Chapter 83

"Before the third exam, try not to conflict with Gekko Kazuki. Especially you, Gaara, if your identity is exposed before the plan, all the preparations we have made will be in vain!"

Baki told the three of them.

Temari and Kankuro both nodded. Knowing Kazuki's terror, they naturally wouldn't bother looking for him to cause trouble.

As for Gaara, he finally suppressed the bloodthirsty excitement in his heart and nodded lightly.

"Mom, just wait. I'll let you taste better blood soon…"

…

Somewhere in Konoha,

Yakushi Kabuto, who had just finished his exam, returned to his residence in disguise. He looked around cautiously and pressed a hidden switch after ensuring he was not being followed. The next moment, a stone wall slowly moved, revealing a hidden passage!

Kabuto stepped into it familiarly and walked through the dark tunnel to the depths of the cave. As the firelight flickered, the scene inside the cave gradually appeared—utensils, jars filled with strange liquids, and all kinds of weird instruments! This was a hidden research room, and the owner of this laboratory was Konoha's S-level rogue ninja—Orochimaru!

"Kabuto, it seems that the plan is not going well?"

Orochimaru was tinkering with something alone in front of the instrument, but he knew who the visitor was without turning around.

"Lord Orochimaru!"

"Something went wrong."

Kabuto replied respectfully.

"About whom? Gaara? Baki? Uchiha Sasuke? Or Gekko Kazuki?"

"Kazuki."

Kabuto replied, "Lord Orochimaru, I think all of us have underestimated his strength and talent!"

"Oh? Is his strength really superior to Uchiha Sasuke?"

"Uchiha Sasuke has never taken action, but judging from his status among the three of them, this should be the case. Sasuke is very conceited. Unless someone is stronger than him, he wouldn't allow them to lead him!"

Orochimaru stopped what he was doing and looked up, his hands stained with fresh blood from his latest experiment.

"Then what's the problem?"

"Kazuki has strength no less than yours!"

There was a brief silence in the cold basement, the flickering firelight casting eerie shadows as if the flames themselves were afraid.

"Kabuto, you know I'm not a joker."

"Orochimaru-sama, I'm not kidding. You know I never joke."

Orochimaru stared at Kabuto for a long time before finally trusting his judgment. As the best spy in his ranks, Orochimaru had no reason to question Kabuto's abilities.

"If this is the case, Kazuki is not a suitable container choice at the moment…"

"They're in the same class as Sasuke, and this might affect our plans to deal with him. By the way, Dōru and the others failed. They tried to infiltrate Kazuki's group before the Chunin exams but were beaten by him."

"Oh? How interesting. He killed someone just because they provoked him. There's more darkness in this boy than I thought. It's a pity he's not easy to provoke, or he would've made a great next container."

"Are you going to give up on Kazuki?"

"No, I like him more and more, and I can't bear to give up! I just need to re-plan, hehe…"

Orochimaru was never one to back down, even when facing opponents of equal strength. The stronger his target, the more excited he became.

…

After successfully passing the first exam, the three members of Team 7 were not very happy, unlike Ino and the others, who were thrilled. Over a hundred Genin from various villages participated in the Chunin Exams, and to advance to the second exam was no small feat.

Even though their instructor, Jounin, told them not to be complacent, he couldn't hide his pride. Leading these fresh graduates to such an achievement in their first year was no easy task.

Yuhi Kurenai and Sarutobi Asuma were pleased, but Kakashi Hatake remained stoic. His subordinates were far beyond average, and this was just the beginning.

The next day at eight, Team 7, notorious for being late, was forced to get up early and head to the second exam site—the Forest of Death! This perilous training ground was filled with dangerous beasts and poisonous creatures, a true test of survival.

As Kazuki and the others arrived, Mitarashi Anko appeared from the shadows.

"Now that everyone is here, come over and sign the life and death certificate!"

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+70 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg

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