"Do what you say, that's my ninja way!"
"I am the man who is going to become Hokage!"
With Uzumaki Naruto's determined roar, the first Chūnin exam ended.
Even though he didn't write a single word on the test, Naruto still managed to pass.
The Jōnin who were observing the exam were moved by Uzumaki Naruto's passionate speech, and unknowingly gained a better understanding of the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
The second Chūnin exam was held in the Forest of Death. The examiner was Mitarashi Anko. After she briefly explained the rules, she distributed the 'Heaven' and 'Earth' scrolls to the candidates.
To complete the second test, each team needed to gather both scrolls and reach the designated location within the time limit.
In this part of the exam, candidates had to be alert not only to conflicts between ninja teams but also to the various dangers lurking in the Forest of Death.
Shihouin Naraku stood on a distant building, watching the group of examinees who were signing life-or-death consent forms. His gaze settled on a ninja from Kusagakure.
That person was Orochimaru in disguise!
After rubbing his fingers a few times, Shihouin Naraku decided not to take any action and gradually disappeared from sight.
As his figure vanished, Orochimaru, who was hiding in the shadows, suddenly turned his head and looked at the spot where Shihouin Naraku had just been.
Shihouin Naraku had made no attempt to hide his stare, so Orochimaru noticed it immediately, but he didn't look over until Naraku had left.
"Found it?"
"Then why wasn't I exposed?"
"Hehehe..."
Orochimaru unconsciously licked the corner of his mouth, a strange and sinister smile spreading across his face.
Mitarashi Anko stood outside the guardrail that enclosed the Forest of Death, checked the time, and then ordered the blockade to be opened.
"I hope you can make it out of the Forest of Death alive..."
Mitarashi Anko wore a wicked smile. She seemed to enjoy tormenting these Genin, but was completely unaware that there was a Lion-like presence hidden among them.
"The second test begins now!"
"Clatter..."
The chains were released, and the candidates immediately rushed into the Forest of Death.
...
At the same time, on the streets of a bustling city in the Land of Fire.
"Oh hahaha..."
A tall man with a forehead protector bearing the word "oil," long white hair falling to his waist, and a red coat, staggered out of a pub with a lewd smile on his face.
From his expression and the laughter echoing from the pub behind him, it was clear the man was having a great time.
He was Jiraiya, one of the legendary Sannin of the ninja world!
"See you next time. See you next time. Oh my... What a passionate girl. It's true that girls from the Land of Fire are the best!"
Jiraiya, exuding the air of a playboy, swayed as he wandered the streets like a carefree rogue. The smell of alcohol on him could be detected from quite a distance.
"Hey, did you hear that the Chūnin exams in Konohagakure have already started? Should we go check it out?"
"It's too bad I've been so busy lately, otherwise I'd love to go to Konoha to watch the competition."
"You might not know this, but I heard Sunagakure sent many powerful Genin this time. I wonder if Konoha can handle them."
"Nonsense! How could Sunagakure compare to our Konoha? What are you talking about?"
"That's right! The Third Hokage is the strongest Kage in history! With him, no ninja village can overpower Konoha."
The vendors and tourists around were enthusiastically discussing the Chūnin exam being held in Konoha, with occasional envy in their eyes. After all, these were ninjas with powerful jutsu!
People occasionally debated which village's ninjas would be promoted to Chūnin, and which village would ultimately have the advantage, but since this was the Land of Fire, most people overwhelmingly supported Konoha.
After all, the stronger Konoha was, the more it could ensure the safety of the Land of Fire.
Jiraiya walked along the road, the drunkenness on his face gradually fading.
Yes, another Chūnin exam.
It had been a long time since he'd left the village. Should he go back for a while?
Especially this time, as Sunagakure seemed to be planning something, even bringing their One-Tail Jinchūriki.
Jiraiya's intelligence-gathering skills were excellent, so he knew that among the Genin sent by Sunagakure, there was the One-Tail Jinchūriki!
Of course, they knew this information so quickly because Sunagakure had deliberately leaked the news through certain channels.
As Jiraiya was contemplating whether he should return to Konoha, a fragrant breeze blew past. He couldn't help but sniff the air, and a mischievous smile appeared on his face.
"Hehehe..."
"Hey hey hey..."
Spotting a beautiful woman with long black hair walking in front of him, Jiraiya's eyes lit up and he followed her with obvious interest.
"Are you interested in having a drink?"
...
In Konoha Village, at the completely abandoned Training Ground No. 0!
Shihouin Naraku stood silently in the training ground, glanced around, and then blended into the environment and disappeared.
Training Ground No. 0 had been sealed off by Konoha for many years. From the outside, it appeared normal, but Naraku had learned from Yamanaka Yue that this was once Shimura Danzō's base.
All this time, he had no idea what Shimura Danzō had been hiding here.
So Shihouin Naraku decided to find out what Shimura Danzō had been doing at Training Ground No. 0.
Since entering the training ground, Shihouin Naraku had discovered many ninjas secretly standing guard along the way. They were clearly placed there by Shimura Danzō.
However, Shihouin Naraku moved quickly and lightly, finding the hidden base without alerting anyone.
In fact, he didn't have to put in much effort, because the location of the base was where the most ninjas were lying in ambush.
Observation Haki was very convenient, easily helping Shihouin Naraku detect all the hidden guards.
Now that he knew the specific locations of the guards, Shihouin Naraku entered the base with little difficulty.
"Why are there so many people?"
As soon as Shihouin Naraku entered the base, he took a few steps and saw a large research room where several researchers were busy working.
There were research materials, culture vessels, experimental equipment and more placed throughout the area – everything needed for advanced research.
"So this is where Danzo studied the Wood Style!"
Shihouin Naraku realized that with Shimura Danzō's suspicious nature, he wouldn't trust Orochimaru completely, and would naturally study both Wood Style and Sharingan simultaneously on his own.
"I was wondering why Yashiro Ao hadn't been seen for a while. Turns out he's here!"
As Shimura Danzō's subordinate, Yashiro Ao had previously been assigned to the medical department, hoping to gain power and resources for himself, but because of measures Naraku had prepared long ago, he had returned empty-handed.
Later, Sarutobi Hiruzen secretly moved to restrict Shimura Danzō after Naraku told the Hokage about the battle with Obito and Zetsu.
Sarutobi Hiruzen suspected that another Wood Style user had appeared under Danzo's command, so he placed the blame on Danzo.
Without support, Yashiro Ao naturally couldn't achieve any results and soon disappeared from public view.
Now Shihouin Naraku understood that Yashiro Ao had actually come to this base to study Wood Style!
"Interesting, really interesting."
Shihouin Naraku muttered to himself, his eyes scanning over several pairs of Sharingan preserved in laboratory vessels. "I wonder how many Sharingan Danzo collected back then!"
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