"Hiss... hiss..."
Suddenly, the sound of a snake's tongue flicking echoed again. This time, it wasn't behind Naruto—it came from right behind Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno.
Both of their expressions shifted instantly.
Sakura turned around and, sure enough, saw another massive forest python coiled around a tree.
"Damn it, there's another one?"
"Guess we've got no choice but to retreat."
Even Sasuke wouldn't risk fighting two giant pythons at once—especially not in this forest.
In the Forest of Death, creatures like these were apex predators. Unless your strength was overwhelming, the smartest move was to avoid them entirely.
The trio regrouped quickly. Naruto sent out a few Shadow Clones to draw the snakes' attention while the three of them made their escape.
All across the forest, similar scenes unfolded again and again.
[Ding! Host detected bullying the weak—using the Chūnin Exams as an excuse to unleash giant pythons in the Forest of Death, terrifying dozens of examinees!]
[Special Reward: Six Paths Resistance +2%!]
[Ding! Host detected even targeting their own students and children! Such self-sabotaging cruelty perfectly aligns with this system's purpose!]
[Special Reward: Six Paths Resistance +3%!]
Back at his original observation point, Kazuyama Gekkō raised an eyebrow at the familiar chime echoing in his head.
He'd just released a few dozen snakes—was that really worth such generous rewards?
A moment later, he shrugged.
It made sense. This year's exam was full of big names, after all. The first bonus must've been for messing with the Konoha Twelve.
As for the second… well, that was obvious enough. Fair trade.
"Hey, Kazuyama, what are you laughing at now?"
"You've already unleashed the snakes. Can't you behave for once?"
Minato Namikaze finally couldn't hold back. There was no way he didn't know what was happening inside the exam field.
That bastard had released dozens of snakes into the forest. Not that it was catastrophic—but still, couldn't he take things seriously for once?
"What, I can't laugh?"
"I just enjoy it. Unlike you and Fugaku—one's always brooding, the other's always itching to stab someone."
"You two are exhausting."
Kazuyama waved him off, ignoring the deepening scowl on Minato's face as he muttered to himself.
...
In the depths of the Forest of Death—
"Hey, Zetsu, you're sure the One-Tails' jinchūriki is participating in this exam?"
"Hmph. That bastard Kazuyama Gekkō actually filled this place with snakes. What a lunatic."
From the shadow of a tree trunk, the masked Muren Uchiha stood, glaring down at the scattered remains of a python he'd just killed.
Zetsu scanned the forest ahead, his tone calm and analytical.
"The One-Tails' host, Gaara, is the son of the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa."
"When we went after the Three-Tails, we already broke relations with Kirigakure. Word of that will spread to the other nations soon."
"This time, with the One-Tail outside Sunagakure, we have the perfect opportunity."
"He's just a kid. Act quickly—just don't kill him."
Muren's lips curled into a grin. That was exactly his plan. Once he found the target, he'd take him down with overwhelming force.
"Found him. East of here. Let's move—capture him fast. We still need to locate the Two-Tails."
Zetsu's body melted into the tree, vanishing completely.
Muren activated his Mangekyō Sharingan, and in a blink, his figure blurred and disappeared.
The two reappeared moments later behind Gaara's team.
Gaara stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes narrowing as he turned toward the trees behind them.
"Gaara? What's wrong?"
"Something out there?"
Seeing their brother freeze up, Temari and Kankurō immediately took defensive positions, flanking him on both sides with weapons at the ready.
"Killing intent. Strong and deliberate."
"They're not here for friendly reasons."
Gaara didn't mention the rest—what Shukaku had told him.
The enemy carried an aura of pure malice so heavy even Shukaku felt unsettled. Whoever it was, they weren't ordinary.
"Other candidates?"
"Hmph. Think we're easy prey?"
"If they won't come out, I'll give them a little welcome."
Temari didn't hesitate. She swung the massive iron fan from her back open, revealing the three black stars across its surface.
"Ninja Art! Kamaitachi Technique!"
She whipped the fan, unleashing a ferocious gust that spun into a small-scale storm. Within it, blades of wind chakra sliced through everything in their path.
Thick tree trunks split apart as the storm carved a deadly trail through the forest.
The tempest closed in on Muren Uchiha.
"I'll admit, that breeze feels nice. Was getting a bit warm."
"The Kazekage's daughter, huh? Heh."
Muren didn't even flinch. The C-rank technique didn't warrant a dodge.
His Sharingan spun once—and in the blink of an eye, he vanished.
"He's here!"
"What?"
"Your jutsu missed! He's coming!"
Gaara's hands came together. The gourd on his back burst open, torrents of sand flooding outward and slamming into the ground around them.
He crushed the soil under his control, grinding it into fine particles to increase the sand he could manipulate.
"Not a simple opponent."
"Come out, Crow! Black Ant!"
Seeing Gaara so serious, Kankurō knew the enemy wasn't ordinary. He immediately deployed his puppets.
Temari clicked her tongue in frustration but folded her fan, preparing for close-range combat.
"Gaara, be careful!"
"It's that Uchiha Madara!"
Shukaku's voice echoed from within Gaara, its chakra beginning to surge.
Those eyes—the Sharingan—were unmistakable. Combined with that oppressive presence, there was no doubt. This had to be Uchiha Madara.
Gaara's pupils tightened. Uchiha Madara?
"Then we strike first!"
Without hesitation, he attacked.
The sand around him surged upward, forming giant hands that shot forward to grab the enemy.
At the same time, he continued grinding the earth beneath them—he needed more sand to overpower this opponent.
"Magnet Release, huh?"
"They say it stems from Shukaku's power."
"Fire Style: Flame Wave!"
Without a complex sequence of hand seals, Muren clasped his hands into a single sign.
The next second, a torrent of fire erupted from his mouth, surging forward like a blazing tide.
The flames rolled one over another, spreading wide and fast.
Gaara's expression darkened.
"Temari, Kankurō—fall back!"
"Flowing Sand Waterfall!"
To counter the incoming blaze, Gaara unleashed his next technique without hesitation.