Chapter 85 - 15

Chapter 15: Many Wives, Much Happiness! Wilderness Survival Training!Before one knew it, three months had passed since the Ninja Academy started.That feeling, it was as if the days on campus passed exceptionally quickly...The autumn sunlight filtered through the classroom windows, casting warm spots of light onto the desks."Lightning Release suppresses Earth Releasebecause lightning can penetrate the earth; however, it is suppressed by Wind Releasebecause wind can disrupt the conduction path of lightning. But in actual combat, the amount of Chakra and control precision are often more important than elemental suppression, just like in that border conflict between Kumogakure and Iwagakure three years ago..."After that, Iruka continued to fluently cite one battle example after another that wasn't even recorded in the textbooks.The classroom was silent, as if everyone was very interested in the conflict events.One week later, the Ninja Academy organized the first wilderness survival training class as scheduled.Because this was an activity that had to be experienced after every school opening, Naruto did not feel surprised.The destination was the training forest behind Konoha, and the course would last for two days and one night.The lead teacher was Special Jonin Anko Mitarashi, and Kurenai Yuhi served as the assistant teacher."Listen up, brats!" Anko stood in front of the assembled children, hands on her hips, full of vigor. "Wilderness survival is not a field trip! You have to set up your own tents, find water sources, prepare food, and keep watch! And,"She revealed a somewhat sinister smile: "I've set up quite a few'surprises' in the forest. If you get caught by them, you'll be deducted points!"The children let out a collective wail.Naruto's group was naturally grouped together: he, Hinata, Sakura, Ino, Tenten, and Izumi, who served as the senior instructor.His classmates Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba, and Shinowere in another group.Sasuke, Rock Lee, and Neji were in a group with a few ordinary students....Since there was no rule stating who had to be together, these groups were basically formed on their own, and there was no limit on how many people each group could have."That guy Sasuke, still as unsociable as ever." Kiba curled his lip.Shino pushed up his sunglasses: "Data shows that Uchiha Sasuke's success rate for solo operations during training is as high as ninety percent. He has his own reasons."Shikamaru yawned: "What a drag... I just want to find a place to sleep."Before departure, Anko specifically walked over to Naruto's group, squatted down, stared into Naruto's eyes for a few seconds, and then grinned: "The Fourth Hokage's son, huh... Perform well. I'm really looking forward to it."Deep in her eyes, a trace of imperceptible, complex emotion flashed.Deep in the forest, a figure stood on a treetop, golden snake pupils looking through the gaps in the branches and leaves at the student team in the distance."Uzumaki Naruto... The Child of Prophecy, is it..." He stuck out his tongue and licked his lips, "Let me see, what exactly makes you so special, Kushina."...The first day of training went very smoothly.Under Izumi's guidance, Naruto's group quickly set up their tent and found a clean water source.Hinata used her Byakugan to scout out a few simple traps and successfully avoided them.Sakura and Ino worked together to prepare a simple dinner.Tenten used materials from the forest to create a few simple alarm devices."Not bad." In the evening, when Anko came to inspect, she offered a rare word of praise, "But don't relax; the night is the real test."After night fell, the forest truly became different.The chirping of insects, the howling of beasts, and an unknown, spine-chilling sense of being watched.The watch schedule was two people per group, rotating every two hours.The first group was Naruto and Hinata.Beside the campfire, Hinata hugged her knees and whispered: "Naruto-kun... I, I'm a little scared.""It's okay." Naruto added a piece of firewood to the fire, "I'm here. Besides, big sister Izumi and the others are in the tent, and Kurenai-sensei is also at the campsite not far away.""But..." Hinata activated her Byakugan, vigilantly scanning the surroundings, "I just feel... like something is watching us."Naruto actually felt it too.That wasn't the aura of a beast, but some colder, slimier presence, just like...A snake.He remembered Anko's complex gaze during the day, remembered his mother's hesitant expression over the past few days, and remembered what Minato had said seemingly casually before he left: "If you encounter danger you can't resolve, fire this signal flare. People from 'Aoi' are nearby."Could this be a test?Naruto suddenly understood. And his mother and father seemed to know.Just then, a short, sharp scream came from deep in the forest."It's the direction of Kiba's group!" Hinata stood up.Naruto quickly made a decision: "Hinata, you go wake up big sister Izumi and the others, then go find Kurenai-sensei and report it. I'll go check out the situation first.""But Naruto-kun, you'll be alone.""I'll be back soon." Naruto had already rushed into the darkness.Relying on the night vision ability trained by Ivyand his perception of Chakra, Naruto moved quickly through the forest.Soon, he saw the campsite of Kiba's group.The tent had been overturned, the campfire scattered, and Kiba, Shino, Shikamaru, and Chojiwere standing back-to-back, vigilantly watching their surroundings."What's going on?" Naruto landed."I don't know!" Kiba bared his teeth, "Suddenly, lots of snakes crawled out from the ground and overturned our tent! Shino's bugs don't even dare to go near those snakes!"Shikamaru's expression was rarely this serious: "They aren't ordinary snakes. They have a faint Chakra reaction... They are Summoned Beasts."As soon as he finished speaking, more snakes surged out from the shadows. They didn't attack immediately, but surrounded the five boys, hissing and flicking their tongues."What a drag..." Shikamaru began to weave hand signs, "Shadow Possession Jutsu."But as soon as his shadow extended, it was blocked by the body of a snake."It's useless." A hoarse, cold voice came from deep in the woods, "Although these little snakes are weak, their numbers are enough to interfere with your Jutsu."A figure slowly walked out of the shadows.He wore a loose kimono, his long black hair draped down, and on his pale face, golden snake pupils gleamed coldly in the moonlight.Orochimaru.Naruto felt all the hairs on his body stand up.It wasn't because of fear, but because of his body's instinctive reaction. The Nine-Tailed's Chakra was restless inside his body, seemingly generating a strong repulsion toward this existence filled with "malice.""Who are you?" Kiba roared, "Is this a school test?""A test? You could say that." Orochimaru's gaze passed over the others and landed directly on Naruto, "However, I am only interested in one person."His gaze wrapped around Naruto like a physical snake: "Uzumaki Naruto... Let me see, how much weight does the 'Hope' jointly chosen by the Five Great Ninja Villages really carry."Before he finished speaking, a dozen snakes lunged at Naruto simultaneously!"Naruto, watch out!" Shikamaru shouted.But Naruto didn't dodge. He quickly wove hand signs with both hands—not any of the signs taught in school, but the one Grandpa Ashina had just taught him last night."Sealing Jutsu: Disperse!"Soft blue Chakra spread out from Naruto as the center. That wasn't an attack, but a kind of "dispersion." The snakes that came into contact with the blue light paused in their movements, then, as if they had lost their sense of direction, began to spin in place.Orochimaru's eyes lit up: "Oh? Isn't this a basic application of the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu? To think you can use the 'Dispersion Seal' so flexibly... Interesting."Just as he was about to move again, another voice rang out:"Lord Orochimaru, the game should end here