The sounds of "Chirp, chirp, chirp—" from birds and cicadas, mixed with the murmur of flowing water, slowly reached the ears of Orochimaru and the others. They stood before a forest enclosed by a wire mesh fence—one of Konoha's many training areas, specifically Training Ground 18.
This second stage of the exam was set within this Training Ground 18.
Training Ground 18 covered a forest spanning nearly a hundred miles. Its internal environment and terrain were incredibly complex, filled with wild beasts and venomous insects. It was a place where danger lurked with every step, earning it the terrifying nickname in Konoha: the "Eighteenth Layer of Hell." It was normally kept permanently closed.
In Orochimaru's memory, this place was used to train the Anbu elite, and using it now as a Chūnin Exam site raised his estimation of the second stage's difficulty.
Orochimaru knew that the real crisis and challenge were just beginning.
Yūhi Rō, the supervisor of the three Chūnin Exam stages, stepped out at the appropriate time and stood before everyone. He began to announce the rules for the second stage: "This is Konoha's Training Ground 18. In ten different locations within it, we have placed ten maps of this Training Ground 18!"
"Before you enter, you will draw lots. There is a chance that the lot will contain the location of one of those maps! Your mission is to find one of these maps within seven days, successfully use the map to find the exit, and walk out with the map!"
Yūhi Rō then gave a slight, mocking smile and added: "Let me state this clearly: only one map can validate and allow one squad to pass the second exam. Therefore, candidates should not entertain fantasies of ganging up and having multiple squads complete the mission together!"
"Alright, those are the rules. You now have a half-hour rest period. The second exam begins after that!"
The moment Yūhi Rō's voice faded, the sixty-nine ninja who had passed the first exam immediately burst into an uproar, debating amongst themselves. Some muttered curses about Konoha's harsh rules, while others quietly discussed their strategies. There were all kinds of reactions.
Jiraiya, who was gathered near Orochimaru, was about to ask him for a strategy but was stopped by the observant Tsunade.
Orochimaru's eyes were flickering, and he was clearly lost in thought.
If the first exam tested the candidates' will and disposition, the second exam was a comprehensive test of every aspect of a ninja's ability.
The drawing of lots tested luck, which is, after all, a component of a ninja's strength.
The mission condition of finding a map could be viewed as a test of intelligence gathering and acquisition. Methods could be diverse: finding information normally, violently intercepting a map from an enemy, setting traps, or ambushing other teams.
The mission condition of using the map to find the exit and leaving with it could be viewed as an intelligence escort test. Once the map was secured, safely finding the exit and leaving the training ground—this involved a great deal of strategy and potential trickery, and bloodshed and conflict were inevitable.
Yūhi Rō's final sentence, as interpreted by Orochimaru, subtly implied something else: he wasn't forbidding alliances, but discouraging them. This two-word difference in meaning was vast.
With twenty-three squads but only ten maps, at most ten squads—less than half the people—could pass the second exam, and that was assuming an ideal scenario. It was foreseeable that some would fail to find a map, or that some teams would acquire multiple maps.
Therefore, this necessitated that some weaker teams form alliances to consolidate strength and acquire a map. How to form and manage these alliances to ensure one's maximum benefit indirectly tested the candidates' strategic thinking and leadership abilities.
In summary, Orochimaru realized that this second exam, seemingly simple, was a comprehensive, difficult test of the candidates' survival skills, personal strength, intelligence gathering and escort capabilities, and strategic vision and leadership!
Once Orochimaru sorted everything out, he couldn't help but excitedly lick his lips and say with a smile: "This Chūnin Exam is getting more and more interesting!"
Tsunade and Jiraiya, who had been closely watching his state, felt relieved when they saw Orochimaru's excited expression. They knew that when Orochimaru showed this look, it meant he was becoming thrilled and serious.
In their memories, there was nothing that could stop Orochimaru; everything seemed to become simple in his hands.
Tsunade couldn't help but ask: "Orochimaru, what's our plan for the second exam?"
Orochimaru looked up and smiled proudly: "We have seven days. As long as we plan carefully, this exam won't be difficult."
"However, the candidates from the other Great Nations are a bit troublesome. Of course, that's what makes it interesting!" Orochimaru repeated with great interest. His dark-golden snake eyes swept over the scattering groups of ninja candidates from various nations around the exam site. He released an unconcealed streak of cold, chilling killing intent, intimidating the petty criminals and issuing a silent challenge to the ninja of the Great Nations.
Yūhi Rō and the Konoha proctoring ninja keenly sensed the killing intent released by Orochimaru. They were all momentarily stunned and smiled wryly. Orochimaru's action had undoubtedly pushed everyone except Konoha to the opposite side. While Yūhi Rō's group was somewhat perplexed by Orochimaru's reasoning, they were undoubtedly curious about the methods of this increasingly famous Konoha genius.
Sensing Orochimaru's blatant killing intent and aura, every candidate was a genius in their respective country and naturally possessed great pride. They all turned their eyes to him.
Upon seeing Orochimaru, their expressions were suddenly varied and complex: curiosity, disdain, surprise, and more.
It must be said that ever since the Land of Rivers mission, Orochimaru's fame had been spread by Hanzō the Salamander, the newly promoted Kage-level legendary figure, who labeled Orochimaru the "Greatest Young Genius in the Ninja World."
This title undoubtedly propelled Orochimaru to the forefront of the Ninja World's younger generation. While his reputation soared within Konoha Village, there were many elite ninja from other nations who were unconvinced and eager to make Orochimaru look bad during this Chūnin Exam.
Thus, when they suddenly realized Orochimaru was actively challenging them, their individual expressions were truly spectacular.
Orochimaru took in all their stares. The bloodlust in his dark-golden eyes intensified. Indeed, when it's almost time to kill, I can't help but get excited!
Hanzō the Salamander gifted me a fine title. Since he did that, I will not hesitate to use blood and lives to forge my fame as the Snake Clan's 'Greatest Genius'!
The others, of course, were unaware of Orochimaru's thoughts. Seeing his aura intensify, some weaker ninja retreated, but more candidates released their own auras and fearlessly confronted Orochimaru.
For a time, the atmosphere outside Training Ground 18 was tense and volatile, thick with the smell of gunpowder.
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