The tension in the Forest of Death was palpable as Team 7 moved cautiously through the dense underbrush. The eerie silence was only broken by the occasional rustling of leaves and the distant calls of unseen creatures. Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Ryuga were on high alert, knowing that any misstep could mean the end of their journey in the Chūnin Exams.
Naruto suddenly stopped, shifting uncomfortably. "Uh, guys, I need to pee."
Sakura rolled her eyes and smacked him on the head. "Do it quickly, idiot! We don't have time to waste."
Naruto scampered off to a nearby bush, grumbling under his breath. As they waited, Ryuga's instincts flared. Something felt off. He had always been sensitive to the presence of others, a trait that had saved them multiple times before.
When "Naruto" reappeared, Ryuga's unease grew. He couldn't pinpoint why, but something was definitely wrong. Acting on impulse, Ryuga lunged at "Naruto" and started hitting him.
"Hey, what gives, Ryuga?" the imposter protested, but there was a hint of nervousness in his voice.
"This isn't Naruto," Ryuga declared, his eyes narrowing. "I can feel it."
The imposter's façade crumbled. Realizing his cover was blown, the Ame ninja dropped the disguise and attacked. Sasuke stepped in, engaging the enemy with swift and calculated strikes. With a series of well-placed blows, he managed to defeat the Ame-nin, who fell to the ground, unconscious.
"Good job, Sasuke," Ryuga said, breathing a sigh of relief as he spotted the real Naruto tied up behind a tree. "Let's get him free."
Once Naruto was untied, he dusted himself off, a bit embarrassed. "Thanks, guys. I didn't even see him coming."
Ryuga, trying to lighten the mood, said, "We need a password to avoid this kind of thing happening again." He suggested a lengthy and complex phrase, which Naruto struggled to remember.
As they continued their journey, a powerful gust of wind suddenly separated Naruto from the group. The forest seemed to come alive, and before Naruto could react, he was swallowed by a giant snake.
Meanwhile, Ryuga, Sasuke, and Sakura regrouped, only to meet up with what they thought was Naruto. However, something felt off to Sasuke.
"Naruto," Sasuke began cautiously, "repeat the password."
"Naruto" recited the password flawlessly, word for word. Ryuga and Sasuke exchanged a knowing glance.
"The real Naruto wouldn't have remembered that password perfectly," Sasuke said, stepping back. "Who are you?"
The imposter revealed himself as the Kusagakure ninja Shiore, also known as Orochimaru. He swallowed his scroll and unleashed a terrifying jutsu that paralyzed Ryuga, Sasuke, and Sakura with visions of their deaths.
Fighting against the paralyzing fear, Ryuga managed to regain his composure. He focused his chakra, breaking free from the illusion. With determination, he pulled Sasuke and Sakura away from Shiore's grasp.
At that moment, Naruto, having used his Shadow Clone Technique, burst out of the giant snake's belly. His clones scattered, creating chaos and providing a distraction.
Naruto quickly joined his friends as Shiore cornered them again. "Guys, we can't give up now," Naruto said, his usual determination shining through.