Chapter 183: The Second Exam!

 Anko's sharp gaze swept across the classroom, instantly calculating the remaining number of students. 

“Ibiki!” 

“What’s going on here?” 

“There are still 72 people left!” 

“That’s 24 teams!” 

Anko turned to Ibiki with a dissatisfied glare. As the proctor of the second round of the Chunin Exams, this situation clearly didn’t sit well with her. 

“This year’s candidates are quite strong!” Ibiki replied with a smile. 

Of course, he couldn’t outright admit that Naruto’s rousing words had stabilized the resolve of many candidates who had been on the verge of giving up. 

Otherwise… 

He might’ve been able to eliminate a few more of them! 

The conversation between Anko and Ibiki wasn’t hidden from anyone; all the students present could hear it. 

Sasuke picked up some crucial information from their exchange. 

There were still 24 teams left. 

Among them, the Twelve Konoha Genin accounted for four teams. 

The Sand Village had one team. 

Then there were Kabuto’s team and Orochimaru’s team.  

These seven teams alone already occupied a significant portion of the total.  

Truthfully, Ibiki wasn’t wrong.  

This year’s batch of candidates was indeed exceptional!  

“Humph!” Anko let out a cold snort, dismissing Ibiki’s weak explanation as an excuse. 

“Fine!” 

“Leave the rest to me!” 

“I’ll cut the numbers in half in no time!” 

“I can’t wait to get started on the second round of the Chunin Exams!” 

“Follow me!” 

“I’ll explain the rules when we reach the testing site!” 

After speaking, Anko gestured for the students to follow her, then strode out of the classroom. 

The candidates were momentarily stunned, caught off guard by how quickly things were moving.  

“Proctor!”  

Sakura raised her hand, stepping forward with a puzzled expression in her eyes.  

“Are we heading to the second exam right now?”  

Her question voiced the concern of many candidates present.  

This was all happening so fast!  

After the grueling written exam, which had drained their mental energy—whether from deciphering the difficult questions, gathering information, or facing the final moments of psychological pressure from Ibiki—everyone was exhausted.  

It was more tiring than an actual fight!  

Surely, they’d be allowed some rest time?  

For a moment, all eyes turned toward Ibiki.  

“I suggest you hurry and follow Anko. If you’re late, you might be disqualified or deemed to have forfeited,” Ibiki said, not directly answering Sakura’s question but making his meaning perfectly clear.  

Get to the second exam venue now, or risk elimination!  

“Sakura, Naruto, let’s go.”  

Sasuke stood up and headed for the door without hesitation, his expression calm and aloof. At this moment, his cool demeanor inspired confidence in his teammates.  

+30 (15)  

Sasuke’s vision briefly flickered with numbers.  

He was already looking forward to the second exam. After all, the written portion of the first test had limited his ability to show off.  

“Yes!”  

Sakura and Naruto replied in unison, immediately following Sasuke’s lead.  

As the three of them left the room, the other Genin began to move as well.  

After exiting the Ninja Academy, they followed Anko deeper into the forest, far from the areas normally frequented by Konoha’s residents.  

After walking for about an hour, Anko led them to the edge of the village. Before them stood a dense forest, enclosed by barbed wire and heavy chains wrapped around the gate multiple times. Nearby, a sign bore a bloody warning in bold red letters:  

“DO NOT ENTER.”  

Anko stopped at the entrance, her gaze sweeping over the group before her lips curled into a sly smile.  

“Is everyone here?”  

“I’ll keep this simple.”  

“This is the venue for the second exam: Training Ground 44, also known as the Forest of Death.”  

Her words sent a chill through the crowd.  

The Forest of Death!  

Just the name was enough to make everyone uneasy.  

“Don’t think the name ‘Forest of Death’ is just to scare you,” Anko continued, her tone growing darker.  

“Because…”  

“You’ll soon find out why it’s called that.”  

A sinister grin spread across her face, like a mischievous aunt telling ghost stories to frighten children.  

The Genin collectively drew a sharp breath, the tension among them palpable.  

The first exam had already pushed them to their limits, and it was clear this second test would be even more challenging.  

Suddenly, Naruto stepped forward, pointing at Anko with a cocky grin.  

“Stop trying to scare us!”  

“I’m not afraid at all!”  

“Bring it on!”  

Still riding the high from the first exam, Naruto didn’t seem to take Anko’s words seriously.  

“Oh?”  

Anko raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued.  

She had been looking for someone to make an example of, and Naruto had just volunteered.  

Perfect.  

Anko swiftly pulled out a kunai and hurled it at Naruto without hesitation.  

Whoosh! 

The kunai tore through the air with a sharp whistle.  

Given the short distance and Anko’s full strength, there was no way Naruto could dodge in time.  

Of course, she wasn’t aiming to kill—just to teach him a lesson.  

Naruto’s eyes widened as he watched the kunai hurtling toward him. He barely had time to react.  

But then—  

Swoosh!  

Before the kunai could graze Naruto’s cheek, Sasuke appeared in front of him.  

With a swift motion, Sasuke caught the kunai effortlessly, his hand steady and unwavering.  

+50 (25)  

Once again, Sasuke’s vision flickered with numbers as he seized the opportunity to show off.  

At that moment, all eyes were on Anko, waiting for her to reveal the rules for the second exam.  

Suddenly, Anko launched an attack on Naruto, leaving everyone surprised and stunned.  

What shocked them even more was that Sasuke managed to block such a sudden and swift assault.  

“Proctor, losing control of a kunai isn’t a trivial matter. If someone gets hurt, it wouldn’t end well,” Sasuke remarked, handing the kunai he had caught back to Anko. His words carried a tone of caution.  

+60 (30)  

The number in Sasuke’s vision jumped up again as he successfully pulled off another moment of flair.  

“Well, well, handsome. Not bad at all!” Anko said, giving Sasuke a meaningful glance before taking the kunai from his hand.  

“Proctor, let’s get on with the rules,” Sasuke said indifferently.  

He wasn’t interested in the rules themselves but rather in starting the second exam as soon as possible.  

As long as he got into the forest, it would become a hunt.  

+70 (35)  

Once again, the number in Sasuke’s vision climbed, marking yet another cool moment.  

“I’m starting to look forward to your performance, handsome. Don’t disappoint me,” Anko said. Then she pulled out a stack of papers from her pocket.  

“These are consent forms.”  

“You all need to sign your names on them.”  

“If you refuse to sign, you’ll be automatically disqualified!”  

Anko’s tone was firm, leaving no room for negotiation.  

“This…”  

The Genin candidates froze, clueless about the nature of the consent forms.  

“You, distribute them to everyone,” Anko said, handing the stack to Sasuke.  

Reluctantly, Sasuke took the forms. After all, he was the closest to her.  

He started handing them out, moving from team to team:  

Team 7.  

Team 8.  

Team 10.  

Team Guy.  

After distributing forms to the Konoha 12, Sasuke arrived in front of Kabuto’s team.  

At this moment, Kabuto kept his head low, trying to avoid being recognized by Sasuke.  

“So, it’s you,” Sasuke said, handing three consent forms to Kabuto. A sly smirk appeared on his lips.  

“Be sure to fill them out carefully,” Sasuke added with a meaningful tone.  

Unlike Kabuto, Sasuke wanted to make sure Kabuto knew he had recognized him. The message was clear, and the effect was perfect.  

+50 (25)  

The numbers in Sasuke’s vision jumped once more as he completed another slick move. Then, he resumed distributing the forms to the remaining teams.  

This task, though trivial, allowed Sasuke to make himself known to everyone.  

By the time Sasuke reached the Grass Ninja team with Orochimaru disguised among them, he squinted at Orochimaru.  

“Looks like you made it here without any trouble. The second exam won’t be so easy!” Sasuke quipped, throwing back Orochimaru’s own words from their last encounter.  

+60 (30)  

The numbers in Sasuke’s vision surged again.  

“Right back at you,” Orochimaru replied, taking the form without saying much. There was no need for excessive words—those were better saved for the Death Forest.  

After finishing the task, Sasuke returned to Naruto and Sakura’s side.  

Anko scanned the crowd once more as Sasuke rejoined his team.  

“Now, everyone has a consent form in hand!”  

“You must sign it!”  

“The Death Forest is extremely dangerous. Lives will be lost, and you need to agree to this in advance, or I’ll be the one in trouble.”  

Though Anko smiled as she spoke, her words painted a grim picture, sending a wave of tension through the Genin candidates.  

“Here’s how it works.”  

“After signing, each team of three will hand in their consent forms to the proctors at the table near the gate.”  

Anko pointed to a table near the entrance, where three ninja were seated, ready to handle the paperwork.  

“Now, I’ll explain the rules for the second exam: The Ultimate Survival Challenge!”  

“In simple terms, it’s a test of survival limits.”  

“First, let me describe the terrain.”  

Anko pulled out a map showing the 44th Training Ground—the site for the second part of the Chūnin Exams.  

“This is Training Ground 44, also known as the Death Forest.”  

“It’s surrounded by more than 44 locked gates.”  

“The area includes rivers, dense forests, and, at the center, a tall tower.”  

“The gates are about 10 kilometers away from the tower.”  

“In this confined space, you’ll face the ultimate survival challenge.”  

“All weapons, ninjutsu, and strategies are allowed.”  

“The goal is to obtain scrolls!”  

Anko paused, pulling out two scrolls from her vest.  

One scroll was white, marked with the kanji for "Heaven."  

The other was yellow, marked with the kanji for "Earth."  

“These are the Scroll of Heaven,” she said, holding up the white scroll.  

“And the Scroll of Earth,” she added, showing the yellow scroll.  

The two scrolls immediately caught everyone’s attention—everyone except Sasuke, who already knew their purpose.  

For a moment, the crowd was silent.  

Anko, pleased with the tension she had created, smiled slyly and combined the two scrolls in her hands.  

“You must collect both the Scroll of Heaven and the Scroll of Earth!”  

“There are 72 participants left, forming 24 teams.”  

“Half of the teams will carry the Scroll of Heaven, and the other half will carry the Scroll of Earth.”  

“In other words…” 

 Chapter 183: The Second Exam! 2

"12 teams are carrying the 'Scroll of Heaven,' and another 12 teams are carrying the 'Scroll of Earth!'"

"If you want to pass the second round of the exam..."

"You must reach the central tower with both the 'Scroll of Heaven' and the 'Scroll of Earth,' and all three members of your team intact!"

As Anko Mitarashi finished speaking, a collective gasp spread through the crowd of Genin candidates.

This...

This means that at least half of the teams will be eliminated!

"Sasuke, this exam isn’t going to be easy!" Sakura whispered as she moved closer to Sasuke. "At least half of the teams won’t be able to get both scrolls, and they’ll be disqualified!"

"More than half," Sasuke replied coolly. His tone was calm, and he didn’t elaborate further.

But his meaning was clear.

This was a hunt—a survival game.

Anko scanned the crowd, clearly pleased with their reactions.

"One more thing," she added.

"The second exam has a time limit."

"You’ll have 120 hours."

"That’s five days."

At this announcement, the room erupted in shock. Wide-eyed and visibly shaken, the Genin exchanged worried glances.

"Five days?"

Ino’s eyes twitched nervously. She had never stayed in a forest for that long before. Unconsciously, her gaze drifted toward Sasuke.

How she envied Sakura!

If only she could team up with Sasuke...

She’d get to spend five days in the forest with him!

"But what will we eat?" Chōji, Ino’s teammate, asked innocently, his focus entirely on the problem of food.

"You’ll have to figure that out yourselves!" Anko declared, waving her hand dismissively. Her sharp eyes gleamed with a cold, cruel light.

"There are animals in the forest!"

"And predators!"

"Poisonous insects!"

"Venomous plants!"

"Even without encountering rival teams, making it to the tower will be anything but easy!"

"The teams that manage to pass this exam will be far fewer than half!"

"The Forest of Death is full of surprises!"

"With the time limit, your rest periods will be cut short."

"And your surroundings will be filled with either enemies or wild beasts."

"You won’t be able to rest safely!"

"Moreover..."

"In this battle for the scrolls..."

"Injuries are inevitable!"

"In such a brutal environment, some of you may even lose your lives!"

"This exam isn’t just a challenge; it’s a life-and-death trial!"

Anko’s expression grew even more serious, her demeanor icy and intimidating.

"Therefore!"

"I want to emphasize a few rules. Listen closely!"

"If any of the following situations occur, your team will be disqualified!"

"First: Failing to reach the tower within the time limit!"

"Second: Failing to acquire both the 'Scroll of Heaven' and the 'Scroll of Earth!'"

"Third: Losing a teammate to death or incapacitation!"

"And one more critical rule!"

Anko shoved her hands into her pockets, a mischievous smile creeping across her face.

"If you decide to take this exam..."

"You cannot quit halfway through. For five days, you must remain in the Forest of Death!"

"Furthermore..."

"Until you reach the tower, you are strictly forbidden from opening your scrolls!"

"Now..."

"If anyone has second thoughts or fears for their life, you can step forward and withdraw now!"

Anko’s tone was stern, and she deliberately played up the exam’s dangers, creating a tense and terrifying atmosphere.

"That’s all for the rules," she concluded. "You’ll collect a scroll for your team by exchanging three consent forms."

"Once you have your scroll, pick an entrance."

"Wait at the entrance until the exam begins."

"At the start signal, everyone will enter simultaneously!"

Her gaze turned steely as she looked over the crowd, finally landing on Sasuke.

"One last thing," she said gravely. "Whether or not you pass this second exam, I hope you all survive!"

Whoa!

Tension peaked, and the candidates’ nerves were on edge.

Anko was clearly satisfied with the atmosphere.

No one dying? Impossible!

What would be the point of the consent forms then?

"Start collecting your scrolls!" Anko clapped her hands and gestured toward a small house nearby, its interior hidden by a red curtain.

At the entrance stood an examiner.

"Come and get your scrolls!" the examiner called out.

"Why inside the house?" Sakura’s head was full of questions she couldn’t figure out.

"It’s simple," Sasuke explained, glancing at her. "This way, no one knows which scroll each team has. It prevents alliances or targeted attacks."

+20 (10)

The numbers flashed in front of Sasuke’s eyes.

"Heh heh." Naruto, with his hands behind his head, grinned. "I don’t get all the rules, but as long as we stick with Sasuke, we’ll be fine!"

"Doesn’t this mean everyone is an enemy?!" Sakura asked, her wide eyes filled with alarm.

"Not exactly!"

A sudden female voice broke the tension, snapping Sakura out of her panic.

The three members of Team 7 turned toward the voice.

It was familiar faces—Tenten, Neji, and Lee.

The speaker was Tenten.

"You’re...?" Sakura immediately recognized Lee from his distinctive bushy eyebrows. His appearance left a strong impression.

"We’re all Leaf Village ninja!" Tenten said cheerfully, pointing to her forehead protector. Behind her stood Neji and Lee.

"I’m Tenten!"

"And these are my teammates—Hyuga Neji!"

She gestured to the quiet and handsome boy beside her.

"And Rock Lee!" she added, pointing to the energetic boy with thick brows.

After introducing her team, Tenten’s eyes stayed fixed on Sasuke.

"Do you need something?" Sakura asked, confused by the situation.

---

---

"We want to form an alliance with you!" Tenten revealed their true purpose.

"An alliance?!"

Naruto and Sakura were equally stunned. They exchanged glances and saw the shock in each other's eyes.

What’s going on?

Who comes asking for an alliance out of nowhere?

And these three look pretty strong too!

"Sasuke?"

Sakura immediately looked at Sasuke. This was something she couldn’t decide on her own.

However...

Sakura felt this idea was quite reasonable.

There’s strength in numbers!

In the Forest of Death, anything could happen. It’s full of unknown dangers that made her heart tremble with fear.

If they could travel together, that would be ideal!

"Let’s hear it."

Sasuke calmly looked at Tenten. Such a proposal was indeed unexpected.

"Sasuke, we’ve worked together before, and we’re familiar with each other. During the second exam, we hope we can support each other and advance together," Tenten began with some formalities, then her tone turned serious.

"My suggestion is this: regardless of whether we hold the Heaven Scroll or the Earth Scroll, we stick together as a united team. The two squads will head to the tower together."

After Tenten finished speaking, her eyes were filled with anticipation.

Team Guy had a brief discussion earlier and unanimously agreed: encountering Sasuke in the Forest of Death would be highly dangerous.

So…

Why not just ally with Sasuke?

"Tenten, you’re not being sincere!"

Sasuke shook his head slightly, showing no special courtesy despite their prior acquaintance.

+30 (15)

The numbers in front of Sasuke’s eyes jumped.

"Uh…"

Tenten froze, looking a bit awkward.

"Sasuke, what do you mean by sincerity?" Neji stepped forward and asked.

"Let’s not beat around the bush. If you want to latch onto us, just say it outright. You follow me, and I’ll carry you to victory. What does this have to do with forming an alliance?"

Sasuke’s cold words tore apart Team Guy’s polite façade.

+40 (20)

The numbers before Sasuke’s eyes rose again.

"You…"

Neji’s face twitched, his tone low, yet his anger was evident. Sasuke hadn’t bothered lowering his voice, drawing mocking gazes from several others.

"What do you mean, 'you'? If you want to cling to us, say it directly. Don’t bring up alliances."

Sasuke gave Neji a fierce look—well, as fierce as his expression could be.

Neji glared back at Sasuke, clearly on the verge of losing his temper.

But…

Neji forcibly suppressed his anger.

"If we choose not to go with you…?"

Neji lowered his voice, knowing that admitting to clinging onto others would utterly ruin their reputation.

"The proctor made it clear: everyone in the Forest of Death is an enemy. But, I’ll give you some reassurance."

Sasuke stepped closer to Neji, standing right in front of him. Adjusting Neji’s collar with deliberate pressure, Sasuke’s aura was utterly domineering.

"If we encounter each other…"

"I won’t kill you."

"I’ll just destroy your scroll and prevent you from passing the exam!"

After finishing, Sasuke’s lips curled slightly into a faint, devilish smile.

+50 (25)

The numbers in Sasuke’s vision jumped once again.

"Understood."

Neji stared coldly at Sasuke. He just couldn’t bring himself to like the guy.

Every time he saw Sasuke…

He got annoyed!

He wanted to beat him up!

But he just couldn’t win!

"Neji, I trust that with your Byakugan, you can avoid me. Pick an entrance far away, and don’t let me hunt you down."

Sasuke patted Neji’s shoulder. From Neji’s expression, Sasuke could tell Team Guy wouldn’t admit to latching onto him.

"Good luck!"

Neji turned and walked away from Team 7 without looking back.

Tenten pouted, disappointed they couldn’t team up with Sasuke.

Lee said nothing, quietly following his teammates.

"Sakura, go submit the consent forms."

Sasuke handed the signed forms to Sakura with an aloof expression.

+10 (5)

The numbers in Sasuke’s view jumped again.

"Alright."

Sakura took the forms from Sasuke and Naruto, heading toward the office.

Not long after, she returned, having secured their scroll and a number.

"12!"

This meant Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura of Team 7 would enter the Forest of Death through Gate 12.

"All set."

At that moment…

Anko’s voice rang out, instantly drawing everyone’s attention.

"Now that every team has their number, follow your entrance guide to your respective gates."

"In thirty minutes…"

"You’ll all enter the forest together!"

Anko’s command was firm.

A guide appeared in front of each team, leading them to their designated entrances.

Gate 12 wasn’t far.

Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura arrived early.

The gatekeeper unlocked the gate, glanced at his watch, and stood waiting.

"This is so boring!"

Naruto impatiently stood by the gate, visibly restless.

"Our entrance is closer, so we have to wait for the others to get to theirs first," Sakura explained. She still wasn’t fully prepared to face the dangers awaiting them in the forest.

"Naruto, Sakura, I want to ask you something."

Sasuke turned to them, his face growing serious.

"What is it?"

Naruto and Sakura both looked curiously at Sasuke, confused by his sudden change in demeanor.

"There are two ways to pass this exam."

Sasuke raised one finger.

"The first way…"

"We stick together. But I plan to spend more time in the Forest of Death. I’m not interested in reaching the tower quickly."

"This way, we can encounter more opponents."

"And, of course…"

"Eliminate more of them!"

Then Sasuke raised a second finger.

"The second way…"

"I quickly escort you two to the tower. You wait for me there, and I’ll roam the forest alone before returning."

Sasuke explained the two options to Naruto and Sakura. They were simple choices:

One involved more training and experience.

The other was a guaranteed victory with minimal effort.

+30 (15)

The numbers in Sasuke’s vision jumped again—another moment of showing off.

"Um…"

Sakura looked at Naruto. She preferred the guaranteed victory but wasn’t sure about Naruto’s opinion.

"Sasuke, don’t underestimate us! We’re strong—we won’t lose!"

 Chapter 183: The Second Exam! 3

---

Naruto patted his chest confidently and said, "I got this."

"I understand," Sasuke nodded without saying more. He understood what Naruto meant.

"Um... Sasuke, do you really have a way to get us to the tower quickly?" Sakura's eyes trembled as she asked, clearly eager to know if they could finish the exam faster.

"Yes," Sasuke nodded again, pointing toward the tower. "I can reach it at top speed and come back to take you there. We’ll pass the exam in just a few minutes!"

+40 (20)

The numbers in front of Sasuke's eyes flickered again.

"Hey, you three brats! You're getting a little full of yourselves, aren’t you?" The ninja escorting them to the gate couldn’t help but speak up, feeling like he was listening to kids bragging.

"Reaching the goal in just a few minutes during the Forest of Death exam? At least make your lies believable!" The ninja shook his head slightly, mercilessly exposing Sasuke's "bluff."

"You don’t get it," Sasuke replied without offering much explanation. Naruto was eager to start the exam, so there was no need to elaborate.

+50 (25)

The numbers flickered in front of Sasuke's eyes again!

"You’re not seriously buying into your own nonsense, are you?" the proctor ninja sneered.

"Hey! Are you doubting Sasuke? He doesn’t need to prove anything to you!" Naruto shot back defensively.

"Ha! More like he can’t prove it!" The proctor ninja chuckled coldly.

"You..." Naruto took a deep breath, then his expression hardened with determination. "Sasuke, I’ve changed my mind. For the second part of this exam, I want you to take all of us to the tower, including this idiot!"

Naruto pointed at the proctor ninja, his tone icy.

"Sure," Sasuke agreed with a nod. He planned to use the Flying Thunder God technique anyway, and taking one extra person wasn’t a problem.

+20 (10)

The numbers in front of Sasuke’s eyes flickered once more.

"Alright then! Let’s see how you manage to reach the tower quickly once the exam starts!" The proctor ninja, now fired up, challenged them back.

Exposing their bluff wasn’t enough—he wanted to see them fail outright!

“Just wait,” Sasuke said, narrowing his eyes slightly. Why was this guy practically asking to get slapped down? Not obliging him would feel petty.

The happiest one in the group was Sakura. From the moment Sasuke made his bold claim, she’d been looking forward to an easy win. Out of respect for Naruto’s adventurous spirit, she hadn’t said it aloud, but now she could comfortably look forward to success without lifting a finger.

In fact, she felt like she should thank this proctor ninja!

As time ticked away, the proctor ninja’s gaze turned to the clock in his hand.

Finally, he nodded and announced, "Time’s up! The second exam of the Chūnin Selection Exams officially begins now!"

With that, he didn’t step aside to open the gate. Instead, he stared meaningfully at Sasuke, clearly waiting for him to make good on his boast.

At the same time, all the gates to the Forest of Death opened. Shadows of examinees darted forward, some cautious, some serious, and others brimming with excitement.

At Gate 7, however, no one moved.

"You three brats shouldn’t talk big if you can’t back it up. Don’t waste your time pretending to be cool!" The proctor ninja smirked, feeling smug as he delivered his taunt.

Yes, smug! It felt great to put these kids in their place.

"Hahaha..." Sasuke chuckled coldly, ignoring the proctor completely. Instead, he turned his attention to Naruto and Sakura.

"Wait here. I’ll be back in no more than half an hour," Sasuke said casually, exuding confidence. His calm demeanor filled Naruto and Sakura with reassurance.

+40 (20)

The numbers flickered again before Sasuke’s eyes.

"Oh, right!" Sasuke suddenly turned to Sakura. "Where’s our scroll?"

"Here," Sakura replied, pulling a scroll labeled with the character "Heaven" from her bag—The Heaven Scroll.

"Give it to me," Sasuke said, reaching out. He took the scroll and, under the watchful eyes of Naruto and Sakura, slapped it onto the ground.

Boom!  

The scroll collided with the stone ground, creating a loud crash.

This particular scroll contained Sasuke’s chakra, so it remained unscathed despite the impact. Instead, it sank completely into the ground.

+50 (25)

The numbers flickered again.

"What are you doing?" the proctor ninja asked, his face full of confusion. He couldn’t figure out Sasuke’s intentions. Was he giving up the scroll?

"According to the proctor’s briefing," Sasuke began to explain nonchalantly, "there are a total of 12 pairs of Heaven Scrolls and Earth Scrolls. That means at most, 12 teams can pass this second exam."

"Now," he continued, "since our Heaven Scroll won’t be brought into the Forest of Death, and no one can leave the forest during the exam, only 11 teams will be able to pass in the end."

"This way, we can effectively eliminate at least two additional teams right from the start!" Sasuke concluded calmly.

+60 (30)

The numbers in front of Sasuke’s eyes suddenly surged.

"You... this..." The proctor ninja was left speechless. He understood the logic—it was straightforward. But this move was so bold it bordered on reckless!

---

The proctor glanced at Naruto and Sakura, Sasuke's teammates, to gauge their reactions.

Naruto appeared indifferent.

Sakura seemed unconcerned with Sasuke's actions; for her, lying quietly was sufficient, and she didn't need to worry about anything else.

+70 (35)

The numbers before Sasuke's eyes suddenly jumped; Naruto and Sakura's behavior had inadvertently boosted his passive 'coolness' score.

The proctor's mouth twitched slightly.

"Is there something wrong with this team?

I've never seen anything like this!

Overconfident, perhaps?"

"Alright."

Sasuke's voice suddenly broke the silence, drawing everyone's attention as he stepped toward Gate 12.

"I'll be back soon!"

After entering the gate, Sasuke propelled himself forward, becoming a blur as he accelerated at an alarming speed.

Whoosh!

In a flash, Sasuke vanished from sight.

+80 (40)

The numbers before Sasuke's eyes jumped again.

"This..."

The proctor was astonished by Sasuke's speed.

However...

The proctor was puzzled.

Sasuke had rushed in alone, leaving his teammates at the entrance.

What was their strategy?

Turning to Naruto and Sakura, he saw them sitting on the ground, engrossed in other matters, completely unconcerned.

Trust!

The proctor recognized their absolute trust in Sasuke, likely stemming from his abilities.

Could this kid truly be that capable?

The proctor pondered but couldn't find an answer.

He resigned himself to waiting, prepared to stay with them as long as necessary.

...

In the Forest of Death.

After two rapid bursts, Sasuke disappeared from everyone's view.

Instantly, veins bulged on his forehead.

"Sixth Gate, Gate of View, open!"

A surge of chakra enveloped Sasuke, his dark hair rising.

Continuing!

"Seventh Gate, Gate of Wonder, open!"

Blue steam emanated from him as he unleashed his full potential.

Charge!

Sasuke's speed reached its peak as he dashed straight toward the tower, not bothering to swerve.

Obstacles were obliterated as he barreled through, carving a path from Gate 12 to the tower.

(End of chapter)