Fortune Favors the Bold

One must admit, Daimaru had indeed overestimated his own influence.

Compared to the orphan of the Uchiha clan and the prodigious child from the Fourth Kazekage's family, it was hard for other genin candidates to make a significant name for themselves. Even recognized geniuses like Neji Hyuga went unnoticed due to his branch family status.

As for Hinata Hyuga, although she was the main family's heiress, her limited talents and the Head of the Hyuga clan's lack of regard for her meant she didn't make many waves either.

The ripple Daimaru had caused in the first stage of the Chunin Exam had faded away after just one night.

Early in the morning, the young Sand ninja, strolling the streets to clear his mind, watched as the eliminated Sand genin trudged back to their village, dispirited. They were each lost in thought, yet leaving the Land of Fire before the Leaf's destruction plan unfolded felt like a stroke of luck.

Daimaru felt a twinge of guilt for having tricked Shino, Sana, Shira, Yome, and Chiyo into participating in this mess they should have avoided.

For the Sand candidates, it was best if only the unavoidable Gaara, Kankuro, and Temari, along with the proactive Daimaru, made it to the third stage's main arena. The others were better off heading home early.

The second round of the Chunin Exam was set for the afternoon; as long as participants arrived at Training Ground 44 by two o'clock, they would be on time.

With plenty of time to spare, Daimaru, who had prepared early, wandered the streets, stocking up on high-calorie foods before calmly returning to the inn.

After a tranquil morning, he summoned Yome and Chiyo for lunch. Baki's team then leisurely made its way to Training Ground 44.

They weren't the last to arrive but had only a few minutes to spare.

It wasn't until the last group of Grass ninja arrived, their presence heavy with a subtle threat and the stench of blood, that all seventy-five candidates were finally accounted for.

"Orochimaru, no doubt about it."

Daimaru caught a glimpse and quickly looked away, not daring to stare.

The disguise created by the Transformation Technique wasn't something most could see through, not even Anko Mitarashi, who had been Orochimaru's disciple for years, could recognize him.

Had it not been for the patrolling proctor who found the body of a Grass genin, no one might have realized that the S-ranked rogue ninja of the Leaf had stealthily returned.

The Forest of Death was Orochimaru's chosen hunting ground, and Sasuke Uchiha was the prey.

But...

"Why didn't Orochimaru dispose of the Grass genin's body? Wouldn't destroying the evidence better conceal his tracks? A simple summoning of a giant snake could have swallowed them whole. Come to think of it, when the Fourth Kazekage Rasa was attacked, Orochimaru didn't take the body either, just left it there."

Perhaps once the Cursed Seal was successfully applied to Sasuke, it didn't matter if he was exposed. The Leaf Village would surely realize Orochimaru had returned.

As for Rasa, covering up was even less important. Orochimaru, impersonating the Kazekage to assassinate the Third Hokage, was the obvious culprit.

"A powerful Orochimaru who no longer needs to care about the Leaf's opinion is someone to keep a distance from and definitely not to attract his attention."

This made Daimaru feel constrained in the Forest of Death, unable to act freely.

At two o'clock sharp, Anko began gathering all candidates, explaining the rules of the second exam, glancing at Daimaru who stood quietly in the corner, observing the towering trees of the Forest of Death.

"Is this the Daimaru that Ibiki warned might cause trouble? Just a dull-witted boy!"

Compared to the Sand ninja, intimidating the disobedient blond brat seemed more interesting.

"Make up your mind quickly and sign the consent form, then collect your scroll."

The assisting proctor lifted the curtain.

"Heaven and Earth Scrolls, turning the first test's experience into actual combat? Quite direct!"

Chiyo, now in better spirits, observed the competitors, each looking formidable, and hesitated.

Considering the scrolls as intelligence, each team had to defeat their enemies to acquire the necessary information to pass.

"Not a single member can be missing from a three-person team; only by arriving at the central tower with both scrolls will you pass. You can't look at the contents of the scrolls on the way; the rules are simple..."

Yome glanced around, spotting the individuals Daimaru said to watch out for,

"The simpler the rules, the fewer loopholes to exploit."

As the time drew near, Daimaru began making final arrangements,

"Yome, can you see through the curtain what types of scrolls the other teams are picking up, and who's carrying them?"

"I'll try!"

Yome said, focusing chakra into his eyes in the shadow behind Daimaru, his pupils dilating,

"I can barely make out the types of scrolls, but it's unclear who's holding them."

"That's enough."

Defeating all three members of a rival team would suffice, no matter who held the scrolls.

Not far away, Naruto Uzumaki, who had barely passed the written test, seemed to have gained some inexplicable confidence. While other teams were cautious not to draw the attention of the stronger ones, he was completely oblivious to the mood around him.

"A sunny day indeed acts as a catalyst for fools. That blond kid is really full of big talk, and the proctor seems a bit off, capricious..."

Chiyo thought Ibiki was quite reasonable compared to Anko, who seemed ready to attack at the slightest provocation.

Aside from that, Yome found someone else more disturbing:

"That long-tongued Grass ninja, isn't he a bit nauseating? I really don't want to get close..."

"Then stay away from him."

Daimaru advised,

"It's our turn, let's go!"

...

In a short while, Daimaru, Yome, and Chiyo were led by their proctor to Gate 33. With the chief examiner's signal, the candidates entered one by one, and the second stage of the Chunin Exam officially began.

"Lucky us, the Grass team next door has the Earth Scroll we need, and they don't look too tough."

Yome spoke with delight.

The Baki team, having drawn the Heaven Scroll, quickly identified their soon-to-be prey.

Just a short distance from Gate 32 was the only remaining Grass team, other than the one Orochimaru killed, led by the girl named Kankuro.

"Yome, good job."

It was handy to have an all-seeing sensor ninja as a teammate in the Forest of Death.

The intelligence advantage they had was not apparent during the written test, but here, it would be a harsh lesson for the extras who barely made it on screen in the grand finale.

As Daimaru led Yome and Chiyo, closing in on the Grass team where Kankuro resided, the red-haired girl with the Kagura Mind's Eye sensed the danger approaching first.