Among the ninjas sent by Oto to Konoha for the Chunin Exam, three were missing. No one knew where these three had gone, except for a select few in Konoha's Anbu. Their disappearance was directly linked to the Fourth Hokage and Uzumaki Raiden.
However, this was not a matter of concern for the lower-ranking Anbu members. After reporting to Namikaze Minato, Anbu resumed their daily duties.
Over the next few days, a series of disappearances occurred in Konoha. The missing individuals varied in age and gender, but they all had one thing in common—they were all researchers from the Konoha Academy of Sciences.
At first, the cases didn't attract much attention. The Konoha Police Department treated the initial incidents as ordinary missing persons cases. However, as the disappearances continued, the police department took notice. Early one morning, the compiled case files were placed on Uchiha Fugaku's desk.
"Patriarch, all the information on the recent disappearances is here."
"They are all researchers from the Konoha Academy of Sciences, holding various positions without any apparent pattern."
"I suspect this is the work of spies from other villages!"
In his office, Uchiha Fugaku reviewed the files intently while listening to his subordinate's report.
"How many people are missing?" Fugaku asked.
"So far, a total of 17."
"I personally inquired at the research institute, and the missing individuals had different areas of expertise."
"Some specialized in medical ninjutsu, others in human cell research, and some even studied agriculture."
"There seems to be no commonality in their fields, except that all were leading experts in their respective studies."
Uchiha Hikoichi, the head of the police department, continued his report while handing relevant documents to Fugaku. After carefully reviewing them, Fugaku nodded slowly.
"Is that why you suspect enemy spies?" he asked.
"Yes! I believe other nations are attempting to steal Konoha's research. This is likely an organized espionage operation to enhance their own scientific capabilities."
"None of the missing have turned up dead, meaning they were likely abducted rather than killed."
"This suggests a large-scale infiltration targeting Konoha!"
Uchiha Hikoichi presented his assessment of the case. Since the founding of the Konoha Police Department, this was the most severe incident they had faced. Their investigation revealed no traces of the culprit. Even with the Byakugan and Sharingan of the police force, no useful leads had been discovered. The enemy's ability to operate undetected was beyond Hikoichi's expectations. For this reason, he had escalated the case to Fugaku.
"Large-scale espionage..."
"That possibility cannot be ruled out. Konoha has been bustling with outsiders recently, posing a major challenge for our department."
"All police officers' leave is canceled. Everyone must return to duty immediately."
"From today, we will operate in three shifts to maintain constant surveillance."
"The primary focus will be on individuals who arrived from other villages during this period."
Fugaku deliberated briefly before issuing his orders, treating the matter with utmost seriousness.
"Patriarch, isn't this too strict?"
"Investigating everyone may cause public panic. Will this not have a severe impact?"
"So far, this matter has been kept confidential. Only those directly involved in the investigation know about it."
Uchiha Hikoichi was taken aback by Fugaku's strict measures and voiced his concern.
"It won't cause panic. Rest assured."
"As for the reason for the inspections, simply use counter-espionage as the excuse. Do I need to teach you that?"
Fugaku shot Hikoichi a sharp look. Hikoichi, realizing his overstep, immediately responded and left to implement the large-scale investigation.
Once alone, Fugaku studied the files once more, his brows furrowed. There was something he hadn't shared with his subordinates.
With Uzumaki Raiden in the village, large-scale espionage should have been impossible—unless the infiltrators had somehow eluded his sensory abilities. But Fugaku knew very well that almost no one in the ninja world could evade Raiden's Kagura Shingan. Even if powerful sealing techniques were used, deceiving Raiden would be extremely difficult.
Fugaku had received information that a group of Oto-nin with suspicious movements had been secretly taken away by Uzumaki Raiden not long after entering the village. If someone truly harbored malicious intent against Konoha, there was no way they would be able to act so freely.
With this in mind, Fugaku decided to treat the case with formal severity but with no real expectations of finding answers. He understood that if his suspicions were correct, nothing substantial would come from the investigation.
The widespread disappearance of researchers from the Academy of Sciences did not create any noticeable disturbances in Konoha. At the time, everyone's attention was focused on the Five Village Joint Chunin Exam hosted by Konoha.
A few days later, the written portion of the Chunin Exam concluded.
That morning, after finishing breakfast at home, Uzumaki Raiden walked through Konoha. The longevity research laboratory, established some time ago, had begun operating smoothly.
The disappearances in Konoha had been orchestrated by him. Although Orochimaru was a scientific genius, research required collaboration. Raiden had secretly captured a group of researchers and sent them to Orochimaru's lab to accelerate progress.
Orochimaru was also satisfied with the arrangement. Scientific breakthroughs required collaboration, after all.
"Raiden, I'll leave this phase of the Chunin Exam to you!"
In the Hokage's office, Uzumaki Raiden sat on the sofa yawning, looking bored. Behind his desk, Minato smiled at him—it was clear he wasn't asking so much as telling.
The Chunin Exam had reached its third phase. The first two stages—written intelligence gathering and practical assessment—were complete. Now, it was time for the Death Forest trial.
The Forest of Death, located on Konoha's outskirts, was originally a training ground for wartime intelligence exercises. It had since been repurposed as a trial ground for genin advancement.
Minato wanted Raiden to oversee the exam, not to ensure the candidates' safety but to keep an eye on any foul play—especially from the Land of Wind. He needed Raiden to prevent sabotage without interfering in the test itself.
"Don't worry. Suna won't be foolish enough to fall for manipulation so easily."
"If they try anything, I'll crush the threat before it takes root."
Uzumaki Raiden reassured Minato and then disappeared from the office.
At the same time, at the entrance of the Death Forest, the ninjas who had passed the first and second stages of the Chunin Exam gathered, listening carefully as Mitarai Anko explained the rules.
In the queue, an ordinary-looking Kusa-nin kept glancing at Uchiha Sasuke with an unsettling sense of longing in his eyes.
The third stage of the Death Forest trial was a team-based challenge, with all participants grouped into teams of three. Each team was assigned a scroll before entering the forest—half receiving a scroll labeled Heaven and the other half receiving Earth.
To pass, a team had to obtain both Heaven and Earth scrolls and reach the tower in the center of the Death Forest within the given time limit.
Over 30 teams had advanced to this round, meaning nearly a hundred participants remained. However, only half—or potentially even fewer—would successfully pass this phase.
This test measured teamwork, intelligence gathering, and survival skills. As Mitarai Anko finished explaining the rules, the participants began strategizing.
At that moment, Sasuke felt an intense gaze on him. Looking around, he spotted the Kusa-nin staring directly at him.
This Kusa-nin made no attempt to conceal his interest. When Sasuke caught his gaze, he simply smiled—but there was no kindness in that smile.
"Hey, Sasuke, do you know that guy?" Naruto, standing beside Sasuke, noticed the unsettling stare and asked suspiciously.
"No, but be careful once we enter the forest. That guy gives me a bad feeling."
Sasuke spoke in a low voice.
"Naruto, Karin, this training ground has a radius of 10 kilometers. Once we obtain our scroll, head straight for the tower."
"Don't linger in the forest."
For some reason, Sasuke felt an ominous premonition, and he repeated his warning to his teammates.
Surprisingly, Naruto didn't argue this time. Instead, he nodded in agreement. From the start, he too had felt an eerie unease, the hairs on his back standing on end.
Once all participants had signed the waiver of liability and received their scrolls, the third stage of the Chunin Exam officially began.
In the tower at the center of the Death Forest, Uzumaki Raiden lounged in the monitoring room, casually eating melon seeds while watching the screens before him.
Despite the feudal setting, the Naruto world had made advances in scientific technology, and surveillance systems had been developed and widely adopted in recent years.
At present, nearly 300 monitors filled the room, each corresponding to different surveillance points throughout the Death Forest. Since there were over a thousand cameras placed across the forest, the screens could be toggled between different feeds.
"Master, the exam has begun!"
Standing behind Raiden were Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui. Both had students participating in the third stage of the exam.
Just then, a flicker on one of the monitors caught Itachi's attention. He pointed to a screen in the corner.
The footage displayed groups of genin rapidly moving past the entrance and into the dense forest. Itachi's eyes landed on his student and younger brother among the examinees, a faint smile forming on his face.
"It's starting. I wonder if those kids from Class 7 will make it to the tower."
Raiden glanced at the screen, continuing to snack absentmindedly.
"Huh?"
Suddenly, something caught Raiden's attention. His relaxed demeanor stiffened as his gaze locked onto a particular individual among the examinees.
"Hey, rewind that! Go back a little!"
His voice carried a sharp edge as he stood and moved closer to the monitors. The operator quickly obeyed, rewinding the footage and stopping at Raiden's command.
"There! Pause!"
Raiden leaned in, scrutinizing the image. His expression darkened. Without a word, he activated Kagura Shingan, his sensory ability spreading across the entire Death Forest.
Yet, despite his efforts, he couldn't detect the familiar chakra he had expected. His frown deepened.
"Master, is something wrong? Did you find something?"
Itachi and Shisui exchanged glances before Itachi voiced the question.
Raiden let out a cold chuckle.
"Hmph. I wasn't looking for them, but they walked right through my front door."
His gaze sharpened as he turned to Itachi and Shisui.
"You see that man? Find him and deal with him—he's an enemy."
"His reason for coming to this Chunin Exam is most likely Karin and Naruto!"
"If things get out of hand, send a signal."
Raiden pointed directly at the figure on the screen.
Itachi and Shisui didn't need further clarification. If the target was after Karin and Naruto, then the situation was serious. The two understood exactly what this implied.
"Understood!"
Without hesitation, both Uchiha disappeared from the room.
Meanwhile, deep within the Death Forest, Team 7 moved swiftly through the trees.
Suddenly, Sasuke came to an abrupt stop at the base of a large tree.
"Karin, Naruto... we're being followed."
(End of Chapter)