Forest of Death — Root AlcoveSakura's POV
The silence after he left was worse than the fight.
It pressed in from every direction—thick, suffocating, broken only by the distant rustling of the forest and the uneven sound of breathing.
Not hers.
Theirs.
Sakura's hands trembled as she dropped to her knees beside them.
"…Naruto—Sasuke—!"
No response.
Naruto lay crumpled awkwardly, his body still faintly warm, breath shallow but steady. Sasuke… Sasuke was worse.
His skin was pale.
Too pale.
And there—
On his neck—
That mark.
Dark.
Spreading.
Pulsing faintly like something alive.
Sakura's breath hitched.
"W-What did he do to you…?"
No time.
Panic wouldn't help.
She forced her shaking hands to move.
Training.
Focus.
She tore strips from her sleeve, cleaning cuts, binding what she could. Naruto's injuries were nonexistent. Not questioning that saving grace, Sakura turned.
Sasuke—
Sakura swallowed hard.
Sasuke was something else entirely.
His body twitched occasionally, muscles spasming under the skin like something was fighting from the inside.
"Stay with me…"
Her voice was barely a whisper.
"Both of you… just—stay alive."
—
Hours passed.
Then more.
The forest shifted through the night into a dull, gray morning.
Sakura didn't sleep.
Couldn't.
Every sound snapped her attention outward—every branch creak, every distant growl.
She repositioned them deeper into the alcove, dragging their bodies inch by inch despite her exhaustion.
Kunai laid out.
Wire set.
Basic traps—crude compared to Naruto's—but something.
Anything.
Her hands were raw.
Her chakra low.
Her body screamed for rest.
She ignored it.
"...I won't let anything happen to you."
—
Time blurred.
Hunger gnawed.
Thirst clawed.
Still—she stayed.
Cleaning wounds.
Checking breathing.
Watching.
Waiting.
Twenty-four hours.
Alone.
—
Forest of Death — Day Two
It started with a sound.
Soft.
Deliberate.
Not an animal.
Sakura's head snapped up.
"…Someone's here."
Her grip tightened around her kunai.
Three figures emerged slowly into the clearing.
Sound genin.
The one in front—Dosu—tilted his head slightly, eyes scanning.
"…Well. What do we have here?"
Zaku smirked, cracking his knuckles.
"Jackpot."
Kin's eyes slid over Sakura.
Then past her—
To Naruto.
To Sasuke.
Unconscious.
Defenseless.
A slow smile formed.
"…Pathetic."
Sakura stepped forward.
Blocking them.
Her legs trembled.
But she didn't move.
"…You're not touching them."
Zaku laughed.
"Seriously?"
He vanished—
Reappearing in front of her instantly.
Sakura reacted—
Kunai up—
CLANG
He knocked it aside effortlessly.
A backhand sent her skidding across the dirt.
Pain exploded across her cheek.
"—Too slow."
She forced herself up.
Spat blood.
"...Not moving."
Kin sighed.
"Annoying."
Senbon flicked from her fingers—
Sakura twisted—
One grazed her arm—
Another embedded in her shoulder.
She bit back a scream.
Moved anyway.
Charging.
Desperate.
Wild.
She swung—
Missed—
A kick slammed into her ribs.
CRACK
She hit the ground hard.
Air gone.
Vision blurring.
"Why are you even trying?" Dosu said calmly.
"…You can't win."
Sakura coughed.
Blood on her lips.
Still—
She pushed herself up again.
"…Don't… need to win…"
Her voice shook—
But didn't break.
"…Just need to protect them."
Zaku's grin widened.
"Then let's see how long you last."
—
It wasn't a fight.
It was survival.
Sakura dodged when she could.
Blocked when she had to.
Took hits when she failed.
And she failed—
A lot.
Bruises spread across her body.
Cuts opened.
Her movements slowed.
Sloppy.
But she never stepped aside.
Never let them pass her.
Not once.
—
Eventually—
She dropped to one knee.
Breathing ragged.
Vision swimming.
Kin stepped forward slowly.
"…You're done."
She crouched slightly—
Reaching for Sakura's hair.
"Let's make this interesting."
Sakura's body didn't respond.
Too tired.
Too broken.
Her eyes flicked—
Back.
To them.
Still unmoving.
Still vulnerable.
"…Please…"
Kin smiled wider.
"Oh don't worry—"
Her hand tightened.
"—we'll take real good care of them after you."
—
Upon those words, a haze of tainted purple chakra sprang forth from Sasuke's body. His figure suddenly appeared in the clearing, no hint that he had even moved. "...Don't touch her."
Silence.
Kin froze.
Zaku blinked.
Dosu's eyes narrowed.
Sakura's head lifted slowly.
Behind her—
Sasuke stood.
Head lowered.
Breathing uneven.
Chakra—
Different.
Darker.
He stepped forward.
A mad look in his crimson red eyes.
"…Fight me instead."
Kin released Sakura immediately, jumping back.
"…What the hell…?"
Sasuke's head lifted.
His eyes—
Cold.
Empty.
The mark on his neck spread slightly, dark patterns crawling across his skin.
Sakura's breath caught.
"…Sasuke…?"
He didn't look at her.
Didn't acknowledge her.
His gaze locked onto the Sound trio.
And something in it—
Made them hesitate.
Zaku scoffed, masking it.
"Tch. Big talk for someone who just woke up!"
Dosu's gauntleted arm sprang up in an instant, "You fool! He's been blessed by Orochimaru-sama!"
Unable to stop him, Zaku charged.
Fast.
Confident.
Sasuke's form disappeared to the three genin's eyes.
Appearing at Zaku's side, Sasuke grabbed an outstretched arm, placing the short teenager into a half nelson.
From that position, he twisted...and continued to twist...and twist until—
CRACK
Zaku screamed.
Sasuke didn't stop.
A kick to the ribs—Zaku tried to get up and run away
He was stopped with a punch to the throat, throwing him to the floor.
A curbstomp straight into the ground followed.
Brutal.
Efficient.
Cruel.
Dosu stepped in—
Sasuke was already ready.
Handsigns flashed and a Wind Release: Gale pierce! A SCREECH echoed through the forest, Dosu's gauntlet that he so cherished, shattered.
What followed wasn't much of a fight. Dosu retreated like a coward while Kin tried to flank—
A kunai buried itself inches from her face, pinning her to a tree.
She froze.
Sasuke didn't even look at her.
His focus remained on breaking Dosu down.
Piece by piece.
Sakura stared.
"…That's not…"
Not the Sasuke she knew.
This was something else.
Something darker.
Something—
Terrifying.
—
Moments later—
Bartering that the insanity induced Sasuke would stop for a moment on receiving another scroll necessary for passing the exam, Dosu tossed it as his feet.
Sasuke's breathing grew unsteady as the sound genin team retreated into the shadows of the treeline.
He stepped forward to pursue.
Sakura's voice cut through, wrapping him in a hug from behind.
"STOP!"
He paused.
Didn't turn.
"…That's enough...please stop Sasuke."
A long silence.
The tension stretched.
Then—
Slowly—
The curse mark receded.
Sasuke's shoulders lowered slightly.
Just slightly.
He turned his head.
Glancing at Sakura.
"…Tch."
And just like that—
He collapsed back to one knee.
Exhaustion catching up instantly.
Sakura's arms further wrapped Sasuke in a fearful embrace.
Catching him before he fell.
"…Oh Sasuke-kun…"
Her voice shook.
But she smiled, beginning to drag him back into the alcove to recover.
Behind them—
Naruto started to stir.
His breathing had steadied, his eyes fluttering open.
The worst—
Had passed.
For now.
Naruto's vision was overtaken by notifications:
*Ping*
Hidden Sub-mission for Career Progression Quest partially Failed!
Hidden Objective:
Survive an encounter with Orochimaru! Prevent Sasuke from receiving the curse mark!
Partial Reward:
+2 to all stats but luck
+3 free lottery spins!
+30 System Points!
*Ping*
Rival Growth Link - Moderate Activated!
Your rival's performance against Orochimaru and the Sound genin trio has pushed him to his absolute limit!
+6 strength
+3 Agility
+4 Endurance
+2 Intelligence
+70 System Points
Debuff initiated:
Four Elements Seal!
-40% to Chakra control/efficiency
Unable to enter Kyuubi Rage mode!
Naruto's read the lines of text and froze. What was a curse seal, and why did Sasuke have it? The sudden debuff...was he sealed as well?
It wasn't all bad news though; a final notification entered his sight.
Bonus Mission Update!
Objective: Secure an extra 2 scrolls than required for the 2nd phase of the Chuunin exams.
Current scrolls held 4/4!
All of these thoughts summated to a loud sigh, one that Sakura heard and immediately perked up to.
"Naruto!" For the first time in his life, Sakura rushed to Naruto wrapping him in a tight embrace.
Naruto, groaned, still sore in some areas. "There there Sakura-chan, daddy's here, no need to worry."
She punched him across his head lightly, relieved that both of her teammates had seemingly pulled through death.