At a time

Chalter 14

Instinctively, Sakura pushed Karin behind her as a snake charged for them. There was just no way to dodge without leaving the red haired girl at the mercy of the snake. The speed and strength needed for that was just beyond her reach.

Still, she wasn't about to just sit there and become snake food. Clutching the tag in her hand she starts channeling Chakra into it and waits until the snake is close enough before slapping the explosion tag onto it.

Almost instantly the creatures head explodes as the shockwave knocks Sakura back into Karin sending both girls flying into a tree. A ringing noise chimed in the pink haired Kunoichi's head as she groaned.

"Sakura." Sasuke whispers as he moves to help her. Sai places a hand on his shoulder as he remembers himself. "Send one of your art works to help them, get the two of them to safety." He demands, his eyes fixing back onto the Grass Kunoichi who sat on the tea brand, grinning manically at them.

"You are no normal Genin." Sasuke states as he backs up, getting into a fighting stance. "That snake wasn't a forest of death one. It was like Anko's." He paused momentarily as blood dripped from the woman's mouth, her grin growing wider if that were even possible. "You summoned it."

"Oh my, aren't you a smart boy?" She croons, her head tilted sidewards, bug-like eyes locking with his. "So does this mean my identity has been blown or do I still have the element of surprise left in my arsenal?"

Sasuke's hand began to shake as killer intent washed over him again. "The only other Snake Summoner of note...you're Orochimaru of the Sannin."

He remembers the class where they had learnt about the Sannin. Kazemi was deathly silent and not trying to talk to one of her many friends. Everyone payed attention in that particular lesson. Uzumaki Kazemi, infamous school skipper showing up to class? And not only that but she was paying attention. It was impossible to forget something like that.

The woman (he thinks it was a woman, the academy never did say if Orochimaru were a man or woman but he was under the impression it had been a man) cackled with what he assumes was delight.

"Yesssss~ I was right about you little Uchiha. So smart, just like your brother but not quite."

Sasuke's blood ran cold. "What do you know of that man?" He snarls, previous fear forgotten.

"Ah ah, not just yet." Orochimaru tuts while wagging their finger at him, as though Sasuke was just an impudent child. "I want to have a little spar with you first little Uchiha. If you impress me I may even tell you what I know."

His eyes harden as two tomoe shine brightly in his eyes. "Bring it on then."

-----

Swinging around on the desk chair Kazemi reminds herself to take a deep breath to calm herself. Reading the rest of the diary was breach in privacy, if someone read hers (she doesn't have one, but if she did--) she'd stab them with a kunai. But still, this could be detrimental information about the Uzumaki that she just wasn't going to get otherwise.

Just then there was a scratching noise coming from the door. Quickly hiding Mito's diary Kazemi eyes the door for a moment. "Come on in Kakashi!" She calls, feeling slightly annoyed but also relieved that she didn't have to think further on the matter.

The door creaked open but instead of seeing the regular shock of white hair she had grown accustomed to seeing what met her eyes instead was...nothing.

Kazemi felt sweat run down her temple. "Oh Sage, please don't tell me this place is haunted." With a groan she gets up and walks to the doorway. "Kakashi I swear are you messing with me?" There was no reply.