With both Heaven and Earth Scrolls in hand, the central tower was our next and final destination in the Forest of Death. Yet, my focus was not solely on the finish line. My Three-Tomoe Sharingan, sharpened to Superior Perception (Chapter 24), tirelessly tracked the rogue cell I'd identified earlier. The serpent-like chakra signatures were still present, moving with purpose, clearly unaffected by the ordeal of the exam. They weren't just playing for scrolls; they were operating with an objective beyond simple graduation.
"We should take this path," I suggested to Akio and Ren, pointing towards a denser, less-traveled section of the forest. "It looks like a shortcut, and it might help us avoid any more strong teams." It was a lie, a calculated gamble to bring us closer to my real targets. My perception had confirmed the rogues were heading in that direction, likely to consolidate or report back to a hidden leader.
Akio, ever eager, agreed. Ren, as always, gave me a thoughtful, unreadable look, but followed. We moved deeper into the forest, the silence growing heavier.
My Three-Tomoe Sharingan confirmed their presence. They were setting up another ambush, this time on higher ground, clearly waiting for a specific target. The lanky boy with the serpent tattoo was there, accompanied by two other Genin from his unknown village. They exuded a cold, professional air.
I subtly adjusted our approach, leading us directly into their prepared trap. I needed to engage them, to finish the "Rogue Cell Elimination" mission.
Suddenly, a volley of shuriken rained down from the trees. Akio yelped, barely dodging. Ren quickly formed hand signs, sending a burst of water towards the source.
"Ambush!" Akio yelled, drawing a kunai.
"Stay sharp!" I commanded, immediately assessing the situation with my Three-Tomoe Sharingan. I could see the trajectory of every thrown weapon, the subtle shifts in their chakra as they prepared to leap down. They were coordinated.
The lanky boy, clearly the leader of this cell, dropped first, aiming a kick at Ren. I moved instantly, anticipating his precise attack. I intercepted, not with a forceful block, but with a fluid, almost dance-like Taijutsu deflection, redirecting his kick just enough so he missed Ren by an inch. My Shunshin no Jutsu flared, and I was suddenly behind him, striking a non-lethal blow to his back that staggered him.
"Namekaze!" Akio shouted, charging one of the other rogues, engaging him in a clumsy but determined melee. Ren used her precision, throwing kunai to pin the third rogue against a tree.
My focus was on the cell leader. He was agile, resourceful, and seemed to possess enhanced reflexes, likely a product of their specialized training. His eyes, though lacking a Sharingan, darted with sharp intelligence. He was clearly surprised by my speed and counter-attacks.
He lunged again, a series of rapid punches. My Three-Tomoe Sharingan activated its precognitive flow. I saw the faint outline of his next three moves, the exact trajectory of his fist, the subtle shift of his weight. I weaved, ducked, and countered with an effortless grace that seemed impossible for a Genin. My Taijutsu, now at A-rank, was flowing.
"Katon: Haisekishō!" I expelled a short, controlled burst of superheated ash, aimed directly at his face. He cried out, blinded, staggering back, clawing at his eyes.
This was my chance for intel. Before he could recover, I was on him. I pressed him against a tree, my Sharingan locked onto his face, forcing him to meet my gaze. "Who are you working for?" I demanded, my voice low and fierce, utterly unlike the quiet Genin persona I usually maintained. The raw intensity of my Three-Tomoe Sharingan, fully revealed to him, clearly terrified him.
He struggled, then whimpered, "The... the Serpent... he told us to find... the boy..."
"What boy?" I pressed, my grip tightening.
"The one... with the fox... Mizuki's original plan... he's gone rogue... we need him for the master's vision!" he gasped, his eyes wide with fear and pain.
Naruto. Mizuki's original plan. This confirmed my fears: Mizuki's capture hadn't ended the threat; it had merely shifted it. There was a "master," and they still wanted Naruto.
I heard the sounds of Akio and Ren struggling with their opponents. I couldn't risk being seen by them in this state, nor could I linger. I delivered another precise, non-lethal blow to the rogue leader's neck, knocking him unconscious.
I quickly searched him. In a hidden pouch, I found a small, intricately carved wooden charm. It was a serpent, coiling around a stylized, single eye—not a Sharingan, but a distinct symbol. This was a new, higher-ranking symbol, clearly distinct from the crude tattoo. I pocketed it.
My teammates, with some difficulty, had managed to subdue their respective opponents, tying them to trees. Akio was bruised but triumphant. Ren looked exhausted, but her gaze was sharp, lingering on me for a moment. She'd seen something. She hadn't seen my Sharingan, but she'd seen my efficiency.
"Good work, Team!" I said, forcing a slightly breathless tone, quickly deactivating my Sharingan. "They were tougher than they looked. Let's secure them and move."
We secured the three unconscious rogues, leaving them for the exam proctors to find. It was a clean sweep, and a successful information gathering operation. My current EP was 185 (Chapter 23).
Mission Objective Complete: Rogue Cell Elimination. You have been awarded 100 EP. Current EP: 285.You have acquired a Major Stealth Boost, a Major Infiltration Boost, and a Major Combat Skill Boost.
With the mission complete and the rogues neutralized, our path to the central tower was clear. We moved efficiently, our senses still alert, but with a renewed sense of purpose. We reached the tower, its imposing structure rising through the forest canopy, just as the five-day limit was drawing to a close.
Inside, Anko Mitarashi greeted us, her unsettling grin back in place as she checked our scrolls. "Heaven and Earth Scrolls," she noted, her eyes flicking over us, "and all three of you seem to be... mostly intact. Congratulations, Team 11. You pass."
A wave of relief washed over Akio and Ren. I offered a humble bow. The second stage was over. I had acquired vital intel, gained immense power, and neutralized a dangerous cell, all without fully revealing my hand. The serpent pendant in my pocket hummed with a subtle, dark energy, a direct link to the "master" the rogue had spoken of.
My current EP stood at a healthy 285. The Three-Tomoe Sharingan hummed, a constant source of power and insight. I had come into the Forest of Death as a Genin, a ghost. I was leaving as a hunter, with a target in my sights and the means to pursue it. The Chunin Exams were far from over, and I knew the preliminary rounds, the one-on-one combat, would offer an even greater opportunity to display my skills and, perhaps, draw out the true leader of the serpent's coil. The game had just truly begun.
End of chapter 25