Second Examination Site: Forest of Death, Aunt Snake Attacks

"Eek, what a gloomy, terrifying place..."

"Th-this is the Second Stage examination site??"

"I think I just saw a giant centipede...

"A centipede that huge must be—must be venomous!"

Seeing the endless stream of massive, ferocious beasts, quite a few examinees felt chills run down their backs, their hair standing on end.

This place was definitely dangerous!!

"Are you scared?

"Hehe, you'll soon understand what hell really means..."

Anko bared her teeth in a sinister grin, making the already frigid atmosphere even heavier.

"'You'll soon understand what hell really means...'

"Tch~ Is it really that dangerous?"

At the back of the crowd, Naruto stood beside Sasuke and mimicked her in a goofy voice.

Since Sasuke needed to observe Orochimaru, Naruto and Sakura had followed him to the back of the crowd.

This time, however, it did not draw Anko's attention, nor did it trigger a covert confrontation between Orochimaru and Anko...

"Now, I will announce the contents and rules of the Second Stage examination...

"The Second Stage is called the Scroll Scramble!

"The rules are..."

After a lengthy explanation, Sasuke's group each received a death waiver!

"Do we even need to think about it?

"We've already made it this far. How could we possibly back down..."

Naruto looked at the waiver with disdain and signed his name without hesitation.

"We actually have to sign this? Is it really that dangerous inside?"

Sakura murmured worriedly, but when she saw that Naruto had already signed it—

Sasuke quickly signed his name as well. Gritting her teeth, Sakura signed to confirm...

"Then let's go collect our Scroll..."

Sasuke nodded to the two of them, cast a discreet glance at Karin, and headed toward the partitioned room.

Since they had decided to go all out, there was no need to hesitate!

Naruto and Sakura exchanged a glance, then immediately followed after him...

Very soon...

After handing over their waivers, Sasuke's team received an Earth Scroll.

At the same time,

the other teams gradually collected their Scrolls and entered the examination. Almost everyone chose to participate...

Under the lead of an Assistant Examiner, Sasuke's group arrived at Entrance Twelve of the Forest of Death.

Half an hour later

"Time confirmed. The examination begins..."

When the appointed time arrived, the Assistant Examiner gave the order and opened the gate.

"Let's go..."

A sharp glint flashed through Sasuke's eyes as he took the lead and charged into the Forest of Death.

"Sasuke-kun, do you have a plan?"

Keeping close behind Sasuke, Sakura asked quietly, nervous yet expectant.

"Isn't it obvious? We find the Scroll first..."

Naruto shouted immediately, looking smug as though he had come up with a brilliant idea.

"No. We're heading near the tower first..."

Sasuke rejected him without a second thought, his gaze more solemn than ever.

Snatching Scrolls?

With Orochimaru here, what was the point of snatching Scrolls now...

"Huh? Then what about the Scrolls??"

Hearing Sasuke's arrangement, Naruto scratched his head and shouted in confusion.

"Idiot, no matter who gets the Scrolls, they'll all head to the tower to gather!

"We'll wait there for the rabbits, and someone will naturally deliver them right to our door..."

After explaining it to Naruto, Sasuke flashed into the bushes beside them.

Naruto and Sakura immediately stopped and followed him...

"Before that, we need to put on a disguise..."

Seeing their strange looks, Sasuke calmly said as he removed his Ninja Tool Pouch.

The next moment—

Under Naruto and Sakura's shocked gazes, Sasuke took several blank Scrolls of roughly the same size from his Ninja Tool Pouch.

"These are??"

Seeing those unmarked Scrolls, Sakura's eyes widened as she asked in surprise.

Those Scrolls looked almost identical to the Book of Earth they had received...

"Of course, they're insurance...

"I bought these Scrolls as spares. I didn't expect them to come in handy here."

Sasuke explained casually, naturally not mentioning that he had prepared them in advance.

To ensure his promotion to Chunin, Sasuke would not waste a single Scroll!

Then, amid Naruto and Sakura's delighted expressions...

Sasuke took out a brush and ink, selecting three Scrolls and disguising them all as Books of Earth!

"That way, we won't risk losing our Scroll.

"We can even use the Scrolls to turn people against each other, lure enemies in, or deceive them..."

Under their astonished gazes, Sasuke handed each of them one of the fake Scrolls.

He kept one real Scroll and one fake Scroll for himself...

"Hehehe...

"Sasuke, you really are sneaky..."

Naruto stuffed the Scroll into his Ninja Tool Pouch and snickered teasingly. This increased their chances of winning by quite a bit.

"Sasuke-kun, you're so smart...

"With this, no one will think that all three of our Scrolls are fake."

Sakura immediately complimented him softly, making Naruto wildly jealous...

"Let's go..."

After quickly finishing up, Sasuke urged them onward and set off again.

They had only just entered the Forest of Death. This was the safest time to make their disguises!

Naruto and Sakura followed once more, brimming with confidence...

The three raced onward and quickly pushed two kilometers into the Forest of Death.

"Watch out..."

Suddenly, Sasuke, who had been leading the way and remaining vigilant, changed expression.

He grabbed Sakura and darted behind a tree...

At the same time, he kicked Naruto behind another tree...

The next instant—

"Whoosh..."

Accompanied by a piercing howl of wind, a terrifying blast of wind pressure comparable to a Category Ten typhoon swept toward them with devastating force...

The incredibly violent wind pressure sliced the trees behind them in half at the waist in a single strike.

Fortunately, all three had been standing at the bases of those trees, so they were not swept away in one blow...

Between the two trees, the dense forest had been directly flattened.

A broad, level strip of ground abruptly appeared, separating Naruto and Sasuke on opposite sides...

Has he come?

Watching the aftermath of that overwhelmingly powerful Wind Style attack, Sasuke's gaze sharpened.

He had thought changing their route would delay their encounter with Orochimaru, but he had not expected it to happen so soon...

*An enemy?

"He's this terrifying!!*

Protected behind Sasuke, Sakura sensed his tension and grew increasingly uneasy.

How could there be such a terrifying enemy in the Chunin Exams!

Someone who could even make Sasuke nervous...

"Th-this is Wind Release: Great Breakthrough??

"How can it—how can it be this powerful!!"

At the same time, Naruto stood behind the tree, his legs trembling as he stared at the traces left by the Wind Release and cried out in shock.

As his only offensive ninjutsu, Naruto naturally recognized it...

But this attack's range and power were far too outrageous!

"Naruto, take Sakura and leave this place...

"I'll deal with him!"

Though he was nervous and uneasy as well, Sasuke gritted his teeth and stepped out.

His black pupils instantly turned into scarlet Two-Tomoe Sharingan as he stared firmly at the approaching figure...

Orochimaru had come for him. Naruto and Sakura would only be walking into death if they stayed...

It was better to have them leave so he could fight without restraint!

Besides, Orochimaru at this stage would absolutely not kill him!!

And he needed Orochimaru's pressure to grow stronger and see himself clearly...

"Sacrificing yourself to protect your companions?

"You Konoha brat, you really are a special Uchiha..."

Hearing Sasuke's declaration, Orochimaru stared greedily at those Sharingan and spoke in a hoarse voice.

That was it. Those were the eyes...

The power of the Uchiha was about to be his!