Re: Akimichi

A few moments passed after the team ten saved the team seven and Lee from the sound genins. They met with Neiji and Tenten later and all nine of them went to the tower to finish the test. Team seven held heaven scroll and got earth scroll from the sound genins, while Lee's team was already got their hand on both scrolls. Sakura told them their encounter with someone called Orochimaru, and Ino busied herself and explained who Orochimaru really was.

Shikamaru scoffed of their ignorance. 'They will get killed one day from their lack of knowledge alone if this not changed...' He eyed them as he flickered behind a beast that lurking around. 'Not my problem though...'

Needless to be said, they were shocked to know Orochimaru was one of the three legendary sannin and he betrayed Konoha for an unknown reason. Along the way, tenten who was with a bit more knowledge about fuinjutsu among them tried to check Sasuke's cursed seal but to no avail. Neiji tried to check with his Byakugan and he's only able to saw a patch of a dark spot in it.

Chouji being full of the wonder of a new thing, touched the cursed mark on Sasuke and felt something absorbed into him. And to everyone's surprise, Sasuke went unconscious but his face showed a peaceful expression, even a small smile was apparent on his face. They all then went onto a nearby river and rest for a while before they continued their exam.

"Lee-san, Thank you... It's all thanks to you that I have awakened, I feel like I've become stronger from seeing your conviction." Sakura bowed slightly to Lee to express her gratitude, she then glanced towards team ten and slight fear could be seen on her eyes. Regardless, she also bowed to them. "Thank you for saving our lives!"

"No problem!"

"Worship me!"

"Troublesome, can we rest already?"

Chouji grinned and laughed it off as if it was nothing, Ino was gloating in her triumph on her rival Sakura, and Shikamaru was being Shikamaru and just grumbled.

"No problem, Sakura-chan! I did promise to protect you, didn't I?" Lee smiled sheepishly and gave her a thumb up. 'I will train even harder from now on!'

Unknown to all, Naruto was in a state of unease. He kept feeling his emotions fluctuating, something inside him keep making him felt... rage. This unease that made him awakened during their fight with the sound genins. But, he didn't know what it is, so he just shrugged it off and assumed that he's just upset that his a.s.s got beaten by that snake guy or something.

The sun went down, and the night approaches.

Nine of them were currently on their way to hand their exam, it's not even half a kilometer left and the tower already clearly seen.

*Buzz* *Buzz* *Buzz*

The group was alerted with the buzzing sounds around them, Sakura turned her head and saw a giant c.o.c.kroach between a tree not far from her. "KYAAA!" And like a banshee, she shrilly screamed on top of her lungs. Sasuke was still unconscious, and Naruto covered his ears with both of his hands. Both team ten and Lee's team has also noticed the c.o.c.kroach, but they were only felt indifferent aside from a mild disgust toward it because it was not a threat to them. Well, they were indifferent except for one person.

Seeing Sakura was hysterical, Lee immediately jumped and squashed the cow-sized c.o.c.kroach with his feet. Like a tenacious creature it is, it was still wriggled around beneath Lee's feet. Not able to hold their disgust, Ino and Tenten snapped. Ino controlled Lee's body and stomped on it over and over, while Tenten rushed over and hit it with a giant mace.

Unsurprisingly, Sakura's scream attracted both beasts and other participants alike. This time with Shikamaru and Chouji did not show their intent to act, it was Naruto's and Neiji's turn to let their muscles loose.

It was only after all of the battles were done that Sasuke was woken up from his slumber.

They then continued to rush towards the tower, they forgo their rest to cut the time for them to reach the tower.

Under the moonshine, nine teenagers were gone inside a tower arrived inside a hall. On the wall, there was an unfurled scroll with something written on it. And on its side was an instruction to open both of their scrolls.

They took out their scroll and it was emitting a chakra fluctuation afterward. It puffed into smokes before three additional persons were seen in front of them.

"Asuma-sensei!"

"Guy-sensei!"

"Iruka-sensei!"

They were all surprised to see their respective Jounin sensei, except for Iruka who was asked for a special request to congratulate Naruto. Without responding to them, Asuma opened his mouth to preached the content on the unfurled scroll behind them.

"If you lack Heaven, seek wisdom, and be prepared!"

Guy grinned and continued with the next line. "If you lack earth, run in the fields, and seek advantages!"

"And if you have both heaven and earth, only then you will triumph even in the most dangerous path." Iruka proudly looked at his former students, that swelling pride of his would only able to be understood by a teacher that saw his students' success on their path. "Congratulations!"

They then explained the meaning of those words and gave their students some advice for them to improve themselves to be better as a ninja and a person.

"This is our identity and our pride," Iruka said while pointing at the Konoha symbol. "You are not kids anymore, you're a Ninja! A Konoha Ninja!"

"So act like one, and don't you ever shame our pride. But, first thing first, you have to be alive!"

---

"We have confirmed there are 18 participants who have passed the second test. In accordance with the rules, we will hold a preliminary before the third test! With this, we hereby declare that the second test is complete!"

On top of the tower, currently seated Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage of the Konoha. Opposite him was the head examiner of the second test, Mitarashi Anko. Anko's complexion was pale, she clutched her nape while trying to silently bore her pain.

"Now, does the curse still hurt?" Hiruzen was observing Anko, his face scrunched as he drowns in worry. 'He is here...'

"Not as much as before, Thank you Hokage-sama." Anko forced a smile and showed her gratitude. "He probably..."

Hiruzen nodded his head, his eyes lit with wisdom. "Yes, his target is probably 'him'..."

---

"So, why did you fail?"

"I'm sorry, Orochimaru-sama. My team-mates were all killed by the Kazekage's son, we were unlucky enough to be engaged with them. But, I managed to tail him until he reached the tower."

In one of the rooms inside the tower, Kabuto currently kneeled in front of the disguised Orochimaru. He was sweating bullets, he was pressured by the aura that Orochimaru focused onto him. He presented Orochimaru with a stack of cards filled with information he gathered.

"You're dismissed, wait for my next order..."

Orochimaru frowned, he didn't like it when things don't go according to his plan. 'It seems that I need to adjust a thing or two...'