บท 44: The second round of assessment begins

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"No, let's split into two groups. You three will be one team, and I'll go alone. No need to argue about it. Naruto, you and Sasuke both know you can't match my strength, right? This is the best way for all four of us to pass the exam."

Menma's words were blunt and direct, leaving Naruto momentarily speechless. Even Sasuke's expression darkened, but neither of them could argue. Menma was telling the truth, and they both knew it.

After six years at the Academy, Naruto and Sasuke had faced Menma many times, only to lose each match. It was clear that Menma had been holding back in their earlier confrontations. Now, after more than half a year of missions, his strength was undeniable.

As proud as Sasuke was, he couldn't deny the reality. He wouldn't admit it out loud, but he knew he wasn't on Menma's level yet.

"Remember that B-rank mission we had before? I handled the solo infiltration, right? Trust me, I can manage on my own. We'll find a way to regroup later. Naruto, you don't want to fail this exam, do you?" Menma asked, his tone confident.

He waved his hand dismissively. Having the strongest member go solo did seem like the safest option. Pairing up risked both teams getting overwhelmed, but splitting up increased their chances. From a practical standpoint, Sakura's suggestion to drop out might have seemed safest, but that wasn't Menma's style. He wanted to project a sense of camaraderie and confidence in his teammates.

Menma was certain Sakura didn't truly want to give up. He could rely on Naruto's desire to support his friends to back him up on this. As for Sasuke? Sasuke's indifference was predictable.

This plan was ideal for Menma. It gave him the freedom to act alone, exactly what he needed.

Sure enough, after Menma's declaration, Sasuke stayed silent, and Sakura appeared thoughtful. After a moment of hesitation, Naruto spoke up.

"Okay, but you better be careful, Menma. We'll try to meet up as soon as we can," Naruto said, his voice filled with concern.

"Yeah, of course," Menma replied, nodding.

They would reunite eventually. Menma had no intention of wandering aimlessly through the forest looking for Orochimaru. The plan was to wait for the right moment. If things went according to his expectations, Orochimaru would seek out Sasuke. All Menma had to do was be close enough to witness the encounter.

Initially, Menma planned to find an excuse to separate from the team after entering the forest, allowing him to be nearby when Orochimaru made his move. But the timing of Orochimaru's arrival was unpredictable, and it would be suspicious if he strayed too far for too long. His teammates weren't fools.

This new arrangement was perfect. Entering the Forest of Death alone was exactly what Menma needed.

With the plan in place, Team 7 split up. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura formed one team, while Menma went on his own. They would enter the forest through separate entrances, just as in the original timeline.

Different chunin examiners guided them to their respective entry points. Menma felt a surge of anticipation as he approached his entrance.

"Remember, you're not allowed to open the scrolls during the exam. Any consequences are your responsibility," the chunin at Menma's entrance said, his tone flat.

"I understand," Menma replied, his voice calm.

With a swift movement, Menma disappeared into the forest, heading deeper into the Forest of Death.

"Time is short," Menma thought, moving quickly through the dense foliage. "I don't remember exactly when Orochimaru appears, but it's likely soon after the exam starts. I don't have much time."

Menma heightened his senses, trying to detect Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura's location. He needed to know where they were, to be close by when Orochimaru showed up.

Meanwhile, in a clearing far from the Forest of Death, Anko Mitarashi arrived with a group of Konoha ninjas. The sight of three dead Grass ninja made Anko's blood run cold. Her usual composure and teasing demeanor were gone, replaced by a fierce, determined look.

"He's back. That bastard is back!" Anko's hands clenched into fists, her eyes burning with rage.

"Report this to Lord Hokage immediately. The rest of you, follow me into the Forest of Death," Anko commanded, her voice sharp.

"Yes, Anko-sama!" the chunin responded, though they didn't fully understand why the deaths of three Grass ninja had rattled their commander. Orders were orders, and they quickly moved to comply.

"I have to get there in time!" Anko thought, her face set with grim determination as she raced toward the forest.

The Forest of Death was like a small pond, but now a giant shark had entered the waters. Orochimaru's presence would bring chaos and destruction, and most of the genin inside had no idea of the danger they were in. Fortunately, Orochimaru had a clear target. The genin who stayed out of his way were safe—for now.

For Orochimaru, the Chunin Exams were a hunting ground, and his prey was Uchiha Sasuke. All he needed to do was find the boy and deliver his special gift. The rest were insignificant.

Disguised as a Grass ninja, Orochimaru moved through the forest, his senses extended. It didn't take him long to locate Sasuke's team. With the aid of his summoned snakes, he pinpointed their location within an hour.

"Ah, Itachi's little brother. Let's see what you're capable of," Orochimaru mused, his eyes gleaming with anticipation as he spotted Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura below. His long tongue flicked out, tasting the air, as he signaled his subordinates to stand guard.

In a swift motion, Orochimaru leaped down from the trees, heading straight for his target.

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At the same time, Menma was rushing toward Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura's location when he encountered an unexpected obstacle.

Standing in his path was Karin, accompanied by two other Kusagakure ninja. Menma's expression shifted from determination to confusion as he took in the sight. Karin stood there like some kind of villain boss, and Menma couldn't help but find the situation a bit surreal.

"Haha, this really is my lucky day," sneered the lead Kusagakure ninja, a man with a cockscomb hairstyle. "The examiners weren't lying. If a team of four can't stick together, they'll split up. But running into just one of you? My luck is incredible. Nice work, Karin."

The cockscomb-haired ninja patted Karin's head arrogantly, a smug grin plastered on his face. Karin flinched slightly at his touch, her eyes briefly apologetic as they flickered toward Menma.

"Alright, kid," the cockscomb ninja said, his chin tilted upward. "If you know what's good for you, hand over your scroll. We might even let you go since you're from Konoha."

"Yeah," added the purple-haired Grass ninja beside him, mimicking his comrade's sneer. "Consider this a rare act of kindness. Don't be stupid."

Menma shook his head, a smirk creeping onto his lips. "Kindness? Let's see if you can back that up."

His chakra flared with intensity.

**Boom.**

The explosion of chakra was instantaneous.

**Swoosh.**

In a blur of movement, Menma closed the distance between him and the Kusagakure ninja, moving so fast he seemed to vanish.

"What the—?!"

"Not good!" the cockscomb ninja shouted, his eyes wide in shock. He realized too late that this Konoha shinobi wasn't someone to take lightly.

"Aso!" the cockscomb ninja called, panic edging into his voice.

"I got this!" Aso replied, bracing himself as Menma rushed forward.

Both Grass ninja sprang into action, coordinating a counterattack.

But Menma was faster.

**Hmph.**

The two Grass ninja had severely underestimated Menma's speed. Before they could react, Menma had already closed in.

**Shua.**

With a flick of his wrist, Menma revealed a kunai. In one swift motion, he struck.

**Clang.**

The kunai collided with the cockscomb ninja's blade, sparks flying. The ninja barely managed to block the attack, his stance faltering under Menma's sheer strength. His arms trembled, and his legs buckled under the pressure.

"Aso, cover me!" the cockscomb ninja shouted, desperately trying to regain his balance.

But it was too late.

**Shua.**

With another powerful swipe, Menma knocked the ninja's sword aside, leaving him wide open. His eyes cold with determination, Menma twisted his wrist.

**Thud.**

The kunai pierced the cockscomb ninja's chest, striking his heart. A pained gasp escaped his lips as agony shot through his body.

"Aghhh!" The cockscomb ninja cried out, blood pouring from his mouth as his life ebbed away. His vision dimmed, and the world around him began to blur.

Menma twisted the kunai deeper, ensuring the fatal blow. The ninja's body went limp, collapsing forward. In his final moments, the cockscomb ninja's gaze turned toward his comrades, confusion clouding his mind as he wondered why they hadn't helped him.

His eyes landed on Aso, who lay motionless in a pool of blood, another Menma standing beside him. Realization dawned on him—*they had been outmaneuvered*.

'We were the prey all along,' the cockscomb ninja thought, a bitter smile curling on his lips before his consciousness faded.

**Bang.**

His body hit the ground with a lifeless thud.

Menma stood over the two dead Kusagakure ninja, his expression neutral. To him, this was just another mission. His strength had grown to the point where defeating ordinary chunin and genin was no challenge. The fact that they hadn't sensed his shadow clones spoke volumes about their skills.

Menma wiped the blood from his face and quickly searched the bodies, retrieving a mission scroll from the cockscomb ninja's pouch. Seeing the kanji for "Earth" (地) on the scroll, he pocketed it before turning to Karin, who stood trembling but trying to maintain her composure.

"You should have sensed my shadow clones. Why didn't you warn them?" Menma asked calmly, his gaze steady on Karin.

Karin was silent for a moment, then took a deep breath. "They aren't my teammates," she finally said, her voice steady.

Menma raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What do you mean by that?"

Karin met his eyes. "You might not believe me, but when I saw you in the first round of the exams... I felt like I could trust you. I'd rather take my chances with you than with them."

"Is it because of the red hair?" Menma asked, crossing his arms. "There are others with red hair in this exam."

"No," Karin said, shaking her head. "It's not about the hair. It's just... a feeling I have."

Menma scrutinized her for a moment, still skeptical. "You watched me kill them. Aren't you afraid I'll do the same to you?"

Karin sighed and pulled up her sleeve, revealing her arm, scarred with bite marks. "I'm a sensory and medical ninja. They only kept me around to heal them. My own mother died like this, drained of her chakra by people who saw her as a tool. If I'm going to die, I'd rather it be at the hands of someone I trust, even a little."

Menma's expression softened slightly. He could see the pain in her eyes, the deep scars from her past. "I believe you," he said quietly.

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