"Fortunately, we arrived just in time…"
An examiner looked at the tragic state of Mitarashi AnKarin and felt a pang of emotion: "If we had arrived any later, she would have been killed by Orochimaru…"
"Take her to the hospital."
Akihara Kagura shook his head and did not reply further.
AnKarin's encounter with Orochimaru that left her severely injured was indeed a disaster, but it might have spared her from an even greater one. Who can tell whether this was a blessing or a curse?
"What about this exam?"
Another examiner looked towards Akihara Kagura.
"Should we report to the Third Hokage and search the entire village for Orochimaru's whereabouts?"
A Jonin looked at Akihara Kagura.
"Are you all just talking nonsense?"
Akihara Kagura frowned and waved his hand impatiently: "Hurry up and report to the Third Hokage. Orochimaru is looking for his own death by coming here…"
A group of people looked at each other in silence.
"As for this exam…"
Akihara Kagura flexed his fingers, showing a mild smile: "Let me take over! I'll raise the difficulty level for these kids…"
"Increase… the difficulty?"
The group was somewhat astonished by Kagura's remark.
"Notify them, every hour…"
While Akihara Kagura was still thinking about how to expedite the exam, an Anbu swiftly came over and relayed an order from the Third Hokage: "The Hokage has commanded that if anything happens to AnKarin, Iruka Umino, the chunin, should take over as the examiner…"
Inside the Forest of Death.
The candidates were completely unaware that the examiner had been changed.
However, regardless of the harsh environment or the number of enemies, the strongest among them ultimately prevailed.
From the Sand, Gaara, along with Temari and Kankurō, easily killed a team of Rain ninja and took the scroll they needed.
From the Mist, Hozuki Suigetsu wielded his Kubikiribōchō and split a team of Waterfall ninja in half, seizing their required scroll.
For Karin from Karinnoha, it was almost like being on vacation.
She and Yakushi Kabuto were well-protected by Kosuke Maruboshi all along the way.
Essentially, this team had no worries about food or enemy attacks wherever they went, with Kosuke Maruboshi's strength enough to easily resolve most threats within the forest.
But…
This peaceful journey finally reached its end.
Due to years of neglect, the high tower at the endpoint of the Forest of Death collapsed during a test battle and was subsequently rebuilt.
As Karin's team approached the tower, they also encountered the fortuitously arriving teams of Suigetsu and Gaara, inevitably leading to some minor conflicts.
"Karinnoha ninjas!"
Holding the Kubikiribōchō, Suigetsu felt like he was playing house in this chunin exam, charging directly at Karin's team that appeared weak and infirm, without considering their condition, he attacked immediately!
"Heh heh heh... Die!"
"Is there really a need to fight now?"
Kosuke Maruboshi unsheathed his ninja blade, effortlessly blocking Suigetsu's attack, and frowned: "Since we've all reached the endpoint, there's no need to start unnecessary fights, right?"
"Yeah, Suigetsu…"
Suigetsu's teammates also tried to persuade him.
"I don't care!"
Suigetsu fiercely pressed down his sword, but when he was unable to do anything to his opponent, he suddenly sneered and raised his finger.
"Water Release: Water Cannon Technique!"
A splash of water, sharp as a bullet, shot from his fingertips—a secret water-release technique passed down through the Hozuki clan for generations, powerful enough to pierce through the human body!
"This is..."
Kosuke Maruboshi's body was instantly penetrated!
Fortunately.
This squad had two healing ninjas.
Yakushi Kabuto, aware of Karin's power, took on the responsibility of a medical ninja, quickly healing Kosuke Maruboshi with palm sage techniques, while asking, "Karin, can you take him down?"
"I can still fight..."
Kosuke Maruboshi desperately tried to stand up.
"Old man, you should rest for now."
Yakushi Kabuto pressed his shoulder and whispered softly, "Thank you for protecting us all this way, but some paths Karin must walk alone. The third test is a solo fight, and you can't help her there."
"..."
Kosuke Maruboshi could only sigh.
"The glasses-wearing violent woman..."
Hozuki Suigetsu picked up his giant Kubikiribōchō again, chuckling as he watched Karin emerge: "Do you want to try being killed by me?"
"I'm not that violent..."
Karin adjusted her glasses.
Suddenly, an Adamantine Sealing Chain burst from behind Karin!
In an instant, the chain wrapped around Hozuki Suigetsu's body, pulling him close to Karin, who swung her fist at Hozuki Suigetsu!
Hozuki Suigetsu's body rolled and flew away!
Hozuki Suigetsu felt swelling on his face, somewhat panicked, looking at the chains tied around him and then at the approaching Karin.
"Wait... Did my water transformation technique fail?"
Hozuki Suigetsu's personality was quite different from his brother's; he tended to be aggressive when at an advantage and retreating when at a disadvantage!
"Hey, Chojuro, save me!"
Hozuki Suigetsu quickly called out to his teammate.
"..."
Chojuro, teammate of Hozuki Mangetsu, felt helpless.
But Chojuro, since childhood, had been entrusted with high hopes by Hozuki Mangetsu's brother, and although not aggressive, he swiftly acted upon seeing Hozuki Suigetsu in trouble!
"Water Release: Mist Jutsu!"
Chojuro quickly released a mist, trying to use the fog to obscure vision and rescue Hozuki Suigetsu, not considering himself a match for Karin!
Unfortunately...
Karin's sensory abilities were far beyond what the Mist Jutsu could conceal. Just as Chojuro tried to approach Hozuki Suigetsu, he received a punch and was sent flying back, farther than his other teammate from the village who rushed up...
"Don't go too far, woman!"
Hozuki Suigetsu looked fiercely at the approaching Karin.
"I already know my mistake!"
Hozuki Suigetsu looked at the approaching Karin, his face growing more panicked.
"Don't hit the face..."
Hozuki Suigetsu made his last request.
"From now on, your face won't matter anymore..."
Karin grabbed Hozuki Suigetsu's collar, clearly ready to swing her fist and finish him off right there.
"Water Release: Explosive Water Wave!"
Chōjūrō clasped his hands together to form a seal, and from his mouth he expelled a massive surge of water. This seemingly timid little fellow astonishingly managed to perform such a technique, instantly sending Karin into the air.
At the same time,
Hōzuki Suigetsu seized the opportunity to break free from his restraints!
A giant water beast suddenly appeared within the wave, with Suigetsu's body concealed in the water, his claws fiercely reaching for Karin!
"I was wrong, but where did I go wrong?"
Suigetsu, looking quite smug, even turned back to glance at his teammate: "Hey, Chōjūrō, wouldn't it have been better to use this move earlier?"
This enormous water beast is also a secret water transformation technique of the Hōzuki clan, requiring the advantage of the environment to be executed and definitely needing the cooperation of teammates.
However...
As long as this technique could be executed, it would completely secure the upper hand!
Suigetsu controlled the giant water beast, becoming arrogant once again, laughing and planning to bully with the water beast…
Unfortunately...
His arrogance did not last long.
A series of Adamantine Sealing chains burst from Karin's back, completely binding the water beast, instantly rendering it immobile.
The next second,
The water beast dissolved into a puddle of water.
Suigetsu was startled, his body also transforming into water and flowing away with the wave, dodging the attack of the Adamantine Sealing chains and escaping directly into the high tower!
"That violent woman, come and hit me, ha ha ha ha..."
Suigetsu continued to make faces, laughing, thinking the high tower was a safe zone, forgetting about his teammates still outside and even the rules of the high tower.
Karin ignored Suigetsu's provocation, controlling two chains to bind two ninja's bodies, with a kunai also appearing in her hand.
Ten seconds later.
Suigetsu was quick to bow and apologize: "I'm sorry, I was wrong, there was a problem with my attitude, please be generous and forgive us..."
A group of people watched, quite speechlessly.
This Suigetsu was like a scoundrel, lacking any semblance of genius, truly disgracing the face of the Mist Village. It was hard to believe how this guy could be brothers with Hōzuki Mangetsu.
"That woman..."
At that moment, Gaara stepped forward, saving the lives of Suigetsu and two ninja: "Last time, you had Akihara Kagura's chakra on you, what is your relationship with him?"
"What does that have to do with you?"
Karin raised her arm, which bore a curse mark left by Akihara Kagura, wondering if the curse mark's chakra had alerted him?
"Want to try?"
Karin slowly lowered her arm, she hadn't truly fought using the curse mark's state yet, really wanting to test the strength Akihara Kagura had given her.
"..."
Gaara furrowed his brow in thought.
Because the Shukaku within him kept nagging him to start fighting Karin, eager to regain face.
"Hit her hard!"
"Gaara, hurry up and hit her!"
"This brat must have a deep connection with Akihara Kagura, seize this opportunity, have you forgotten how that bastard bullied us?"
"..."
After hesitating for a moment, Gaara still couldn't restrain himself and made a move, a mass of sand under his control suddenly transformed into a sand claw, reaching for Karin!
"No need for a test, huh?"
Karin swung her fist, turning the sand claw into a pile of sand, her eyes, through her glasses, faintly exuding determination: "If you want to fight, bring some real strength, like the monster inside you..."
"..."
A cross suddenly bulged on Gaara's forehead!
This red-haired youth from the Sand Village suddenly flipped his palms, sending waves of yellow sand sprawling towards Karin's direction!
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
Karin's arms were marked with a curse seal, flowing like water, allowing her to unleash some highly energy-consuming jutsu with ease!
A wall as tall as a city rampart materialized in front of Karin, blocking the vast sands stirred up by Gaara!
"Let me handle this!"
Shukaku couldn't wait to take over Gaara's body control. It had long negotiated this ability with Gaara, occasionally taking over his body!
"Wind Release: Air Bullet!"
The moment Shukaku appeared, it immediately alerted everyone, causing panic. Its belly swelled rapidly, and a wind bullet charged at the earth wall, blasting a large hole through it with a chakra-filled wind ball!
"Hehehe..."
As Shukaku was about to mock Gaara for his weak attack, golden chains suddenly burst forth from the hole in the wall!
The chains quickly bound Shukaku!
Shukaku's body struggled violently, incredulously feeling its chakra being sealed, which suddenly filled its heart with panic: "What the hell is this, even more troublesome than Lord Shukaku's sealing techniques..."
"Adamantine Sealing Chains!"
Karin stood at the breach in the wall, swiftly binding Shukaku with the Vajra chains. She leaped into the air towards Shukaku!
Karin smashed a punch onto Shukaku's head!
The beast's body collapsed to the ground!
"Five Elements Seal!"
Chakra flames suddenly appeared on Karin's fingers, and with a tap on Shukaku's body, a black curse mark appeared on it!
"This damn brat!"
Shukaku, the massive tailed beast, vanished in an instant, returning to Gaara's body, even leaving a fleeting curse mark on him!
Karin calmly watched Gaara, now bound by the Adamantine Sealing chains, and coldly said, "Now, it won't be so easy for you to use that monster, will it?"
Gaara's face flashed with annoyance, sensing a discomfort in the fusion of his and Shukaku's chakra, as if hindered, yet his power was not solely dependent on Shukaku. His gourd quickly turned into sand.
This was his true source of power!
However, before they could continue fighting, someone immediately appeared to stop them. The presence of Shukaku during the Chunin Exam in the Forest of Death could not be ignored by Konoha.
After all...
Konoha did not wish for another Tailed Beast disturbance.
Even though the chances of another Tailed Beast disturbance in Konoha were extremely low.
"The jinchuriki from the Sand came to participate in the Chunin Exam?"
"That red-haired kid's strength is too overwhelming, isn't it? He solved the Tailed Beast so effortlessly?"
A group of Konoha jonin were somewhat astonished as they watched Shukaku being swiftly dealt with by Karin on the monitor, yet they were somewhat dazed.
Whether it was Gaara or Karin, their strength far exceeded that of a genin, yet they still came to participate in the Chunin Exam, this exam might be comparable to the one involving Akihara Kagura.
"It's nothing special."
Akihara Kagura was still quietly drinking pear juice, responding, "The Sand has no more geniuses, only the one-tailed jinchuriki left to show off, they've lost all their substance, they can't afford to lose face in the exam..."
"Don't always be so sarcastic..."
Kakashi sighed helplessly and then inquired, "By the way, any news on Orochimaru's whereabouts?"
"He's escaped."
Akihara Kagura shook his head, continuing, "But don't worry, nothing will happen as long as I'm here, that guy won't dare to show up…"
~~~
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