Nikko is your average boy. Average if you consider being caught at the center of an eternal battle between two brothers average, that is. How could anyone handle it all? I do not own Naruto or any of its characters. Oh, and I promise this isn't anot...
Nikko handed Ukimora their Earth scroll. "You guard that," he said, "I've placed one of my marks on it, so if anything happens I can respond quickly."
"Got it," Ukimora said, "Remember, we've been hunting people for months, we've got an advantage."
The gates opened and the duo rushed in. Nikko immediately jumped up to a tree. He placed a paper bomb trap and continued on. Anything goes, he thought, How many people are going to die in here?
Ukimora joined him in the trees. They slid to a stop when they heard someone scream. "That was fast," Ukimora said, "The genin this year are good."
"Let's go see if they've got a heaven scroll," Nikko said, "I'd like to be done with this as soon as possible." He headed off in the direction of the screams. What the pair saw was something that not even Ukimora's time in the ANBU could prepare him for.
The boy with the powerful chakra stood amidst a field of blood and gore. Pieces of a squad of ninja lay scattered across the clearing. Their headbands were pinned to a tree by a single kunai.
"Hanime," a leaf ninja said as he approached, "They had an earth scroll."
No way that boy's a Leaf ninja, Nikko thought, I'd have sensed him by now.
Hanime sighed. "Leave it here then," he said, "Let's keep looking."
"I hear those brats from Kakashi's team have a heaven scroll," the third ninja said as she stepped into the clearing.
Nikko's eyes widened. No! he thought.
"That boy is odd,"Kurama said, "Not a jinchuuriki, but he's more powerful than Shukaku."
"Can you find your other half?" Nikko asked.
"I could," Kurama said, "but what's in it for me?"
"Wow, pretty petty for a demon fox," Nikko said, "One of these days, you and I need to sit down and talk."
"Whatever," Kurama said, "he's west of here. Two kilometers."
Nikko thanked Kurama and told Ukimora where they were off to. Ukimora nodded and followed Nikko. The pair managed to find a heaven scroll on their way to Team Seven. They avoided Hanime's team, wary of their abilities.
What they saw when they found Naruto's team surprised them nearly as much as when they came across Hanime's team. "Orochimaru," Ukimora said, "This is bad. Very, very bad."
"Orochimaru?" Nikko asked.
"We've got to step in now," Ukimora said. He jumped down from their hiding spot and pushed Sasuke away from Orochimaru's attack. He then raised his arms and blocked the blow.
"Ukimora Aki," Orochimaru said, "Interesting. Who would've thought I'd ever see you again?"
"You," Ukimora growled, "I'll rip you to shreds!"
Nikko was shocked. He's never been like this, he thought, His chakra is unstable and he's trembling.
Orochimaru laughed. "Let's see you try then," he said,
"Still wearing people's faces," Ukimora said as he placed a hand on his neck, "Quaint."
Nikko joined Ukimora, Sharingan activated. "Ooh," Orochimaru said, "Another Uchiha. And your eyes. . . Just like Itachi's."
Nikko grit his teeth and furrowed his brow. "What the Hell did you just say to me?" he asked.
"I wonder if you'd survive," Orochimaru said. He's out of my league, he thought, That makes Sasuke my only potential vessel. Still, it'd be interesting to give it to him.
"Your mark has proven very useful to me in the past," Ukimora said, "For that, I thank you. Now, however, you die." He rushed forward, faster than Nikko had ever seen him move before.
Nikko looked over to Naruto. "What did you do to Naruto?" he asked.
"I tamed the beast inside him," Orochimaru said, "It shouldn't be a problem anymore."
Nikko turned his eyes to Sasuke. "And him?" he asked.
"I merely gave him a gift," Orochimaru said.
Nikko returned his attention to Orochimaru. He then wove a series of hand signs, Ram, tiger, he thought as he made the signs, Fire Wind Combination: Flaming Hurricane Jutsu!
"Oh," Orochimaru said as he jumped over the attack, "I see you already know about the combinations of chakra natures."
Ukimora jumped into the air. "Secret Lightning Technique: The Shocker!" he said.
"You're using your father's technique, huh?" Orochimaru asked. He made a hand sign and Ukimora fell from the air, ending the jutsu and clutching his neck. The sannin took advantage of the situation and reached for Nikko. He bit into the boy's neck and hurriedly retreated.
The curse mark faded before it could set in. Orochimaru noticed as he fled and gasped. Impossible, he thought.
Nikko grabbed Ukimora before he hit the ground. "Uki," he said, "Hold on." He took Ukimora and placed him down next to Sasuke. "Sasuke, what's wrong?"
"Orochimaru left some sort of mark on Sasuke's neck," Sakura said.
Ukimora slammed his fist down onto the tree. "We've got to get to the tower, Nikko," he said, "We've got to tell Anko."
Nikko looked to Sasuke, reluctant to leave his brother. "Fine," he said, "Let's go then. Sakura, I'm trusting you to take care of those two."
The two ANBU rushed off. They reached the tower within thirty minutes. A few collectors tried to stop them, but Ukimora cut them down. "Stay out of our way!" he yelled.
Nikko trailed behind for a moment. This isn't the Ukimora I know, he thought, Orochimaru must be very dangerous. They stepped into the tower and found Anko.
Hanime, who'd been standing at the entrance for multiple hours. Watched them pass. "I wonder what's up with them," he said. He closed his eyes. "Whatever. I'll kill all these ninja soon enough."
"You wanna say that again?" Gaara asked.
"Gaara, wait," Temari said, "he's just a kid."
"I said I'm going to kill all of you," Hanime said, "Every single one."
"Now you messed up, kid," Kankuro said.
Gaara launched his sand at Hanime. The child formed the snake hand sign and the sand parted around him. A crison barrier had formed around him, about four feet in diameter.
"Shield of Nourishment," Hanime said.
"Enough," Ibiki said as he approached the tower, "You'll have plenty of time for fighting during the finals."
"Of course," Gaara said as he withdrew his sand.
Hanime ended his jutsu. "Fine," he said, "You're boring anyway." He turned his back to the sand ninja and followed Ibiki into the tower.
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