On the outskirts of the Forest of Death, in a temporarily built simple rest pavilion, Anko leaned lazily against a wooden pillar. In her left hand, she held a small palm-sized paper box, inside which two skewers of tri-colored dango lay neatly. In her right hand, she held another skewer from which she had already bitten off two dumplings.
Anko chewed the dango, her cheeks slightly puffed out, but her expression was somewhat uneasy.
Outside the pavilion, several proctors were gathered together, talking quietly about something.
Further away, three Medical-Nin were organizing emergency equipment, preparing for possible casualties.
Boom—
A muffled explosion came from deep within the forest. Even from over ten kilometers away, the tremor could be faintly felt.
A middle-aged proctor with a short beard raised his head, looking toward the direction of the sound, and remarked, "This year's examinees are all very strong. They couldn't wait to start fighting on the very first day."
"After all, it's a joint exam. All Five Great Ninja Villages sent teams," Another young proctor wearing round glasses chimed in, holding a list of examinees in his hand.
"Kirigakure sent two successors of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, Kumogakure has disciples of the Eight-Tails' Jinchuriki, that Iwagakure kid named Deidara is said to be the personal disciple of the Third Tsuchikage, and then there's the Land of Stars—"
He paused, lowering his voice: "Just the Land of Stars' teams alone are enough to give anyone a headache."
"They're all geniuses from their respective villages, full of pride. It's only natural that they fight," The short-bearded proctor said with a smile. "But at this rate, the elimination rate for our second exam will probably far exceed expectations."
Anko still didn't speak.
She put the last dango into her mouth, stuck the bamboo skewer into the edge of the paper box, and continued to gaze into the depths of the forest.
In those brown pupils, layers of the sea of trees were reflected, along with some memories she didn't want to touch.
It had been a long time since she'd had this feeling.
That indescribable… vague unease.
Like something cold and sinister, quietly targeting the back of her neck.
Swish!
A sharp sound of something tearing through the air suddenly split the sky.
Anko snapped her head up.
Above the forest, a cloud of crimson smoke was exploding, blooming like a flower, strikingly conspicuous.
"A signal flare," the young proctor immediately stood up, grabbing his equipment. "Southeast direction, distance about six kilometers."
"Those of you, come with me," Anko straightened up from the wooden pillar, casually stuffing the paper box into the short-bearded proctor's arms, her tone returning to its usual flamboyance.
"Yes!"
Three proctors and three Medical-Nin quickly organized their equipment and followed Anko as she leaped into the forest.
Seven figures shuttled rapidly through the forest, their feet landing on thick branches, each push-off precise and light.
The canopy, like a sea, flowed backward beneath them.
Anko was in the lead.
The wind howled in her ears. The Cursed Seal on the side of her neck flickered in and out of view beneath her collar.
Her gaze was focused, but her heartbeat was a few beats faster than usual.
'Wrong—'
'Something was wrong—'
She couldn't say what it was. It wasn't an abnormal fluctuation of Chakra, wasn't killing intent, wasn't even any specific sign.
It was just… an intuition.
Just like many years ago, when she was still a Genin, following that person on missions, she would occasionally get a similar premonition.
Back then, she didn't understand what it meant.
Later, she understood.
But it was too late.
Anko gritted her teeth, forcing those thoughts down.
'Now was not the time to be distracted.'
The forest fell behind, the distance to the signal flare's location growing shorter.
Suddenly!
The bushes on the left exploded without warning!
A massive black shadow shot out from the depths of the forest!
Its speed was so fast that Anko, somewhat distracted, couldn't react in time!
"Anko-senpai, look out!!!"
The voice of a young proctor came from behind.
Anko's pupils contracted sharply.
It was a giant python, at least three or four meters thick and over ten meters long. Its entire body was covered in brown scales, each one the size of an adult's palm, gleaming coldly in the patches of light filtering through the canopy.
Its head was triangular, its golden vertical slit pupils reflecting Anko's figure. Its gaping maw, with fangs like daggers, lunged at her, bringing a pungent, fishy wind!
'Too fast.'
Anko didn't even have time to draw her kunai. She instinctively leaned backward, her body almost bending into a bow. The python's fangs grazed past the tip of her nose, the wind pressure causing her bangs to fly in all directions.
A proctor behind her, skilled in swordsmanship, had already drawn his blade and charged forward.
Konoha-Style Swordsmanship!
A silver flash cut through the air, precisely striking the python's neck!
Schlick!
Scales shattered, flesh split open, and foul blood sprayed like rain.
The python let out a piercing hiss, its massive body writhing violently. Its thick tail swept across!
"Spread out!" Anko shouted low, finally drawing her kunai with both hands.
She pushed off a tree trunk with the tip of her foot, her body soaring upward. Avoiding the tail sweep, she raised her right hand and threw her kunai, precisely shooting it into the python's left eye!
Pfft!
The eyeball ruptured, dark green bodily fluid spraying.
The python's hiss turned into a painful wail. Its massive body thrashed wildly, breaking three bowl-thick trees, temporarily unable to mount an effective attack.
And the proctor's second slash had already descended.
This time, the blade was infused with stronger Chakra, cutting again into the wound on the snake's neck, slanting downward, almost severing the entire snake head!
The python's body convulsed a few times, then finally stopped moving.
Blood spread across the forest floor, soaking the fallen leaves and moss.
Anko landed on a horizontal branch, panting slightly.
She looked down at the python, which was gradually losing its vitality, but her expression was not relieved... instead, it grew heavier.
'A snake—'
'Could it be… that man had returned?'
Even after so many years, even though she tried desperately to forget, those memories etched into her bones still surged up at some unexpected moment.
"Anko-senpai, are you alright?" Several proctors hurried over.
"I'm fine." Anko put away her kunai, her voice lower than usual.
She leaped down from the branch, landing beside the snake's head, and crouched down.
The python's eyes had already lost their luster.
"Anko-senpai?" A proctor noticed her abnormality and asked quietly.
"—It's nothing." Anko stood up, her back to the group, her tone regaining its calm: "Continue. The examinees are waiting for rescue."
She didn't turn around.
Because she didn't want anyone to see her expression at that moment.
By the time Anko and her group arrived at the location where the signal flare had been fired, the sun was beginning to set in the west.
There stood Menma, Naruto, and Hinata to one side, while Kiba and Shino looked somewhat disheveled, carrying minor injuries, supporting Sakura, who was sitting against a large rock.
Sakura's condition was clearly worse. A gash was cut on her forehead, the bleeding had stopped, but dried bloodstains remained on her face. Her dislocated right arm had been temporarily repositioned and fixed with a simple splint.
Akamaru lay at Kiba's feet, one hind leg curled unnaturally, letting out faint whimpers.
Anko's gaze swept over the wounded, finally resting on Menma and his team.
Her brow furrowed, her tone carrying a hint of accusation: "Even though it's a life-or-death exam, there's no need to be this harsh with fellow Konoha's Ninja, is there?"
The air was quiet for a moment.
Naruto was the first to react. His blue eyes widened, his voice rising several octaves: "Huh?! Proctor Anko, you've got it wrong! We saved Kiba and the others!"
"Exactly!" Kiba also struggled up from the rock, obvious anger on his face. "Proctor Anko, we were injured by other teams! If Menma and the others hadn't arrived in time to support us, we wouldn't have even had the chance to fire the signal flare!"
Sakura quickly nodded, the bandage on her forehead gently swaying with the movement: "Yeah, yeah! Proctor Anko, that's way too harsh!"
Shino pushed up his sunglasses and pulled a scroll from his coat pocket.
"We weren't skilled enough. Our teammate's injuries are serious. We voluntarily withdraw from the exam. This is our scroll."
Naruto even jumped up directly: "Why would you think we attacked our own classmates?! Do we look like those kinds of people?!"
Anko was stunned.
She looked at Naruto's flushed face, at Menma's calm but slightly helpless expression, at the way Hinata was carefully adjusting Sakura's bandages—
It was like a painting.
A painting she had once been very familiar with, but which had long since faded.
Many years ago, she had also stood beside her teammates like this, being questioned by an older Ninja, and then argued back loudly, unwilling to accept it.
Back then, she also had people like this by her side, who would block enemy attacks for her, who would clumsily bandage her when she was injured, who would sit together on the rooftop after a mission, sharing a skewer of tri-colored dango.
It was just that later, those people left, one by one, scattered.
And the person she had once admired most had destroyed everything with his own hands.
Anko was silent for a few seconds.
Then, she suddenly smiled.
"So that's how it is. I wronged you. I'm sorry."
Her voice was uncharacteristically gentle, even carrying a hint of emotion: "Have you collected both scrolls?"
"Of course!" Naruto immediately forgot his displeasure from moments ago, puffing out his chest, his voice full of confidence. "We'll be the first team to reach the central tower!"
Anko smiled and nodded.
She didn't say anything more, just stepped aside and signaled to the Medical-Nin behind her.
The three Medical-Nin immediately stepped forward and began examining the injuries of Kiba, Shino, Sakura, and Akamaru.
One of the older female Medical-Nin had skilled hands, quickly re-treating the wound on Sakura's forehead and putting a splint on Akamaru's broken leg.
"Your injuries and Shino's aren't serious. It's mainly Sakura and Akamaru who need proper rest," The female Medical-Nin said to Kiba. "But don't worry, there's no danger to their lives."
Kiba moved his arm, grinned, and said, "Thanks."
Then he turned to Menma and the others, his tone carrying a hint of reluctance: "Hey… I was hoping to face you in the Chunin Exams, but it looks like I'll have to wait for another chance to spar."
Naruto laughed heartily, hands on his hips: "Then by the time we spar next, we'll already be Chunin!"
"You?" Kiba raised an eyebrow and snorted, unconvinced: "I wouldn't be at all surprised if Menma and Hinata become Chunin. But you, the dead last? I'm a bit skeptical."
"What did you say—!"
Naruto immediately jumped up, but Menma pressed on his shoulder.
"Alright, alright, time to go." Menma gently patted Naruto's shoulder, then looked at Kiba, Shino, and Sakura.
"Go back and take good care of your injuries. Once the exam is over, we'll all get together again."
He paused, then added, "My treat."
Kiba smiled and gave a thumbs-up: "It's a deal. Akamaru and I are going to eat a ton!!"
"That Barbeque King place from last time was pretty good," Shino said, pushing up his sunglasses.
"No problem," Menma nodded.
Then he turned and said to Hinata and Naruto, "Let's go."
The three leaped onto the branches and soon disappeared into the depths of the forest.
Anko stood where she was, watching their backs, not moving for a long time.
It wasn't until a proctor walked over and quietly asked if they should continue to stand by that she snapped out of it.
"Pack it up," Anko said.
She took one last look in the direction Menma and the others had gone, her eyes holding an indescribable emotion.
There was nostalgia, and there was envy.
…
At dusk, the Forest of Death was gradually shrouded in gloom.
Menma and his team moved quickly through the canopy. Hinata's Byakugan remained constantly activated, the veins around her eyes slightly bulging. Her 360-degree, no-blind-spot vision allowed the team to avoid three potential encounters.
"The tower is one kilometer ahead," Hinata reported quietly. "There are traces of fighting on the open ground outside the tower. Someone has already arrived."
"So fast?" Naruto was somewhat surprised.
Menma wasn't surprised.
He had already 'seen' the entire venue with his Mind's Eye of Kagura. Deidara's clay giant bird was an aerial transport, flying in a straight line without needing to detour or face ground obstacles.
Deidara should have been the first to arrive.
"Let's go take a look," Menma said.
The three landed on a horizontal branch of a giant tree near the tower's outer perimeter, looking down from above at the open space in front of the tower.
There, the fight had already ended.
Scattered across the open ground were charred explosion marks and a few still-damp bloodstains.
Three examinees wearing Takigakure's forehead protectors lay on the ground. Two were already unconscious, and one was pinned underfoot, his face buried in the dirt, utterly disheveled.
Pinning him down was a very flamboyant blonde-haired boy.
Deidara.
He stood with one foot on the back of that Takigakure examinee, his right hand weighing an Earth Scroll wrapped in black silk.
Beside him stood his two companions: Ku, with his indifferent expression, and Kirara, dressed in purple Gothic Lolita attire.
"All done, yeah."
He casually tossed the scroll to Ku behind him. Ku caught it steadily and put it into his ninja tool pouch without expression.
Kirara stood beside Ku, her pale purple pupils scanning the surroundings, calmly standing guard.
"Second one," Deidara stretched and yawned. "I thought the examinees who passed the first exam would be something special, but this is all they've got? Boring, yeah."
Just then, Deidara suddenly looked up, his gaze precisely locking onto the three figures in the canopy across the way.
"Oh?"
His eyes lit up, like a child who had found a new toy.
"I thought the first Konoha team to show up would be that Uchiha," Deidara said, sizing up Menma and the others, the corner of his mouth curving into an amused arc. "I didn't expect it to be you. Hmm—"
He weighed his fingers, as if considering something.
Ku sensed his intention, frowned slightly, and lowered his voice: "Deidara, remember Tsuchikage-sama's arrangements."
Deidara's movement paused.
"Tch, fine, fine," He curled his lip, as if dissatisfied yet also compromising. He just gave a light snort.
He turned and walked toward the tower gate.
Ku gave Menma and the others a slight nod, then followed Deidara's footsteps.
And Kirara was even more formal.
She gently lifted the sides of her skirt with both hands, performing a half-curtsy to Menma, Naruto, and Hinata.
Her purple pupils glowed faintly in the dusk, a slight smile on her lips.
Then she released her skirt, turned, and followed Deidara and Ku.
"Phew—" Naruto watched the direction they had disappeared, somewhat puzzled: "These three guys… they feel really strange."
"Besides that blonde one, the other two—" Hinata said softly.
Her Byakugan was still activated, her brow slightly furrowed: "Their bodies seem somewhat… empty."
"Empty?" Naruto was confused.
Hinata opened her mouth, trying to explain, but didn't know how to describe that feeling.
Menma frowned slightly but said nothing.
He certainly knew what it was.
Artificial humans. Ku and Kirara.
In his memories from before his transmigration, they should have been products of the Boruto era.
Artificial weapons created by Onoki in his later years to make up for regrets and counter crises.
But now, they had appeared early.
'It seemed that old man Onoki, even after submitting to the Land of Stars, had never stopped pursuing his own ambitions. He was still trying to struggle.' Menma snorted inwardly.
Then he collected his thoughts and said to Hinata, "Never mind them. Let's go in."
He leaped forward, landing in front of the tower gate, with Naruto and Hinata following close behind.