In the joyful surfing currents of the subspace network...
"So, you're really Ace. You've already been captured and awakened inside the prison, right?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen was chatting with the friend he'd recently added.
"Yes. A little too late, though. In my current state, I can't change anything anymore. That's why I'm hoping to ask for your help. My old man is willing to offer a hefty reward for it," replied the user with the ID "Ace."
"It's not really about the reward," Hiruzen replied. "We shinobi take on all sorts of missions anyway. The issue is that we're still in the pre-Shippuden arc over here. Our power scaling doesn't match up. Even sending Jiraiya probably wouldn't help much."
"Then please, at the very least, change my father's fate. The Whitebeard Pirates shouldn't have fallen to ruin because of me. With Konoha's capabilities, I know it's possible."
Hiruzen paused in thought before responding. "So how exactly do I get to your world?"
"This subspace is mysterious. I'll provide you with my world's coordinates."
Instantly, subspace responded. As long as someone on the other side a fellow "Awakened by Fate" gave permission, they could send one person across worlds.
So, there were others besides Ace?
As that thought crossed Hiruzen's mind, a new option appeared in his mental space: a button labeled "Portal."
Once granted access by the other side, it would allow one person to travel into that world.
"Let me think about it. The power level over there is a bit intense. At the very least, let me handle Orochimaru first."
Training Ground 44, commonly known as the Forest of Death
The second exam would last five full days. Though the details varied, the core format was the same: a battle royale survival test.
Looking up at the distant tower ahead, Uchiha Sasuke stood with his hands in his pockets, face cold and stoic. Finally, it's time to shine. This is my stage.
Standing at the head of the team, Sasuke didn't even turn as he said, "All we need now is the Earth Scroll, right? Then let's begin. No one here will be a match for me."
Sakura, watching him strike a pose, hesitated. "What if it's a team from our own village? Do we attack them too?"
"Hmph. No need. There are plenty of other targets to choose from."
Sasuke didn't miss a beat. His response was surprisingly in line with the Will of Fire.
He raised a finger and pointed at the tower in the distance.
"I have an idea. Every team has to head there eventually, right? Let's go wait at the tower. If they don't have the strength to get there, they don't deserve to move on."
"I'm the proctor now," he added coolly.
Sakura was stunned. Did Sasuke mean to camp at the tower and ambush whoever showed up? That… kind of was cool… but…
What did Kakashi even teach him during training?!
Inner Sakura was screaming.
"Wait a second! I have something to say!" Naruto raised his hand loudly, cutting in.
Sakura let out a quiet sigh of relief. Good. Let dumb Naruto stop him. Why are we suddenly declaring war on the entire exam hall?
She and Sasuke turned to see what Naruto was up to.
Naruto rummaged around in his jacket until he finally pulled something out a fine letter, crafted from thick parchment. On the front, in bright green ink, was written:
Recipient: Uzumaki Kasumi
Sender: Principal of the Konoha Ninja Academy, Sarutobi Hiruzen
The elegant handwriting and the Leaf symbol watermark made it look incredibly official.
Naruto declared, "I've got a secret mission from Grandpa Third! I'm supposed to deliver this letter to a Grass Village genin named Kasumi and invite her to join Konoha!"
Sakura and Sasuke both took the letter to look it over.
Inside, the message explained that the girl named Kasumi, currently a genin of Grass, was actually a lost member of the Uzumaki Clan. Konoha hoped she would return and enroll in the academy. The Third Hokage would personally handle any follow-up complications. The envelope even contained a photograph of Kasumi and a pre-printed Konoha ID card.
"Uzumaki Clan?" Sakura asked. "Never heard of them. Is she related to you, Naruto? But her hair's red. Isn't that different?"
"She is my kin!" Naruto grinned. "Gramps said the Uzumaki Clan only has two members left me and her. That's why he gave me this task."
Naruto, always alone, now learned that someone from his own bloodline might be out there in this very exam and maybe even join him in Konoha afterward. The thought filled him with excitement.
"Heh. Now I can call myself 'the last of the Uzumaki Clan' like Mr. Arrogant Sasuke over here!"
"Hmph. Idiot dead last," Sasuke scoffed with a cold expression. But deep down, he felt a subtle connection to Naruto.
So he's the last of his clan too…
"But how do we find her?" Sakura asked. "We can't just shout her name all over the forest. And don't tell me we're really going to camp at the tower like Sasuke said. Haha… ha…"
Her laughter died. The look on her teammates' faces told her they were absolutely serious.
No! This is so dumb! What if she doesn't make it to the tower and gets eliminated first?
Inner Sakura was frantically shaking her head.
"I think it's a good plan," Naruto said confidently. "I'm super strong now. And once we're at the tower, we can ask others to help us search too."
Who the hell would help you?! Inner Sakura screamed.
"Don't slow us down," Sasuke said, casting a side glance at Naruto. He was deeply curious to see just how much Naruto had improved. He could barely wait to fight him.
Still… there was no way Naruto was stronger than him.
With that, Sakura watched helplessly as her teammates took off. Inner Sakura rolled her eyes and reluctantly followed.
Please don't let anything happen…
Trouble, of course, found them quickly.
Not Orochimaru though. He was currently being hard-countered by Hiruzen Sarutobi himself. No chance of sneaking into the Forest of Death to mess with Sasuke.
The Cursed Seal was outdated tech ugly, weak, and completely phased out by the end of Shippuden. Hiruzen wasn't about to let Orochimaru slap that outdated mess onto Sasuke, so he was busy keeping the "Kazekage" preoccupied with deep philosophical talks about the Will of Fire.
Instead, a random trio from the Sound Village made their move: Zaku Abumi, Kin Tsuchi, and Dosu Kinuta.
They had come specifically to test Sasuke and wasted no time confronting them.
"Extend, Ruyi Jingu Bang!"
Dosu was immediately sent flying by a staff the thickness of a concrete pipe. He crashed into a tree trunk, leaving a man-shaped crater. That golden-haired brat he was like the Monkey King himself!
Since the fight began, Dosu had only managed to land a brief opening attack using his Echoing Drill in combination with a sound-based genjutsu. And all he had time to say was
"So you're Uchiha Sasuke?"
Then the pink-haired girl started shouting about some bandaged freak attacking, forming hand seals as she retreated. The black-haired kid suddenly exploded with lightning, and the first to get wrecked was the girl on Dosu's team, Kin. A punch to the gut made her nearly throw up breakfast. Then came a kick to the jaw that knocked her out cold.
Just before losing consciousness, Dosu could barely make out the silhouette of that golden-haired boy, twirling his staff with style, striking a pose.
"You're not bad, for an enemy."
What the hell kind of line is that?!
Everything went dark.
"Why do you talk like that, Naruto? You're so dramatic," Sakura muttered, dropping her hand signs as Naruto showed off with his staff flourish.
My teammates got way too strong! Not just Sasuke even Naruto's a beast now! I didn't even finish my jutsu and the fight was over. Now I'm the dead last!
Inner Sakura was in full panic.
"Grandpa said that those with the Will of Fire must always show respect to their opponents."
Naruto released his summoning.
"Hmph. Enjoy your illusion, trapped in my Sharingan," Sasuke muttered coolly.
Sakon lay unconscious at Sasuke's feet. Just like Kin, he'd taken a punch to the stomach and a kick to the jaw. Sasuke had finished both opponents in seconds. With his Lightning Release-enhanced speed from training with Kakashi and without the Cursed Seal to weigh him down he might already be stronger than he was in the original timeline during his fight against Gaara.
Sakura turned to see Sasuke now striking a pose like Naruto, even saying one of those "victory quotes." She couldn't help but retort, "Sasuke, you were just using taijutsu!"
Usually, she only complained about Naruto!
Sasuke ignored her and sneered at Naruto. "So this is your new strength? Just relying on outside help, huh?"
But he was secretly impressed. As someone who understood the ninja world well, Sasuke knew exactly how valuable it was to summon someone like Enma, the Monkey King. Even someone on Kakashi's level might lose to Enma one-on-one.
Damn you, Kakashi! Why didn't you get me a summon like Enma?!
Naruto just grinned. "Oh, I've got more than just a magic staff. Just wait until the next exam. You'll see, Mr. Show-Off."
"You think I don't have other moves?" Sasuke shot back, instantly irritated. For some reason, Naruto always got under his skin.
Damn it, Kakashi. You'll never match personal training from the Hokage himself.
"It's the Earth Scroll!" Sakura called, holding up the Sound trio's scroll. "We've got both now!"
The three of them exchanged glances, then dashed off toward the tower.
Inside the tower, in front of the crystal screen, the Third Hokage and the "Kazekage" watched the second exam unfold.
Seeing Naruto twirling the Ruyi Staff with power and flair, Sarutobi puffed his pipe and sighed contentedly.
"That boy Naruto really reminds me of myself in my prime."
The "Kazekage" gave a polite smile. "Is he your new student, Lord Hokage?"
"No, he's my grand-student. He was taught by Jiraiya my favorite student, the one with the strongest Will of Fire and I gave him a few lessons myself."
Your favorite student, huh?
Orochimaru sneered internally but smiled on the surface. "I've heard Enma the Monkey King is only available from the Hokage's personal scroll."
"Eh, don't be so narrow-minded, Kazekage. The student of my student is like a grandson to me. Besides, Jiraiya was my favorite strongest in Will of Fire, highest in accomplishments."
Old fool. Your precious Jiraiya, huh? We'll see how you like what happens next.
Shukaku, don't let me down.
On the other side of the forest, Gaara of the Sand was searching for a Konoha squad.
But none of the Sand siblings specialized in tracking, and in such a massive forest, finding one specific team was difficult. So far, they hadn't crossed paths.
In the previous exam, Shukaku had already been screaming in his head louder than ever, making Gaara irritable beyond belief.
After seeing Naruto's "positive energy essay" with his Sand Eye during the cheating phase, Gaara was even more annoyed.
Why? Why him? We're both monsters!
He just wanted to kill.
A passing genin team from the Hidden Rain had the misfortune of walking by.