Naruto: Chakra System

At some distance, three figures stood on a tree branch, observing the ongoing events involving Team 7 and Orochimaru.

"This... is very different from how Orochimaru-sama fights, don't you think so?" Misumi Tsurugi asked his two teammates.

"Yeah, it seems strange. And if Orochimaru-sama came after them, why weren't you notified, Kabuto?" Yoroi Akadō asked.

Kabuto Yakushi, standing in front, narrowed his eyes. "This isn't Orochimaru-sama!"

"WHAT?!" Misumi and Yoroi were taken aback by Kabuto's comment.

"Are you saying that someone is impersonating Orochimaru-sama?!"

"But who could this be? Who would dare to impersonate Orochimaru-sama?"

Kabuto shook his head. "I'm not sure, and there is a silencing seal around their proximity. Whoever it is doesn't want this to be noticed by Konoha authorities within Training Ground 44, the Forest of Death!" Kabuto continued to watch as Sasuke was imprisoned inside the Earth Dome and Naruto received electrical shocks.

"T-then where could Orochimaru-sama actually be now?" Misumi asked; his and Yoroi's faces hidden under long masks, but the shock was obvious in their voices.

"Let's move from here. We should go and see where Orochimaru-sama actually is," Kabuto said before flickering away, his teammates following.

———

Sasuke lay unconscious on the ground, huffing heavily, the crackles of lightning chakra gone. Orochimaru looked at him, then sighed before looking at the similarly unconscious Naruto, tied to the Water Whip and with a kunai in his left hand that was close to Naruto's neck.

"Phew, seems like the plan succeeded!" he said before making the Water Whip vanish. He also made the kunai disappear and slowly lowered Naruto to the ground.

He then touched the ground with his fingertips, scanning the area with a satisfied look. "No one's here," he said before, with a puff of smoke, Orochimaru's persona changed into Kakashi Hatake.

He looked at Naruto and Sasuke, back and forth, then sighed heavily. "Seems I went too hard on them. But at least the plan worked and both are completely safe... Well, not completely. But Sasuke now has the Three-Tomoe Sharingan!"

He first walked to Naruto, a green glow appearing around his hand as he healed the injuries he had made with the lightning shots and bolts. As he was healing Naruto, Sakura, who had been unconscious a short distance away, coughed and stood up.

"Cough, K-Kakashi-sensei?" she said in shock, looking around at the small but wide crater behind Sasuke's unconscious figure and at unconscious Naruto, who was being healed with Mystical Palm Jutsu.

Kakashi was also shocked to see Sakura. 'I used Genjutsu with my Mangekyō Sharingan, yet she still woke up within a few minutes? Is this a natural resistance to Genjutsu or is it because of her high chakra control? If it's the latter, I should also focus on increasing my chakra control to 100 out of 100.'

"SASUKE!" she yelled, running toward him and also forming a green glow around her hand. She started healing Sasuke.

Kakashi asked, "Do you know what happened here... Properly?"

Sakura gulped, her worried gaze fixed on Sasuke and Naruto. "Not properly but yes, Sensei, O-Orochimaru, one of the Sannin, attacked us. These injuries on Naruto and Sasuke are definitely his doing."

Kakashi nodded, sighing in relief internally. He finished healing Naruto completely and stood up. Sakura also finished healing Sasuke's injuries and stood up.

"Well, their injuries are alright, and they will be awake after some rest," Kakashi said.

Sniffle...

Kakashi then heard a sobbing sound. He saw Sakura standing with a rigid posture, her head declined as tears welled up and flowed down.

"Hey, why are you crying? They're safe now, and about Orochimaru, don't worry, I will notify the Third Hokage about it," Kakashi said, gently putting a hand on her shoulder.

She wiped her tears and said, "No, that's not the reason..."

Kakashi tilted his head. "Then... why are you crying?"

"You... sob... trained me, you wanted me to be the pillar of Team 7, but... but... I..." Sakura said, her voice broken and laced with regret and disappointment in herself.

"Ah," Kakashi realized. His simple act of taking Sakura out of his plan had negatively impacted her. He quickly hugged her, gently patting her head. "You don't need to cry. Your opponent was Orochimaru, one of the Sannin, a Kage-level ninja. Even I am not a match for him."

He looked into her eyes and said, "Losing to a strong opponent isn't something you should feel small yourself for. And he struck you first, which means he knew you would be a hurdle for his plan, not because he thinks you are weak. And even if you aren't a match for a Kage-level ninja for now, you definitely will be in the future. Don't let this event bother you, okay? Now, stop crying and take them and hide somewhere. The exam is still ongoing, and until they're awake, you have to protect them."

After Kakashi's reassurance, Sakura stopped crying, nodded firmly, and said, "I will definitely protect them this time."

"Good," Kakashi said with a smile, ruffling her hair. "Well, then, I have to go and inform about this to Hokage-sama."

With that, he flickered away, removing the silencing seal he had placed around the area, and after some distance, he vanished in a puff of smoke. Meanwhile Sakura picked up Naruto and Sasuke and took them to a large alcove within a tree in the Forest of Death.

———

Day 3 of the Chūnin Exam.

Within the border of the Land of Fire, close to the Land of Grass, all six of the Kusagakure teams who had failed the Chūnin Exam were in temporary tents for the night.

"Tonight, I, Isamu, and Kaito will do night duty. And Karin, as always, you will stay up and tell us quickly if you notice anything dangerous," the slim Jōnin announced. He and the other two Jōnin stood guard outside with Karin. The other Genin and Jōnin went inside their tents to sleep peacefully.

"Pakkun, how far are we mow?" the original Kakashi asked, with his Ninken on his shoulder.

"We are straight few hundred meters away from the target," Pakkun said, sniffing the strands of red hair in Kakashi's palm.

"I see. Well, you can go now. I will handle the matter myself," Kakashi said.

"See ya, then," Pakkun said lazily, and with a puff of smoke, he Reverse Summoned himself back to his place.

Kakashi had followed them from yesterday morning, letting them get out of Konoha's immediate proximity and closer to the border. Now that he was here, he felt this much distance is okay.

He flickered and instantly covered the distance, hiding silently behind some bushes. Two Kusagakure Jōnin went in a different direction for night watch, while the slim Jōnin stood behind Karin.

"Stay close to our tent, okay?" he ordered, receiving a meek nod from Karin, and walked off in another direction.

Then Karin instantly turned in Kakashi's direction, making him snicker. 'Tch, I know about her Kagura's Mind's Eye sensory ability, but still, for a young girl to pinpoint my exact location... it still feels like I am lacking in the stealth area.'

"W-wait..." Karin spoke, turning to tug on the slim Jōnin's shirt.

Swish!

"What is it?" The Jōnin turned back but was left dumbfounded to see nothing. Karin Uzumaki had vanished.

"Hey, you dumb girl, where have you run away?" the Jōnin shouted, but to no avail. His voice only woke the sleeping ninjas and the other two on night watch, who came to him.