Chapter 84

"Life and death situation? What life and death situation?"

Mitarashi Anko's lips curled into a mocking smile as she addressed the group of candidates. "The Chuunin Exam isn't some kind of playground game. People die all the time—it's completely normal, isn't it?"

"If you're scared…it's simple: just come back next year."

Faced with Anko's sarcasm, the crowd fell silent.

Come again next year? Who's to say they wouldn't die next year?

These candidates had all passed the first exam and demonstrated strong psychological resilience. Yet, despite the looming threat, none of them backed out.

After a moment, everyone signed the Scroll of Life and Death.

Seeing no one back down, Mitarashi Anko couldn't help but smirk. "Very good, it seems there are no cowards. You wastes aren't entirely useless after all."

"…"

The candidates glared at Mitarashi Anko with resentment. If she weren't their examiner, they would've shown her who the real wastes were.

Of course, Anko didn't know what her candidates were thinking, but if she did… it would only make her more amused.

"The rules of the second test are simple: collect two sets of scrolls marked with 'Heaven' and 'Earth,' then take both to the tower in the center of the Forest of Death to pass."

"Each team will receive one scroll. The only way to get the other is by stealing it from other teams!"

"There are no rules on how to plunder. You can attack, assassinate, poison, or beat them up—anything goes! Life or death, it doesn't matter!"

Anko's emphasis on "life or death" sent a heavy, dangerous vibe through the air, but no one flinched.

By now, everyone understood Anko's intimidation tactics. They'd seen this side of her before and knew she was just all talk. On the surface, she appeared strong, but they knew her strength only went so far.

Unlike the first exam, which was monitored closely by the invigilator, the second test had no such oversight. Anko couldn't keep her eyes on them in real-time once the battle began. So they weren't afraid of her—they were more worried about their opponents in the Forest of Death.

Especially Gekko Kazuki.

Kazuki wasn't just ruthless; he wouldn't hesitate to kill during an exam. Even Konoha, known for its leniency, would turn a blind eye to his actions. Nobody wanted to face Gekko Kazuki, knowing full well the stark difference in their abilities.

There was simply no contest!

A Jounin fighting alongside a bunch of Genin in a Chunin exam was just unfair.

Soon, each team lined up to receive their scrolls, and the atmosphere grew tense. Teams eyed each other, trying to gather as much information as possible before the exam officially began.

When Team 7's turn came, Kazuki boldly took their scroll marked with "Heaven." Unlike other teams that tried to be discreet, Kazuki flaunted his scroll, showing it off to everyone.

Some teams with the 'Earth' scroll eyed him greedily, but their confidence quickly waned as they saw Kazuki's devilish grin. Nobody dared to challenge him for his scroll.

Nearby, Mitarashi Anko frowned at Kazuki's blatant display. "This kid… he's way too arrogant. Sooner or later, he's going to pay for not knowing when to keep his head down."

Who wasn't a genius at one point? But there's always someone better.

Take Hatake Kakashi, for example. A prodigy at twelve, a Jounin at that age, yet years later, his peers had almost caught up. You can't stay a genius forever—there's always someone ready to knock you down.

Kazuki wasn't just a genius—his abilities were something else entirely.

Anko couldn't even fathom that Kazuki's current strength was just a fraction of what he could do. He wasn't hiding his talents to build a foundation; he was already on top, and playing coy wouldn't change a thing.

Kazuki exposed his scroll on purpose, inviting teams to challenge him. After all, tracking down the opposing scroll wasn't easy, and finding the matching 'Earth' scroll could take fighting multiple teams.

But with his reputation, few were foolish enough to take the bait. Those that were tempted would soon find themselves marked as Kazuki's primary targets.

Some teams, realizing this, quietly backed away, avoiding direct confrontation with Kazuki. They just hoped someone else would fall victim to his rampage.

Kazuki memorized the faces of those showing hesitation, two of which stood out.

Both were from the Hidden Grass Village but belonged to different teams. One had long hair and an androgynous appearance, with cold eyes like a snake. It was clear that this was Orochimaru in disguise.

The other was a girl with striking red hair—Karin, the captive healer of the Grass Village.

Kazuki knew Orochimaru's true intent was to get Sasuke. Kazuki debated whether he should allow Orochimaru to succeed with the Curse Seal, considering both his and Sasuke's current strength could resist Orochimaru's plans.

The Curse Seal, connected to Jugo's power and natural energy, wasn't just a curse; it was a form of Sage Mode. If Sasuke could master it, Kazuki would have a chance to amplify its effects—potentially reaching power levels rivaling that of true magic.

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+70 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg

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