"Alright. So, sign these waivers if you want to proceed to the second stage of the exam. Remember, after signing it, Konoha won't be responsible for your death."
The Chunin Exam was going well. The first stage has completed, and many teams proceeded to the second stage.
Team Shadow, consisting of Sakura, Karin and Haku breezed through the first stage.
Haku glanced at Konoha's Team 7. Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto Uzumaki and Hikari Nakamura. They don't have to target this team according to Kiyohime-sama's orders.
And then he glanced at Team 8, consisting of Shino Aburame, Kiba Inuzuka, and Hinata Hyuga.
Their task is to chase this team towards Suna's team which has Ichibi's Jinchuriki, and have him kill Shino and Kiba, and save Hinata Hyuga.
Karin is very crucial for this mission.
While the people were getting their gate numbers, Hiruzen sat in his office, wondering about the Sound and Shadow villages.
They recently emerged in the Shinobi world, with an unknown leader. While Sound village emerged in a small country near Land of Fire, the Shadow village is from a different continent, from the Holy Empire.
There isn't much information about this empire, except that it united a large part of the continent under its control with the 'Goddess' as it's leader.
And now, that continent is making contact with this continent via the Shadow Shinobi Village located in that Empire.
Hiruzen sighed at the intelligence report. Currently, there is no way to get into the Empire without crossing the large ocean separating the continents. Some months ago, he didn't even know that there was another continent on the other side of the world.
But, the team of Shadow village arrived on a strange aircraft.
In the Shinobi world, flying is a very huge advantage. But only Onoki can fly, and there was Land of Sky which had an aircraft but was destroyed in the Second Shinobi War.
The Empire's strength and intentions are unknown. He will have to wait and see the participants in the Chunin Exam to determine their strength.
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The Second Stage has started, and Team 8 of Konoha is currently running away from Team Shadow.
"Damn it! We can't shake them off!"
Kiba grumbled as he dodged an ice spike.
At first, when they encountered each other, they fought. But, Shino was quickly put unconscious and pierced all over his body by senbons from the leader-girl.
So now, Kiba has put Shino on his shoulder, and he and Hinata are running away. Even after giving the scroll, it seems that Team Shadow is intent on eliminating possible competition.
"Mother wants blood."
Suddenly, the scary voice came from a direction, and Sand came towards them.
'It's that guy Akamaru was afraid of!'
Just as both Kiba and Hinata thought that they were done for, an ice wall saved them by blocking the sand.
"What is a jonin doing here!?"
The redhead girl shouted in surprise, and suddenly, the leader girl spoke, "Want to form a temporary alliance? This guy is more than we can take on."
Kiba quickly agreed. Atleast they had only put Shino unconscious. But this guy seems to be intent on killing them all.
"Hinata, get behind me."
A redhead appeared from the sand, with a crazy expression and intense bloodlust, that drove Akamaru to crying.
Sand spears appeared, and went for everyone present.
Team Shadow blocked the attack successfully, and even saved Hinata with an ice wall.
But, Kiba, Akamaru and Shino weren't lucky.
Kiba jumped to save Hinata, but got his gut pierced by the sand spear. Akamaru died instantly, and the unconscious Shino, who had blood gushing out from him, also died.
Hinata trembled at the bloody scene before her.
Shino, Kiba, and Akamaru, all were dead.
And she will die too!
But perhaps, this will be for good. If she died here, wouldn't that mean that her little sister won't get the Cage Bird Seal?
Just as Gaara was about to attack again, a terrifying killing intent appeared out of nowhere, along with a chilling voice.
"Kukuku! Impressive."
Everyone, terrified, looked at the direction of the voice. They couldn't even move. Even Gaara.
From the bushes, Orochimaru appeared, looking at everyone in amusement.
Temari and Kankuro, who were looking at the scene from afar relaxed a bit. Orochimaru was Suna's ally for invading Konoha. He wouldn't attack them.
Orochimaru looked at the shaking Hinata. Specifically, at her Byakugan.
"I guess I wouldn't mind researching on Byakugan along with Sharingan. Do you guys mind if I take this girl?"
Team Shadow quickly ran away, and Orochimaru didn't chase them.
He picked up Hinata by her collar, looking at her eyes with interest.
Then, he flickered away with her.
After arriving in a remote location in the forest of death, he disappeared.
Hinata has been kidnapped.