The Chūnin Selection Exam continued with its second stage.
Of course, except for Team Seven.
Naruto and Sasuke had been exceptionally promoted to chūnin and no longer needed to take the exam. This wasn't merely Hiruzen Sarutobi's will—none of the other examinees objected to their exceptional promotion.
Anyone who had an opinion would be a fool. Taking an exam alongside such a monster? The stress would be unbearable!
As for the lucky girl named Haruno Sakura who'd also been promoted, well, it didn't matter. No one particularly cared about her inclusion.
Naruto departed with Hiruzen, the two talking and laughing along the way like harmonious grandfather and grandson. The old cherishing the young, the young respecting the old.
After the Third Hokage and Naruto left, Anko glanced at Danzo and his Root operatives who were still sanitizing the battlefield. By now, Orochimaru's remains had been completely collected and assembled.
Looking at Orochimaru's corpse with complicated emotions flickering across her face, Anko took a breath to steady herself. She turned to Sasuke and Sakura. "Uchiha Sasuke, Haruno Sakura—let me escort you out."
Sasuke and Sakura exchanged glances, nodded, then followed Anko toward the exit.
In a nearby tea room, Sarutobi Asuma, Kurenai Yuhi, and Kakashi were drinking tea together. The three served as jōnin instructors for the nine rookies who'd graduated this year. Naturally they sat together, hoping their students could pass this Chūnin Selection Exam successfully.
That way, they'd have bragging rights.
Asuma smoked a cigarette—the addiction was hereditary. Hiruzen Sarutobi was an old smoker, and Asuma proved no exception. He exhaled a smoke ring and addressed Kakashi and Kurenai. "I hope they can all be promoted to chūnin in this exam."
Kurenai nodded, smiling. "The three I'm instructing aren't pushovers, especially the Hyūga girl. She's the strongest of my three students."
While speaking, Kurenai couldn't help thinking of her team, particularly the eldest daughter of the Hyūga clan. She had a certain connection with Hiashi Hyūga—not a romantic one, of course. The Hyūga were a major clan. Now that the Uchiha had been annihilated, the Hyūga represented Konoha's largest remaining family.
Though even before the Uchiha massacre, the Hyūga had been among the village's most prestigious clans. After all, in the ninja world, they were a family defined by their eyes.
Sharingan versus Byakugan.
Both powerful dōjutsu bloodlines.
In Kurenai's memory, the Hyūga clan's eldest daughter had always been rather timid, never standing out or taking initiative.
Even her cultivation talent had seemed mediocre, frequently provoking Hiashi's temper.
But after the girl entered the Academy, Kurenai had discovered she'd changed dramatically.
Not so much changed as grown—and grown incredibly fast. No longer timid when facing difficulties, she now dared to challenge herself. Her talent had blossomed, the family's Gentle Fist becoming seamlessly integrated into her style.
Her remaining student, Inuzuka Kiba, came from a family that bonded with ninja beasts from childhood. His fighting strength should easily handle a minor Chūnin Selection Exam.
If Hinata had surprised Kurenai, then Shino Aburame had shocked her even more profoundly.
As far as she knew, the Aburame clan had always excelled at intelligence work—not just because they could control insects, but because this clan was naturally low-key. Thrown into a crowd, they became utterly ordinary, making people unconsciously overlook them.
This quality made them ideal for intelligence operations.
But Shino ran completely counter to every quality his clan traditionally valued. He wasn't low-key at all—if anything, he was too high-profile. He'd become the class clown, possessed the strongest presence, and made every joke land perfectly.
For someone like that, Kurenai suspected that in Shino's generation, the Aburame clan might drift away from intelligence work entirely.
Thinking along these lines, Kurenai looked toward Kakashi. Kakashi rarely spoke, always reading that book—Icha Icha Paradise. Sometimes Kurenai wanted to steal the novel just to see what content inside fascinated Kakashi so completely.
Looking at the absorbed Kakashi, Kurenai asked, "Kakashi, do you think your students can pass this Chūnin Exam?"
Hearing Kurenai's question, Kakashi finally raised his eyes from his book. He glanced at her and replied lightly, "I have confidence in them."
After speaking, Kakashi thought about his three students.
Naruto needed no explanation. With his ability to thoroughly defeat jōnin, how could he possibly fail a Chūnin Exam? Kakashi's fingers still ached from their bell test.
Sasuke was also incredibly strong.
Sometimes Kakashi wondered helplessly: Why did I get assigned two absolute monsters?! Thinking of the relatively ordinary Sakura, he breathed with relief. At least one student was normal.
Just then, commotion erupted outside.
Asuma walked to the window and glanced out. He spotted several ANBU operatives leaping toward the Forest of Death—which happened to be the second exam's testing ground, with Anko serving as chief examiner.
Turning back, Asuma addressed Kurenai and Kakashi. "It seems something happened in the Forest of Death."
Hearing his words, both Kakashi and Kurenai stood immediately, tension crossing their faces. After all, their students were all taking exams in that forest.
"Let's go check it out." The moment Kurenai finished speaking, she noticed Kakashi had already vanished. He'd jumped through the window, flying directly toward the Forest of Death.
Asuma and Kurenai exchanged glances, then followed after Kakashi's rapidly disappearing form.
Whistling wind moved against Kakashi's face. He looked toward the Forest of Death but couldn't see anything unusual. The forest appeared eerily quiet.
Though he felt certain that with Naruto's and Sasuke's strength, there shouldn't be any problems, Kakashi still needed to rush there immediately. Only after confirming Team Seven's safety could he relax.
By the time they arrived, Naruto had already left with Hiruzen for the Hokage building. Kakashi missed him perfectly.
"There!"
The Forest of Death's entrance appeared ahead. From a distance, Kakashi spotted Anko escorting Sasuke and Sakura out of the examination area. Anko's expression was extremely serious.
Sasuke and Sakura both wore blank faces.
Asuma and Kurenai glanced at each other, both thinking the same thing: The exam isn't over yet. Why has Anko brought two of Kakashi's students out? And where's the blonde kid?
Could they have been eliminated early? Considering this possibility, Asuma tried to comfort Kakashi. "Don't worry. If they didn't pass the Chūnin Exam this year, they can try again next year."
Kakashi ignored Asuma entirely, heading straight for Sasuke and Sakura.
"Kakashi-sensei." Seeing their instructor's arrival, both immediately greeted him.
"Since your sensei's here, I'll return to monitoring the exam." Anko glanced at Kakashi, then addressed Sasuke and Sakura.
After speaking, she vanished back toward the forest. With the Orochimaru incident, she needed to pay far closer attention to the examination proceedings. Something like that could never happen a second time.
Otherwise, severe punishment awaited.
"Why did you come out? Where's Naruto?" Kakashi looked between Sasuke and Sakura.
"Did something happen inside?" Kurenai stepped forward to ask.
Sakura glanced at Kurenai. "Orochimaru infiltrated the Forest of Death..."
Orochimaru!
Hearing that name, both Asuma and Kurenai froze in shock.
Kakashi's reaction was even more extreme. He stepped forward, grasping Sakura's wrist, his voice trembling. "Where's Naruto? Tell me—where is Naruto?!"
Kakashi knew Orochimaru well. Once one of the Legendary Sannin, an outstanding disciple of Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, he'd later been discovered conducting human experiments on Konoha ninja. Caught by Hiruzen, he'd managed to escape.
Later reports indicated he'd achieved strength rivaling the various Kage throughout hidden villages.
Kakashi believed in Naruto's power, but against a veteran Kage-level ninja like Orochimaru? He couldn't be certain. After all, Naruto had only demonstrated strength sufficient to defeat jōnin in Kakashi's presence.
Hearing that Orochimaru had appeared in the Forest of Death, and seeing only Sasuke and Sakura emerge, remembering Anko's grim expression—Kakashi couldn't suppress his panic.
"Ow! Kakashi-sensei, you're hurting me!" Sakura yelped.
Kakashi suddenly realized he'd lost his composure. He immediately released Sakura's wrist.
Sakura examined the five red fingerprints marking her skin, looking at her sensei with mild exasperation. Someone usually so composed and detached is this panicked today?
"Kakashi-sensei, don't worry. Naruto left with the Third Hokage."
Hearing Naruto was safe, Kakashi's heart finally settled. He looked at Sakura questioningly. "Then why are you out of the exam area now? The test isn't over yet."
Asuma and Kurenai also watched Sakura with curiosity.
Sakura grinned. "Because we don't need to take the exam anymore. The Third Hokage appeared and made an exception—he promoted me, Naruto, and Sasuke directly to chūnin."
Her smile widened. "Now we're all chūnin, Kakashi-sensei!"
"What?! Exceptional promotion to chūnin? Why?" Asuma suddenly shouted. This wasn't wartime. Exceptional promotions to chūnin simply didn't happen during peacetime.
"Because Naruto killed Orochimaru. The Third Hokage allowed us all to be promoted to chūnin as a result." Sakura stated this as simple fact.
"Naruto killed Orochimaru?"
Hearing this explosive revelation, all three stood shocked. But Kakashi recovered first. Given Naruto's strength, killing Orochimaru didn't seem entirely impossible.
That guy seems to have been hiding his true capabilities all along.
Kakashi had always assumed Naruto operated on the third level of strength. Apparently Naruto existed on the fifth level. His student remained completely inscrutable.
Asuma and Kurenai were the most shocked. They couldn't believe that Kakashi's student—a ninja who'd only graduated from the Academy two months ago—had actually killed the infamous Orochimaru.
It was genuinely incredible! But this matter was too significant to be fabricated. Sakura had no reason to lie about something so easily verified. Therefore, what she said must be truth. Naruto had genuinely killed Orochimaru.
Both Asuma and Kurenai felt dizzy, stunned by the news, unable to formulate coherent responses.
Sasuke glanced at the adults briefly. Only he knew that Orochimaru wasn't actually dead. But he wouldn't say anything here. He'd tell Naruto privately later.
After calming down, Kakashi addressed Sakura. "Please explain everything that happened."
Sakura nodded and began. "The second exam took place in the Forest of Death. When we were gathering, examiner Anko suddenly threw a kunai at Naruto for some reason. Naruto dodged it easily. Then—I don't know what happened—both Anko and that female ninja from Kusagakure suddenly sat on rocks, crossed their legs, and couldn't move..."
Kakashi frowned, interrupting helplessly. "Sakura, start from when you encountered Orochimaru."
Sakura stopped, glancing at Kakashi with displeasure. "Kakashi-sensei, you were the one who asked me to explain from the beginning. Now you're complaining?"
"Then continue."
Seeing Kakashi finally yield, Sakura smiled. "This exam was a battle for scrolls. As long as you obtained both Heaven and Earth scrolls and reached the central tower within five days, you'd pass the second round. So we went to steal a scroll."
"Sasuke found a target team using Flying Thunder God, so we went there. The targets were three people from Otogakure. I fought first." Her expression dimmed slightly. "I lost."
"Afterward, Naruto made his move directly. Kakashi-sensei, you know Naruto's strength. When Naruto acts, you know immediately if someone has a chance. We got the scroll right away."
"Next we found a place to rest."
"That's when Orochimaru found us. Turns out that female Kusagakure ninja was his disguise. He invited both Naruto and Sasuke to join his organization."
"But how could Sasuke and Naruto agree? When they refused, we had to fight. First Sasuke battled Orochimaru." Sakura's eyes lit up with admiration. "Sasuke-kun's strength is undeniably powerful. He and Orochimaru fought for over three hundred exchanges, completely evenly matched."
Hearing that Sasuke had matched Orochimaru, Asuma and Kurenai exchanged glances, then looked at Kakashi with naked jealousy and envy. Why is Kakashi so lucky? His students are such monsters!
"Sasuke-kun couldn't finish Orochimaru quickly, so Naruto took over and let Sasuke rest. Later, Orochimaru was killed by Naruto."
She gestured toward the forest. "Right now Orochimaru's body is being collected by Root."
After Sakura finished, she looked at Sasuke with an expression that asked: Anything to add?
Sasuke shook his head.
On the other side of the village, Naruto followed Hiruzen to the Hokage building, specifically to Hiruzen's office.
Hiruzen prepared tea personally, pouring a cup for Naruto. He smiled warmly. "Naruto, Grandpa can hardly believe you've become so powerful so suddenly."
He sighed wistfully. "Time flies so fast. Five years have passed in the blink of an eye."
Naruto nodded seriously. "I promised you, Grandpa Third. I said I'd definitely become strong."
Hiruzen looked at Naruto's earnest expression, his face showing profound relief. Then, as if asking casually, "Naruto, do you know about that?"
Naruto nodded with grave seriousness. His voice was solemn:
"My mother told me to smash your head off."
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "..."
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