"Th-this… this is a ninjutsu that Izayoi developed himself?"
Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto were hiding behind a fallen giant tree, staring at the fire tornado spinning like a top, their eyes filled with shock.
Gulp…
Uzumaki Naruto swallowed hard and trembled as he said, "S-so strong!"
He had thought that his own combination of Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu and Wind Style: Great Breakthrough was already incredibly powerful.
But he didn't expect that, besides him, Izayoi also had control over a massive-range ninjutsu.
And Izayoi didn't even need shadow clones—or hand signs.
It wasn't even the same level.
Naruto's confidence, which had just started to swell, was instantly crushed.
"Let's go!"
At that moment, Izayoi appeared behind Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto, grabbed both of them, and instantly vanished.
Not long after the three left, a figure emerged from the scorched ground nearby. Covered in burn marks—it was Orochimaru.
Urghh…
Orochimaru let out a retching sound. His mouth split open like a torn sack, as wide as a bucket.
Then, a body covered in sticky mucus crawled out from his mouth.
"Damn brat, how dare he ruin my plans!"
After using the Orochi-style Substitution Technique and spitting out a new body, Orochimaru hoarsely cursed, then grinned sinisterly, "But that kind of chakra, and that casting speed—what an amazing talent!"
Looking at the fire tornado rampaging through the forest—if left unchecked, it would burn down the entire forest—Orochimaru muttered again, "Such a familiar technique. I didn't expect the jutsu that Minato and that fool never perfected to be completed by a member of the new generation."
"Looks like the windmill of Konoha, which has been stalled for so long, is about to spin again."
Orochimaru glanced in the direction Izayoi and the others had left, then looked toward another spot, and muttered with a wicked smile, "What belongs to me won't escape in the end. Sasuke-kun, your body will be mine."
After speaking, Orochimaru's body slowly sank into the ground, leaving the Forest of Death.
Soon after, numerous figures suddenly appeared in the forest.
Some were ANBU wearing cloaks and cat-faced masks.
Others were special jōnin and jōnin wearing green vests.
"Too late?"
Anko Mitarashi's expression was dark and uncertain.
"Put out the fire, quickly."
The other shinobi worked together to use Water Style and extinguished the fire tornado.
On the other side, after Izayoi and the others escaped, they first went to pick up the hidden Haruno Sakura, then immediately rushed forward for another two or three miles before finally stopping.
Team 7 leaned against a tree, panting heavily.
"That Orochimaru didn't chase after us, right?" Uchiha Sasuke still looked uneasy as he asked Izayoi.
"Don't worry, he's not coming. The rescue team has already arrived."
Izayoi gave Team 7 a calming reassurance pill.
Hearing this, Team 7 immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
Haruno Sakura even collapsed on the ground, terrified. "A legendary ninja actually targeted us? That's way too unlucky!"
"Tch… If that guy didn't know Earth Style, I would've already beaten him!" Naruto said stubbornly.
Only Uchiha Sasuke wore a serious expression.
After all, he knew that the other side had likely come for him.
Thinking about being targeted by such a big shot sent chills down his spine.
This time, he was lucky because Izayoi was here.
But what about next time?
And the time after that?
As if seeing the fear inside Sasuke, Izayoi patted his shoulder and smiled to comfort him: "Don't be nervous—after all, the one who should be nervous is the village! An S-rank missing-nin is one of the most dangerous types of people in the ninja world. Even the great ninja villages don't dare take them lightly."
"A big-shot like that suddenly appearing in Konoha—Lord Hokage will definitely mobilize the entire village to hunt him down."
"During this time, the village's security will be at its highest. After the exam ends, don't go home. Stay in the central street area for now—wait until the village deals with Orochimaru before going back."
Hearing this, Sasuke felt relieved and nodded seriously. "Okay, I understand."
After catching their breath, Izayoi and Team 7 headed toward the central tower.
On the way, Naruto leaned over to Izayoi and asked curiously, "Izayoi, that fire tornado you used earlier—was it a jutsu your jōnin sensei taught you?"
"No, that was a ninjutsu I developed myself." Izayoi shook his head.
"Nani?! You actually developed it yourself?!"
"So amazing!"
Naruto and Sakura exclaimed in surprise.
Uchiha Sasuke suddenly remembered something and asked, his expression changing slightly, "That's the perfected jutsu you mentioned before? Wasn't it Lightning Style?"
"Of course not."
Izayoi revealed a meaningful smile and said, "The Gaia Energy Cannon was just a half-finished product I created while perfecting my ultimate move!"
"Nani?!"
Team 7 exclaimed again.
Haruno Sakura was stunned. "That fire tornado… was only a prototype?"
Gulp…
Naruto and Sasuke swallowed hard, feeling once again that a huge gap had opened up between them and Izayoi.
Even the prototype had that kind of power—they couldn't even imagine how powerful Izayoi's ultimate technique would be once completed.
At the same time, Sasuke looked at Izayoi with burning eyes.
Any ninjutsu that could be called an "ultimate move" was on the level of an S-rank technique.
If he could learn such a powerful move, maybe—just maybe—he could kill that man.
But how could he convince Izayoi to teach him his ultimate technique?
Even if not the ultimate move, that Gaia Energy Cannon wasn't bad either!
After all, he had fire chakra too!
Thinking this, Sasuke made up his mind—once the exam ended, he would find a way to win Izayoi over.
After using the Tenseigan to lock onto Orochimaru's position and confirming that he had indeed given up on planting the Curse Mark on Sasuke in the Forest of Death, Izayoi parted ways with Team 7 to meet up with Hinata and Shino, heading into the central tower.
Without the Curse Mark, Sasuke's strength meant that his only real threats in the forest were hidden experts like Kabuto, Gaara, Rock Lee, and Neji Hyuga.
As for the other participants—they weren't Sasuke's match.
As expected, Team 7 didn't take long to reach the central tower.
Afraid that Orochimaru might come after them again, Team 7 barely rested for even a moment. They actively sought out a team with a Heaven Scroll, then rushed to the tower without stopping.
There, they reported Orochimaru's appearance to Iruka Umino's shadow clone that emerged from the scroll.
Once it was confirmed that Orochimaru had returned to Konoha, the atmosphere turned tense and heavy.
Many shinobi urged the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, to cancel the Chūnin Exams and focus on capturing Orochimaru.
But with many ninja from other villages already in Konoha, and invitations sent to the Fourth Kazekage and other dignitaries, it was impossible to cancel the exams.
So, Hiruzen could only secretly dispatch ninja and ANBU to investigate.
And just like that, five days passed—
The second exam officially ended.