[Author-Notes: I'm kind of underwhelmed by how I've written this chapter.]

May 9th 2002:

Shadows stretched across each isolated section in the Forest-Of-Death. Numerous animals of various species and sizes patrolled their territories. Grey clouds blanketed the ominous sky.

Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Ryomen Sukuna had reached the central tower located in the middle of the Forest-Of-Death. Kabuto Yakushi had left them behind once he had found his two teammates.

Stepping into the room they had been instructed to enter, the members of team seven spotted some kind of message attached to the wall. Sasuke had deduced they were meant to open their scrolls.

Sukuna had zoned out from that point on. The scrolls had been opened, Iruka Umino had been summoned, and they were taken to the area where the other applicants for the exams were stationed.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood in front of the crowd of individuals who had passed the second portion of the Chunin-Exams, a pipe in his mouth. Numerous Leaf-Shinobi were positioned either behind or next to him.

"Looks like more people passed than they expected." Sukuna had his arms crossed in boredom. "I'm pretty tired after all of that stupid crap."

The Third-Hokage had gone on a long spiel about the true meaning and purpose behind the Chunin-Exams. However, Sukuna had ignored his speech until it became time for the third portion of the test.

Rather than Hiruzen himself, a man named Hayate Gekko took it upon himself to explain the preliminaries of the Chunin-Exams. According to him, more applicants had passed the second stage than they expected.

"So we'll be fighting each other." Sukuna snorted to himself. "I wouldn't mind fighting Neji or Lee. Naruto or Sasuke would also be fun to fight."

Snapping out of his thoughts, Sukuna heard Hayate speak. "Of course, if you aren't up for these preliminaries, you can quit now."

Sukuna glanced at Kabuto—who had raised his hand and spoken. "If it's allowed, proctor, then I would like to drop out of the preliminaries."

"Huh?!" Naruto shouted at the bespectacled Genin. "Kabuto, are you serious?! Why the heck are you dropping out so late into the exam?!"

"I'm sorry, Naruto." Kabuto scratched the back of his head. "I just don't have the energy to fight on anymore. I have faith that you'll do good."

"What a waste." Sasuke shook his head. "Kabuto has pretty good medical skills — I guess that doesn't translate into combat skills."

Sasuke touched the mark on his neck. "Sukuna said that this mark gave me a massive boost in strength. Is it possible to control it?"

Checking the clip-board in his hand, Hayate coughed. "You're Kabuto Yakushi of Konoha, right? Yes, like I told all of you, you can drop out."

Kabuto walked out of his space in the crowd of Chunin-Exams participants, nodded at his teammates, waved at team seven, and smirked a little after he noticed Sasuke shaking in pain from the mark.

"Shit, you okay?" Naruto nudged Sasuke on the shoulder. "Is the mark that freaky bastard gave you really that bad? Or are you just scared?"

Unamused by his blond-haired friend's joke, Sasuke responded. "I'll be fine. I want to see how strong I've gotten since becoming a Ninja."

"There are so many powerful people here." Sasuke clenched his fist. "I have to battle the best of the best to prove to myself that I'm strong."

Cutting into their chatter, Sukuna smirked. "Self-affirmation, huh? I guess that's one of the most important things about being a Shinobi."

"Yeah." Sasuke nodded at his teammate. "Sukuna and Naruto. If I had to be honest, you two are also included in the people I want to fight."

"Heh." Naruto grinned, planting his knuckles into his open palm. "Same here. If I have to fight either of you morons, I'll pulverize you!"

"Calm down." Sukuna rolled all four of his crimson eyes in amusement. "I don't care who I fight as long as they're powerful."

Hayate shouted out, interrupting all conversation. "Now then! We'll begin the preliminaries of the Chunin-Exams! I hope you're ready!"

"The victors of each match will move on to the third stage." Hayate declared. "This is no-holds-barred combat. Understand this now."

Index finger lifted, he said. "You will fight until either yourself or your opponent is dead or unconscious or admits defeat. However…"

"We don't want too much bloodshed." He announced. "Don't count on it—but there may be circumstances where we step in to end the fight."

"How dull." Sukuna thought to himself. "If I remember right from my past life, didn't some of the Jonin step in to save Hinata from Neji?"

Hayate pointed at the electronic score-board on the wall. "Make sure to focus on this screen—it'll say the name of the ones fighting first."

"Sasuke Uchiha versus Yoroi Akado?" Sukuna blinked at the two names that had been presented on the screen. "This should be easy for him."

"Will everyone please follow the stairs to the upper-platform?" Hayate asked them. "The match will then begin. I hope you two are prepared."

Once everyone had made it to the upper platform, Hayate chopped his hand downwards to signal the start of the match. Sukuna leaned on the guardrail in front of him, interested in the outcome of this battle.

Kakashi Hatake had approached his red-eyed student. "So, Sukuna. How did you find the first and second stages of the Chunin-Exams?"

A dull four-eyed glance was Sukuna's response. "It was boring to say the least. I'm guessing you already know about Sasuke's mark?"

"Yep." Kakashi told Sukuna, voice nonchalant and care-free. "Don't worry about any of that, though. I have everything under control."

Patting Sukuna's shoulder, Kakashi said. "Just sit back and enjoy these matches. I have no doubt that you'll also win your own match."

Kakashi walked away from Sukuna to talk to Naruto afterwards. Posture languid and slouched, Sukuna directed his gaze down to the arena—where Sasuke and his opponent stood from each other.

Despite Hayate signalling the start of this match, neither of them had made the first move. Mere moments later, Sasuke tensed his muscles, ignored the pain from the Curse-Mark, and lunged forward in a blur.

Yoroi Akado adjusted the sun-glasses on his face, smirked behind his mask of sorts, and waited for Sasuke to approach him. Appearing behind him, Sasuke lashed his arm outwards to backhand his head.

Having pivoted around on the heel of his foot, Yoroi grabbed Sasuke's wrist and absorbed his chakra from his chakra-system. Teeth gritted in realization, Sasuke grunted. "So he has the ability to drain chakra?"

Not willing to lose more of his energy, Sasuke bashed his head into Yoroi's nose and pushed him backwards. Letting go of Sasuke's wrist, he rubbed his nose before a foot was slammed into his abdomen.

Pain pulsed across Sasuke's muscles because of the Curse-Mark — but he ignored it and walked towards Yoroi. Even without any chakra enhancement, Sasuke's physical strength and speed were incredible.

Sukuna had been the reason why Sasuke focused on honing his physical prowess so much. Back in their academy days, Sukuna had been the one who had the most physical power among their class.

Fuelled by his determination to grow stronger, Sasuke had dedicated an enormous amount of time into developing his physical power. Yoroi coughed out some blood, clutching his stomach and clicking his teeth.

Yoroi sucked in a deep breath. "I underestimated you, Sasuke Uchiha. And, to think, he hasn't even used the Sharingan once in our battle…"

In a flash of vicious movement, Sasuke shouldered Yoroi and kicked his abdomen a second time. No longer interested in prolonging their battle, he grabbed Yoroi's head and drove his knee into it two times.

Sasuke dropped Yoroi's unconscious body while Hayate announced. "The winner of the first match of the preliminaries is Sasuke Uchiha."

Unbeknownst to everyone in the room, Orochimaru had disguised himself as a typical Shinobi to view these preliminaries. A small smile graced his features. "The blood of the Uchiha-Clan truly is fearsome."

Orochimaru looked at Sukuna for a brief second. "I do wonder what other strange abilities Ryomen Sukuna will present to all of us here."

"And Naruto Uzumaki." He suppressed his desire to chuckle. "I'm curious of how the Synchronization-Seal shall help his power grow."

Sukuna watched Kakashi take Sasuke away from the arena. "Oh? I guess Kakashi must be doing something to seal off the Curse-Mark."

Naruto stared at the screen on the wall. "Come on! Come on! I swear I better be the one who gets picked next! I'm itching to fight someone!"

Much to Naruto's obvious disappointment, the next match was between Shino Aburame and Zaku Abumi. Since Sukuna had used Cleave on Zaku's arm in their earlier battle, it was bandaged up.

"Heh." Sukuna smirked at the bandage on Zaku's arm. "That will take a long time to heal from. Cleave adjusted to his arm's durability itself."

(-)

Kakashi had exposed Sasuke to the Evil-Sealing-Method to seal off the Curse-Mark painted onto the back of his neck. Sasuke had clenched his teeth, feeling strained, pained, and exhausted at once.

"Remember, Sasuke." Kakashi spoke in the silence of the secluded room they were in. "The suppression of the mark depends on you."

Slumping down onto the cold surface of the isolated room, Sasuke fell unconscious. Kakashi was about to pick him up to get checked by Medical-Shinobi—but then stopped at the sound of amused footfalls.

"I see you've become quite the Shinobi." A light-hearted voice hissed out. "It has been a while since our last encounter, Kakashi Hatake."

Somewhat surprised and stunned, Kakashi turned around and faced the source of the voice. "Orochimaru? So you've come in person."

Hands clasped behind his back, Orochimaru just smiled. "Pardon me, Kakashi. I have no interest in you, only the Sharingan of the Uchiha."

"That's why you're after Sasuke?" Kakashi's gaze had turned serious. "I should have expected nothing less from you of all people, huh…?"

"Indeed." Orochimaru's smile grew into an amused one. "The blood of a Uchiha is so hard to find nowadays since that dreadful massacre."

"I'm also interested in the power of the nine-tails' Jinchuriki." He chuckled. "Even Ryomen Sukuna has some intriguing capabilities."

"After our encounter in the Forest-Of-Death, I dug up some intel about him." Orochimaru hummed. "Mutated chakra, was it? How curious."

Hand readied to lift up his head-band, Kakashi asked him. "What do you want from Naruto and Sukuna, then? What could they offer you?"

"Calm yourself, Kakashi." Orochimaru dismissed him. "I'll leave those two alone. Though, I do hope to see the Jinchuriki use his true power."

"And Ryomen Sukuna?" Orochimaru shrugged. "I've decided to let him live for now. I want to see what abilities his mutated chakra gives him."

"You act like you'll leave here alive." Kakashi had lifted his head-band. "I don't care if you are one of the legendary Sannin. I will kill you."

Amused, Orochimaru let out some of his bloodlust. "I acknowledge your strength, Kakashi. But, please, do not try and flatter yourself."

Kakashi froze in place for a minute. Orochimaru turned around, left the room, and thought to himself. "I cannot wait to see how this all ends."

(-)

Zaku had lost to Shino—who had used his bugs to blow up his arms. Kakashi had reappeared behind his students, told them that Sasuke was at the infirmary to recover, and joined them in their observations.

Many more matches passed in either a draw, one-sided victory, or a one-sided defeat. However, the fights of the next match that had been decided piqued Sukuna's interest—Kiba Inuzuka VS Naruto Uzumaki.

"This is how it was in the manga if I remember right." Sukuna scratched his chin. "But I'm confident Naruto will demolish Kiba."

Shikamaru Nara snorted at the names on the screen. "Naruto's average at best. I doubt he stands any real chance against Kiba."

Ino Yamanaka rubbed the bruises on her face. "Naruto versus Kiba? Naruto's not weak, yeah, but Kiba's stronger than him by a mile!"

Once he had reached the middle of the arena, Kiba told his dog. "We lucked out, Akamaru! There's no chance that this loser could beat us!"

Akamaru just barked in agreement. Kiba smirked at his opponent. "Hell, you can sit this one out — Akamaru. I can beat him alone!"

"Heh." Naruto tilted his head, somehow maintaining his composure. "That makes this crap easier for me, you mutt-obsessed numbskull."

From the upper platform, Kurenai Yuhi thought. "Naruto Uzumaki? I've heard that he was a trouble-maker back in his days at the academy."

"He used to be dead-last — but improved in his second year." Kurenai shook her head. "Even then, he won't be much trouble for Kiba."

Hayate chopped his hand downwards and ordered them to start the match. Kiba dropped himself down to one knee and cast a hand-sign. "Ninja-Art-Of-Beast-Mimicry: All-Fours Jutsu!"

Kiba's general appearance changed. His eyes had turned into slits. His nails had extended into claws. His teeth had lengthened out. Naruto kept his head tilted, blue eyes waiting for Kiba's next move.

In the blink of an eye, Kiba travelled towards Naruto on all fours like a dog to tackle him to the ground. Naruto joined his hands together into a hand-seal before multiple droplets of air around them exploded.

"Wind-Style: Droplet-Burst!" Naruto smirked, then blurred forward. "I'll have to end this fast so I can prove to this bastard that I'm stronger!"

Face bruised from the impact of Naruto's technique, Kiba bared his fang-like teeth at him and vanished in a burst of agility. Naruto and Kiba met in the middle of the arena, exchanging a number of blows.

Despite what Kiba had told him, Akamaru decided to enter the fray. Naruto backed away from Kiba and summoned a Wind-Clone—who roundhouse kicked Akamaru into a wall and then dispersed itself.

"Akamaru!" Kiba rushed towards his dog, some kind of military pills in his hand to feed himself and his pet. "Damn it! I underestimated him!"

Naruto appeared in between them, unleashing a Wind-Style: Gale-Palm onto Kiba's stomach and propelled him backwards. Dropping his military pills, Kiba collapsed to his knees in annoyance.

Compared to Sasuke and Sukuna, Kiba was much weaker. Naruto cast a few hand-signs, puffing out his chest and shooting three orbs of condensed air into his opponent. Kiba crashed into the arena's wall.

"I'll call the match here!" Hayate yelled out to them. "Kiba Inuzuka is down for the count! I declare that the winner of this match is Naruto!"

Naruto stuck his tongue out at Kiba, taunting him. "I win! Where's all that stupid gloating now, you numbskull?! I really am the best, huh!"

Kiba was taken away on a stretcher by two Medical-Shinobi. Naruto returned to the upper platform, approached his team, and elbowed Sukuna's shoulder. "That was a fast fight! I pulverized the bastard!"

"Yeah." Sukuna smirked at his blond-haired friend. "Your Ninjutsu reportare has gotten better and your general Taijutsu has improved."

"Good job, Naruto." Kakashi told his student. "I'm glad you listened to my advice during our training and didn't let your emotions hinder you."

Shikamaru just blinked in surprise. "I misjudged his strength. I guess Naruto really is tougher than he looks. He managed to beat Kiba."

"Good for him." Ino had folded her arms in acknowledgement. "But that doesn't mean he's the strongest out of us—that's Sasuke's title!"

Asuma Sarutobi hummed. "Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha won their matches pretty fast. I wonder how well his last student will do."

Sukuna refocused on the screen on the wall like everyone else. "The next match will be Neji Hyuga versus Hinata Hyuga, huh? How boring."

(-)

To sum up how the match went, it was an absolute disaster. Neji had humiliated Hinata, outperforming her in Taijutsu and how they utilized the Byakugan. Kakashi, Kurenai, Gai, and Hayate had to stop him.

Sukuna's four eyes glowed crimson. "My past life's memories were right. They did step in to save Hinata from Neji, like in the manga."

"Enough, Neji!" Gai held his student in a head-lock. "You promised beforehand you wouldn't drag family grudges into this match!"

Mouth twisted in disdain, Neji said. "Unlike the other matches, Jonin are stepping in. Special treatment for the main branch family, eh?"

Having slouched to her knees, Hinata struggled to move and coughed out multiple streams of blood from her mouth. Concerned for her, Naruto and Rock-Lee descended upon the arena. "Hinata, are you alright?!"

Sukuna followed after his teammate and landed on the surface of the arena. "I wouldn't be surprised if Naruto tried to fight Neji right here."

All of a sudden, Hinata's coughing worsened. Kurenai gasped. "She's going into ventricular fibrillation! Neji really intended to murder her…"

The medical team rushed over, placed her on a stretcher, and took her into the infirmary for immediate healing. Naruto clenched his teeth, prepared to tackle Neji until Sukuna stopped him. "Calm down."

"What do you mean — 'calm down'?!" Naruto rounded on his friend. "Didn't you see how he trampled on her hopes and dreams like that!"

"I did." Sukuna released Naruto's shoulder. "It'll be pointless for you to create a commotion here. Just hope you'll fight him in the third stage."

Naruto grunted at his friend—but walked back to the stairs. Lee patted Sukuna on the shoulder as they all returned to the upper platform. In a hurricane of sand, Gaara appeared next to Naruto to speak to him.

Annoyed enough, Naruto glared at the crimson-haired boy. "What the hell do you want, you creep? I ain't in the mood for your cryptic crap."

"Remember what I said, Naruto Uzumaki." Gaara's eyes were emotionless. "My mother craves your blood — you are the ninth one."

Naruto's blue eyes flashed red in pure rage. "This feeling again! Just like when we met before the exams. He makes me feel so pissed off."

Gaara soon disappeared and reappeared beside his team. Sukuna, who had been behind Naruto, had listened to their brief discussion. Curiosity bubbled in his mind. "What the hell was all of that about?"

Hayate got everyone's attention. "Please quiet down, everyone! And look at the score-board! It's time for the next fighters to be selected!"

Everybody waited in intense anticipation. Kakashi smiled behind his mask. "It's time for my final student to shine. Sukuna versus Rock-Lee."

Naruto grinned at his red-eyed friend. "Your turn, Sukuna! You better not lose to him, you hear! All three of us are going to become Chunin!"

"Trust me." Sukuna uncrossed his arms. "I have no intention of losing. Don't underestimate Lee, though, he can be a fearsome opponent."

"Excellent!" Gai clapped his hands together. "This shall be the match of the century! Lee and Sukuna! Their flames of youth burn bright!"

Shikamaru huffed. "I've seen Sukuna fight those three from the Sound. But, from what I've heard, Rock-Lee is no-one to scoff at."

"I don't really care about this match." Ino shrugged to herself. "I did see Sukuna fight in that forest, but it was against those weaklings."

Asuma raised an eye-brow. "Ryomen Sukuna, huh? I've heard about him from Gai — a 'master in Taijutsu' is what he likes to call the boy."

Gai approached Kakashi, proud. "Your student versus my student, Kakashi! It's like our fated rivalry has been passed down to them!"

"Did you say something, Gai?"

"Oh!" Gai turned towards the guardrail of the upper platform. "That hip attitude of yours will not affect me, Kakashi! Let us watch this match!"

Down in the arena, Lee and Sukuna faced each other. Lee smiled. "Sukuna! It makes me happy to think I will be fighting you here!"

"Even if you are one of my comrades!" Lee took on a stance. "Do not think I will hold back! I hope you will go all out against me, my friend!"

Sukuna grinned. "Trust me, I have no intention of holding back. Forget about everything else and focus on this match so we can fight, Lee."

Hayate chopped his hand in a downward motion to signal the beginning of this tumultuous match. Sukuna entered a stance suited for animalistic combat, four eyes glinting crimson for a small second.

Tense silence flowed across the atmosphere. Impatient like usual, Sukuna sprinted forward in a blur of unnatural speed, formed multiple cracks in each spot of the ground his feet touched, and raised his fist.

Lee had lifted his fore-arms to parry a powerful punch from Sukuna. Having experienced the second impact of Divergent-Fist in their spars, Lee lowered one of his hands and shoved a palm into Sukuna's chest.

Sukuna endured the strike without any tangible struggle. In retaliation, he retracted his arm from Lee and head-butted his nose. They separated from each other, eyes squinted in an intense bout of concentration.

"He hasn't taken off his weights." Sukuna cracked his neck. "Nor has he activated the Eight-Inner-Gates. He's testing the waters right now."

"How odd." Lee stared at his four-eyed friend. "Sukuna hasn't used those strange pulses of destruction on me yet. I can't be idle, can I?"

Sukuna kicked his foot down into the surface of the arena. Chunks of stone flew upwards before they were caught in his hands and enhanced by a surge of cursed-energy. Lee had readied himself.

A multitude of small rocks were hurtled towards him. Lee pivoted on the heel of his foot, spinning out of the range of each rock tossed at him. Sukuna leaned forward, then vanished in a burst of violent speed.

Meeting each other head-on in the middle of the wide arena, Lee and Sukuna traded multiple blows as their fists blurred faster than a normal person could perceive. Sukuna whirled around, lifting his leg.

Applying the same principles of Divergent-Fist to his leg, Sukuna kicked Lee in the head. A second impact soon followed—but Lee managed to redirect Sukuna's leg to the left side at the last second.

Hand clenched into a fist, Lee took advantage of Sukuna's brief lack of balance and buried a punch into his abdomen. Sukuna repositioned himself in an instant, elbowing Lee and striking him in the shoulder.

Kakuro looked interested in this match. "Those two have incredible physical power. I guess there are a few monsters here like Gaara."

"Come on, Sukuna!" Naruto leaned on the guardrail in front of him. "Why is Sukuna taking things so slow? He should end the fight now!"

Kakashi responded to his student. "Haven't you realized, Naruto? Both Sukuna and Lee are testing the waters. They aren't serious just yet."

"I'm getting pretty bored, Lee!" Sukuna's lips stretched out into a mad grin. "How about you take off those damn weights of yours already!"

"I would, Sukuna! But Gai-Sensei has told—!"

"—Lee!" Gai shouted down at his student. "Don't worry about those rules! I want everyone to see how splendid of a Shinobi you are!"

Permission granted to him by his teacher, Lee distanced himself from Sukuna, removed the weights on his legs, and tossed them aside. Everyone blinked at how these weights cracked the walls they hit.

It was instantaneous—the moment Lee had taken off his weights was the moment that he had disappeared without a single trace. Cursed-energy was pumped into Sukuna's eyes to improve his vision.

Hearing the brief sound of footfalls behind him, Sukuna turned around and failed to block off a punch to the face. Rolling across the air, he sank into one of the chunks of stone on the ground.

Palms pressed into the concrete underneath them, Sukuna unleashed Cleave upon it and spread an inundation of cracks across the ground. Unfettered by this, Lee launched himself into Sukuna and tackled him.

Holding Sukuna by the shoulder, Lee pushed him backwards, slammed the heel of his foot into his chin, and kicked him upwards. Sukuna just smiled, twisting around mid-air and lifting up his hand.

"It's thanks to cursed-energy reinforcement I can keep up." Sukuna fired off a Dismantle at his opponent. "This makes things fun!"

Falling back down to the ground, Sukuna used cursed-energy to enhance his physical prowess more and more. Lee had endured the Dismantle to the shoulder, ignoring his wound and forging onwards.

Lee noticed Sukuna flicking his hand downwards. Instead of taking the risk, he decided to flip upwards and land behind his red-eyed friend. Sukuna moved his hand outwards—but Lee had grabbed his wrist.

Sukuna wrenched his hand free from Lee. To all of the spectators on the upper platform, it looked like this would be a one-sided massacre. For Sukuna, this was nothing more than a chance to have a fun battle.

An upper-cut to the jaw managed to stun Lee for two seconds. Sukuna became focused beyond comprehension, channelled another burst of cursed-energy into his knuckles, and punched Lee in the abdomen.

Black-Flash was the aftermath of this punch. Lee crashed into a wall, stumbled out from it, reoriented himself, and smiled in determination. Sukuna could feel his intensity rise.

The real match started.

A.N: Thanks for reading this chapter.