It was the maid, hanging by her neck from a snake, which still coiled around her. Judging by the lacerations to her head, it was clear she had been killed before being hung. Blood dripped from the right corner of her head, hair matted with it. The snake made eye contact, then clenched tighter to the dead girl. Pure terror ran through his veins. 'Is… Is that a note under her headband?' The snake's hissing was hard to ignore long enough to grab it, but he managed to reach and pull.

The handwriting is eloquent, yet sloppy. 'I like my pets broken. Do you have any idea how long it took to break her, only for you to spark rebellion in her once more… Keep in mind whose house you're in brat, as I assure you- my reminders aren't pleasant. You're here for Sasuke's want and use only, not a valued guest. Snakes have excellent vision in the dark, so watch your step fool.'

'I… He knows. He's been watching. I have to press further. Getting caught by Orochimaru is death, by Sasuke punishment, and escape freedom. The decision was made for me I guess.'

Armed with glass, a lamp, and now the cloth which served as the lowly maid's headband, Naruto's arsenal was slightly broader. His head snaps up with sudden realization; 'the glass is to jagged and sharp on all sides, using it for battle would make it a double edged sword. I can wrap the most elongated portion in the cloth, making it similar to a shiv of kunai!'

As he was pushing himself to move around the body, the snake combusted in green flames, simultaneously killing it, who had acted as a noose. He could only come to the conclusion that this was a more threatening message to turn back.

'Fuck it. If I die, then shit; if I live, great!'

It was enough to push him out the door, a mantra disguised as a prayer of sorts. 'Which way, left or right?' It almost became another fuck it, but he realized he had the most useful tool he could possess. With a triumphant smirk, he raised the small lantern and opened its little cage, his gaze studying the flame's dance. 'left it is.' With one foot on the path steadily, and the other enjoying the cool stone on his wound, he made his way down the hall. It was hard for him to discern if he was limping from the pain of his foot flexing, or if it simply didn't want to leave soothing stones.

'Do these halls ever end?' The question plagued him after what felt like hours of searching, begging the question of if his escape attempt had been found yet. He had come to several intersections, conducted the same test about a million times, and was now slightly sagging from lack of stimulation. At least he had been until he came to yet another fork in the maze. This one was different. It had two identical statues of Nagas on each side. He held his guide once more, but the flame swayed neither left nor right. The pattering of footsteps approached from behind, a certain sprint pursued him.

'I've one chance, if I'm caught, my life ends here- along with my dream, and the hope of everyone depending on me. I will not waver.' The statues were large, with the tails jutting directly towards the wall, mandating they not be against a wall. 'A ninja must hide for the perfect chance to strike', the Chunin exams resounded throughout his mind. His foot leapt to the tail, using it for a boost, yet causing the skin to rip open, blood piddling on the floor. The sound of footsteps approached the split in paths, then grew stagnant. As quietly as possible, Naruto removed the shirt he adorned, and attempted to stop his profuse bleeding, less the sound give his position away. Whatever had created the noise had turned around, but Naruto's shaking resonated in the statue, which slightly clamored alongside his muscles.

'It must be gone. The #1 unpredictable ninja strikes again! Take that you snake loving bastard!'

The removal of the bandage pulled the dry blood from his gash, making it bleed again. The second the droplet hit the tile, he felts the hairs on his spine tingle.

That's when he felt it, the cut that was now on his cheek, and heard the kunai ebb into the wall.

"Come out now, lest you feel the taste of a real blade." A follower of Orochimaru's who adorned two katanas, and the sickeningly familiar purple rope tied around his waist. Once more, he beckoned, "a spy will never make it out of the labyrinth, not on my watch. I guess I'll just have to kill you."

As the follower lunged, Naruto rolled out from behind the statue. "You have no self-control," Naruto balked at the sight of the twin katanas lodged in the walls. It would only be a moment before he could pull his swords from the masonry. "No sense of style. I guess this whole sword play isn't your forte," the snort at his own lyricalness rejuvenated his sense of humor. 'I have no chakra, and my body is wounded. He obviously doesn't know this. I've got one shot…'

"Ninja art, shurikan shadow clone jutsu!" Naruto bellowed, causing his foe to duck. 'Perfect', he smirked. With a massive lunge, he pushed the Naga statue over, making it land on the enemy ninja, who was too preoccupied with the anticipation of shurikans. It crushed the man, but also made a huge crash. 'I have to run for it.' The pedestal didn't move, yet the statue easily toppled. Although he knew he had to run, the precariousness of the podium forced further inspection.

"What is this?" he asked aloud, tracing the grooves engrained into the stone. "Is this a map?" It showed twisting corridors, dozens branching into others, and off into what seemed like nowhere. A small divot was made into the map. 'It must be here… Left, right, right, left, straight, exit?'

"This way, I heard a crash!"

'Hope I have it memorized, this is my only shot.'