"Naruto! I know you tried to be cool and intended to rescue us but... Don't put your nose into this! Run! This thing.... She's on a far different level!"

"Seems like you brought that giant snake down brilliantly, Naruto." The crazy snake freak said with a sneer, looking at Naruto from where they rested coiled around the branch.

Naruto crossed his arms and furrowed his brows, pursing his lips apprehensively. No matter how you look, she looks like a snake.. He recalled the way just minutes ago he had been swallowed and nearly digested by a humongous snake and narrowed his eyes. I get it, it was the handiwork of this woman.

(Y/N) gulped nervously, torn between staying where she was with Sakura or going to Sasuke. As the four teammates stood on different branches at different heights, they observed the grass ninja that had turned out to be way more than they originally thought. It was clear now; the way they just rested calmly on the branch like a predator lying in wait. It was unsettling to say the least. Her hands itched for a chain to swing, or any weapon big enough to make her feel safer; as if that'd help.
She was no fool, instincts and senses be damned.

That snake freak did not only stink like death. The smell their body emitted was so foul it made her want to physically recoil at it; it was so bad she could swear that that body was rotting. But that's impossible, right? I mean, he's moving everything. Doesn't seem to be dying anytime soon. Still... something's off about them. Can't even tell whether they are a male or female. Their smell is so jumbled it's sending me so many mixed signals. Something's definitely wrong with that body.

(Y/N) slid a kunai out of her holster and held it tightly, ready to defend. Regardless, if that's not a weakness, we'll need to find one.

Sasuke seemed tense, like a rope pulled too far too tight, wanting to run away. He gritted his teeth harshly, glaring at the freak with all his concentration. The situation has never gotten any better with him showing up for the rescue. What should I do?

"Hey hey hey! Evidently you've been bullying the weakling!" Naruto suddenly yelled, pointing at the creep angrily. "Now that I, Naruto Uzumaki is here, I'm going to wipe the floor with you!"

(Y/N) shook her head frantically, jumping a branch higher, closer to Sasuke and the grass ninja. "No! Naruto wait! We can't just charge in like idiots with no plan this time!"

Sasuke thought for a moment. Then he gritted his teeth so hard they squeaked and snapped towards to (Y/N). "It has come to this then. (Y/N). Give him the scroll."

(Y/N) gaped at him, jaw dropping at the outrageous idea and the stupid announcement. "HUH?!" Is he an idiot suddenly?! I get that you're afraid, but we can't just give ourselves up like that! Nobody knew I had it until you spoke you Duckbutt brain!

"Huh?! What are you doing Sasuke?! Why are you giving our scroll to the enemy?!" Naruto exclaimed furiously pointing at him in outrage.

"You shut up!" Sasuke yelled back with a glare.

Naruto gasped quietly, "What?!"

The grass shinobi observed the exchange with a smirk, slightly sitting up with a hand on their hip, well what (Y/N) thought was their hip. Kind of hard to tell when they had a snake-like body. "I see... you're sensible. The only thing the "prey" can hope for from the "predator" is presenting other food and pray you would be spared, isn't it?"

Sasuke glared, speaking to (Y/N) without daring to his eyes off the grass freak. "Lizard. Give it to him."

(Y/N) snarled at him, jumping to his branch and slapping him. "Are you a fool?! Why did you say anything?! He clearly didn't know! What are you thinking!?"

"Agh dammit! What the hell?! Don't interfere with this, don't you understand this situation?!" Sasuke shouted at her as he rubbed the reddened cheek, glaring at (Y/N)'s angry figure with her hands on her hips.

(Y/N) just growled at him, pointing at him like a nagging mother. "Get yourself together Sasuke! We can't just give up like that! Since when are you a coward! Since when are any of us cowards?! Don't you remember Haku!? I DO! I WON'T have a repetition of that incident!"

Sasuke straightened up furiously at the reminder of that fight, leaning close enough to bump heads with her. "Shut up! Are you a fool?! We can't fight against this one! Kakashi is not here!"

Before (Y/N) could literally knock some sense into him, Naruto had jumped down from his branch and punched Sasuke, sending him flying to another branch. In any other circumstance (Y/N) would have snorted, but as Naruto landed beside her with his head bowed and fists clenched and the freak was way too close for comfort, it was no time for laughter.

Sasuke caught himself midway, landing properly on a crouch. He glared at both hotheads, rubbing at the bruising cheeks. "What're you doing all of a sudden?!"

"I don't remember the password... So I got no way to make sure. But you, you're an impostor Sasuke, aren't you?" Naruto grunted out, panting.

That was enough to make Sakura say something as she stood some branches further away. "Naruto! W-what are you trying to start?!"

"You idiot! I'm the real me!" Sasuke yelled angrily at him, frustrated with the fool.

But Naruto gritted his teeth and clenched his fists tighter, panting just from the anger. "Liar. This.. this stupid coward is ...absolutely not the Sasuke I know! I don't know how strong she is, but how can you be sure that she'll let us go if we hand over the scroll, huh?! (Y/N)-chan is right! You're the one who choked up and doesn't understand the situation!"

(Y/N)'s gaze fleeted between the two boys and the ninja, who she knew she couldn't let her eyes off of for a second. The freak had uncoiled himself from the branch, body contracting once again and was standing now, just a few meters away from the two of them.

"Naruto, (Y/N)..." The creep laughed, smiling maliciously, an unhinged thing. "That's correct."

The three gasped and tensed in fear, except for (Y/N), who merely bared her fangs immediately and stumbled back, grabbing Naruto's wrist.

"The Scroll.." The creep said, suddenly lifting their sleeve, revealing black markings on his arms. "I could just kill you and seize it."

(Y/N)'s. Breath hitched, as the grass shinobi brought a thumb to his mouth and bit, spreading blood across his arm markings.
What's that?!

Naruto glared furiously with wide eyes at the creep, not hesitating to run at them with a kunai. (Y/N) barely had time to yell, "Wait no! Don't get close!"
"Stop it Naruto! Run!" Sasuke shouted at the same time.

But like usual, Naruto listened to no one. (Y/N) could do nothing but stare in horror as the ninja weaved signs and suddenly there was a burst of wind again, but it wasn't just wind.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

A snake suddenly appeared right under the creep's feet, bursting from the ground like a stalk; a huge brown snake just like the one they had seen before. (Y/N) gasped in horror and stumbled back, covering her mouth as Naruto barely dodged a head slam of the huge reptile.

The forest shook with the hits and movements of the snake, trees trembling in their spots, leaves falling like rain.
Taking a good look at the snake, every piece of her body screamed at her to run, but (Y/N) didn't move a muscle to run. Her hands shook, not knowing whether to reach for a shruiken or scroll or kunai or chain or what, like it'd make some difference against something like that. Small snakes were no problem, but this was a huge problem, literally. It was as big as one of the tress around them, thick and long with black and golden eyes.  She had nver been afraid of reptiles before, but this was clearly the exception. It wasn't so much the snake as the fact that clearly the creep commanded it. That was a much bigger problem and reason to fear a snake. A snake on its own, no biggie. But a snake that size and being used by someone... Her spine tingled, and she shivered, scrambling to stick her back to the tree. Dammit! Pathetic! You're a dragon child (Y/N)! And supposedly you have THE DRAGON inside of you! NOT  just any dragon! This is just a snake! A really really big snake....

Naruto panted, crouched on the branch glaring at the creep as he brushed away the dirt from his face.

The creep cooed at Naruto, laughing. "You're such a cute prey."
And then the slinky body of the snake slammed down on his branch. And the wood splintered like clay under its weight, sending Naruto flying, breaking through multiple branches.

"Naruto!"

"Naruto!

(Y/N) gasped, torn between sticking her back to the tree where she could see the snake clearly and not let it sneak up on her or going after him. She had never hesitated to run to Naruto in a dangerous situation before. But this was different clearly. Whoever this was, they made her shiver to her bones and that snake was no joke. This was one of the times she wondered if the Dragon being sealed within her thing was just a bunch of rubbish someone came up with. Because, logically, normally, a real dragon child would have no fear of a snake right? Ridiculous.

Naruto hit his back on a branch, and spat out blood from the harsh hit. As he fell back down, the creep laughed.

"Well, let's polish him off."

But as Naruto fell right in the direction of the snake's mouth, something changed abruptly and (Y/N) immediately sensed the change in her friend. Naruto's red eyes snapped open, and instead of falling straight into the snake's mouth he kicked at its snout.

(Y/N) gasped at Naruto's suddenly stronger form that made the snake recoil. Uh oh. Not this again! Red eyes.. whiskers.. fangs.. the fox!
She snapped her (E/C) eyes to the woman, as she saw the look in her eyes and head her say, "This brat, can't be.."

Fuck. We have a problem. 

But Naruto seemed in control, as he doubled back, punching repeatedly at the snake with all the strength he could muster.

Sakura frowned wide eyed in shock, "Naruto's lost control... but.. that Naruto.. why is he so strong?!"

Naruto didn't stop his barrage of punches despite the snake batting him back with its tongue. (Y/N) gaped in absolute amazement, gulping and covering her mouth. He hasn't lost control this time! He's just using the fox's power unconsciously! The snake isn't taking much damage though...  Afraid, but determined to not let a stupid overgrown reptile stop her (Y/N) reached into one of her weapon pouches, and took out her chain. Think (Y/N), THINK! What can you do?! What can we do? Let Naruto handle the reptile maybe? Since right now he seems to have enough strength for it?

As she struggled to come up with something, she noticed the creep suddenly smirk as Naruto doubled back and raise his hand to his mouth, blowing out. (Y/N) spotted the familiar smell of building fire and swore. Shit! Plans will have to wait!

In a split second she was jumping across the air, putting herself in between the flames and Naruto. The searing hot flames did nothing but slightly scorch her clothing, as she hugged Naruto against her, covering him from the fire. The flames licked gently at her back, unable to touch a dragon child.
The attack still sent them flying though.

Naruto landed on his back with (Y/N) on top of him, both of them barely clinging on to the narrow branch they had landed on. Naruto grunted in pain at the hit and weight, wincing. (Y/N) panted, adrenaline running through her veins. She panted on top of him for a moment and then sat up quickly, brushing off the soot on her scorched clothing.
Good thing I thought to cover my clothes with a layer of my chakra or they'd be toasted!

The grass shinobi stared intently at the two kids, narrowing their dark eyes. That brat. There's not mistake. And the other one's undoubtedly the Ryuudo girl. A malicious smile stretched over his face. Good.

Sasuke gaped at Naruto, wide eyed and disbelieving. "That's Naruto?" He muttered incredulously,

The creep smiled widely. This just got interesting. "Next is... Sasuke!"  They exclaimed. Suddenly the snake turned around and sprung at Sasuke. "Now what's your move!?"

Sasuke gasped, fearful but unable to move or dodge or even try to defend himself. His heart pounded as the huge snake got closer and closer, a shout trying to make its way out of his chest.

Naruto and (Y/N) were quickly jumping back up then and in a second they had put themselves in the way of the snake. Naruto stuck a kunai in its nose, feet skidding on the tree bark as the snake came to a halt, with (Y/N) and Naruto putting all their strength in their backs and legs to push it back. It was close. The snake was so huge its weight and strength greater than theirs. But between both of them the snake was forced to stop at the edge of Sasuke's branch.

Sasuke gasped, heart pounding extremely fast. Before he knew it, (Y/N) and Naruto were in front of him, with their arms stretched out and holding the snake back, panting.

"Hey, are you hurt?" Naruto asked, panting between words. He gripped the kunai buried in the snake's snout tightly, raising his head and revealing his red feline eyes to Sasuke. "Scaredy cat?!"

(Y/N) gritted her teeth beside Naruto, as claws slid out smoothly and sunk into the snake's snout, cutting through the scales like butter. The snake seemed to whimper at that, wriggling a bit, but (Y/N) did not let up, gripping tighter. Fangs and claws out she looked less human than normal, and her ponytail was long undone. Messy (H/C) hair spilled out in long tresses over her shoulders, messed up.
She still managed to grin widely at Sasuke, winking. "Hey Duckbutt, are you gonna move or what?"

Sasuke gasped at them, finally seeming to listen to them going by the expression.

"This stupid coward is absolutely not the Sasuke I know!" Naruto growled out, red eyes pinning down Sasuke with a glare.
He sweated from the effort of holding back the snake.

Sasuke stared at them both wide eyed, for once not having a retort.
But suddenly a slimy pink thing was wrapping around Naruto and pulling him away. (Y/N) gasped at the sudden change in weight, stumbling forward a bit. She stumbled away form the snake and gasped, snapping her gaze towards Naruto. "Naruto!"

The creep had brought out his ridiculously gross long tongue and grabbed Naruto with it as if it was just another limb.  Naruto struggled fiercely in the hold of the slimy tongue.

"Dammit! Let me go! You stupid snake!" Naruto screamed, kicking and screaming trying to rip off the tongue.
Veins protruded from his forehead as he gritted his sharp teeth.

Sasuke and Sakura gasped, and (Y/N) resisted the ruge to vomit at the sight and snarled. Shoot! He got him! And I can't even get close because of the damn snake!

To think that the nine tailed brat lived.... The creep smirked, mouth twisted open as the tongue stretched out, holding Naruto closer. When you get excited, a bit of the nine tails' powers trickles out...
The woman was suddenly holding one of his hands with the other and his fingers lit up with purple chakra, like tiny flames.
You've grown up interesting. The tip of their tongue lifted up Naruto's jacket, revealing a tan stomach with seal markings. Look.. the seal is appearing on our skin like a tattoo.

Naruto snarled and growled, struggling to move.

But it was impossible to dodge, as the damn freak lifted his arm back, and slammed the purple chakra tipped fingers on Naruto's seal.
"Five Pronged Sealing!"

Steam erupted from Naruto's stomach, as the seal changed. Naruto grunted in apparent pain and  became limp.

A broken gasp tore its way out of (Y/N), as she realized what had just happened. Her keen eyes spotted the the new swirls appearing on Naruto's seal, and her hand automatically went to her own stomach, as her heart somersaulted. He changed the seal! He did something to his seal! He knows! She quickly took her hand away from her stomach, gritting her teeth. That means I can't let him find out that I'm a host too. I can't let him get his hands on me no matter what.

"Sasuke, help Naruto! (Y/N)!" Sakura screamed desperately.

Sasuke stayed just as frozen, gaping with heart pumping. Fear and instincts had taken a hold on him, and he struggled between the idea of fleeing or fighting.
As Naruto's eyes became sky blue once again, he trembled and went completely limp in the freaks' hold, unconscious. The grass shinobi, if he even was from Kusagakure, stared at Naruto for a moment, before throwing him away like garbage.
Then (Y/N) moved, seeing her chance to grab her friend.
At the same time Sakura yelled, throwing a kunai "Naruto!"

Sakura's kunai stopped Naruto's fall halfway, pinning him by his jacket to a tree just as (Y/N) reached him. She caught herself on the tree bark, claws digging into the wood and stopping her fall. She grunted with effort as she held herself up with one arm and grabbed Naruto with the other pulling him onto a thick branch. (Y/N) grunted from the exertion, straining her muscles to what she knew they were capable of. She threw him onto a branch and with quick movements secured him there, with one of her bandage rolls.

Sakura turned to look at Sasuke with an expression between outrage and confusion. "What's with you Sasuke?!'

Sasuke stayed frozen, gaze unfocused.

"Sasuke..." Sakura muttered. She looked at the frozen boy, tears prickling her green eyes and yelled . "Naruto's certainly different from you Sasuke, he's a klutz and kind of gets in the way. But he's not a coward in the least! Right!? Isn't that right?! Neither is (Y/N)-chan!"

That seemed to do something as Sasuke flinched, closing his eyes as shivers wracked his body. His brother's voice screamed at him to flee to live his ugly life, to resent. But Sasuke furiously raised his head, black eyes turning blood red. No!

The freak stared at Sasuke with satisfaction, smirking at the sight of the blood red eyes with black tomoe. Just what I expected of the Uchiha Clan, his blood has begun to stir...

Sasuke glared at the freak, knees lowering into a stance. Screw the instincts, screw this guy. He was not going down easily.

Sakura smiled with relief, as finally Sasuke seemed to snap out of it, "Sasuke!"

The woman laughed, staring at him. I should take my time and confirm his true power. Both of them of course, just in case. She cackled, raising a hand to her markings. The humongous snake poofed away in a cloud of smoke.

Sakura covered her face at the cloud of smoke, shutting her eyes while Sasuke stood his ground, fists clenched.

(Y/N) gritted her teeth as she protectively stood over Naruto's unconcious form on the lower branch, glaring at the grass shinobi. Naruto was out cold; whatever that guy had done, had messed up his chakra levels enough to knock him out. She growled lowly, a warm heat building up on her neck, where her dragon birthmark sat.
Snake or not, fellow reptile or not, this guy crossed a line. We can't flee, and we can't ignore him.

There's no way out of this except to fight.

If you're in here damn dragon, do something!

Or I'm going to roast this guy myself with dragon fire until he's like unagi barbecue!