~ Support & Read 38 Advanced Chapters on Patreon
❁❁❁❁
Shin watched Orochimaru scanning his surroundings and knew he’d sensed their observation.
“Orochimaru’s perception is quite sharp.”
Kushina, looking at Orochimaru, had also noticed. Though Orochimaru hadn’t pinpointed their location, he knew someone was watching him.
“At this point, Orochimaru is more snake than human. It’s normal for animals to have keen senses.” Shin commented.
He truly didn’t consider Orochimaru human anymore; his true form was likely a giant white serpent, similar to the White Snake Sage.
“Hinata and her team got a Heaven Scroll.”
“You can see that from this distance?” Kushina looked at Shin in astonishment.
“Is that really surprising?” Shin gestured casually.
“I guess not.” Kushina remembered Shin’s eyes, a Dōjutsu even more advanced than the Rinnegan.
Of course, Shin currently wasn’t using his Nine-Tomoe Rinne-Tenseigan, but seeing things from afar was still effortless for him.
“Should we help Hinata and the others?” Kushina asked Shin.
Shin gave Kushina a speechless look.
Hinata and Karin were already overwhelmingly strong for this exam.
Help them? How were the other participants supposed to compete? Besides, they didn’t need help. Shin wanted Hinata and Karin to gain experience; he wouldn’t interfere.
“They don’t need our help. Even if Orochimaru attacked them, he’d be the one getting beaten up.”
Hinata and Karin might lack combat experience and couldn’t unleash their full power, but their strength already surpassed Kage level.
Karin might struggle against Orochimaru, but Hinata had the Tenseigan. Even without experience, she could crush Orochimaru through sheer force.
Besides, Orochimaru’s target was Sasuke Uchiha; he wouldn’t bother Hinata and her team.
In fact, Shin almost hoped Orochimaru would target them. It would be good training. After all, the other participants probably weren’t even capable of providing them a decent challenge.
“Here, hold Hanabi.” Shin handed the little girl, who had fallen asleep on his back, to Kushina.
Kushina took the blushing Hanabi, who still smelled faintly of alcohol. She looked quite cute.
Kushina couldn’t resist pinching her small cheek while she was drunk.
———
All the participants had entered the Forest of Death. Shin and Kushina followed them in.
“Lived in Konoha for so many years, but never came here. I heard this place is dangerous.” Kushina remembered her Academy teacher repeatedly warning them never to enter the Forest of Death.
“It’s gloomy. Not a great environment.” Shin remarked upon entering the forest. Most dense forests were like this, with sunlight barely penetrating the canopy. Compared to some places, though, the Forest of Death wasn’t that bad.
“There are summoning beasts living here. Kushina, if you find one you like, you could form a contract and keep it.” Shin suggested.
“No thanks! Keep one as a pet to look at? Besides, most of them are ugly.”
Kushina preferred normal small animals as pets, not a summoning beast. Except for a few aesthetically pleasing ones, Most summoning beasts looked bizarre.
———
As Shin and Kushina entered the Forest of Death, Hinata and her team had already encountered enemies.
It was an unknown team from a minor village. Neji Hyūga easily eliminated them before Hinata or Karin needed to act.
He showed no mercy, severely injuring them all. Even killing them wouldn’t matter here.
Participants signed a waiver before entering the Forest of Death; deaths here wouldn’t be investigated.
Well, theoretically. This was still Konoha’s territory. If Konoha ninja were all wiped out, Hiruzen Sarutobi would definitely be furious.
“A Heaven Scroll. Not the Earth Scroll we need,” Neji Hyūga said after examining the scroll they obtained.
“It’s fine. Getting a Heaven Scroll means we eliminated another team.” Karin Uzumaki took the scroll and stored it away. She didn’t trust Neji’s strength; what if he lost it?
“Our goal now is to reach the central tower first. We can intercept other teams there.” Karin didn’t plan on actively hunting other teams.
The Forest of Death was vast; finding others would be troublesome. Even with her Kagura Mind’s Eye, Karin preferred the easier route: wait at the destination and ambush arriving teams.
Hinata had no objections to Karin’s plan.
As for Neji Hyūga, his father had instructed him to obey Karin and Hinata. Though somewhat reluctant, Neji never disobeyed his father’s orders.
———
Shin and Kushina didn’t follow Hinata’s group. Shin wasn’t worried they wouldn’t be able to gather the scrolls.
Instead, he led Kushina, following Orochimaru, who had also entered the Forest of Death.
Upon entering, Orochimaru ruthlessly killed his own “teammates,” then summoned countless small snakes, sending them out to locate Sasuke Uchiha’s team.
“Finally found them.” Orochimaru’s eyes lit up. He headed swiftly in their direction.
———
Meanwhile, Naruto Uzumaki and his team were being pursued by giant snakes summoned by Orochimaru.
“The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki is here too.” Orochimaru frowned slightly.
But even the Jinchūriki wouldn’t stop him from achieving his goal—to lure Sasuke away from Konoha.
“Where did these giant snakes come from?!” Naruto Uzumaki felt fear creeping in as he faced the snakes’ killing intent.
It wasn’t just Naruto; even the usually cool Sasuke Uchiha was terrified, kneeling on the ground.
Sakura had already fainted.
They were just newly graduated Genin. Though they had experienced the mission in the Land of Waves, they still felt fear when facing true danger.
“Sasuke, what are you doing?! Waiting to die?!” Naruto yelled, seeing a giant snake lunging towards the stunned Sasuke. Naruto quickly pushed him out of the way.
Saved by Naruto, Sasuke felt ashamed. He’d been paralyzed by fear? And needed Naruto, the dead-last, to save him? Sasuke’s pride couldn’t accept it. He stabbed his own hand with a kunai, using the pain to dispel his fear.
❁❁❁❁
~ 38 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon
p-atreon.com/dragonnx
(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)
