Chapter 73

The giant python that Orochimaru had summoned was the same one from before, massive and terrifying. Its body was as thick as several people clasping hands together, and its eyes, bigger than a human head, gleamed with a predatory gleam.

Orochimaru, however, didn't seem to notice anything unusual. With a calm leap, he jumped onto the snake's head and waved casually to Tsunade and Jiraiya.

"Come on up!"

Whoosh!

Tsunade and Jiraiya followed suit, landing behind Orochimaru. Despite the snake's size and ferocity, neither of them flinched. They had long grown accustomed to Orochimaru's summons and had learned to trust his decisions.

"Are you calling this big snake again? You sure you have enough chakra to keep it going?" Tsunade asked skeptically, still marveling at the size of the creature.

"I wouldn't do anything I wasn't sure of," Orochimaru replied, his tone nonchalant as ever.

With a flick of his wrist, he signaled the giant python to move.

"Let's go" Orochimaru said.

"Yes, Master," the giant python hissed in reply before slithering forward, crashing through the underbrush, uprooting trees, and trampling down everything in its path as it moved deeper into the forest.

From their hidden spot, Inuzuka Zen, Hyuga Ryuichi, and Aburame Shingo watched the massive snake and its riders with wide-eyed disbelief. Even Uchiha Dan, still recovering from his defeat, could only watch in stunned silence as Orochimaru and his team disappeared into the woods on the giant python.

"This… this is insane," Zen whispered, unable to tear his eyes away from the sight. "How does he have this much chakra?"

The three of them exchanged glances, each seeing the same thing reflected in each other's eyes fear.

"What kind of monster is he?" Shingo muttered.

Zen subconsciously glanced down at his own companion, the small yellow dog named Kiku. The Inuzuka clan were known for their bond with their canine companions, and the dogs they raised were battle-hardened and courageous. Yet now, Kiku was trembling uncontrollably at his feet, visibly terrified by the presence of Orochimaru's snake.

Zen quickly bent down, patting Kiku's head to soothe him. "It's okay, it's okay…"

"Zen, take a look," Ryuichi suddenly said, his tone sharp.

"What's wrong?"

"Look at the direction they're headed."

Zen looked up, confused. "Isn't that the way to the central tower?"

Ryuichi shook his head. "No. The direction they're going in… it's not towards the central tower."

---

Inside the tower at the center of the Forest of Death, the Third Hokage stood on the lower floor, listening to the examiners' reports on the past few days of the Chunin Selection Exam. Surrounding him were a handful of Konoha Jounin, with ANBU members hidden in the shadows, ready to intervene at a moment's notice.

"Today is the fifth day," the Hokage mused aloud, his brow furrowing as he glanced at the four teams standing before him. "Only four teams have completed their mission so far?"

The Third Hokage found this odd. Of the eighty teams that had entered the Forest of Death, even if half were eliminated, there should still be at least twenty teams that had succeeded by now. Yet here stood only four, and what was more concerning was that his own disciples Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya were not among them.

It didn't make sense. He knew better than anyone the strength of his students. For them not to have completed the mission yet was not only unusual it was a little embarrassing, considering their potential.

The Hokage's gaze swept across the four teams present. The first to arrive had been Hatake Sakumo's team, who had reached the tower on the second day. Following them, Zen's team had arrived on the third day, and then Nara Shikaku' team on the fourth day. Uchiha Dan's team had only just made it in that morning.

The Hokage glanced over at the examiners. "What about the other teams?"

The examiner stepped forward and spoke respectfully, "Many have either been eliminated due to injury or lack of scrolls, Hokage-sama. As for the rest…"

BOOM!

A sudden explosion shook the ground, interrupting the examiner mid-sentence.

"What was that?" the Hokage snapped, his hand immediately resting on the hilt of his staff.

"Enemy attack?" one of the Jounin called out, springing into action.

"Protect Lord Hokage!" shouted another as two ANBU operatives appeared at the Third Hokage's side, weapons drawn. Two more ANBU darted outside the tower to investigate the disturbance.

The examiners quickly moved to shield the remaining candidates, urging them into defensive positions.

---

"Help me! Please, just save me!"

A Konoha ninja, his face streaked with dirt and panic, was fleeing desperately through the jungle. His clothes were torn, and his movements were frantic as he stumbled through the underbrush. Behind him, a giant python slithered after him, its enormous body crashing through the trees as it pursued him relentlessly.

"That's…"

The two ANBU who had rushed out of the tower door spotted the giant snake immediately, their eyes widening in disbelief.

"How is there such a monster in the Forest of Death?" one of them asked, stunned.

"We need to take it down," the other ANBU said, already preparing to engage.

"Wait! Look closely at its head!" the first ANBU warned, stopping his companion just in time.

The second ANBU glanced up, eyes narrowing as he followed the warning.

On top of the giant snake's head lay a figure, one they hadn't noticed at first. As the snake moved closer, it became clearer.

Someone was riding the snake.

The two ANBU operatives exchanged looks of shock, disbelief in their eyes.