Whoosh, whoosh~
Outside the examination area, Izumo Kamizuki led his team to a stone pillar, where three dead Grass Ninja bodies lay.
"They're Ninja from the Grass Village. From the state of the bodies, they've been dead for a while, probably before the exam started.
Go quickly and inform the chief examiner."
He observed for a moment, gathered the basic intelligence, and then spoke to Dokuro behind him.
"Yes."
Dokuro, hearing this, also understood the seriousness of the situation and turned around with a 'whoosh' to leave.
After they left, Izumo Kamizuki and his companion guarded the spot until Dokuro returned with the chief examiner, Anko, and Ibara Keisen behind her.
Anko, with a grave expression, looked at the three bodies and noticed that their faces were a chaotic mess, completely gone.
"This is…"
The familiar sight caused Anko's heart to pound, and long-suppressed memories flooded her mind.
"Well, do you see any problems?" Izumo Kamizuki asked.
Ibara Keisen: "Their faces are gone. Someone must have infiltrated among the examinees. Could they be planning to attack the examinees entering the Death Forest?"
If a faction, unknown to Konoha, killed all the examinees, even Konoha would be in a difficult position.
Ninja deaths are accepted, but if all of them are wiped out, it's no longer an ordinary incident, but a matter between nations.
"This is bad. Go report to Hokage-sama immediately," Anko muttered through gritted teeth and immediately set off.
Whoosh!
The others exchanged glances and quickly followed, leaving only one Ninja to deal with the bodies.
"Anko, what's wrong?" Ibara Keisen looked at her with concern.
It was the first time he had seen Anko with such an expression; it seemed the invading foe was not simple.
Anko heard his words, and her expression softened: "It's Orochimaru. He's back in Konoha."
"Orochimaru of the Sannin?"
Ibara Keisen and the two behind him showed looks of shock.
They were all stunned by the news.
"Then it seems it's not a small matter."
They then sped up.
And Ibara Keisen, hearing the news about Orochimaru, touched his chest, feeling a hard, plate-like object under his fingers.
He hoped he wouldn't have to use it!
...
Whoosh, whoosh~
Shuriken bypassed the tree trunk's obstruction, flying towards the figure behind it.
Swish, swish!
Orochimaru smiled, his hands moving so fast they left afterimages, catching all the Shuriken and even twirling them a few times on his fingers.
"Uchiha-style Shuriken Jutsu, it certainly has some merit, but you're still too weak."
He smiled at Sasuke.
"You damn bastard, I'll flatten you!" Naruto appeared above Orochimaru while he was dealing with Sasuke's Shuriken, a Kunai aimed straight at his crown.
Hiss, hiss~
A white python shot out from behind him, the Kunai plunging into the python's head, but it was completely blocked.
Splat!
Blood sprayed.
Orochimaru smiled in surprise: "Little brat, your combat experience isn't bad, but you're still too weak."
"Naruto, get out of the way!"
Whoosh, whoosh!
Naruto reacted quickly, stepping on the dead python and rapidly retreating.
Two Kunai, mixed with explosive tags, flew out from a blind spot.
Bang, bang!
A violent explosion occurred.
Sakura didn't stop her attack. Facing such a terrifying enemy, having been trained in the Satoru battlefield, she knew it was not the time to relax.
Her small hand swept across her Ninja tool pouch, already prepared, and Shuriken with explosive tags attached flew out.
"Cherry Blossom Blizzard Jutsu."
The Shuriken, carrying explosive tags, floated like falling cherry blossoms towards the enemy's direction.
Hiss, hiss~
A creature's hiss came from the place of the explosion, and facing the numerous explosive tags, a shadow appeared in the center of the smoke.
Boom, boom, bang!
Rumble!
The explosive tags detonated.
"Did it work?" Sasuke came up to Sakura, vigilantly looking at the center of the explosion.
Naruto stood on a tree branch, also watching with a grave expression.
"Hehehe, what excellent teamwork, but you're still far from it. A great breakthrough."
Boom!
A voice came from the center of the explosion, immediately followed by a sweeping storm that dispersed the smoke and attacked the three.
The surrounding trees were knocked down, and the faces of Naruto and the other two distorted in the hurricane, their Chakra gripping tightly to their feet.
But they were still blown away by the Ninjutsu.
The three flew backward, looking quite disheveled.
"Damn it."
Sasuke's face was covered in dust as he looked at the figure; a python had encircled the center of the explosion, and now the python was also on its last breath.
Bang!
The python vanished, revealing the unharmed enemy inside.
"You are very good, but my goal is you, Sasuke. Let me see your potential." Orochimaru's gaze fell on Sasuke.
Potential.
Sasuke's Sharingan spun rapidly as he heard the word.
He pulled a Kunai from his Ninja tool pouch.
Whoosh!
"What beautiful Sharingan. You have even better talent than your brother. Do you want power? I can give you stronger power."
Orochimaru also drew a weapon and began fighting Sasuke.
However, compared to Sasuke's intensity, his expression was calm.
He simply blocked Sasuke's attacks with ease.
Naruto, Sakura, and the others, seeing this, were about to join in and cooperate.
"You know Itachi?"
Sasuke's hatred swelled in his heart, and he questioned Orochimaru.
"Of course, but compared to him, your strength is still a bit immature. I can give you stronger power."
The more Orochimaru looked at Sasuke, the more satisfied he became; this talent was too perfect.
Shuriken and Kunai could unleash different powers in his hands.
Just like he did in his youth.
No, even more perfect than he was back then.
Such a body…
.....
"What, it's Orochimaru?" Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned upon hearing the news.
At this point in time, why would Orochimaru appear in Konoha?
"Hokage-sama, no matter why Orochimaru has appeared in Konoha, we should find him first and stop anything he intends to do," Anko said calmly, feeling the mark on her neck.
Then she looked at Ibara Keisen, a resolute look in her eyes.
I'm sorry… "You all go search for Orochimaru's whereabouts first. I will send a team to follow up," Hiruzen Sarutobi thought for a moment and agreed; he couldn't let Orochimaru run wild in Konoha.
Not only were other Ninja villages present, but also Daimyo from various countries. If something happened, Konoha would suffer heavy losses again.
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Anko turned and walked out the door, carrying a hint of determination.
Ibara Keisen seemed to notice her unusual mood and quickly followed.
"What's wrong with you? I felt your emotions were off earlier," Ibara Keisen asked.
Whoosh, whoosh!
"Orochimaru is my master. I cannot let him harm Konoha again; I must eliminate him," Anko said.
Ibara Keisen: "…He's your master? You never told me."
He never expected his lover to be Orochimaru's disciple; his teacher never told him, and Anko never mentioned it either.
Anko didn't hide anything and told him about her past.
Finally: "You shouldn't come with me. You're not his opponent."
While Anko was speaking, a python shot out and knocked him unconscious when he wasn't paying attention.
She embraced Ibara Keisen and gently placed him outside the Death Forest fence.
"Ibara, I'm sorry. I don't want you to die."
With a resolve to die together, Anko entered the Death Forest.
After she left, Ibara Keisen opened his eyes.
"Seriously, I think I'm stronger than you!" He sighed.
Whoosh!
Then he secretly followed her.
Since Anko did such a thing, she must have some way to find her former master.