Sasuke's POV (Contestant Section of Iron Arena - Land of Iron)
The Chunin Exams had always been part of the plan. Progression of his shinobi career in the Leaf was a necessity for him. Sasuke needed to become a shinobi with influence, reputation, and connections. One is to start the repair of the Uchiha clan, and the other is to aid his search for the truth of that night. Sasuke had never been one to dwindle. From a young age, he had trained relentlessly, at one time for the respect of his father and older brother, and now to redeem them. So much had he prepared, he had earnestly assumed the exams would've been a farce. Indeed, with his brethren Shisui's aid, no mere Genin could stand before him.
That notion had been disabused shockingly early on. Neji Hyuga had been a fight he had hoped for and even been excited for. While Sasuke had known his reputation, he had assumed he would effortlessly destroy him, poke holes in his style, and prove Uchiha's superiority with ease. Sasuke had won the battle, but Neji had nearly bested him. In the first round, he had a close fight. The Uchiha was confident that if they fought again, he would win much more easily, but it mattered little. Sasuke had left doubts in their minds. Now, the doubts might grow more prominent. Fuu, the goofy woman, had made Lee seem almost helpless. Sasuke would have undoubtedly struggled against him, yet she appeared unbothered. Kiba wasn't a mighty opponent; Sasuke had bested him before. Yet Gaara had made him look pathetic. Tenten had shown impressive skill and utility, yet Naruto had outpaced and overwhelmed her. Even Samui had seemed impressive to some degree.
It wouldn't stop Sasuke; he would merely have to be prepared for them. His next challenger was a significant challenge. 'She seems superhuman in every way… but I think I can manage it.' But Gaara would make it to the next rounds. Naruto likely would not be bested by some meager stone shinobi. 'All of my problems are jinchuriki…' He sighed mentally. 'For the Uchiha…'
"Disabling Inner Gaze: Demons Exposed!" Yuno cried with a powerful flex of chakra. The yell, amplified by the mics, broke him out of thinking. 'I'm glad Yuno will never know I wasn't fully paying attention. But why is she using that technique? While powerful, it drains her quickly and limits her from chakra techniques…' He focused on the fight intently as he watched. With an apparent flare of light, Shikamaru was trapped in the genjutsu, and Sasuke debated the odds. 'Shikamaru supposedly is some genius; even so, I've been ensnared by this Genjutsu. It is a difficult one to escape, especially without your own Sharingan. I suppose this is the end. The technique makes you face your biggest sources of stress and plays with all five senses. He's officially helpless.'
At least, that had been what Sasuke had assumed. Shockingly, it seemed Shikamaru had found a counter to Yuno's strongest Genjutsu, even under his effects. Shikamaru somehow seemed able to predict Yuno's movements and attacks. 'Through pure intuition? Yet another challenger to be bested…'
With this impressive feat in mind, Shikamaru managed to stall until he found quite the escape method. His screams were vivid and raw as he used a shadowy hand to crush his own left wrist. Yuno, seeing the desperate gambit, had tried to enforce the end. Yet even when suffering considerable injuries, it seemed Shikamaru kept his head. When Yuno attempted to place a kunai under his throat, she was grabbed by a giant hand of shadows. It crudely smashed the exhausted Yuno into the ground, knocking her out. Yuno needs to work on her stamina, just as Ino did earlier. 'Fear not, cousin, should I encounter the Nara later, he shall also fall.'
Kabuto's POV (?)
Kabuto was a strange, unpredictable man who had been, from the start, another orphan created by the never-ending machine called war. Soon, he was used by those of strength in the world. In many ways, Danzo Shimura could be attributed to creating him as he was, crushing the little bit of stability his life had and ensuring he would never struggle with such a meager consideration like "morals."
"The only love a shinobi needs is the love of their homeland. We live in darkness to ensure the majority can be bathed in light. Rid yourself of your bias and illogical emotions. That is the job of a true shinobi." Danzo had often told him. Kabuto had served due to his interest in Danzo and the sense of purpose it had given him. After a few years, he had found himself a new master. One that was much different than before and one Kabuto found to be a much better fit.
Orochimaru had proven to provide something Kabuto could not say anyone else ever had: enjoyment in life. He had shown him such brilliant research. Others would call it inhumane, cruel, or barbaric. They were ignorant, refusing to learn based on subjective distaste. Orochimaru had introduced this ideology to him: nothing was sacred, morality was a political tool, and little else, and knowledge was above all else.
"People spend their whole lives restrained. They are told how to work, live, learn, grow, and even when to die. They bow to the machinations of others constantly. Betraying their very instincts to fit into the role society provides. They lead miserable lives only ended by their pitiful demise. But it doesn't have to be this way. No, for those who aren't foolish enough to be told how to live and when to die. They move for greater purposes; they live based on the most human aspect of man. Their hunger for knowledge is all that is permitted to learn. Join me in becoming wise Kabuto Kukukuku…" Orochimaru had ranted. Most of his men found these rants unnerving, but Kabuto found it exciting.
Sasori had attempted to get him under his thumb. Luckily, he had underestimated both Kabuto and Orochimaru. Soon, he would pay for his attempt… or… would he?
Kabuto inwardly swore as his entire being ached, like he was being crushed into a ball from every direction. The pain made him gasp for air, only to discover he couldn't breathe! He couldn't even see! He attempted to thrash, but this only increased the pain tenfold. As the pain intensified, Kabuto saw stars, and his mind remembered his defeat by Guren and company. They had managed to overwhelm them, and Guren had encased him in crystal; he hadn't panicked. He had prepared a counter to such once Guren had joined. Only for her to continue to cover him in thicker crystal as it sank into the earth. Oh, he had panicked then; curses and threats were promised internally. But none of it mattered. He had been defeated. She had left his head exposed for a moment before burying him. All the better to enjoy her revenge. He had known it would come; he had been the one to kill Yukimaru.
"Sorry, Kabuto, but I couldn't just run off and live happily. Not after you two killed him." Guren had said grimly, glaring hatefully at the imprisoned Kabuto.
"You mean you can't forgive me for killing him. Orochimaru had merely ordered it; I had the pleasure of butchering him myself!" Kabuto roared, vicious and spiteful even at the potential end.
"Touche, just die knowing you failed your master; he will join you soon," Guren said darkly.
"HAHAHAHA!" Kabuto taunted manically. "You could never bitch!"
"No, I could not. Fortunately, Orochimaru had a much bigger problem coming: an attack.~" Sang Guren happily. "~And such poor timing!
Orochimaru is weaker for now due to needing a new body soon. Kimimaro and I are both dead, well, one of us anyway. And his most reliable psycho is going to die without his knowledge."
"Wait! An attack?! You bitch, what did you do?!" Kabuto roared, realizing this may be a more significant threat than he had first deemed. But his rage had gone ignored as he sank into the earth.
Kabuto felt the pain grow slightly numb; he knew that meant his brain was shutting down due to lack of oxygen. 'My technique heals me automatically on a cellular level. This will allow me to survive this longer than most. I merely need to create new cells at the same rate they die. But if I lose consciousness even for a moment, I'll likely die.' Kabuto had always wondered if suffocation would be a decent method of killing him. His healing allowed him to survive even the most vicious of injuries, but a constant unending ailment might stand a chance.
He wondered if his parents had ever loved him?
Kabuto flinched at the random thought. Even with the healing, his brain had slowed down significantly, and it took a lot of work to maintain focus.
Why did everyone use him?
Kabuto had no time for such thoughts! He needed to figure out a way to escape! Orochimaru would need his aid!
Must his death be so pointless?
Kabuto couldn't afford to die; he had barely lived! The constant and intense pain had become muted. His nerves barely were working and were under continuous damage and repair.
How long has it been? Seconds? Hours? DAYS?!
Kabuto tried flexing his chakra, but it was for nothing; the crystal did not budge and even seemed to drain him of some of his chakra. A period of time passed that Kabuto could not identify. Likely, it had been minutes or hours. But it felt like years.
Kabuto missed the pain.