Intense Battle

The next morning, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura arrived at Konoha's Forest of Death. Many of the examinees were already there.

Anko asked, "Is everyone here? If so, come get a Death Waiver." She took out a stack of waivers and set them in front of everyone.

One of the examinees asked, "We're only here to take an exam. Why do we have to sign a Death Waiver?"

Anko gave a sinister laugh. "Hehe. Because people die in this exam." As she spoke, she appeared behind the examinee, a dagger pressed against his neck.

Anko laughed ominously. "Do you still have any objections?" The examinee was so terrified that he trembled all over and couldn't speak.

Anko called him a "good-for-nothing," then returned to the platform and said, "If you're taking the exam, sign quickly. Stop wasting time."

Naruto approached Anko with a smile. "Teacher Anko, could I have a Death Waiver?"

Anko looked at Naruto and smiled. "Aren't you quick to volunteer? A kid who isn't afraid of dying. Think it over carefully. Once you sign, there's no backing out."

Naruto smiled. "Teacher Anko, people die every day in this world. Besides, I'm a ninja. Death is perfectly normal for a ninja. Do you think I'd be afraid?"

Anko regarded Naruto with approval. "You're a worthy ninja." She handed him a waiver. Naruto signed it and gave it back to her.

Sasuke also asked for a waiver, and soon the other examinees had signed theirs as well. Once everyone had signed, Anko took out a large stack of scrolls.

"There are twenty-six scrolls here, one for each team. They're divided into Scrolls of Heaven and Scrolls of Earth. You have five days to take a scroll that's different from the one you have. The location is the Forest of Death behind me. Once you have it, you must reach the Central Tower within those five days.

"Then you'll have passed the second exam. The exam starts now." After speaking, Anko opened the gate to the Forest of Death.

All the examinees rushed into the Forest of Death. Once they were inside, Sasuke said to Naruto, "We should agree on a password. That way, no one can disguise themselves as us and trick us into handing over the Scroll of Earth."

Naruto turned to Sakura. "What do you think of Sasuke's idea, Sakura?"

Sakura replied, "Yeah, I think it's a good idea." The three of them agreed on a password.

Sasuke said to Naruto, "Naruto, use your White Eye to check who has a Scroll of Heaven."

Naruto had just activated his White Eye when he warned Sasuke, "Sasuke, watch out!" He quickly grabbed Sasuke and yanked him aside.

Several kunai struck the spot where Sasuke had been standing. Explosive Tags were attached to their ends. The three of them hurriedly dodged.

After the explosion, Naruto shouted into the forest, "Who's there? Get out here!" At the same time, several chains shot from his body into the trees.

A figure leaped out of the forest and dodged Naruto's attack. The three of them looked at the newcomer. He was a man who looked a lot like a snake. Naruto knew he was Orochimaru.

Orochimaru said in surprise, "I didn't expect you to have the Hyuga Clan's White Eye. Then again, you are Hyuga Hiashi's future son-in-law. It's not that strange for you to have it. But unfortunately, you aren't my target this time."

Naruto replied, "I didn't expect one of the legendary Sannin, Orochimaru, to be such a coward who hides in the shadows."

Orochimaru exclaimed, "Oh? You know who I am? How curious. It seems I underestimated you."

Naruto smiled. "It's nothing. I've heard the Pervy Sage talk about you countless times. It would be hard not to know who you are!" Only then did Orochimaru realize that Jiraiya had told him about himself.

Sasuke asked, "Naruto, you know this disgusting guy?"

Naruto nodded. "He's Orochimaru, one of the legendary Sannin. He's as famous as my teacher, Jiraiya."

Sakura asked in surprise, "If he's so powerful, why is he attacking us?"

Orochimaru smiled. "Nothing much. I just want to play a little game with you."

Orochimaru took out a Scroll of Heaven and said to Naruto and the others, "All right, let the contest for the scroll begin."

Sakura exclaimed, "A Scroll of Heaven! Naruto, Sasuke, he has a Scroll of Heaven. He's an examinee!" At last, they understood why Orochimaru was there.

Naruto said to Sasuke, "Sasuke, I'll hold him off. Take Sakura and get out of here." Sasuke understood how great the difference in strength was between them and Orochimaru.

Sasuke said to Naruto, "Why don't we leave together? With your Flying Thunder God, there's no way he could catch us."

Naruto replied, "No, Sasuke. I want to face him and find out how strong I am."

Sasuke replied, "Then I'm staying too. I want to test myself as well."

Naruto answered, "No. If this were any other time, I'd let you try. But the three of us still have an exam to take. I don't think we should risk it."

Sasuke replied reluctantly, "All right. I'll listen to you this time." He grabbed Sakura and ran off.

Orochimaru sneered. "Did I say you could leave?" With a Body Flicker, he appeared in front of Sasuke and blocked his path. Orochimaru sent out Hidden Shadow Snake Hands to seize him.

Sasuke suddenly ducked. A kunai flew over his head and shot toward Orochimaru. Orochimaru quickly turned his head to dodge it. "Rasengan!" Naruto used the Flying Thunder God to appear behind Orochimaru and slammed a Rasengan into him, sending him crashing to the ground.

Naruto exclaimed, "An Earth Clone? White Eye!" When he realized he had only knocked down Orochimaru's clone, he immediately activated his White Eye and searched for Orochimaru.

Several chains burst from Naruto's body and slammed into the ground some distance away. Orochimaru sprang out of the earth. He and Naruto watched each other warily.

After seeing Sasuke and Sakura escape safely, Naruto said triumphantly, "Orochimaru, let's continue our little contest." He sent several more chains toward Orochimaru.

Orochimaru pressed his hands to the ground. "Earth Style: Earth-Style Rampart!" After blocking Naruto's chains, he used a Body Flicker to appear behind Naruto and formed Hand Seals. "Wind Style: Vacuum Great Sphere!"

Naruto hastily tossed a kunai into the air and used the Flying Thunder God to dodge into the sky, avoiding the Vacuum Great Sphere. Seeing Naruto airborne, Orochimaru quickly formed Hand Seals. "Fire Style: Fire Dragon Jutsu!"

Naruto used Adamantine Sealing Chains to wrap around the fire dragon, then formed Hand Seals. "Sealing Technique: Fire Sealing Method!" The fire dragon Orochimaru had released was immediately sealed.

After sealing the fire dragon, the Adamantine Sealing Chains continued toward Orochimaru. Orochimaru formed Hand Seals and said, "Summoning Technique!" He summoned a giant snake to block Naruto's attack, then quickly retreated underground.

When Orochimaru looked back, the giant snake he had summoned had already been torn to pieces by Naruto's chains. What a terrifying kid.

Meanwhile, Sasuke, who had fled with Sakura, encountered a masked youth.

Sasuke said coldly, "Who are you? Why are you blocking my way?"

"Hehe, nothing much. I just want to give you something."

The youth smiled. Sasuke said coldly, "I don't care who you are. Move aside now, or I'll make you."

The youth smiled. "That won't do. You'd better accept my gift." With that, he charged at Sasuke.

Sasuke hurriedly said to Sakura, "Sakura, go! I'll hold him off."

Sakura replied, "No! I'm a member of Team 7 too. How could I leave my teammate behind and run away on my own? Let's beat him together, Sasuke." She stepped in front of Sasuke.

She punched the charging youth with all her strength. He tried to deflect her fist with one hand, but Sakura's punch was so powerful that it sent him flying.

Sasuke stared at Sakura in astonishment. "Sakura, when did you get so strong?"

Sakura replied confidently, "I can't keep hiding behind you and relying on you to protect me forever."

The youth who had been sent flying smiled. "I really underestimated you. I thought you'd be dead weight, but you've surprised me. Well, I won't hold back anymore." He sent several chains flying toward Sasuke and Sakura.

Sasuke exclaimed in surprise, "Adamantine Sealing Chains! You're from the Uzumaki Clan?" He and Sakura hurriedly dodged.

Sakura punched the ground with all her strength. The ground immediately collapsed, and the youth leaped into the air to avoid it. Sasuke was already waiting above him.

Sasuke formed Hand Seals. "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!" The youth sent several chains from his back to block the fireball, then formed Hand Seals. "Sealing Technique: Seal Fire Method!"

The chains absorbed Sasuke's fireball, then sent it flying back toward him. Sasuke shot a wire from his sleeve and hooked it around a tree, pulling himself up to avoid the youth's attack.

Sasuke launched a Shuriken attached to the wire at the youth. The youth dodged the Shuriken, but Sasuke manipulated the wire.

After binding the youth with it, Sasuke formed Hand Seals. "Fire Release: Great Fire Dragon Technique!"

Sakura watched the youth burning in midair. "Is it over, Sasuke?"

Sasuke replied uncertainly, "I don't know. I guess so."

Suddenly, the youth appeared between them. "That was dangerous. I almost thought I was dead."

Sakura exclaimed, "How is that possible?" While the two of them were still stunned, the youth shot out several chains and bound them. Sasuke tried to use his Sharingan to cast an illusion on the youth, but he dodged it.

The youth smiled. "Sasuke, you can't cast an illusion on me. I know you're from the Uchiha Clan. How could I not be on guard against your Sharingan?"

Sakura asked, confused, "How did you escape Sasuke's Fire Release?"

Sasuke said, "Space-Time Ninjutsu."

Sakura exclaimed, "Sasuke, what do you mean, Space-Time Ninjutsu? How is that possible?"

The youth smiled. "I didn't expect you to figure it out so quickly. That's right. I used Space-Time Ninjutsu."

The youth walked over to Sasuke and took out a syringe. "Now you can accept my gift."

Sakura asked anxiously, "What are you going to do to Sasuke?"

The youth smiled. "Nothing much. I'm just giving him a little gift." He injected the medicine in the syringe into Sasuke's neck. Sasuke immediately let out a scream.

Sakura anxiously asked Sasuke, "Are you all right? What did you do to Sasuke?"

The youth smiled. "I told you, it's just a little gift. Well, I'm leaving." With that, he vanished, leaving Sakura holding Sasuke and crying helplessly.