"No, this is how it should be. You three will move as one group, and I'll go solo. There's no need for discussion."
Menma's tone was sharp, decisive — almost cold. "Naruto, Sasuke… you both know you're not on my level yet. This setup gives our team the highest chance of making it through the second test."
The words hit hard. Even Sasuke's expression darkened slightly, while Naruto stood frozen, his mouth half-open in protest. Still, Menma wasn't wrong.
Over six years at the Academy, every spar between them had ended the same way — Menma's victory. The twins had grown stronger since then, but Menma's control over his chakra and his raw combat instinct had only deepened. Even Sasuke, with all his pride, couldn't deny the truth — right now, Menma was stronger.
"Remember that B-rank mission we did? I handled infiltration alone then," Menma continued, calm and confident. "Don't worry about me. We'll regroup after we secure both scrolls. Naruto, you don't plan on failing this round, do you?"
Naruto hesitated, biting his lip. It was true — in the Forest of Death, only the strongest and smartest survived. Letting the most capable fighter move alone was logical, even if it didn't feel right.
From a tactical point of view, Menma's argument was solid. Dividing into pairs could easily backfire — one group could be ambushed or slowed down. But a solo infiltration by the strongest member could maximize survival. Still, Menma's intention wasn't just strategy; it was a carefully crafted excuse to act independently.
He needed to meet Orochimaru.
Menma had no plan to truly wander aimlessly. He knew what was coming — the Sannin would appear soon, seeking Sasuke. If Menma played his part right, he could observe everything, maybe even confront the Snake Sannin directly.
"I'll take care of myself," Menma said finally, breaking the silence.
Sakura looked torn, glancing between her teammates. Naruto still looked uneasy but eventually sighed. "Alright… but be careful, Menma. Promise you'll meet up with us as soon as you can."
"Of course," Menma replied with a faint smile.
Deep down, he knew the truth. This separation wasn't just convenient — it was necessary. His instincts told him that this test would shift the course of everything.
Under the guidance of different proctors, the four members of Team 7 were split into separate entry points around the massive gate of the Forest of Death — a place of venomous beasts, lethal traps, and enemy shinobi lurking at every turn.
As Menma approached his designated entrance, a chūnin examiner handed him his scroll.
"One last reminder," the man said sternly. "Opening the scroll during the exam is strictly forbidden. If you do, you'll be immediately disqualified — and the consequences will be yours alone."
"Yeah, I understand," Menma replied, casually waving him off.
The gate creaked open.
With a swift step, Menma disappeared into the shadows of the forest, his chakra flaring faintly as he leapt from branch to branch.
'If I remember correctly… Orochimaru should appear not long after we enter. I don't have much time to get into position.'
He closed his eyes momentarily, focusing. His sensory perception — sharpened by both Uzumaki lineage and training — spread outward, scanning for Naruto's team and any incoming threats.
Meanwhile, in a clearing several kilometers outside the forest, Mitarashi Anko crouched over three bodies — all wearing the headbands of Kusagakure. Their faces were distorted in terror, their throats ripped apart by something nonhuman.
The lighthearted expression she had shown earlier was gone. Her usual grin faded into grim silence.
"He's back…" she whispered, fists tightening until her knuckles went white. "That bastard's really back…"
Her amber eyes flickered with something between fury and fear. Orochimaru — her former master — had returned.
"Report this immediately to Lord Hokage," she ordered sharply. "The rest of you, follow me! We're heading into the Forest of Death now!"
"Yes, Anko-sama!"
The chūnin around her didn't question her sudden shift in tone. They moved with urgency, disappearing into the trees behind her.
Anko's chakra surged as she propelled herself forward, her trench coat flaring behind her. 'I have to find him before he gets to Sasuke!'
But deep in the forest, the snake had already slithered in.
Orochimaru — cloaked in the false face of a Grass shinobi — drifted through the shadows, moving with silent, predatory grace. His golden eyes gleamed beneath the disguise. Around him, a dozen summoned snakes slithered along the ground, their tongues flickering as they tasted the air.
It didn't take him long. Within an hour, his serpents had already pinpointed their prey.
'Found you… Uchiha Sasuke.'
Perched high above a clearing, Orochimaru watched the three genin — Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura — carefully maneuvering through the dense terrain below. His smile widened, sharp and serpentine.
"Hehe… Itachi's little brother. Let's see what you're capable of," Orochimaru hissed softly, his long tongue flicking across his lips.
With a single motion of his hand, his two disguised followers dispersed into the trees to secure the perimeter. Then Orochimaru's body melted into the shadows, his killing intent seeping through the forest like a living thing.
"Swoosh."
A blur of movement — and the Snake Sannin descended silently toward his unsuspecting prey.