Chapter 362: Entering the Forest of Death

"Kabuto-san…"

"This should be your second time participating in the Chunin Exams, right?"

In the crowded first exam hall of the Chunin Exams, Sakura, who was next to Naruto, immediately recognized Kabuto's 'identity.'

"No, this is actually my seventh time participating in the Chunin Exams…"

"Let me use my 'Ninja Identification Card' to reveal some information to you juniors…"

Kabuto, who was undercover in Konoha with multiple spy identities, always wore a harmless smile on his face. He pulled out a set of cards from his ninja tool pouch.

After spending some time, Kabuto used the information and data recorded on the Ninja Identification Cards to provide Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura with details and information about ninjas from various major ninja villages, including Sand's Gaara, Konoha's Rock Lee, and Hyuga Neji, among others.

"Is it enough if I just tell you their names…"

"Can you find out any ninja's information?"

After hearing the intelligence and information revealed by Kabuto, Sasuke, who had been quietly listening next to Naruto, suddenly spoke up.

"Technically, yes…"

"Is there someone in particular you're interested in, Sasuke-kun?"

Pushing up the glasses on his nose, Kabuto smiled at Sasuke, the glasses reflecting an inexplicable gleam.

"Yakushi Yu…"

Sasuke's gaze was intense as he said in a deep voice, "I wonder if you have any information on this person?"

Yakushi Yu?!

Kabuto was momentarily taken aback by the sudden mention of this name, countless memories flashing through his mind. His expression stiffened for a moment, but as the world's most outstanding spy, he quickly regained his composure. His smile remained unchanged. "Heh… Scarlet Yu, is it? I didn't expect you, Sasuke-kun, to be interested in him…"

"Yeah, Kabuto-san, we'd like to know too…"

At this point, Naruto and Sakura, who were beside Sasuke, also showed great interest. Yu had left a strong and profound impression on them, sparking their intense curiosity and desire to learn more about this person.

"Actually, I don't have much information about him…"

"The Ninja Identification Card only has data from when he was still a Konoha Ninja…"

Facing the curious gazes of the three young ones, Kabuto pulled out a card from the Ninja Identification Card collection. It prominently displayed a photo of Yu from his youth—pale hair, amber-clear eyes, and a handsome, fair face that would be recognizable in a crowd.

"Yakushi Yu—born in Konoha, year 40. Joined the Academy at age 5, graduated from the Academy at age 6, with mission experience unknown."

"He participated in the Konoha Chunin Exams at age 7. During the survival exercise of the second exam, he single-handedly defeated all the ninjas participating in that year's Chunin Exams. He was the only one to advance to Chunin in that exam. That same year, he was promoted to Special Jonin by special permission of the Third Hokage."

After reading the information on the Ninja Identification Card in one breath, Kabuto closed the card and quietly watched the three stunned faces before him, feeling an inexplicable sense of awe inside.

"Is this… a lie?"

"There's no way someone so young could accomplish something like that…"

Sakura slightly twitched her mouth, seemingly unable to believe what Kabuto had just said.

"It must be a lie!!"

"How could there be someone more talented than me, the future Hokage!!" Naruto, next to her, reddened his face and shouted in disbelief.

"That guy…"

"Defeated all the ninjas in the Chunin Exams by himself…?"

Only Sasuke, after hearing this, silently clenched his fist, with intense waves of emotion rising within him.

"Heh, do you think that's all…"

Seeing the shocked expressions on the three young faces, Kabuto gave a somewhat subdued smile, adjusted his glasses, and continued, "At age 8, he developed a Medical Seal that changed the structure of ninja teams in Konoha and even the entire ninja world. He was promoted to Squad Captain of the Konoha Medical Corps, and the same year, he went to the battlefield."

"On the battlefield of the Third Great Ninja War, he defeated and killed the Five-Tails Jinchuriki of Hidden Rock Village, slaughtering countless enemies, and was known on the battlefield as Scarlet Yu."

"The following year, he successfully killed the then most powerful Third Raikage of Hidden Cloud Village. After that, to protect his comrades and intercept the invading Rock ninjas, he single-handedly fought against 10,000 ninjas on the battlefield at the Land of Fire's border. He successfully repelled the invading Rock ninjas and became a crucial factor in ending the Third Great Ninja War."

"He was nominated as a candidate for the Fourth Hokage of Konoha alongside the renowned Yellow Flash Minato Namikaze and the legendary Orochimaru of the Three Sannin, and became one of Konoha's greatest contributors of all time."

When Kabuto finished speaking, there was a deathly silence at the scene.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura seemed to have their throats choked, their mouths wide open but unable to say a word.

Single-handedly fighting against 10,000 ninjas?!

10,000 ninjas! What kind of concept is that?!

Even though they had experienced the rigorous trials of the Land of Waves mission, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, who had just recently become Genin, could hardly imagine why, despite being ninjas like everyone else, Yu could achieve such feats.

"Tch…"

"Killing the Jinchuriki of Hidden Rock and the strongest Raikage of Hidden Cloud, defeating 10,000 enemies by himself…"

Sasuke was the first to snap out of his shock, his nails digging deeply into his palm. The belief that his older brother, Uchiha Itachi, was the strongest ninja in the world was finally shattered.

It turns out that the person who stood beside Shisui back then… was actually this powerful.

"But… but…"

"Yu was clearly a hero of Konoha, and he was so strong…"

At this moment, Naruto suddenly widened his eyes, "What happened later? Why did he end up leaving Konoha!!"

Despite claiming to dislike him, witnessing Yu's strength firsthand and hearing Kabuto's account, Naruto had to admit, even if he didn't want to, that he had started to admire the guy a bit.

Yeah…

Hearing Naruto's question, Sasuke and Sakura were stunned as well. Despite being a hero of Konoha with such incredible strength and reputation, why did he ultimately leave Konoha?

"Because… that matter…"

Naruto's question seemed to have touched Kabuto, who was usually good at hiding his emotions. A trace of unnatural struggle and fluctuation flickered across his face. That matter not only changed his destiny but was something he had always kept buried deep within and avoided confronting…

"The exam is about to start…"

"Well, I'll explain more next time if there's a chance!!"

Fortunately, at that moment, the proctor of the first exam of the Chunin Exams, Morino Ibiki, appeared and announced the start of the exam, forcing Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, who were eager to know more, to reluctantly return to their seats.

The exam proceeded, and the first test of the Chunin Exams—the Ninja Theory Test—finally concluded with more than half the participants passing, thanks to Naruto's last-minute Talk no Jutsu-like declaration.

Soon, under the guidance of Mitarashi Anko, all the Genin participating in the Chunin Exams arrived at the second exam's venue—the Forest of Death.

With the proctor's command, all the ninjas formed their teams and charged into the Forest of Death.

In the midst of the vast forest, dozens of shadows darted swiftly between the trees. Except for Kimimaro and Haku, all the ninjas were in teams of three, each carrying their own Heaven and Earth scrolls as they headed towards the finish line.

"Haku…"

"Yu-sama mentioned that Orochimaru might have infiltrated this group of examinees. I wonder where he might be…"

As they sped along, Kimimaro spoke to Haku beside him.

"There are so many examinees on site, it's difficult to identify him…"

Haku's gentle and refined face remained calm as he responded, "But that's not something we need to worry about. We just need to follow Yu-sama's instructions to obtain the scrolls and successfully pass this exam."

"As for other matters…"

"Yu-sama will naturally have his own plans…"

As they rushed forward, looking at the pitch-black, deep forest ahead, a strange light appeared in Haku's pure black eyes.

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