Temari came out slowly, glaring at Itsuki.
Her expression clearly said it: Itsuki was a complete scumbag.
Although it was true, Itsuki still found it annoying.
He glanced sideways at Temari and said, "What? The last lesson wasn't enough? You dare throw a tantrum in front of me? Do you want me to make you stay in bed for two more days?"
"Hmph!"
Temari snorted, then glanced at Anko, who was tied up in ropes, and sneered, "You're into old women like her?"
Old woman?
Itsuki's eye twitched.
He had plenty of women, and only Uzuki Yugao was younger than Anko.
Women like Kurenai and Pakura were several years older than Anko.
The oldest one was almost thirty, a good decade older than Itsuki himself.
Of course, compared to a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old like Temari, they were all much older.
Itsuki took a deep breath and said, "Don't ever say something like that again, got it?"
He wasn't just defending his women—it was also to protect Temari's life.
Forget someone like Pakura, even Anko could take down Temari easily.
If they ever heard Temari's remarks, she'd be in deep trouble.
Temari wanted to argue but shut up after Itsuki shot her a look. "Okay, I get it!"
"Come with me."
Itsuki smiled and waved Temari over.
"Who wants to go with you? I have my own team!"
Temari grumbled, but she still instinctively followed Itsuki.
"What about Gaara and the others?"
"They're already gone!"
"You're not with them? Aren't you worried about being eliminated?"
"Why should I care about that? If I'm out, so be it."
Temari laughed mockingly.
Did the Chunin Exams even matter to her?
Of course not!
The Sand Village was planning to attack the Leaf anyway, so what were the Chunin Exams in comparison?
Besides,
With her father's position, he could easily promote her to Jonin whenever he wanted!
Climbing step by step through exams—that was for common ninjas.
Itsuki thought for a moment.
In the original story, during the Chunin Exams, out of all the Genin, only Shikamaru passed. Everyone else got knocked out.
But!
Three years later, Temari was a Jonin.
Funny how that works!
However,
By now, the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, should already be dead.
With that thought, an idea popped into Itsuki's mind.
Gaara as the Kazekage? That wasn't right at all.
What could a fourteen or fifteen-year-old kid do?
Maybe...
I should find a new Kazekage for the Sand Village.
...
Itsuki had plenty of time.
Making it through the Forest of Death? That was nothing to him.
Besides,
He hadn't come here for the Chunin Exams in the first place.
No one would believe that Uchiha Itsuki would actually take the exams seriously.
During the week in the Forest of Death, Itsuki and Temari had a lot of fun.
Yes, exactly the kind of fun you're thinking.
Eventually, Anko joined in too.
Because Temari was feeling lonely.
Itsuki, of course, didn't mind adding another person!
The three of them spent their time laughing and enjoying themselves.
As for Anko's frustration and unwillingness...
"Orochimaru-sensei has a very important plan. Should I ruin it for him, Anko? Do you really want that?"
Anko instantly settled down.
To someone like her, her teacher was everything.
As for the second stage of the exam...
When Itsuki and Anko entered the Forest of Death, the proctor had already been replaced.
...
At this moment!
Deep in the Forest of Death,
Sai was confronting Naruto.
Sakura stood by Naruto's side.
"Step aside!"
Sai's voice was cold. "Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, are you betraying the village?"
Sakura shrank back, hesitation written all over her face.
Naruto, however, stood his ground, shouting, "Sasuke is our comrade! I'm hurt, but we should protect him."
"He's a rogue ninja!"
Sai said each word deliberately. "By helping him now, you're betraying the Leaf!"
He looked with disgust at the unconscious Sasuke lying behind Naruto.
Further back, Rock Lee was also unconscious, and Neji and Tenten were nowhere to be seen.
"Sasuke's not a traitor!"
Naruto shouted back, "He's been deceived! I'll bring him back to the village!"
"Bring him back? And then what?"
Sai stared coldly at Naruto. "The village elders will definitely execute Sasuke for betraying the Leaf. What will you do then? Defy the village?"
Naruto froze. "That's not possible. The village wouldn't do that."
"Not possible?"
Sai sneered. "Every village in the ninja world has the same stance on rogue ninjas, Sakura. Don't you know that?"
He turned his gaze toward Sakura.
Biting her lip, Sakura struggled to say, "Maybe... there's another way..."
"There isn't. There's no other way!"
Sai's face was expressionless as he said, "Naruto, step aside. This is also a direct order from the Hokage."
"No!"
Naruto suddenly yelled, "By your logic, I'm the son of the Fourth Hokage. A lot of people in the village didn't follow my dad's orders. Are they traitors to the Leaf, too?"
"You..."
Sai was stunned.
Sakura was stunned.
She had no idea about Naruto's true identity.
Sai, on the other hand, couldn't believe Naruto would say something like that.
Naruto's voice was full of sorrow. "My father died to save the village. He wanted me to be a hero, but the village treated me like a monster and took everything from me. I couldn't even get enough to eat. Tell me, isn't that a betrayal of the Hokage's wishes? Or was that the Third Hokage's order?"
"That's nonsense, you, you..."
Sai, who had grown up in the harshest conditions under Danzo's training, wasn't as naive as Naruto. He knew a lot more than Naruto did.
But Naruto's words still shook him.
How could he think like that?
This wasn't the Naruto from the reports at all!
Sai's breathing became rapid.
This was unexpected!
Very unexpected!
A serious problem!
Naruto, the Nine-Tailed Fox... how could he have such thoughts?
This wasn't good!
He absolutely couldn't be allowed to think this way!
Naruto was supposed to be the type who loved and was loyal to the village no matter how it treated him, always full of hope...
"Did I say something wrong?"
Naruto stared directly at Sai. "Sai, I don't know you, not at all, but you must be working for someone in the village, right?"
Sai: "..."
You even know there are higher-ups in the village?
Isn't there supposed to be only the Hokage in your world?
"Tell me!"
Naruto's voice was filled with sorrow. "My father was the Fourth Hokage. He died with hope for the village and wished for me to be a hero. But the village treated me like a monster and took everything from me. I couldn't even get enough food. Tell me, isn't that a betrayal of the Hokage?"
Sai's breathing quickened as he looked at Naruto with a hint of fear.
"Naruto Uzumaki..."
He whispered Naruto's name and then used the Body Flicker Technique to vanish.
He had to report to Danzo immediately.
"Phew!"
Naruto exhaled heavily, then smiled at the dejected Sakura beside him. "Sakura, don't worry, I'll protect you."
Sakura: "..."
Big brother, your protection makes me feel really uneasy.
Maybe we should talk. How about... you don't protect me?
I'm just a civilian ninja; I just want to stay alive.
(End of Chapter)