The last mission had pushed them far beyond their limits.Even though the team hadn't gained any experience points this time, Kazehaya Hayate could tell they'd learned something more valuable — the kind of lessons that only came from real danger. There were patterns, mistakes, and instincts that had sharpened without them even realizing it.
Hong stood before the three of them, her tone calm but her eyes faintly amused."I was planning to let you all rest for a few days," she said after a pause. "But… the Chūnin Exams will begin soon. I hope that by then, you'll have the strength to participate."
She gave a short nod, her expression turning serious again. "So—get ready. Your next mission is to gather intelligence on neighboring countries!"
Her words sent a ripple of anticipation through the air.
At the same time, the other newly graduated teams were pushing themselves just as hard.
Over at another training ground, Naruto leaned toward Kakashi, eyes blazing with determination."C'mon, Kakashi-sensei! Please give us a real challenge! I heard Hayate, Hinata, and Kiba already completed a C-rank mission. We can't fall behind them!"
Sasuke crossed his arms, a hint of irritation in his cool, sharp voice. "These D-rank errands are a waste of time."For once, he didn't bother contradicting Naruto.
"Y-yeah!" Sakura chimed in quickly, nodding along.
Kakashi lifted his gaze from the little orange book in his hand and sighed. "Ah, I see, I see." The curve of his eyes hinted at a smile beneath the mask. "So you're all fired up because you don't want to lose to your peers. Not bad."
And just like that, Team 7's enthusiasm lit up the day. Soon they'd find themselves heading toward the Land of Waves, while Shikamaru's team began their own C-rank assignment. Even Shino's squad — now joined by the substitute member Ryoji Takeda — had started tackling tougher missions.
The drive to become a Chūnin burned through every Genin in Konoha.Even if a world war were to erupt tomorrow, nothing would stop them from chasing that goal.
[Part 2 – The Forest of Death]
Boom!
A deafening explosion split through the silence of the great forest, the shockwave rippling through branches and leaves. Ten explosive tags detonated at once, their fiery bloom bright but fleeting.
In the vastness of the Forest of Death, though, the noise barely registered. No one else noticed — except the ones who had set them off… and the ones giving chase.
"Hinata, use your Byakugan—check if they're still following us!" Kiba's voice was tense, his breathing uneven as Akamaru barked beside him. Panic flickered across his face.
"Y-yes!" Hinata started to focus, forming the familiar hand signs, but Hayate reached out quickly to stop her.
"Don't bother," he said sharply, eyes narrowing as he scanned the forest ahead. "Those tags won't hold them for long. We need to keep moving—now."
Without waiting for a reply, he leapt onto a higher branch, darting through the canopy with swift, practiced motion. Hinata trusted his judgment completely and followed without hesitation.
Kiba hesitated, glancing back toward the fading smoke. Deep down, he knew Hayate was right — the explosion wouldn't have done much against opponents like that. Still, a part of him clung to the faint, desperate hope that maybe, just maybe, the pursuers hadn't survived.
"Damn it… how can there be someone that strong among Genin?" Kiba muttered bitterly.
"Stop wasting time thinking about that and run!" Hayate's reply was curt, but the frustration in his voice wasn't directed at his teammate — it was at himself.
Because he already knew the truth.
It had been less than an hour since the second round of the Chūnin Exams had begun. They'd barely set foot inside the Forest of Death when they ran into him — a man posing as a Grass Village shinobi. A man whose very presence made the air heavy.
One of the Sannin.Orochimaru.
Even Hayate could hardly believe it. The same Orochimaru who stood alongside Jiraiya and Tsunade, legends of the ninja world, was here — stalking Genin.
Their battle had been brief, violent, and hopelessly one-sided. Hayate's strongest attack — the Giant Rasengan — had shattered one of Orochimaru's summoned serpents and even forced the Sannin to cough up blood. But in the blink of an eye, the man's wound had sealed itself as if mocking the effort.
The two Grass-nin who accompanied him were nothing compared to that monster.
Hayate had no choice. He'd ordered Hinata and Kiba to retreat first, unleashed two more Giant Rasengan to buy them time, and used his teleportation jutsu to flee. But the Sannin had marked him — and Orochimaru didn't let his prey escape so easily.
"Gh—!" Hayate grimaced, pain stabbing through his arm. Blood trickled down from his palm, torn by the strain of channeling too much chakra.
"Hayate!" Hinata's worried voice trembled as she turned to him. "Are you hurt?"
"The backlash from the Giant Rasengan…" He forced a pained smile. "My body can't handle the strain. But don't worry about me. If Orochimaru catches up, we're all finished."
"Orochimaru…?" Hinata's pale eyes widened in shock. "You mean… the Orochimaru? One of the Legendary Sannin?"
She could barely believe it — but the chill in Hayate's voice left no room for doubt.
"Yeah. No wonder he's that strong," she whispered, her tone filled with awe and fear.
Hayate clenched his fist. He should have fled the instant he sensed that monstrous killing intent. Instead, he'd hesitated — and revealed a technique he should've kept hidden. If he hadn't used the Giant Rasengan, maybe Orochimaru wouldn't have taken interest in him.
But now it was too late.
What Hayate didn't realize was that Orochimaru wasn't impressed by the Rasengan itself. What had truly caught the Sannin's attention was Hayate's ability to break his genjutsu instantly — and the fact that he could use teleportation jutsu. Those were not abilities an ordinary Genin should have.