Chapter 52: Hiruzen Sarutobi: I have a bad feeling, like countless eyes are watching me from the shadows!
Outside the hospital room, Temari was very worried they might start arguing.
One was her own younger brother, the other was her future husband.
So only after seeing them stop did she slowly relax.
"Did you force my sister?!"
Gaara wanted to know if Byakuya had used force to coerce his sister.
"No!"
Byakuya simply shook his head.
This made Gaara fall even deeper into silence.
"What do I have to do for you to leave my sister alone?!"
This was the first time Gaara had referred to Temari as'sister'.
Normally, he just called her Temari directly.
"Good, I appreciate your attitude now."
The more Byakuya looked at him, the more he felt Gaara was promising material.
He had only mentioned the 'brother-in-law' thing earlier to unsettle Gaara.
"We'll talk after you defeat that guy called Naruto in the Chunin Exams."
Byakuya was essentially giving Gaara a chance.
"Naruto?"
Gaara didn't immediately recognize the name.
Then he remembered it was probably that dead last.
"Hmph, you'll regret this!"
Gaara eagerly agreed to the condition.
Just some nobody named Naruto.
Just Naruto.
That's all!
During the competition, Gaara had never even considered his opponent a threat.
"I hope so!"
After finishing everything, Byakuya pushed open the door and left the hospital room.
He bumped right into Temari, who had been eavesdropping nearby.
The scene made Temari extremely embarrassed.
"I... was just taking a walk!"
As she spoke, Temari instinctively glanced at Byakuya, her entire face turning red.
Seeing the somewhat flustered Temari, Byakuya decided not to tease her further.
Having completed his tasks, Byakuya returned to studying the Ninjutsu he had just acquired.
But at the same time, all of Konoha was destined for unrest.
At the Kazekage's resting place in the Hidden Sand Village.
A furtive figure slipped inside.
"Lord Orochimaru, there's been a change in the situation."
The visitor was none other than Kabuto.
"What happened?!"
Orochimaru, disguised as the Kazekage, showed immediate and intense interest upon seeing Kabuto.
Kabuto wouldn't come here without reason.
"Byakuya has submitted a request to the Third Hokage to withdraw from the upcoming exams!"
When Kabuto first heard this news, he found it unbelievable.
Because Byakuya was the only unpredictable variable in the entire Chunin Exams.
Now that Byakuya wasn't participating, it was fantastic news for them.
"Excellent!"
Orochimaru revealed a sinister smile.
This gave him even greater confidence in his upcoming plans.
Combined with Edo Tensei, Orochimaru felt no one in Konoha could stop him.
After all, those individuals were not something present-day Konoha could contend with!
"By the way, there was a minor hiccup when I contacted the Hidden Sand Village."
Kabuto didn't elaborate on what it was.
But Orochimaru knew that if Kabuto called it a 'minor hiccup', it was likely already resolved.
"Well done, Kabuto. I knew I was right about you."
Orochimaru looked at Kabuto with satisfaction.
Of all the people he had taught, Kabuto was the one who had truly inherited his legacy.
"All thanks to your guidance, Lord Orochimaru! I also brought that person's body. I believe it will be of great help to you."
It had to be said, Kabuto's actions perfectly aligned with everything Orochimaru desired.
Meanwhile, secrets can't stay hidden forever.
The next day, someone discovered that Gekkō Hayate, the main examiner for the Chunin Exams finals, was missing.
This man, who bore a protagonist's name, ultimately didn't survive the Chunin Exams.
Hokage Office.
"Lord Third, we found signs of a struggle where Hayate disappeared."
Ibiki Morino came to report.
"Lord Third, I recommend postponing the Chunin Exams. The recent events are too abnormal."
As an intelligence officer, Ibiki Morino immediately sensed something was off.
Hayate wasn't someone who acted recklessly. If he was killed at this time, he must have discovered something.
"Sigh, I wish I could."
"But the Daimyo will be attending tomorrow's finals!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression grew troubled.
Even the Daimyo placed great importance on this exam.
"Don't worry. The Kazekage and I will be overseeing this Chunin Exams."
The Third Hokage merely tried to reassure Ibiki Morino.
Truthfully, Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't believe things would spiral out of his control.
Jiraiya had just returned to Konoha, bolstering the village's high-level combat strength.
Plus, there was Danzo and his Root Organization, along with the two Hokage Advisors.
Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't see how Konoha could lose.
Time quickly arrived at the day of the Chunin Exams finals.
"Huh? Why isn't Byakuya here?"
"Yeah, why isn't Byakuya participating in the next match?"
"I heard Byakuya chose to withdraw himself."
"What? If Byakuya's out, what am I even watching?"
The Konoha spectators were immensely disappointed to see that Byakuya, whom they had eagerly awaited, was not in the upcoming matches.
After all, they had come specifically to see Byakuya.
Who would have thought Byakuya would simply forfeit his qualification?
However, no one noticed that on the high platform, Orochimaru's hand had begun to tremble uncontrollably at this sight.
The trembling wasn't from fear, but excitement!
"Lord Kazekage, shall we begin?"
The Third Hokage looked warmly at the "Kazekage".
Ready to announce the official start of the exams with him!
Meanwhile, down below the platform.
Gaara stared intently at Naruto.
"Weird, I have this ominous feeling, like someone's been staring at my back."
Naruto muttered in confusion.
He had felt watched all day.
Hiruzen Sarutobi felt the same way.
Something felt off today.
But he couldn't pinpoint what.
What Hiruzen Sarutobi failed to notice was that Orochimaru's four capable subordinates—Tayuya, Jirobo, Kidōmaru, and Sakon and Ukon—disguised as two Hidden Sand Village Ninja guards, were gradually approaching the Hokage.
At this moment, the Hidden Sand Village forces were still waiting for the signal.
Temari looked up at the "father" figure on the high platform.
That person who never seemed to care about them.
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