CHAPTER 62: CHUNIN EXAMS BEGINS

It was the morning of the day when the Chunin Exams officially began. Currently all the genins from the villages of Konoha, Kumo, Suna, Kiri, Grass, Sound, Taki, Ame and Iwa were all gathered in the examination room. For this round I decided to keep Ibiki as the main Procter as he was in the original. A total of 75 teams participated in the first half of the exam. So in total around 225 total participants. Although a major chunk was from Konoha, there were lot of Genins from the other Villages. 

All the Jonins of the Respective teams were gathered in the Jonin lounge and were observing the Exams. With each team getting eliminated the Jonin senseis went out to speak to them. The first test lasted for about 2 hours. Within this time already fifty percent teams were eliminated. After the test ended only around 30 teams remained. 

"The next exam will take pace in training grounds forty four also known as the Forest of Death. But before you do go the the arena, I must warn you, That ground is called the Forest of Death for a reason and it especially likes the blood of young, immature, and tasty blood of genins. So do reconsider your choice. If you want to give up now there is still time." Ibiki said trying to pressure the Genins. Seeing none of the move he said, "Very well. You all pass. I hope you don't have a very painful death." Ibiki said with a sadistic death on his face.

Just then a figure broke in through the window. " Thirty teams!! Are you going soft now Ibiki?" The figure asked.

" No, we just have a tough batch this year, Although I don't think even half of them will make it through the Forest alive. And by the way don't break in through the window again Anko."

" He-he-he.. I will try" Anko said scratching the back of her head. turning towards the rest of the genins she said, " Alright Brats!!! Off we go. Follow me." and she was off. 

After 10 minutes of travelling all of them reached infront of the gates of the forest of death. 

" Alright Brats! In this stage of the exam you will be given either an Earth scroll or a Heaven scroll. Your objective?? Take the other scroll. In this forest your life or death depends on your skills. You have to kill, steal and be resourceful to pass the stage. You have five days to gather both scrolls and report to the tower in the centre of the forest. If you don't come within five days then you fail. If you don't have both scrolls you fail. If you lose a teammate you fail. So good luck.. Come to that tent and collect your scroll. " Anko explained.

Many genins were unnerved by the explanation of the objective and many remained impassive. Finally it took around thirty more minutes for every team to collect a scroll and go to their respective entry points.

Two Days Later...

Team seven were travelling within the forest. They had a Heaven scroll and needed an earth scroll. Out of the three teams they had encountered all of them had heaven scrolls with them. It had been two days and only three days were left. 

" What shall we do?" Hinata asked.

" I can use my shadow clones to scout for teams with the earth scrolls. That can help us to narrow down the search area. " Naruto suggested.

" Yes. But that also means that your chakra will be significantly reduced and so will your battle power. " Sauske commented.

" Hmm.. That tr--" Naruto couldn't finish the sentence as he was blasted away by a concentrated burst of wind that lifted him off his feet and blew him away. On guard the other two turned their heads towards the direction the jutsu came from.

Sasuke Uchiha and Hinata Hyuga found themselves face-to-face with an opponent far beyond anything they'd ever imagined, Orochimaru. The air around them was heavy, suffocating even, as the sinister Sannin's cold, golden eyes pierced through the surrounding trees. His serpent-like tongue flicked out, tasting the fear in the air. Both genin stood tense, aware that this encounter was no ordinary fight. They were up against a monster. 

" IS-is that---" Hinata stammered, unable to speak amidst the heavy oppression the man gave off.

" Yes. I think so." Sauske too was affected. This was something out of their league. How the hell did one of Konoha's biggest traitors enter into the forest of death undetected. if that wasn't bad enough, their strongest combatant was just blown away like a ragdoll by this man. Fighting him would be difficult.

Sasuke clenched his fists, his Sharingan spinning furiously. He could feel Orochimaru's oppressive chakra bearing down on him, like a predator toying with its prey. He glanced sideways at Hinata, who had activated her Byakugan, her lavender eyes scanning the area for any openings or weaknesses in Orochimaru's movements. They knew there was no escaping this; they had to fight.

"Stay sharp," Sasuke muttered, his voice strained with tension.

Hinata nodded, swallowing her fear. "I-I'll cover you."

Without warning, Orochimaru slithered forward with inhuman speed, his body twisting unnaturally. Sasuke reacted immediately, dashing to the side and launching a volley of shuriken infused with his chakra. Orochimaru's eyes gleamed as he flicked his wrist, easily dodging the projectiles as they embedded themselves in the trees behind him.

"Such talent," Orochimaru hissed, his voice oozing with amusement. "But you're still so weak."

While Sasuke kept Orochimaru distracted, Hinata darted around the battlefield, circling Orochimaru from behind. Her heart raced, but she steadied her breathing, focusing on his chakra flow with her Byakugan. She could see the dense, corrupted mass of chakra swirling through his body. Gentle Fist techniques could disrupt chakra networks—if she could land a hit on him.

With precision and speed, Hinata lunged forward, her palms glowing with chakra. She aimed for Orochimaru's midsection, hoping to disable his chakra flow even slightly. "Hyaaa!" she cried, thrusting her palm toward his torso.

But Orochimaru anticipated her move. His body contorted, evading her strike by bending in impossible angles. His neck extended like a snake, twisting around to meet Hinata with a sadistic smile. "Nice try, little Hyuga," he mocked as his hand shot out to grab her wrist.

Hinata gasped as Orochimaru's fingers closed around her arm. Before he could crush her, Sasuke intervened with a Chidori Nagashi, electricity crackling around his body. A surge of lightning exploded outward, forcing Orochimaru to release Hinata. She stumbled back, shaken but unharmed.

Sasuke pressed the advantage, his Sharingan locking onto Orochimaru's every move. He dashed forward, his hand glowing with the telltale chirp of the Chidori. The lightning around his arm crackled, illuminating the forest in brief flashes as he charged straight at Orochimaru.

"This ends now!" Sasuke shouted, thrusting his electrified hand toward Orochimaru's heart.

Orochimaru smirked, his body seeming to melt and reform as Sasuke's attack struck. Instead of hitting flesh, Sasuke's Chidori pierced through a mass of snakes that exploded from Orochimaru's cloak, writhing and hissing. Sasuke's eyes widened in shock as the snakes coiled around his arm, threatening to bind him.

"Your desperation is delicious," Orochimaru sneered, his voice dripping with amusement.

But Sasuke wasn't done yet. He focused his chakra, causing the snakes to ignite with the residual electricity of his attack. The creatures shrieked and fell away, smoldering as Sasuke leaped back to regroup with Hinata.

Just as they were about to press on with the attack a red flash whizzed past them. 

" And here comes the monster boy." Orochimaru smirked. Naruto who was already in his three tailed state tore through the treeline and went straight towards Orochimaru. Attacking him with Taijutsu the battle lasted for a few minutes before Orochimaru was pushed back by a punch to the face. This not only shocked Orochimaru but also the other two waching. 

Sauske tightened his fist, ' we had fought for so long and I could not even push him enough to actually try. And now he comes and lands a hit. just How strong are you Naruto?' 

Hinata on the other hand was surprised and a little reassured.' with Naruto back we stand a better chance than facing him alone.'

" Huh! Not bad Brat. But is this your power or your monster's?" Orochimaru smirked and taunted. " Of course its the monster. After all you are shrouded in it's chakra."

 Naruto went through some handseals, " Water Style: Roaring water dragon." A huge cnstruct of a water dragon emerged from Naruto's feet and attacked Orochimaru with blinding speeds. The attack hit but the Orochimaru it hit turned out to be a mud clone.

" AHHH!!" Sauske's scream echoed throughout the forest. Turning towards him they saw Orochimaru biting Sauske's neck and leaving some mark on it.

" Play time is over. i can feel many chakra signatures approaching us. If you want power Sauske-Kun, come and seek me out." Orochimaru said while slowly making his escape through the earth beneath their feet.

Sauske fell unconscious and Naruto followed him after the nine tails chakra disappeared. Hinata was now left alone within the forest with two unconscious teammates. Creating a shadow clone, she picked up both of the boys and started moving towards a secure location to rest. Today's battle had taken its toll. She decided that the search for the scroll will be continued after her teammates woke up.