The central tower of the Forest of Death hummed with the nervous energy of hundreds of Genin. The second stage was over, and the preliminary rounds of the third stage were about to begin. For Uchiha Namekaze, this was more than just a series of fights; it was a grand stage for his evolving power and a critical hunting ground for Orochimaru and his network. My Three-Tomoe Sharingan, now fully integrated, perceived the room as a complex tapestry of chakra signatures, each thread a potential clue.
Hayate Gekko, the perpetually coughing proctor, explained the rules with his raspy voice: one-on-one battles, no rules except to concede or be unable to fight. The matches would be displayed on the electronic board. My mind was a tempest of strategy. I had 285 EP in my reserves, a significant amount, but I held onto it. I needed to see how the battles unfolded, to understand the true scope of the threats.
The match-ups began to appear. I watched intently, not just for the fights themselves, but for the subtle tells of Orochimaru's presence and the movements of his pawns. I saw Sasuke battle Yoroi Akado, his Curse Mark subtly flaring even as he won with the Lion Combo. I saw Shino dismantle Zaku, and Kankuro outwit Misumi. Each battle was a lesson, absorbed by my Strategic Analysis and Enhanced Combat Awareness (Chapter 23).
My gaze, however, kept returning to two specific individuals. The disguised Orochimaru, still masquerading as a Grass Village Genin, observed Sasuke with an unnerving intensity, his chakra signature a cold, dark coil. And the lanky Genin with the serpent tattoo (Chapter 23), a low-ranking member of Mizuki's network, who watched the fights with a furtive, almost desperate air. He was a pawn, but a potential source of information.
Then, my own match-up appeared on the board.
"Uchiha Namekaze versus Abumi Zaku!"
Zaku. The Sound Ninja with the chakra-infused sound attacks. He was one of Orochimaru's direct subordinates, a dangerous foe, and a key piece in the larger puzzle. This was my chance. A chance to test my new power, to gather more intel on Orochimaru's immediate plans, and to make a statement, however subtle, without fully revealing my hand.
Akio clapped me on the back, a nervous energy in his touch. "Good luck, Namekaze! Zaku looks tough!"
Ren gave me a quiet, assessing nod. "Be careful," she murmured, her eyes sharp.
I walked towards the arena, my mind a tempest of strategy. I had 285 EP remaining, and the Three-Tomoe Sharingan hummed, ready. Orochimaru was here. His network was here. This fight was more than just a preliminary round; it was my opening move against the true master of the serpent's coil. The dance of shadows and light was about to begin.
I stepped into the arena, the roar of the crowd a distant hum. Zaku stood opposite me, his arms crossed, a sneer on his face. He was confident, arrogant, utterly convinced of his superiority. His chakra signature, when viewed through my Three-Tomoe Sharingan, was a distinct, aggressive pulse, clearly linked to his sound-based attacks.
"So, the 'quiet Uchiha orphan' finally gets a turn," Zaku sneered, his voice grating. "Don't disappoint me, kid. I need a good warm-up."
I said nothing, simply activating my Three-Tomoe Sharingan. The crimson eyes, though subtle to the casual observer, were a stark declaration of intent to Zaku. His sneer faltered, a flicker of surprise in his eyes as he recognized the tomoe. He hadn't expected an Uchiha with an awakened Sharingan, let alone three tomoe.
"Begin!" Hayate's raspy voice cut through the tension.
Zaku immediately launched his signature attack. He extended his arms, and sharp, chakra-infused sound waves erupted from the tubes in his palms, tearing through the air towards me. The attack was fast, powerful, and designed to disorient and damage.
My Three-Tomoe Sharingan saw it all. I perceived the precise trajectory of the sound waves, the subtle distortions in the air, the exact moment they would impact. I didn't just see; I predicted. I moved with a fluid grace, weaving through the attacks, dodging by mere inches, making him look clumsy. My Taijutsu, now at A-rank, was a blur of defensive maneuvers.
"What?!" Zaku roared, frustrated. "How are you so fast?!" He pressed his attack, sending more powerful sound waves, trying to overwhelm me.
I continued to evade, conserving my chakra. I needed to gather intel. I needed to understand his fighting style, his weaknesses, and how he connected to Orochimaru. My Three-Tomoe Sharingan analyzed his every move, every chakra expenditure, every tell. I saw the strain on his arms, the slight delay between attacks.
He grew desperate, charging me, attempting a close-quarters taijutsu assault. His punches were wild, predictable. My Three-Tomoe Sharingan showed me the optimal counter. I parried, twisted, and delivered a precise, non-lethal Taijutsu strike to his elbow, dislocating it with a sickening snap. Zaku screamed, clutching his arm, pain contorting his face.
"You think you're so tough, Uchiha?!" he shrieked, his good arm flailing, attempting a desperate, close-range sound blast.
This was my moment. I needed to end it, subtly. I closed the distance, my Shunshin no Jutsu a silent whisper. I appeared directly in front of him, my Three-Tomoe Sharingan locked onto his eyes. He froze, caught in my gaze.
I channeled a small, precise amount of chakra, weaving a basic Genjutsu into his mind. It wasn't a powerful illusion, just a subtle disorienting suggestion. I made him see a momentary, terrifying vision of Orochimaru, his true master, standing behind me, looking disappointed. It was a flicker, a subconscious trigger.
Zaku's eyes widened in terror, his body seizing up. He began to tremble, sweat pouring down his face. "Master... no... I..." He collapsed to his knees, utterly defeated, not by physical force, but by the psychological blow.
"I concede!" he whimpered, his voice barely audible.
Hayate Gekko, who had been watching with a rare flicker of interest in his tired eyes, raised his hand. "Winner: Uchiha Namekaze!"
The crowd, initially stunned by the swiftness and unexpected end of the fight, erupted in cheers. Akio and Ren rushed to congratulate me. I offered a tired, humble smile, quickly deactivating my Sharingan. My chakra reserves were low, but my mission was a resounding success.
As I walked away from the arena, I felt Orochimaru's gaze. It was a cold, calculating stare, filled with a new, intense curiosity. He had seen my Three-Tomoe Sharingan, seen my efficiency, and perhaps, even sensed the subtle genjutsu I had used. He knew I was more than I appeared. The serpent had taken notice.
My Three-Tomoe Sharingan hummed with satisfaction. My EP remained at 285, but the intel gained was invaluable. I had confirmed Orochimaru's direct presence, identified his subordinate, and made him aware of my own growing power. The Chunin Exams were proving to be a labyrinth of intent, and I was navigating it with a hunter's new sight. The game was escalating, and I was ready for the next move.