A Bloody Shura Field and Sasuke's Challenge

After Orochimaru left, Sakura took Naruto and Sasuke to hide in a hollow tree, where she carefully tended to the two unconscious boys.

Ever since Orochimaru had placed the Five Elements Seal on him, Naruto had been studying the Sealing Jutsu that came from the Uzumaki Clan.

With Masterclass Fuinjutsu Talent, he had once taken the Flying Thunder God Technique from Uninitiated to Minor Accomplishment in one go.

An hour later, he understood the seal and successfully undid it.

He stopped pretending to be unconscious and woke up, much to Sakura's delight.

Night had fallen by then, making the Forest of Death even more terrifying.

Sakura had been on edge, facing every possible danger alone. Now that Naruto was awake, she had someone to rely on. Once she finally relaxed, she soon fell fast asleep.

Naruto smiled and left a Shadow Clone to watch over her and Sasuke. His real body took in the Forest of Death beneath the night sky, a bloodthirsty smile curling his lips.

While they had been fighting Orochimaru, his twenty Shadow Clones had taken the form of the Red-Haired Masked Woman and begun a killing spree throughout the Forest of Death.

Aside from the other members of the Rookie Nine from Konoha, Team Karin, Team Gaara, and Team Yakushi Kabuto, the Shadow Clones had assassinated every member of the remaining twenty-eight teams—eighty-four Ninja in all, excluding Orochimaru's team and Team 7 itself!

As for the Earth and Heaven Scrolls those teams carried, Naruto had taken only the Heaven Scroll that Team 7 needed. The rest remained hidden on the bodies.

The surviving teams thus came across a suspicious number of dead examinees and picked up the Earth and Heaven Scrolls they needed.

There was no need to worry about them running into Team Gaara, either.

Karin had sensory abilities, Kabuto Yakushi was as cunning as a fox, and Ino-Shika-Cho were known as the three biggest cowards when it came to running away.

Both Team Hinata and Team Neji had Byakugan users, so they spotted something wrong with Gaara early and steered well clear of him.

Ten of the slain examinees had already reached Chunin level.

With Shura Field Mode active, those eighty-four gave Naruto 348 System Points. Added to the 600 points he had earned for killing three Jonin and the 300 he already had, his total now stood at 1,248.

"Ding! Congratulations, host. You have earned 1,248 points. In recognition of your outstanding performance, Shura Field Mode will remain active until the Third Exam ends."

A plan flashed through Naruto's mind. He had made a fortune during the Second Exam, and the Third Exam would bring plenty of Ninja from Sunagakure and Otogakure—even Ninja from Konoha!

If he could kill them all, there was no telling how many points he would earn!

The thought alone was exciting!

But how could he kill more Ninja?

As Naruto pondered the question, he looked at his Personal Status Panel and suddenly lit up.

"System, exchange for two Bloodline Upgrade Scrolls and raise Deidara's Explosion Release Kekkei Genkai to a level-four God-Tier Bloodline!"

"Ding! Upgrade complete. Two hundred points spent. Congratulations, host, on obtaining your second God-Tier Bloodline: Explosion Release Clay Kekkei Genkai."

With the Explosion Release Clay Kekkei Genkai upgraded to level four, its associated skills, Clay Animals and Clay Clone, both reached Masterclass.

Naruto fed a lump of ordinary soil into the mouth in his right palm. A moment later, it spat out a small lump of clay. He quickly shaped it with his hands, and a white bird capable of flight appeared before him.

Naruto nodded in satisfaction, then checked his Personal Status Panel and reflected on his recent battles.

Having seen Orochimaru's killing intent destroy his Shadow Clone, he felt he needed to strengthen that technique.

He was about to stir up trouble across the Shinobi World. Whether he left his real body in Konoha or sent it out disguised as the masked woman, he needed a sturdy, reliable clone that could take a beating. Otherwise, his real body would always have to rush back and save the day.

"System, exchange for a Divine Power Synthesis Scroll and combine my Masterclass Multiple Shadow Clone Technique and Clay Clone into one Divine Power!"

"Ding! Congratulations, host. You have obtained your Fourth Divine Power, Body Avatar! Two hundred points spent."

Naruto silently examined the new power in his mind, then formed a few simple Hand Seals. Soil on the ground instantly gathered into a clone identical to him.

This clone was his new Divine Power, Body Avatar.

Apart from lacking the Nine-Tails inside him, it possessed the same bloodlines and skills as his real body.

For now, it was made of ordinary soil. Over time, he would need to turn all that soil into white Explosive Clay. Then its entire body would be able to explode.

"Turn into the red-haired masked woman." At Naruto's command, the Body Avatar beside him immediately assumed the disguise he had used before.

From now on, this disguise would be his means of harvesting System Points and stirring up trouble across the Shinobi World.

"You're not needed for the Second Exam. Go prepare for the Third Exam as planned. When the time comes, we'll give Konoha a huge surprise!"

The Body Avatar and Naruto exchanged cold smiles. Then the avatar left and disappeared.

Because Naruto's Shadow Clones had already killed the three Ninja from Otogakure, the scene Orochimaru had hoped for never came to pass. No one came to test Sasuke's strength after he received the Cursed Seal of Heaven.

The night passed quietly. Apart from the corpses still dripping blood, the entire Forest of Death was eerily still. Even its enormous animals sensed that something was amiss.

The opening of the Shura Field had drenched the already terrifying Forest of Death in blood.

But early the next morning, the Cursed Seal of Heaven stirred within Sasuke. Evil purple Chakra gradually seeped from his body, and black Cursed Seal markings spread across his left side.

He suddenly opened his eyes and stood. After coldly surveying his surroundings, he spotted Naruto, and a fierce urge to wipe away his earlier humiliation surged through him.

"I can feel power pouring through me without end. That man from yesterday must have given it to me. I'm an avenger. Even if I have to sell my body to a demon, I'll do whatever it takes to gain power!"

At his words, Sakura's delighted expression turned to confusion.

Sasuke looked at Naruto and continued coldly:

"Hmph. Before I can take my revenge, I should beat you first! Damn you, Naruto. Do you dare fight me again?"

Naruto was roasting a wild boar. Hearing Sasuke's challenge, he turned his head and immediately understood.

"Looks like that sudden burst of power has made you forget your place!" Naruto dusted off his hands and stood, smiling at Sasuke. "Haha! You think you can beat me even with that?"

"Hmph. Enough talk!" Sasuke snorted, pushed off hard, and charged at Naruto with a Kunai in hand.

"Haha! Perfect. Once I beat you this time, I can finish that Long-Term Mission. I can't wait to see what the Mysterious Reward is!"