"Is this... the ninjutsu that Izayoi developed himself?"
Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto hid behind a fallen giant tree, their eyes filled with astonishment as they watched the spinning fireball whirlwind.
"Gulp..."
Naruto swallowed hard, his voice trembling, "So... so amazing!"
He had thought that his Multiple Shadow Clone Technique combined with Wind Release: Great Breakthrough was incredibly powerful.
But unexpectedly, Izayoi had also mastered a vast area ninjutsu, and he didn't even need to rely on Shadow Clones or hand seals.
It was simply on another level.
Naruto's inflated ego was instantly deflated.
"Let's go!"
At that moment, Izayoi appeared behind Sasuke and Naruto, grabbing both of them and using the Body Flicker Technique to leave.
Not long after the three had departed, a figure emerged from the ground nearby, covered in burn marks—it was Orochimaru.
"Ugh..."
Orochimaru made a retching sound, his mouth tearing open like a bucket.
Then, a slimy body crawled out from within his mouth.
"You little brats, ruining my plans!"
Using the Orochi-style Substitution Technique, Orochimaru spat out a new body, first cursing in a hoarse voice, then grinning as he added, "But that chakra and the speed of your technique—what an incredible talent!"
Watching the fireball whirlwind rampaging toward the forest, which would set it ablaze if left unchecked, Orochimaru remarked, "What a familiar technique. I never expected that Minato and that fool would leave it incomplete, only for a newcomer to achieve it."
"It seems that the windmill in Konoha, which has been stagnant for years, is about to start turning again."
Orochimaru glanced in the direction where Izayoi and the others had left, then looked elsewhere, muttering with a sinister smile, "In the end, mine will not escape. Sasuke-kun, your body will surely be mine."
With that, Orochimaru's body slowly sank into the ground, leaving the Death Forest.
Before long, numerous figures appeared in the forest.
There were Anbu clad in cloaks and cat-faced masks.
There were Special Jonin and Jonin wearing green vests.
"Did we arrive too late?"
Anko Mitarashi's expression was a mix of uncertainty and tension.
"Quickly, put out the fire."
The other ninjas worked together to use Water Release to extinguish the fireball whirlwind.
Meanwhile, after leaving, Izayoi and the others immediately went to retrieve the hidden Haruno Sakura, then used the Body Flicker Technique to dash two or three miles before stopping.
Team 7 leaned against a tree, gasping for breath.
"That Orochimaru didn't follow us, did he?" Sasuke asked, still uneasy as he looked at Izayoi.
"Don't worry, he didn't follow. The rescue team has arrived."
Izayoi reassured Team 7 with a calming statement.
Upon hearing this, Team 7 let out a collective sigh of relief.
Sakura collapsed onto the ground, terrified, "Why would a legendary ninja target us? This is just too unlucky!"
"Tch... If it weren't for that guy's Earth Release, I would have already defeated him," Naruto said defiantly.
Only Sasuke wore a grave expression.
After all, he knew that the other party was likely after him.
The thought of being targeted by such a formidable figure sent chills down Sasuke's spine. He had narrowly escaped this time thanks to Izayoi, but what about next time? Or the time after that?
Seemingly sensing Sasuke's inner panic, Izayoi patted his shoulder and smiled reassuringly, "There's no need to be nervous; the village should be the one worried! An S-rank rogue ninja is the most dangerous figure in the shinobi world, and even the great ninja villages wouldn't underestimate him."
"With someone like that suddenly appearing in Konoha, Lord Hokage will surely mobilize the entire village to find him."
"During this time, the village's security measures will be heightened to the extreme. After the exams are over, you shouldn't go home; stay in the central street until the village deals with Orochimaru."
Upon hearing this, Sasuke felt a wave of relief wash over him, nodding heavily, "Yeah, I understand."
Once he had regained his composure, Izayoi and Team 7 headed toward the central tower.
On the way, Naruto leaned closer to Izayoi, curious, "Izayoi, was that fireball whirlwind just now a ninjutsu taught to you by your Jonin instructor?"
"No, that was a ninjutsu I developed myself," Izayoi replied, shaking his head.
"Nani?! You developed that ninjutsu yourself?!"
"That's amazing!"
Naruto and Sakura exclaimed in surprise.
Sasuke, however, seemed to recall something, his expression shifting slightly, "Is that the ninjutsu you perfected? Isn't it Lightning Release?"
"Of course not."
Izayoi revealed a meaningful smile, "The Gaia Energy Cannon is merely a half-finished product I developed while perfecting my secret art!"
"Nani?!"
Team 7 gasped once more.
Sakura clicked her tongue, "That fireball whirlwind isn't even the complete version!"
"Gulp..."
Naruto and Sasuke swallowed hard, feeling a vast chasm open up between themselves and Izayoi once again.
If even a half-finished product had such power, they couldn't even begin to imagine how powerful Izayoi's completed secret art would be.
At the same time, Sasuke looked at Izayoi with burning intensity.
A ninjutsu that could be called a secret art was an S-rank technique.
If he could learn an S-rank secret art, perhaps he could kill that man.
But how could he ask Izayoi to teach him the secret art?
Even if he didn't teach him the secret art, that Gaia Energy Cannon was still impressive! After all, he had a fire affinity too! With that thought, Sasuke decided that after the exams, he would find a way to win Izayoi over.
Using the Tenseigan to lock onto Orochimaru's location and confirming that he had indeed given up on planting a cursed seal on Sasuke in the Death Forest, Izayoi parted ways with Team 7 to meet up with Hinata and Aburame Shino before entering the central tower.
Without the cursed seal, Sasuke's strength in the Death Forest meant his only opponents were the hidden abilities of Yakushi Kabuto, Gaara, Rock Lee, and Hyuga Neji.
As for the other examinees, they were no match for Sasuke.
At this rate, Team 7 would soon reach the central tower.
And indeed, that was the case! Fearing that Orochimaru might come after them again, Team 7 hardly took a moment to rest before searching for the team with the Scroll of Heaven.
After seizing the Scroll of Heaven from them, they hurried to the central tower to report the situation regarding Orochimaru's interest in them to Umino Iruka's shadow clone that had emerged from the scroll.
With the confirmation that Orochimaru had returned to Konoha, a wave of tension swept through the village.
Many ninjas urged Hiruzen Sarutobi to terminate the Chunin Exams and focus all efforts on capturing Orochimaru.
However, with a large number of foreign ninjas gathered in Konoha and invitations already sent out to the Fourth Kazekage an
d the nobles, it was impossible to halt the Chunin Exams.
Thus, Hiruzen could only send ninjas and Anbu to search in secret.
And so, five days later, the second exam officially concluded.
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