Orochimaru's Test

In the early morning, white mist blanketed the area. From within the Forest of Death came several distant roars, venting the gloom of dawn.

Children in the village were strictly forbidden from going near the Forest of Death. Giant beasts roamed parts of it, and they could easily put anyone in danger.

A figure darted through the white mist. A black cloak was barely visible, with a glint of crimson appearing now and then. Muzan moved incredibly fast, flashing to the edge of the forest. This was the simplest way to use the Body Flicker Technique.

"As expected of Orochimaru. He's holding the Genin exam in the Forest of Death. Isn't he worried something might happen to the students?"

It looked like he didn't plan to use Konoha's traditional bell-stealing exercise to help teammates build bonds. After all, back then, Orochimaru had been willing to kill his teammate Jiraiya with his own hands for the sake of a mission.

Besides, coming to the Forest of Death wasn't dangerous for Muzan. Kurenai and Mari were the ones in trouble.

Before long, the morning mist began to clear. Muzan pulled his black hood back on, then suddenly heard movement behind him. Looking into the distance, he could make out two faint black dots.

"Muzan, I didn't expect you to get here so early."

Anko was ready for anything that day, dressed in a clean set of ninja clothes. She even had two Explosive Tags prepared at her waist, though the dumpling in her mouth ruined the overall effect.

As expected of Anko. She loved eating dumplings wherever she went.

"This place is terrifying."

Ito Mari hunched his shoulders and stared at the mist around him and the sinister-looking trees in the distance. They looked like monsters, ready to drag him to his death at any moment. His legs were so weak he could barely walk.

"You big idiot, Mari! It's just the Forest of Death. What are you scared of? How can you pass Lord Orochimaru's test if you react like this?"

She punched Mari on the head to snap him out of it. If they failed Lord Orochimaru's test because of Mari, then had to slink back to school, she really would be beside herself.

Ito Mari, with his prominent horns, forced himself to endure his fear. If he dragged down the team's overall performance, he would feel guilty for the rest of his life.

Though afraid, he forced himself to stand and followed behind Muzan on trembling legs.

"Don't worry. As your teammate, if we run into danger, I'll be the first to run."

Mari had just stopped crying, but Muzan's words made him cry even harder. For the first time since becoming a Genin, Mari felt that the world was truly cruel.

"Damn you, Muzan! All you do is bully Mari!"

The meeting place was still some distance away. Following the river that flowed out of the Forest of Death, they made their way upstream.

They spotted a figure waiting for them in the distance.

"We're done for! Lord Orochimaru got here so early!"

Anko panicked. She thought she'd arrived early enough, but now she was sure she'd made a bad impression on Orochimaru.

Orochimaru showed no displeasure at their arrival. He simply took out a Summoning Scroll, his chilling presence adding to the ominous feeling.

The three of them immediately sensed that something was wrong.

"The moment you become Genin, you must get used to death always being at your side."

"Survive this exam, and you'll become Genin. If you fail, there's no need to return to the Ninja Academy. What awaits you is..."

Death!

Although Orochimaru hadn't said the final word, they already knew what he meant. Mari, especially, was cowering behind the others, his legs trembling with fear.

"Lord Orochimaru's training methods are still as brutal as ever, but they're perfectly suited to the way ninjas must survive."

Muzan knew that Orochimaru was very rational at this stage—so rational that he had lost all sense of humanity. The weak only brought needless grief to those around them.

At times, they could even cause more casualties. It was better to weed them out from the start.

Ito Mari could feel Orochimaru watching him. Was it because of him...?

Orochimaru gave them no chance to ask questions.

He formed Hand Seals, then pressed his hands to the ground. "Ninja Art: Summoning Jutsu!"

A cloud of white smoke instantly appeared around them. Orochimaru rose rapidly, standing atop a monstrous giant snake. It flicked its tongue and watched the three below with interest.

The two teammates beside Muzan had already been scared stiff and fallen to the ground. Muzan remained calm, Kunai in both hands as he warily watched the giant snake.

"Fortunately, it isn't Manda from Ryūchi Cave..."

It was a small mercy. If it had been Manda from Ryūchi Cave, Muzan would have suspected Orochimaru of deliberately feeding them to the snake.

But even an ordinary giant snake from Ryūchi Cave wasn't something an average Genin could handle.

"Has Lord Orochimaru's test started?"

Muzan pulled his two teammates up from the ground, then looked up to meet Orochimaru's gaze.

Rather than a test for the whole team, this giant snake's appearance was more like a test meant for Muzan alone.

The instant the giant snake appeared, his teammates had already lost the ability to fight.

"The test has begun. Either kill the giant snake, or be killed by it."

To force them to show their true abilities, Orochimaru had used the Sealing Method to lock down the surrounding area. No one outside could detect what was happening within, and those inside couldn't escape the seal.

This narrow stretch of forest had become a death arena!

"You really haven't left us any way out. But Lord Orochimaru, I won't disappoint you."

There was only one way to observe what was happening in that area: the Telescope Technique.

In the Third Hokage's office, two people watched what was happening inside the Crystal Ball. Orochimaru had actually summoned a giant snake to target three students who had only just graduated from the Ninja Academy.

"Bang!"

Tsunade smashed the Third Hokage's desk in half. Furious, she wanted to rush over and confront Orochimaru.

"What the hell! Orochimaru has gone too far this time!"

The Third Hokage's mustache twitched as he mourned his shattered desk. He still looked like a middle-aged man, and the lingering authority of the Hero of the Shinobi world was undeniable. But he didn't dare reprimand Tsunade. If she got angry and tore apart the office, he really would be at a loss for words.

"Calm down. Don't forget that Orochimaru is their team leader. He decides what kind of exam they take, and he wouldn't do anything too outrageous."

As he spoke, the Third Hokage pointed at Muzan, who was staring down Orochimaru, and explained the circumstances of his graduation to Tsunade.

"Don't forget, when Muzan graduated, he overpowered a Genin in no time."

More than a year had passed since Muzan graduated. Kakashi was already approaching Chunin strength, so how much stronger must Muzan be, given that he surpassed Kakashi?

"Hmph!"

Reminded of that, Tsunade held her temper and watched what was happening inside the Crystal Ball.

After spending a year together, Tsunade had taught Muzan everything except the most important techniques, the Yin Seal and the Strength of a Hundred Technique. He could be considered half her disciple.