192

*Chapter 192: A One-Man Exam Room! 1*

+300 (150)

The numbers before Sasuke’s eyes began to fluctuate.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…  

Purple chakra emanated from Sasuke, surrounding him like a skeletal figure. This chakra formed armor around its body and donned a tengu mask on its head.

Inside the armor, Sasuke’s flesh and veins became more refined, gradually forming a complete entity.

Steady!  

In an instant, with a single thought, Sasuke’s purple Susano’o materialized before Orochimaru. Sasuke’s Susano’o had entered its third stage. Except for its feet, it completely enveloped him.

The size of the Susano’o was enormous, but it was still slightly shorter than Orochimaru’s Yamata no Jutsu.

“This is…”

The snake eyes of the eight-headed serpent revealed astonishment. Orochimaru had never seen such a technique before—it was incredibly novel.

“Orochimaru,” Sasuke said coldly.

“As expected from one of the legendary Sannin.”

“Now, you’re qualified to witness the power of the Uchiha!”

As Sasuke’s icy voice echoed, his Susano’o raised both hands.

In its right hand appeared a purple longsword—the Totsuka Blade.

In its left hand emerged a circular shield, the Yata Mirror, completing the set of the two legendary items.

These weapons were the same ones used by Uchiha Itachi in the anime to defeat Orochimaru.

+310 (155)

The numbers in Sasuke’s vision continued to increase rapidly. In this battle against Orochimaru, he had harvested a significant amount of system points.

Whoosh!  

At that moment, one of the eight heads of Orochimaru’s serpent opened its mouth wide. From within emerged a figure—it was Orochimaru himself.

“Ahahahaha!” Orochimaru laughed maniacally, his heart swelling with power after using the Yamata no Jutsu.

Excitement.

Amazement.

Orochimaru had originally believed Sasuke, being so young, would need several more years to develop fully.

He didn’t expect Sasuke to be so powerful already!

This was beyond satisfying!

In an instant, the other seven heads of the serpent lunged at Sasuke’s Susano’o with full force.

“Orochimaru, at this point, you no longer have any value,” Sasuke said, his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan staring indifferently at Orochimaru.

As he spoke, his tone revealed his strategy. From the beginning, Sasuke had been holding back—gradually revealing surprises to accumulate as many system points as possible in this critical event.

Now…

With such a commotion, it was time to end things.

Delaying further might attract the Third Hokage.

As the eight-headed serpent launched its attack, Sasuke raised the Yata Mirror in his Susano’o’s left hand.

The Yata Mirror was a defensive artifact of incredible strength. It could repel ninjutsu and, when combined with the already defensive Susano’o, became an impenetrable fortress.

Boom!  

Several of the serpent’s heads collided with the purple Yata Mirror, causing a massive explosion of sound.

+320 (160)

The numbers in Sasuke’s vision jumped once more.

“This defensive power…” Orochimaru’s narrow snake-like eyes shifted subtly.

At this point, he was beginning to realize—

Sasuke’s strength might surpass his own!

“How is that possible?”

Orochimaru’s exhilaration turned into clarity. It was like being pulled back from the edge of triumph, drenched in cold water.

Something felt wrong!

Orochimaru started to sense that he might not be able to win this battle.

The thought alone sent cold sweat streaming down his forehead.

“No… Impossible…”

Orochimaru shook his head repeatedly. He had unwavering confidence in his power.

He was one of the legendary Sannin.

He possessed Kage-level strength!

How could he lose to a twelve-year-old boy?

Orochimaru’s pride refused to accept such a reality.

But then…

Sasuke swung the Totsuka Blade in his Susano’o’s right hand, the blade crackling with deep purple lightning.

“Lightning Style: Chidori!”

---

---

*Sizzle, Sizzle, Sizzle...*

In an instant.

Terrifying electricity spread across Sasuke's blade, and the sword itself seemed to transform into pure lightning.

Swish!  

Sasuke swung the Totsuka Blade in his hand toward the Yamata no Orochi. The terrifying lightning split the void, like a thunderbolt streaking across the sky.

Squelch!  

In that moment.

Seven of the Yamata no Orochi's heads were severed cleanly.

Only one head remained, with Orochimaru standing proudly within the serpent's mouth.

*+330 (165)*

*+1000 (500)*

Numbers flickered before Sasuke's eyes, jumping twice in succession.

This "1000 points" had appeared earlier, and now it showed up again.

Sasuke didn’t fully understand the source of these points.

But...

It didn’t matter!

Who cares?

Who would complain about earning too many points?!

“Sasuke!”

“You’re much stronger than I expected!”

“What an impressive talent you are!”

Orochimaru spat out a mouthful of blood. Though the loss of seven heads from the Yamata no Orochi wasn’t fatal, it was still a severe blow.

But...

At this moment, Orochimaru realized something.

He was no longer Sasuke’s match!

Regret.

An overwhelming sense of loss.

Orochimaru had always treated Sasuke as prey. Even during their battle, he maintained a playful attitude.

But he had never imagined...

That in the end, he was the one being hunted!

“Orochimaru.”

“Perhaps you’ll revive someday.”

“But for now, you’re not escaping!”

“This is the gift I’ve prepared for you!”

“The Totsuka Blade!”

Sasuke thrust the lightning-clad Totsuka Blade toward Orochimaru with a sudden strike.

Squelch!  

In an instant.

The Totsuka Blade pierced through Orochimaru’s body, impaling him completely.

*+340 (170)*

The numbers before Sasuke’s eyes jumped once again.

“The Totsuka Blade?!”

Orochimaru’s eyes widened in shock, his snake-like pupils filled with fear and panic.

“This is truly the Totsuka Blade!”

Orochimaru could feel his body being completely restrained.

“The Totsuka Blade is a spiritual sword with no physical form. You used Lightning Release to disguise its intangible nature, tricking me into thinking it was an ordinary weapon!”

“The legendary blade that seals everything it pierces into a drunken dream-like illusionary world!”

“A sword with sealing capabilities!”

Orochimaru spoke in terror. As he spoke, his body twisted and contorted, being pulled relentlessly by the Totsuka Blade’s powerful suction force.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!  

Orochimaru’s body began to be drawn toward the gourd in the right hand of Sasuke’s Susano'o.

That gourd was the world of dreams.

“Why?!”

Orochimaru let out a final, unwilling roar.

“Why did you wait until now to use such a powerful spiritual blade like the Totsuka Blade?!”

“You could’ve won long ago!”

“Why toy with me for so long?!”

Orochimaru’s voice echoed through the heavens and earth.

Before long.

Both Orochimaru, the entire Yamata no Orochi, and the severed snake heads on the ground were all sucked into the gourd.

Boom!  

Sasuke’s Susano'o sealed the gourd with its lid.

“I told you from the beginning.”

“You are my prey.”

“I was merely playing with my prey a little longer.”

“Killing the prey immediately from the start—how boring would that be?”

Sasuke spoke calmly, his voice traveling through the gourd and into Orochimaru’s consciousness.

*+350 (175)*

In the next moment.

Sasuke deactivated his Susano'o, and the massive purple form dissipated instantly.

Ding, ding!  

A sound, symbolic of gaining knowledge, echoed in Sasuke’s mind.

“My chakra is completely depleted!”

Sasuke hurriedly opened his system interface and added one point to his Spirit attribute.

The third stage of Susano'o was incredibly taxing on chakra.

---

*Chapter 192: A One-Man Exam Room! 2*

--

However, this was something Sasuke could still accept.

It was the Totsuka Blade that directly drained the last bit of chakra from him.

After all, the current Orochimaru was at the peak of his strength, a stark contrast to the suppressed Orochimaru who faced Itachi.

It’s over!

Sasuke looked at the battlefield, marked by scars of destruction, and let out a slight sigh of relief.

The commotion caused by the Chūnin Exams was coming to an end.

Now it was time to wrap up the second round of the exams!

He perked up his ears.

Sasuke heard rapid footsteps approaching, swift and purposeful.

Someone was coming!

And it was only one person!

Not weak, either.

It probably wasn’t an exam candidate. Sasuke quickly assessed the situation and flipped his wrist to pull out a Flying Thunder God kunai. He leapt onto a branch and planted the kunai into it.

Whoosh!

Sasuke jumped, maintaining a safe distance from the approaching figure.

Then.

Sasuke stood on a tree branch, his eyes silently observing the situation ahead.

…

Anko was sprinting toward the battlefield, her thoughts so anxious that her mind felt clogged.

As she neared her destination—

A massive purple skeletal chakra structure came into view.

Such an overwhelming aura.

Her pace faltered instinctively, and her steps slowed down.

What happened next left her utterly stunned.

A single slash.

A flash of lightning.

Seven serpent heads were severed and fell to the ground.

At that moment, Anko’s heart confirmed it—Orochimaru was fighting someone, and that opponent was even stronger than Orochimaru.

She sped up again.

The only thing driving Anko forward now was her role as the proctor of the second round of the exam.

The Forest of Death was filled with exam candidates.

Some of them were strong.

Even just Orochimaru’s presence was enough to command everyone’s attention, let alone the fact that there was someone even more terrifying than him.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!  

Anko weaved through the trees at high speed, the gap closing rapidly. She was now close enough to see the purple chakra structure clearly.

But.

At that moment.

The eight-headed serpent of Orochimaru twisted and disappeared abruptly.

Almost immediately after.

The purple skeletal chakra structure vanished as well.

The two opposing forces in the forest suddenly disappeared without a trace.

“What’s going on?”

Anko rushed to the scene of the battle, her eyes scanning the wreckage on the ground.

The only way to describe it was catastrophic.

The battlefield was littered with craters and scars of various sizes.

But there were no corpses.

None of the combatants were anywhere to be seen.

“???”

Anko stood in the middle of the battlefield, her mind filled with confusion. She hadn’t fully grasped or understood what had just transpired.

“Could the fight really be over?”

She looked around but saw no signs of life.

“That doesn’t make sense!”

“How could a battle of this level end so quickly?”

“Could it be…”

Anko’s eyes widened as a bold thought crossed her mind.

“Did they sense that I, the proctor, was coming and decided to flee to avoid me?”

The thought flashed through Anko’s mind, but she dismissed it almost immediately. Even she didn’t truly believe it.

Still…

The situation was unnervingly strange.

She had just arrived.

And now the people were gone!

This gave Anko an indescribable feeling, as if the battle had only stopped because of her presence.

It was as if her arrival had put an end to the fight.

…

From his perch on a tree branch, Sasuke saw Anko’s figure from afar.

As he watched her land in the center of the battlefield, he immediately activated the Flying Thunder God Technique, teleporting directly to the location where the Rain Village shinobi had died.

Now wasn’t the time to confront Anko.

There was something far more important to do.

Sasuke turned and began sprinting in the direction opposite of where he had clashed with Orochimaru.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!  

Sasuke dashed through the forest, moving quickly while keeping his ears open for any sounds around him.

He was searching for someone.

Orochimaru’s scroll had been destroyed.

Whatever scroll it was.

At most, six other scrolls were still out there.

---

*The Hunt Continues!*

Sasuke had already made up his mind: he would eliminate every single examinee during the second round of the Chūnin Selection Exams.

This was a Chūnin Exam with no third round!

Unprecedented.

Unrepeatable!

Sasuke had already dealt with Gaara, Kabuto, and Orochimaru, one after another.

Gaara was merely incapacitated, while Kabuto and Orochimaru had lost their lives.

However...

Sasuke knew very well:

Kabuto was truly dead!

Orochimaru, on the other hand, was probably not entirely gone.

As for whether Orochimaru would have the chance to come back, that would depend entirely on Sasuke's mood.

Suddenly.

Sasuke's ears picked up on faint sounds.

These noises were incredibly subtle—light breathing—but there were several individuals making them.

"It's them!"

Sasuke immediately deduced that the sounds likely belonged to ninjas from another village.

Whoosh!  

Sasuke's figure disappeared in a flash, swiftly reappearing in another part of the forest.

Standing amidst the trees, Sasuke stopped, his ears clearly picking up the breathing sounds.

"Come out."

Sasuke spoke calmly, his tone indifferent. These ninjas thought they were well-hidden, hoping to launch a sneak attack on him.

+20 (10)  

As soon as Sasuke finished speaking, a numerical value appeared before his eyes, rapidly increasing.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!  

At that moment—

Several figures dressed in black night-ops attire emerged from the ground, each one looking almost identical.

They wore headbands from the Hidden Rain Village, had white bandages covering their eyes, and bit down on special breathing apparatuses.

The faint noises Sasuke had heard earlier came from these devices.

One figure after another emerged, each holding a kunai in hand.

They advanced step by step, closing in on Sasuke with their weapons raised.

"Too weak…"

Sasuke shook his head in disappointment. These half-human, half-ghost-like creatures were something he had seen in anime before.

They were the same Hidden Rain Village ninjas that Team 7 had encountered in the Forest of Death.

Their reliance on camouflage, the patterns on their night-ops attire, and illusions created through genjutsu was laughable.

This level of genjutsu—

Sasuke didn’t even need his Sharingan to see through it!

"I don’t even feel like playing along with your tricks."

Sasuke’s tone was cold and indifferent. After facing two Hokage and Orochimaru,

This felt like nothing more than a snack after a feast.

---

Chapter 192: A One-Man Exam Room! 3  

At this moment, a bowl of soggy instant noodles was placed in front of him.  

It was utterly tasteless.  

Completely unappetizing.  

+30 (15)  

The numbers before Sasuke's eyes suddenly jumped. His earlier comment had been judged by the system as "showing off."  

Instantly—  

Sasuke's eyelid twitched.  

This time, he really hadn’t intended to show off!  

Sasuke shook his head lightly. It seemed that, to the three hidden Rain Village ninjas lurking in the shadows, his earlier remark had somehow come across as pretentious.  

"So be it!"  

"If you’re going to decide that I’m showing off—"  

"Then I might as well go all out!"  

Sasuke immediately formed hand seals with both hands. Rather than launching a direct attack on the three Rain Village ninjas, he opted for a jutsu he rarely used in combat.  

Not just any jutsu—  

It was a forbidden technique!  

In Sasuke's mind, however, this was more of a supportive ability.  

"Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu!"  

Sasuke’s thin lips parted as he spoke in a calm tone. The moment his voice echoed, hundreds, no—thousands of Sasukes appeared throughout the forest.  

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!  

The clones filled the woods, each standing before an illusion or directly confronting the three Rain Village ninjas.  

+40 (20)  

The numbers before Sasuke's eyes jumped again. The system had deemed the sudden appearance of his clones another act of showing off.  

"Three rats hiding in the shadows—feel the beauty of a one-sided beatdown!"  

All the clones spoke in unison.  

Then—  

One by one, they charged at the three Rain Village ninjas, their approach simple and brutally direct—a relentless flurry of punches and kicks.  

+50 (25)  

As Sasuke fought, the points on his system display kept climbing. He kept at it for three to four minutes straight.  

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!  

Accompanied by the sound of bursting air, Sasuke’s clones all vanished and returned to his body.  

In front of him—  

The three Rain Village ninjas were bruised and battered, their limbs twisted at horrifying angles. They were completely incapacitated.  

"I’m taking your scroll."  

Sasuke retrieved a Scroll of Heaven from their belongings.  

Including the three Scrolls of Heaven he had already collected and one he had destroyed earlier—  

He now had a total of five Scrolls of Heaven.  

Whoosh!  

With a flick of his wrist, the scroll was stored in his private storage space. Without hesitation, Sasuke set off to hunt down his next target.  

As time passed—  

One by one, members of the Anbu squad entered the Forest of Death and rendezvoused at the scene where they had clashed with Anko.  

They were accompanied by the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.  

The Third Hokage had rushed over as soon as he received Anko's report about Orochimaru.  

For a good reason—  

Orochimaru's presence was a wild card that could completely disrupt his carefully laid plans and throw off the rhythm of the Chūnin Exams.  

However—  

The Third Hokage had no idea—  

The rhythm of his plans was already in chaos!  

"What exactly happened here?"  

The Third Hokage surveyed the devastation before him, his face growing grim. With just one glance, he could tell that the damage was far beyond the capabilities of an ordinary Chūnin-level fight.  

"I’m not sure..."  

Anko shook her head. She had been standing guard here the entire time but hadn’t seen a single person.  

If it weren’t for the wreckage left behind by the battle—  

It would’ve seemed as if nothing had happened at all!  

"Can you confirm it was Orochimaru?"  

The Third Hokage gave Anko a deep look. His tone was low and heavy, clearly reflecting his unease.  

The Chūnin Exams held exceptional significance for him.  

Any disruptions during the exams could jeopardize the future of the Hokage position—a risk he could not afford.  

"Confirm... and yet not confirm..."  

Anko’s expression turned complicated. She glanced at the Third Hokage, looking a bit embarrassed.  

"Get to the point."  

The Third Hokage frowned deeply. He had no patience for riddles and just wanted to know what was going on.  

"From the traces left on the Grass Village ninjas’ corpses, the methods are highly consistent with Orochimaru’s."  

"During the battle, I also saw the Eight-Headed Serpent Technique."  

"However—"  

"I never once saw Orochimaru himself. Everything is based on indirect evidence!"  

"Most importantly..."  

Anko paused mid-sentence, reaching up to touch the curse mark on her neck.  

"It doesn’t hurt at all."  

This was a crucial detail for Anko—a reason why she wasn’t entirely certain it was Orochimaru.  

Because of the curse mark's existence, Anko could always sense Orochimaru whenever she got close to him.  

Typically, the curse mark would burn with searing pain.  

But this time...  

It didn’t react at all!  

"If it’s not Orochimaru, then who could it be?"  

The Third Hokage’s gaze grew heavier with a serious expression. While he couldn’t completely dismiss the possibility that it was Orochimaru, he also wondered if someone was disguising themselves as Orochimaru to mislead him into making the wrong judgment.  

"Let’s head to the tower," he said firmly. Normally, he would have attended the second exam after it concluded, but now he was arriving four days early.  

"Yes!"  

Anko responded quickly. Her focus remained on the curse mark on her neck, but it showed no reaction whatsoever.  

Could it be...  

It wasn’t Orochimaru? 

Was her judgment wrong?  

Anko began to doubt herself, never even considering the possibility that Orochimaru might have been eliminated before she reached him.  

Meanwhile...  

Sasuke had taken down four more groups of foreign ninja, collecting three Earth Scrolls and two Heaven Scrolls.  

After a quick calculation, he realized there were only four Heaven Scrolls and three Earth Scrolls left out in the field.  

In total, there were just three complete sets of scrolls remaining!  

"It seems someone from the village has already gathered a full set. No surprise—it’s the Legendary Twelve!"  

While hunting, Sasuke had already noticed the movements of the Leaf’s "Rookie Twelve." However, he hadn’t gone out of his way to confront them.  

Foreign ninjas come first! 

That was Sasuke’s thought process. He couldn’t justify targeting his own comrades from the Leaf just yet.  

Now, there were only three teams left to check—Team 8, Team 10, and Team Guy.  

Of course...  

Team 8 had briefly crossed paths with Gaara, but that didn’t rule out the possibility they had obtained another scroll since then.  

Time to investigate!  

Sasuke’s first target was Team 8.  

Their counter-surveillance measures were glaringly obvious!  

When Sasuke dealt with the previous group of ninjas, he could clearly sense someone watching him nearby.  

The intention wasn’t to approach him...  

It was to avoid him!  

Other than the highly skilled reconnaissance abilities of Team 8, Sasuke couldn’t think of any other possibility.  

Whoosh!  

Sasuke suddenly sped up, racing toward Team 8’s location at incredible speed, leaving afterimages in his wake.  

At that moment, Team 8 was hiding in the bushes, trying to avoid Sasuke.  

Hinata Hyuga’s Byakugan was activated, scanning the surroundings.  

"He’s coming!"  

Her voice carried a tinge of panic.  

"Who’s coming?"  

Kiba Inuzuka felt a wave of unease wash over him. As he spoke, Akamaru jumped into his arms, trembling and refusing to poke his head out.  

"Sasuke is coming," Shino Aburame said in his typically calm yet unnerved tone, already sensing it through his insects.  

"Then what are we waiting for? Run!"  

Kiba bolted, not wanting to face Sasuke again. In his mind, Sasuke was even scarier than Gaara.  

"It’s too late."  

Hinata gave a bitter smile. She could see Sasuke’s figure rapidly closing the distance.  

Whoosh!  

Suddenly...  

A gust of wind swept by.  

Sasuke appeared directly in front of Kiba, startling him so much that he stumbled backward and fell to the ground.  

"S-Sasuke..."  

Kiba stuttered, his face pale with fear as he stared at Sasuke.  

+50 (25)  

A number flashed before Sasuke’s eyes, starting at an already high 50 points.  

Looks like...  

Kiba has a very "strong" impression of me, Sasuke thought smugly.  

"Kiba, don’t be scared. We’re old classmates, aren’t we?"  

Sasuke waved his hand casually and spread his arms, signaling that he had no hostile intentions.  

From within Kiba’s jacket, Akamaru peeked out timidly, his wide, watery eyes fixed on Sasuke, too scared to make a sound.  

"You’re absolutely right, Akamaru," Sasuke said, giving the dog a thumbs-up.  

+60 (30)  

"..." 

All three members of Team 8 were speechless, but none of them dared to say anything.  

Even Akamaru, who hadn’t said a word, didn’t dare to protest.  

Chapter 192: A One-Man Exam Room! 4  

“I’m here for one thing: hand over the scrolls in your possession!”  

Sasuke spread out his hand, his demeanor exuding the air of a domineering overlord, poised to seize what he desired by force.  

+70 (35)  

As soon as Sasuke mentioned the scrolls, the expressions of every member of Team 8 subtly changed.  

“We don’t have any scrolls on us!”  

Kiba Inuzuka spoke up immediately. Among the group, he was the only one capable of responding, as the other two had fallen into a deep silence.  

“Are you sure?”  

Sasuke pressed, his voice laced with a faint trace of chakra, subtly infused with genjutsu.  

His mastery of genjutsu had already reached SSS rank, allowing him to deploy illusions with ease through mere gestures—a skill that surpassed even the legendary Uchiha Itachi.  

However, Sasuke refrained from using high-level genjutsu. Against Kiba, such measures were unnecessary.  

+80 (40)  

The numbers before Sasuke’s eyes jumped again.  

“I’m telling the truth! We’ve been too busy avoiding you to even think about collecting scrolls!”  

Kiba spoke with a hint of grievance, unknowingly led by the genjutsu to reveal the truth.  

“Very well.”  

Sasuke nodded, casting a deep glance at Kiba before dispelling the genjutsu. Then, he shifted his gaze toward Shino Aburame and Hinata Hyuga.  

“I’ve already dealt with all the examinees in the Forest of Death. You don’t need to worry about enemies anymore. Just be mindful of the wild animals around you.”  

Sasuke offered this advice with surprising goodwill.  

+90 (45)  

He didn’t linger to show off or intimidate the three members of Team 8 further.  

By now, they already feared him enough. Any more would risk leaving lasting psychological scars.  

With that, Sasuke leapt into the air, landing gracefully on a tree branch before swiftly moving onward to his next targets:  

Team 10: Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akimichi, and Ino Yamanaka.  

Team Guy: Neji Hyuga, Rock Lee, and Tenten.  

These two teams possessed three sets of scrolls between them. If his assumptions were correct, Team Guy was likely the one holding the majority.  

After Sasuke departed, Team 8 collectively exhaled in relief. Shino and Hinata sat down next to Kiba.  

“That was terrifying!”  

Kiba muttered, still shaken. He glanced at Shino, then at Hinata.  

“Did you notice it too?”  

“Is that really Sasuke?”  

“He wasn’t like this back at the Ninja Academy!”  

Kiba was now deeply aware of what it meant to see someone in a completely new light.  

It hadn’t been that long since they’d last met, yet the Sasuke he’d once known—cold and aloof—had transformed into someone chilling to the core.  

“Woof!”  

Akamaru poked his head out from Kiba’s arms, letting out a soft bark in agreement.  

“The Sasuke we see now is completely different,” Shino remarked, his usual calm demeanor returning. “Kiba, didn’t you hear what Sasuke said just now?”  

“What did he say?”  

Kiba asked instinctively. He’d been so overwhelmed earlier that he hadn’t registered Sasuke’s words.  

“He said he’s dealt with all the examinees in the Forest of Death,” Shino replied gravely.  

“Oh, you mean that. So what?”  

Kiba’s eyes widened, his pupils contracting sharply as the realization struck him. He sprang to his feet.  

“No way!”  

“All the examinees… eliminated?”  

“Does that mean…”  

Kiba suddenly grasped a terrifying implication.  

“This year’s Chunin Exams will have no one advancing except Team 7!”  

Hinata’s emotions were somewhat complicated. While she didn’t feel sadness for her teammates or the other examinees, she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of happiness for Naruto.  

This way, Naruto wouldn’t have to face any powerful opponents!  

“What a terrifying guy!”  

Kiba took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t reconcile the current Sasuke with the goofy boy who once asked him at the Academy how to be ordinary.  

+100 (50)  

As Sasuke darted through the forest, the numbers before him surged again, continuing their upward trend.  

There was no need to guess—this was all thanks to Team 8.  

Sasuke honed in on the positions of the other teams, his hunting instincts sharp. With the system map he’d obtained, he had already marked the locations of Konoha’s “Rookie Nine.”  

The hunt was on.  

The scene reminded Sasuke of a mobile game he had played before. It felt like he was the "hunter" in the game—but far more dangerous and twisted. 

Whoosh! 

Sasuke's figure flashed past and reappeared beside a large rock. 

Three people were sitting on the rock:  

• Nara Shikamaru,  

• Akimichi Choji,  

• Yamanaka Ino. 

Among them, Choji was sitting casually on the rock, munching on snacks, completely unfazed by Sasuke's arrival.  

“Sasuke!!!”  

The moment Ino saw Sasuke, her eyes lit up with hearts as she launched herself toward him.  

“…”  

Sasuke was instantly speechless.  

Why was Team 10 so different from the others he'd encountered earlier?  

No fear. No panic.  

At the same time…  

No fighting spirit, either.  

They looked more like tired travelers taking a break.  

Whoosh! 

Sasuke dodged Ino’s flying embrace in a flash. 

This time, however, Ino was prepared. She stopped herself mid-pounce, braking just enough to avoid flying too far.  

“Sasuke, you’re dodging me again!”  

Ino pouted playfully, but the glimmer in her eyes betrayed her teasing smile.  

“Ino, we’re opponents right now. What you’re doing is dangerous,” Sasuke warned her sternly.  

“Are you worried about me?”  

Ino’s eyes sparkled even brighter, like stars twinkling in the night sky.  

“Did you come here just for me?”  

“I’m so touched!”  

“I’m not afraid of you!”  

“I don’t even think you’re dangerous!”  

“If you want to do anything to me…”  

Ino’s cheeks flushed red, her shyness bubbling to the surface. Yet, she mustered the courage to continue.  

“Whatever bad thing you want to do, I’ll accept it!”  

After saying this, Ino felt like she was going to pass out from the heat radiating from her face. She was practically floating.  

If this were any other time…  

She would never have said such a thing.  

In the past, whenever she saw Sasuke, Sakura was always nearby, making it hard for her to act freely.  

And now, Sakura was always with Sasuke since they were on the same team.  

But today, no Sakura!  

Ino felt like this was a golden opportunity sent by the heavens.  

While Ino spoke, Choji continued munching on his snacks, completely unbothered.  

Meanwhile, Shikamaru rubbed his forehead in exasperation.  

“What a drag…”  

“This whole exam is already a pain…”  

“And women are even more troublesome!”  

Seeing Ino in her lovestruck state, Shikamaru was at a loss for words.  

Honestly, though…  

He was just glad the person in front of them was Sasuke.  

If it had been another handsome opponent, Ino might have been doomed.  

Sasuke stared at Ino, his brow twitching.  

What… was this?  

Playtime?  

Not only was he failing to rack up any system points, but there wasn’t even a hint of danger.  

“Ino, hand over your scrolls,” Sasuke said bluntly, cutting straight to the point.  

“Okay!”  

Without hesitation, Ino opened her ninja pouch, took out both a Heaven Scroll and an Earth Scroll, and handed them directly to Sasuke.  

“You’re just giving them to me?”  

A small, puzzled question mark seemed to pop up in Sasuke’s head. This was the easiest—and strangest—time he’d ever acquired scrolls.  

“Yep!”  

Ino nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world.  

“Aren’t you going to ask your teammates first?”  

Sasuke couldn’t understand this at all. What kind of strategy was this?  

He confirmed that Ino wasn’t under genjutsu or impersonated by anyone else. The situation just felt bizarre.  

And to make it even stranger…  

The system hadn’t awarded him any points.  

That meant this didn’t even count as a proper “cool move.”  

“It’s what Shikamaru told me to do!” Ino said matter-of-factly.  

“What did Shikamaru tell you?”  

The question marks in Sasuke’s head multiplied as he shifted his gaze toward Shikamaru.  

But Shikamaru didn’t look back at him.  

Instead, he buried his face in his hands, his visible side profile practically screaming the word “troublesome.”  

“Shikamaru said if you came for the scrolls, we should just give them to you!” Ino explained. 

"That's it?"  

Sasuke gave Shikamaru a deep look. It seemed he had underestimated this guy's intelligence.  

Shikamaru appeared to have calculated everything already.  

This wasn’t just resting because he was tired.  

He had been waiting here for Sasuke!  

"That’s all there is to it!" Ino nodded in agreement.  

"Why do you think that person would be me?"  

Sasuke voiced the question that had been bothering him. His gaze shifted from Shikamaru back to Ino.  

"Actually, it wasn’t that we thought it would definitely be you," Ino began to explain. "Shikamaru said someone would come to claim the scrolls, and we should just give them to that person."  

"We didn’t really understand what Shikamaru meant," she continued. "He didn’t explain much, just said the person was most likely Sasuke, then handed the scrolls to me."  

"That gave me a chance to get closer to you, Sasuke-kun!"  

As Ino spoke, she suddenly stretched out her arms to embrace Sasuke. In her left hand was the Heaven Scroll, and in her right, the Earth Scroll, making it look like she was offering them directly to him.  

"As expected of Shikamaru!"  

Sasuke was genuinely impressed by Shikamaru's analytical and observational skills, even though he still didn’t fully understand Shikamaru's motives.  

Just as Ino was about to hug him—  

Sasuke abruptly stepped back, deftly snatching both scrolls with his hands.  

"Ino, thank you."  

As Sasuke spoke, he used his personal storage technique to absorb the scrolls directly from Ino's hands.  

"Huh?!"  

Ino looked at her empty hands, suddenly feeling like she’d lost big time.  

Not only did she fail to hug him—  

She lost the scrolls too!  

"I’ve got other things to take care of. I’ll head out first. Be careful of the wild beasts in the Forest of Death."  

Sasuke repeated the same words he’d said to Team 8.  

But this time—  

Unlike with Team 8—  

Sasuke didn’t gain any points or recognition.  

No one here even registered it as showing off.  

In the eyes of Team 10—  

To Shikamaru, Sasuke's actions were entirely expected. No surprises, no shocks.  

To Choji, he was too focused on his snacks. Sasuke’s words went in one ear and out the other. He understood the words but couldn’t be bothered to think about their meaning. He’d just follow Shikamaru’s lead.  

To Ino...  

Sasuke is so cool!  

Sasuke’s next target was now just Team Guy.  

"So, that means..."  

"Team Guy has collected three Heaven Scrolls and two Earth Scrolls!"  

"They must be heading to the tower!"  

With a single thought, Sasuke immediately activated the Flying Thunder God Technique, appearing in the tower’s hall. His sudden arrival startled Naruto and Sakura.  

"Sasuke!"  

Naruto and Sakura both cried out excitedly in unison.  

At the same time—  

The proctor ninja glanced at Sasuke, their eyes filled with curiosity, silently inquiring about the progress of his strategy.  

"Only one team left."  

Sasuke raised one finger confidently, waving it before the group. Then, striding boldly out of the tower, he moved in the opposite direction from the finish line to intercept Team Guy.  

"This place is..."  

"My battlefield!"  

"No one gets through!"  

(End of Chapter)