The one least qualified to stay.
Was the toughest person there, the one most unwilling to back down!
Sasuke glanced sideways, a faint flicker stirring in his cold eyes.
Sakura was both anxious and moved, her eyes reddening, seemingly surprised to see this side of Naruto.
And just as everyone thought Naruto was about to throw away his future-
Ibiki suddenly gave a faint smile and loudly announced the final truth behind the written exam.
"Congratulations to everyone who stayed."
"You have all... passed this written exam!"
Everyone there froze!
So did every viewer in the Shinobi World!
Ibiki slowly explained.
"The first ten difficult questions tested your intelligence-gathering skills and your aptitude as ninja."
"The eleventh question tested-a ninja's courage and perseverance to never give up."
"A true ninja never backs down lightly, no matter how dangerous the road ahead."
"Everyone who dared to stake their future on staying has passed!"
At this revelation, everyone there went utterly blank, then erupted in astonishment!
So that was it!
The hardest question had never been a test of intelligence!
It tested character!
Persistence!
The refusal to admit defeat!
Naruto stood there completely stunned, blinking dumbly.
I... passed?
I passed with a blank answer sheet?
I scored zero!
Who else could pull that off!
Hahaha...
Naruto nearly went mad with excitement!
Sakura instantly let out a huge sigh of relief, unsure whether to laugh or cry.
Sasuke's tense shoulders relaxed slightly, and the faintest trace of approval crossed his eyes.
Outside the Sky Screen, the entire Shinobi World exploded!
"That's insane! The Chunin written exam was testing their ninja way!"
"So the whole thing was a test of whether they would give up!"
"Who would've thought the dead last with a blank answer sheet would pass on sheer guts!"
"Naruto's ninja way is so cool!"
"I feel like this kid has limitless potential. He's practically the protagonist of a novel!"
The scene on the Sky Screen changed.
The second round of the Chunin Ninja Exams, the Forest of Death trial, officially began.
The rules were brutal and straightforward.
Collect both the Heaven and Earth Scrolls to pass. The entire forest was an unrestricted zone, and killing was permitted.
Within the Forest of Death, danger was everywhere, with deadly threats lurking on all sides.
The three members of Team 7 collected their scroll and entered the eerie, gloomy Forest of Death together, surrounded by towering ancient trees.
They had yet to find even one matching Heaven or Earth Scroll and had only ventured into the forest a short while ago.
A sinister, unsettling figure silently blocked the path directly ahead of them.
The figure had deathly pale skin and narrow eyes, his gaze burning with greed as it fixed on Team 7.
In an instant!
A bone-chilling sense of danger enveloped Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke!
Their hair stood on end, and their hearts clenched.
All three immediately went on guard, taking fighting stances as they stared at the mysterious newcomer with utterly grave expressions.
Outside the Sky Screen, the entire Shinobi World erupted the moment they recognized that face. Everyone was stunned!
"Is that... Orochimaru?!"
"Orochimaru, one of the Sannin! He actually infiltrated Konoha's Forest of Death?!"
Ninja from every village felt their pupils contract, instantly guessing his purpose.
"There's no question! There are only two possible targets!"
"Either the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Naruto Uzumaki!"
"Or the Sharingan of Konoha's last remaining Uchiha-Sasuke Uchiha!"
Countless people sighed again and again, their eyes filled with sympathy and regret.
"Poor Sasuke has it too rough!"
"He lost an arm and was badly injured, got humiliated outside the exam room, and now he's run into Orochimaru!"
"This kid's had one disaster after another. Every step leads to a death trap!"
"With Orochimaru after the Uchiha bloodline, Sasuke probably has no way out now!"
Discussion broke out across the Shinobi World, and everyone broke into a cold sweat for Team 7.
Meanwhile, far away at the Akatsuki's base in the Land of Rain.
The real Orochimaru looked up, quietly watching his future self on the Sky Screen.
There was no surprise on his face. Instead, he smiled faintly in understanding.
"I see."
"My future self seems to have taken a liking to Sasuke's pair of Uchiha Sharingan."
His expression remained indifferent toward Naruto, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. He had no interest in him.
Powerful as the Nine-Tails was, to him, the perfect Uchiha bloodline was the treasure that truly suited him.
But the next instant, Orochimaru's brows suddenly furrowed tightly.
He stared at the Sky Screen, his eyes full of confusion and doubt, and murmured to himself.
"But something isn't right."
"Uchiha Itachi is clearly in the Akatsuki, right here beside me."
"Itachi, with his Mangekyō Sharingan, is right within reach."
"Why would I overlook what's close at hand and fixate on a mere two-tomoe Sasuke?"
"Immature, damaged, not yet fully developed-how could he compare to the fully grown Uchiha Itachi?"
He could not make sense of it at all.
In his eyes, Itachi's talent was a priceless treasure that Sasuke could never remotely match.
Why would his future self pass up a peerless treasure and fixate on damaged goods like Sasuke?
"Did something unexpected happen in the future?"
"Is Itachi beyond my reach? Or is there something else behind this?"
Orochimaru's long, slender tongue lightly licked the corner of his mouth, and fiercely ravenous greed flared in his eyes.
Whatever the reason.
At that moment, he had already made up his mind.
Compared to the still-immature Sasuke.
Uchiha Itachi was the ultimate vessel he had always dreamed of!
"Interesting."
"Since my future self changed targets for some unknown reason."
"I still have to try-to take Uchiha Itachi."
Itachi's body... I want it so badly!
In his excitement, Orochimaru swept his tongue across his face!
On the Sky Screen!
Within the dark, dense woods of the Forest of Death, chilly gusts blew, and branches and leaves rustled.
Orochimaru stood in place with a faint, ambiguous smile, his sinister gaze locked firmly on Sasuke Uchiha.
Sasuke's whole body tensed, his eyes full of vigilance and hostility as he demanded coldly, "Who are you? What do you want?"
An eerie smile curled Orochimaru's lips. His voice was hoarse and chilling as he enunciated each word. "Sasuke Uchiha, the only brat who survived the Uchiha Massacre Night."
"Shut up!!"
Those words instantly struck Sasuke's most painful nerve!
His hatred over the massacre, the humiliation of losing an arm, and days of pent-up anguish erupted at once. Sasuke's eyes turned bloodshot, and his killing intent surged.
Orochimaru paid it no mind. He spoke unhurriedly, offering the bait Sasuke could least resist. "Do you want information on Uchiha Itachi?"
Sasuke abruptly went rigid.
All his anger halted in an instant. His pupils contracted sharply as he stared fixedly at Orochimaru, even his breathing falling into disarray.
Struggling to control his trembling voice, he suddenly roared, "You know?"
"Where is he! I'll kill him! I'm going to kill him!!"
Watching Sasuke's frantic, desperate expression, Orochimaru shook his head lightly, his tone dripping with utter contempt.
"It's no use."
"You're too weak."
"So weak that even Uchiha Itachi has no interest whatsoever in laying a hand on you."
"You don't even deserve..."
"To be killed!"
Those words pierced the last of Sasuke's pride like a poisoned blade!
His crippled body, the helplessness of being utterly outmatched, and the despair of having no hope of revenge instantly swept away his reason!
Before you continue