The classroom was packed.
Dozens of teams from every hidden village filled the room, each carrying a different air of confidence.
Some spoke openly with their teammates, others sat in complete silence, carefully observing everyone around them.
Naruto scanned the room.
The Hidden Sand.
The Hidden Rain.
The Hidden Grass.
The Hidden Sound.
Every piece on the board was present.
Even those who didn’t belong.
“So many chakra signatures…”
Kurama muttered.
Naruto silently agreed.
“And one of them is pretending.”
Kurama didn’t need to ask who.
Orochimaru.
Somewhere inside this building, the Legendary Sannin was already hiding beneath another face.
Naruto couldn’t sense him.
Not yet.
That was what made Orochimaru terrifying.
His ability to erase his presence bordered on unnatural.
“Don’t search for him.”
Kurama suddenly warned.
Naruto paused.
“He’ll notice.”
Naruto nodded almost imperceptibly.
“Right.”
The snake hunted by waiting for prey to reveal itself.
Naruto had no intention of making that mistake.
A familiar voice interrupted his thoughts.
“Mind if I sit here?”
Naruto looked up.
Kabuto Yakushi smiled warmly while adjusting his glasses.
The same friendly expression.
The same harmless appearance.
Naruto couldn’t help but admire how convincing it still was.
“Go ahead.”
Kabuto sat beside Team Seven.
“I heard this is your first Chunin Exam.”
Sakura nodded.
“It is.”
Kabuto smiled.
“Mine too.”
Naruto nearly laughed.
Liar.
Kurama snorted.
“You’ve gotten much better at hiding your reactions.”
“I’ve had practice.”
Kabuto reached into his pouch.
“I’ve gathered some information on the other participants.”
He held up a stack of Ninja Info Cards.
“Would you like to see?”
Sakura’s eyes widened.
“You have information on everyone?”
“Not everyone.”
Kabuto smiled modestly.
“But quite a few.”
Just as in the original timeline, several nearby teams gathered around him.
Naruto watched quietly.
Kabuto was playing his role perfectly.
Helpful.
Friendly.
Reliable.
Exactly the kind of person nobody questioned.
Kabuto looked toward Sasuke.
“Anyone you’re interested in?”
Without hesitation—
“Gaara.”
Naruto looked at Sasuke in surprise.
Interesting.
Kabuto searched through the cards before revealing one.
“Gaara of the Sand.”
The room became noticeably quieter.
Kabuto continued.
“Completed every mission without injury.”
“No known wounds.”
“Promotion record: flawless.”
“Current mission success rate…”
He paused briefly.
“…one hundred percent.”
Even experienced genin exchanged uneasy glances.
Kabuto adjusted his glasses.
“There are rumors…”
His voice lowered.
“…that every opponent he’s fought has died.”
Sakura swallowed.
Sasuke remained expressionless.
Naruto simply looked toward the back of the room.
Gaara stood silently with his arms crossed.
As if sensing Naruto’s gaze, he slowly looked over.
Again…
Their eyes met.
This time, Gaara didn’t look away.
Neither did Naruto.
For several long seconds, they simply stared at one another.
Then…
Gaara frowned.
Not in anger.
Confusion.
Inside his mind, Shukaku stirred.
“That’s him.”
Gaara spoke inwardly.
“Who?”
“The brat carrying Kurama.”
Gaara’s expression changed ever so slightly.
“He doesn’t hate me.”
Shukaku laughed.
“No.”
“He pities you.”
Gaara didn’t understand.
Why would anyone pity him?
He was a weapon.
A monster.
Everyone feared him.
That was all he had ever known.
Yet…
The blond boy’s eyes contained neither fear nor hatred.
Only compassion.
It unsettled him.
Kabuto noticed the exchange.
Interesting.
Naruto wasn’t intimidated by Gaara.
Quite the opposite.
It was as though he already understood him.
Kabuto silently committed the observation to memory.
Before anyone could continue, the classroom door slammed open.
A terrifying burst of chakra filled the room.
Conversations stopped instantly.
Several candidates instinctively stepped backward.
A woman with long purple hair entered, wearing a dark trench coat over her Konoha jonin uniform.
Her expression was fierce.
Her scar-like smile only added to the intimidation.
“I am your first examiner.”
She looked around the room.
“Anko Mitarashi.”
The room fell silent.
“So…”
She clapped once.
Nobody answered.
“Wrong.”
A grin spread across Anko’s face.
“I’m going to make at least half of you regret coming.”
Several candidates visibly paled.
Naruto smiled faintly.
She hadn’t changed.
Loud.
Confident.
And secretly kind beneath it all.
Anko began distributing consent forms.
“If you die during the second exam…”
She shrugged.
“…that’s your problem.”
Sakura’s eyes widened.
“Die?”
Anko laughed.
“Oh.”
“You thought these exams were safe?”
Her grin widened further.
“Cute.”
The room grew noticeably colder.
Naruto quietly signed his form.
His handwriting was steady.
Not even the mention of death affected him anymore.
He had died once already.
Across the room, Kabuto noticed.
Everyone else had shown hesitation.
Fear.
Anxiety.
Naruto hadn’t.
Not even for a moment.
Kabuto adjusted his glasses.
“Definitely not normal…”
Once every form had been collected, Anko rolled up a large map.
“The second exam will take place at Training Area Forty-Four.”
A murmur spread through the room.
“The Forest of Death.”
Even seasoned candidates stiffened.
Anko smiled with unmistakable satisfaction.
“Now you’re getting nervous.”
Naruto looked out the window.
The Forest of Death.
Where Orochimaru would strike.
Where Sasuke would receive the Curse Mark.
Where countless futures would begin to unravel.
Kurama spoke quietly.
“This is it.”
Naruto nodded.
“Yeah.”
His blue eyes hardened with resolve.
“This is where history changes again.”
Far away, hidden among the branches overlooking the massive forest, a lone figure watched the setting sun.
Long black hair.
Pale skin.
Golden eyes.
Orochimaru slowly smiled.
“The stage is ready.”
He removed the face of the Grass shinobi he had stolen, letting it fall lifelessly to the ground.
Tomorrow…
He would finally meet the two boys who had captured his interest.
One possessed the Sharingan.
The other…
A mystery even he couldn’t solve.
Orochimaru’s smile widened.
“I do hope you exceed my expectations…”
His laughter echoed softly through the trees.
The Forest of Death awaited.
And within its shadows…
A serpent prepared to rewrite destiny alongside a boy who had already done the same.