Shindai casually tossed the scroll back to the Amegakure Genin he'd taken it from. The Amegakure ninja snatched up the scroll and ran away immediately.
Truthfully, Shindai had never intended to seriously harm them—he was just using them for a flashy, show-off entrance.
A sinister grin spread across his face as he spoke, "Since you've brought me the scrolls I wanted, let the hunt begin! A deadly scramble for survival! Fight with everything you've got!"
The next moment, Naruto's, Sasuke's, and Sakura's expressions all changed dramatically.
Because Shindai had released his full killing intent—a suffocating pressure like an immense mountain bore down on them, making it hard for the trio to even breathe, as if they were being flayed alive over and over.
Although Shindai usually acted cheerful and playful, he was someone who had survived battles like the Third Great Ninja War and slaughtered countless ninja—this overwhelming killing intent was simply too much for Naruto's group to endure.
All three collapsed onto the ground, sitting there dazedly staring at Shindai.
Sasuke murmured, "Genjutsu? No... This isn't genjutsu. It's pure killing intent! And yet... I could already feel myself dying..."
His voice hoarse, Sasuke managed to speak, "Impossible! What kind of ninja are you? How can you still be a GENIN? You shouldn't even exist here!"
Shindai chuckled darkly, "I come because I choose to come. As long as I'm registered as a GENIN, I can take part in the Chunin Exams. What amazing expressions you're making! I love seeing inexperienced prey like you freeze with terror right before I end you!"
Sasuke forced himself to turn his head toward Naruto and Sakura.
Naruto also wore a dazed expression, while tears streamed uncontrollably down Sakura's face and her body trembled violently.
In that instant, Sasuke knew—they had to run now or they would die. There was no way they could fight this enemy.
Shindai's laughter echoed through the woods, "What? Already completely paralyzed? That would make things so boring for me. You see, what I enjoy most is the thrill of hunting my prey~ Lick-lick~"
As he spoke, Shindai walked toward the trio while sticking out his tongue with a slurping sound, looking utterly grotesque.
Sasuke kept forcing himself to move, but his arms and legs refused to obey.
At that moment, a 'thud' rang out—the sound of a blade piercing flesh.
Glancing sideways, Sasuke saw that Naruto had actually stabbed a kunai into his own arm. The pain snapped him free from the killing intent's effects.
"Damn it!"
Gritting his teeth, Naruto grabbed the kunai and hurled it toward Shindai.
Shindai dodged by tilting his head, noticing that the kunai's end was tied to a mechanical sphere.
Suddenly the mechanical sphere exploded, unleashing thick smoke that enveloped Shindai.
Naruto created multiple [Shadow Clones], which all charged into the smokescreen to attack Shindai.
Sasuke imitated Naruto's action by stabbing a kunai into his own thigh, and after regaining freedom through the pain, he grabbed the real Naruto who also wanted to rush in and hid together with Sakura.
Sasuke imitated Naruto's action by stabbing a kunai into his own thigh. After breaking free from the bindings amidst the pain, he grabbed the real Naruto, who was about to charge forward again, and took cover together with Sakura.
Naruto anxiously said, "What are you doing, Sasuke? That was a great chance just now!"
"Sasuke, what are you doing? That was a great chance!" Naruto shouted anxiously.
Sasuke pulled a kunai from his thigh and kept panting, "Idiot, that kind of enemy can't be defeated by your swarm tactics. His killing intent alone was enough to paralyze me—I'm sure that guy has killed countless people. We have no choice but to run away!"
Pulling the kunai from his thigh and panting heavily, Sasuke replied, "Idiot, that kind of enemy can't be defeated by your Shadow Clones. Even his killing intent alone paralyzed me. That guy must've killed countless people already. We can only run away!"
Naruto angrily punched the tree trunk: "That disgusting pervert! Why would someone like him participate in the Chūnin Exam!"
Naruto angrily slammed his fist against the tree trunk. "That creepy freak! Why would someone like him participate in the Chunin Exams?"
Sakura wiped away the tears from the corner of her eyes and said to Sasuke and Naruto, "Let me treat your wounds."
Sakura brushed away tears from her eyes before speaking to Sasuke and Naruto. "Let me treat your wounds."
Sakura can now use some basic medical ninjutsu and has started treating Naruto and Sasuke.
Now capable of using some basic Medical Ninjutsu, Sakura began treating both Naruto and Sasuke.
During the treatment, Sakura noticed that Naruto and Sasuke were distracted and very nervous, glancing around left and right.
While applying treatment, Sakura noticed both Naruto and Sasuke were distracted, nervously glancing left and right.
This was also the first time Sakura had seen Naruto and Sasuke so unsettled, especially Naruto, who had always been very optimistic, even when facing difficult situations before.
This was the first time Sakura had seen Naruto and Sasuke so visibly unsettled—especially Naruto, who always remained optimistic even when facing difficult situations before.
Naruto's heart continued to race with a sense of dread, as if the enemy were watching them from the surroundings.
A deep sense of unease gnawed at Naruto's insides, as if someone was observing them nearby.
Naruto's intuition was correct. In a shadowy corner, Kamishiro's third eye was observing the three of them.
Naruto wasn't mistaken. In a dark corner, Shindai's Third Eye was watching the trio.
"Almost cured, the next plan will officially begin."
"It should be healed by now. The next phase of the plan starts soon."
After opening the device that records Naruto's condition data, Kamijimoshi appeared behind Naruto and Sasuke using the Body Flicker Technique.
After activating the device recording data about Naruto's condition, Shindai used the Shifting Body Technique to appear behind Naruto and Sasuke.
However, Naruto and Sasuke did not notice, but Sakura saw it and stared at Kamisato in shock.
However, neither Naruto nor Sasuke noticed this, while Sakura saw it and stared at Shindai blankly.
The blade in Kamishiro's hand swung toward Naruto and Sasuke.
The sword in Kamishiro's hand swung toward Naruto and Sasuke.
The sword in Kamishiro's hand swung toward Naruto and Sasuke.
Shindai slashed at Naruto and Sasuke with his ninja sword.
Xiao Ying shouted anxiously, "Quick, dodge!"
Sakura urgently cried out, "Dodge it!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Naruto and Sasuke each grabbed one of Sakura's hands and rolled forward together, narrowly dodging Kamui's slash.
Without hesitation, Naruto and Sasuke each grabbed one of Sakura's hands and rolled forward together, narrowly evading Shindai's slash.
When Naruto and Sasuke looked toward the position where Kagami was, Kagami was already gone.
When Naruto and Sasuke looked back toward where Shindai had been, he was gone.
"Are you looking for me, my little ones?"
"Looking for me, little cuties~?"
Shinigami appeared behind Naruto and his two companions like a ghost, grabbed Sakura, and then kicked Naruto and Sasuke with one kick each, sending them flying.
As if out of nowhere, Shindai suddenly appeared behind the three of them. Grabbing Sakura, he kicked both Naruto and Sasuke away in a single strike.
Naruto and Sasuke rolled on the ground several times before finally stopping when they hit the tree trunk.
Naruto and Sasuke tumbled across the ground multiple times before finally crashing into a tree trunk to stop.
Kamade held Sakura tightly and taunted Naruto and Sasuke, shaking her slightly. "Your teammate is in my hands now. How should I kill her? Since you're her companions, why don't you help me choose her method of death?"
Holding Sakura tightly, Shindai taunted Naruto and Sasuke with a mocking wave. "Your comrade is in my hands now. How should I kill her? Since you're her teammates, please help choose her method of death."
Sakura was now completely stunned, like a wooden chicken.
Sakura stood frozen in shock.
Naruto shouted angrily, "Let go of Sakura!"
Naruto roared furiously, "Let go of Sakura!"
Shinjin scoffed, "You think I'll let go just because you ask? Get this straight—I'm your enemy!"
Shindai scoffed mockingly, "You think I'll let her go just because you say so? You'd better get this straight—I'm your enemy!"
Sasuke clenched his teeth as he glared at Shindai. Just now, Shindai had appeared behind them twice, yet they hadn't reacted at all. The gap in strength between them was clearly on completely different levels.
With a cheerful smile, Shindai said, "Let's play a little game. It's called 'Rescue Your Comrade.'"
Shindai created a Shadow Clone, which immediately grabbed Sakura and held a kunai to her neck.
He continued, "You have ten minutes. If you two can defeat me within that time, she'll naturally survive. But if you lose… Well, she'll just have to die first. Alright then, the countdown begins now~"
The moment Shindai finished speaking, Naruto prepared to rush toward him.
But Sasuke blocked Naruto again, and Naruto looked at Sasuke in confusion.
Sasuke retrieved the Heaven Scroll from his ninja gear pouch and handed it to Naruto. "Take the scroll! Please, just take it and get out of here."
Naruto couldn't believe what he was seeing. "Sasuke, what are you doing? Are you seriously giving the scroll to the enemy? What's going on with you?"
"Shut up!" Sasuke snapped.
Naruto stared at Sasuke in shock.
Shindai's eyes narrowed slightly. "I see. Clever move. If you hand over the scroll, there's no reason for us to fight anymore."
"Take it."
Sasuke tossed the scroll toward Shindai. But instead of looking at the scroll, Shindai kept his gaze fixed on Naruto.
Naruto was someone he had raised from childhood. Shindai knew him all too well.
<><><><><><><><>
Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ **4 bonus chapters** this weekend if I get kind comments.
<><><><><><><><>
~ 100+ Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!
~ More *Free* Chapters and Books Available on Patreon!
patreon.com/Tansnovel
<><><><><><><><>