Forest of Death (Part One)

"Damn it, how can I not find them? I remember they should be here by now... The Sound Ninja Trio may have already found them." Yin Xiang had searched nearly half the forest. He'd run into a few teams along the way, but had avoided them all. It was better not to waste time with them right now.

Yin Xiang ran back in the direction he'd come from, only to run straight into Gaara's team. Gaara blocked his path with a wall of Sand Waterfall.

"I'm in a hurry. You'd better not get in my way." Forced to jump down from the tree, Yin Xiang landed in front of them.

"I want to fight you." Gaara stopped Kankuro from stepping in and spoke to Yin Xiang.

"We'll have plenty of chances later, but not now." Yin Xiang stared at Gaara without changing his expression.

"Sand Waterfall!" Gaara paid no heed to him and sent a torrent of sand surging toward him. Yin Xiang raised a hand and swept the Sand Waterfall away in one stroke.

"What!" Gaara's eyes widened slightly. This was the first time anything like this had happened. Kankuro and Temari were just as shocked.

"Get out of my way!" Yin Xiang's pupils narrowed, and killing intent poured from his eyes. Kankuro and Temari trembled under its force. Gaara wasn't affected as badly, but his body stiffened slightly. Where had this man gotten such powerful killing intent?

"Ha... Hahaha..." But then Gaara started laughing. When the laughter faded, killing intent erupted around him. Yin Xiang broke into a cold sweat, then slumped to the ground, utterly humiliated.

"O-One-Tail... Shukaku..." Yin Xiang swallowed. What was this terrifying killing intent? It was simply...

Yin Xiang had never been this humiliated before. Kankuro and Temari were no better off; Gaara's killing intent had sent them slumping to the ground too.

"G-Gaara..." Kankuro tried to remind Gaara to hold back, but Gaara shot him a glare, and he fell silent.

"Sand Waterfall Funeral!" Gaara reached out toward Yin Xiang, sending another torrent of sand surging at him. The killing intent vanished, and Yin Xiang leaped out of the way. The sand missed him, but kept chasing after him.

"Damn it, you made me look like a fool! Shukaku!" Yin Xiang cursed inwardly. He kicked off a tree and shot forward at incredible speed, breaking through Gaara's Sand Waterfall and punching him in the face. Gaara went flying before his sand could react to Yin Xiang's attack.

Gaara was sent flying by Yin Xiang's punch. Once the two of them had reined in their killing intent, Kankuro and Temari finally recovered. "He actually managed to hurt Gaara... This Yin Xiang..."

"Ugh." A sandstorm rushed at Yin Xiang from behind. He dodged in a hurry and leaped onto another tree. As Gaara had been sent flying, he'd clenched his fist and tried to grab Yin Xiang with his sand.

Gaara was still a lunatic. Yin Xiang couldn't fight him here. With that thought, he hurriedly left. Sand chased him, but once he infused his Flying Thunder God Kunai with Lightning Release, he vanished without a trace.

After escaping Gaara's pursuit, Yin Xiang finally found Sakura and the others. The place was already in chaos. Rock Lee, Sakura, and Naruto were lying on the ground, while Neji and Tenten stood in a tree. Shikamaru's team was nearby too.

Sasuke was covered in Cursed Seal markings. He had one foot on Zaku's back and was gripping both his arms. Then he ripped them off. Yin Xiang watched from a nearby tree.

Sasuke turned and walked toward Dosu. "You're the only one left. I hope you can make this interesting."

"Stop!" Sakura suddenly ran up and grabbed Sasuke. This wasn't the Sasuke she knew at all; he was nothing like his usual self. The scene fell quiet for a moment. Then the Cursed Seal markings receded to Sasuke's neck, and he slumped to the ground, panting.

"You're strong." Dosu raised the Earth Scroll. "As you are now, we can't beat you." He set the Earth Scroll on the ground. "Take this as compensation. Please let us leave."

Sasuke and Sakura both froze for a moment. Then Dosu walked over to Zaku and hoisted him onto his shoulder, before picking Kin up off the ground. "Maybe we were too presumptuous, but there's something we have to confirm. In return, let's make a deal: if we get another chance to fight in this exam, we won't hide or run away." With that, Dosu turned and left.

"Wait!" Sakura called after him. Dosu turned to look at her. "Who is Orochimaru? What did he do to Sasuke? Why did he choose Sasuke?"

"I don't know. We were only ordered to kill Sasuke," Dosu said, then turned and walked away. Orochimaru's image came to mind. You ordered us to kill Sasuke, then acted before we could. And not only did you fail to kill him, you left him with that Cursed Seal. What are you thinking?

"Hey, are you all right?" After Dosu left, Choji called out. "This is a pain, but Ino, could you take care of that guy Lee?" "Sure!" Shikamaru's team ran over.

"That chakra was abnormal. But that Cursed Seal... on Yin Xiang's neck..." Neji said as he stood in the tree with Tenten.

"Could Yin Xiang turn out like that too?" Tenten asked Neji anxiously.

"No. I sealed it." Yin Xiang's voice came from behind Tenten. They turned around and saw him standing on a tree branch not far away.

"Sakura, you're in danger... It's okay, Sakura, I'll protect you..." Naruto mumbled from the ground. He seemed to be dreaming.

"What should we do with this guy? Kick him awake?" Shikamaru and Choji walked up to Naruto.

"Can I do it?" Choji asked.

Nearby, Sasuke stared at his hands, his thoughts in turmoil. Both hands were trembling. That power just now...