Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me under international copyright laws and taking it is plagiarism. Thank you. *Phantomness bows* Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto…

Chapter 10

Red was strangely subdued as they made their way through the forest. By sunrise on the third day, they had reached the tower. The one group of genin they had run into since the incident had fallen into a pit trap, and after Kasumi had used Hypnosis on them, they had found the Scroll they needed. So now they had both scrolls, and the kunoichi had cast Mist to cover their steps.

He should be happy, but the bite on his neck still throbbed, and as they tiredly entered the Central Tower, he wanted to sleep…

But he also wanted to talk to Wataru and get an explanation…

Maybe it was better if Sakaki died?

After they had handed over their scrolls, had them verified as real ones, and been directed back to the village so they could sleep off their exhaustion until the next part of the Chuunin exams, Red, Kasumi, and Satoshi split up.

Red wanted to talk to Wataru, but he was still overseeing the Second Test, so he made himself some instant curry rice and then went to bed.

He slept for two days straight.

When he had awoken, he found that Wataru had let himself in and was watching him. His teacher said nothing, as Red got up and went to the bathroom, and after a shower, felt somewhat more human.

He popped open a can of red bean soup and took a large gulp. “Wataru? What did Sakaki mean that only he could defeat Genji?”

“Sakaki’s aim was to learn all of the jutsu in the world.” Wataru replied. “Thus, if you had gone to him, perhaps he would have taught you a technique that could have taken Genji down.”

“Oh.” Red took another sip. “But what would the price have been?”

“You don’t think he would have taught you it for free?”

“Nothing is free.” Red retorted.

“Well, Sakaki is very… was, very infatuated with the idea of immortality. He developed a technique that would allow him to take possession of another’s body…”

The look on Red’s face eloquently conveyed his horror.

“So while it is quite possible that he could have defeated Genji in your body…”

“It wouldn’t have been the same.” Red shuddered.

“I daresay not.” Wataru agreed.

“I do wish I could activate the Trainer’s Eyes.” Red frowned. “I’ve been in a lot of life-threatening situations, but it’s never manifested.”

“…” Wataru was silent for a moment, before he shrugged.

“I would not know.”

“What about this?” Red pointed to the bite mark on his neck. The marks were rapidly fading, which gave him hope. “Will I be all right, now that he is dead?”

“I would assume so.” Wataru smiled. “Worse case scenario, we could… seal that mark.”

“You seem to know something about it.” Red put the soup down, focusing all of his attention on his teacher.

“I should. After all, I was the only survivor.”

With that, Wataru rolled down the high collar of his red coat, revealing a mark eerily identical to the one Red now boasted.

Red gaped, astonished. “You used to be Sakaki’s student?”

“Yes. However, when he… experimented on me, and my other teammates, I could keep my silence no longer. No matter how brilliant he was, such disrespect for the natural cycle of life and death…”

“Wataru…”

“I think you will be fine.” Wataru said. “When you finish breakfast, we can go train again. There are still almost three weeks until the matches begin.”

“All right.” Red acknowledged, glad that the uncomfortable conversation was over.

The first inkling of a difficulty came when he breathed out an Ember attack. Wataru dodged easily, but he almost fell to his knees in pain.

That sudden wave of agony, spreading from his neck…

What was he doing wrong?

What had Sakaki done to him?

Wataru cursed softly under his breath as he landed, before rushing over to his student. “Red. Are you all right?”

“It feels like I’m burning up inside…” Red gasped. “Why? What is happening to me?”

“I believe that Sakaki may have managed to poison your chakra, for lack of a better word.” Wataru stated grimly. “Perhaps we should stop.”

“I…I… but I have to get stronger…”

“I know.” Wataru said. “Forgive me.”

Red blinked, and that was when Wataru sank his teeth into his neck. He cried out, more in surprise than in pain, for he was already hurting, but he could feel his thoughts growing hazy.

What was Wataru doing?

Wataru watched as Red’s eyes slid closed. This was tricky to do, but as he carefully wound his fingers into the boy’s hair, he whispered the spell-words under his breath, quiet-quick, and he was satisfied when he saw Sakaki’s tainted mark vaporize in a silver spray.

That ought to do it…

He idly stroked Red’s hair as he waited for him to wake. He wanted to protect the child, keep him under his wing, and cuddle him, but that was madness.

They were ninja, and had no time for these entanglements.

He could not afford to become romantically involved. In any case, Red was still young… and he was fixated on revenge, was he not?

But on the other hand, he was not completely lost.

What to do…

Red dreamed. He dreamed of soaring through the sky on the back of a silver dragon, with a magnificent sword in his hands, and defeating Genji, and he woke up feeling quite refreshed.

Wataru was watching him from a few feet away.

“Try your attack again.”

Red did, and this time, there was no pain.

He missed the tight-lipped smile Wataru gave, and cheered. “Sensei! I’m all better now!”

“I’m glad,” Wataru conceded with a small smile.

Their training resumed without a hitch.

End Chapter

Started 7/14/07

Completed 7/24/07

Oh look! There’s foreshadowing! ^^