Chunin Exams Second Round - Scroll Scramble!

The next morning, sunlight dappled the Hokage Rock.

The Chunin Exams selection announcement venue.

Hayato rested one hand casually on the armrest of his chair, his posture exuding a sense of unbridled confidence. With deep, contemplative eyes, he waited quietly for the fate-deciding results to be revealed one by one.

Not far away, Feng Yuan was engaged in a heated discussion with several colleagues who also bore the heavy responsibility of the Chunin Exams; their voices echoed through the venue's aisles.

"The pass rate for the first exam is quite optimistic; nearly half of the newcomers have stood out," one of the Chunin remarked.

"This is only the first step. To truly cross the threshold and become a Chunin, they still need to endure more tempering and challenges," Feng Yuan said with a solemn expression.

Just as everyone was immersed in reviewing and reflecting on the first exam, a low, penetrating voice suddenly rang out, sharp as an ice blade in a cold wind, instantly capturing everyone's attention.

"That's right. For the second exam, my goal is to screen out three-quarters of the participants, allowing the true elites to emerge."

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the venue grew tense. Everyone turned to look at the source of the voice, only to see a pale-faced, cold-looking man walking slowly toward them.

It was none other than the famous Orochimaru, one of the legendary Sannin of Konoha.

His appearance acted like an invisible pressure, causing everyone present to involuntarily feel a sense of awe.

Before long, Feng Yuan and his party, holding scrolls and followed by several assistants, stepped into the center of the venue.

Feng Yuan unfurled the scroll, its ancient paper densely packed with the names of the ninja who had passed the first round. His voice echoed through the venue:

"For those whose names are not on this scroll, I am sorry, but your Chunin Exams end here."

Hayato's gaze was as sharp as a hawk's; he quickly found his name on the scroll. He had successfully cleared the first hurdle.

At this moment, Orochimaru, wearing the green flak jacket that marked him as a Jonin, stepped forward. His voice was slightly hoarse but filled with unquestionable authority.

"Congratulations on passing the first test. Next, you will face an even more rigorous second exam, and I will be your examiner."

Only then did Hayato realize that the man who had been standing silently behind Feng Yuan was the very man who possessed forbidden knowledge and power in the world of Naruto.

The man who held the only truth in the ninja world, Lord Snake.

This surprise sent ripples through Hayato's heart, while simultaneously filling him with anticipation for the challenge to come.

Orochimaru's announcement was like a stone cast into a calm lake, stirring up waves.

When he declared, "The location for the second exam is set for the Forest of Death," the entire venue erupted in an uproar.

Every ninja participating in the exam had heard something about this place; it was a realm filled with the unknown and the dangerous.

Orochimaru's words were concise and powerful, without a hint of redundancy, as if every syllable carried absolute authority. "Now, those who passed the first test, follow me."

His voice echoed across the empty grounds like an invisible command, driving the successful ninja to rise and follow him closely.

Soon, the group arrived at the edge of the Forest of Death. The forest appeared cold and mysterious, as if it hid endless secrets and dangers.

Orochimaru stood upon a platform temporarily constructed with Earth Style jutsu, looking down at the crowd below with an air of absolute dominance.

"For the second exam, we will distribute four types of scrolls: Wind, Fire, Mountain, and Forest," his voice was calm and deep, as if stating an established fact. "Only those who collect all four types will learn the final meeting point. Those who fail to arrive with all four scrolls after three days will be eliminated."

A chilling smile appeared on Orochimaru's face.

That smile contained both an insight into the cruel laws of the ninja world and an expectation to see if the ninja present could break through their own limits.

"Remember, this is an individual battle. Your companions are now your competitors." His words were like cold blades, cutting through the warmth and reliance in everyone's hearts.

He slowly scanned the crowd, his gaze finally settling on Hayato, the child who was participating in the exam alone.

"Alone? How interesting." There was a hint of playfulness in Orochimaru's voice, as if he were both surprised and curious about Hayato's choice.

"Now, I will give you one last chance. If anyone wants to withdraw from this assessment, there is still time." Orochimaru's voice echoed in the silent air, offering everyone a final choice.

However, after a long silence, no one answered; everyone firmly chose to move forward.

Seeing this, Orochimaru nodded slightly, signaling his assistants to begin distributing the scrolls.

The process of distributing the scrolls was brief and mysterious. Everyone received an unknown scroll, but no one knew the contents of the others', which undoubtedly increased the difficulty of gathering intelligence and filled the exam with variables.

There were seventy-seven Konoha Genin participating in this Chunin Exam, and after the first round of screening, thirty-eight remained.

Because it was not a multiple of four, if distributed evenly, one type of scroll would be short by two people.

In other words, at most, only eight people could pass this exam.

But if they were not distributed evenly, the number of people who could pass would be even lower.

Hayato was assigned the "Fire" scroll. He calculated silently, and a bold plan began to take shape in his mind.

Everyone at the scene was secretly observing one another, and the psychological warfare had already begun. They tried to guess the contents of others' scrolls from their eyes and movements, hoping to plan ahead.

As all the scrolls were distributed, the assistants returned to stand behind Orochimaru. Orochimaru waved his hand gently, and the gates of the Forest of Death slowly opened. A battle for scrolls, involving life, death, and glory, was about to begin.

"Then, I announce: the second exam—the Scroll Battle—begins!"

At Orochimaru's command, the gates of the Forest of Death slowly creaked open, and over thirty ninja surged into the unknown territory like arrows released from a bow.

Most chose to find a safe place to rest and wait for an opportunity.

Hayato, however, remained exceptionally calm. He walked slowly, observing the movements of the other ninja while sketching out the optimal strategy in his mind. He understood that the current actions were merely the prologue; the real contest was yet to come.

Orochimaru watched all of this from the platform, especially Hayato's performance, which made the corners of his mouth curl up as he muttered to himself, "What an interesting little brat."

As Hayato entered the forest last, the gates closed once more.

Orochimaru gave a soft order: "Go find the medical team. These three days in the Forest of Death will not be very peaceful." His voice, though hoarse, was filled with unquestionable authority.

The assistant nodded in acknowledgment, then turned and left to make the arrangements.