The moment Team Seven entered the Forest of Death, the shift was immediate.
It wasn't the oppressive atmosphere, the dense canopy blocking out the sun, or even the distant screams of unfortunate genin who had already fallen into traps. It was something else entirely.
No insects buzzed around them. No centipedes, no leeches, not even the mosquitoes that should have been swarming with all the humidity. The usual eerie skittering of unseen creatures, the rustling of hidden predators in the undergrowth—all of it was silent.
It didn't take long for Sakura to notice.
"…This place is way too quiet," she muttered, glancing around warily. Her kunai was already in hand, fingers gripping the hilt tight.
Sasuke, ever perceptive, frowned. His sharp eyes scanned their surroundings, but there were no signs of movement.
"I don't like it either," he admitted, voice low. "There should be snakes, spiders, something."
And yet, nothing lunged from the shadows. No venomous creatures lurking underfoot. Not a single centipede slithering over rotting leaves.
Instead—
A massive python, thick as a tree trunk, slithered lazily down from an overhanging branch. But rather than striking, its head nudged Naruto's shoulder, tongue flicking out before it coiled loosely around a tree beside them, unbothered.
A bright green lizard skittered over Naruto's foot, then settled on his shoe like it belonged there.
Sakura made a strangled noise when a tarantula dropped from a branch, only to land directly on Naruto's head—not to bite him, not to attack, just… sitting there. As if he were some kind of mobile perch.
"Naruto," Sakura hissed, taking a slow, careful step away. "There's a giant spider on you."
Naruto, whose hands were stuffed in his pockets, tilted his head. "Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"So?"
"…So get it off!"
The spider twitched its long, hairy legs but didn't move. If anything, it nestled further into Naruto's messy red hair, its multiple eyes gleaming in the dim light.
Sakura's face contorted in absolute horror.
Sasuke just watched with an unreadable expression.
"…This is getting ridiculous," he muttered, rubbing his temples.
It didn't stop there.
As they continued moving, Naruto's entourage of creatures grew.
A centipede the size of an arm wrapped around his forearm like a bracelet. A crow landed on his shoulder, tilting its head as if listening to their conversation. A family of beetles followed at his heels, clicking their mandibles.
By the time they stopped near a river to discuss their strategy, a whole group of frogs had gathered at Naruto's feet, croaking softly, their beady eyes staring at him like he was their angel.
"…I think I'm gonna be sick," Sakura whispered, clutching her stomach.
Sasuke, despite himself, was too baffled to be disgusted. His brows were furrowed in deep thought, like he was trying to rationalize something clearly irrational.
Naruto, for his part, didn't look remotely concerned. In fact, he looked vaguely content, like the weight of a spider on his head and a snake around his arm was no different from wearing a hat and a bracelet.
"…Do you even realize how unnatural this is?" Sasuke finally asked, voice flat.
Naruto blinked at him. "I guess."
"Then why aren't you weirded out?!"
Naruto tilted his head slightly, as if considering. Then, with absolute sincerity, he said:
"They like me."
Sasuke opened his mouth. Then closed it. Then opened it again—before deciding nope. Not worth it.
Sakura, meanwhile, was pressing her fingers against her temples like she was fighting off a migraine.
"I—okay. Fine. Sure," she muttered under her breath. "I don't even care anymore."
A particularly large beetle, shimmering like polished amber, scuttled up Naruto's arm and perched on his shoulder.
Sakura made a choked sound and immediately looked away.
Naruto yawned. "Are we making a plan, or are we just gonna stand here talking about my fan club?"
"…Plan," Sasuke muttered, though his eyes kept flicking toward the massive python now wrapped loosely around Naruto's waist like a belt.
They settled into a discussion, ignoring the eerie quiet of the forest around them. Or at least, Sasuke and Sakura tried to. It was really hard to strategize when a crow was actively preening Naruto's hair like a devoted mate.
But one thing was clear.
They weren't going to have to worry about the wildlife of the Forest of Death.
Not when every ugly, venomous, terrifying creature in it seemed to worship Naruto Uzumaki.
The moment it happened, there was no warning.
One second, Naruto was standing there, lazily poking at the massive python still coiled around him. The next, an even bigger snake—easily the size of a house—lunged out from the underbrush, its mouth gaping wide, fangs glistening with venom.
It moved fast. Too fast.
Before anyone could react, its jaws clamped down over Naruto, engulfing him in one terrifying gulp before slithering away, disappearing into the thick foliage.
A stunned silence followed.
Sakura's eyes were wide, her mouth moving without sound. Sasuke was frozen, kunai half-raised, staring at the spot where Naruto had just been.
The distant rustling of scales sliding against dirt was the only noise that followed.
Then:
"…I thought snakes loved him!" Sakura finally shrieked, turning toward Sasuke with wide, panicked eyes.
Sasuke's jaw clenched. His grip on his kunai tightened.
"That's not a normal snake," he muttered darkly. "It's a summon."
Sakura paled.
Then—
A voice.
Silken. Cold. Amused.
"How very perceptive of you."
Both genin froze.
Slowly, they turned.
And there—standing not too far away, half-shrouded in mist and shadow—was a woman.
Or at least, she looked like a woman.
Dressed in a Kusa headband, her figure was tall and elegant, her features sharp and oddly mesmerizing. But it was her eyes that stood out most—slitted like a serpent's, glowing faintly in the dim light of the forest.
She smiled.
But there was no warmth in it.
Only the cold amusement of a predator toying with its prey.
Sakura felt her breath hitch as something heavy filled the air.
It wasn't just killing intent.
This was something else.
Something darker.
Something ancient.
Her blood ran cold.
Sasuke tensed beside her, muscles coiled like a spring, but he hadn't moved yet. He couldn't. It was like something had his body trapped, frozen in place.
The woman took a step forward.
Sakura's stomach twisted into knots.
She recognized this feeling.
It wasn't just pressure. It wasn't just malice.
It was the presence of something hungry.
Something that was waiting. Watching. Enjoying the fear of its prey before the final strike.
"…Who are you?" Sasuke demanded, voice lower than usual, but steady.
The woman merely smiled wider.
"Now, now," she crooned. "That's not very polite, is it?"
Sasuke's fingers twitched. His breath was even, but his stance was shifting ever so slightly—preparing for a fight.
Sakura wasn't so sure if fighting was even possible.
Because the moment she met those golden, slitted eyes—
She knew.
They were not dealing with a normal kunoichi.
This was something else entirely.
Something worse.