Chapter 9: Into the Forest of Death - Part Two of the Chūnin Exams
The sun hung low over the dense expanse of the Forest of Death as the gathered genin stood before the towering gates. Anko Mitarashi, the proctor for the second phase of the Chūnin Exams, stood at the forefront, her presence electric with energy.
"Welcome to the Forest of Death," she announced with a sly grin, tossing a kunai into the air and catching it effortlessly. "This is where things get... interesting."
Naruto, standing between Sasuke and Sakura, frowned. "Forest of Death? That's a little dramatic, don't you think?"
Before he could say more, Anko's kunai flew through the air, grazing Naruto's cheek and embedding itself in the post behind him. Naruto froze as Anko appeared behind him in an instant, her voice low and teasing. "You'll want to keep that loud mouth of yours shut, kid. It might attract the wrong kind of attention."
Naruto gulped, his hand instinctively going to his cheek, where a thin line of blood trickled. "Y-Yeah, sure."
Anko smirked, pulling the kunai free and addressing the crowd. "This is how it works. Each team will be given one of two scrolls: Heaven or Earth. Your goal is to acquire both scrolls and bring them to the central tower within five days. But be warned—this is no walk in the park."
She held up a waiver, her grin widening. "Sign this, so your families won't sue us if you don't make it out alive."
Sakura stiffened, glancing at Sasuke and Naruto. "This is serious. We have to be careful."
Nearby, an inconspicuous ninja from the Hidden Grass Village watched them intently, his gaze lingering on Sasuke. His face was hidden behind his village's standard-issue bandana, but his presence carried an unnerving air.
Anko's sharp eyes flicked toward him briefly, narrowing slightly before she continued. "Now, with all that out of the way... the second phase of the Chūnin Exams begins now!"
The gates creaked open, revealing the dark, sprawling forest beyond. Team 7 shared a tense glance before darting inside, the ominous shadows of the forest swallowing them whole.
The Forest of Death lived up to its name. The air was thick with the sounds of rustling leaves, distant growls, and the occasional scream echoing through the trees. Team Seven moved cautiously, their senses heightened.
"We need to find a team with the other scroll as soon as possible," Sasuke said, his Sharingan active as he scanned their surroundings.
Naruto grinned, forming the cross-seal. "No problem! My Shadow Clones will track them down in no time."
Before he could summon them, a group of ninja from the Hidden Rain Village emerged from the underbrush, their faces masked and weapons drawn.
"Well, that was fast," Sakura muttered, readying a kunai.
"Figured you rookies would be easy pickings," a distorted voice came through the respirator. The Rain ninja didn't waste time. They launched a coordinated attack, their movements swift and practiced. One hurled a barrage of senbon at Naruto, who dodged and countered with a wave of Shadow Clones.
"Get 'em, boys!" Naruto shouted as his clones charged forward, overwhelming the attackers with sheer numerical advantage.
Meanwhile, Sasuke engaged another Rain ninja in close combat. His Sharingan tracked every movement, allowing him to dodge a series of rapid strikes. "Naruto! Boost me!"
"On it!" Naruto replied, forming another set of clones. They lifted Sasuke into the air with a coordinated leap, giving him the perfect angle to deliver a devastating kick to the Rain ninja's chest. The enemy crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
Sakura, meanwhile, evaded an attack from the third Rain ninja and countered with precision, her kunai slashing through the ninja's defenses. As soon as he stumbled, she slapped a paper tag on his arm. "That's one down."
With the Rain ninja subdued, Sakura quickly tagged the others with her chakra disruption seals, placing them carefully on their bodies. "These seals will disrupt their chakra flow. They'll wear off in about six hours, so we'd better get moving."
Naruto held up the Rain team's scroll, grinning triumphantly. "Check it out! It's an Earth Scroll! We've got both now!"
"Good," Sasuke said, his voice calm but focused. "Let's get to the tower."
Unbeknownst to them, the Hidden Grass ninja who had been watching them earlier lingered nearby, hidden among the trees. His unsettling presence radiated malice as his gaze followed Team Seven.
"They're strong," he murmured, his voice low and almost serpentine. "Especially the Uchiha."
His lips curled into a sinister smile as he vanished into the shadows, his target clear.
The Forest of Death had only just begun to live up to its name.
The dense underbrush of the Forest of Death crackled underfoot as Team Seven pressed forward, their nerves taut. The eerie quiet of the forest was broken only by distant sounds: the rustling of leaves, faint growls, and the occasional scream far in the distance.
"We're making good time," Sakura said, glancing at the two scrolls they'd secured. "If we keep this up, we'll reach the tower early."
Naruto grinned. "Told you we'd crush this test! Nothing can stop us, dattebayo!"
His confidence was short-lived. The ground beneath them trembled, and a deafening roar echoed through the forest. Trees snapped like twigs as a massive serpent burst through the foliage, its yellow eyes locked on the team.
"A giant snake?!" Naruto shouted, his grin replaced by wide-eyed panic. "Why is it always snakes?!"
The snake lunged, its gaping maw aimed directly at them. Sasuke leapt back, his Sharingan spinning to life. "Stay sharp!" he barked.
The battle was chaos manifest. The snake's massive tail swept through the air, forcing the team to scatter. Sakura hurled kunai at its thick scales, but they bounced off harmlessly. Sasuke darted in, aiming for the beast's head with a Fireball Jutsu, but the snake countered with a snap of its jaws, forcing him to retreat.
"Is that all you've got, Sasuke?!" Naruto shouted, forming a wave of Shadow Clones that swarmed the snake. "What's wrong? Are you scared?"
Sasuke froze at the words, his jaw tightening. He hated the implication. Scared? The word burned in his mind.
Naruto's clones distracted the snake just long enough for Sasuke to recover. His eyes narrowed as determination flared within him. "Shut up, dope," he muttered, forming hand seals.
With renewed focus, Sasuke unleashed a massive fireball aimed directly at the snake's head. The flames engulfed the beast, and with Naruto's clones attacking from all sides, the giant serpent finally collapsed with a guttural roar.
Naruto stood beside Sasuke, panting. "Took you long enough."
Sasuke smirked faintly. "You're welcome for saving your butt."
The victory was short-lived. As they caught their breath, a new presence, dastardly and dangerous, emerged from the shadows. The ninja from the Hidden Grass Village stepped into view, but something about him felt... wrong. His movements were too fluid, his aura too suffocating.
"Who's that?" Sakura whispered, clutching her kunai.
The ninja smiled, his voice low and mocking. "What a promising team. Especially you, Uchiha."
Sasuke's Sharingan spun as he stepped forward, his instincts screaming danger. "Who are you?"
The ninja's grin widened unnaturally as he shed his disguise, revealing pale skin, golden serpentine eyes, and an unsettlingly long tongue. "I am Orochimaru," he said, his voice sending chills down their spines. "And I've been waiting for you, Sasuke."
"What do you want with him?!" Naruto growled.
Orochimaru's eyes flicked to Naruto, his amusement clear. "You have spirit, boy. Let's see if you can back it up."
The fight was over before it began. Orochimaru's movements were impossibly fast, his strikes precise and overwhelming. Naruto's Shadow Clones were obliterated in an imperceptible instant. Sakura tried to shield her teammates with disruption seals, but Orochimaru effortlessly dodged her attempts.
Sasuke charged in, his Sharingan blazing as he aimed for a vital strike. Orochimaru caught his wrist with ease, his strength far beyond anything the genin could match.
"You're strong," Orochimaru mused, his voice almost admiring. "But you lack... power."
He flung Sasuke aside as though he weighed nothing. Naruto roared, summoning the Nine-Tails' chakra in a desperate attempt to fight back. The red aura burned around him, but Orochimaru simply laughed.
"So much potential," Orochimaru said, his golden eyes gleaming. "But still... so weak."
With a single strike, Orochimaru's glowing fingers sent Naruto crashing into a tree. Sakura screamed, rushing to his side, but a flick of Orochimaru's wrist sent her sprawling as well.
Sasuke, dazed and battered, struggled to stand. Orochimaru loomed over him, his gaze predatory.
"You, Sasuke, have the power to become extraordinary," Orochimaru said, his voice almost hypnotic. "Let me give you a gift."
Before Sasuke could react, Orochimaru's neck extended unnaturally, his fangs sinking into Sasuke's neck. Sasuke screamed as the curse mark began to spread, black patterns crawling across his skin.
"Stop it!" Naruto shouted, forcing himself to his feet. But before he could reach Sasuke, Orochimaru turned, his smile cold.
"This is just the beginning," Orochimaru said, his body sinking into the ground as if it were water. "We'll meet again."
As Orochimaru vanished, Sasuke collapsed to the ground, writhing in pain as the cursed seal burned into his flesh. His screams echoed through the forest before everything went black.
Sakura knelt beside him, tears streaming down her face. "Sasuke... wake up!"
Naruto, battered and bruised, clenched his fists. The gap between them and Orochimaru had been staggering. And now, Sasuke bore a mark that would change everything.