If Sasuke dies while activating the power of the Curse Seal, not only will Orochimaru lose a potential weapon, but he might also lose a valuable tool.
So, deciding whether or not to help Orochimaru plant a curse seal on Sasuke remains a critical question.
"Let's go, Karin! Why are you just standing there? Come and follow me!"
"Yes! Coming!" she replied hastily.
Karin, who had no status in Kusakure Village, was constantly ordered around like a servant by other ninjas. Having lived under someone else's roof since childhood, she was used to this treatment, though it still made her a little sad.
Before leaving, she glanced back at the genius boy from Konoha.
Was he looking at me just now?
Karin wondered to herself.
After all fourteen teams obtained their scrolls, they were led to the entrance of the Forest of Death by Konoha's Chunin.
Each entry point was spaced about fifty meters apart, and with good eyesight, one could see who the adjacent teams were!
The Amegakure team, consisting of Ajisai, Suiren, and Fuyō noticed this as well, eagerly scanning their surroundings to identify the closest teams.
If they were strong, they planned to avoid confrontation at all costs. If they were weak, they would attack immediately to seize their scroll.
Although they were given five days to complete the exam, the longer it took, the more difficult it would become!
As the exam progressed, fewer teams remained, and the chances of finding the corresponding scroll diminished significantly.
Everyone wanted to pass on the first day rather than wait until the fifth!
"Damn it, on our left is that woman!" Ajisai muttered regretfully.
"Which woman?" Suiren asked.
"The one who took down the Otogakure ninja without even moving!" Fuyō said, his voice tinged with fear.
Not everyone could clearly see Kazuki's movements. Despite their strength, which allowed them to contend with some Chunin, they were no match for Kazuki's level of skill.
They mistakenly believed it was Ino Yamanaka who had defeated him.
The others turned to take a closer look—it was indeed Ino Yamanaka in her purple outfit!
"It's tough on this side; look to the right!" Fuyō urged.
"Don't bother; the right side is even worse—it's Gekko Kazuki!" Ajisai sighed.
They held the Scroll of Earth, and if they could obtain the Scroll of Heaven from Kazuki and his team, they could pass the exam quickly.
But…how could they possibly pull that off?
Kazuki of the Gekko Clan wasn't someone these Genin could hope to challenge!
Worse still, they were now the hunted, not the hunters.
They were caught between two powerful teams with no clear path to victory!
"Damn, why did we have to get sandwiched between these two groups?!" Ajisai complained.
"There's no choice. If we want to pass, we need to hide first. Our scroll…" Suiren trailed off, wary of any eavesdroppers.
If their strategy was overheard, they'd be finished!
"Let's just run forward and find somewhere to hide for a while," he suggested.
His teammates nodded in agreement; facing any of the stronger teams would lead to a dead end, so survival was their only option.
"The exam starts now, candidates enter the examination room!" announced the proctor Chuunin.
Without hesitation, the trio dashed into the Forest of Death, desperate to survive.
Team Ino entered the Forest of Death, opting to move closer to Kazuki instead of lingering like in the original plot.
After thinking it through, Shikamaru concluded that their best shot at passing the exam was to align themselves with Kazuki.
Sticking close to Kazuki was their safest bet.
Shikamaru wasn't worried about Kazuki refusing them—after all, Ino was on their side.
Though he was slightly annoyed by how much attention Ino attracted during the event, if it meant securing Kazuki's support, he could let it slide.
Team Seven, led by Kazuki, didn't rush forward upon entering the Forest of Death. Instead, they found a shady spot and waited.
They waited for their enemies and for Ino.
Before the exam, Kazuki had promised Ino that he would help her through the second stage of the exam.
Originally, Kazuki had planned to help Hinata, but Inuzuka Kiba and Aburame Shino had refused, preferring to prove their strength on their own.
The waiting was long and tedious.
As Kazuki's follower, Sasuke never questioned his decisions. But Sakura was growing impatient.
"Kazuki-kun, who are we waiting for?" Sakura asked.
"Our enemies…and Ino," Kazuki replied calmly.
"That Ino…asking Kazuki-kun for help with the exam. How shameless!" Sakura grumbled.
Back when they were younger, they had banded together because of Hinata, but as they graduated and became teammates with Kazuki, the dynamics shifted.
Their bond was now a delicate triangle, with Kazuki caught between them, and Sakura grew increasingly wary of other women getting close to him.
Except for the elder sister, Yūgao Uzuki, whom she wouldn't dare cross.
But even when it came to friends like Ino, Sakura couldn't help feeling jealous.
Kazuki noticed Sakura's change in attitude but didn't pay it much mind.
Women!
Jealousy was only natural; otherwise, TV dramas wouldn't be filled with complex love triangles and emotional turmoil!
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Smoke filled the air, and a small pug wearing a ninja headband appeared.
"Long time no see, Kazuki-sama! How can I assist you?"
Kazuki's expression remained indifferent as he looked at Pakkun. "Keep an eye out for the scent of snakes. If you detect it, alert me immediately."
"Understood, Kazuki-sama! I'll do my utmost—" Pakkun began to shower Kazuki with flattery, his words flowing effortlessly.
Kazuki, unimpressed by the over-the-top praise, kicked him lightly. "Enough of that, just do your job."
Sasuke: "…"
Sakura: "…"
Pakkun: "/(ㄒoㄒ)/~~"
Meanwhile, the cloaked Orochimaru had sent his subordinates off and was now observing Kazuki and his team's movements through his Summoning Beast's reconnaissance abilities.
"Gekko Kazuki, Uchiha Sasuke… Let's see how much of a surprise you can give me…" Orochimaru hissed, a twisted smile forming as he watched them closely.
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+70 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg
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