Naruto: I Became Orochimaru's Apprentice

"I can't hide," Teriyaki whispered. The Byakugan made stealth useless. His mind raced. He couldn't outrun Lee's speed, and if Neji locked onto his chakra points again, it was over. His only chance was to make a stand. 

"They must really want me gone." It felt strange, part of him was shocked he was able to go toe to toe with these superhumans another part was dissapointed he didn't have any cheats, he was just like a normal shinobi who had been given some Kinjutsu and Water style jutsus.

His fingers twitched. He couldn't afford to unleash the curse mark fully — not yet. But if they forced him... if they cornered him... he wasn't sure he could resist it a second time. He recalled his first meeting with Orochimaru, where he had been interested in his different cells.

"He'll pick me apart to pieces if I fail him." Teriyaki shivered.

Neji's team moved quickly. Lee blurred forward first, covering the distance in seconds. Teriyaki barely twisted aside as Lee's punch tore through the tree trunk behind him. Before Teriyaki could counter, Tenten whipped a scroll open, summoning a storm of kunai that rained down. Teriyaki formed rapid hand signs.

"Water Release: Wild Water wave!"

A wave surged up from him, washing away the kunai and forcing Lee back. Teriyaki staggered, his breathing heavy. Neji closed the distance, hand glowing with chakra.

"Palm Rotation!"

A spinning dome of chakra deflected Teriyaki's wave, sending him skidding back. Neji lunged the instant his rotation ended, fingers striking twice — one hit numbed Teriyaki's left shoulder, the other disrupted the chakra flow in his right leg. Teriyaki stumbled back, chest heaving. His vision flickered dark — the curse mark pulsed, demanding release.

"Not yet..." he gritted out, fighting to suppress it.

"You're finished," Neji said coolly, stepping closer. "Your chakra flow is disrupted. Surrender. This is for being a hindrance and getting in our way."

"No way!" A familiar voice rang out.

A blur of orange burst through the trees. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Dozens of Naruto clones swarmed the clearing, piling onto Lee and Neji. Tenten flung kunai to disperse them, but Teriyaki seized the distraction. He staggered back and formed a new set of signs.

"Water Release: Rising Water slicer."

A potent arc of water struck into Tenten, cutting her apart before she could summon more weapons. Naruto grinned from the treetops. "Looks like you need some help! Don't worry, I'm awesome at this kind of thing!"

"Stay out of this! What are you doing? Helping out someone from another village... Do you feel sorry for him because he's on his own? Being a ninja isn't about feeling pity." Neji snapped, sending a pulse of chakra to blast the clones away. Naruto didn't listen — he and Sasuke both closed in to block Lee and Neji from advancing.

"Why are we even doing this." Sasuke sighed, his voice mixed with dissapointment.

Lee recovered and charged toward Sasuke, fists blazing with speed. Sasuke barely dodged, sliding back and countering with a sharp fireball jutsu that forced Lee to retreat. Neji leapt forward, aiming for Sasuke's chest. Teriyaki lunged instinctively, intercepting Neji with a slicing water arc that forced him back.

"Rising Water slicer."

"Don't think this means I owe you," Sasuke muttered as they stood back-to-back.

"I do owe you guys," Teriyaki spoke back, barely hiding the strain in his voice. Orochimaru had overestimated him, the people in this forest were too strong. They all seemed above Chuunin level, from their taijutsu and technique strength alone.

Tenten hurled a flurry of shuriken — Sasuke deflected most with a kunai, but one slipped through. Teriyaki shot a water bullet.

"Water gun technique." Rock Lee dived infront of her, tanking the bullet like it was nothing.

The curse mark burned again as Teriyaki felt his own powerlessness and dark lines crawled faintly across his shoulder. Sasuke's gaze flicked to it, eyes narrowing.

"That mark..." Sasuke muttered, his Sharingan locking onto Teriyaki's exposed shoulder. "Where did you get that?"

"Talk later" Teriyaki spoke through gritted teeth. "I understand why you're confused, I'll try to explain later."

"Dynamic Entry!" Lee shouted, appearing in a blur with a fierce flying kick. Teriyaki barely sidestepped, feeling the wind rush past his face. Lee landed hard, pivoted, and drove a powerful punch toward Teriyaki's ribs. Teriyaki twisted away and retaliated with a retaliation blow, forcing Lee back as he crossed his arms infront of him to lessen the blow.

Neji activated his Byakugan again, his gaze locking onto Teriyaki's curse mark. "You're lucky Naruto is a fool, you'd be dead if not."

"This isn't over, if you don't stand back now you might be the one to die," Teriyaki muttered, chakra flaring as the curse mark's influence continued to burn at the edge of his control.

He felt the curse mark empower his chakra, as he stood against Neji he felt more powerful than before. His curse mark seeped with power.

"Is it... Evolving?" He touched it carefully.

With Naruto's clones keeping Lee distracted and Sasuke guarding his flank, Teriyaki formed another set of hand seals, knowing they had to end, he didn't want to kill any of the main cast but if they were really trying to take him out because he was from another village than he would have to retaliate equally.