Why did Kabuto choose to fake his death and escape at this time? Ino didn't know.
At this moment, Kabuto was completely defenseless, as still as a corpse.
She could easily cut Kabuto's throat with a Kunai, but she felt it was unnecessary and didn't want to bear the consequences of doing so. This path was constantly patrolled by Ninja, and if they saw Ino killing a fellow Village Ninja, what would they think?
Tell them the guy on the ground was a dream master who would bring disaster to the Ninja World later? No one would believe it.
The time and place Kabuto chose were both very clever.
Ino sighed inwardly, Comrade President, since you want to put on a show, let's continue the act!
According to the Village rules, she cried out loudly for help, summoning the patrolling Ninja.
She meticulously recounted Kabuto's words before his 'death,' and the 'body' was handed over to the Village for processing. Ino also did not fail Kabuto's instructions, specifically mentioning that he wished to be buried by the sea.
Kabuto was only a Genin in Konoha Village, but he was a Ninja of Konoha Village after all.
The Medical Corps quickly issued a post-mortem report, concluding that Kabuto's body was in very poor condition, riddled with illness, and seemed to have suffered many injuries during missions. Today, he was hit hard by Dosu, which triggered all his ailments, ultimately leading to his death from severe injuries.
Several Genin who had interacted with him during the daytime exam rushed to Konoha Hospital. Seeing the 'Pot Brother' who had been talking to them during the day become a corpse at night, Naruto cried his eyes out. He didn't blame Dosu, but his gaze towards him was quite unfriendly.
Dosu, who was clearly 14 but looked 54, was utterly bewildered. Was he that strong? Did he kill such a big person with one move?
Kind children like Sakura and Hinata were all very surprised; this big brother died too quickly.
Kabuto's two teammates wanted to continue the Chunin Exams, and the Third Hokage granted special permission for them to temporarily find a companion to replace Kabuto.
Director Kanpo knew that Kabuto and Ino had a good relationship and comforted her with a few words at this time, talking about the impermanence of life and the unpredictability of fate for five minutes.
Ino sparred with Hinata at 8 PM, met Kabuto at 9 PM, was questioned at 10 PM, and by 12 AM, 'Pot Brother' was buried.
Her understanding of advanced Medical Ninjutsu was too limited, so she didn't know when 'Pot Brother' would rise from his coffin. She also didn't have time to wait. You old man, do as you please.
Early the next morning, Ino arrived punctually at Training Ground 44, also known as the Forest of Death.
A total of 78 Genin, or 26 teams, passed the first exam. Each team randomly received a scroll, either a 'Heaven' scroll or an 'Earth' scroll. Collecting both scrolls and reaching the central tower of the training ground within five days would count as passing.
It was still the old rule: sign the consent form, then the team would go behind the curtain to collect their team's scroll.
Ino secretly observed the contestants, remembering that Orochimaru was among them at this time.
She didn't dare to use her sensory abilities, only using a scrutinizing gaze to examine the many contestants, but she couldn't discern anything.
78 Genin didn't sound like many, but when spread out, they made up a large crowd.
Additionally, the Konohamaru trio was writing a school newspaper for the Ninja Academy, and the three children chatted with Naruto, making the scene even more chaotic.
Shikamaru found it troublesome, so the three quickly signed the consent form, then went behind the curtain and received their team's scroll, the 'Earth' scroll.
The scroll for their team was kept by the thick-skinned Choji. Afterwards, they followed a Chunin in charge of the exam to Entrance 27.
30 minutes later, 26 teams simultaneously entered the examination area from different entrances.
The Ino–Shika–Choji team sped through the Death Training Ground. Their speed was very fast.
"The exam content is so simple, truly boring. Let's quickly find the Heaven scroll and then go rest at the central tower," Shikamaru said.
Having experienced more, Shikamaru now had great confidence in his own team and didn't believe that ordinary Genin could stop their lineup.
At this moment, he just wanted to finish the exam quickly and find a place to sleep.
Ino also had similar thoughts. She remembered that after the second exam, they would directly enter the preliminaries, with no time to rest.
They moved through the forest, quickly heading towards the central tower.
Along the way, through Ino's sensory abilities, they found two teams, but unfortunately, after defeating them, they only found the same 'Earth' scroll, while the 'Heaven' scroll they needed was nowhere to be seen.
The third team, the fourth team, the fifth team—with Ino's powerful Ninjutsu, they were all crushing victories. The third and fifth teams were both Konoha Genin. They relied on their older age and looked down on Ino and her 'kids,' resulting in them being beaten and fleeing in disarray.
"Ugh, this is too unlucky, it's still an Earth scroll!" Ino's face was full of dark lines. Five teams! They actually continuously drew five Earth scrolls. Their luck was just too bad!
They were like opening corpses in a game, with the three of them taking turns, but the result was that the Ino–Shika–Choji's luck was closely linked. If one had bad luck, it dragged the other two down as well.
At first, Shikamaru tried to calculate based on probability, but now he had given up. This was clearly not a math problem.
The three stood there sulking, while beside them lay three true Konoha Village Genin, passed out in a spread-eagle shape, their strength too weak to even look at.
Ino weakly sensed, "Northwest direction, there seems to be a Chakra reaction. Should we go check it out?"
Shikamaru bit his back teeth, putting away the Earth scroll he had taken from the fifth team. He had worked hard to snatch it, so why give it back? One less eliminated was one less.
Counting the one they had, they now had six of these broken things.
"Let's go take a look."
"No, no, don't come closer... I'm very, I'm very strong! I'm really strong!" Karin from Grass Hidden Village trembled all over, her limbs weak and sore. After getting separated from her companions, she unluckily encountered the giant bear in front of her. One was like a mountain, the other like an ant; the size difference was enormous. At this moment, she could only force herself to grip her Kunai, hoping this weapon would give her enough courage.
The giant bear let out an earth-shattering roar, and the courage Karin had just mustered vanished. Her body felt weak and powerless, and for a moment, all she could think of was to run, to run far, far away!
Karin fled in a panic, tripping over a tree root and falling heavily to the ground, her glasses flying off.
The giant bear raised its right paw, and just as she was about to perish under its claws, a subtle whooshing sound came from the side.
"Water Release: Water Severing Wave!"
A silver stream of water traveled dozens of meters, swiftly sweeping across the giant bear's neck.
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