CHAPTER 6
"That's enough, Lee."
A deep voice called out. Lee immediately stood down, his intense expression softening into one of regret.
A large turtle, standing on its hind legs, had appeared near them.
"Lee. That technique is forbidden. You know that."
Naruto narrowed his eyes. A talking turtle?
Mito blinked in confusion.
"Is that Lee's Jonin Sensei?"
Naruto shook his head.
"No. That's likely his Sensei's summon."
As if on cue, a puff of smoke erupted behind the turtle. When the smoke cleared, a man wearing the same green jumpsuit as Lee stood proudly on the turtle's back.
He had even thicker eyebrows than Lee, and his teeth sparkled as he gave them a thumbs-up.
"Geez! You guys are the epitome of youth! Come here, Lee!"
Lee hurried over to his Sensei with the utmost respect—
Only to be punched across the face, sending him flying.
Mito gasped. Sasuke, still catching his breath, could only watch in confusion.
The green jumpsuit man strode over to where Lee had landed, his expression shifting. Tears welled up in his eyes.
"Lee…"
Lee, lying on the floor, began to cry as well.
"Gai-sensei!"
"Lee!"
"Gai-sensei!"
"LEE!"
In an instant, the two of them wrapped their arms around each other, sobbing dramatically.
A powerful aura of emotion radiated from them, causing even Naruto to take a step back.
What the hell was that…?
After a few moments of this bizarre display, Gai finally let go of Lee.
"It's alright, Lee. Youth and mistakes go hand in hand. But you did start a fight and nearly broke my rules…"
Lee lowered his head in shame.
"As punishment, you will complete 500 laps around the training ground. After the Chunin Exams, of course!"
Lee snapped to attention.
"Yes, Gai-sensei!"
Gai turned to Naruto and his team, his dramatic tears completely gone as he smiled at them.
"You must be Kakashi's students!"
Naruto gave a nod, not sure how to react.
"How's my eternal rival doing?"
Gai asked, crossing his arms.
"You know Kakashi-sensei?"
Mito asked, still surprised by the whole situation.
Gai struck a ridiculous pose, giving them another sparkling grin.
"Know him?! People refer to us as Eternal Rivals! Our record is 50 wins for me, 49 wins for him! I AM STRONGER THAN KAKASHI!"
Mito and Sasuke froze at the declaration.
Their heads slowly turned toward Naruto, who was the only one not surprised.
Naruto had seen Gai move.
He didn't want to believe this weird man was stronger than Kakashi, but…
He was fast.
And there had to be something that gave him the edge over Kakashi.
"See? Gai-sensei is incredible!"
Lee chimed in, a huge smile on his face. Naruto made a mental note of the name.
Gai.
He would definitely remember it.
Gai suddenly clapped his hands together.
"Alright, you all better get going! The Chunin Exams are about to start!"
Lee hesitated. He had wanted to tell Naruto that Neji was actually the strongest Genin in Konoha. But—
After seeing how fast Naruto had moved earlier…
For the first time—
Lee wasn't so sure if that was true.
Team Seven proceeded to Room #301, where they were greeted by Kakashi.
Their silver-haired sensei gave them his signature eye-smile.
"Well, this is where I leave you guys. Best of luck."
With that, he vanished in a puff of smoke.
Mito, Sasuke, and Naruto exchanged glances before pushing the door open and stepping inside.
The moment they did, the air grew heavy.
The room was packed with Genin from various villages, their eyes filled with competitiveness and aggression.
Naruto immediately sensed their hostility. A few of them were radiating Killer Intent (KI), trying to assert dominance.
However…
None of them were as strong as Zabuza.
Only the weaklings were attempting to intimidate others.
Pathetic.
Naruto decided to respond.
Instead of just releasing his Killer Intent, he focused it. He let out only a tiny fraction—just enough to target those who had been trying to scare others.
The results were instantaneous.
A wave of fear washed over the room.
Several Genin stiffened, their faces going pale. Their bodies trembled as the primal instinct to flee overtook them.
Without another word, they bolted out of the room.
The remaining Genin watched in confusion. Some noticed Naruto and his team's entrance, their expressions turning wary.
Sasuke smirked.
That should send a message.
Before Team Seven could settle, a blur of blonde hair shot toward Sasuke.
"Ino—?! Get off me!"
Sasuke barely had time to react as Ino Yamanaka threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his arm with a bright smile.
"I've missed you, Sasuke!"
She held onto him tightly before finally letting go.
Her teammates, Shikamaru Nara and Choji Akimichi, followed behind her.
Shikamaru sighed, rubbing his temples.
"Tch. You guys are taking this stupid test too? Man, this sucks."
Choji, munching on a bag of chips, gave a friendly nod.
"Guess we'll all be competing, huh?"
Before anyone could respond, another energetic voice interrupted.
Kiba Inuzuka strolled over, grinning wildly.
His teammates, Hinata Hyuuga and Shino Aburame, followed closely behind him.
They were part of Team 8, led by Kurenai Yuhi.
Kiba shoved his hands in his pockets, his fangs flashing as he smirked.
"I see… All nine of this year's rookie Genin are taking the exam."
His eyes flicked toward Naruto, studying him.
"Even the new guy is here."
Naruto raised an eyebrow.
"New guy?"
Kiba grinned, his confidence unshaken.
"Yeah, you. I didn't see you in the Academy before, but now you're here. Guess that means you're not half bad, huh?"
Naruto simply shrugged.
Kiba crossed his arms.
"I wonder how far we'll all get. What do you think, Sasuke?"
Sasuke scoffed, his pride evident.
"Tch. I think you seem a little too confident, Kiba."
Kiba smirked.
"Maybe. But I bet I'll get farther than you."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed.
"Is that so?"
Mito sighed, stepping in before things escalated.
"Enough. We're all here to take the exam, not fight before it even starts."
Naruto chuckled, watching the tension grow.
This was going to be interesting.
The room was buzzing with anticipation, tension filling the air as more Genin gathered. Every step Team Seven took was met with watchful eyes, some filled with curiosity, others with hostility. It was clear that this exam wasn't just a simple test—it was a battlefield of potential and ambition.
But amidst the whispers and murmurs, a voice broke through.
"Hey, you guys should be quieter. You're rookies fresh out of the Academy, right? Screaming like schoolgirls… This isn't a picnic."
Naruto and the others turned toward the source of the voice.
A young man with silver hair and glasses stood there, his arms crossed and a calm, knowing smirk on his face.
"Who are you?"
Mito asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.
The young man adjusted his glasses, his smirk widening.
"I'm Kabuto Yakushi. But instead of worrying about me, you should be worried about the team behind you."
Curious, Naruto and the rest of the rookies turned around.
Standing behind them were three Genin from Amegakure. Their dark, piercing eyes were locked onto them with clear hostility.
Kabuto chuckled.
"Those guys are from Amegakure. They have short tempers, and the last thing you want is to get on their bad side. Everyone here is already tense about the exam, so it's best if you avoid causing a scene. But, well… I can't blame you."
He pushed his glasses up.
"You're clueless rookies. You remind me of how I used to be."
Naruto frowned.
"Wait… so this isn't your first time?"
Kabuto shook his head.
"Nope. This is my seventh time."
That revelation shocked the rookies.
"Seventh?! You mean you've taken this exam six times and still haven't passed?"
Kabuto simply smiled.
"That's right. The Chunin Exams are held twice a year, so this is my fourth year participating. I've learned a lot from my past failures, though. I can share some info with you rookies—if you're interested, of course."
He reached into his pouch and pulled out a stack of small cards.
"These are my Nin-Info Cards. I've gathered intel over the years and stored them here. I can show you information about other participants."
Naruto's eyes narrowed. Something about this guy felt… off. He was too calm, too eager to help. And to think someone had been failing for so long? That didn't make sense.
Still, information was valuable, and Naruto wasn't about to waste an opportunity.
"You have info on individuals? Then tell me about Gaara from Sunagakure and Rock Lee from Konohagakure."
Kabuto smirked.
"Good picks. Let's see…"
He pulled out two cards and channeled his chakra into them. A faint glow appeared on the surface before displaying the stored information.
The first card showed details on Rock Lee.
"Alright, first up—Rock Lee. He's a year older than you guys and has completed twenty D-rank missions and twelve C-rank missions. His sensei is Might Guy, one of Konoha's strongest Taijutsu users. Lee's own Taijutsu has improved drastically this year, but the rest of his skills? Nothing impressive."
Kabuto glanced at Sasuke.
"Last year, he was gaining some attention as a promising Genin, but he didn't participate in the exam. Like you guys, this is his first time. His teammates are Neji Hyuga and Tenten."
Mito's expression shifted slightly.
"Neji Hyuga… So that long-haired guy from before was from Hinata's clan."
Sasuke smirked.
"A clan known for their dojutsu, huh? Interesting."
Naruto, however, remained silent. He had already seen what Lee could do firsthand. But he knew something was off—Kabuto's report didn't mention Lee's speed.
Maybe Kabuto didn't know everything after all.
Kabuto then switched to the next card, revealing information on Gaara.
"Now for Gaara of the Sand. He has completed eight C-rank missions and… one B-rank mission."
Sasuke's eyes widened slightly.
"A B-rank mission? As a Genin?"
Kabuto nodded.
"Yeah, pretty rare. But I don't have much detailed info on him. Since he's from a foreign country, intel is harder to obtain. However…"
He pushed his glasses up.
"What I do know is that Gaara has returned from every mission without a single scratch on him."
The air grew tense.
Kiba scoffed.
"Without a scratch? That's impossible. No one fights that cleanly."
Naruto, however, knew exactly what this meant.
Gaara… is a monster.
Just like himself.
Kabuto stored the cards away and looked around the room.
"This year's exam is pretty interesting. We've got Genin from Konoha, Suna, Ame, Kusa, Taki, and even Oto."
He chuckled.
"The Otogakure team is a bit of a mystery, though. Their village was only founded last year, so there's hardly any info on them. But the rest of the villages? They're sending some of their best young talents."
Sasuke crossed his arms, his interest piqued.
"So what's the likelihood of passing?"
Kabuto smirked.
"Heh. Let's just say… don't get your hopes up."
Kiba growled.
"Tch, as if that's gonna stop me."
Mito folded her arms.
"We're not here to be scared off. We'll pass."
Naruto, meanwhile, remained deep in thought.
Kabuto was helpful.
Too helpful.
Why would someone who failed six times openly share valuable intel?
And why did he choose to approach them specifically?
There were too many unknowns, and Naruto had learned to trust his instincts.
He would be watching Kabuto. Closely.
But for now…
The Chunin Exams were about to begin.
Kabuto barely managed to dodge as one of the Otogakure shinobi lunged at him, throwing a vicious punch. However, something was off—when the punch connected with his face, his glasses shattered instantly, but instead of simply breaking, something strange happened.
Kabuto flinched, his eyes widening, and before anyone could react, he stumbled back, disoriented. His body wobbled, and the next thing everyone knew, he collapsed to the floor, vomiting.
The room fell silent.
Naruto narrowed his eyes. What kind of jutsu was that?
Before anyone could make sense of what had just happened—
"QUIET DOWN, YOU WORTHLESS BASTARDS!"
A massive puff of smoke erupted at the front of the room. When the smoke cleared, a group of intimidating figures stood there.
At the front of the group was a tall man clad in a long black coat, his sharp, scarred face cold and emotionless. His presence alone sent a chill down the spines of the Genin.
Naruto didn't need to be told—this guy was dangerous.
The man's gaze swept over the room, his eyes brimming with authority.
"Thanks for waiting. I am Ibiki Morino, the examiner for the Chunin Selection Exam's First Test."
The Oto shinobi, who had attacked Kabuto, suddenly stiffened.
Ibiki's cold glare shifted to them.
"Hidden guys, stop doing as you please before the exam. Do you want to fail already?"
The Oto shinobi instantly bowed their heads.
"Our apologies, sir."
Ibiki grunted, clearly unimpressed.
"Let me make one thing clear. There will be no fighting without my permission. And even if I do grant it, killing your opponent will not be tolerated. Any fool who disobeys me will be eliminated immediately. Do I make myself clear?"
A heavy silence fell over the room. No one dared to defy him.
Ibiki then pulled out a box and reached inside, retrieving a stack of numbered tabs.
"We will now begin the first test of the Chunin Exams."
A few Genin exchanged confused glances.
"Instead of your current seating arrangements, you will each take a tab from this box. The number on your tab will assign you a specific seat. You will then be given your written exam."
The confusion in the room grew.
"A written exam?"
Sasuke muttered under his breath.
Naruto glanced around. The reactions were all the same—everyone was surprised.
A paper test? In a Chunin Exam, where battles determined survival? Something about this felt off.
Naruto wasn't like the others—he was smarter than most Saiyans. Almost as smart as Sasuke. Kakashi had realized this early on, when Naruto learned complex grammar in a single week and perfected it within a month.
So instead of panicking like some of the other Genin, Naruto simply listened.
He knew that if he paid close attention, he would eventually understand the true purpose of the test.
One by one, the Genin took a tab from the box.
When it was Naruto's turn, he casually reached in, grabbed a tab, and checked his assigned seat.
As he walked over, he noticed that Hinata Hyuga was seated beside him.
She glanced at him shyly but said nothing.
The test papers were distributed, one placed in front of each participant.
Naruto stared at the sheet before him.
The first nine questions weren't really about knowledge or intelligence. They were designed to test a shinobi's ability to gather information without getting caught. Some participants managed to cheat without detection, while others failed and were eliminated.
The 10th question, however, was different. It wasn't a question at all—it was a test of willpower. Could a ninja stand strong under extreme pressure? Could they hold out without breaking, even when faced with terrifying consequences?
Naruto took a deep breath, his sharp eyes scanning the room.
Only 39 people remained.
That meant at least two-thirds of the original participants had been eliminated.
Then, he saw something that made him smirk.
Ibiki Morino, the intimidating proctor, was smiling.
"To the 39 who remain, I congratulate you on passing the First Test."
There was a stunned silence in the room.
Naruto remained unfazed—he had already guessed this outcome.
But the other Genin? They were shocked.
"Wait, what do you mean we already passed?! What about the 10th question?"
Ibiki chuckled.
"There never was such a thing. Or rather, those two choices I gave you were the 10th question."
The confusion grew, but Ibiki continued explaining.
"The first nine questions were not pointless. They had already served their intended purpose—to test your ability to gather information without getting caught."
The room grew eerily quiet. Many of the Genin suddenly realized how they had been tricked.
Ibiki smirked and continued.
"But there was something else at play here. The test was designed to put pressure on you—because success was based on the entire team passing."
A few gasps could be heard.
"That meant that even if you personally knew how to answer every question, if one of your teammates failed, your entire team would be eliminated."
Mito clenched her fists. So that's why…
Sasuke scowled. It was a psychological test.
Naruto simply nodded. Makes sense.
Ibiki then reached up and slowly removed his bandana.
The room collectively gasped.
His entire scalp was covered in scars and burn marks—the brutal evidence of years of torture.
Some of the younger Genin flinched at the sight, while others turned away.
Ibiki's voice turned grim.
"In the world of shinobi, information is more important than life itself. On missions and in battle, people risk everything just to obtain critical knowledge."
He locked eyes with each remaining Genin, his piercing gaze making it clear that this was no joke.
"But the moment you are caught, there is no guarantee the information you provide will even be accurate. You could be tricked, manipulated, or tortured into revealing something false. That is why true shinobi never break. They endure."
The room was deathly silent.
For the first time, some of the remaining Genin truly understood what it meant to be a ninja.
Ibiki smiled again.
"That is what I wanted to test. The ability to endure. The ability to hold strong under extreme pressure, even when faced with the worst possible outcome."
Some of the participants were still in shock, unable to process the intensity of what they had just experienced.
But before they could fully digest his words—
CRASH!
The classroom windows shattered as a black sphere flew in, bouncing off the wall before coming to a stop in front of Ibiki.
Before anyone could react, two kunai shot out of it, embedding themselves into the wall, along with a large banner that unfurled dramatically.
Naruto squinted at the words written on it in bold red letters:
"SEXY AND SINGLE! ANKO MITARASHI HAS ARRIVED!"
The remaining Genin just stared.
And then—
"HAHAHA! Alright, maggots, listen up!"
A woman appeared in the room in a flash, standing in the middle of the broken glass like it was the most normal thing in the world.
She had short purple hair, a mesh bodysuit, and a long trench coat draped over her shoulders.
Naruto's first impression?
She was… loud.
She placed a hand on her hip, grinning wildly.
"You guys, this is no time to be celebrating! The first test is over, but now comes the REAL fun!"
The Genin were still too stunned to respond.
Ibiki, still unfazed, sighed.
"Your timing is as terrible as ever, Anko."
Anko grinned unapologetically before glancing around the room.
"Huh?"
She started counting the remaining participants.
"Only 39 left? Damn, Ibiki, you're getting soft. I was expecting way more dropouts!"
Ibiki smirked.
"I left 13 teams intact, but don't worry—you'll get to cut them down in your own way soon enough."
Anko's eyes lit up at that.
"Ohhh, hell yeah! That just means I get to do some extra work!"
She turned back to the participants, her smile widening.
"Listen up, kids. I'm Anko Mitarashi, your examiner for the Second Test! And let me tell you right now—this next stage will be much more brutal than what Ibiki put you through."
Some of the Genin gulped.
Naruto, on the other hand, simply smirked.
"Alright!"
Anko clapped her hands together.
"Time to move! I'll explain everything once we get to our next location. Follow me!"
With that, she turned on her heel and strode out of the room.
Naruto exchanged glances with his teammates.
Sasuke looked determined, while Mito still seemed a bit wary of Anko's chaotic energy.
But Naruto?
He was grinning.
This next test… was going to be fun.
Sometimes late,
Training Ground #44,
The Forest of Death,
Konoha…
The Genin stood at the entrance to Training Ground #44, a massive expanse of wilderness known ominously as "The Forest of Death." Towering trees stretched endlessly in all directions, their dense canopies blocking out much of the sunlight. The air smelled of damp earth, moss, and something faintly metallic—perhaps blood.
Naruto narrowed his eyes, feeling a faint sense of nostalgia. The thick undergrowth, the towering trees, and the air of danger reminded him of the forest he had grown up in. This place was meant to terrify rookies, but to him, it felt like just another training ground.
Anko Mitarashi stood before them, her arms crossed, an excited grin plastered on her face.
"Alright, brats, listen up! You're about to find out why they call this place the Forest of Death."
A few of the less experienced Genin flinched at her words, exchanging nervous glances. But Anko just laughed, clearly enjoying their unease.
"Before we start the second test, there's something you all need to do first."
With a dramatic flourish, she pulled out a stack of papers and began handing them out.
"These are waiver forms. You need to sign them. Why? Because there's a high chance that some of you are going to die, and if that happens, I don't want to be held responsible!"
Silence.
The reality of the situation began to sink in.
This wasn't some simple training exercise. This was real.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Mito exchanged glances. None of them hesitated. They each grabbed a form and signed without a second thought.
"Good, good. I like the enthusiasm! Now, let's get to the real fun part—explaining the rules!"
She pulled out a large map of the training ground and pinned it to a nearby tree.
"First, let's talk about the area. The Forest of Death has 44 locked gates, a river running through it, and a tower in the center. From the gates to the tower, it's about 10 kilometers."
Naruto crossed his arms. That's not too bad. If we fly straight to the tower, we'll finish this test in no time.
Anko then reached into her pouch and pulled out two scrolls.
One was labeled "Heaven," and the other "Earth."
"Each team will start with one of these scrolls. Six teams will get the 'Heaven' scroll, and seven teams will get the 'Earth' scroll."
Some of the teams immediately began whispering amongst themselves, already forming strategies.
"To pass, your team must collect both scrolls and make it to the tower within five days. If you fail to do that, you're disqualified."
Naruto glanced at his teammates. Easy enough. If we need another scroll, we'll just take it from someone else.
"However, there are a few ways you can fail this test."
She held up three fingers.
"First, if your team fails to bring both scrolls to the tower within five days. Second, if you lose a teammate—whether they run away, get separated, or die. And third, if you open the scroll before reaching the tower."
Naruto raised an eyebrow. Why would opening a scroll get you disqualified?
Anko's grin widened as if she could read his thoughts.
"Oh, and about the scrolls—don't open them. Trust me, you won't like what happens if you do."
A few Genin swallowed hard, clearly unnerved.
"Now, once you've signed the forms, head over to the booth behind me to exchange them for your scroll. After that, pick a gate and get ready."
Naruto, Sasuke, and Mito handed in their forms and received their assigned scroll—a "Heaven" scroll.
After that, they made their way to Gate #16, where they waited for the signal to begin.
As soon as the gate swung open, Naruto grabbed his teammates and took off into the sky.
Gasps of shock could be heard from behind them. Most teams had barely stepped into the forest, and yet Team 7 was already airborne.
Sasuke smirked as they soared above the treetops.
"This should be easy."
A scream echoed through the dense forest, piercing the eerie silence. It was the unmistakable cry of a human in distress.
Sasuke tensed, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings, while Mito shifted into a defensive stance. But Naruto?
Naruto smirked.
This was his element. The deep, untamed wilderness, where every shadow could hide a predator, where the scent of blood lingered in the air. This was the kind of environment he thrived in.
"That was a human scream, right?"
Mito muttered, gripping the hilt of her kunai.
Naruto simply grinned.
"Looks like things are getting fun."
His blood boiled with excitement. He had been itching for a real fight since they had entered the Forest of Death, and now, it seemed like it was finally coming his way. Mito sighed.
"I need to take a piss. Don't follow me, perverts."
She disappeared into the bushes, leaving Naruto and Sasuke behind.
The forest was unnaturally silent. No rustling leaves, no chirping insects. Just silence.
Naruto stood still, his instincts on high alert. Something felt... off.
A moment later, Mito emerged from the trees, stretching her arms.
"I feel great now."
In an instant, Naruto moved.
Faster than the eye could track, he grabbed her by the throat and slammed her into the ground, pinning her down with unrelenting strength.
Sasuke immediately took a step forward, his hand on a kunai, ready for a fight.
The girl beneath Naruto gasped, her eyes wide in shock.
"W-What are you doing, Naruto?!"
But Naruto's expression was cold, unreadable. His golden eyes locked onto hers, unblinking.
"Where's the real Mito?"
Silence.
The girl coughed, struggling beneath his grip.
"What are you talking about? I am Mito!"
Naruto scoffed.
"No, you're not."
His grip tightened.
"You don't smell like her."
The imposter stilled.
Naruto's smirk widened.
"I have a great sense of smell. I can recognize anyone by scent alone. And you? You're not her."
Sasuke stepped closer, scrutinizing the imposter carefully.
"Your shuriken holster is on your left leg. Mito is right-handed. She always wears it on her right. You messed up."
The fake Mito's eyes widened in horror.
And then—
Puff!
A cloud of white smoke engulfed the figure beneath Naruto. When it cleared, a thin Ame Shinobi was revealed, his eyes full of panic. Without hesitation, he lunged forward, trying to stab Naruto in the throat.
Naruto didn't even flinch.
Instead, he grabbed the wrist mid-stab and effortlessly tossed the attacker toward Sasuke.
Sasuke acted instantly. His kunai found its mark, piercing the enemy's shoulder.
The Ame shinobi let out a grunt of pain, but before Sasuke could finish him, he twisted his body, kicking Sasuke away, and immediately bolted into the trees.
Naruto grinned.
"You think you can escape?"
He raised his hand, energy crackling in his palm.
"Galick Gun!"
A massive beam of purple Ki erupted from his hands, tearing through the trees and disintegrating the fleeing shinobi.
The force of the blast sent leaves and debris flying in all directions, and when the dust settled, there was nothing left of the Ame ninja. Not even ash.
Mito came running back, alarmed by the explosion.
"What the hell just happened?!"
Sasuke clicked his tongue.
"An imposter tried to infiltrate our team. Naruto caught him."
Naruto dusted off his hands.
"And I made sure he won't be a problem anymore."
Sasuke's expression darkened.
"We need to be more careful. If we get separated again, we can't trust anyone—not even each other. From now on, we'll use a codeword to verify our identities."
Mito nodded in agreement.
"Good idea. What's the codeword?"
Sasuke leaned in slightly.
"Listen carefully. I'll only say it once."
Unbeknownst to them, someone was listening.
Hidden among the branches of a distant tree, Orochimaru observed the scene with a sinister smile.
Without warning—
A powerful gust of wind tore through the forest.
The trees bent under the force, their trunks snapping like twigs. Leaves and branches flew in all directions.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Mito were thrown apart.
Mito hit the ground hard, rolling several meters before she managed to stop herself. Sasuke landed near her, immediately regaining his footing.
Naruto, however, was nowhere in sight.
Mito looked around, heart pounding.
"Naruto?!"
No response.
Sasuke clenched his fists.
"Damn it… we got separated."
Just then, Naruto emerged from the trees, brushing leaves off his shoulders.
"Tch. That was annoying."
Relief flooded Mito's face.
"Good, you're okay."
But Sasuke's eyes narrowed. Something felt... wrong.
Slowly, he asked.
"What's the codeword?"
Naruto smirked.
"Come on, Sasuke. It's me."
Mito turned to Sasuke, confused.
"Why are you asking? You can see it's Naruto."
But Sasuke wasn't convinced. Without hesitation, he threw a kunai.
Naruto dodged.
And then—
Puff!
Smoke erupted, revealing Orochimaru standing in Naruto's place.
His yellow, snake-like eyes gleamed with amusement.
"Impressive. You saw through my disguise."
Sasuke kept his kunai raised.
"How long have you been watching us?"
Orochimaru chuckled.
"Long enough."
Mito's eyes narrowed.
"Where's the real Naruto?"
Orochimaru tilted his head, smirking.
"Wouldn't you like to know?"
Mito and Sasuke tensed.
NARUTO IS GONNA WHOOP OROCHIMARU NEXT CHAPTER. SO TUNE IN.
POWER LEVEL:-
Mito - 50.00
Sasuke - 39.00
Kakashi - 344.56
Gai - 346.79
Hiruzen - 835.00
Kyuubi - 2,592.01
Naruto(SEAL) - 55.00
Naruto - 11,000.00
Gaara - 57.80
Kankuro - 32.25
Temari - 52.40
Lee - 40.30
Neji - 46.08
Tenten - 10.72
Shikamaru - 24.53
Ino - 8.12
Choji - 12.14
Hinata - 13.52
Shino - 26.47
Kiba - 13.70
Kabuto - 356.42
Dosu - 38.53
Kin - 7.58
Zaku - 25.46
Ibiki - 195.87
Anko - 174.36
Orochimaru - 1,862.39