You can read 20 Chapters ahead of everyone on .Link:https:///Hkj822
Discord: .gg/HSHVxvdY
Inoiki continued moving forward through the dense forest, his pace steady and unhurried. An hour had passed since he entered the Forest of Death, but his focus never wavered. Suddenly, his sensory abilities picked up on a disturbance about 100 meters ahead. A trap had been laid, and three ninja were lying in wait. Their intent was clear—they had chosen him as their prey.
A faint smile tugged at Inoiki's lips. Amateurs.
He kept walking, his expression calm and unbothered, as though he was completely unaware of the danger. At the same time, three kunai slipped silently out of his ninja pouch, floating almost imperceptibly through the air before vanishing into the treetops above. He didn't break stride, his body language betraying no hint of suspicion.
As he neared the trap's range, he deliberately adjusted his steps, appearing to walk directly into the ambush. The three Amegakure ninjas hidden in the underbrush watched him with growing excitement, their eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"He's walking right into it," one of them whispered, unable to contain his grin.
Another let out a soft chuckle. "Too easy."
The leader smirked, already savoring their victory. But just as Inoiki was about to step into the snare, he vanished in a flash.
"What the—?" one of the ninjas stammered, his expression shifting from smug confidence to alarm.
The leader's face darkened, and he hissed, "He's discovered the trap. We need to leave. Now."
The other two nodded hastily, their earlier bravado replaced with growing unease. But before they could move, a voice rang out, cold and taunting, from directly behind them.
"Yup, you've been discovered," said Inoiki, his tone dripping with calm mockery. "And how foolish of you to stay even after spotting me. Foolishly brave, aren't you?"
The Amegakure ninjas froze, their blood running cold. Slowly, they turned to face him, dread pooling in their stomachs. Inoiki stood there, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp, radiating an aura of quiet menace.
The game had just turned in his favor.
The three Amegakure Genin froze, their faces twisting with fear and uncertainty. Instinctively, they shifted as if to flee, but before they could take a step, Inoiki's calm voice stopped them cold.
"Uh-uh," he warned, his tone dangerously soft. "Don't even think about running. The kunai hovering in front of your heads will pierce your skulls in an instant if you try anything. And since you're from another village, I wouldn't feel the slightest bit of guilt."
Their eyes darted forward, and sure enough, three kunai floated ominously in the air, each poised mere inches from their foreheads. At a single thought from Inoiki, those blades could end them.
"But," Inoiki continued, his voice taking on a conversational edge, "we don't have any major grudge against each other. I'd prefer not to kill you, so why don't we keep this simple? Hand over your scroll, and I'll let you go."
The Genin exchanged frantic glances. Their leader, realizing they were completely outmatched, clenched his fists in frustration. Reluctantly, he nodded. "Fine. We'll give you the scroll. Just let us go."
Slowly, the leader reached into his jacket, careful not to make any sudden moves. He pulled out an Earth scroll and extended it toward Inoiki, his hand trembling slightly.
Inoiki stepped forward and took the scroll, his movements deliberate but relaxed. "Good choice," he said with a faint smile. "Now that you've given me the scroll, I'll keep my promise. You're free to go."
With a flick of his wrist, the hovering kunai retreated, zipping back to his side. The Amegakure ninjas exhaled shakily, relief washing over their faces.
Before they could process what had just happened, Inoiki vanished from behind them, disappearing into the forest like a ghost. The three Genin stood rooted in place for a moment, the tension finally releasing from their bodies as they realized they were alive.
But the encounter left a deep impression—they would think twice before underestimating an opponent again.
Inoiki continued moving through the dense forest, his senses heightened and his focus razor-sharp. He was fully utilizing his sensory abilities, scanning the area in a radius of nearly three kilometers every fifteen minutes. His primary goal wasn't just survival or obtaining the scrolls—it was monitoring for any significant movements that might signal Orochimaru's attack.
It wasn't long before his heightened senses picked up another ambush ahead. This time, it was a team of Grass ninjas lying in wait, their chakra signatures betraying their hidden positions. Unlike the Grass ninjas, Inoiki remained undetected. His approach was methodical, and in a maneuver similar to his earlier encounter, he outsmarted them, forcing them to hand over their scroll without a fight.
Luck seemed to favor Inoiki yet again—the Grass team carried a Heaven scroll, completing the pair he needed. With both the Heaven and Earth scrolls in hand, he could now head straight to the central tower, complete the test, and possibly set a record-breaking time.
But he paused, his grip tightening on the scrolls. No, he thought firmly. This isn't my priority. He had made a decision to protect Sasuke, to prevent Orochimaru from marking him with the cursed seal.
After securing the scrolls, Inoiki activated his sensory technique once more, probing the forest for anything unusual. His diligence paid off. He detected a chakra signature that sent a chill through him—Shiore, Orochimaru's disguise. The malicious presence was unmistakable, and it was accompanied by two other teammates. They were heading in a specific direction, their path deliberate.
Inoiki's mind raced. They're going after Team 7. Without wasting a moment, he sprinted toward their location, his movements swift and silent, the forest blurring around him as he pushed himself to his limits.
(A/N: If you like the story please vote power stones.)