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"What do you think of the second exam?"
"What else is there to think about? Wait—we're entering the Forest of Death. If we run into each other, let's try to help each other out."
"What are you talking about, Shikamaru? That sounds like cheating."
"There's no such thing as cheating here. Didn't the examiner say it? There are practically no rules. In that case, why not form alliances?"
Nara Shikamaru remained as laid-back as ever. He wasn't physically stronger than anyone, but his strategic mind made up for it. That alone made him more dangerous than most Genin if you weren't careful.
When someone mentioned that people could actually die in this exam, the usual group of Konoha rookies—the "Konoha Twelve"—went silent. Then, they laughed nervously and nodded in solemn agreement.
They were still young, with dreams yet unfulfilled. None of them wanted to die in the Forest of Death.
Seeing that time was almost up, the Genin teams dispersed and began their preparations.
Just as everyone started to leave, Ye Dou suddenly called out, stopping Hyūga Hanabi.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Keep an eye out for the teams from the Grass and Sand villages. If you see them, don't hesitate—run." Ye Dou's voice was serious.
When the candidates had assembled earlier, Ye Dou had already sensed that Orochimaru had infiltrated the exam under a disguise.
The oppressive, cold, and overwhelming chakra was unmistakable—even among the chaos of so many candidates, it stood out like a blade in the dark.
"Understood. You be careful too," Hanabi replied without hesitation.
Though curious, she trusted Ye Dou completely.
At exactly 2:30, the passage opened.
The next moment, 26 teams of Genin flooded into the Forest of Death, vanishing into the thick, dangerous woods.
"Let's begin."
"I heard the fastest team to clear the second exam did it in four hours."
"Then let's break that record. Our target is the Earth Scroll, and our first priority is a team from Konoha... the little brats."
A team from the Hidden Rain Village began tailing Konoha's Genin, darting through the trees like shadows. They wanted to finish the mission swiftly and with brutal efficiency.
Elsewhere in the forest, another team moved cautiously. They hadn't found a target yet, so they opted for a more methodical approach.
"What should we do?"
"Find water first. The second exam lasts five days. We need to be ready for the long haul."
"Understood!"
Meanwhile...
"What about us, Shikamaru? What now?"
"Should we search for enemies or lay low?"
"We do both—move cautiously, search while hiding. Stay sharp."
As they spoke, the new generation of the Ino-Shika-Chō trio slowed their pace.
Having known each other since childhood, their teamwork was second to none among rookie teams. But they had one major weakness—lack of raw combat power. Aside from Akimichi Chōji, neither Nara Shikamaru nor Yamanaka Ino excelled in direct battle.
That's why forming alliances with trusted teams was their best bet.
At the same time, Team 7—Naruto Uzumaki, Uchiha Sasuke, and Ye Dou—also entered the Forest of Death, quickly weaving through the dense foliage.
Naruto, as usual, was brimming with excitement. He wanted to face an enemy right away and break records.
But he wasn't the de facto leader. That unspoken role had shifted to Ye Dou. Naruto's role, at best, was commentary.
The same was true for Sasuke. Though proud, he couldn't ignore Ye Dou's strength—this was the same teammate who had bested him repeatedly since their Academy days.
"Hey, what do we do now?" Sasuke asked, glancing around.
But before Ye Dou could respond, his Observation Haki—his enhanced sensory ability—picked up an approaching chakra signature.
Massive. Cold. Merciless. This wasn't a Genin's chakra—it dwarfed them all.
Orochimaru.
"Get ready!" Ye Dou ordered sharply.
Naruto and Sasuke turned instantly, eyes wide with disbelief.
They had been inside the Forest for less than ten minutes—and already they were under attack?
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"
A powerful gust exploded from the trees. The shockwave was deafening. All three Genin were knocked off their feet as the violent wind tore through the clearing.
The trio barely had time to form up before the attack hit.
WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
The sharp wind scoured the earth like blades. Trees cracked. Leaves exploded into the air.
This wasn't a normal Great Breakthrough. The scale, the intensity—this jutsu had been supercharged by someone far beyond the Genin level.
"Scatter!" Ye Dou shouted.
Sasuke reacted instantly. He knew he couldn't block that jutsu—it had to be evaded.
Naruto, a little slower on the uptake, was about to get swept away—
Until Ye Dou kicked him aside just in time, sending him tumbling out of harm's way as the wind howled past.
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