Pens moved.
One sentence. One answer.
"I will protect my comrades, even at the cost of my life."
Across the hall, those who remained wrote with steady or trembling hands.
Naruto finished swiftly.
His eyes calm.
He knew.
Ibiki scanned the room.
A faint smile.
"You may stop writing."
He clasped his hands behind his back.
"The tenth question… was never about knowledge."
A ripple of confusion.
"It was a test of resolve."
He paced slowly.
"A shinobi faces death with every mission. You must accept that risk and still choose to stand."
He stopped.
"Those who left lacked that resolve. Those who remained — congratulations."
A thin smile tugged his scarred face.
"You pass."
A wave of stunned relief swept the room.
Naruto's expression didn't change.
Expected.
The door slammed open.
A swirl of motion.
A kunoichi in a fishnet top and trench coat strode in, a wild grin splitting her face.
Long purple hair trailed behind her like a whip.
"Yo! You sure took your time, Ibiki!"
Ibiki sighed faintly.
"Anko."
She grinned wider, eyes sweeping the remaining genin.
"Tough little weeds this year, huh?"
She clapped her hands.
"Alright! Next phase starts now."
She turned on her heel.
Naruto rose, movements smooth.
The others followed.
Down the hall.
Out into the sun-drenched streets.
[Forest of Death — Entry Gate]
A towering iron gate loomed before them.
Beyond it, a dense, dark expanse of forest stretched out — thick with shadow and threat.
The Forest of Death.
Anko leaned casually against the gate.
"This is the second test."
She gestured behind her.
"You'll be entering the forest in teams or alone — as you came."
Her eyes gleamed.
"Each group will receive one scroll — either Heaven or Earth."
She smiled wider.
"Your task is simple."
"Survive."
"Reach the tower at the center of the forest within five days."
"And possess both scrolls when you arrive."
Her tone sharpened.
"You'll need to find and take a second scroll from another group."
A beat.
"And stay alive."
Anko grinned.
"Oh — and one more thing."
She flicked a kunai casually between her fingers.
"This forest is full of things that want to kill you."
She leaned forward.
"If you aren't ready to bleed — don't enter."
Naruto stood before the gate.
His cloak fluttered faintly.
Eyes calm.
A slow breath.
"I'm ready."
[Forest of Death]
The forest breathed around them — ancient, dark, alive.
Twisted roots clawed from the earth. Shadows shifted unnaturally beneath the boughs.
It was a place where weaker wills shattered.
Naruto moved through it like a shadow.
No hesitation.
No wasted motion.
His blade — a chokutō sealed beneath the skin of his right palm — remained hidden, but ready.
A small scroll marked with the kanji for Heaven rested beneath his cloak.
He needed an Earth scroll.
Day One — Takigakure Team
Dawn broke pale and cold through the tangled canopy.
Naruto paused on a high branch — senses sharp.
Movement below.
A Taki team — three genin — moving fast, careless.
Chatter betrayed their inexperience.
Naruto narrowed his eyes.
Opportunity.
They never saw him coming.
A shadow flickered across their path.
One fell — throat pressed by cold steel before he could cry out.
The second swung wildly — a kunai meeting empty air.
The third tried to flee — a clone intercepted, a precise blow to the gut folding him silently to the ground.
Seconds.
No noise.
No struggle.
Naruto knelt beside the leader.
Calm, controlled.
The Taki shinobi's eyes widened in shock — then dulled as the blade pressed faintly against his neck.
Naruto's voice was low:
"Scroll."
Shaking fingers obeyed.
An Earth scroll changed hands.
Naruto stood, gaze cool.
"No need to kill."
He vanished into the trees before the genin could even rise.
Day Two — The Tower
Mist wreathed the tower's stone face.
Naruto approached — silent.
Two scrolls — Heaven and Earth — tucked beneath his cloak.
He placed them upon the seal.
Stone doors groaned open.
Empty halls awaited within.
He entered alone.
The first to arrive.
Elsewhere — Konoha Team's Trials
Time twisted in the forest.
Team 10 — Shikako Nara
Shikako crouched beneath tangled roots, mind racing.
Ambushes.
Traps.
Enemy teams converging.
She wove plans within plans — guiding Choji and Ino through narrow escapes.
They had their scroll — but exhaustion crept in.
"Not yet. Think ahead."
Team 8 — Kurenai's Squad
Bugs swarmed the undergrowth — Aburame Shino's calm voice cutting through the din.
Kiba snarled beside Akamaru, bloodied but unbroken.
Hinata moved with quiet determination.
A brutal fight with an Ame team had left them battered — but victorious.
Their prize: a second scroll clutched in Shino's hand.
Team 7 — Kakasi Squad
Near the heart of the forest — air thickened like cold tar.
Sai's ink creatures flitted overhead — scouting.
Sakura tended a wounded Sasuke, tense and pale.
The boy's Sharingan flickered — exhaustion creeping in.
Suddenly — a presence shifted the forest around them.
Sickly. Cold. Wrong.
Orochimaru.
Golden eyes gleamed from the shadows.
His voice slithered across the clearing:
"Uchiha Sasuke... at last."
Sai reacted first — ink beasts lunging — but Orochimaru moved like liquid shadow.
One swipe — ink scattered.
Sasuke rose — pain lancing his shoulder — kunai ready.
But Orochimaru laughed, a hollow, inhuman sound.
"Such fine eyes. Such fragile resolve."
He moved.
Sasuke struck — blade and flame — but the snake's body bent impossibly.
A clawed hand slammed into Sasuke's chest — driving him down.
Venom tipped kunai pierced his arm.
Sasuke gasped — strength fading.
Then — the bite.
Orochimaru's head snaked down — jaws unhinging.
Fangs sank deep into Sasuke's neck — black venom and dark chakra pouring in.
Sasuke screamed.
Dark marks erupted from the wound — twisting, searing — the Cursed Seal taking hold.
Orochimaru whispered against burning skin:
"Survive, little Uchiha. Or be devoured."
With a flicker of speed, the Sannin vanished — melted into shadow and branch.
Sasuke collapsed.
Sakura rushed to him, horror wide in her eyes.
Sai crouched beside them — grim.
They had survived.
But something had been left behind.
Something dark.
[Tower Observation Room]
Proctors gathered behind a one-way screen.
Genma Shiranui leaned against the wall, senbon between his teeth.
"Hayate's kid... first through the gates. That's no accident."
Anko grinned.
"He's got bite, alright."
Ibiki crossed his arms.
"And no teammates to cover him. That makes it more impressive."
Sarutobi Hiruzen watched from the upper gallery — silent beneath the brim of his hat.
His gaze lingered on Naruto's still form within the main chamber.
A boy shaped by too many truths too soon... and still he moves forward.
[Inside the Tower — Resting Chamber]
Naruto sat cross-legged against the far wall.
Eyes closed. Breathing slow.
Chakra calm beneath his skin.
His sealed blade untouched.
Observing.
Waiting.
Elsewhere in the Tower — Team 7
Sakura wrung a damp cloth, pressing it against Sasuke's burning neck.
Dark marks pulsed along his skin — black flame-like tattoos twisting from beneath the bandages.
Sasuke lay half-conscious — breath ragged.
Sai knelt nearby, ink brush ready — expression flat, eyes sharp.
"We need a medic. Soon."
Above them, unseen, golden eyes gleamed from the shadows.
Orochimaru.
His voice a whisper only he heard:
"The seed has been planted."
"Now let us see what it grows into."
[Main Hall — Announcement]
Later that morning — the great hall filled.
All remaining genin stood beneath high stone arches.
Scarred walls bore witness to countless past exams.
Proctors lined the edges.
Hiruzen stepped forward — staff in hand.
His voice carried through the space:
"Congratulations. You have all passed the second stage of the Chūnin Exams."
"But."
A pause.
"This year, too many teams remain."
His eyes swept the gathered shinobi.
"It is necessary to thin your number before the final stage."
Genma stepped forward now — relaxed, but sharp-eyed.
"We'll hold Preliminary Matches here and now."
"You'll fight one-on-one."
He smiled faintly.
"No substitutions. No team aid. No mercy."
A screen behind him flickered to life — names rotating in pale green light.
"Match order will be random."
He tilted his head.
"If you wish to forfeit — do so before your match begins."
A faint grin.
"Otherwise... fight to win."
The genin tensed.
Silent breaths drawn.
Naruto remained where he stood — eyes cool.
Sasuke swayed slightly, sweat beading his brow — cursed seal throbbing beneath the wrappings.
From the shadows above, Orochimaru watched.
"Good... very good. Let the weak fall away."
"And let the strong reveal themselves."
The first match lit the screen.
Names locked into place.
Round One:Uchiha Sasuke vs. Yoroi Akadō
Sasuke straightened slowly — breath sharp.
Eyes burning red.