Everyone followed Anko to a fenced off forest with danger signs covering the fences. "This is area 44, other known as the Forest of Death." She announced causing an eerie mood.

Anko explained the rules of the second exam then everyone went to turn in their waiver forms and pick up their scroll. Ko sat on a rock next to Sasuke while Naruto and Sakura were talking to Konohamaru and his friends.

"We have to be alert and be on our toes. I don't think Sakura can handle herself, maybe Naruto can but if worse comes to worse, we'll have to protect both of them." Ko said as she signed her life away.

"I know, this will be hard, especially for them." Sasuke replied looking over at her.

"Surviving will be our top priority. If we get into a fight we can't win, we run or give them the scroll. We can always try again another year."

"I agree,"

Once every team got their scroll, they all waited for further instructions. Naruto started to mock Anko which, in response, she threw a kunai at him cutting his cheek.

"Kids like you are quickly killed hehehe. Spraying that red blood I love." Anko said licking the blood off of Naruto's face.

"Here's your kunai," a grass ninja said holding Anko's kunai in her tongue.

Ko froze instantly knowing who it was. She watched the grass ninja wielding the stray kunai with their long tongue as they leaned against Anko's back.

"Why thank you but you know don't sneak up behind me unless you want to die." Anko said with a smile.

"No I just get excited when I see red blood, plus you cut my precious hair, I couldn't help it." He replied pushing his long hair behind his shoulder only for it to fall back into place since it was cut.

"Sorry about that," Anko apologized. "Looks like we have a lot of blood thirsty ones in this test. Hehehe this should be fun."

The grass ninja met Ko's stare and walked towards her. Ko stood her ground while the rest of her team watched anxiously.

"My my, a young girl like you in these exams? I hope you can put up a fight." He said as he touched the ends of her hair.

"I'm a lot stronger than I look." Ko replied with a confident smile as she looked up at him.

"I hope so, or you won't survive." He threatened which Ko knew was true. She didn't doubt that if she didn't show any improvement, he would kill her.

He then turned around and went back to his team. Ko also went back to her team who looked worried.

"Who was the creep?" Sakura asked.

"Competition," Ko answered with a smirk.

All the teams were instructed to follow a chuunin to a gate where they would enter the forest.

"The second test of Chuunin exam now begins!" Anko announced making the gates fly open.

"Okay! Let's go!" Naruto yelled as he ran through the gates.

As they ran through the forest, a scream was heard throughout the area.

"That was a human scream right? I'm getting a little nervous." Sakura stammered as she frantically looked around.

"This..this is nothing, Sakura-chan. I got to take a piss," Naruto said attempting to hide his fear.

When they stopped, he started to unzip his pants causing Sakura to shriek.

"What are you doing in front young ladies! Do that in the bushes!" Sakura yelled punching Naruto.

"Ugh this is a waste of time, why couldn't you have gone during that long break we had?" Ko complained crossing her arms.

"I didn't have to go until now," he said walking towards the bushes.

Ko turned away from Naruto and walked over to Sasuke.

"Sasuke, I have a plan."

"What is it?"

"Make a copy of the scroll, you take the fake and I'll take the real one. If something goes wrong, they'll expect you to have it since you're the strongest and they won't expect me to have it."

"Makes sense." He said as he took out the scroll.

He made a duplicate and put it in his weapons pouch while Ko took the real one. Then Naruto was done with his business and came out.

"Man so much came out! I feel great now!" He laughed adjusting his pants.

Ko narrowed her eyes at Naruto's cheek seeing the cut was gone and then her eyes traveled to his weapons pouch; it was on the left side. She looked over at Sasuke and he nodded. He leaped for Naruto punching him. Ko got on the ground and kicked him in the air; he flew then hit the ground.

"Huh? Sasuke, Ko, you didn't have to go that far." Sakura scolded.

"What the hell are you doing?" 'Naruto' questioned.

"Where's the real Naruto?" Sasuke asked.

"What are you saying all of a sudden?"

"Your shuriken holder is on your left side, he's right handed. And the main difference is you don't have the scratch that examiner put on Naruto's cheek." Sasuke concluded.

"Plus your chakra is different from Naruto's." Ko added.

"You're a fake loser who's worse than Naruto at transforming." Sasuke said.

He transformed back into a rain ninja with a mask thingy and a cloth over his eyes with two holes in them for his eyes.

"Unlucky! You figured it out, oh well! Which one of you has the scroll?!! I'll just take it by force then!" He said as he ran towards Sakura.

Sasuke jumped into the air weaving some hand signs.

"Phoenix fire flower jutsu!" Sasuke shouted as fire came from his mouth.

He dodged but Ko found him hiding in the brush and punched him in the face. He got up, reaching in his kunai pouch to throw kunai at Sasuke. Then one exploded making Ko get to the ground covering her already damaged ears. Sasuke fell to the ground and landed on all fours. He appeared behind Sasuke.

"Now this is lucky! Move and I'll kill you! Hand over the scroll!" The rain ninja commanded.

"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura screamed.

Ko ran towards the two then kicked the rain ninja in the face away from Sasuke. She saw Naruto tied up near a tree and threw a kunai cutting the ropes. The rain ninja snuck up on Ko throwing a shuriken at her. She sensed something coming at her so she dodged but it scraped her arm. The rain ninja went after Sasuke so Naruto threw a kunai.

"You won't get away!" Naruto yelled.

The kunai was about hit him but he grabbed it as Sasuke through his kunai which when it got close transformed into the real Sasuke and elbowed the rain ninja in the stomach. Then stabbed him with the kunai.

"This is rough, but I have no choice! Don't just stand around, there may be others! Listen! Relax for a moment and you will really be killed!" Sasuke yelled at Sakura.

Being injured, the rain ninja fled returning to his own ream. Team seven regrouped and sat in a circle.

"If we get separated next time even if it's one of us, don't trust them. This could happen again." Sasuke explained.

"Then what do we do?" Sakura asked.

"We'll make a code word just in case. Listen if they get the code word wrong; assume they are the enemy no matter what they look like. Listen carefully, I'll only say it once. The nin song, "Nin machine". Sasuke then recited the song which was pretty long.

"Ok," Sakura replied.

"Wait, that's impossible to remember." Naruto complained.

"Are you stupid? I already memorized it." Sakura said with a condescending tone making Ko roll her eyes.

"Because you memorize everything Sasuke says." Ko teased making Sakura cover her face attempting to hide her blush.

"Hey, is this code word really," Naruto started to say.

"I'll keep holding the scroll for now." Sasuke interrupted just as a huge gust of wind appeared causing everyone to cover their eyes from the debris.

"More enemies?!!" Sasuke shouted scanning the area for the enemy but the flying debris made him keep his eyes closed.

Everyone was thrown by the wind in different locations. Ko was blown into a tree which she gracefully landed on. She looked around spotting Sakura and Sasuke exchanging words with tense positions soon relaxing when Sakura recited the code word perfectly. Ko knew this was her father, she could sense his chakra under them and it was starting to move behind them. The others might not have sense his chakra but Ko knew it anywhere, even though he was suppressing his chakra, she can always sense the smallest amount.

Ko jumped down from the branches eventually landing in front of her team making them jump and draw their kunai aiming at her.

"What's the code word?" Sasuke demanded getting his kunai ready.

"You expected us to remember that?" Ko crossed her arms shifting her weight onto her right leg giving him a questioning expression.

"Then show me your kekkei genkai," Sasuke was annoyed at her response. He knew it was her but he expected her to take the code word seriously.

Ko's eyes started to glow bright red then went back to normal. "Happy now?"

"Hn," Sasuke replied lowering his kunai and Sakura followed in suit.

When Naruto came out of the bushes, Sasuke told him to say the code word which he said perfectly. Ko snorted at her father's response. He didn't do his research on Naruto before impersonating him just like that rain ninja. There's no way Naruto would've remembered that, he was even listening to their conversation and should've suspected Naruto not to remember the code.

Sasuke threw a kunai at him which he easily dodged, something Naruto wouldn't be able to accomplish.

'"Sasuke why? Naruto said the code word!" Sakura shouted making Ko scoff. How can she claim being Naruto's teammate and actually believe he'd memorize that long phrase.

"So this time it's someone good enough to dodge my attacks." Sasuke's tone was full of confidence which Ko knew would diminish very soon.

"What are you talking about?" Sakura questioned still not understanding.

Naruto chuckled with a menacing laugh then proceeded turned into the grass ninja.

"How did you know that I was a fake?"

"I knew you were listening to our conversation from under the ground. That's why I made the code word like that. There's no way he could remember a song that long so you had to be a fake."

"I see...neither tired nor ill prepared, are we? This will be more fun than I thought." He chuckled then looked at each genin soon landing on Ko. A smirk was shown on his face when they made eye contact. He wanted to see what this village did for her since she's been gone.

"Guys, you leave and find Naruto. I'll handle him." Ko commanded as she readied her kunai getting in front of the two.

"There's no way we're leaving you alone." Sakura chimed in wanting to help but Ko knew she definitely wouldn't be able to do anything against Orochimaru.

"You want my earth scroll right? Since you guys have the heaven scroll." He said as he began to put it into his mouth then swallowing it. "Now, let's begin...the battle for each other's scroll. With our lives on the line."

"Sakura, find Naruto." Ko commanded once again sounding even more serious.

"But..."

"You have to, Sasuke and I will handle him. You'll just get in the way if we have to protect you. Naruto could be in danger right now."

Darkness soon overtook their surroundings followed by a small white outline of many kunai thrown towards them hitting their vital points. Ko quickly activated her Subete Miru cancelling the genjutsu while the others were paralyzed in fear.

"Sasuke, Sakura, snap out of it. It's only a genjutsu." Ko said to them biting her lip in frustration. They were useless if they can't break out of the genjutsu; she wasn't sure if her father would give her an opportunity to release them.

Ko looked at her father then back at her teammates deciding to do this herself. Sakura would get in the way and Sasuke would try to defeat him by himself. Ko sprinted towards Orochimaru with determination in her eyes as she drew her arm back to punch him but it was easily caught.

"Now for that your teammates are going to pay." He said as he reached for kunai while his opposite hand held the young girl's.

Ko raised a leg proceeding to kick his torso but his raised his own leg to block it as he threw the kunai towards Sasuke who thankfully dodged them and got Sakura out of the way. Orochimaru looked back at Ko grabbing her by the shirt pulling her up to his level.

"Don't hold back child," he said with a sinister tone making Ko nod in response.

He threw her towards the tree that Sasuke and Sakura were hiding behind. She flipped in the air then landed on her feet then jumped to the branch that Sasuke and Sakura were on.

"Sasuke are you alri-" Sakura started to ask until Sasuke covered her mouth.

"Sasuke, the plan." Ko whispered to him as she scanned the area. She knew he was close but couldn't pinpoint where.

"How can we run away?" Sasuke muttered to himself as he looked down in frustration.

Ko saw a snake above them slithering down towards Sasuke. She was quick on her feet and kicked it away while Sasuke and Sakura fled. The snake turned its attention to Sasuke lunging at the Uchiha with its mouth wide open ready to swallow him whole. Sasuke threw kunai at the beast trying to injure it so he could get away, but it still kept approaching. After the second wave of kunai, it fell to the ground.

"You guys shouldn't relax for even a moment. Prey should always be trying their best to run away...in the presence of a predator that is." The grass ninja said as she rose out of the snake making Sakura and Sasuke gasp.

Orochimaru's gaze flickered to Ko seeing she was standing slightly in front of Sasuke ready to protect him. Orochimaru wondered if it was because she knew Sasuke is no match for him and will be killed or if it was because she actually cared about her teammates.

Orochimaru slithered up the tree heading towards Sasuke but a barrage of shuriken stopped him in his tracks.

"I'm sorry Sasuke. I forgot the code word!" Naruto said as he stood on a high branch.

"Finally he arrives." Ko sighed with some relief. She honestly thought her father had killed the blonde.

"Great job Naruto!" Sakura cheered.

"Naruto! I know you think you're cool and here to save use but forget it! Run away! This is on a whole 'nother level!" Sasuke shouted attempting to get through Naruto's thick skull.

"Hehe looks like you successfully defeated that giant snake." Orochimaru snickered eyeing the young boy.

"Sakura," Ko said getting her attention.

"Yeah?"

"If things get ugly, I want you to take Sasuke and Naruto and get out of here."

"What about you?"

"Don't worry about me."

Sakura stared up at Ko as she looked at Orochimaru. She could see a small smile on her face as if she was enjoying this battle or excited.

"Hey hey! It looks like you were picking on the weak!" Naruto shouted after seeing his teammates were exhausted and pointed at the enemy.

"I will give you the scroll...please take it and leave us." Sasuke pleaded taking out the scroll from his kunai pouch.

"What?!" Naruto shouted in disbelief.

"Huh?" Sakura questioned in confusion.

"Sasuke! What the hell are you talking about?! Why would you give the scroll to the enemy?!"

"Naruto! You just got here! This opponent is more powerful than Kakashi-sensei! If we want to live it's the only way." Ko shouted glaring at her teammate.

"I see...very smart. The only way for prey to escape a predator is to give the predator a different meal."

"Here, take it!" Sasuke said as he threw the scroll but only to be caught by Naruto. "You bastard! What are you doing?!"

While Sasuke and Naruto were fighting, Ko took their distraction to her advantage. As she was trying to sneak up behind her father, she heard a crash. She looked over to see a giant snake about to eat Naruto. She knew he wouldn't react in time, she was about to jump to save him until she felt a strong chakra from him.

"EAT SHIT!" He growled in a beastly voice.

Naruto hit the snake sending it downwards but recovered quickly. Orochimaru appeared on top of it's head blowing fire at Naruto sending him to the ground.

"Now Sasuke, it's your turn. What will you do?" Orochimaru fully faced Sasuke emitting his killing intent making everyone freeze.

Ko was the only one not affected by her father's killing intent making her the only one who would help Sasuke. She jumped from her tree heading towards him jumping up onto the snake running up its back as fast as she could trying to get there in time to save the Uchiha.

"Damn I'm not going to make it!" Ko cursed as she pushed herself harder.

Suddenly, the snake stopped in its tracks just barely reaching Sasuke attempting to stretch it's body to take a bite of its prey. Naruto stood in front of Sasuke with a kunai in the serpent's skin. He had the exact same look as when he was fighting Haku in the land of waves.

"Hey you alright...scaredy-cat?" Naruto growled as he glowered down at his shocked teammate.

Ko looked in front of her eyeing Orochimaru; she looked around at her soundings coming up with a plan. She heard Naruto scream making her look back at her teammates seeing Orochimaru had picked up Naruto with his abnormally long tongue.

"Damn it! Let go of me!" Naruto growled attempting to get out of his grip but was disgusted by the tongue around him.

Ko started running towards them seeing what he was going to do to Naruto. Before she could get to him, it was too late. He was hit in the stomach with the five part seal. He was tossed a way like a rag doll only to be stopped by Sakura throwing a kunai at him pinning him to a tree. Ko went to kick her Father but it was easily dodged. She landed on her feet turning her body to attempt a round house kick but Orochimaru only took a step back.

"I'm sorry my dear but I have no time for you right now." His voice sounded sincere when he spoke to her but his comment sparked anger inside her. She wanted to fight against him now to see if she had improved at all. After so many years of being apart, he wasn't interested in her, only Sasuke.

Ko was grabbed from behind by a clone and thrown off the snake's body down into a clearing with no way of catching herself. She fell facing the ground not knowing how she'll survive such a fall. The ground was getting closer and closer but Ko summoned clones at the bottom that thankfully caught her. They disappeared when she got to her feet and looked up to see Sasuke burning the grass ninja with his jutsu.

Ko's eyes widened as fear struck her as she watched her father being burned to death but soon calmed down once she saw he was fine. She summoned chakra to her feet and ran up the nearest tree to help her teammates who were frozen in place. Both Sasuke and Sakura came to terms that Orochimaru was too powerful for them to do anything

Once she got to a high enough branch, she saw that Orochimaru's identity had been revealed by Sasuke's fire jutsu. He slowly walked towards Sasuke, who was attempting to crawl away. Ko had never seen this side of Sasuke, he was so scared of her father that he wasn't thinking properly. He randomly threw his kunai at his opponent desperate to get away. She saw Orochimaru's neck extending towards Sasuke, fangs baring as he drew closer. Ko had never seen this technique, but she had an idea on what it was.

"KO DO SOMETHING!" Sakura's voice screamed pleading for her teammate to help her crush. Ko didn't know what came over her but her body reacted to her teammate's plea.

Ko jumped into the air weaving hand signs releasing a fire jutsu at her father's body but she was too late. Sasuke screamed out in pain as Orochimaru bit into his neck giving him the curse-mark then retracted back to his body in time to dodge her attack.

"What did you do to Sasuke?!" Sakura screamed while running to comfort Sasuke.

"I gave him a going away present." Orochimaru said as he sunk into the ground but only to be dragged out by Ko who stood in front of him.

"Sakura, get Naruto and Sasuke out of here." Ko commanded as she pulled Orochimaru out.

"But..."

"Go Sakura! You three aren't in any condition to fight. Take the boys and get out of here. I'll be fine."

Sakura didn't want to leave Ko alone with this man. She looked at her two male teammates who did their best but it still wasn't enough. Ko couldn't do this on her own but there was nothing she could do so she only nodded and took Sakura to the ground then went to get Naruto.

Ko used her chakra to strengthen her arm so she could pin Orochimaru to the tree squeezing his neck. Sakura took the boys and retreated into the trees far away from the battle.

"Looks like we're finally alone." Ko said now staring into her father's snake like eyes.

"So it seems."

Orochimaru sunk into the tree quickly reappearing behind Ko kicking her into the tree. When she made contact with the tree, she disappeared leaving only a log behind. Orochimaru scanned the area looking for Ko waiting for her next attack. She came out from the leaves punching him but he blocked it with his arm. She went for another with the same results then lifted her foot up in between Orochimaru's arms kicking him in the face sending him back. Taking advantage of the situation, Ko appeared behind him taking another kick at him. She pressed her luck going for another kick but it was caught. She fell onto her back and was thrown onto the ground leaving a creator. She tried to gasp for air but blood shot out of her mouth.

Orochimaru grabbed her by her hair pulling her up to her feet. Before her feet could make contact with the ground, she was swung back into the ground face first then thrown into the trees. She flew back about a few feet breaking a few trees as she went further into the forest. Orochimaru ran after her as she got back up to her feet wincing in pain but knew she had to keep going.

"I see you've gotten serious," he said as he drew his sword. "Your taijutsu has improved greatly though, it still needs work. Now, let's see how your sword fighting is."

Ko reached for her sword getting into a defensive stance knowing her father too well. Orochimaru made the first move going straight for the heart making Ko deflect it. As his blade's hilt met hers, she spun her sword around maneuvering him to move along with hers attempting to get it out of his grip but he drew it upwards. He went to strike down onto her left but Ko took out her sword's sheath with her free hand and held it out to deflect his attack making it go into her sheath. In frustration, Orochimaru kicked her in the stomach to get his sword free making her stumble back but regain her balance. They went on swing after swing deflecting each others attack until Ko lost her footing and was stabbed in the shoulder by his blade.

Ko bit her lip drawing blood as she fought back the urge to scream but knew she couldn't show weakness in Orochimaru's presence. Ko tried to tend to her wound but soon felt pain on her side; she looked down to see Orochimaru's blade sticking out of her, blood dripping from the blade.

"Don't get distracted my dear." Orochimaru purred going for another attack.

Ko turned around side stepping to her right then went to kick him but he was a lot closer than she had thought. Utilizing both arms, he grabbed her arm and her leg and slammed her into the tree truck behind her.

"You need to focus on your opponent and not worry about your wounds. Remain focused and don't let emotions get in the way." He scolded then was turned around to face him.

Ko looked down at the blade that was now pressed up against her neck making her heartbeat quicken. She couldn't hide the fact that she was shaking with fear but gained the courage to look up at him. The look in his eyes never changed, they were cold as ice.

"You have grown since the last I saw you," he commented removing his sword from her putting it away then took a step back.

"It's been so long my Lord." She greeted attempting to bow but pain shot up from her side.

"They have trained you properly here and you are not as rusty as I thought you'd be. I'd like to see more ninjutsu from you in the next round."

"What else would I do with my free time?" Ko replied trying to hide the fact that her body was screaming at her to get help.

Orochimaru reached out his arm and caressed Ko's face then ran a hand through her hair.

"Your hair is short." He commented then brought his hand back to his side.

She noticed that he always commented on her hair making her suspect that maybe, her hair was at least one thing he liked about her.

"Gets in the way, I don't know how you do it."

"Your mission is almost to an end. I have given Sasuke my mark and these pests will try to warn him of the dangers of me and my curse-mark. Your job is to remind Sasuke the power he needs to get his revenge. Make sure he doesn't forget and soon we will be reunited. When the time comes, I will send the sound four retrieve you both."

"Four?" She questioned wondering if someone had died. She felt a ping of sadness in her chest making her want it to go away. She hasn't seen anybody in so long she at least wanted to see them one more time. She will admit, her team had made her care about others.

"Kimimaro has had some...complications. Also, do not heal your wounds."

"What happened to Kimimaro?" She questioned hoping it wasn't serious. Even though they were barely together, she considered him as her first friend.

"He has fallen ill, nothing to worry about. Now, let me see your Kekkei Genkai." He ordered with power hungry eyes.

Ko closed her eyes then opened them again revealing the red glow of her kekkei genkai.

"Excellent, even better than I expected. Tell me child, why didn't you use them in our battle?"

"I want you to see them later in the exams. Eyes like mine should not be used on the one who gave me this gift."

"Well said young one, now I have preparations to make. Kabuto will be in touch with you."

Orochimaru disappeared giving Ko the chance to process her situation. Ko fell to her knees clutching her wounds; one hand on her shoulder and the other on her thigh, her back was starting to throb as well. She used her Subete Miru to see where Sakura took the boys and spotted them a good distance away.

She sat there for a few minutes taking deep breaths preparing to make her way to them. Once she was ready, she painstakingly made her way over to them wincing with every step. When she approached, Sakura perked up with a kunai ready for an attack but relaxed once she saw it was Ko. Her eyes widened as Ko got closer as she noticed her alarming wounds.

"Ko, are you alright!?" Sakura shouted in concern eyeing the blood on her shoulder and side.

"Sakura, quiet down." Ko hushed as she fell to her knees in front of Sakura.

"Sorry," she placed a hand on Ko's back and the other on her uninjured shoulder helping her sit up straight. "What happened?"

She then helped Ko crawl to the make shift wall leaning her against it. Sakura took bandages out from her weapons pouch and started to wrap Ko's wounds.

"Get some rest, I'll keep watch." Sakura said once she was finished.

"Wake me if you get tired." Ko replied honestly a bit worried trusting Sakura to protect them.

"I will,"

Edited April 13, 2020