Despite what he had said, Yakushi Kabuto confidently displayed his identification card.
Seven years as a genin, his record was rather impressive. He had completed 163 D-rank missions and 28 C-rank missions. He was a standard old genin, an unremarkable mediocre talent. When faced with skepticism, it was understandable that he would want to back his claims with evidence, though it shouldn't be taken at face value. Nonetheless, having such documentation indicated a degree of credibility.
It's challenging to fabricate a record like his, given that seven years of experience are scrutinized by countless pairs of eyes. So, he didn't wish to reveal his true strength but had no choice but to accompany his companions for the examination. It made sense for him to socialize with the village's prodigies.
Rock Lee was an exceptional taijutsu ninja, and his data was firmly etched in Sasuke's mind. The jinchūriki from Sunagakure was named "Gaara," but the details concerning him were sparse, comprised mainly of mission logs.
Aside from these individuals, Naruto discovered other interesting targets. Several shinobi wearing "Otogakure" headbands kept their eyes fixated on Sasuke. A red-haired kunoichi from Kusagakure caught his attention; her chakra gave him an inexplicable sense of familiarity.
The first round of the exam quickly commenced—a written test. The rules seemed peculiar; while the aim was to assess individual abilities, the final grading was based on team performance, which also encouraged a certain degree of "cheating." If an exam participant was caught in the act of cheating, they would lose two points. Thus, only after being caught five times would they face disqualification. Among the test takers, familiar faces like "Izumo" and "Kotetsu" were present, along with some shinobi whose chakra far exceeded that of a typical genin, who adeptly answered questions as soon as the exam began. Clearly, they were the reference points for encouraging others to cheat.
Therefore, the true essence of this exam was not merely about mastering "knowledge." Instead, it was about how well one could gather intelligence without drawing attention to themselves. The exam's final question was posed by the proctor, Morino Idate, who pressured those lacking confidence in their intelligence-gathering skills with the harsh condition of "being destined to remain genin forever."
The second round of the exam followed swiftly. The proctor, a vibrant woman who burst through the window with flair, led them to the next testing location.
"I am the proctor for this round, Mitarashi Anko," she announced cheerfully, her tone matching her exuberant presence. "The second round is straightforward—it's a survival test!"
She laid out the rules. Each team would randomly carry either a "Heaven" or "Earth" scroll, with the ultimate goal being to collect both types of scrolls and reach the central tower of the training grounds within five days. Naruto struggled to focus on her words, his gaze lingering on a tall kunoichi. She wore a straw hat with a short banner that read "Crime," and her long hair cascaded down her back, lending her a graceful yet mysterious aura.
He remembered she had previously caught a glimpse of her while observing the red-haired kunoichi, but back then, her chakra seemed less potent. However, now she radiated an overwhelming presence—one that eclipsed even Gaara and surpassed Kakashi Hatake. Among all the ninjas he had encountered, only Sarutobi Hiruzen could match her prowess.
The stark differences in her chakra raised questions in Naruto's mind. What kind of stealth techniques did she possess? Or was it simply that this kunoichi had an unusually keen sense?
Almost instantly, she sensed Naruto's scrutiny, shifting her attention from Anko to him with a smile, her tongue darting playfully.
As the second exam officially commenced, each team was guided to their respective entrances. With the time upon them, Anko issued the signal.
The candidates entered Training Ground forty-four, a site known ominously as the "Forest of Death."
"What should we do?" Sakura asked nervously, clutching her kunai.
Sasuke glanced at Naruto. "Naruto can sense ninjutsu. With our strength, we shouldn't face any formidable opponents. Let's find a team and obtain their scrolls, then head to the tower as quickly as we can."
Naruto shook his head. "Gaara is a tough opponent."
"And that last kunoichi—a ninja from the grass—shouldn't be underestimated," Sasuke countered, surprised by Naruto's choice of words. "Unremarkable" was not a term he had expected.
"Let's find her first," Naruto suggested, reaching out to feel the chaotic threads of chakra swirling around them. "I'm curious about her."
In Japanese, the sounds for "he" and "she" differ.
"She?" Both Sasuke and Sakura were momentarily startled.
"What's she like?" Sakura asked, bewildered. "Is she from our village?"
She pondered for a moment. It couldn't be Ino. Perhaps it was Hyuga Hinata, the near-invisible yet esteemed eldest daughter of the Hyuga clan?
"She's that kunoichi from before," Naruto answered without hesitation. "The one with red hair."
At the mention of her, both Sasuke and Sakura suddenly recalled. The vibrant color stood out sharply.
"Her chakra feels oddly familiar to me," Naruto continued. "I want to find out if there's a connection."
Sasuke whispered, "Is she your kin?"
"Maybe," Naruto nodded.
As they navigated through the dense forest, they could occasionally hear the sounds of jutsu being unleashed or suffering screams indicating that some teams were already colliding. Yet, as they traveled, nobody approached them, despite Naruto and his team being among the youngest and seemingly the easiest to intimidate.
However, they exuded the aura of strong shinobi, allowing them to evade the "prey" list of most passersby.
Suddenly, Naruto halted, followed by Sasuke and Sakura.
"What's wrong?" Sasuke asked.
Naruto's gaze fixated on a seemingly unremarkable patch of ground. "That kunoichi has revealed herself. With her skills, would a stealth ambush really be necessary against the three of us?"
In response to his voice, the earth began to shift. A form gradually took shape, pushing upward, solidifying into a figure. "What keen perception you have."
"Can't you hide from me?"
The figure extended a hand, revealing a scroll that bore the kanji for "Earth." "This is the Earth scroll I hold. What about yours?"
"Mind if I take a look?"
Naruto raised his hand, fingers gripping the hilt of his kunai. "Is it necessary to fabricate such lies?"
"You're no ordinary genin participating in the exam, are you?"
"You have some special agenda here, don't you?"
"Who are you after?"
"Me?"
"Or Sasuke?"
The grass ninja gazed in admiration, "What's your name?"
He had already narrowed down a possible conclusion. Golden hair, Konoha, keen instincts.
"Uzumaki Naruto," he announced, "So, your target is Sasuke."
"Are you after the Sharingan?"
The grass ninja let out a hearty laugh, clearly amused.
Indeed, "Uzumaki" was the child of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.
"How interesting," his tone softened, "Returning to the village, I find surprises like you."
"Did you have your eyes on me before the second exam began?"
Naruto interrupted, "Out of politeness, shouldn't you introduce yourself?"
"My name?" The grass ninja extended an exaggeratedly long tongue to lick his lips, revealing two prominent fangs, long and sharp like a snake's. He radiated a more sinister aura, as if he were a serpent himself. "If you wish to know, you'll need to show me your worth."
"Let me see if you have that qualification."
Chakra surged. The atmosphere thickened with killing intent, birds took flight, and insects scurried away in fear.
Sasuke's eyes widened as his hand instinctively reached for his forehead; he felt as if he had just met his end.
(End of Chapter)