ALL NOVEL Chapter 53: Forest of Death
As we stepped into the Forest of Death, the place lived up to its ominous name. Rumors about shinobi who had met their end here weren't hard to believe, given the atmosphere. The forest was dense with towering trees, each at least three times the size of those back in the village, and the wildlife matched that scale—animals here were larger and more dangerous than we were used to.
We had been given a Heaven scroll, meaning that in order to complete the exam, we needed to find and obtain an Earth scroll from another team. As we surveyed the area, I turned to my teammates and said, "What do you guys think? Should we aim to finish this as quickly as possible and break the previous record, or should we take our time and strategize a bit?"
It was a choice between making a bold move or playing it safe, and either path would test our skills and teamwork in this perilous environment.
Sakura was quick to suggest, "Naruto, let's finish this as soon as possible, then wait for the others." Sasuke simply gave a nod in agreement, signaling his approval of the plan.
"Alright then," I replied. "Let's track down a team with an Earth scroll and get this over with." I handed each of them a kunai marked with my father's special Flying Raijin jutsu seal, a form of fūinjutsu. "You know the drill. If you manage to get the scroll or run into an opponent you can't handle, just infuse your chakra into the kunai. I'll be there instantly. Although I doubt there's anyone here who can give us much trouble, it's always better to be prepared."
With that, both Sakura and Sasuke nodded in understanding, and we split up, each heading in different directions to increase our chances of locating a target quickly. We were confident in our abilities, but in a place like the Forest of Death, even the smallest precautions could make a difference.
After splitting up, I activated my Kagura Mind's Eye, allowing me to sense the chakra of nearby individuals in search of a team carrying the Earth scroll. Confident that both Sakura and Sasuke could handle securing the scroll on their own, I shifted my focus to another target—Orochimaru. I knew he was lurking in the forest, intending to make his move on Sasuke for his own dark purposes.
It didn't take long for me to locate him. His sinister chakra signature stood out unmistakably among the others, and I could sense that he was already trailing Sasuke, biding his time. Without wasting another moment, I began to make my way toward them, determined to intercept Orochimaru before he could carry out whatever plans he had in mind.
I rushed toward Orochimaru, and within a minute, I found myself standing right in front of him, blocking his path. "Well, well, if it isn't one of the Legendary Sannin, Orochimaru, who defected from Konoha a decade ago," I said with a hint of amusement in my voice.
Orochimaru turned his gaze toward me, his eyes glinting with a mix of curiosity and malice. "Oh, Naruto," he replied smoothly, "I see you're quite sharp for a mere child. But I must say, you've made a mistake by challenging me. You're in over your head if you think you can stop me."
His words dripped with confidence, but I could sense that he was also gauging my strength, curious to see if I was indeed a threat. I stood my ground, prepared to confront him and protect Sasuke from whatever dark intentions he had in mind.
3rd Person POV
As Naruto confronted Orochimaru, Sakura and Sasuke managed to reunite deeper in the forest. They quickly found themselves facing three Ame shinobi, who looked nearly identical, like clones of a single person. Standing side by side, Sakura and Sasuke sized up their opponents, already anticipating a quick battle.
Sasuke spoke up, "Which scroll do you three have?" His tone was demanding, but the three shinobi merely scoffed and began to laugh mockingly.
"Three against two, and you've got a girl with you? Don't make us laugh," one of them sneered, their taunting tone making it clear they underestimated Sakura and Sasuke.
The mockery only fueled Sakura and Sasuke's resolve, and without hesitation, they sprang into action. In an instant, the two of them incapacitated two of the three shinobi before they even had a chance to react. The last one stood frozen, stunned by the sudden takedown of his teammates, his face paling with fear as he realized the situation had turned against him.
Sakura stepped forward, her expression stern and unyielding. "Now, will you give us your scroll, or are you going to join them?" she demanded, her fierce gaze making the remaining shinobi break into a nervous sweat.
With trembling hands, he quickly pulled out the Earth scroll and handed it over to her. Not taking any chances, Sakura knocked him out right after, ensuring he wouldn't be a threat. With the Earth scroll secured, there was nothing standing in their way from completing this stage of the exam.