Forest of Death, Entrance No. 23.
The loud sound of the iron gate closing still echoed in the air when three Genin wearing Otogakure's forehead protectors shot into the dense forest like arrows released from a bowstring.
The leader was tall and thin, his sedge hat pulled down low, revealing only the slightly pale lower half of his face.
It was Orochimaru, disguised as a Genin!
After traveling only a few hundred meters, he suddenly stopped and raised his hand in a signal.
The two Otogakure's Ninja behind him… one wearing a gas mask, the other with a scar on his face, also immediately halted, looking around alertly.
"We'll split up here." Orochimaru's voice was hoarse and cold, devoid of any emotion.
"You two proceed as planned and go test out that Kirigakure brat named Hozuki Suigetsu."
"Shikuro!" The Otogakure's Ninja wearing the gas mask spoke with obvious dissatisfaction.
"We just got in and you want to split up already? Orochimaru-sama's mission is important. If something goes wrong while you're alone, we can't afford the consequences!"
The other Otogakure's Ninja also rumbled in agreement: "Exactly! We don't know why Orochimaru-sama values you so highly, but the mission comes first! Don't forget, besides us, the team with Dosu and his group is also carrying out a mission, targeting the Kirigakure's genius as well!"
"We have to complete our mission before they do, to prove ourselves in front of Orochimaru-sama!"
These two were just ordinary Genin of Otogakure, completely unaware that the 'Shikuro' before them was the very Orochimaru they revered like a god.
They had only received orders: during this Chunin Exams, they were to follow 'Shikuro's' commands and focus on observing and testing Suigetsu.
As for why Orochimaru was so interested in a Kirigakure's Genin, their hearts were full of doubt and dissatisfaction.
Orochimaru slowly turned his head. In the shadows beneath his sedge hat, a pair of cold-blooded, vertical slit pupils suddenly opened, their icy killing intent instantly piercing into the very bones of the two Genin.
"!!!"
Their bodies shook violently, as if plunged into an ice cave. Their blood seemed to freeze in an instant, leaving them frozen in place, unable to move so much as a finger.
They opened their mouths wide but could not make a sound, only staring in terror at those inhuman eyes.
Orochimaru gently adjusted the edge of his sedge hat, and the killing intent receded like an ebbing tide.
"I know what I'm doing," He said flatly. Then, his body swayed and vanished from the spot.
Several seconds passed before the two Otogakure's Ninja finally gasped for air, cold sweat soaking the clothes on their backs, their legs weak, barely able to stand.
"Wh-What was that—"
"D-Don't ask!"
The other interrupted him, still shaken, wiping cold sweat from his brow.
"Do as he says! That guy… is definitely not ordinary! We'll just go test Hozuki Suigetsu and nothing else… don't go prying!"
The two exchanged glances, both seeing terror and lingering fear in the other's eyes. They dared not raise any further objections, adjusted their direction, and raced toward the area where intelligence indicated Suigetsu's team might be active.
…
At the same time, at the other end of the forest.
Menma, Naruto, and Hinata quickly darted among the branches of towering ancient trees, moving as lightly as monkeys, minimizing the sound of their landings and their Chakra fluctuations.
The dense canopy blocked most of the sunlight. The forest was dim, the air humid and hot. Amidst the fragrance of plants, faint traces of blood and the smell of decay mingled.
"Listen up, Naruto!" Menma spoke quietly to Naruto beside him while maintaining high-speed movement.
"This isn't a drill. It's a real combat assessment. Inside this forest, besides the examinees, there are countless dangerous creatures and natural traps. Put away your loud, obnoxious habits. Stay alert at all times, sense your surroundings, and try not to make unnecessary noise."
Naruto, for once, did not argue. His blue eyes were filled with seriousness. He nodded firmly: "Don't worry, Menma-nii! I know what's at stake!"
Having experienced the mission in the Land of Waves, he had indeed matured quite a bit. Although his personality was still somewhat bouncing and restless, he understood the importance of staying concealed in a specific environment.
Hinata kept close on Menma's other side, her Byakugan constantly active, the veins around her eyes slightly bulging. Her 360-degree, no-blind-spot vision and x-ray ability made her the team's most reliable 'radar'.
She reported quietly: "There's a large feline predator's nest five hundred meters away in the one o'clock direction. Let's go around it. There are traces of a swamp in the ten o'clock direction. I suggest turning right."
Menma nodded.
With the smooth coordination of the three, they avoided several obvious danger zones and quickly advanced toward the central tower.
According to Menma's plan, they would first reach the relatively safe area near the tower, then 'wait by the stump' for teams arriving later and take the needed Heaven Scroll from them. That would maximally avoid unnecessary attritional battles with other teams along the way.
His Mind's Eye of Kagura had also been quietly deployed, like an invisible net, easily covering the entire twenty-kilometer circumference of the Forest of Death.
Sixteen teams, forty-eight sources of Chakra, were as clearly visible as candles in the night.
Some were moving quickly, some were lurking motionless, and some had already begun fighting.
He could feel the ripples generated by those Chakra clashes, spreading out like ripples on water.
Soon, they reached a relatively open area beside a forest stream.
"Stop." Menma raised his hand to signal the two to be quiet.
"Pause here to rest and gather information."
Naruto immediately crouched down, watching his surroundings vigilantly.
Hinata leaned against a tree trunk, her Byakugan still active, continuing to scout.
Menma closed his eyes, his Mind's Eye of Kagura fully deployed.
Sixteen Chakra markers were clearly outlined in his mind.
He quickly analyzed the situation: more and more teams had already engaged in combat... the Chakra Fluctuations were very intense. Three teams were moving rapidly toward the central tower, apparently intending to wait there for easy pickings. Several other teams were lurking in place, likely setting up ambushes.
As for themselves—
Menma touched the ninja tool pouch at his waist, where the Earth scroll was stored.
"Our scroll is 'Earth'," He said quietly, opening his eyes. "According to the rules, we need a 'Heaven' scroll to pass. Either we take the initiative to attack and seize one, or… we wait by the stump."
Naruto's eyes lit up: "Menma-nii, you're saying we go directly near the tower and wait for a team with a Heaven scroll to come to us?"
"You're showing a bit of cleverness this time." Menma smiled and nodded. "That's the most efficient method."
"There's no need for us to waste time fighting other teams in the forest. Five days is a long time. The further along we go, the stronger the remaining teams will be, and the more brutal the fights will become. If we collect the scrolls early, we can enter the tower ahead of time and avoid most of the conflicts."
"But—" Hinata said with some concern, "Other teams will think of this too, won't they? There might already be people lying in ambush near the tower."
"So we need to be careful," Menma said. "And besides, we have an advantage."
He pointed to Hinata's eyes.
The combination of the Byakugan and the Mind's Eye of Kagura was like having two reconnaissance units, making them almost cheat-like in this forest environment.
They could detect enemies in advance, choose the safest routes, and even control information about the entire battlefield.
Naruto clenched his fist, his fighting spirit high: "Then that's settled! Let's head straight for the tower!"
"Wait." Menma suddenly frowned.
Almost simultaneously, Hinata also issued a warning: "Six o'clock direction! Chakra approaching quickly! Three people!"
Her voice had barely fallen when Naruto instinctively flicked his wrist and shot out a kunai.
Swish—
The kunai cut through the air, flying toward a bush on the right.
"Dammit! Since we've been spotted, we'll just have to attack!"
An exasperated voice rose from the bush.
Immediately after, three figures leaped out from within.
The leader was a young man wearing a beige tight-fitting suit and a Kusagakure's forehead protector, about fifteen or sixteen years old, with green paint smeared on his face.
His hands were rapidly forming hand seals as he shouted: "Cover me!"
The other two charged out, one left and one right.
They both wore sedge hats and black cloaks, their faces difficult to make out, but their movements were swift. They wielded a kunai and a special Ninja sickle, clearly close-combat Taijutsu types.
One lunged at Naruto, the other at Hinata.
And the Kusagakure's Ninja in the beige suit had now completed his hand seals.
"Fire Release: Great Flame Flower Technique!"
He took a deep breath, his chest swelling, then suddenly exhaled.
A fiery red fireball, a full half meter in diameter, gushed from his mouth, carrying scorching heat and blinding light, rushing straight at Menma!
Where the fireball passed, the air twisted, and the fallen leaves on the ground instantly charred and curled.
The power of this attack already surpassed the level of an ordinary Genin.
Clearly, this Kusagakure's Ninja had considerable skill in Fire Release.
"Menma-nii!" Naruto shouted, wanting to rush over, but the Kusagakure's Ninja in front of him was already swinging his blade, forcing Naruto to retreat and block.
Hinata was also locked in a struggle on her side.
The Kusagakure's Ninja charging at her had quite sharp Taijutsu, each strike of his kunai aimed at a vital point.
Hinata immediately responded with Gentle Fist techniques, unable to break free for the moment.
As for Menma, watching the incoming fireball, his expression didn't change at all.
He didn't even form hand seals. He simply pulled a kunai from his ninja tool pouch and casually tossed it.
But this kunai had an explosive tag tied to its tail.
The kunai precisely shot toward the center of the fireball.
Boom!
The explosive tag detonated, reacting violently with the Chakra inside the fireball.
A brilliant burst of sparks exploded in midair, flames scattering in all directions, heat waves radiating outward.
The shockwave from the explosion shook the surrounding trees, causing them to rustle, and leaves fell like rain.
Yet in the midst of this explosive blaze, a second kunai silently passed through the gap in the flames.
The trajectory of that kunai was very tricky. Carried by the air currents of the explosion's shockwave, it changed direction, arcing in a strange curve toward the beige-suited Kusagakure's Ninja.
The Kusagakure's Ninja was still stunned that his Fire Release had been countered. When he saw the second kunai flying toward him, he instinctively leaped backward to dodge.
His reaction was quick, and his timing was good.
If that kunai had been flying in a straight line, he could have easily avoided it.
But the kunai was once again affected by the shockwave during flight, its trajectory slightly adjusted once more.
Schlick.
The kunai precisely pierced the Kusagakure's Ninja's left shoulder. The tremendous force carried his body backward, pinning him to the trunk of a large tree.
"Ke-argh!" The Kusagakure's Ninja coughed up a mouthful of blood, his face instantly turning pale.
He struggled to pull out the kunai, but even the slightest movement caused excruciating pain, leaving him helplessly hanging from the trunk.