Is Snake Meat Even Tastier Than Pork and Beef? (Double Chapter)

"Still, the second round's even more exciting, isn't it? Right, Sasuke, Sakura?"

Naruto walked at the very front of the group with both hands behind his neck, completely lacking any sense of urgency despite being in the middle of a competition.

"Get your head in the game! Do you realize we've put the most important thing on you?!"

Seeing Naruto act like that, Sakura felt her temper flare. She had a feeling she'd made an incredibly stupid decision.

Of the three-person team, only Sasuke calmly analyzed the current situation.

"Everyone is an enemy right now. We don't know what kind of scroll each team has, so if we want to find the scroll our team needs, we'll have to fight them one by one..."

"Hah, relying on those two is worse than relying on myself... Hm?"

Somewhere in the forest, a wisp of black smoke suddenly rose, making Sasuke stop and look.

"Is there really such an idiot? Starting a fire in the forest is basically making yourself everyone's target."

"Are they overly confident, or just idiots...?"

Obviously, Sasuke wasn't the only one who had seen the black smoke. Naruto and Sakura saw it too.

"Which idiot started a fire in the forest?"

"No idea, but should we go take a look?"

The two's single-track thinking left Sasuke speechless.

"Let's observe the area first. Such an obvious target will definitely draw most teams' attention. It might even be a trap."

Sasuke made the final call. He didn't want to be eliminated in the second round, either. Whether it was the pride of being an Uchiha or the pressure he carried, both drove him to do everything he could to lead his team into the finals.

Most teams thought the same way. After all, living in the forest like that looked like an obvious trap no matter how one viewed it.

For a time, more than several dozen competing teams gathered around the black smoke.

Directly beneath the trap, Zabuza Momochi formed hand seals with both hands, his mouth slightly open as he continuously spewed flames. The sweat on his forehead told of his inner suffering.

"Hey, hey, Roronoa Zoro—Zabuza—don't slack off! We're just getting started. Turn up the heat!"

Uchiha Sen held ten skewers of meat in each hand and kept urging him on.

"Mhm, mhm!"

This is infuriating! I'm an elite jonin, damn it!

Thoughtful Haku fanned Zabuza from the side and said apologetically, "Sorry, Lord Zabuza... I don't know Fire Release, so I can only trouble you a little more..."

"Hehe, Haku, hurry over there and bring all of Sen's treasures!"

Sen pointed at the sauces spread over the table mat, his throat bobbing as he motioned for Haku to brush on the special sauce.

"Grilled chicken wings~ They're my favorite~"

They chatted and laughed, having completely forgotten that they were currently inside the Chunin Exams arena...

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Naruto's trio had already arrived near the smoke.

"Huh?! I think I smell something familiar..."

Naruto spoke in a low voice.

"Shut up. Keep your voice down! Are you trying to get us killed, Naruto?!"

Sakura immediately cut him off.

"That's right. Someone really is grilling meat here, but something's off. Haven't you noticed how unusually quiet the surrounding forest is? At least eight teams are clearly hiding in this area."

Sasuke truly was Sasuke. He quickly grasped the whole situation.

"What should we do, then?"

Sakura looked worried. In her view, as long as they played it safe, she could spend plenty of time with Sasuke in this forest. She didn't want to encounter danger and be eliminated on the first day.

"Uh... don't act rashly. Danger comes with opportunity. If the other teams start fighting first, we can reap the benefits."

Sasuke crouched on a tree branch and stated his opinion. Only amidst a chaotic battle could they fish in troubled waters. Their team's strength was worrying to begin with—there wasn't a single one of them who could really fight...

"Mhm, mhm. Then let's do as Sasuke-kun says."

Just quietly staying by Sasuke's side like this is wonderful too. I'm so happy! Ino Pig, just envy me!

Sakura's inner personality shouted loudly...

"Hey, hey, isn't this way too boring?"

Naruto was just about to complain when he saw Sakura's murderous glare. He could only compromise, leaning back against the tree trunk and closing his eyes to rest.

However, that state didn't last long. The scent of grilled meat soon began tormenting the teams all around them.

"I smell the sweetness of honey, the fragrance of pork, and premium sauce. It even seems like they used the Akimichi Clan's secret spices!"

Choji Akimichi lay in the grass, clutching his little stomach as he complained, his eyes full of longing.

"Ah, Choji, have some restraint... We're in the middle of the exam. What you're doing is very dangerous!"

Ino Yamanaka quietly comforted her teammate. Though she was hungry too, her competitive spirit rose up. Come on, Ino. You absolutely can't lose to Sakura!

Compared to the two of them, Shikamaru was much calmer.

It doesn't make sense. Who would still be in the mood to barbecue and picnic in this kind of environment? Among all the teams here, there only seem to be a few strong ones... Could it be those guys from the Hidden Sand Village?

"Shh. We should keep quiet. I feel like we can't stay here any longer. Once it gets dark, things will be unfavorable for us. Let's find somewhere to hide first."

Within the Ino–Shika–Cho Trio, Ino and Choji both agreed with Shikamaru's analysis. Before long, the three of them left from a distance.

"That smell! That's right, it has to be Sen!"

Sen often grilled meat at home. Naruto had firmly remembered that unique aroma. Haku had specially mixed the sauce, and there wasn't another place in the entire Hidden Leaf Village that had it.

"Sasuke, Sakura, come on! Follow me and let's eat something good!"

With that, Naruto leaped out. He was so unable to suppress his excitement that he even forgot to explain.

"Hey, hey!"

Sakura was at a loss and couldn't help looking at Sasuke beside her.

"That idiot!"

Veins bulged on Sasuke's forehead, but after thinking for a moment, he said, "Sakura, you and Naruto stay out in the open later. Be careful not to get hurt. I'll lie in wait in the dark."

Clearly, Sakura hadn't understood Sasuke's hidden meaning. She nodded and chased after Naruto.

Delay them as much as possible... I have to catch every team in one sweep... I'll become famous in a single battle! The Uchiha Clan's prestige will be spread by me!

"I knew it was you guys!"

Naruto burst out of the woods and found Uchiha Sen stuffing himself beside a small river, along with Haku grilling meat and Zabuza Momochi, who had been reduced to a tool.

"Mhm, mhm! Double-Zero Two, come on, have a skewer."

Uchiha Sen warmly handed over a grilled chicken wing, then casually patted the grass beside him and pointed at the empty space in front of him.

"Come on, come watch Fairy Tail with me. It's super interesting!!"

Naruto didn't stand on ceremony. He took the skewer and sat on the ground, completely ignoring Zabuza's resentful gaze.

I haven't even gotten a single bite!

No, I need to find a way to catch a tool...

But wouldn't that be a little bad...

Whatever. Sen can take the blame in front...

Perhaps because he had spent too long around Uchiha Sen, Zabuza was no longer as reserved as he had been at first.

"Naruto! How can you make decisions on your own? Huh... Aren't you guys...?"

Sakura, who had arrived late, suddenly appeared. When she saw Haku, Zabuza, Uchiha Sen, and Naruto enthusiastically eating skewers off to the side, she instantly understood...

So the question is, should I call Sasuke down...?

The barbecue smells so good...

Zabuza soon discovered Uchiha Sasuke hiding in the shadows.

That guy seems to know Fire Release...

"Haku, go drag out the guy hiding in the dark."

Giving Haku a look that said I'm leaving this to you, Zabuza hurriedly resumed breathing fire. In that brief instant just now, Sen had turned around and looked at him...

"But wouldn't that be bad...?"

Haku also knew it was currently the Chunin Exams. Grilling meat consumed chakra...

Zabuza looked at him eagerly, his eyes practically spelling out the situation in a single word.

"Alright..."

In the end, Haku couldn't withstand Zabuza's gaze. With a flash, he appeared on a tree branch somewhere.

How is that possible?!

That's right, Sasuke had also noticed the person appearing behind him...

"Sasuke-kun, please help grill the meat..."

Polite... yet not polite at all...

It sounded like Haku was discussing it with him... but to Sasuke, it seemed he had no other choice...

"Mmm, so delicious. Meat grilled by Sasuke-kun really is different~"

Sakura ate skewers while continuing to flatter him. Haku and Zabuza had also become free.

Sasuke's expression looked as though he had eaten something unbearably foul.

"Ah!!"

A scream rang out, and Sakura's group looked in its direction.

"That was?"

Naruto looked confused, vaguely seeming to understand something.

Sen waved his hand and said, "Double-Zero Two, don't mind it. I don't know which shameless guy it is, but every so often he howls and shrieks over on that side of the forest. It's affecting Sen's anime time."

[ Ding! Mission refreshed: Konoha Crush Plan. Prevent Orochimaru from destroying the Hidden Leaf Village. Mission rating: One star: defeat Orochimaru head-on. Two stars: prevent Orochimaru from summoning the previous Hokage. Three stars: reduce Hidden Leaf Village casualties to fewer than 100. Current: (10/100). Accept? ]

"This is so annoying, so annoying! Don't interfere with my TV!"

[ Uh, hey... he wasn't deliberately trying to disturb you... ]

"Hole-Hole Monster, I'm going to the bathroom. Do you want to go?"

Naruto stood up and lowered his head to ask.

"Mhm, okay."

Sen stood too, and the two walked to the lakeside together, undoing their belts.

"Hey, hey! There are girls here, okay?! If you need to pee, go into the forest!"

Sakura blushed furiously and pointed at the two as she cursed them.

"Fine, fine."

"Girls are troublesome, right, Hole-Hole Monster?"

"Uh, I guess so. Except Erza."

After the two left, Haku packed everything up and quietly sat by the lake to wait.

"Haku, Sen is so strange. It's impossible to communicate with him properly. How do you talk to him?"

Sakura moved closer. Of everyone present, only Haku looked somewhat kind. As for the uncle carrying that huge sword nearby...

Forget it. He was ugly and looked vicious too.

"Actually, Lord Sen is a very kind person. As long as you genuinely get to know him, you'll discover that he isn't like the Uchiha everyone else describes."

Haku was always like this—gentle and understanding.

Sasuke listened from the side in a daze... then turned away disdainfully. Only by becoming stronger could he take revenge.

In the forest

Uchiha Sen shook himself, pulled up his pants, and heard Naruto's voice from behind him.

"Let's go, Hole-Hole Monster."

Led by Naruto, the two walked slowly onward.

[ Ding! A ninja with an excessively high danger rating has been detected nearby. ]

[ Ding! Name: Orochimaru. Strength: Kage Level. Danger rating: 7. Intends to seize the Mangekyō Sharingan for research. Targets: Sasuke and the host. ]

[ Ding! Automatically accepting mission: Konoha Crush Plan. ]

[ Ding! Recommendation: Host should strike first. Take off a shoe and slap the bastard to death. ]

Mm, this little blue screen has really been growing on me lately.

Quietly taking out a slipper, Sen softly asked, "Double-Zero Two, do you still remember Erza by the Great Ming Lake?"

At that moment, the Naruto transformed by Orochimaru walked ahead of him and froze.

Where's the Great Ming Lake? And who is Erza?

Never mind.

"I remember, Hole-Hole Monster."

Hearing the other party's answer, Sen leaped into the air and slammed the slipper down from above.

[ Ding! Chakra enhancement automatically activated for the host. ]

Blue chakra wrapped around the slipper as it plummeted at high speed, striking its target squarely.

Smack!

A direct hit!

A huge bump rose on the back of his head.

Orochimaru forced himself to remain calm and turned back with a smile. "Hole-Hole Monster, why did you suddenly hit me...?"

Sen hunched over, scratched his head, and stared fixedly at the fake Naruto before him.

"Ha! Monster, Old Sen saw through your trick long ago! You wanted to disguise yourself as Double-Zero Two and fool me! You must not know about Grandpa Sen's fiery golden eyes!"

[ ...Looks like Journey to the West can't be played either. ]

"Heh, as expected of an Uchiha with the Mangekyō Sharingan."

Naruto sneered as he shed his disguise. His eyes turned into snake pupils, and he stuck out his tongue to lick his lips. After a burst of smoke, a woman wearing a conical hat emerged.

"In that case, let me first experience your skills!"

Sen seemed to have suddenly remembered something. Scratching his head, he asked Orochimaru:

"By the way, your name is Orochimaru. Are meatballs made from snake meat actually tasty? Is snake meat better than pork or beef?"

"Hehehe, Sen really is an interesting person. So, are you ready?"

As he spoke, Orochimaru's gaze sharpened. A murderous aura swept forth, bearing down directly on Uchiha Sen's eyes.

Sen turned his back to him as though he hadn't felt a thing, still pondering whether snake meat or pork tasted better.

[Ding! Orochimaru's killing intent has been automatically blocked.]

"Then, how about this?"

Two enormous dark-brown pythons surged forward at Orochimaru's command.

Their gaping maws open wide, they darted forward.

[Ding! Hole-Hole Monster, stop agonizing over it. Snake meat tastes better than both beef and pork!]

"Oh, really?"

Sen stared at the blue screen in sudden realization as a giant mouth crashed down behind him.

"Thud!"

"Hm? Why did it get dark?"

[You're inside a snake's stomach...]

"What? That won't do! Big Sen hasn't even gotten to eat snake meat yet!"

[Fine. Automatically activating the Mangekyō Sharingan and unleashing the right eye's genjutsu: Star Wheel Era!]

[Target locked: Orochimaru]

What?!

Orochimaru's vision blurred, and he found himself in a realm of chaos. Countless dazzling stars shone with blinding light, piercing every inch of his skin like sharp swords. Yet it wasn't over. Visible to the naked eye, countless tiny flaming dots were rushing toward him...

Genjutsu Release!

Orochimaru tried to disrupt his own chakra, but it was useless. This feeling was just like back then...

Bad memories flooded his mind. Back then, he'd also been defeated like this by Itachi...