Deep within the Forest of Death, where the second phase of the Chunin exams takes place, Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke try to recover their strength after Orochimaru's attack... Before they can fully recover, however, they find themselves facing his minions, the mysterious Sound Ninja. As the battle rages on, Sasuke struggles with the tremendous power awakened within him by the mark left by Orochimaru - a mark that spreads like a cancer. The danger for Sasuke is great... anyone who accepts this mark either dies or begins to seek out the one who gave it to them, searching for more power. Meanwhile, time is running out for the young ninja searching for the two scrolls...