Konoha: Unable to learn ninjutsu, they had to develop their own.

Mitarashi Anko was originally slated to be the chief examiner for the second exam.

Chiba relaxed his brows and shook his head, saying, "Don't worry, he won't succeed if he goes there."

Thinking of this, Chiba couldn't help but look up at Anko.

Each Heavenly Seal is unique.

Anko Mitarashi's cursed seal was the first Heavenly Curse Seal Orochimaru planted. To Orochimaru, Anko's existence was as clear as a lighthouse in the dark.

When the red bean sensed it...

Why are you looking at me?

The red beans are a little moldy.

Chiba smiled and shook his head, saying, "Senior, you've fallen for my trap. Your cursed seal was planted by Orochimaru, so I can reasonably deduce that Orochimaru also has a special way of sensing you."

"You mean?"

Mitarashi Anko put herself in the situation and thought it through, then her face paled slightly. "Was he doing this on purpose?"

"Yes."

"He deliberately revealed that he was going to the research institute to distract you. Whether you go or not, it will benefit him, which is why I was able to sense it."

Mitarashi Anko understood her "teacher's" thoughts.

Chiba nodded.

Mitarashi Anko frowned and said, "Then what do we do now? Just ignore him?"

"No rush, let me take a look."

Chiba took out the crystal ball and then used his telescope technique to observe. A short while later—

A forest appeared in the crystal ball.

……

"Fizz!"

The sharp chirping of insects echoed through the forest, conveying messages that were difficult for outsiders to understand.

We've reached the final position.

The insect king, about the size of a dog, vibrated its wings and made a chirping sound.

The shadow clone, which had been silent, suddenly opened its eyes.

"Orochimaru?"

"Buzz!"

The insect king flew up and down, continuing to transmit information.

"I see."

The shadow clone closed his eyes, and then a rich natural energy emanated from his body.

The Insect King landed on his head.

In an instant, all the overflowing natural energy converged towards it.

At the same time, a chakra membrane appeared on the surface of Chiba's shadow clone, covering both him and the Insect King.

Meanwhile, Orochimaru quietly moved through the forest.

He spread his senses, carefully avoiding the parasitic insects around him, but...

"The front is full of parasites?"

Orochimaru was completely dumbfounded.

The entire forest was filled with the scent of parasitic insects, some of which were even deeply hidden. If he hadn't released some snakes to scout ahead, he might have already been surrounded by them.

"What exactly did Chiba do in cooperation with the Aburame clan?"

As members of the Aburame clan, they actually handed over their most precious secret techniques and heritage.

Danzo said that even Aburame Torune sided with Chiba because of this...

Could it be that?

Orochimaru thought of Jirobo and Kimimaro; they possessed their own cursed seals, so logically they shouldn't have been defeated so easily.

Even in the event of a defeat, the situation is unlikely to be one-sided.

unless.

These parasites have mutated!

"Do they feed on Sage Chakra?"

Orochimaru gasped, and his gaze towards the forest before him changed.

If that's really the case—

This forest is probably as dangerous as Ryuji Cave; it is extremely terrifying and perilous.

He hesitated.

With his abilities, he wouldn't be afraid of just parasitic insects, but if Ichiba really mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, he could come to his aid at any time...

That would be terrible.

Danzo definitely hasn't made a move yet.

By touching the trap now, I'm essentially helping Danzo step on a landmine.

After pondering for a long time, Orochimaru used a summoning jutsu to summon a swarm of snakes and drove them into the fray.

Then, he withdrew and retreated.

Anyway, the location was already exposed before, so now it's perfect—

Bang!

Just as he was about to retreat, a terrifying force suddenly struck from afar, blasting him away.

"Wha...what?"

"How is that possible? He didn't even show up, how could he have attacked me?"

Orochimaru was utterly horrified.

He hadn't seen Chiba at all, nor could he sense her presence, yet he was still subjected to a terrifying attack.

What kind of technique is this?

He pondered this, then a series of sharp pains shot through his body, clearly indicating that his opponent was attacking him in a way he couldn't comprehend.

Sage Mode?

Orochimaru's mind raced as he analyzed his current situation, and then...

He found his chakra was blocked.

Hyuga Soft Fist?

Damn it!

Has Konoha become so absurd after being absent for a while?

Even those stubborn old fogies were willing to use their Gentle Fist technique, a secret technique that I had tried every means to obtain back then but failed!

Orochimaru's mind was in complete chaos, but he knew he couldn't just sit and wait to die.

and.

The other party simply had the upper hand.

Orochimaru calmed down.

No technique is unbreakable. Chiba's technique is superior because it is impossible to defend against. Moreover, he himself uses some unknown ability to completely isolate his aura.

Otherwise, the solution is actually quite simple, but the only method he can think of in a short time is...

Orochimaru stretched out his hand, wrapped it around a nearby tree, and flew away quickly. But once in the air, he quickly wrapped his right hand around another tree.

His frequent positional changes allow him to maintain high agility even in the air.

Chiba narrowed his eyes.

Orochimaru's mind is really quick; he immediately came up with a solution, and it was a solution that only he could come up with.

That being the case...

His aura instantly changed, and his chakra shield transformed from "concealment" to "energy absorption," with natural energy rapidly attaching itself to him.

The Insect King accelerated its absorption, creating Sage Chakra for Chiba's shadow clones.

Just then, giant snakes emerged from the shadows.

Latent Shadow Snake Hands!

Orochimaru sneered. At a time like this, they actually dared to expose themselves and absorb natural energy; they really didn't trust me...

Before he could finish thinking, his eyes widened again—

Before the giant snake could even get close, its head exploded from being struck by a series of invisible fist shadows.

This technique!

Orochimaru was no longer able to think.

Another secret technique.

He didn't recognize the technique, but the fleeting phantom looked somewhat familiar.

That's a Buddha statue from the Temple of Fire.

"That Danzo guy, he didn't even tell me such important information!"

Orochimaru cursed inwardly.

That guy must want to die sooner so that his secrets of Wood Release and Sharingan will never be known, but...

A cold glint flashed in Orochimaru's eyes.