'Is this test even meant for humans?!'
As Naruto scanned the exam paper in his hands, his expression rapidly shifted from smug confidence to troubled unease, then to utter blankness.
'I'm doomed! I'm doomed!'
'I can't answer a single question!'
Naruto could already picture Sakura's murderous glare when he brought back a zero, causing Team Seven's collective elimination.
'I'm going to die!'
'Sakura will definitely kill me!'
A shiver ran down Naruto's spine. He took a deep breath, calmed his racing heart, closed his eyes, clasped his hands together, and muttered to himself, "Stay calm, don't panic!"
"Teacher Chen once told me that the human body's potential is limitless. Awaken your inner potential, and you can achieve anything!"
When pushed to the brink, people are capable of anything—Naruto firmly believed this.
Like that time he punched through a fifty-meter-thick steel plate—that was proof of the human body's untapped potential!
'Naruto-kun, what are you doing?'
Hinata, seated beside him, stared in bewilderment at Naruto, who was pressing his palms together and chanting something that resembled a religious prayer.
"Yosh!"
Naruto reopened his eyes, his face radiating confidence as he stared at the exam paper with renewed resolve.
'...'
'Ahhhhhhh!'
'I still don't get it!'
Despair erupted in Naruto's heart, a silent scream tearing through his mind.
"Naruto-kun," Hinata whispered softly beside him, her voice barely audible. "You can look at my answers."
'Huh?'
Naruto froze, staring at Hinata, her cheeks flushed crimson and her expression strangely hesitant.
'Why would she do this? Is this some kind of trick? Hinata isn't usually like this, but maybe Kiba and the others put her up to it!'
'Yeah, that must be it!'
Seeing Hinata's flustered demeanor and stammering voice only confirmed Naruto's suspicions.
'Trying to use cheap tricks to get me eliminated, but feeling guilty about it?'
'Hmph, too bad I saw through your little scheme ages ago!'
Feeling smugly clever, Naruto declared with righteous indignation, "No need, Hinata! These simple questions are no match for me! I can handle them myself!"
"Oh... okay," Hinata replied, her face even redder, her voice barely louder than a mosquito's buzz.
'Can Naruto-kun really do this?' Hinata thought anxiously, glancing cautiously at Naruto's still-blank test paper.
'Naruto, you idiot!' Sakura fumed inwardly from her seat behind him. Seeing Naruto's vacant expression, she wanted nothing more than to punch him.
Sasuke, on the other hand, was no cause for concern. He had finished the test in under ten minutes, and Sasuke would surely be even faster.
After a moment's thought, Sakura discreetly formed a hand seal.
'What am I going to do?'
Naruto stared at his test paper in a panic. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his arm. Startled, he looked down to see a liquid doll, resembling a miniature Sakura, kicking him.
"Shh!"
The water doll glared at him, making a shushing gesture. Naruto immediately clamped his mouth shut.
Next, the water doll flowed into Naruto's pen, merging with it. The pen began writing on the test paper on its own. Naruto quickly gripped it lightly, pretending he was the one filling it out.
"Don't underestimate me! I'll never back down in the face of a challenge!"
The first written exam finally ended with Naruto's boastful declaration.
After the first exam concluded, the candidates were led by the imposing Mitarashi Anko.
Under the guidance of Mitarashi Anko, they arrived at the Forest of Death, located outside Konoha.
The forest was dense and verdant, its canopy thick with foliage, concealing a variety of wild beasts, venomous snakes, and treacherous traps.
By the time they arrived, evening was approaching, and only a faint afterglow lingered in the sky.
'Finally, I've found you, Sasuke-kun... Heh heh...'
Orochimaru, disguised as a low-ranking female ninja from Grass Village, licked his lips as he watched Sasuke's distant figure. His cold, calculating eyes burned with intense desire.
'You've finally come, Orochimaru!'
Sensing the dark, predatory gaze behind him—like a snake stalking its prey in the shadows—Sasuke's lips curved into a subtle smirk.
Orochimaru saw him as his prey, but Sasuke viewed him as his own prey as well.
Whether it was the First Hokage's cells in Orochimaru's possession, or his research into the Sharingan and various secret techniques, all were things Sasuke desperately needed.
'Kill him!'
'Claim all his research, resources, and intelligence as my own. Within these three years, I'll maximize my strength to the utmost!'
The thought of collaborating with Orochimaru had never crossed Sasuke's mind.
Although Orochimaru's departure would inevitably slow down some research, the man was like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows. Partnering with him meant risking a fatal bite one day, a betrayal.
For Sasuke, who craved absolute control over every situation, such risks were unacceptable. He refused to waste time and energy on manipulative games with this serpent.
Killing him outright and seizing everything he possessed was the most straightforward and effective option.
As the saying from his previous life went: "The only good bear is a dead bear."
For Sasuke, the only good Orochimaru was a dead Orochimaru!
'Not yet, though. I still need to play this charade with you for now.'
Sasuke intended to kill Orochimaru, but not yet. Orochimaru was currently at the peak of his power. While Sasuke's Mangekyō might allow him to defeat Orochimaru, he certainly couldn't kill him completely.
Moreover, killing him here would be a thankless task, merely eliminating a major threat for the Third Hokage and Danzo, who would then turn their wary eyes on Sasuke himself.
Sasuke realized his plan to assassinate Danzo soon would fall through. It would be better to let Orochimaru clash with the Third Hokage, just like in the original timeline.
When Orochimaru, gravely wounded and his soul shattered, could no longer resist seeking him out, Sasuke could kill him then.
Sasuke wouldn't mind playing along with Orochimaru's act. After all, ever since transmigrating, he had been acting the part, becoming quite skilled at the art.
He couldn't fight too fiercely, lest he provoke the venomous serpent's caution and fear. Just as Orochimaru had avoided Uchiha Itachi for years after being defeated by him.
If this old viper truly wanted to lie low, likely no one in the entire shinobi world could find him, which would thwart Sasuke's plans.
Nor could he fight too weakly; Sasuke had no desire for Orochimaru to leave any mark on him.
Just the right amount of force would suffice—enough to ignite the serpent's intense desire and curiosity.
'Who's the prey and who's the hunter? It remains to be seen.'
"Heh..."
Sensing the increasingly intense scrutiny behind him, Sasuke chuckled softly and led Sakura and Naruto into the Forest of Death.
___
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