Three Young Shinobi vs. the Great Snake!

Ibiki Morino helplessly announced under Naruto's gaze:

"Congratulations, you all passed!"

Although Ibiki Morino's plan had been interrupted by Naruto...

Thanks to Sasuke and Gaara's ridiculous antics, the remaining examinees were about the same as those left in the original story.

Bang!

Before Ibiki Morino could say anything else, Anko made a flashy entrance!

"Ibiki, why are there still so many people left?"

Ibiki Morino glanced at Naruto, shrugged, and said helplessly,

"This year's examinees are rather outstanding!"

Anko swept her gaze over the remaining examinees and waved her hand.

"I don't care. In my second round, more than half of them will be eliminated."

"Now, follow me!"

Anko led the examinees to the outskirts of the Forest of Death.

There, Anko announced the rules for the second examination.

Skipping over what happened in between, the teams received their Heaven and Earth Scrolls and entered the Forest of Death.

"Naruto, how did you find the courage to answer the tenth question just now?"

As Team 7 walked through the forest, Sakura could no longer suppress her curiosity and asked Naruto.

"Was it because Ino helped you finish the first nine questions?"

"Huh?"

"I didn't do a single one of the first nine questions!"

Naruto was somewhat confused. When had Ino helped him?

"A... blank paper?"

"It was actually a blank paper? Then how did you still have the courage to take the tenth question?"

Sakura was utterly dumbfounded. She had thought the first nine questions had given Naruto confidence!

She had never expected Naruto not to answer even one question. Sakura had no idea what was wrong with Ino.

She could ask later if she got the chance. Right now, what she most wanted to know was where Naruto had gotten such immense courage.

"Haha..."

"It was precisely because I couldn't answer any of the first nine questions that I placed all my hopes on the tenth."

"That examiner kept babbling on and on. I was getting anxious and wanted to know what the tenth question was like."

"So I told him to hurry up and say it!"

"That was it?"

"Yeah!"

Sakura rolled her eyes. So she had overthought it. Naruto probably had not even heard the rules of the tenth question clearly!

"Alright, hurry up and find the Heaven and Earth Scrolls!"

"Don't forget!"

"That Gaara and Hyuga Neji are both very troublesome!"

Sasuke had no interest in how Naruto had passed the first round. In any case, passing was all that mattered!

"Alright!"

"The sooner we collect them, the sooner we can rest at the Central Tower!"

"Let's go this way!"

"I remembered when we came in. This is the closest entrance to us!"

Sakura pointed in one direction. Before entering, she had indeed paid attention to which teams were closest to her own.

"Alright, Sakura, lead the way!"

Naruto and Sasuke followed Sakura and raced toward that direction.

After traveling at high speed for around half an hour, Sasuke suddenly stopped mid-run!

"Who's there?"

"Come out!"

Sasuke sensed killing intent. It was faint, but it had been constantly shrouding him.

Naruto and Sakura instantly became alert, their eyes continuously scanning their surroundings.

Clap, clap, clap...

A round of applause rang out. The three turned and saw a man standing atop a large tree twenty meters away.

His long hair reached his waist, his complexion was extremely pale, and his entire appearance was distinctly effeminate!

"As expected of an Uchiha Clan member. Impressive!"

Standing on the tree with a smile, the man stared at Sasuke and stuck out his tongue to lick his lips!

"Who are you?"

"Hehe..."

"Who I am isn't important. What's important is that I have the scroll you want!"

The effeminate man smiled as he took a scroll from his clothes and waved it at the three youngsters!

"Yours is a Heaven Scroll, right?"

"I happen to have an Earth Scroll!"

"Defeat me!"

"The scroll will be yours!"

The three members of Team 7 exchanged glances and nodded lightly!

"Be careful. This person isn't simple!"

Sasuke offered a reminder as the three stared at the effeminate man!

"Come fight!"

"Hehe..."

"First, let me see whether you're qualified to make me act!"

The effeminate man laughed softly, then suddenly...

An incomparably dense killing intent swept down upon Team 7, sending fallen leaves flying everywhere!

In an instant, the sky itself seemed to darken, while chilling winds blew in gusts!

Such powerful killing intent!

Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura were shocked. It was even denser than that little raccoon's. Their assessment of this enemy rose infinitely higher!

However... none of them were afraid. Naruto directly activated Two-Tails Mode, his face fierce!

Staring at the enemy, he stomped hard against the ground and shot toward him at extreme speed, leaving cracks across the earth!

Rasengan!

Boom!

A chunk of wood exploded, sending splinters everywhere. The opponent had used the Substitution Technique!

"Not bad!"

The effeminate man appeared behind Naruto, staring at him as he formed some guesses about Naruto's identity!

This brat... is the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki?

"However..."

"I'm more interested in you!"

"Uchiha..."

"Can you let me see your abilities?"

The effeminate man looked at Sasuke, eagerly anticipating his move!

Since his older brother was so formidable, his younger brother should not be too bad either!

"Hmph!"

"I'm afraid you won't live long enough to see it!"

Chidori!

Sasuke snorted coldly, activated his Sharingan, and charged at him with Chidori in hand.

The effeminate man flashed aside and dodged Sasuke's attack, just as he was about to speak!

"Bastard!"

"Where are you looking?"

"Don't underestimate me!"

Boom!

Sakura suddenly appeared at his side and threw a punch at his chest!

Boom!

Monster Strength erupted. The effeminate man's chest caved in as he flew backward across the ground, only stopping after crashing through four or five trees!

Rasengan!

Boom!

Red chakra surrounded Naruto's entire body as he followed up with a Rasengan the instant the man came to a stop!

"Cough, cough..."

Within the massive crater, the man coughed twice, then actually spat another version of himself out of his mouth, completely unharmed!

"What?"

The three members of Team 7 cried out in shock!

"Monster Strength?"

The man stared at Sakura, his gaze somewhat startled!

"Interesting... very interesting!"

"However... you two are too troublesome!"

Summoning Technique!

Bang!

A burst of smoke rose up, and two giant snakes emerged from within it, attacking Naruto and Sakura respectively!

Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!

Boom, boom, boom...

Explosions rang out without pause as Naruto and Sakura were held back by the giant snakes, becoming locked in battle with them!

"The troublesome ones have been dealt with for now!"

"Do you have any other tricks?"

The man looked at Sasuke with an amused expression. Both of Sasuke's teammates had displayed extraordinary abilities, and he was looking forward to more!

He was looking forward to the Uchiha boy giving him even more surprises!

Whoosh!

Sasuke said nothing and instantly charged forward. The two began exchanging taijutsu strikes!

Bang, bang, bang, bang...

Every move Sasuke made was powerful, yet the man easily blocked them all!

It was as though he deliberately wanted to observe Sasuke's abilities in every aspect, defending without attacking!