Somewhere else in the Forest of Death…
The canopy thinned as four figures moved soundlessly across the forest floor, their presence barely disturbing the air.
"Karin-chan… there's movement ahead."
Hinata slowed slightly, her steps cautious beneath the black blindfold. She tilted her head, aware of a faint disturbance somewhere ahead.
"…Should we check it out?"
Karin didn't even pause.
She clicked her tongue softly, crimson hair swaying as she adjusted her trajectory by a few degrees, already angling away.
"It's a Sand ninja," she said flatly. "Troublesome. We're not dealing with it."
Hinata blinked, then nodded, trusting her judgment.
It wasn't fear.
Gaara's strength meant nothing to Karin. If anything, that was the problem.
She didn't have time.
Before entering the exam, they'd already gathered intel on the Forest of Death—names worth noting, threats worth remembering. Gaara of the Sand. Naruto of the Leaf.
Not because of individual skill.
But because they were Jinchūriki.
Kimimaro slowed his steps slightly, head tilting.
"Do you want me to take care of them quickly?"
Karin snorted.
"Don't bother." She glanced sideways, eyes narrowing with faint irritation. "It's not about strength. Crushing him wouldn't even be satisfying."
Her lips curled.
"I don't feel like wasting time on a walking sand coffin when we've got real targets to hunt."
Haku's gaze flicked to her back, understanding immediately.
"Karin-chan is right," he said gently. "There's no need. If she's avoiding a fight… then it truly isn't worth it."
He knew.
For Karin—someone who lived for confrontation—to turn away like this…
It meant only one thing.
She wasn't looking for a fight.
She was looking to kill the Hidden Grass team and she didn't intend to be delayed.
"Then let's go around it." Hinata nodded in agreement.
With the decision made not to linger and watch whatever was unfolding ahead, the four of them continued rushing deeper into the forest. Guided by Karin's senses, they moved with purpose toward the area where the Grass Village team was hiding.
They hadn't gone far when Haku—who had been deliberately hanging back—suddenly accelerated.
In a blur, he caught up to Karin and Hinata from the rear, matching their pace perfectly.
"They're chasing us," Haku said quietly, his voice steady despite the speed. "What should we do?"
"Haku?"
Kimimaro, who was in front, noticed the sudden shift behind him. He slowed slightly and turned his head, quickly falling back until he was moving alongside them. "What's wrong?"
"The Sand Village ninja we sensed earlier," Haku explained with a helpless sigh. "They've started following us."
"…Chasing us?"
Kimimaro paused for half a beat, genuinely caught off guard. Then his gaze shifted to Karin, who still hadn't said a word. "Are they out of their minds?"
Karin's head was lowered, crimson hair whipping around her face as she ran. Her expression was hidden by the sway of her hair but the dangerous, violent edge in her chakra was unmistakable.
She was angry.
"There are two options," Haku said calmly, keeping his tone measured.
"First, we keep running. Push our speed, shake them off before they can catch up. After that, we proceed and finish Karin's objective without interference."
He continued without pause.
"Second—we stop. Let them catch up. And deal with the problem directly."
"Let's stop."
Karin finally spoke.
She snapped her head to the side as thick chakra chains erupted violently behind her, lashing through the air with a metallic screech. She didn't hesitate for even a second in choosing the latter.
She had no intention of being chased around like some fucker.
"This is a necessary battle," Kimimaro said, his voice cold and absolute.
"These fuckers…"
Karin's voice dropped, heavy with killing intent.
"I'll make sure they never chase anybody again."
No one thought she was joking. There wasn't even room for doubt.
Judging by the way her chakra surged, she wasn't exaggerating...she fully intended to follow through.
Just as Karin made her decision, Hinata Hyūga came to a stop and took a slow, steady breath.
With that single breath, something changed.
Her presence swelled—subtle at first, then rapidly growing, her chakra rising in a way that was impossible to miss.
Karin and Haku, running beside her, immediately felt it.
Karin's eyes widened in disbelief, her anger momentarily forgotten.
She was caught completely off guard.
Judging by Hinata's stance… it looked like she intended to face the Sand ninja herself.
And sure enough, her suspicion was confirmed.
Hinata spoke without turning around, her back still to them.
"Karin-chan… you go on ahead. Leave this to me."
Her voice was soft but there was no hesitation in it.
"Hinata?" Karin asked, stunned. "What's gotten into you all of a sudden?"
Hinata didn't answer right away.
She was silent for a moment before finally speaking.
"…I-I don't know," she said slowly. "I just felt like I didn't want to fight right now…"
Her voice steadied, growing clearer with every word.
"…And that's exactly why I have to fight."
Hearing her words, not just Karin—even Haku and Kimimaro understood the reason.
…Was it for Lord?
The same thought surfaced in all of their minds.
Kimimaro, who almost never showed emotion, let a faint smile touch his lips.
"Lady Hinata," he said calmly, "if my lord were here… I'm certain he would be proud."
He paused briefly before adding,
"…Even if he isn't, I'll be sure to tell him."
Hinata, still facing away from them, froze for a moment.
A faint blush crept across her cheeks. She took a deep breath, steadying herself before speaking.
"Karin-chan… go ahead. I'll catch up with you soon."
"Heh."
Karin chuckled, turning away. "That was pretty cool, Hinata. I'm impressed."
She didn't wait for a reply, already moving off, Kimimaro following closely behind her.
"Be careful, Hinata-chan," Haku said gently, a soft, genuinely happy smile on his face, before he too departed.
In truth, there was no real need for them to split up. With two of them together, there would be no danger at all.
But this wasn't about efficiency.
It was about respect.
So no one stayed behind.
--
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
With a series of sharp, subtle sounds, three figures appeared not far away.
The one standing in the center was naturally Gaara.
"You are very strong… your blood—"
Gaara had only managed to say that much before his words were cut off.
Hinata Hyūga had no intention of listening to his nonsense.
The instant he opened his mouth—
She moved.
Bang!
With a dull shockwave, Hinata—who had been standing on the tree trunk only a moment earlier—appeared directly in front of Gaara in the next instant. Her leg swept forward, smashing through the sand that rushed in to block her attack.
The yellow sand exploded beneath her foot, scattering violently in all directions.
Without the full protection of his automatic defense, Gaara's sand managed to slow her strike for only a fraction of a second.
Then...
Her kick landed.
Puff!
Gaara was sent flying.
Bang!!
A massive crash echoed dozens of meters away. A towering tree shattered on impact, its trunk snapping as Gaara slammed straight through it before the remains toppled backward in a deafening collapse.
Only then did Hinata calmly retract the leg that had sent him flying.
Chakra-Enhanced Monster Strength.
A combat method similar in principle to the chakra control used by Senju Tsunade but without the Hundred Healings Seal.
By focusing chakra at the moment of impact, the user could amplify speed and physical strength to terrifying levels.
Gaining overwhelming force to be reckoned with.
And with Obito as her sensei, Hinata had been taught one rule above all others in battle...
Strike first.
Strike decisively.
Never give the enemy a chance.
Hinata was gentle by nature.
But she never forgot a single lesson engraved into her heart.
So while Gaara was still busy delivering his emo dialogue
Hinata had already acted.
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