Chapter 64: The End of the Second Exam

Chapter 64: The End of the Second Exam

"This... this is Izayoi's original Ninjutsu?"

Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki crouched behind a fallen colossal tree, staring at the spiraling fire tornado with wide, horrified eyes.

"Swallow hard..."

Naruto gulped, his voice trembling. "That’s... incredible!"

He’d thought his Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu combined with Wind Release was already overwhelming.

But apparently, Izayoi had mastered an even larger-scale technique—one that didn’t require Shadow Clones or Sealing Jutsu at all.

They weren’t even in the same league.

Naruto’s inflated confidence shattered instantly.

"Move!"

Izayoi suddenly appeared behind them, yanking both boys backward as they Body Flickered away.

Moments later, a charred figure emerged from the ground nearby—Orochimaru, his body scorched and blistered.

"Ugh..."

Orochimaru spat blood, his mouth stretching grotesquely wide like a snake’s jaw. A slimy, new body slithered out.

"Damn brats! You ruined my plans!"

After using the Snake-Style Replacement Technique to shed his damaged form, Orochimaru rasped, then grinned. "But that chakra... and the speed of your techniques! Truly remarkable talent!"

Watching the fire tornado rage toward the forest, he added, "A familiar technique indeed. I never expected a new generation to complete what Minato and that fool failed to perfect."

"The Hidden Leaf’s windmill, dormant for years, seems ready to turn again."

Orochimaru glanced at the direction Izayoi’s group had fled, then smirked toward another point. "What’s mine won’t escape. Sasuke-kun... your body will be mine."

His body melted into the ground, vanishing into the Forest of Death.

Soon after, numerous figures Body Flickered into the clearing—Anbu in cat masks, Special Jōnin and Jōnin in green flak jackets.

"Did we arrive too late?" Anko Mitarashi’s expression darkened.

"Extinguish the fire—now!"

The ninjas unleashed Water Release techniques, dousing the raging fire tornado.

Meanwhile, Izayoi’s team retrieved Sakura Haruno from her hiding spot, then Body Flickered several miles away before stopping.

Team 7 leaned against a tree, panting heavily.

"Did Orochimaru follow us?" Sasuke asked, still uneasy.

"No. Rescue teams are already there."

Izayoi reassured them, easing the tension. Sakura collapsed onto the ground, trembling. "Why would a legendary ninja target us? This is so unfair!"

"Tch! If he didn’t have Earth Release, I’d have beaten him already!" Naruto boasted.

Sasuke remained grim. He knew the truth—Orochimaru had come for him. The thought sent chills down his spine. Today, Izayoi had saved him, but what about next time?

As if reading his mind, Izayoi clapped his shoulder. "Don’t worry. The village should be more nervous. An S-Rank Missing-Nin is a threat even great villages fear."

"Hokage-sama will mobilize the entire village to hunt him. Security will tighten until the exams end. Stay in the central district until then."

Sasuke nodded, visibly calmer.

As they walked toward the Central Tower, Naruto asked, "Izayoi, was that fire tornado taught by our Jōnin instructor?"

"Nope. My own original technique."

"Original?!"

"Amazing!" Sakura gasped.

Sasuke’s eyes widened. "So that’s the technique you perfected? But isn’t it Lightning Release?"

"Wrong again." Izayoi smirked. "The Gaia Energy Cannon is just a half-finished prototype I developed while refining my ultimate technique!"

"Half-finished?!" Team 7 gawked.

Sakura stammered, "That wasn’t even complete?!"

Naruto and Sasuke swallowed hard. If the prototype was this powerful, what would the perfected version be like?

Sasuke’s gaze burned with desire. S-Class techniques were rare treasures. If he mastered one... maybe he could finally defeat that man.

Later, after confirming Orochimaru had abandoned his attempt to mark Sasuke, Izayoi parted ways with Team 7 to meet Hinata Hyuga and Shino Aburame at the Central Tower.

Without the cursed seal, Sasuke’s only threats in the Forest of Death were Kabuto Yakushi, Gaara, Rock Lee, and Neji Hyuga. Team 7 soon secured a Heaven Scroll, rushing to report Orochimaru’s presence to Iruka Umino’s Shadow Clone at the tower.

The Hidden Leaf Village, now certain of Orochimaru’s return, buzzed with tension. Many urged Hiruzen Sarutobi to halt the Chūnin Exams, but with foreign ninjas gathered and invitations sent to the Fourth Kazekage and dignitaries, cancellation was impossible. The Third Hokage deployed Anbu and ninjas covertly instead.

Five days later, the second exam officially concluded.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end