should've snuck us too," Benotti said.
"I'm not weak," Chojuro said with a frown as he drew a katana.
There were no more words. The three men charged each other as Benottio and Kabuto closed the distance first. Benottio flashed forward with several slices. Kabuto weaved around them with ease, preparing to use his scalpel to kill the man. Before he could, though, he ducked a katana Chojuro, swung to behead him, and rolled away while Benottio attempted to stab him in the chest. As Kabuto stood, he deflected various kunai thrown by Chojuro before he heard a call from Benottio, who came from above now.
"Wind Style: Flying Wind Spear!" He called as visible wind flew from his razor at high speed. Kabuto dived out of the way, just dodging the attack by a hair's breadth but leading him into the path of the falling Benottio, who slashed at him with his razor, attempting to slit his throat. Kabuto merely smiled as he met this slash with his scalpel, cutting through it and slicing through the tendons throughout Benottio's hand. As the two fell, Benottio screamed out in pain. The man grasped his hand in pain. Kabuto prepared to finish him before a water dragon flew towards him. He managed to substitute himself with a log appearing behind Chojuro, surging forward to slash across the muscles in his back. Chojuro spun as he slashed at Kabuto's head. Kabuto's eyes widened, noticing how fast he reacted to it. 'This mere Genin is this fast?' He managed to duck just in time and attempted to slice through the blade of Chojuro. But his chakra scalpel is stopped in place.
"Your technique is impressive. But a true swordsman can strengthen their sword with chakra." Chojuro lectured. "Also, arrogance is unbecoming of a shinobi." As he finished, Benottio appeared and stabbed Kabuto in the throat with a kunai. Kabuto stumbled back, gurgling blood, before collapsing on the ground, seemingly dead.
"Good work, nervous wreck! He destroyed my damn razor! That bastard was a monster…" He suddenly stopped speaking.
Chojuro turned to see what stunned him and discovered Kabuto standing and smiling. Seemingly unperturbed by the blood covering him. His throat, which had been nearly split open, now looked pristine.
"H-how?" Chojuro asked, confused.
"Oh, an attack like that could never kill me. I had truly intended to kill both of you. But I guess you're lucky." Kabuto responds pleasantly. "Though you did surprise me. You're lucky my mission today isn't to kill you weaklings." Kabuto responded pleasantly.
"Like we're gonna let you leave, bastard!" Benottio screamed as he charged forward. But Kabuto started to sink into the ground while smiling.
"Oh, you will very much have your hands full already," Kabuto informs. I wish you luck, teammates." He finishes with a smile as he fully slides underground.
The two men were silent, waiting to see if he would reappear. Before they heard the sound of hooves hitting the pavement, filling the air.
"You're fucking kidding me," Benottio complained as they realized what was happening. "We gotta run!"
"It won't work. We have to ride the horse, and they are surely faster than it. We'll have to attempt to fend them off!" Chojuro stated that he seemed to be preparing himself for the battle ahead.
"That would be correct." A voice called out as another group approached the path a short distance from the two men. "Sorry, but Shinobi play for keeps." Temari lectured as she rode in the scene. Ino, Shino, and Omoi landed around her facing the group.
"It would be wise to surrender and allow us our points," Shino informed.
"Like hell we will!" Benottio cried as he charged forward angrily. Chojuro sighed at this before joining him.
"Oh no, we're gonna kill them and be disqualified." Omoi worried out loud as Ino, and he met their charge. He and Chojuro locked blades as Ino and Benottio engaged in a one-sided series of blows. Benottio slashed with a kunai, but Ino quickly disarmed this and threw the man with a shoulder throw. The waterfall shinobi promptly rolled to his feet and attempted to throw an overhand at the woman. But Ino, using a roundhouse kick to the head of Benttio, sent him flying back.
"No, we're not! Just gonna do what you gotta!" Benittio screamed as scores of insects covered his body, draining him of his remaining chakra. Chojuro jumped back, seeing Benottio had fallen. He sighed once again.
"Enough, we surrender, " he called. The group stopped as Shino walked forward carefully. He approached Chojuro, both surrounded by his insect allies. Chojuro did not react to this, nor did he react to Shino tapping him three times. As he did so, all of Team One saw a band that had been wrapped around their forearms glow, signifying their completion point-wise. At this, Shino nodded.
"Thank you for not making us harm you further," Shino said simply.
"I-it doesn't matter," Chojuro stated, seemingly uncaring about failing. He picked up the unconscious Benottio and loaded him onto the horse. He then drew the tag given to them earlier. Activating it sent off a flash of light. After a short time, several samurai arrived to provide first aid, and they, along with Chojuro and Benottio, were led into the woods. Not once did the defeated Mist Shinobi complain so much.
"That didn't seem… I don't know… is it bizarre to anyone else?" Ino asked quizzically.
"It really was…" Omoi started. "Perhaps he's some kind of supervillain?"
"SHUT UP!" Ino and Temari sound off at once. Omoi flinched at this, dropping to the ground. Both women nodded at each other.
"It's better we continue. We may have what's needed to pass, but the other teams won't." Shino added. "That would mean we are prime targets."
"Right, let's go, team!" Temari called. Both the leader and Lord of team one. Team One continued on the move. Unknowing of what had tragically happened to Team Three.