"I see," Kabuto said with a warm smile after listening to Sakura's hurried explanation. "I thought something serious had happened to you."
"No, of course not," Sakura replied, hastily tucking away the remnants of the grilled fish. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment—being caught in such an undignified moment was mortifying. She felt like she had melted into the background of the scene.
Kabuto adjusted his glasses, the gleam from the lenses reflecting an ominous glint. What a shame, he thought. Under these conditions, the chances of success aren't ideal. I'll have to adjust my approach.
His gaze flicked subtly toward Satoru, who was still struggling to swallow the last bites of his overly sweetened grilled fish. It wasn't an appetizing sight; the white-haired boy appeared on the verge of choking.
Naruto, ever the impulsive friend, began shaking Satoru in an attempt to help. In the commotion, they accidentally knocked over the fire, scattering embers and half-cooked fish everywhere. The scene devolved into chaos.
This is the boy Orochimaru-sama told me to observe? Kabuto wondered, his sharp mind analyzing the scene. He doesn't seem particularly remarkable. Or is his potential something that only surfaces under extraordinary circumstances?
His eyes lingered on Satoru, his curiosity growing. Let's see what you're truly capable of, Satoru.
Sasuke returned at that moment, instantly aware that something was amiss. His sharp eyes took in the scattered fire, the strange ninja standing nearby, and the chaotic scene. His muscles tensed.
"An enemy?" Sasuke muttered, his voice low but firm. He dropped the bamboo tube he had been carrying, spilling water onto the ground, and readied a kunai.
"What do you want?" he demanded, rushing forward.
Kabuto turned slowly, maintaining a calm demeanor. He offered Sasuke a friendly smile. "Don't get the wrong idea," he said smoothly. "It's me, Kabuto. We met earlier in the exam room, remember?"
Sasuke paused, his grip on the kunai tightening as he scrutinized Kabuto. Why does Orochimaru-sama care so much about Sasuke Uchiha? Kabuto wondered. His Uchiha bloodline is impressive, but that's expected. What about Satoru?
He maintained his polite demeanor, but his thoughts churned. Could Satoru's abilities surpass even the Sharingan?
"Sasuke, you're back!" Sakura interjected, breaking the tension. "Don't misunderstand—he's not hostile."
Sasuke's gaze shifted to the mess around them, and Sakura flinched, embarrassed. How do I even explain this? A disaster caused by… grilled fish?
Before she could speak, Satoru and Naruto joined them, both looking unusually composed considering the chaos moments earlier.
"I'm back from fetching water," Satoru said nonchalantly, as if the earlier choking incident had never happened.
"Hmm," Sasuke replied curtly, his attention still on Kabuto. "This is a group exam. Why are you wandering alone? Are you after our scrolls?"
Kabuto met Sasuke's sharp gaze with an easy smile. "That's a fair question," he admitted. "But let me reassure you—I already have the Heaven and Earth scrolls." He reached into his robe and pulled out the scrolls, showing them off. "See? I have no reason to attack you."
Sasuke didn't lower his guard. "Then why are you here?" he asked coldly.
Kabuto gestured vaguely to the group. "I heard noise and thought you were in trouble. I was just trying to help."
Satoru, who had been observing quietly, spoke up. "Why did you assume something had happened to us?"
Kabuto hesitated for a fraction of a second, caught off guard by the question. "Well," he began with a small chuckle, "you were all lying on the ground. It looked like you had been poisoned."
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura all exchanged glances. Poisoned? Sakura thought. More like poisoned by Satoru's cooking.
"That's right," Satoru said, nibbling on a skewer of dango he had conjured from who-knows-where. "Totally poisoned."
Sasuke's suspicion didn't waver. "What about your teammates?" he asked pointedly. "Where are they?"
Kabuto's eyes narrowed slightly, impressed by Sasuke's vigilance. Orochimaru-sama wasn't wrong about him.
"We got separated," Kabuto said smoothly. "I'm sure they've already made their way toward the central tower. That's where I'm headed now."
Sasuke studied him carefully. "So you're looking to tag along with us?" he asked bluntly. "Is that it?"
Kabuto smiled, unbothered by the accusation. "Not necessarily," he said. "I can handle the journey to the central tower on my own. But it's true that traveling together would be safer."
The group watched as Kabuto slowly turned to leave. "Well, I'll take my leave," he said with a polite bow. "Good luck with the rest of the exam."
Sasuke's sharp eyes followed Kabuto as he walked away, his mind racing. There's something strange about him.
Satoru, standing nearby, smirked faintly. A flawless performance, Kabuto. But I see through you. You're collecting data for Orochimaru.
Kabuto, for his part, kept his expression neutral as he left. Interesting, he thought. Sasuke is sharp, but young. He's a strong candidate for Orochimaru-sama. As for Satoru... I still don't see it. But if Orochimaru-sama chose him, there must be something hidden. I'll need more time to uncover it.
>>>>>
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