Konoha: Gu Master

Shinho sensed a surge of chakra nearby.

The high difficulty of the test had pushed many Genin to resort to cheating, which appeared as conspicuous as headlights to Morino Ibiki. 

He docked two points each time he caught someone, and the sounds of points being deducted echoed repeatedly.

Shinho glanced around. Sasuke hadn't attempted any cheating and was focused intensely on his test. 

Naruto, meanwhile, was sweating buckets, staring at his paper as if it were the enemy, scratching his head in frustration.

"Shinho-kun, want to take a look at my answers?" a quiet voice came from beside him. It was Hinata. She nudged her paper closer, exposing part of her answers.

Seeing her trying to help him so carefully, Shinho couldn't help but smile. 

It seemed she misunderstood his glancing around as a sign he was struggling with the test. 

Just as he was about to speak, he remembered Ibiki's vigilance. If they kept talking, he'd definitely notice.

Instead, Shinho opened his palm, releasing one of his Gu worms: the Heart Sound Gu. This insect allowed two people within a hundred paces to communicate through their thoughts.

"I don't need any help," Shinho said. His voice rang inside Hinata's mind, startling her. She covered her mouth, wide-eyed.

"Don't be scared," Shinho explained. "It's a secret technique of mine that lets us talk through our thoughts."

"So… cool!" Hinata whispered in awe as she got used to it.

"Do you need help with any of the questions?" Shinho asked.

"Just… two," she admitted after a pause.

Hinata usually wouldn't even think about cheating, but if it was Shinho, she felt she could make an exception. Though she was generally a diligent student, there were a couple of questions that stumped her. With some time to spare, Shinho briefly took on the role of her tutor, explaining the answers quietly.

As Hinata listened to him, her heart raced.

"Got it?" Shinho asked, turning to meet her gaze.

"Yesh… I mean, yes!" Hinata responded, face flushed as she looked away.

Cute! Shinho thought, the thought slipping through their mental link, audible to Hinata.

Realizing his mistake, Shinho quickly cut off the chakra supply to the Heart Sound Gu, but it was already too late. 

Hinata sat there frozen, her whole body turning crimson, her face looking like a microwaved egg, as if she might burst out at any moment.

For a moment, Shinho worried she might faint. Thankfully, that didn't happen. 

Though she felt dazed, Hinata clung to her composure, determined not to let her team down. But she couldn't stop thinking, Shinho-kun thinks I'm cute!

Even when the exam ended, Hinata still seemed lost in Shinho's unexpected compliment.

"Now, it's time for the tenth question," Ibiki said sternly. "This question is more important than any on your tests. If you get it wrong, you will be disqualified from ever taking the Chunin Exams again."

"What?!"

"That's absurd!"

"How is that fair?"

The room erupted as the Genin protested the severe consequences.

"I'm the proctor here. I make the rules," Ibiki said, his gaze sweeping the room. "However, I'll give you a chance—anyone who doesn't want to take this question can leave now."

"What if we leave?" Sakura asked nervously.

"You'll be disqualified from this exam but can still participate in future ones," Ibiki said coldly. "You have three minutes to decide."

Under the immense pressure, some Genin couldn't bear it and stood up to leave. But Shinho didn't budge, and neither did Sasuke, who seemed completely unbothered by Ibiki's ultimatum. 

Naruto looked nervous, wondering if he'd be able to answer the tenth question at all.

After three minutes, about one-fifth of the Genin had left the classroom.

"Those of you remaining have passed the first round," Ibiki announced, his tone flat. "Wait here for the second-round proctor."

With that, he turned and left the room.

"We passed?" Naruto's eyes widened.

He'd only managed to answer a third of the questions and wasn't sure he'd gotten them right. In truth, he'd left most of the pressure to his teammates. Yet, despite everything, they'd somehow passed the first round. 

Relief washed over him like as if he'd just survived a disaster. 

Sasuke also breathed a sigh of relief. He'd been worried that, if their scores were averaged and their team was disqualified, Team 7, the strongest genin squad would end up as a laughingstock.

Suddenly, there was a loud crash of shattering glass, silencing the room.

"Attention, everyone! I'm the proctor for the second round: Anko Mitarashi!"

A woman in an outer jacket and netted undershirt had arrived, making a dramatic entrance through the broken window. 

Unlike her later, more infamous years, Anko still looked youthful and energetic, her figure fit and striking.

"There's so many participants?" Anko licked her lips, smiling. "Sorry, but half of you will be eliminated in the second round."

Uneasy murmurs rippled through the room as the Genin grew even more nervous.

"Perfect! I love that look on your faces," Anko laughed. "Meet me at Training Field 44, tomorrow morning at 9 AM sharp!"

With that, she jumped back through the broken window as quickly as she'd arrived, leaving many stunned.

….

The next day at the Forest of Death, all the Genin gathered in front of Training Field 44.

Anko explained the rules for the second test. Each team had to reach the tower with a matching set of Heaven and Earth scrolls. 

At the start, each team would randomly receive either a Heaven or Earth scroll and then attempt to capture the opposing scroll from another team.

In other words, fighting was unavoidable.

Both Sasuke and Naruto were visibly excited.

Meanwhile, Shinho had his eyes peeled for Orochimaru. According to the original events, he should have entered the Forest of Death disguised by his "Vanishing facial copy Technique," which allowed him to literally "borrow" another's face.

After looking around without success, Shinho shrugged. He wouldn't be easy to find. It was Orochimaru, after all.

Then again, Orochimaru would inevitably show up to give Sasuke his love bite, ahem curse mark.

"It's a Heaven Scroll," Sasuke said, retrieving the scroll from Anko.

"Great! Let's go after an Earth Scroll!" Naruto exclaimed, fired up. "My youth is on fire!"

Sasuke glanced at Shinho and, after a brief hesitation, tossed the Heaven Scroll to him. Keeping the scroll with Shinho was the safest option.

"Let's get moving," Shinho said, tucking the Heaven Scroll away.

Naruto eagerly led the way into the Forest of Death, with Sasuke and Shinho close behind.

Inside, the forest was thick with shadow, the sunlight blocked out by towering leaves and branches overhead.

Shinho raised his hand, releasing his kikaichu Insects.

In an environment like this, the Aburame Clan's abilities could truly shine. He knew Orochimaru would attack them at some point but had no intention to sit around and wait.

"To the left," Shinho announced as he received a signal from his insects.

Sasuke leaped forward, disappearing into the trees.

"Sasuke!" Naruto stared after him, rushing to catch up. "Wait up!"

By the time he arrived, the three Grass Ninja were already unconscious. With Sasuke's current abilities, facing ordinary Genin was a breeze.

Naruto realized he hadn't had a good fight since joining team 7. Having too good of a teammates wasn't necessarily a good thing, after all.

"Got a Heaven Scroll," Shinho noted as his insects brought him the scroll.

"Next time, I'm taking the lead!" Naruto declared, annoyed at Sasuke's constant head starts.

Shinho gave him a small smile but didn't say much. His insects were already spreading out again.

"Over there," Shinho said, and Naruto shot off like a green streak before he even finished speaking.

Sasuke stopped, unimpressed. 

"Weaklings." He muttered, he didn't even want to waste his time.

A brief struggle ensued in the distance—sounds of battle, shouts, and Naruto's cries of "Leaf Hurricane!"—but in just a few moments, everything fell silent.

"Got the Earth Scroll!" Naruto soon reappeared, casting a smug look at Sasuke.

Sasuke just looked at him, expressionless.

"Let's get to the tower!" Naruto grinned. "Bet we'll be the first there, no problem!"

Sasuke nodded, agreeing. With their team's strength, the Chunin Exams felt almost too easy. "No one else here even compares to us."

But just then, Sasuke sensed a chill in the air.

An oppressive silence fell over the forest, with only Naruto's voice breaking the stillness.

"Who's there?" Sasuke drew his Thunderflame Sword, eyes alert.

Naruto quickly tensed, preparing to fight.

"Good reflexes," came a voice as a female Grass Ninja, Orochimaru in disguise, stepped out. 

Her eyes focused intensely on Sasuke. "You're becoming even more interesting, Sasuke-kun."

"Sasuke, who is this?" Naruto asked, puzzled, wondering if this was just another one of Sasuke's "admirers."

"I don't know her," Sasuke muttered, frowning. This woman's gaze was nothing like Sakura's; it made him deeply uneasy.

"Time to play, Sasuke-kun," the Grass Ninja—Orochimaru—purred, licking her lips.

"...!"

Sasuke instantly raised his Thunderflame Sword, a chill running down his spine.

In the next second, a thunderous crash rang out from behind them. 

Sasuke turned quickly to find a massive snake, thicker than he was tall, coiled around a tree. 

Its head shot forward, mouth wide open, unleashing a nauseating wave of its foul breath.

"Leaf Hurricane!" Naruto reacted swiftly, kicking the snake in the head, slowing it down for only a second.

Then came a piercing sound of birds chirping—Chidori.

Sasuke had activated his Chidori blade, channeling the Chidori's energy through his Thunderflame Sword. Sliding underneath the snake, he plunged his sword deep into the snake's neck.

Blood spurted out as electric currents surged through its body, paralyzing it, and the snake slumped off the tree with a crash. 

In a puff of smoke, it vanished, leaving only a splatter of blood behind.

"A summoned beast," Sasuke muttered, turning his gaze back to Orochimaru, alarms ringing in his mind. 

This was no ordinary Genin.

Just who was she? And why had no one heard of her before?

"Ah, Kakashi's Chidori," Orochimaru said, his eyes gleaming with greed. "Your talent for Lightning Release is simply superb."

Sasuke couldn't stand his stare and advanced, sword once again crackling with lightning as he lunged forward. But Orochimaru stood his ground, smiling wider.

In the next moment, an overwhelming wave of killing intent surged from Orochimaru.

"Urgh!"

The raw force of it struck Sasuke head-on, freezing him in place, and he stumbled to the ground. 

Naruto, too, stood there paralyzed, terror etched across his face.

Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with intrigue as he noticed that Shinho stood unaffected by his killing intent. 

Interesting. No wonder Tsunade took him as a student.

But before he could say anything, Sasuke surprised him. Despite the intense fear, he fought his way free, his Sharingan awakening to the two-tomoe form.

Impressive, Orochimaru thought, eyeing Sasuke with even more interest. His potential was nearly on par with Itachi's.

Sasuke's eyes flashed as he lunged forward, Thunderflame Sword aimed straight at Orochimaru. With a grin, Orochimaru opened his mouth, and out came his Kusanagi Sword.

A loud clang echoed as the two swords clashed.

Sasuke twisted his wrist, sliding the Thunderflame Sword along the Kusanagi's edge and slashing towards Orochimaru's head. 

Suddenly, several green serpents emerged from Orochimaru's sleeve, coiling around Sasuke's arm in a swift motion.

Sasuke was forced to retreat, his sword whirling to slice through the snakes.

"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!" Orochimaru swiftly formed a seal, unleashing a powerful gust of wind that swept Sasuke off his feet.

"Don't you dare forget about me!" With a shout, Naruto broke free from his fear, charging forward and swinging a kick at Orochimaru.

So, Minato's son chose taijutsu? Orochimaru thought, sidestepping Naruto's kick with ease.

As they passed each other, he struck out, his fist connecting with Naruto's arm.

Naruto staggered from the impact, tumbling back to land beside Sasuke.

"Why is a Genin this strong?" Naruto asked, bewildered.

"He's no Genin," Shinho interjected. "He's Orochimaru, one of the Legendary Sannin."

"What?!" Sasuke's eyes widened in shock.

Naruto, too, was stunned. Despite his carefree nature, he knew the significance of the Sannin.

He had already met Tsunade and Jiraiya, both of whom had left a lasting impression on him.

"Oh?" Orochimaru raised an eyebrow. "You managed to recognize me?"

"It wasn't difficult," Shinho replied nonchalantly. "The intense killing intent and that trademark snake jutsu gave you away."

"Fair point." Orochimaru licked his lips. "So, are you planning to show me what you can do?"

join my patreon for 100+ advanced chapters: patreon.com/HyppoTL