Forest of Death, Orochimaru Sets His Sights on Chenshu Senju

Forest of Death, Orochimaru Sets His Sights on Chenshu Senju

Entrance to the Forest of Death.

Anko Mitarashi stood before the iron gate and raised a hand toward the forest behind her.

"The rules for the second exam are simple: gather both the Heaven and Earth Scrolls within five days and reach the central tower."

She took out a waiver of liability, her smile somewhat dangerous. "Of course, people will die in there. If you're scared, it's not too late to quit now."

Naruto was the first to take the form.

"I'm the man who'll become Hokage. How could I possibly quit here?"

Chenshu Senju reminded him, "Check where you're signing first. Don't write your last words on it."

Naruto looked down, and his face immediately froze.

He really had signed in the wrong place.

Sakura Haruno turned away, pretending she didn't know this teammate.

Before long, the second exam officially began.

Team 7 received the Heaven Scroll.

After the four entered the forest, Sasuke quickly leaped onto a tree trunk. "To pass the exam, we need to find a team holding the Earth Scroll."

"No need to look."

Chenshu Senju glanced toward the woods on the right. "They're already here."

The moment he finished speaking, several kunai flew out from behind the trees, each aimed at one of their vital points.

Sasuke activated his Sharingan and swung his kunai to deflect the attacks. Sakura Haruno was just about to retreat when several steel wires suddenly burst from beneath her feet.

Naruto reached out and grabbed her. The two lost their balance at the same time and rolled straight into the nearby bushes.

"Naruto, where are you putting your hand?"

"I'm saving you!"

"Then get off me first!"

Bang.

Naruto flew out of the bushes, clutching his head.

The three Sound Ninja appeared at that moment as well.

The leader had bandages wrapped around both arms, and his palms were covered in tiny holes. "Hand over the scroll, and we can spare you some pain."

Chenshu Senju sized up the three of them.

Their chakra was not particularly strong, but their bodies bore obvious traces of modification.

Tools Orochimaru had sent to test them.

"Which one of you has the Earth Scroll?"

The Sound Ninja froze for a moment.

Dosu frowned. "Didn't you understand what I said?"

"I did."

Chenshu Senju formed hand seals with both hands. "That's why I'm asking who I should search after I beat you."

The ground suddenly shook.

More than a dozen vines burst from the earth, sealing off the Sound Ninja team's escape routes from every direction.

Dosu raised his right arm, sending sound waves mixed with chakra crashing into the vines. The foremost vines exploded instantly, but more branches had already grown from the broken ends.

Zaku aimed both hands at Chenshu Senju. "Cutting Air Wave!"

A violent gale swept up dust, snapping trees apart one after another along its path.

Chenshu Senju stood where he was, pressing one hand to the ground.

"Wood Style: Wood Locking Wall."

Thick wooden pillars interlocked and closed together. The airflow slammed into the wooden wall, leaving only a few shallow marks.

The next second, vines wrapped around Zaku's arms and hoisted his entire body into the air.

The other two Sound Ninja did not last much longer either.

Sasuke had only just drawn his kunai when the battle was already over.

Naruto climbed up from the ground and looked at the three hanging in a row, his mouth twitching.

"You're cheating, aren't you? That's confirmed."

Chenshu Senju found the Earth Scroll on Dosu and casually tossed it to Sasuke.

[Defeated the Sound Ninja team.]

[Received three draw chances.]

[Gathered the Heaven and Earth Scrolls ahead of time. Received five draw chances.]

Eight draws.

If a few more experience packs like this showed up, he would not mind spending another couple of days in the forest.

Suddenly, Chenshu Senju looked up toward the treetops.

A long-haired ninja wearing a Grass Ninja forehead protector stood there, his golden vertical pupils fixed on Sasuke.

The man stuck out his tongue and licked the corner of his mouth. Killing intent instantly enveloped the entire forest.

Sakura Haruno's face turned pale, and Naruto tightened his grip on his kunai.

Sasuke stood frozen in place, the tomoe in his Sharingan slowly turning.

This oppressive feeling far surpassed Zabuza.

"Sasuke Uchiha."

The Grass Ninja laughed hoarsely. "Let me see just how much potential you possess."

He opened his mouth and spat out a giant snake. With a foul wind billowing from its jaws, it lunged at Sasuke.

Chenshu Senju instantly stepped in front of Sasuke.

The Wood Locking Wall rose again. The giant snake crashed into the wooden wall, its head caving in on impact as its body slammed heavily into the forest.

"Orochimaru, aren't you ashamed of attacking newly graduated genin?"

The surroundings suddenly fell silent.

The smile on Orochimaru's face paused slightly.

"You know me?"

"A rogue ninja from the Hidden Leaf Village, one of the legendary Three Ninja. That face of yours has quite the bounty."

Chenshu Senju activated his Sharingan, tomoe turning within his scarlet pupils. "Compared to Sasuke, I'm more interested in defeating you."

Standing behind him, Naruto no longer knew which line to be shocked by first.

Not only had Chenshu Senju immediately exposed the man's identity, he was even preparing to fight one of the legendary Three Ninja.

This guy seemed to have never learned the meaning of fear.

Orochimaru did not get angry. Instead, his gaze fell upon Chenshu Senju's eyes.

Sharingan.

Senju bloodline.

And Wood Style capable of easily blocking a giant snake's attack.

The intelligence he had received was far from complete.

"What a perfect body."

Orochimaru rapidly formed hand seals, and large swathes of soil in the forest overturned.

"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough."

A violent gale swept forth, uprooting dozens of massive trees.

Chenshu Senju formed seals as well. Chakra from his complete Sage Body poured into the ground without restraint.

"Wood Style: Wood Dragon Technique."

A deep roar rang out.

The ground split apart with a thunderous crash, and a wooden dragon more than ten meters long soared into the sky, smashing head-on through the gale. Wherever its body passed, the surrounding trees toppled one after another.

Orochimaru leaped into the air, but the wooden dragon suddenly changed direction, opening its jaws and biting down on his waist.

The chakra in his body was being rapidly drained away.

"It can actually absorb chakra?"

Orochimaru's body turned into mud, while his real body emerged from behind another tree.

He did not continue attacking. He merely stared at the wooden dragon circling behind Chenshu Senju, unable to conceal the greed in his eyes any longer.

Compared with Sasuke Uchiha, the body before him was even more valuable.

Wood Style and Sharingan coexisted within it, and its vitality was terrifyingly powerful.

There was not another vessel like this anywhere in the shinobi world.

Orochimaru licked the corner of his mouth, his body slowly sinking into the tree trunk.

"Chenshu Senju, we will meet again very soon."

Chenshu Senju did not pursue him.

The other man had only retreated for now. The real battle had only just begun.

Deep within the forest, Orochimaru reappeared.

He glanced at the wound on his arm left by a wooden thorn, and a smile gradually appeared on his face.

Sasuke could continue to be observed.

But Chenshu Senju—he had to have him.

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[After storing your brains, balance +∞, partner +∞, little brother +5 cm (afraid you'll get too proud).]