Chapter 18: Open Air

"Can't move, damn it."

With his body restrained, Gaara's precarious situation made him prone to going berserk at any moment, but a voice deep in his heart kept stopping him.

Sasuke released the genjutsu and patted Gaara on the head. "The Chunin Exam is a good opportunity. You must seize it."

"Tell me everything about you. You are a man worth killing," Gaara suppressed the uneasiness in his heart and said.

"The name is Uchiha Sasuke."

"You will die miserably, Uchiha Sasuke," Gaara looked at Sasuke seriously, his expression extremely cold.

"Then don't live up to my expectations, little brother," Sasuke said, smiling. He then took out a red rose from his sleeve and handed it to Temari, who appeared slightly nervous. Looking at her pretty face, he said, "This rose suits you, Temari."

"If you can't sleep at night, come to me," Sasuke added, and with that, his figure disappeared from Temari's sight. She looked at the rose in her hand, her face slightly flushed.

She murmured, "Uchiha Sasuke? He's so handsome!"

This rose had a hidden secret. As long as Temari touched it, it would be marked with a special chakra signature arranged by Sasuke. It wouldn't be difficult for him to find her.

Although Temari was still young, she was already developed in many places. Coupled with her fiery temper and a sense of conquest in her demeanor, Sasuke wasn't going to miss this opportunity.

"Temari, what are you doing? That guy just attacked Gaara!" Kankuro saw Temari's face turn red and felt something was wrong. He quickly reminded her, but now Temari couldn't listen at all and was busy thinking about Sasuke's intentions.

Gaara muttered something in boredom and walked away silently, carrying the gourd on his back.

Naruto had been watching the scene unfold, and his emotions were very complicated now. Sasuke hadn't even said hello to him, which hurt his feelings.

He couldn't believe that Sasuke hadn't seen him. Shocked, he ignored Konohamaru and walked toward the examination venue.

The first level for ninja examiners was to test basic abilities, including genjutsu. Sasuke and Yuhi Kurenai passed it easily.

The man in charge of guarding, Mr. Ren, didn't seem to notice and was still chatting with his companions.

The second round of the Chunin Exams officially began. In the large classroom, all the participants were waiting. Sasuke walked in calmly.

"You're almost late."

"Sasuke Uchiha," Morino Ibiki's face showed no emotion.

Everyone's attention was focused on him at that moment.

"Uchiha Sasuke, I didn't expect it to be him."

"I've heard about Uchiha Sasuke. He's the top newcomer in this class."

In the last row, there was a man with purple eyeshadow extending to the corners of his eyes. His piercing gaze was fixed on Sasuke.

Sasuke noticed something, walked around Naruto and Sakura, who were calling him, and sat next to this man.

Slender figure, gorgeous appearance, and pure chakra.

What a perfect body. It is undoubtedly the blood of Uchiha. I didn't expect that this trip would bring such unexpected surprises.

Originally, Orochimaru was just bored and came to experience the atmosphere of the examination room. As a result, he found what he had been dreaming of.

"It's Orochimaru, that's right."

Sasuke carefully sensed the oppressive aura. Although it was deeply hidden, he believed his intuition was correct.

The eye shadow on the man's face, his feminine appearance, and his expression of being in control of everything were all indicators.

Considering everything, it couldn't be anyone other than Orochimaru.

The two sat quietly, but Orochimaru's attention was also on Sasuke. His eyes occasionally turned towards Sasuke.

Has this kid discovered me? Impossible, he may not even have heard of my name.

Orochimaru, you are finally here. Everything is going according to plan.

"Sasuke, this hateful guy, dares to ignore me," Naruto gritted his teeth in frustration as Sasuke ignored him again.

Sakura was calm because she understood Sasuke's character; he was indifferent to everyone.

Sasuke-kun, what have you been through?

"Quiet!"

The stern-looking Morino Ibiki stood on the podium. His loud voice spread throughout the classroom, and everyone fell silent.

"This one is a written test," Ibiki began. "But there's a catch."

Morino Ibiki's cold eyes swept over everyone and finally settled on Sasuke.

"If you fail the written examination, you won't be able to take the Chunin Exam again for the rest of your life."

"You have the right to choose now: leave or continue."

Ibiki's words caused an uproar in the classroom. The thought of being a low-level genin for the rest of their lives was unacceptable to many.

Sasuke raised his chin and watched Ibiki threaten them with indifference.

Although this differed slightly from the original scenario and continued to the final step, the focus of Morino Ibiki's exam was still courage.

Not to mention that he knew what the written test was about; even if he didn't, Sasuke wouldn't panic.

He never judged people based on the ninja rank prescribed by the village. Just because someone is a jonin, it doesn't mean they can defeat every lower-level ninja.

The answer is no.

"Sasuke-kun, aren't you worried? If you fail, your entire future will be over," said the Sound ninja disguised as Orochimaru with a sinister smile.

"There's nothing to worry about."

"It's weaklings like you who should worry about their strength and be careful not to destroy Konoha," Sasuke said with a hint of sarcasm in his tone.

"Haha, Sasuke-kun is really sharp," Orochimaru chuckled.

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