Orochimaru, the Perverted Death God

"The Jonin Exam is about to begin. When your name is called, come forward and receive your credentials... Tekuno."

"Yes!"

"Baiyun Hayama."

"Yes!"

"Hyuga Tao."

"..."

"Kanda Kyoichi."

"Here!"

Kyoichi stepped forward, taking the credentials respectfully like the others.

Afterward, he listened carefully to the names.

Baiyun Hayama didn't surprise him—his distinctive features were instantly recognizable, bringing the memory back in a flash.

But.

That slightly plump young ninja was actually Tekuno, who had appeared in the anime...

That was a bit unexpected.

Kyoichi remembered him for a simple reason.

This guy had quite a few appearances and was one of the few ninja masters, like Tenten, who combined ninja tools with summoning scrolls and such, eventually becoming a jonin through that expertise.

Clearly, he had real skill in ninja tools.

Kyoichi couldn't help but take a few extra looks.

Besides those two, there was also an elite chunin with no notable reputation, but...

Quite the opposite.

This person gave Kyoichi the greatest sense of threat—information he'd gathered through Chakra Sensing. He strongly suspected this guy was someone in disguise.

Orochimaru?

Possible.

That guy loved these kinds of games.

Kyoichi swept his gaze around, forming a rough idea of this Jonin Exam's situation—most of these people were ninja who met the skill requirements but couldn't easily earn promotion through battlefield merit.

"The first exam will be held here. Seven of you, take the written test."

The speaker was a jonin.

Kyoichi recognized him: Kurenai's Father.

But.

This wasn't the time for meeting a student's parent. He stepped forward, took the test paper, then quickly sat at one of the pre-arranged seats in the training ground and began answering.

Becoming a jonin required a certain level of knowledge.

Even Naruto in the anime couldn't skip this hurdle and had to study hard for it.

Kyoichi glanced at the test paper and couldn't help but breathe a slight sigh of relief.

The questions on it.

Hard to say if they were difficult or easy—mostly tactical questions about battlefield strategy, formation positioning, and such. Any experienced chunin would basically know them.

Kyoichi couldn't claim to understand everything, but his predecessor's knowledge plus some experience from watching the anime in his past life made answering these questions not too hard.

The others could answer even more easily.

Because here, the youngest was Kanda Kyoichi.

Becoming a chunin at fourteen was indeed slow, but if he could become a jonin at fifteen, that wouldn't be weak at all—he was practically the focal point of this exam.

In fact, Kyoichi himself knew that among the seven in the exam hall, half might be here because of him.

The first exam was just the beginning.

He calmed his mind, answering questions while observing. Before long, the unknown Matsunohara handed in his paper, and the others followed suit one by one.

Kyoichi was the last.

It wasn't that he couldn't finish—he simply wanted to leave last to observe these people's behavior.

Now he had a basic answer.

The two Aburame clan members were likely from Root, watching him covertly the whole time, while Hyuga Tao was probably a genuine exam-taker, finishing and submitting early.

"The second exam is simple. There are two scrolls in the Forest of Death. The first four to collect both scrolls qualify for the third round."

Kurenai's Father announced this, then directly gave a dismissive command.

The next moment, everyone vanished instantly.

Kyoichi understood.

The second exam tested intelligence gathering, combat, and speed.

When it came to gathering, naturally no one could outdo the Aburame Clan and the Hyuga Clan. Those three were the biggest obstacles in this exam, but Kyoichi's troubles didn't end there.

There was also Matsunohara.

Was this guy really here to take the exam?

When the Body Flicker Technique dispersed earlier, Kyoichi noticed he had run in the same direction as him. Everyone here had Jonin-level strength—he didn't believe the other couldn't sense his position.

Forget it.

It didn't matter. Finding two scrolls on his own was completely unrealistic anyway. He'd have to rely on the Aburame and Hyuga clans—they were the reconnaissance experts.

Kyoichi ran while using Chakra Sensing to probe his surroundings.

Matsunohara was still following him.

This guy was definitely in disguise. He wasn't here for a promotion to Jonin.

Kyoichi knew it clearly.

He didn't tail him directly. After following for a while and gauging the other's speed, he kept himself within a range where he could quickly catch up to Aburame Hiyori.

"His position... interesting. A sensing ability?"

Matsunohara licked his lips, a glint of excitement flashing in his eyes.

Senju.

How enviable!

Before long.

Aburame Hiyori found one scroll, then swiftly headed in another direction. Judging by his expression, his bugs had clearly helped him locate the second scroll.

Kyoichi was about to give chase.

At that moment, whoosh~

A sound rang out, and Matsunohara, clad in a green vest, landed in front of Kyoichi. His voice was slightly hoarse as he said, "Kanda Kyoichi, there are only four slots in this exam. Do you want one?"

"..."

Orochimaru, you sick freak.

Kyoichi cursed inwardly.

"Hehehe. I'm not interested in the scrolls, but I am very interested in you. If you can defeat me, perhaps I'll help you get a scroll."

Matsunohara couldn't help licking his lips as he spoke.

That voice and those mannerisms—it was unmistakably Orochimaru.

"I'm not interested in you."

Kyoichi wasn't surprised.

He'd suspected this guy was Orochimaru back in the first exam. Since Jiraiya was handling the peace negotiations with Sunagakure on the front lines, Orochimaru must have already returned to the village.

"That's not for you to decide."

Matsunohara smiled.

He pulled out a Kunai and appeared beside Kyoichi in an instant.

However.

The next moment, the Kyoichi before him dissolved into fragments.

Clone Technique?

No.

A Body Flicker Technique that fast!

Matsunohara's eyes burned with even more excitement.

He raised a hand, and a massive snake materialized.

Damn it.

No shame at all?

Kyoichi cursed inwardly as he saw the snake land in front of him, but he didn't hesitate to act. He formed hand seals and spat out a Water Pillar from his mouth.

Water Release: Water Severing Wave!

The sharp water blade sliced the snake clean in half, then shifted direction and shot toward the "Matsunohara" behind it.

Matsunohara hadn't expected Kyoichi to unleash such a powerful jutsu.

But.

By the time the Water Pillar cut through, his body had turned into a pile of mud.

Earth Replacement Technique!

This was a Sannin for you.

He could dodge ninjutsu attacks with minimal cost.

Kyoichi was unsurprised and quickly gave chase after Aburame Hiyori.

Orochimaru was like sticky toffee—impossible to defeat and clingy to boot. There was no point in getting tangled up with him; the key now was to obtain the scroll and secure the slot.

Moreover, distinguishing friend from foe and completing the mission were abilities expected of a Jonin, so complaining was utterly useless.

Yet Orochimaru grew intrigued.

Initially, he had only wanted to test Kyoichi's abilities and see if the Senju physique's awakening was true, but after observing...

Kyoichi's strength far exceeded his expectations.

A modified Body Flicker Technique, the Second Hokage's nearly lost Water Severing Wave.

What else hadn't he anticipated?