n

n

nAfter a while of following Anko, everyone arrived at an ominous-looking forest. Anko turned around and started to speak to everyone with a smirk on her face.

n

"Welcome to the second stage of the chunin exams. This is training area 44, also known as the Forest of Death.

"

nAnko held up a piece of paper, as her smirk grew even wider.

n

"First, I want everyone to sign this form that the deaths in this exam weren't my responsibility and then I will start to explain the rules of the test.

"

nAlthough some people were rather reluctant to sign, in the end, every single one of them did.

nThen Anko started to explain the rules of the second test.

n

"Every team gets one of two scrolls and it is your goal to collect the one you don't have and reach the tower in the middle of the forest within five days while carrying both scrolls.

"

nAfter Anko finished explaining the rules, a smirk appeared on her face and she looked at Yuna.

n

"Well, Yuna, which one do you want? Heaven or Earth?

"

nYuna, however, only shrugged her shoulders.

n

"Heaven, of course.

"

nWithout saying another word, Anko tossed a Heaven scroll towards Yuna, which she caught casually and put it in her weapon pouch in front of every single contestant.

nThe people present, naturally, knew how much of a disadvantage it was for other people to know what kind of scroll you are carrying, and yet, only very few people got any funny ideas about Yuna. She has, after all, already demonstrated that she can easily handle a three-on-one situation.

nAfter everyone got their scrolls, they parted ways and went to different entrances into the Forest of Death. Every entrance had a Konoha shinobi standing in front of it so the second round could start simultaneously.

nUnsurprisingly the shinobi in front of Yuna's gate was Anko herself.

nWhen Anko saw Yuna, she wanted to tease her for what just happened, but after seeing the serious look on Yuna's face, she immediately stopped herself.

nThe moment the group had arrived at the Forest of Death, Yuna, immediately, realized that something had changed about one team from the Land of Grass. The chakra level of their leader went from low chunin to above jonin level. Additionally, that person started to smell similar to a snake. No, that was wrong. Kabuto smelled

"similar

" to a snake. This new person smells exactly like one.

nIf all of that wasn't enough yet, Yuna clearly felt the similarities between the grass shinobi in front of her and Anko's curse seal. Yuna didn't need to be a genius to figure out who that person was.

n'Has Orochimaru gone completely insane? Why the hell is he participating in the chunin exams?'

nAfter a few moments of pondering, however, it became rather obvious why he was here.

n'Two dojutsu and 3 three Jinchuuriki, huh. I wonder which one he is aiming for. I heard he is obsessed with learning jutsu, so I guess he wants to harvest a fresh pair of Sharingan.'

n

"Yuna, you're looking unusually serious. Is something wrong?

"

nSeeing a surprising amount of concern in Anko's eyes, Yuna couldn't help but chuckle a little.

n

"Well, Anko, I have some bad news for you and some good news.

"

n

"Oh? Then tell me what you got.

"

n

"The bad news is, that Orochimaru seems to be here and wants to interfere in the exams.

"

nAnko's eyes widened when she heard that and couldn't help but stare at Yuna completely dumbfounded.

n

"Are you sure?

"

n

"I would say about 90% sure.

"

nAnko kept quiet and started to ponder the situation. Yuna could see how her face was constantly changing through multiple emotions, ranging from hatred to terror.

n

"Don't you want to hear the good news, Anko?

"

nAnko was awakened out of her pondering and noticed that Yuna was giving her a confident smile. Her strained nerves, instantly, calmed down when she saw Yuna's smile that she had gotten rather used to over the last few months.

n'That's right, why bother worrying. Yuna has probably already figured something out to reverse the situation.'

nA smirk appeared on Anko's face.

n

"Hehe, of course, I want to. Tell me what you got.

"

nA battle-thirsty grin appeared on Yuna's face as her chakra started leaking out of her, creating an oppressive atmosphere.

n

"The good news is, that Orochimaru seems to be here and wants to interfere in the exams.

"

nAt first, Anko was completely dumbfounded, but as she started to understand what Yuna meant, her smile became more and more similar to Yuna's own.

n

"I see. to think I didn't even realize such an obvious solution. Haha, alright.

"

nAnko's smile twisted even further, almost splitting her face in half.

n

"Let's hunt a snake!

"

nNaruto and his team, meanwhile, were traveling through the Forest of Death, at a leisure pace. Well, it was a leisure pace for Naruto, at least.

nAfter a while of traveling, they took a short break so they could recover some stamina.

nNaruto, meanwhile, felt a little annoyed. There has been someone following them for quite a while now, but that person seems to be completely content with just following them around without doing anything.

n'He is probably waiting for an opportunity to attack, but I wonder why he is acting alone? Now that we are taking a break it would be a good moment to set up a trap for us, but he isn't moving at all... Whatever, I will just catch him and see what happens.'

nNaruto stood up and walked towards the forest. Before the other two could ask anything, Naruto gave his answer.

n

"Toilet.

"

nTwo minutes later, Naruto came back while carrying an unconscious youth with a gas mask on his face.

n

"Yo, I brought a present. He tried to ambush me while I was doing my business.

"

nSakura was about to say something when Sasuke blocked her path.

n

"How do we know it is the real you. Naruto might have been the one who got knocked out after all.

"

nNaruto pondered for a while and then chuckled a little.

n

"We had to walk some Inuzuka clan dogs as a D-rank mission. During the walk, you slipped and fell face-first into dog p...

"

n

"Okay, okay, it's the real you.

"

n'it's good that nee-san wasn't there when it happened. She might have died from laughing too hard'

n

"Err... Naruto-kun? Why is he wearing a gas mask?

"

n

"Hanzo cosplay.

"

nSakura and Sasuke both looked at Naruto like he just said something completely incomprehensible.

n

"Hanzo, you know? Hanzo the Salamander? Land of Rain's war hero and ruler? Gave the three sannin their title?

"

nWhen Naruto mentioned the three sannin, some comprehension appeared in the duo's eyes.

n'Seriously, as soon as Konoha is involved they know about it. `

n

"Anyway, let's see what this g...

"

nNaruto's eyes widened in surprise while his face became serious.

n

"Enemy approaching. Strong and fast. Prepare for combat.

"

nWhile saying that, Naruto took out a small paper tag and dropped a drop of his blood onto it before returning it into his pocket. This will alert Yuna, Hinata, and Anko that he needs support. He is rather unwilling to ask for help before he even is in danger, but considering the strength of the approaching enemy, it was necessary.

nMoments later, a slim woman with long black hair appeared.

n

"Kuku seems like I have found my prey.

"

n'Prey, huh? Guess she was actively looking for us. Is she after the Sharingan or Kurama? Now that I take a better look, isn't that a genin from the Land of Grass? I'm certain she wasn't this powerful when I saw her during the first exam. A henge? Guess I play dumb to win some time.

n

"Hehe, aren't you a genin from the Land of Grass? What do you want, Lady? We are kind of busy so how about we pretend that we didn't see each other and part ways?

"

n

"Your acting is pretty good, but unfortunately not enough against me. You found out my strength, right? You must be quite the sensor to see through me.

"

nNaruto clicked his tongue in annoyance.

n

"How about we give you our scroll and we part ways?

"

n

"OI, NARUTO!!! What are you doing!

"

n

"Shut up, Sasuke, I don't have time for your nonsense right now!

"

n

"Sacrificing something to the predator to get away, huh. Unfortunately for you, my only goal...

"

nThe woman's eyes wandered over the group and got stuck on Sasuke. She licked her lips with her ridiculously long tongue and moments later, everything around the women was doused in massive amounts of killing intent.

n

"... Is you, Sasuke.

"

n