Training Ground 44, also known as the Shi no Mori.
A massive chain-link fence surrounded this primeval forest, completely isolating it from the outside world.
"Sign this life-and-death waiver."
The examiner, Mitarashi Anko, had a cynical smile on her face.
She waved the consent forms in her hand, her eyes scanning every young face present.
"After all, in there... people really do die."
Naruto took the form and calmly signed his name.
Just as he was about to return the form, a cold wind swept past.
A pale Kusagakure ninja wearing a bamboo hat walked silently up to Anko.
"Such a nostalgic scent of death... I'm getting... a little excited."
With that, he stuck out a revoltingly long tongue and licked his lips, speaking in a slimy tone.
"If you want to live..."
Anko looked at the Kusagakure ninja before her expressionlessly, her killing intent erupting.
"...then don't stand in front of me with such bloodlust."
"My apologies..."
The Kusagakure ninja let out a few low, eerie chuckles, handed over the waiver, and turned to leave.
Sasuke frowned.
He felt an instinctive, physiological disgust toward that Kusagakure ninja.
Naruto tilted his head slightly, discreetly glancing at the Kusagakure ninja.
He keenly sensed that beneath that Kusagakure ninja's skin was hidden a suffocatingly massive amount of Chakra.
That feeling... was cold, damp, and uncomfortable.
"This level of Chakra... it even exceeds Kakashi."
Naruto eyes narrowed slightly.
"And with such undisguised malice, this guy... is dangerous."
The Kusagakure ninja seemed to notice Naruto gaze.
He turned his head and met Naruto eyes for a moment, his lips curling into a meaningful smile.
Naruto didn't look away; he simply returned a polite smile before calmly retracting his gaze.
"What's wrong, Naruto-kun?"
Sakura asked nervously.
"Nothing."
Naruto tucked the Ten no Sho into his ninja tool pouch, thinking to himself.
First that Sunagakure monster with the gourd, and now an unfathomable Kusagakure ninja...
It seems the Chunin Exams hosted by Konohagakure this time have attracted quite a few monsters.
He didn't feel panicked because he sensed powerful enemies.
In his view, since this was an "exam" held jointly by multiple nations, it was perfectly normal for a few secret weapons from other villages to appear to flaunt their national power.
Instead, it made him feel that this tedious exam... might not be so boring after all...
With a command, the locked iron gates were slowly pulled open.
"The second exam, begin!"
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura instantly charged into the forest.
As they went deeper, the sunlight overhead was blocked by the dense canopy, and the light gradually dimmed.
The surroundings were filled with massive tree roots and the chirping of unknown insects.
The three moved quickly but maintained a high level of vigilance.
After about twenty minutes, Naruto, who had been leading the way, suddenly stopped.
"What is it?"
Sakura-chan immediately braked and looked at Naruto beside her nervously.
"It's about time they showed up."
Naruto turned to face the empty bushes behind them.
"After all, isn't it tiring following us for so long?"
"What?"
Sakura was taken aback.
Swish, swish, swish!
Before his voice had even faded, a barrage of senbon poured down on the three like rain!
At the same time, three figures used the senbon as cover to instantly leap from behind the canopy and surround Team 7.
Clang, clang, clang...
Sasuke and Sakura quickly brandished their kunai, parrying all the incoming senbon.
Seeing the surprise attack fail, the leading Amegakure ninja landed on a tree trunk and shouted sinisterly:
"Hand over the scroll, brats!"
"Hmph, another boring trick."
A flash of disdain crossed Sasuke eyes as his hands quickly formed seals.
"Katon—"
However, before he could finish the seals, a hand suddenly pressed onto his shoulder, interrupting his ninjutsu.
"No need to waste Chakra."
Naruto said flatly.
"What do you mean—"
Before Sasuke could finish his sentence, his pupils dilated slightly.
Behind the opposite canopy, three of Naruto Kage Bunshin had appeared silently at some point.
The Kage Bunshin made no sound and emitted no killing intent; there was only ultimate efficiency.
Their movements bore traces of the Kirigakure Ansatsu Jutsu.
Using the rebound from the tree trunks, they instantly cut into the opponents' blind spots.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Three dull sounds of heavy impact rang out almost simultaneously.
The Amegakure ninjas didn't even have time to scream before being precisely struck on the back of the neck.
One by one, their eyes rolled back as they fell from the tree trunks to the ground.
Naruto didn't use lethal force; he merely controlled his power to knock them unconscious instantly.
The entire process took less than three seconds.
A Kage Bunshin searched one of them, found a scroll, and tossed it to the original.
Naruto caught it and took a look:
"Good luck, it's a Chi no Sho. Exactly the one we were missing."
"That... that was too fast, wasn't it?"
"Did we just clear the exam?"
Sakura looked at the Ten no Sho and Chi no Sho in Naruto hands, finding it hard to believe.
How long had they even been in the forest? They had already collected both scrolls.
"So, do we go to the tower now?"
Sakura asked; she just wanted to leave this gloomy forest as soon as possible.
"No rush."
Naruto casually stuffed the scroll into his pouch.
He glanced at the three unconscious Amegakure ninjas on the ground and kicked them into a hidden corner under the tree roots to prevent them from being carried off by wild beasts.
"Sakura-chan, don't you think... we still have quite a few competitors?"
"What do you mean?"
Sasuke looked up sharply, a hint of excited fervor in his eyes.
"There are still too many people with insufficient strength. Since the previous examiner didn't filter them out, we might as well help the examiner."
"If too many small fry wander into the deeper parts, they really will die."
"Instead of letting them go to their deaths, let's help them make a dignified exit."
"To be honest, I'm already getting a bit tired of this boring game."
Naruto words were incredibly arrogant, showing complete disregard for the others.
The corners of Sasuke mouth curled up into a slightly feral smile:
"Hmph... Suits me. That Kusagakure ninja earlier really annoyed me; I'll just use the others to vent some steam."
"Very well."
Naruto nodded slightly, preparing to map out a cleaning route.
Suddenly, his expression shifted.
In his perception, a very special Chakra had entered the area.
It was a feeling full of vitality, seemingly somewhat similar to his own Chakra.
And... the owner of that Chakra seemed to be in a crisis.
"This feeling..."
Naruto turned his head, looking toward the northwest of the forest.
"Could it be... a wandering member of the Uzumaki clan?"
After learning about the Kyuubi from Kabuto, Naruto had specifically looked into his origins.
Though he didn't know who his parents were, he had gained some understanding of the surname Uzumaki in the history section of the library.
The Uzumaki clan was famous for longevity and Fuinjutsu; most clansmen had red hair and possessed immense life force.
It was precisely this talent that incited envy, which ultimately led to the destruction of their nation.
"In this world, besides me, are there actually other clansmen barely surviving?"
So, upon sensing the aura of a fellow clansman, Naruto showed some concern.
He instantly postponed his original hunting plan.
"Sasuke, Sakura-chan, you guys stay on standby here, or just hunt freely nearby. Don't go too far."
Naruto suddenly spoke, interrupting Sasuke eagerness.
"Huh? Where are you going?"
Sasuke said dissatisfiedly.
"Didn't we agree to clear the field?"
Naruto figure had already leapt onto the treetops, speeding off in that direction, leaving only a voice floating in the air.
"I've encountered someone... I'm curious about. I'm going to handle some personal business."