My journey to Konoha

"It's him..." Ibiki immediately realized who it was and laughed, "I'm afraid he's the only one who can pass this test with a blank test paper, hahahaha!"

"If it's Naruto, anything is possible." Chu Yue said, "Okay, no more words, now that this is over, I'm going to the Forest of Death."

"You came here specifically to look at Naruto's test paper?" Ibiki asked, "I always ask you to take care of Naruto. It's really hard for you."

"Haha, that kid is a good candidate." Chu Yue said, "I'm leaving now."

……

For the second round of assessment, the preparation places for examiners and candidates are completely different.

In addition, in the second round of assessment, candidates are required to sign a life and death statement due to possible life-threatening situations.

The rules are a bit complicated, but in simple terms, a team of three, without any threat to life, carries the two scrolls of "Heaven" and "Earth" to the tower in the center of the Death Forest, and unfolds the scrolls of "Heaven" and "Earth" in the tower.

No matter which scroll it is, it is essentially a teleportation scroll.

After the scroll is opened, a mid-level monk will be teleported to the place where the scroll was opened. If the teleported mid-level monk finds that the surroundings are not inside the tower, he will make the team that opened the scroll lose consciousness until the end of the assessment.

All the mid-level cultivators who were going to be teleported gathered together now. Shen Wu was not one of the mid-level cultivators who were going to be teleported, but he also arrived at this time. Chu Yue would also come here later.

Although not in the same place, they are all outside the Death Forest.

Seeing Kanna coming over, Hinata immediately waved, "Kanna, this way."

Seeing Hinata, Kanna also walked towards her.

"Is the first round of assessment over?" Hinata asked, "How was it?"

"It's over." Shenwu said, "Many people passed."

"Really..." Hinata thought for a moment, "Then, Hanabi..."

Hyuga Hanabi is Hinata's sister. She replaced Hinata in the original plot and is the eighth group with Kiba and Shino.

Although Kanna didn't know who Hanabi was, she knew Hinata had a sister. Thinking of a younger candidate in the examination room who looked a bit like Hinata, she nodded.

"Great," Hinata said, "Hanabi passed, too."

Shenwu said no more, and Hinata asked again: "Where is Chu Yue? Why isn't she with you?"

"Chu Yue, I'll be here in a moment." Shen Wu replied.

Hinata nodded and looked towards the Death Forest not far away.

"This place... doesn't seem good."

……

The preparation area for the second round of assessment for intermediate monks outside the Death Forest.

"After signing the life and death agreement, come to me as a team and hand it in to receive the scroll."

The candidates began to sign the life and death certificate, and all specific matters were recorded in detail on the life and death certificate.

After signing the life and death agreement, each team held a scroll and was assigned to an entrance.

Death In the center of the Forest of Death, there stands an ancient tower in Konoha Village. It serves as a resting place for practitioners. However, few people come here on weekdays, and its gates are only opened during important trials.

If it weren't for this Jindan Trial, this ancient tower might still be closed to visitors. The overall outline of the Forest of Death is almost circular, with many entrances, but most of them are sealed. There are 26 teams and 78 disciples in this Jindan Trial, so 26 entrances are used.

The disciples of each team followed the instructions and entered the designated entrance one by one. After half an hour, the second stage of the Jindan trial was about to begin.

……

Chu Yue arrived at the gate, looked up at the forest of death, and thought to herself: This forest is so mysterious...

"Kanna, Hinata." Chu Yue walked closer to the two of them and waved gently.

"Chu Yue," Hinata responded, greeting Chu Yue with a smile.

"Are you nervous?" Chu Yue asked Hinata, "This is your first time as an examiner, right?"

"I'm not nervous." Hinata smiled calmly, "We have been through a lot together in the outside world. This little test in the village is just a small test."

"Haha, that's true." Chu Yue chuckled and looked back at the Forest of Death. "Speaking of which, there is actually such a forest in our village. I didn't know about it before."

"I have heard of it, but I have never been there." Hinata said, "Chu Yue, do you feel that this forest gives people a sense of unease?"

"Yeah." Chu Yue nodded.

"I've heard my father mention this before," Hinata said. "It's said that this forest existed long ago, before Konoha Village was even born."

"The Konoha Village hasn't been established yet?" Chu Yue was slightly surprised.

"Yes," Hinata answered, "Back then, this forest was often the scene of fierce battles, with countless casualties. The blood and lives lost here nourished the vegetation in the forest, causing the trees to flourish, and the number of birds and beasts increased as well."

"No wonder the trees here are so thick." Chu Yue stared at the forest.

The Forest of Death is filled with towering trees, with trunks so thick that they require dozens of people to hug. Their height is astonishing, and to look up at the treetops, one must raise their viewing angle to nearly ninety degrees.

"There were so many dead people that this forest got this name," Hinata explained, "and because there were so many dead people, it's rumored that the trees are all spiritual, so it feels eerie when you get close to this place."

"I see." Chu Yue nodded, "Indeed, the atmosphere here is filled with the heaviness of death."

I wonder how many lives must have been lost to create such a thick smell of death...

"Later, when Konoha Village was established, this forest became the village's defense line." Hinata continued, "It was difficult for the enemy to pass through this forest and invade Konoha."

"Haha, just stepping into this place is a test of your courage." Chu Yue said with a smile.

……

When half an hour was up, all the disciples rushed into the Forest of Death. Even though they were afraid, they had no choice but to move forward bravely for the trial.

The examinees rushed in one after another, and Hongdou began to arrange his men: "Take the items I prepared."

Hongdou's men obeyed the order and brought the things Hongdou had prepared to the table, which turned out to be a few plates of meatballs and a pot of red bean soup.

"Um... Lord Hongdou..." Hongdou's subordinate asked, "Do you really want to eat meatballs in a place like this?"

"Why not." Hongdou said, "There's no way those little guys can reach the ancient tower so quickly."

"Uh..." The subordinate was speechless for a moment.

Hongdou began to enjoy the meatballs and drink the red bean soup. After each meatball, she would insert the small wooden stick that skewered the meatballs into the tree trunk nearby.

……

"The second stage of the Jindan Trial has begun." A ninja came over and announced to the waiting Jindan practitioners, "Everyone, be prepared. Perhaps someone will open the scroll right away."

"If that's true, we can complete the mission early. Haha." A Jindan cultivator laughed.

Everyone was in a relaxed mood and smiled without saying anything when they heard this.

"The work has begun." Chu Yue smiled at Hinata.

"Yeah." Hinata nodded.

"After you leave, I will go to the ancient tower and wait for you." Chu Yue said to Hinata.

At this time, another place.

"What, what is that?" A Konoha ninja found three people lying on the ground, motionless.

"Hey, who are you?" The ninja approached the three people, but was stunned when he got closer.

After a moment, the small wooden sticks on the tree trunk formed the symbol of Konoha Village.

"Success!" Hongdou said happily, "Looks like I should go to the ancient pagoda too. Someone fast enough can get there within a day."

The time limit for the Jindan trial is five days.

"Something is wrong! Lord Red Bean!" A ninja appeared in a hurry, "Three bodies were found!"

"Corpse?" Hongdou asked while chewing a meatball.

"A corpse with a strange cause of death! Please take a look, sir!" said the ninja.

"A strange way to die?" Hongdou swallowed the meatball.

There were already three Anbu investigating in front of the three corpses.

"Alas, something went wrong so soon..." said the Anbu.

"Yeah..." another ANBU echoed.

Soon, Hongdou arrived.

"Based on their clothing and identification, they are ninjas from Kusagakure Village who came to participate in the Kaidan Trial." The investigating ninja said, "But their faces disappeared, as if they were corroded."

Hongdou was stunned and instantly thought of someone.

This ninjutsu... definitely doesn't belong to anyone else! Why is he here!?

"Give me their photos!" Hongdou said immediately.

"Yes!" The ninja who was ordered quickly handed over the photo.

It was indeed the face that was taken away! It must have been him!

Hongdou's emotions were churning, but she quickly calmed down.

"This is a big trouble!" Red Bean said to the two Anbu, "You, report to the Hokage immediately! Request at least two teams of Anbu for support! Quick! I'll go give chase now!"

Seeing Anko's expression, the Anbu realized the seriousness of the situation and immediately disappeared.

"Lord Hongdou, what exactly is..." asked Hongdou's subordinates.

"It's Orochimaru!" Red Bean answered directly.

"What!? Him?!" The subordinate was shocked, "You can't go! If Orochimaru says so, how can you go alone..."

"It's useless for you to go!" Hongdou said, "You'll just die in vain!"

"Then you can't go alone! Wouldn't it be courting death if you go alone?!" the subordinate said anxiously.

"I can't care about so many things!" Hongdou said, and her figure flashed and disappeared into the Forest of Death.

Red Bean's men fell silent. She was right. If it were Orochimaru, they would just be committing suicide if they went.

"Oh right! Chu Yue, Master Chu Yue!" Suddenly, one of Hong Dou's men said, "Someone told me that Master Chu Yue is resting at the teleportation point!"

"Yes! If it's Chu Yue, maybe she can help Lord Hongdou!" Another subordinate thought of it, and everyone did not dare to delay and set off immediately.

……

"I understand." After listening to the words of Hongdou's men, Chu Yue also knew what had happened.

This plot does exist in the anime, but it was so long ago that Chu Yue had forgotten it. After this mention, Chu Yue recalled the past.

Orochimaru was once Red Bean's master, but later he abandoned her.

At this moment, in the Forest of Death, Naruto and the others were probably... Under the pressure of the evil spirit, Sasuke and Sakura were unable to move. At the critical moment, Naruto controlled his vitality and arrived instantly.

The seal of the two yin and yang had already been completely unlocked at this moment. However, facing the supreme power of Orochimaru, Sasuke, Sakura and Naruto were powerless to resist.

Even with the Nine-Tails' power surging, Orochimaru cast a Five Elements Restriction on Naruto, causing him to fall into a coma.

Finally, Orochimaru placed a seal on Sasuke's neck and left.

At this moment, Naruto and Sasuke were both fast asleep, leaving only Sakura awake.

Orochimaru bit Sasuke's neck, and the three magatama seal appeared. However, Sasuke was suffering from the pain of blood transformation, and he couldn't bear it and fell into a deep sleep.

"Sasuke!" Sakura ran to Sasuke, her face full of worry but helpless.

"I'm just giving him a farewell gift before I leave." After Orochimaru finished speaking, his figure sank into the ground.

"Sasuke! Hold on! Sasuke!" Sakura held Sasuke's hand tightly.

However, Sasuke was already unconscious and shouting was of no use.

At this moment... at this moment... Sakura turned her head and looked at Naruto, who was supposed to come to comfort her, share her pain, and protect her, but was also in a coma at this moment...

"Naruto..." Sakura sobbed, "I, wu, wu wu..."

Sakura felt helpless and burst into tears.

……

Hongdou went deep into the forest alone.

At this moment, the sun was setting and the first day of the Chunin Trial was coming to an end.

We must find Orochimaru as soon as possible! Red Bean screamed in her heart. As night fell, it would become more and more difficult to find him!

But... when will he show up... Humph, it's better this way, our grudge will be settled today!

In any case, before the Anbu arrives...

I will definitely stop you... Using the ninjutsu you taught me and what I learned...

As your former subordinate, I challenge you!

"This is my mission, right, Orochimaru." Red Bean said as she jumped onto the branch of the giant tree.

"You can't stop me." A face appeared on the tree trunk.

Anko suddenly jumped up, kunai ready in her hand, and was about to throw it at where the face was.

Unexpectedly, a human face suddenly jumped out from the tree trunk, and its long tongue instantly wrapped around Hongdou's wrist.

The kunai fell out of her hand, and Hongdou flipped in the air, landing steadily on the tree trunk. She grabbed the snake tongue that was wrapped around her wrist with her backhand and performed a ninjutsu: "Don't even think about escaping! Shadow Snake Hand!"

Several snakes jumped out from Anko's palm and bit the snake's tongue.

Anko pulled hard and pulled Orochimaru out of the tree.

However, Orochimaru was still smiling after being dragged out.

He used the momentum to counterattack and rushed towards Anko. Anko was unable to dodge and was knocked against the tree trunk. Orochimaru took the opportunity to use his shoulder to push Anko against the tree.

"Damn it!" Red Bean gritted her teeth, quickly grabbed Orochimaru's hand, and used a kunai with her other hand to nail both of their hands to the tree trunk.

"Hehe, I caught you." Anko panted, "Lend me your left hand, Orochimaru."

When Orochimaru saw Anko forming a seal, his eyes fixed on her: "This seal is..."

"That's right... I want to die together with you..." Red Bean said, "Ninja Technique: Twin Snake Killing Technique!"

"Hey, you want to commit suicide?" Orochimaru's voice suddenly came from the side, "That's just a clone."

As the clone finished his words, the entity Hongdou had grabbed turned into smoke.

"As a special jonin..." Orochimaru continued, "how can you just blindly use the forbidden techniques I taught you?"

"Orochimaru..." Red Bean was embarrassed by Orochimaru's clone, "Why are you here?"

"It's been a long time." Orochimaru took off his mask and revealed his true face, "Don't be so cold, Red Bean."

"Hmph... You are not here to assassinate the Hokage-sama..."

"How could that be? I only have a handful of men under my command, as you well know." Orochimaru said, "But speaking of which, this forest seems to be even more dense after not seeing it for a long time."

"Hehe, maybe it's because of the Chunin Trial... this weird atmosphere is stronger than before." Hongdou forced a smile, "What is your purpose..."

"I came here for that child," Orochimaru said, "He now has the same curse seal as you."