Bab 43: Intention and Choice
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There were 21 teams, totaling 64 candidates. Including the examiners, the number of people present exceeded 80. Yet, standing before the vast expanse of the Forest of Death, this number felt insignificant—like a drop in the ocean.
Menma and his team arrived early. Most of the other candidates were punctual, showing up at the designated time. Among the gathered crowd, Menma spotted a girl with long, fiery red hair. Her face, though young, was oddly familiar.
Menma's eyes widened in recognition.
*That's right, she wasn't always with Orochimaru. She lived in Kusagakure, and she did meet Sasuke once here, in the Forest of Death.*
The realization brought back memories of the plot he had almost forgotten. The girl was Karin—Karin of the Uzumaki Clan, although the manga never fully clarified her surname. Still, the red hair was unmistakable, and her unique abilities, the Mind's Eye of the Kagura and the Adamantine Sealing Chains, were signature traits of the Uzumaki bloodline.
Menma himself possessed the Mind's Eye of the Kagura, though he had yet to unlock the full potential of the Adamantine Sealing Chains.
Karin noticed Menma's gaze. She glanced at him briefly before looking away, her eyes reflecting a mix of hope, desire, and deep-seated fear.
Menma quickly averted his gaze, coming back to his senses. Now wasn't the time to dwell on such things. He had his own burdens to bear, his own cage to break free from. He couldn't afford to concern himself with others right now.
The moment of distraction passed quickly, unnoticed by Naruto, Sakura, or Sasuke, who were all focused on the giant training ground ahead, speculating about the upcoming challenge. If the second exam was indeed held here, it was bound to be a tough one.
Menma took a deep breath, steadying his nerves. Just as he regained his composure, his eyes caught sight of three shinobi from Kusagakure.
The leader of the group made Menma's heart skip a beat.
*Orochimaru!*
There was no mistaking it. The one leading the group of Grass shinobi was none other than Orochimaru. Even without the foreknowledge of the original plot, Menma could sense the immense chakra emanating from this individual—chakra even more potent than Kakashi's.
At this stage, at the edge of the Forest of Death, who else could it be but Orochimaru?
"Finally, Orochimaru. I've been waiting," Menma thought, clenching his fist.
Now that Orochimaru had made his appearance, Menma's task was to find a suitable opportunity to make contact. It was risky, but for Menma, the potential benefits far outweighed the dangers.
In the clearing, over eighty ninjas gathered. Except for Menma, no one realized that one of Konoha's most notorious rogue shinobi had infiltrated the exam.
Even Anko Mitarashi, the examiner and a Special Jonin, was blissfully unaware that her former mentor was lurking so close. She stood confidently before the candidates, detailing the rules of the second exam with enthusiasm.
'The greatest distance in the world is standing in front of someone and not being recognized,' Menma mused, his thoughts drifting to Orochimaru. He wondered how the Sannin felt about her, the sole disciple he'd taken under his wing all those years ago.
"The details and rules of the second exam are as follows," Anko announced, her voice carrying over the crowd. "You have a moment to think it over. If you want to quit, now's your chance. If you have any questions, ask them now. Once this moment passes, there's no turning back!"
Anko's eyes swept over the candidates, her gaze sharp and playful, as if daring someone to challenge her. The hint of danger in her expression seemed to delight in the nervous glances from some of the participants, feeding her mischievous nature.
"I have a question, Examiner!" a voice called out.
"Oh? A question, you say? Let's hear it!" Anko replied, raising an eyebrow as she looked toward the source—a Takigakure ninja standing confidently among his peers.
"According to the rules you've explained, we're competing for scrolls in teams. Out of the 21 teams here, 20 are composed of three members, but there's one team with four members. Doesn't that seem a bit unfair?"
The Takigakure ninja pointed directly at Team 7—Menma, Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura—drawing everyone's attention to the group.
This was a valid concern. The first exam was a written test, graded on an average score, so no one had raised any objections about team sizes. But this round was different. It was a battle for scrolls, and with everyone else in three-person teams, Team 7's four-person group stood out, seemingly giving them an advantage.
Menma's eyebrow twitched slightly, while Naruto and Sakura looked visibly uncomfortable. They had considered this issue before. In regular missions, a four-person team wasn't unusual, but in the context of the Chunin Exams, it did seem unfair.
Sasuke, however, remained as calm and collected as ever.
"Oh? You mean that team?" Anko responded, her tone light. "Rest assured, Konoha wouldn't rig the exam in favor of its own teams. We are committed to fairness. The four of them won't be allowed to compete together. I, Anko Mitarashi, as the examiner, guarantee that no team will consist of more than three members during this exam."
"Does that answer your question, Takigakure-nin?" Anko asked, smiling casually.
"Since the examiner assures it, I trust Konoha to be fair," the Takigakure ninja replied, meeting Anko's gaze without flinching.
"Haha, I like your spirit," Anko said, a grin spreading across her face. She appreciated candidates who showed courage. It made the game all the more thrilling.
"Anyone else have questions? If not, line up and enter the tent to receive your scrolls," Anko instructed, scanning the crowd. Seeing no more raised hands or signs of quitting, she nodded in satisfaction and gestured for the candidates to proceed.
With that, the second round of the Chunin Exams was set to begin, each team entering the Forest of Death, unaware of the true dangers lurking within.
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One by one, the teams entered the tent to collect their scrolls. They were then led to different entrances by the Konoha chunin, who stood waiting nearby, guiding them into the Forest of Death in batches.
No team knew what type of scroll the others had, nor the location of the other teams' entrances. This was a rule strictly enforced during the second round of the Chunin Exams.
As teams left the tent, it was finally Team 7's turn to enter. The atmosphere was tense with anticipation.
"Haha, finally your turn, kids from Kakashi's team," Anko Mitarashi said, her eyes gleaming with amusement as she spotted the familiar faces.
"Huh? Anko-sensei, you know Kakashi-sensei too?" Naruto asked, curiosity flashing across his face.
"Of course," Anko replied, softening her tone slightly as she addressed him. She knew this boy was the son of the Fourth Hokage. "Kakashi and I go way back."
"Okay, but even though I know your sensei, we still have to follow the rules," Anko continued, her tone shifting to something more serious. "You heard what I said to that Takigakure ninja earlier. Team 7 has four members, which is fine for most missions and even for the first part of this exam, but it's not allowed during the scroll battle. So, we've made a special arrangement for your team. These rules should be fair, right?"
Anko's gaze swept over the group. She knew the issue wasn't simply the number of members—it was about maintaining the appearance of fairness. Teams could always form alliances with others, whether from their own village or not. But officially, each team should consist of only three members.
"We understand," Menma said, nodding. "Kakashi-sensei explained it to us beforehand. We're prepared for whatever you have planned, Anko-sensei."
"Yeah, just tell us what the special rules are!" Naruto added, eager as always.
Anko grinned. "Glad to see you're ready. The rule is simple: you'll need to split up. You can form two teams—either three and one or two and two—but no group can have more than three people. Also, you'll be entering the forest from different entrances. Oh, and both scrolls you'll receive are of the same type. That's it! I'll give you a few minutes to discuss how you want to handle this."
She pulled out two Heaven Scrolls from behind her and placed them on the table in front of Menma and Naruto.
This sudden twist caught the team off guard. They'd expected changes, but this added another layer of complexity.
"Separate?" Naruto said, disbelief in his voice.
Menma was momentarily stunned, but then a thrill surged through him. This was the opportunity he'd been waiting for—a chance to act alone and make contact with Orochimaru. If he didn't seize this moment, he'd truly be a fool.
His eyes lit up, a slight smile tugging at his lips. Everything was falling into place.
"No need to discuss it," Menma said confidently. "Anko-sensei, I'll go solo."
He reached out, taking one of the Heaven Scrolls and securing it in his hand.
Anko raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? Going solo, are we? You sure about that?"
"Yes," Menma replied, his tone resolute. "The three of them will form one team, and I'll go alone."
His words jolted the others from their shock.
Sasuke frowned but remained silent, mulling it over.
Naruto, on the other hand, looked alarmed. "Wait, what? Menma, that's not fair! We should split into two teams of two. That way, it's more balanced!"
Menma turned to Naruto, calm but unyielding. "And how do you suggest we split up, Naruto?"
Naruto hesitated, glancing at Sakura. The dilemma was clear. If they paired off in twos, one of them would have to team up with Sakura. While she was determined, she wasn't as strong as the others, which would leave that team at a disadvantage.
Sakura's face fell as she realized this, feeling like a burden. She took a deep breath. "Menma's right," she said quietly. "It's better if the three of you stick together. I'll sit this one out. Anko-sensei, I'll drop out of this round. That's allowed, right?"
Anko raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Oh? You're willing to drop out? Well, as long as no team exceeds three members, it's within the rules."
Sakura nodded, though she couldn't help feeling disappointed. There would be other chances to become a chunin, she reasoned. Stepping aside might also show Naruto, Sasuke, and Menma that she understood her limits.
But before she could say another word, Menma cut in. "No, Sakura. Quitting is not an option. You've made it this far; you shouldn't give up now. Failure is a learning experience, but giving up without trying is the worst thing you can do. If you think you're a burden, prove otherwise. Growth comes from facing challenges, not avoiding them. Is this really what you want?"
His words struck her deeply. Sakura felt a lump form in her throat.
"Yeah, Sakura," Naruto said, encouraged by Menma's speech. "He's right! We've been through too much together to give up now. Let's split into two teams. You and I can team up, and Menma and Sasuke can form the other group. We'll be fine!"
Sakura looked between Naruto and Menma, then glanced at Sasuke, who hadn't spoken but was watching her intently. Her resolve hardened, and she nodded.
"Alright. I won't give up," Sakura said, determination shining in her eyes. "We'll split into two teams and give it our best shot!"
Menma smiled inwardly, hiding his relief. This setup was perfect. Now, he had the freedom he needed to move forward with his plan in the Forest of Death.
Anko watched the exchange, her smile widening. "Looks like you've made your decision. Good. Let's get you all set up. Remember, the exam doesn't officially start until you enter the forest. Stay sharp, and good luck to all of you."
With that, the second round of the Chunin Exams was about to begin, each member of Team 7 stepping toward their destiny, unaware of the many dangers and challenges waiting for them within the Forest of Death.
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