The Feral World of Shinobi

The Forest of Death

Your tail twitched as you waited outside a gate with an earth scroll tucked away in your pocket. You just had to collect a heaven scroll and get to the tower in five days. It seemed simple enough if you exclude the enemy ninja, deadly beasts, and survival factors. Yep sounded so fun. Luckily you were a sensory type ninja and could probably get this done if you avoided the Sound ninja and Gaara. Maybe you could even go back out and help Naruto out after. As soon as the gates opened, your team rushed in and found a decent place to strategize. "Cover our scents from that dog boy and anyone else that could smell us out." You agreed immediately with Kasai's instant remark. "We should follow you, [Y/N] and then trap them with my Eiennoyami." Yoru suggested. Again you agreed. "I will be avoiding the Sand and Sound ninja teams. The sound puts my senses at an extreme disadvantage and the Sand are just too powerful for us." They both nodded. "Sounds like we've got the beginnings of a plan then. Let's cover our scents." You followed the boys to the ground.

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It wasn't long at all before you picked out the scent of Waterfall ninja. While they were strong, facing off against your power and Yoru's Eiennoyami, they didn't stand much of a chance. Unfortunately though, their scroll was also an earth scroll. "Dammit.." You growled under your breath. "What do we do with it?" Kasai asked as he looked at the scroll. "Bring it. We could use it if another team comes after us." You lifted your nose to the air, searching for another scent. "I smell blood... and lots of it.." You stepped back. You smelled him too. There was no doubt in your mind that Gaara had murdered a team, though you also believed that he hadn't noticed your teams presence. "Should we check for a scroll?" You looked at Kasai like he was insane. "What? There's no harm in asking." Yoru nodded. "They may have had a heaven scroll. If it was a beast that killed them, we can count ourselves lucky." You growled again, uneasily. "It wasn't a beast... at least, not right now.." Yoru gave you a curious look through his hair. "Meaning?" You shook your head. "Nevermind. If we are going to go, scatter when I tell you and meet back here.

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You watched from the trees as the boys searched the bodies for their scroll. You tried to keep a look out for Gaara, but you never expected him to appear behind you. You weren't sure if it was a clone, a jutsu, or something the Tailed Beast instead him could do, but he was there and you were now facing off against him... or at least you thought you were. You were crouched down, teeth bared, but he just stood there watching you. "What are you?" His voice was mostly monotone with the barest hint of curiosity. He looked at you so differently than he did everyone else that it threw you off, almost literally, but his sand was there to support you before you could fall. He almost seemed surprised by its instant reaction to protect you. You finally decided to give him an answer. "I can't tell you, I don't know myself... why are you here? To kill us?" Gaara shook his head and tossed you something... a heaven scroll. He was helping us..? You grabbed it in midair and Gaara disappeared within his sand.

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That encounter had you questioning the sort of person Gaara was and his motives. Did he want something from you? Did it have something to do with this stupid tugging thing, because the feeling in your chest was going nuts! Before you could question it further, the boys found you. "There was nothing." You swallowed and held the scroll up. "I wouldn't say that... they hid it so it wouldn't be found, but well.." You wouldn't tattle on Gaara yet. At least you got your objective. "Let's go." Yoru and Kasai exchanged a look. "Did something happen while we were down there? Oh snap, was there an enemy near by?!" You shook your head quickly, waving your arms. "No, no! Nothing like that! I'm just a little paranoid is all.." You jumped into another tree. "Everything will be fine as long as we get to the tower without any problems, so let's go." Yoru sighed and Kasai nodded slowly. "Ok.." With that the three of you headed off, avoiding any and all scents and sounds as you traveled through the night to get to the tower.

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"I can't help but wonder how many have made it here so far?" You took a minute to sense around as you opened the doors and entered the building. "I only sense one team in here, but many are coming." You replied to Yoru's question as you pulled out the two scrolls. The second earth scroll had long since been abandoned for another team to find. "What do we do with them?" Yoru pointed up. "Judging by that text-"
"We have to open them simultaneously!" Kasai cut the grey haired boy off. You sweatdropped. "Ah... thanks boys.." You and Kasai did just that, opening the scrolls and dropping them as smoke poofed into your faces. You shook it off, looking to see... a black haired male with a bandage over his nose. You remembered seeing him at the front gate. "Kotetsu... right?" The chunin nodded. "That's correct. I am Kotetsu Hagane, a Chunin of Konaha. I'm merely here to tell you you've passed this exam. Congratulations." You and the boys did have a few questions, but honestly, you just wanted to sleep for the next four days. As you headed up to the resting area, you stopped upon catching Gaara's eye. You merely stared at each other for a minute, though you couldn't tell if it was a challenge or not before you decided that it wasn't and went to bed.