"You're strong—too strong for me to face directly."
But right now, Uchiha Sasuke was still just a Genin.
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, amused. Isn't this too easy?
He already knew what Sasuke longed for: revenge and power. All it would take was the right temptation, and the boy would fall right into his hands.
At that thought, Orochimaru let out a cold, contemptuous sigh. The old fools of the Third Generation... what a mistake they made.
They let the Uchiha clan be destroyed and simply moved on.
Fine, Orochimaru mused. As your former student, allow me to give you the most glorious downfall imaginable...
Yes, this time he was determined.
He would bring about the Collapse of Konoha.
He would kill the Third Hokage.
As for Naruto?
Despite witnessing Naruto's impressive performance earlier, Orochimaru felt no interest in him. The key reason was simple—he didn't know Naruto's true identity.
Orochimaru's focus was entirely on Sasuke.
At that moment, Naruto and the other nine Genin had just taken their seats.
They didn't have to wait long.
The team of Chūnin exam proctors appeared without warning—sudden and silent.
At the lead stood Ibiki Morino, the head examiner of the first test. A long scar ran down his face, cold eyes sweeping the room.
Without delay, he launched into the rules of the exam—strict, complex, and merciless.
Finally, he issued a chilling warning to everyone present:
"Cheat, and you'll be disqualified. Get caught, and you're out."
Then, the written exam began.
In an instant, all the Genin dropped their eyes to their test papers.
And that's when the shock set in.
The questions were nearly incomprehensible—as if written in an ancient tongue only the heavens could read.
Though each hidden village had modeled their own ninja academies after Konoha's curriculum, solving these kinds of problems? That was another matter entirely.
But fortunately, the smart ones had come prepared.
Soon, whispers of chakra flickered throughout the room. Candidates began deploying ninjutsu to cheat.
The rule was clear: If you're not caught, it's not cheating.
Confidence surged. A silent contest of skill and deception began.
Gaara used his sand.
Kankuro manipulated his puppet crow.
Inuzuka Kiba relied on Akamaru, perched atop his head.
Aburame Shino deployed his stealthy kikaichū.
Tenten used precision ninja tools in sync with Rock Lee.
Neji and Hinata of the Hyūga clan activated their Byakugan.
Each Genin found their own path forward.
But for Naruto, there was no need for any of that.
Even without resorting to ninjutsu, he filled in the answers with ease.
Likewise, Sakura, the top student in their class, relied on her own knowledge and quick thinking to perfectly complete the exam.
Naruto glanced at Sakura and nodded internally.
My guidance for her was right.
Sakura had recently shown strong interest in medical ninjutsu. She admired Tsunade, the Legendary Sannin, and aspired to follow in her footsteps.
With her intelligence, Naruto believed she could walk a similar path—so long as she stayed focused and didn't get sidetracked by love.
That future would suit her far more than Orochimaru's twisted science ever could.
Meanwhile, Hinata peeked toward Naruto's test paper, concerned.
She had been considering letting Naruto copy her answers… but to her astonishment, his sheet was already nearly full—more than hers.
"Naruto is amazing…" Hinata blushed, her admiration blooming silently.
Naruto caught her glance and smiled softly to himself.
My Hinata really is adorable.
Time passed quickly.
An hour later, the test drew to its conclusion.
Then came the infamous final challenge—the tenth question.
In the original events, Ibiki's psychological bluff with the final question had caused numerous Genin to give up in fear.
Yet even without Naruto's rousing speech from the original timeline, the tension still gripped the room tightly.
Many Genin still had lingering doubts about the tenth question.
That included Naruto and his team—they were all still wondering what it had really meant.
Just as the tension of the written exam was starting to fade...
Suddenly, a figure burst through the window with wild energy!
"It's too early to relax!" the woman shouted, her trench coat flaring.
"I'm the examiner for the second stage—Mitarashi Anko!"
"The next exam is waiting for you. Follow me!"
Her sudden and dramatic entrance caught everyone off guard, but it certainly livened up the room.
With curious glances exchanged, the examinees quickly gathered and followed Mitarashi Anko.
Training Ground 44—The Forest of Death.
This infamous place was their next testing ground.
Colossal trees loomed like towers, blocking out sunlight, their roots tangled like the claws of monsters. Even before stepping inside, just standing at the edge gave off an oppressive aura.
As its name implied—this was a place where death was not just a possibility, but a threat lurking behind every shadow.
Anko smirked as she looked at the pale faces of the Genin.
"You'll soon understand why it's called the Forest of Death."
With that, she launched into an explanation of the second exam's rules.
Each team would be given one scroll—either the Scroll of Heaven or the Scroll of Earth.
To pass, a team had to acquire both scrolls and reach the tower located at the center of the forest.
Half the teams would receive one scroll, and half the other—meaning, at least half the participants would be eliminated.
The tension was immediate. No one wanted to be on the losing side.
Anko went on:
"You'll have 120 hours—five days—to collect both scrolls and reach the tower."
The candidates stiffened at the time limit.
This wouldn't just be a test of strength—it would be one of endurance, survival, and teamwork.
Finally, Anko handed out the scrolls to each team.
Then she gave a grim warning:
"One last thing. Try not to die in there..."
Soon, Naruto and his team—along with Genin squads from the Hidden Sand, Hidden Rain, and other villages—collected their scrolls and moved toward their designated entry points.
Once everyone was in position...
"BEGIN!" Anko's voice rang out like a gunshot.
At her signal, the second exam officially began!
Dozens of Genin teams surged into the Forest of Death.
Within thirty minutes...
Hinata, using her Byakugan, detected multiple enemy teams moving nearby. She quickly relayed the information.
Thanks to her perception abilities, their squad moved into position and launched a successful ambush, quickly taking down one unsuspecting team.
Meanwhile, Naruto and Sasuke—still nearby—heard the distant sound of battle.
"It's already started…" Sasuke said, calm and focused.
Just then, a Genin from the Hidden Rain Village broke away from his team and lunged at them.
Sasuke didn't hesitate.
His eyes locked on the attacker, and with swift, practiced movements, he met the enemy head-on.
A blur of motion.
A flash of steel.
With a precise strike using his kunai and taijutsu, Sasuke neutralized the Rain ninja in seconds.
He was no longer the same boy who had entered the Chūnin Exams full of pride and anger.
After training under both Naruto and Kakashi, Sasuke had become sharper, stronger—more lethal.
But beneath the surface...
Deep underground...
Orochimaru lurked.
Using an Earth Release technique, he had been observing everything from below.
He had seen Sasuke's strength with his own eyes.
"As expected from an Uchiha genius…"
His tongue slithered out between his lips as he grinned.
"You've caught my eye more than ever now… little Sasuke…"
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, deep in thought.
For now, it seemed no one else would interfere.
Suddenly—bang! A puff of white smoke burst forth in front of Team 7.
From it emerged a figure cloaked in disguise.
Orochimaru had arrived.
"Another enemy," Sasuke said calmly, his eyes narrowing.
Sakura instantly raised her guard, preparing for battle.
But Naruto? He remained still—completely unfazed.
He had already sensed Orochimaru lurking underground. He had just chosen not to reveal it.
Because this was all part of his plan.
Orochimaru's appearance here wasn't unexpected—it was necessary.
This was the prelude to the Konoha Crush Plan, and Naruto intended to use Orochimaru's attack to craft the perfect stage for it.
He knew why Orochimaru had come.
He was here for Sasuke.
But Naruto wasn't worried. Not now.
After all, Sasuke had a "cheat" now—power far beyond what Orochimaru might expect.
Let's see if he can really take Sasuke that easily.
If nothing else, this would be a valuable opportunity for Sasuke—a chance to face an opponent at Kage level.
The disguised Orochimaru gave them a sinister smile and spoke, eyes glinting as they locked onto Sasuke.
"You're holding the Scroll of Heaven, aren't you? That means... you'll want this."
He reached into his cloak and pulled out the Scroll of Earth.
Just as he opened his mouth and prepared to swallow it whole...
Naruto's eyes flicked with disdain.
No way I'm letting you pass that scroll—especially not covered in your snake spit.
Orochimaru, fully confident in his control of the situation, was completely caught off guard when—
Flash!
In an instant, Naruto vanished in a flicker of light—
The Flying Thunder God Technique.
Before Orochimaru could even react, Naruto had reappeared right in front of him—
Snatched the Scroll of Earth straight from his hand—
And immediately teleported back to his original position.
It all happened in less than a heartbeat.
Only when Naruto held up the scroll did Orochimaru's expression change.
His smile froze.
"...When!?"
"That speed—impossible…"
Outwardly, Orochimaru maintained his usual calm façade.
But inside?
He was shaken.
Completely unprepared for such a technique… and from Naruto, no less.
Sasuke and Sakura watched as Naruto effortlessly returned with the scroll.
Sakura's eyes widened in delight.
"Amazing!"
Sasuke, meanwhile, narrowed his eyes at Naruto in quiet awe.
He had known Naruto was improving. But this?
This was beyond what he had imagined.
Still, he was starting to get used to it. The shock didn't linger.
Good thing Naruto was here, he thought.
If Orochimaru had managed to swallow the scroll just now, retrieving it would have been a nightmare.
Naruto casually handed the Scroll of Earth to his teammates and turned to face Orochimaru.
"Sasuke," he said, eyes calm and voice steady, "he's yours. Don't underestimate him—he's strong."
Then, with a relaxed glance at Sakura, he added:
"Let's stand back and watch Sasuke for a bit."
Sakura looked at Naruto, then at Sasuke.
If Naruto said it was okay, she trusted him.
Besides… she didn't mind watching Sasuke fight.
She nodded with a soft smile.
"Mm."
"Do your best, Sasuke!"
Sakura shouted, pumping her fist.
"You've got this!" Naruto added with a smirk.
Sasuke glanced at the two of them and sighed inwardly.
Great. I'm the one fighting here, and they're treating it like a spectator sport...
Still, he couldn't ignore Naruto's earlier warning.
If Naruto, of all people, said this opponent was dangerous, then this was no ordinary enemy.
That meant one thing—he was hiding his true strength.
Sasuke's lips curled slightly.
"Interesting…" he muttered, narrowing his eyes as he stared down the enemy in front of him.
Orochimaru, still wearing the face of a disguised Genin, was silently recovering from his shock.
He hadn't expected Naruto to rip the Scroll of Earth out of his hands so flawlessly.
But since it didn't interfere with his real goal—Sasuke—he quickly refocused.
"Tch. I let myself get distracted…" Orochimaru thought, watching Sasuke.
A little seduction first… then the mark.
He smiled again—something playful and sinister.
Then, without warning, his gaze turned razor-sharp, and—
BOOM!
Killing intent exploded from his body.
This wasn't just any bloodlust.
This was the killing aura of one of the Legendary Sannin, forged over years of slaughter on battlefields soaked in blood.
For most Genin, this would be an instant death sentence.
Even without lifting a finger, Orochimaru's pressure alone could paralyze or crush the will of any ordinary rookie ninja.
In the original timeline, Sasuke had buckled under this aura—his body frozen, knees trembling.
But this wasn't the same Sasuke.
This Sasuke had been training with Kakashi… and had been hardened under the merciless guidance of Naruto.
He'd witnessed the overwhelming presence of Naruto's golden chakra cloak—the form Naruto used when serious.
Compared to that?
This killing intent felt like a breeze.
"I see now," Sasuke muttered, steadying his breath as he stood unfazed.
Naruto's warning made perfect sense.
No Genin—no matter how skilled—could release this level of bloodlust.
This guy was in disguise.
He's not who he says he is… Could he be one of Orochimaru's men? Sasuke thought.
After all, Naruto had told him beforehand that Orochimaru would show up during the Chunin Exams.
So naturally, Sasuke assumed the man in front of him was a subordinate—a pawn disguised to get close.
But Orochimaru saw through everything.
And the more unshaken Sasuke appeared…
…the more he wanted him.
A shiver of twisted excitement ran down Orochimaru's spine.
"Hisssss…"
He stuck out his unnaturally long tongue, licking the air with a serpent's hunger.
And then, without a word—
They moved.
Sasuke and Orochimaru launched at each other at the exact same instant.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
The two exchanged blow after blow—hands, feet, kunai, counters, flips—fluid and deadly.
The clash of taijutsu was fast, fierce, and unrelenting.
And Sasuke—
Sasuke was winning.
With precise movements drilled into him through Naruto's brutal training sessions,
he landed a solid kick that sent Orochimaru flying.
BOOM!
Orochimaru slammed into a massive tree trunk with a crack, the impact shaking the forest.
He stared at Sasuke, stunned.
This kid is just a Genin… And yet his physical skills are—!
There wasn't time to finish the thought.
Orochimaru's body suddenly writhed—and morphed.
With a grotesque hiss, his entire form elongated and coiled, transforming into a massive serpent.
"Whssshhh!!"
The long, snake-like Orochimaru shot forward, blurring with speed—
so fast he became a streak of shadow, an afterimage that danced through the trees.
He coiled, lunged, and slithered around Sasuke at breakneck speed.
The hunt had begun.
Sasuke's vision sharpened.
His eyes flicked with intensity as he activated them—
The Sharingan.
Three tomoe spun in each eye.
The fully matured Sharingan.
Under the harsh training of Naruto and Kakashi, Sasuke had achieved what few his age ever had.
He now wielded the three-tomoe Sharingan, the hallmark of a true Uchiha prodigy.
As Orochimaru continued to snake around at high speed, Sasuke's eyes locked onto him effortlessly.
And Orochimaru—
The moment he saw those crimson eyes…
He froze for a fraction of a second.
"Three tomoe already…?"
He licked his lips slowly, eyes gleaming with greed.
"As expected of my Sasuke…" he murmured darkly, hunger and desire twisting his face.
Right then—Sasuke moved.
"Fire Style: Phoenix Fire Jutsu!"
With practiced precision, he formed the hand seals and exhaled a series of fireballs, rapid and sharp like bullets from a machine gun.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Each orb of fire tore through the air toward Orochimaru, exploding in rapid succession.
Caught mid-movement, Orochimaru was hit by the barrage and thrown into a plume of black smoke.
A scorched figure tumbled from the haze and crashed onto the ground.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes.
"Is it over that easily…?"
He didn't relax.
And neither did Naruto.
Sakura looked to Naruto for confirmation.
Seeing no reaction from him, she immediately understood: It wasn't over.
Suddenly—
The body on the ground melted into mud.
"Earth Style: Clone Technique!" Sasuke realized instantly.
Before he could react—
SWISH!
Orochimaru emerged behind him like a ghost, silently.
THUD!
A powerful strike landed on Sasuke's back.
Then another, and another—
A clean chain of taijutsu attacks slammed Sasuke into the forest floor.
"Sasuke!" Sakura gasped, gripping her kunai in panic.
But again, Naruto remained calm.
Sakura noticed his composed expression and held herself back.
If Naruto wasn't moving, then Sasuke still had something up his sleeve.
Meanwhile, Orochimaru stood over the fallen Uchiha, footsteps slow and deliberate.
"As expected…" he said, admiring the boy sprawled before him.
"You truly are a genius of the Uchiha clan."
His voice was smooth, even impressed.
But just as he began to lower his guard—
Click—hiss…
Three small tags attached to his back began to sizzle.
Explosive tags.
"Boom!"
The detonation erupted behind him, catching him completely off-guard—
the exact same trick Sasuke had used earlier, now repurposed and improved.
Orochimaru staggered, thrown slightly off balance.
"Tch—!"
But that was all the opening Sasuke needed.
In a fluid motion, he flipped back to his feet, leaped into the air—
And unleashed a barrage of Fūma Shuriken.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The giant, bladed weapons spun at blinding speed, cutting through the air toward Orochimaru.
This was no longer a child testing his strength.
Sasuke was in a real battle now—and he was fighting like a true shinobi.
...
TN:
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