Prelude to the Forest of Death

The Chunin Ninja Exams began right on schedule.

The first test was a written exam. As a special observer, Ling was allowed to watch the test through a special jutsu screen from a private booth behind the examination hall. He saw Morino Ibiki use his oppressive presence and the decisive "tenth question" to test the Genin's resolve and ability to gather intelligence.

The atmosphere in the examination hall was tense. Most of the Genin were sweating as they struggled with a test that was nearly impossible to finish. Uchiha Sasuke furrowed his brow, his Sharingan quietly activated as he tried to copy other people's handwriting. Haruno Sakura wrote furiously, demonstrating her solid grasp of theory. Meanwhile, Uzumaki Naruto lay sprawled over his desk, scratching his head in despair.

Ling's gaze swept over the crowd before quickly settling on two figures. Haku had changed into the plain clothes of a wandering ninja and sat quietly in a corner, writing with ease as if the questions posed no challenge. But most of his attention was focused on observing those around him, especially the Sound Ninja whose chakra felt cold and sinister. Kimimaro sat on the other side, expressionless, his test paper completely blank. His mission was never to pass the written exam, but to keep Haku and the plans that followed safe.

Ling also noticed Orochimaru, disguised as a Grass Ninja. Even through the screen, Ling could sense the snake-like aura he had tried to suppress, yet which remained cold and sinister. Orochimaru's gaze, like a serpent's tongue, kept flicking toward Uchiha Sasuke, filled with undisguised greed.

"For the tenth question, you can choose whether to answer or not," Ibiki said, applying one last dose of psychological pressure.

As the others struggled with their choice, Naruto suddenly slapped his desk and stood up. His impassioned declaration that he would become Hokage even if he had to remain a Genin for the rest of his life was childish, but it was like a ray of sunlight breaking through the gloom hanging over the examination hall. It also strengthened the resolve of many Genin who had been ready to give up.

In the booth, Ling's lower lip curved into a faint smile. This was precisely Naruto's strength: a unique charisma that could inspire others and change the mood around him.

In the end, the first test concluded, and nearly half the Genin were eliminated. Those who passed moved on to Training Ground 44—the Forest of Death.

A huge wire fence surrounded a dense primeval forest where sunlight could not penetrate. The entrance gaped like a monster's maw, radiating danger. Mitaraishi Anko's energetic entrance and her explanation of the Heaven and Earth Scrolls and the rules of survival gave the remaining Genin a true taste of the Chunin Ninja Exams' brutality.

Ling appeared in the shadow of a tree at the forest's edge, watching from afar. He saw the teams collect their scrolls and rush into the forest like arrows loosed from a bow, quickly swallowed by its darkness.

His senses spread like an invisible web, quietly covering the entrance area. He "saw" Haku and Kimimaro's team—temporarily joined by an expendable extra—enter without haste, Haku's Ice Release sensing already quietly unfurled. He also "saw" Orochimaru's disguised team step into the forest last, wearing eerie smiles as they stealthily headed toward Uchiha Sasuke's team.

"The hunt has begun," Ling murmured. He knew the real show was about to start.

He activated the Flying Thunder God and appeared at a pre-marked spot deep in the forest. It was near a stream, with relatively open terrain—one of the several observation points he had selected.

Time passed in oppressive silence. Short bursts of fighting, screams, and the roars of large summoning beasts occasionally rang through the forest. The Forest of Death was carrying out its duty to "eliminate the weak."

Ling waited patiently. He knew the first major turning point would come soon—Orochimaru closing in on Sasuke.

Sure enough, about half a day later, a cold and powerful surge of chakra erupted somewhere in the forest! A fierce clash of Fire Release followed, along with a piercing scream from an unlucky extra.

He was here!

Ling vanished in an instant.

The next moment, he appeared in the canopy of a towering old tree not far from the source of the disturbance. Dense branches and leaves concealed his form and chakra perfectly.

Below, a clearing lay in ruins.

Uchiha Sasuke knelt on one knee, panting heavily, fear and resentment etched across his face. Haruno Sakura had collapsed nearby, apparently caught in a genjutsu. Naruto, meanwhile, was tightly bound by several enormous snakes, unable to move, his face turning purplish from lack of oxygen.

Standing before them was Orochimaru, his disguise gone! He ran his long tongue across his lips, his golden, serpentine eyes fixed excitedly on Sasuke—especially the black Cursed Seal spreading across Sasuke's neck in a pattern resembling three tomoe!

"Hehehe... Can you feel it, Sasuke-kun? This is my gift to you... the power of the Cursed Seal." Orochimaru's voice was seductive. "It can grant you power beyond your limits, allowing you to take revenge on that man... Of course, that's assuming you can withstand its corruption without breaking..."

Sasuke clutched his neck, feeling the evil energy flow through his body like molten lava, bringing both unbearable pain and a sense of power. His eyes were filled with conflict—and a trace of... longing?

"Let Naruto go!" Sasuke roared, struggling to stand, but the excruciating pain from the Cursed Seal and the chaos in his chakra left him unable to move.

"Oh? You still care about your teammate?" Orochimaru laughed mockingly as the snakes tightened their coils around Naruto. Naruto's consciousness was already beginning to fade.

In the canopy, Ling's gaze turned cold. He couldn't stand by and let Naruto get hurt, but this wasn't the right moment to confront Orochimaru head-on. He focused his thoughts and sent an order to Haku through the system.

Just as Orochimaru was about to further "guide" Sasuke, and Naruto was on the verge of passing out—

"Ice Release: Ice Prison Jutsu!"

Several streams of icy air surged up from the ground, instantly freezing the snakes wrapped around Naruto into solid blocks of ice! At the same time, countless sharp Ice Senbon shot toward Orochimaru like a downpour!

Orochimaru furrowed his brow and twisted his boneless body, easily dodging every senbon. His cold gaze turned toward the source of the attack.

Haku slowly emerged from the trees, forming Hand Seals with a determined look. "Please don't hurt my... target."

He had nearly let something slip, but corrected himself in time. As Ling had instructed, he couldn't reveal his connection to Ling. He only needed to play the role of a wandering ninja who stepped in to help someone in need.

"An Ice Release kekkei genkai?" A flicker of surprise crossed Orochimaru's eyes, followed by even greater interest. "I didn't expect to find another unexpected prize besides that Kaguya brat..."

Just then, a piercing scream came from the trees on the other side! A Sound Ninja who had tried to launch a sneak attack was impaled through the chest by a pale bone spear that suddenly thrust out, pinned dead against a tree!

Kimimaro appeared like a ghost and took his place at Haku's side. His cold gaze locked onto Orochimaru. He said nothing, but the oppressive presence of his Shikotsumyaku made his stance clear.

Orochimaru eyed the suddenly appearing Haku and Kimimaro, his golden, serpentine eyes narrowing slightly. These two brats... could they be connected to the bandits wiped out near the border? And what was their relationship with Uchiha Ling?

The situation had grown delicate in an instant.

From the canopy, Ling watched calmly. Haku's rescue and Kimimaro's show of force had successfully disrupted Orochimaru's rhythm and freed Naruto from danger. Now it was up to Orochimaru to decide what to do.

Would he keep pressuring Sasuke, or would his interest in these two brats with rare kekkei genkai take over?

With Dawn Wind's intervention, the prelude to the Forest of Death had already veered off its original course.