55 Second Trial Continued...

Sasuke clad himself in lightning nature chakra and dashed towards Aoda.

This time, Sasuke's speed was even faster, as his proficiency with lightning natured chakra became better under the pressure of facing off against Aoda who was, on a whole, another league compared to the tiny snakes.

Aoda quickly dodged Sasuke,

Sasuke also jumped backward upon missing his attack.

Aoda returned by going behind Sasuke and pounced for an attack.

Sasuke narrowly dodged by turning his body in mid-air making his back collide against Aoda's scales.

"AAHHHH!!" Sasuke screamed almost feeling his skin tear off from the encounter due to the sharp scales digging into his skin.

Sasuke used his position to his advantage by drawing out his kunai and coating it in lightning natured chakra, as he slashed it towards Aoda…

(SLASH!)

The kunai was barely able to penetrate the hard scales of Aoda.

HIISSSSSS!!!!!

Aoda reacted to the slash feeling a bit of pain.

Sasuke's expression turned grave.

("Is this how powerful a huge summoning animal should be?") Sasuke thought as he retreated.

….

"Great Sage!"

"Why does Aoda get to have all the fun? You could have send in Manda..." The woman who encountered Sasuke asked.

The White Snake Sage looked towards her.

"Tagitsuhime!"

"The boy's fate led him to this cave through reverse summoning."

"He needs to be given a fair chance through trials, even if he only wishes to contract."

"As usual, if he fails, you can all feast upon him." The White Snake Sage explained.

"But why Aoda?" Tagitsuhime asked.

"Manda is arrogant. He would crush the boy before he had a chance."

"Aoda is patient, and will slowly unveil the potential of the boy…"

"It's interesting this way…" The White Snake Sage said.

….

Hah!

Hah!

Hah!

Sasuke panted as he landed on the ground, meanwhile… Aoda adjusted its body preparing for the next round of exchange against Sasuke.

("Calm down!")

("Analyze the movements.") Sasuke thought as he closed his eyes.

< Sharingan! > Sasuke opened his eyes, upon which Aoda launched towards Sasuke.

Sasuke once again clad himself in Lightning natured chakra.

As he waited patiently.

Aoda opened his mouth as he neared Sasuke.

"NOW!"

Sasuke vanished from his spot, immediately following which Aoda snapped his jaws at where Sasuke previously stood, only that he had snapped at nothing but air.

Sasuke appeared above Aoda, as he turned his face to look at the particular spot where he had stabbed Aoda with his kunai in the previous exchange.

< Hidden Taijutsu - Lion's Barrage! >

HHHHIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!

Aoda screamed in pain as it retreated backward.

Sasuke landed on the ground again.

He brought his kunai to his chest level as he panted in excitement, while he faced Aoda.

…..

…..

Kô returned back from his investigation.

"Hiashi-sama!" Kô stopped as he bowed towards Hiashi.

"So did you get any news?" Hiashi asked.

Kô swayed his head horizontally, indicating that he had failed…

"The boy left the village with Jiraiya-sama, one of the legendary three…" Kô said in a low voice.

"What Jiraiya of the legendary Sanin?" Hiashi asked...

"Yes Hiashi-sama"

"I am afraid that's the case here..."

Hiashi looked towards the room where Hinata was resting at.

He then turned back towards Kô.

"Let this matter rest temporarily till the boy returns," Hiashi said.

"Yes!" Kô bowed.

….

Hinata stared at the setting sun.

Soon, Neji appeared in front of her room.

"Neji-niisan" Hinata stared in shock at Neji's sudden arrival.

Neji stared at Hinata for a few seconds before he performed a dogeza*.

(*author's note - somewhat like kowtow)

"Neji-niisan" Hinata exclaimed as she crawled over to try to make Neji get up.

"Hinata-sama!"

"Please forgive my actions from earlier…" Neji pleaded.

"Neji-niisan"

"I have already forgiven you…" Hinata thought back to when Naruto caught her, turning beet red, to the point of forgetting the battle against Neji.

"Still, I deserve punishment," Neji said as he bowed down again.

"Neji-niisan!" Hinata murmured.

"I realized that destiny had nothing to do with this, that you had nothing to do with this…" Neji said as he thought about his hatred towards Hiashi for what he had Neji's father do…., to save himself by making his dad who was identical to him to die in his place.

Neji had a deep hatred for both the Hidden Clouds and Hiashi for his father's death, and also the fact that they were twin brothers, despite which his father was forced to the branch clan since he had born a few seconds later.

"I am happy, that your thoughts have changed…" Hinata said as she placed her hands on Neji's shoulders and smiled.

....

Neji bowed once again towards Hinata as he excused himself and left the place.

As Neji walked through the corridors, Hiashi also entered the same place, appearing right in front of Neji.

Neji gave a light glare towards Hiashi as he bowed a bit to show his forced respect towards his clan leader.

Hiashi observed Neji's actions, as he watched Neji continue ahead after bowing down towards him.

He stared at Neji's departing back….

("Hizashi….")

...

...

It was night time….

Gaara stood at the top of the building as he kept observing the people's interactions, slowly gaining an understanding of human emotions.

(Whoosh!)

Dosu landed on the rooftop as he walked towards Gaara.

"You stood here all day?" Dosu asked in a sarcastic tone.

Gaara did not like his tone for some reason, but he still maintained a light amicable expression on his face as he looked at Dosu.

"What do you want?" Gaara asked.

"I thought I'd crush you now." Dosu said.

Gaara thought back towards Kankuro's words.

….. FB

"I don't want to say this… but, you're nothing but a frightening weapon to the village…" Kankuro paused.

Gaara observed Kankuro without saying anything.

...FB

Gaara walked towards Dosu slowly…

"If I am to defeat you now…."

"There'd be the possibility for me, after the first battle to be able to fight against Sasuke." Dosu continued.

Gaara stopped just within ten meters of Dosu.

"I know your sand attack." Dosu said.

"I wonder which is faster, yours or my sound." Dosu said.

Gaara closed his eyes.

He whipped his left hand out, following which a small blob of sand flew out towards Dosu's right gauntlet.

Dosu was surprised, but before he could react…

(CLAMP!)

The blob of sand entered into the Gauntlet in one full swoop and blocked it from producing any sound at all.

Gaara looked at Dosu.

"Retreat now, and I will overlook this matter," Gaara said.

Dosu was shocked.

("How did he…?")

("Was he this forgiving?")

("His attitude and tone seems to be different…") Dosu thought as he stared at Gaara speechlessly.

Gaara looked away from Dosu as he stared at the sight of the village.

"Fight Temari in a fair match."

"If you defeat her, you might get to battle against Sasuke…" Gaara said.

"Hmph!"

"I'll remember this…" Dosu said as he left the place.

...

Meanwhile, Kabuto and Baki watched the encounter between Dosu and Gaara.

"Amazing… He has changed…." Kabuto admired Gaara for how swiftly he had disabled Dosu.

"Mm…" Baki agreed.

"I wish he had killed Dosu though…." Kabuto sulked.

"But… is it okay?"

"He's a Sound Ninja…" Baki said with a shocked expression.

"It's all right. He's long since served his purpose." Kabuto said emotionlessly.

"I thought he was a guinea pig in order to see…"

"the power of the boy called Sasuke… or something…" Baki said in a low voice as they communicated in the shadows in front of a building.

At this moment, there was another man lurking in the shadows, listening in on their conversation.

It was the exam proctor Gekkou Hayate.

("Why…is he with the Sand Ninja?") Hayate thought as he observed the interaction that was taking place.

Kabuto handed over the scroll to Baki.

Baki stared at the scroll and then towards Kabuto.

"This is the carryout plan from Sound." Kabuto said.

"If they find out that you're having a secret meeting here with me…."

"the plan to destroy the Leaf Village and everything will be for Naught!" Baki replied.

("WHAT?") Hayate was shocked to hear this revelation.

Kabuto turned towards Baki.

"If you guys are going to fail, we'll back off immediately…" Kabuto said without a care.

"It's a plan that was originally posed by the Sound, so…" Baki paused.

"That Sand is invisible until the last moment."

"This is the will of the Kazekage," Baki said.

("I must inform Hokage-sama!") Hayate thought.

He turned back, only to hit into someone.

Hayate fell on his back as he stared at the figure in front of him.

….

….

The battle between Sasuke and Aoda went on for a while to the point where both Sasuke and Aoda were tired out.

("Damn it!")

("I don't have enough chakra for a long battle.")

Sasuke thought while Aoda raised it's head once again.

("There's only one option left…") Sasuke thought.

He brought his hands together….

<Monkey> → <Dragon> → <Rat> → <Bird> → <Ox> → <Snake> → <Dog> → <Tiger> → <Monkey>

Sasuke brought his left hand down, following which he placed his right hand over it.

…..

"Shake on it if you accept to my conditions," Kakashi said as he stared at Sasuke.

..

"I am going to present you with the conditions of mine," Kakashi said as he held up his finger.

"One,"

"You will only use this technique when the situation demands it."

"Mm." Sasuke nodded.

Kakashi put up two fingers towards Sasuke.

"Two,"

"You will never use this technique against a comrade from your village," Kakashi said.

..

"You are someone who could be able to use Mangekyou Sharingan just like me."

"However, on one condition."

.

"That you must kill your closest friend…"

.

"And one day, when you have the same eyes as I do..."

"Come and stand before me!"

…

"I will tell you the truth about your brother if you defeat me in battle one day…"

Sasuke looked towards Naruto feeling hope rise up in his heart once again, as he regained his former expression of arrogance once again.

….

Sasuke watched his hands gathering the strength fuelled by his feelings.

(Bzz!)

A strange electricity buzzing sound came about

(Bzz!)

.

(Bzz!)

(Bzz!)

(Bzz!) (Bzz!)

(Bzz!) (Bzz!) (Bzz!)

(Bzz!) (Bzz!) (Bzz!) (Bzz!)

Sasuke raised his head as he looked towards Aoda.