The Overture of the Forest of Death

The Chunin Exams arrived on schedule.

For the first stage, the written exam, Ling was permitted to act as a special observer. He watched the proceedings from an isolated booth behind the testing hall via a special jutsu-powered screen. He observed Morino Ibiki testing the genin's resolve and intelligence-gathering skills with an oppressive aura and the "tenth question" that would decide their fate.

The atmosphere inside the hall was heavy. Most of the genin were sweating, nervously tackling a test that was nearly impossible to complete. Uchiha Sasuke frowned, his Sharingan quietly activated as he attempted to copy others' handwriting; Haruno Sakura scribbled away, demonstrating a solid theoretical foundation; while Uzumaki Naruto slumped over his desk, scratching his head in despair.

Ling's gaze swept across the crowd, quickly locking onto two figures. Haku, dressed in the simple attire of a wandering ninja, sat quietly in a corner. His pen moved fluently, as if the test posed no pressure, though he focused more on observing his surroundings—particularly the Sound Ninja with the chilling chakra. Kimimaro sat on the other side, expressionless, his test paper blank. His mission was not to pass the written exam, but to ensure the safety of Haku and the subsequent plan.

Ling also noticed Orochimaru, who was disguised as a Grass Ninja. Even through the screen, Ling could feel that deliberately suppressed yet still frigid, serpentine aura. Orochimaru's gaze, like a viper's tongue, flickered over Uchiha Sasuke from time to time, carrying undisguised greed.

"For the tenth question, you may choose to answer, or not," Ibiki began to apply the final psychological pressure.

Just as everyone struggled, Naruto slammed his hand on the desk and stood up. His impassioned declaration about "becoming Hokage even if I have to be a genin for the rest of my life," though naive, was like a ray of sunlight piercing the gloom over the exam hall, strengthening the resolve of many genin who had intended to give up.

In the booth, Ling's lower lip curled into a slight arc. This was precisely Naruto's power—a unique charisma capable of infecting others and shifting the atmosphere.

Ultimately, the first exam ended, and nearly half of the genin were eliminated. The successful candidates moved on to Training Ground 44—the Forest of Death.

Huge wire fences surrounded the dense, primeval forest where the sun never reached. The entrance, resembling the gaping maw of a monster, exuded a dangerous aura. Mitarashi Anko's energetic entrance and her explanation of the "Heaven and Earth Scrolls" and the rules of death made the remaining genin truly feel the cruelty of the Chunin Exams.

Ling's figure appeared in the shadow of a large tree at the edge of the forest, watching from afar. He saw the various squads receive their scrolls and dash into the forest like arrows released from a bow, quickly swallowed by the gloomy woods.

His perception, like an invisible spiderweb, quietly covered the entrance area. He "saw" the squad composed of Haku and Kimimaro (temporarily paired with an eliminated extra) enter at a leisurely pace, Haku's Ice Release sensory net already quietly deployed. He also "saw" the squad disguised as Orochimaru, wearing a sinister smile, step into the forest last, stealthily heading straight toward the direction of Uchiha Sasuke's team.

"The hunt has begun," Ling whispered to himself. He knew the main event was about to unfold.

He activated the Flying Thunder God, appearing at a pre-marked coordinate deep in the forest. This spot was near a stream with relatively open terrain, one of the observation points he had set up in advance.

Time passed in oppressive silence. From time to time, the sounds of short skirmishes, screams, and the roars of large summoning beasts echoed through the forest. The Forest of Death was fulfilling its duty of "eliminating the weak."

Ling waited patiently. He knew the first key node would arrive soon—Orochimaru approaching Sasuke.

Sure enough, about half a day later, a cold and powerful surge of chakra erupted in a certain area of the forest! This was immediately followed by the violent collision of Fire Release jutsu and shrill screams (from the unlucky extra).

It was time!

Ling's figure vanished in an instant.

A moment later, he appeared in the canopy of a towering tree not far from the explosion point, the dense foliage perfectly concealing his form and aura.

Below, in a devastated clearing:

Uchiha Sasuke was half-kneeling on the ground, gasping violently, his face etched with terror and unwillingness. Haruno Sakura lay limp to the side, seemingly caught in a genjutsu. Naruto was tightly bound by several massive snakes, unable to move, his face turning purple from lack of oxygen.

Standing before them was Orochimaru, having shed his disguise! His long tongue licked his lips, his golden snake-like pupils staring excitedly at Sasuke, specifically at the black Cursed Seal that had just been planted on Sasuke's neck, spreading like three tomoe!

"Hehehe... can you feel it? Sasuke-kun, this is the gift I have prepared for you... the power of the Cursed Seal." Orochimaru's voice was seductive. "It can grant you power that transcends your limits, allowing you to take revenge on that man... of course, provided you can withstand its erosion without collapsing..."

Sasuke clutched his neck, feeling the evil energy flowing through his body like magma, bringing extreme pain and a sense of power. His eyes were filled with struggle and a hint of... longing?

"Let Naruto go!" Sasuke roared, struggling to stand, but the excruciating pain from the Cursed Seal and the chaotic state of his chakra made it difficult to move.

"Oh? Still concerned about your companion?" Orochimaru laughed mockingly. The snakes binding Naruto tightened, and Naruto's consciousness began to blur.

In the canopy, Ling's eyes were cold. He could not watch Naruto come to harm, but he also knew this was not the best time for a direct confrontation with Orochimaru. With a thought, he issued an order through the system's connection to Haku.

Just as Orochimaru prepared to further "guide" Sasuke, and at the critical moment when Naruto was about to lose consciousness—

"Ice Release: Ice Prison Technique!"

Several streams of cold air surged suddenly from the ground, instantly freezing the snakes binding Naruto into solid ice sculptures! At the same time, countless sharp Ice Senbon shot toward Orochimaru like a rainstorm!

Orochimaru's brow furrowed. His body twisted as if boneless, easily evading all the senbon, his cold gaze turning toward the source of the attack.

Haku emerged slowly from the woods, hands forming seals, his eyes resolute: "Please do not harm my... target."

He had almost let the truth slip, correcting himself just in time. Following Ling's instructions, he could not reveal his connection to Ling, merely acting as a wandering ninja who happened to intervene.

"Ice Release bloodline?" A flash of surprise and deeper interest crossed Orochimaru's eyes. "I didn't expect that, aside from Kaguya's brat, there would be an unexpected harvest..."

Just then, from the woods on the other side, a shrill scream rang out! A Sound Ninja attempting a sneak attack was pierced through the chest by a pale bone spear that had suddenly protruded, pinning him to a tree!

Kimimaro appeared like a phantom, standing at Haku's side. His cold eyes locked onto Orochimaru. Though he did not speak, the oppressive aura unique to the Shikotsumyaku already made his stance clear.

Orochimaru looked at the suddenly appearing Haku and Kimimaro, his golden snake-like pupils narrowing slightly. These two brats... did they have something to do with the annihilation of that group of bandits at the border? And what was their relationship with Uchiha Ling?

The situation suddenly became delicate.

Ling observed calmly from the canopy. Haku's rescue and Kimimaro's deterrence had successfully disrupted Orochimaru's rhythm and saved Naruto. Now, it remained to be seen how Orochimaru would choose.

Would he continue to pressure Sasuke, or would he develop a greater interest in these two suddenly appearing boys who possessed rare bloodlines?

The prelude to the Forest of Death had already veered off its original course due to the intervention of "Dawn Wind."