Chapter 134
These corpses had all been robbed of their "faces," turning them into faceless people.
Anko Mitarashi only needed one look to guess the culprit's identity.
Her normally cheerful and straightforward personality, upon thinking of that man, instantly made her body tremble uncontrollably.
"It's, it's him..."
"That bastard Orochimaru!"
"Oh no, he's entered the Forest of Death, everyone there is in danger!"
"You all continue patrolling and monitoring all areas to prevent Orochimaru's accomplices from causing trouble. At the same time, immediately report this matter to Hokage-sama!"
"Yes!"
As for Anko Mitarashi herself, she immediately rushed into the Forest of Death.
"Orochimaru... sensei..."
"It's time to end everything!"
Anko Mitarashi's determination was admirable, but she still didn't understand that the gap between her and the legendary Orochimaru was like an unbridgeable chasm...
Soon, intelligence reports poured in like rain.
In the Hokage Office, Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed on his pipe, his expression growing increasingly grim.
"That bastard Orochimaru, how dare he return to the Village?!"
The Anbu beside him immediately said, "Hokage-sama, since that man has returned, he will surely seek revenge on the Village. Such a dangerous and terrifying rogue Ninja will inevitably cause unforeseen consequences!"
"Should we immediately suspend the Chunin Exams?!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi was silent for a moment, then exhaled a large smoke ring from his mouth.
He shook his head: "No, there's no need to suspend it."
"The Chunin Exams are inherently a military competition between various nations and Villages, showcasing their respective military strengths. If Konoha suspends the exams, it will only cause the entire Ninja World to look down on Konoha."
"Orochimaru is indeed terrifying, but as long as we make careful arrangements and respond cautiously, he won't dare to go too far!"
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
Just then.
"Hokage-sama..."
Iruka and his group rushed in with Team 7.
"Please, quickly look at Naruto and Sasuke..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi was startled, suddenly stood up, and looked at the two unconscious individuals.
"This is..."
Hinata recounted the previous events again.
Hiruzen Sarutobi naturally knew the culprit's identity.
"It really is him!"
"His target is Sasuke... and Naruto too?!"
"The mark left on their backs, this should be the Cursed Seal Power. Although it's strange, it's indeed an ability that amplifies one's own power. Why would that bastard Orochimaru leave something like this on Naruto and Sasuke?"
Hinata hurriedly said, "That monster said he wanted Sasuke to become his vessel..."
"Vessel?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression changed drastically.
"Could it be..."
"Quick, immediately summon Anko for me!"
An Anbu member said with difficulty, "Hokage-sama, Anko has entered the Forest of Death, saying she wants to personally settle things..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi paused, then sighed.
"Why does she put herself through this?"
"With her current strength, it's too difficult..."
"You all quickly find her and bring her back! If you encounter Orochimaru, do not act rashly, immediately report to me!"
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
Soon, under Hiruzen Sarutobi's strategic planning, orders were rapidly issued, and teams immediately took action, causing the entire Konoha Village to operate at high speed.
The Chunin Exams were still ongoing.
The first to complete the second stage of the test was naturally the Sunagakure trio, and they achieved a terrifying, record-breaking score.
Naruto and his group were second.
In reality, if they hadn't encountered Orochimaru, it's very likely that Team 7 would have arrived first, as Naruto said.
But there are no if-onlys.
Subsequently, Yakushi Kabuto's "Otogakure spy team" also arrived.
After that, the other Otogakure trio, Team Guy, Team 8, and Team 10 also arrived successively... Other teams either failed to collect all the scrolls or exceeded the time limit, and were declared failures.
Ultimately, a total of seven teams, comprising twenty-one Genin, passed the second stage of the assessment.
On the other side, Anko Mitarashi discovered Orochimaru's tracks and went to challenge him, but the result naturally ended in failure. However... facing his former disciple, Orochimaru did not kill her, but let her go.
Anko Mitarashi was rescued by the Anbu and soon arrived at the Hokage Office.
At this moment, Kakashi Hatake had also received the news and rushed over.
"Anko, come and look at Naruto and Sasuke."
Anko Mitarashi was disheartened, but hearing Hokage-sama's command, she still nodded and stepped forward to examine them.
"Yes, this is indeed Orochimaru's Cursed Seal Power."
"And, it's many times more powerful than the Cursed Seal he left on me back then..."
Kakashi Hatake said, "I have already temporarily halted the speed of the Cursed Seal's erosion with the Evil Sealing Method."
"However..."
"Now, to completely stop the Cursed Seal, we need you, the expert."
Anko Mitarashi shook her head.
"I am no expert; I am merely one of that bastard Orochimaru's test subjects..."
"It's just that long-term illness makes one a doctor; I have some understanding of the Cursed Seal."
She stepped forward and began to heal Narutoand Sasuke using her secret technique.
Indeed, the two quickly regained consciousness.
Naruto scratched his head, not understanding what had happened for a moment.
Sasuke, however, still kept his head bowed.
Anko Mitarashi sighed.
"I only managed to temporarily wake them up. Completely eliminating the Cursed Seal is by no means a one or two-day affair, and with my abilities, I might never be able to do it..."
"Hokage-sama, you are known as the Professor of Ninjutsu, proficient in almost all of Konoha's Ninjutsu and secret techniques, do you not have a way?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "If I had time, I might be able to find a way, but I fear I won't have enough..."
Naruto looked around: "Hokage-sama? Kakashi-sensei? Iruka-sensei? And..."
"What's going on?"
Hinata hurriedly told him everything that had happened. Seeing the two finally wake up, Hinataalso finally breathed a sigh of relief, and a wave of exhaustion washed over her...
"Thank you, Hinata..."
Hinata gave a sweet, weary smile and shook her head.
Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "Naruto, Sasuke, Orochimaru left you with the Cursed Seal, probably wanting you to become his prey. Although this Cursed Seal can enhance power, in the short term, it will only cause you immense pain, and even if you gain power later, you could very likely be manipulated and controlled by Orochimaru."
"If we can catch Orochimaru, or if I have enough time, it might be possible to remove the Cursed Seal, but..."
"Alas, in your current state, I'm afraid you won't be able to continue the exams."
Naruto suddenly looked up: "W-why?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned and said, "Does that even need to be said? Aside from your own pain, Orochimaru is also eyeing you, and you won't be able to unleash your full strength..."
Naruto, however, said resolutely, "Hokage-sama, I will not give up!"
"I want to continue the exams!"
"Sasuke, you too, right?!"
Sasuke looked up, a little lost, and saw Naruto's eyes, firm as iron.
"I..."
He finally gritted his teeth and nodded heavily.
"Of course, I won't give up either!"
Hinata looked at the two with both concern and worry, but hearing their words, she couldn't help but show a slight smile, wiping away the tears from the corners of her mouth.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression changed: "Kakashi, as their Jonin leader, aren't you going to do something?"
Kakashi Hatake also gave a wry smile.
"Hokage-sama, I am helpless as well. This is their own decision..."
"This is Team 7..."
Chapter 114: Changed Destiny! Disrupted Preliminaries! Ten Thousand Word Update for Monthly Votes!!!
Naruto and Sasuke's Cursed Seals were temporarily suppressed.
Due to their persistence, the Chunin Examscontinued.
At this moment, the other Ninja who passed the second stage of the assessment had already arrived at the indoor training ground.
Team 7 also arrived late, led by Kakashi Hatake.
Might Guy saw the group and immediately laughed loudly, greeting them.
"Ha! Kakashi! My lifelong rival! You're finally here!"
Kakashi Hatake wasn't as energetic as him; he merely raised his hand lazily with effort.
"What, has the competition started?"
Might Guy shook his head: "Not yet, but it's about to!"
Naruto had recovered his strength. Although the shadow of Orochimaru and his worries about his Cursed Seal still lingered in his heart, his carefree personality quickly shifted his focus to the competition.
"Are these all the people who passed the second stage of the exam?"
"Just this many?"
At this moment, a sickly, weak-looking man stepped forward.
If Kakashi was merely sleepy-eyed, the man before them appeared to be critically ill... He coughed twice, making people even more concerned about his health.
"Cough, cough, I am the examiner for this stage, named Gekkō Hayate."
"The number of people who passed the second stage of the Forest of Death assessment was unexpectedly high, so now we need to hold an additional preliminary match before the finals, which is what we call the preliminaries."
Naruto shouted: "Nani?!"
"Even with so few people, it's still too many?!"