As the wire gate closed behind them, the stench of rotting vegetation mixed with damp soil in the Forest of Death rushed straight into their nostrils.
Chiba stepped over dead leaves toward the depths of the forest. Wood Release chakra beneath his feet rendered every step utterly silent, while the sounds of dozens of teams dispersing gradually vanished into the dense woods.
Anko followed three paces behind him, a bamboo pick still clenched between her lips as her eyes swept over the interwoven branches above.
"Boss, you're not going to oversee things from the monitoring room? Ibiki's face turned green when he saw you come in yourself."
"Let him stay green. I'm the chief examiner, not someone destined to sit in an office."
Chiba had already spread his spiritual power completely. The positions and movement paths of every chakra signature within a three-kilometer radius were clearly mapped in his mind, like a living three-dimensional map.
To the northeast, Naruto's team was advancing toward the center of the forest. They were not moving quickly, probably because Sakura was holding them back.
Due north, Orochimaru's cold chakra, disguised as a Grass ninja's, was unhurriedly trailing behind Team 7. He remained over two hundred meters away, patient as a predator watching its prey.
Chiba did not head in that direction.
"Anko, when do you think that snake will make his move?"
"Knowing Orochimaru, he'll wait until his prey has exhausted a certain amount of stamina before striking. He likes watching people struggle in despair. He probably won't go after Sasuke until the second or third day."
"Then there's no rush."
Chiba changed direction, veering fifteen degrees southeast. His pace was noticeably quicker than before.
Anko jogged two steps to catch up.
"Boss, why are you heading toward the eastern area? Isn't that where