"What if I can't help but take a peek halfway through?" Naruto blurted out instinctively.
"Well…"
A teasing smile flashed across Anko's face, though her eyes were ice-cold.
"Use your imagination."
Her expression immediately turned grave again. "If you become Chunin in the future, you'll gain access to the village's top-secret files. This rule exists to test whether you're trustworthy, whether you can keep a secret. That's all for the explanation. Take your three consent forms, go to that hut to exchange your scroll, then pick an entrance. When the time comes, everyone starts together."
Finally, she practically roared her parting advice, "One last warning—do not die!"
With her words finished, the atmosphere grew heavier. The candidates silently dispersed, each getting busy. Some squads huddled to discuss strategy, while others sat alone, brooding. A few, like predators before the hunt, eagerly sized up potential rivals, searching for weaknesses.
A long wait began. As in the first exam, the organizers gave everyone ample time to sign the form that declared life and death were their own responsibility.
A heavy curtain now hung over the little cabin used for swapping scrolls, blocking prying eyes from every direction. It prevented teams from revealing whether they'd drawn the Heaven scroll or the Earth scroll, and who would carry it.
One team had already gone inside to exchange—the most eye-catching of all: Gaara's squad.
Mamoru handed his consent form to Hinata, gently patted her soft hair, and said, "You and Shino go trade the scroll."
"Yes." Hinata quietly accepted the form, answered in a small voice, and walked toward the cabin with the ever-steady Shino.
Mamoru watched her go, then turned and strolled toward Sasuke, who sat with his back against a boulder.
Sasuke's eyes, black and alert, were fixed on the cabin door, flickering with thought as he analyzed and memorized every team that entered or left.
"What's up?" Mamoru walked over, hands in his hoodie pockets, tone casual. "You look deadly serious."
"Mamoru…" Sasuke glanced up, then back at the cabin. "From this moment, everyone still here is an enemy. Bloody battle is inevitable."
"Isn't that obvious?" Mamoru looked down at him, voice low and tempting. "So, want me to cheat for you?"
"Cheat?" Sasuke frowned, clearly not following.
"Heh…"
Mamoru chuckled, pointing at the teams emerging from the cabin. "For example, keep track of which scroll each team carries and exactly whose pocket it ends up in."
Sasuke lifted his head again, meeting Mamoru's gaze with proud black eyes. "Forget it. Passing by cheating is meaningless."
Mamoru shrugged, "Suit yourself. Your loss."
"Those eyes of yours…" Sasuke's eyes shifted suddenly: crimson irises bearing two black tomoe. "My Sharingan can't see any of this 'information' you claim."
"Already at two tomoe?" Mamoru activated his Six Eyes, pale blue irises swirling like mist. "My eyes aren't strong in genjutsu. In that field, you'll just have to develop your Sharingan and surpass me."
"Genjutsu?" Sasuke latched onto the word.
"Exactly. The Genjutsu cast by the Sharingan are among the most powerful in the Ninja World. And their strength isn't just in affecting others…"
He dropped his voice. "They can affect the user themselves."
"Affect myself?"
It was the first time Sasuke had heard the idea, he leaned in.
"Right. Take Izanagi, an ultimate self-targeted Genjutsu that lets the caster flip between illusion and reality at will, turning favorable illusions real and unfavorable realities into illusions."
Mamoru broke off. From the corner of his eye, he saw Hinata and Shino returning with the new scroll.
He shifted tone lightly. "But that technique is too early for you. Knowing too much won't help. Another time."
Sasuke, electrified by the secret, had been hanging on every word, the abrupt stop made him snap.
He sprang to his feet. "Hey! Wait! How do you even know these Uchiha secrets?"
"In a dream." Mamoru answered without batting an eye, clearly brushing him off.
Sasuke clicked his tongue in frustration, dark eyes resentful, but he knew he couldn't force an answer and bottled the doubt up.
By then, Hinata and Shino had arrived.
Mamoru extended a hand casually. "I'll carry the scroll."
At his words, Shino instinctively reached into his coat, head swiveling to check for watching eyes, afraid of revealing the scroll's type.
Mamoru chuckled. "No need to hide it, just hand it over."
Shino sighed behind his shades, certain Mamoru was up to something, and without further fuss drew out the scroll and placed it in Mamoru's palm.
The moment Mamoru received the Heaven scroll, instead of secreting it away like everyone else, he began to toss it idly in the air, as if it were a toy.
The unconventional act made him the instant center of attention. Dozens of stares, some overt, some covert, some covetous, some appraising, converged on him, or more precisely on the Heaven scroll rising and falling in his hand.
"Mamoru-kun?" Hinata looked flustered, utterly bewildered by his eye-catching antics, and whispered his name.
"It's fine, don't worry. I did it on purpose." Mamoru's smile stayed unruffled.
His meaningful eyes swept the area, taking in every prying gaze, then he lowered his voice. "This way, the teams after the Heaven scroll will come to us. Why waste time hunting for the Earth scroll when we've got such perfect bait?"
Sasuke cut in, irritation clear, "You're as reckless as ever. Aren't you worried this will paint a target on Hinata and Shino? They'll be the first ones attacked."
Mamoru's tone was absolute, brooking no doubt. "I'll protect them. Anyone who wants to hurt them will have to step over my corpse first."
"Mamoru-kun..."
Beside him, Hinata clasped her hands, cheeks flushing, heart racing.
"Ahem..."
Even the usually unflappable Shino cleared his throat and looked away, embarrassed by the blunt declaration.
Huh, that line works on guys too?
Mamoru tilted his head, invisible question marks floating above it.
"You're getting more shameless by the day," Sasuke said, disgust plain on his face. "The Uchiha clan's dignity won't survive you."
Mamoru's face was filled with defiance. He turned to the soft-hearted Hinata, pointed at his own face, and asked, "Hinata, tell him, am I really that embarrassing?"
"N-no..." Hinata's face reddened further, fingers fidgeting. "I... I think Mamoru-kun is... very cool..."
Mamoru shot Sasuke a smug grin. "Hear that, kid?"
"Hn!" Sasuke turned away.
"Hey!"
Naruto came running from one direction, Sakura hurrying from the other, both ready to sign the consent form.
The three gathered beside Sasuke. Team 7 was complete and headed to submit the forms together.
Naruto jabbed a finger at the scroll in Mamoru's hand. "Look, Sakura! Mamoru's got the Heaven scroll! Once we trade for the Earth scroll, we'll hunt them down!"
No one was surprised at Naruto's thoughtless outburst.
"Idiot! Shut it!"
Sakura clamped an arm around his neck and hissed, "We're trying to avoid him, and you volunteer us?"
"Why hide? I'll take Mamoru myself!" Naruto thrashed, fired up. "I'm not afraid of him! I won't lose!"
Sakura wanted to strangle him.
The three of us together can't beat him, and you want to solo him?
"Ahaha..." She laughed nervously. "He didn't mean it, Mamoru, please ignore him."
She leaned in and whispered through clenched teeth, "Trying to get us killed? Didn't you hear? Mamoru's the strongest of all the candidates. Keep provoking him and we'll be hunted. One more stupid move and I'll take you out myself."
She released him with a final glare and stood silent.
Naruto sulked.
Sasuke watched coldly.
The three members of Team 7 walked toward the cabin in varied moods.