Shindai originally wanted to retreat directly, but was intercepted by Tenten who had also rushed over.
Meanwhile, Rock Lee had already begun unwrapping the bandages on his hands.
"How dare you treat our Konoha comrades like this! At a moment like this, it's exactly time to use that move!"
Rock Lee flickered using the Body Flicker Move and appeared before Shindai. He placed one hand on the ground and kicked upward with his right leg, aiming straight at Shindai's chin.
To Rock Lee's disbelief, Shindai reacted in time, sweeping low and knocking Rock Lee's supporting arm aside. Off balance, Rock Lee was immediately kicked away by Shindai.
Tenten quickly caught Rock Lee mid-air.
Shindai raised an eyebrow as he looked at Rock Lee. "You're really going for the Primary Lotus already? Guess we've got some serious history then."
Rock Lee attempted to charge forward again, but Neji stepped in front of him, stopping him. "Don't act recklessly! This opponent is no simple foe!"
Shindai turned his gaze toward the right. "You three hiding back there—are you planning a sneak attack later?"
Shino Aburame, Kiba, and Hyuga Hinata, hidden within the bushes, were greatly shocked. They had believed they were concealed perfectly, yet they'd been discovered so easily.
Just as Shindai was about to step up against them, Hinata arrived wearing her Chakra Armor.
"Eh? Old—"
Despite Shindai's disguise, Hinata recognized him the moment she laid eyes on him.
Realizing this, Shindai hastily cut her off. "You sure brought a lot of backup along. Fine then, consider yourselves lucky this time. But for the next few days, don't forget—sleep with one eye open!"
Shindai used a Wind Release Ninjutsu card. A powerful gust blew past, and Shindai vanished from the spot.
Neji stared at Hinata in her Chakra Armor. Hinata noticed his gaze and murmured, "Neji-onii-sama."
Neji merely gave a cold grunt without responding. Then he spoke to Rock Lee and Tenten, [Don't act impulsively next time. Right now, we're all each other's opponents. Don't rush to respond whenever someone calls for help—it might be a trap. Let's go.]
Without another word, Neji turned and left. Rock Lee and Tenten followed closely behind.
Ino looked like she was mourning, hugging the unconscious Sasuke while wailing loudly.
Shikamaru walked up beside Ino and sighed helplessly, "He's not dead—he's just knocked out. Come on, we still haven't found our scroll yet."
Ino snapped back at him angrily, "It's easy for you to say something so detached when it's not *your* teammate injured and unconscious!"
Shikamaru inwardly sighed, thinking how troublesome girls could be.
Sakura turned to Shikamaru's group and Hinata and said sincerely, "Thank you... thank you all."
Shikamaru waved his hand dismissively. "No need to thank us. Honestly, I didn't expect opponents this strong in the Chunin Exam... Thinking about quitting now..."
Hinata looked at the unconscious Naruto with concern and gently dabbed ointment onto his wounds.
Shikamaru crouched in front of Naruto and poked his face. "For some reason, that person earlier seemed somewhat familiar. Hinata, when you said 'old,' what exactly were you trying to say?"
"N-nothing... Nothing at all..." Hinata replied nervously.
Since Shindai had interrupted her at that moment, it implied he didn't want to reveal his identity. Therefore, Hinata wanted to keep his secret.
But Shikamaru was a brilliant strategist. After thinking for a moment, he guessed, "The 'old' you mentioned… could it possibly mean teacher? Was that guy Shindai-niisan?"
"Eh?"
Sakura, Choji, and Ino were all very surprised.
Hinata's face immediately turned bright red.
Ino refuted, "How could that be? Why would Shindai-niisan do something like this?"
Choji also asked curiously, "Yeah, Shikamaru, why did you think it was Shindai-niisan?"
Shikamaru analyzed, "When Choji used the Human Bullet Tank earlier, he clearly had the capability to severely injure Choji, but he didn't. Also with Rock Lee, after Lee lost his balance, he simply kicked him away.
Sakura, when you met him, he'd already been in a fight. You clearly stated that neither Naruto nor Sasuke stood a chance against him, yet they've managed to hold out until now. They look pretty hurt, but none of their injuries are fatal.
Most importantly, Sakura said he used Fire Release, Water Release, and Lightning Release techniques. Just now he also used Wind Release and Earth Release. I know only one ninja who can use five different kinds of ninjutsu—that's the Third Hokage, known as the Professor of Ninjutsu. But there's another possibility."
Choji quickly realized, "Shindai-niisan's Ninja-Ware!"
Nodding, Shikamaru continued, "Exactly. As for why he did it... Who knows? That's just how Shindai-niisan is—he might just feel like doing something on a whim."
Choji readily agreed, "That makes sense."
Meanwhile, Shindai, still hiding nearby, was sweating profusely. How does someone's brain grow like that?
Well, whatever. If they figured it out, they figured it out. It's time to slip away quietly.
Ino and Sakura hadn't interacted much with Shindai, so they didn't understand much. Still, they grasped that the likely suspect was indeed Shindai.
Everyone turned their gaze toward Hinata.
Feeling enormous pressure under their stares, Hinata finally gave way, "Alright, it really was Teacher Shindai."
Still puzzled, Sakura asked, "But why would Shindai-niisan do something like this?"
"I don't know either," Hinata could only answer like this. "I guess the teacher must have his reasons."
After standing up, Shikamaru said, "We'll naturally find out once this exam ends. Anyway, we should leave now—get our scroll, reach the tower, and stay safe. Hinata, will you stay behind?"
Hinata looked at the unconscious Naruto, then nodded, "I'll temporarily remain here and help. Anyway, I've already collected all my scrolls."
"Alright, with Hinata here, there shouldn't be any major problems anymore," Shikamaru urged. "We really should get going, Ino. Hurry up! We need to find some easy prey. The longer we wait, the stronger the remaining teams become, and the harder it'll be to secure a scroll."
Ino replied reluctantly, "Okay okay, then we're off, Sakura, Hinata. Be careful, and take good care of Sasuke."
Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino left, while Hinata and Sakura each attended to Naruto and Sasuke.
After a while, both Naruto and Sasuke woke up at the same time, and the first thing they said was...
"Sasuke!"
"Naruto!"
Hinata and Sakura bit their lips, feeling a pang of jealousy.
Knowing the other was safe immediately relieved Naruto and Sasuke, who then began asking what had happened earlier.
When they realized it was Shindai, both Naruto and Sasuke froze.
Naruto pounded the ground in frustration: "No wonder I felt something was off! It was actually my older brother Shindai! How could he do this?!"
Clenching his teeth furiously, Sasuke said, "I will kill him! I swear I'll kill him! Damn it!"
"Achoo!"
Shindai sneezed as he left the Forest of Death and headed toward the Scientific Research Division.
"Who's talking behind my back? Must be those two brats, Naruto and Sasuke. They curse me even after I gave them such powerful advantages. You haven't seen anything yet!"
<><><><><><><><>
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
<><><><><><><><>