Just as he'd imagined, Jugo hadn't gotten anywhere with Anko the day before. Instead, Kin seemed a little unhappy, while Dosu didn't really care.
Early in the morning, they left after gearing up. Jugo expected Orochimaru or Kabuto to come and question him, but no, no one did. That didn't bother him enough.
At most, the original Jugo was a little quiet. The excuse Jugo had prepared was simple: Sasuke needed to pass. If he didn't speak, there was a chance Sasuke or one of his teammates would give up.
But in the end, he didn't need to explain anything.
Orochimaru never showed up, even though he was technically their Jonin leader; it was a leader from another team who informed them of the location.
Ironically, they were the only Sound team to pass. Apparently, not all of them actually left in the Sound, they tried to cheat and failed.
Jugo didn't care, they were lucky. He didn't know if he'd end up killing them if he happened upon them or if they'd be killed by other teams.
Fifty teams gathered in front of the Forest of Death.
Anko looked at him and winked slightly, sticking out her tongue.
Jugo gave her a full-body look, which made the woman roll her eyes, but still sway her breasts flirtatiously.
A few examinees noticed the event, but no one really cared, except Kin, who was nearby, gritting his teeth, and Orochimaru, who had already taken the place of a Kusa ninja, watching with interest.
Orochimaru watched Anko and Jugo, seeing their interaction filled him with curiosity, he couldn't help but lick his lips with his long tongue.
Jugo had become increasingly elusive to him lately, but Orochimaru was focused on Sasuke. His time to change his body was approaching; he could worry about Jugo another time.
Instead, he fixed his attention on Sasuke again.
Ever since facing Itachi, Orochimaru had longed for such a special bloodline. Sasuke, as Itachi's brother, had that potential, even if less, it would still be a better body than any he could lay his hands on.
Thus, his target was fixed. Sasuke knew nothing, and could only live in his naive and happy bubble until it burst upon him.
Anko, on the other hand, noticing that all the teams had arrived, began to speak.
-This place is the second round of the exam. The 44th battle training zone. We call it Shi no Mori (Forest of Death). - she began.
It was at this point that Jugo and many others noticed the approach of a "stone."
A poorly made square stone with eyeholes dragging on the ground.
Jugo blinked, looked again, blinked again.
What the hell?!
Box monster? Are you real? Wasn't my father lying to me?
The box stopped next to Naruto and reminded Jugo. Wasn't that Konohamaru's bad disguise technique?
It's not Jugo's fault for not remembering. He hasn't watched classic Naruto in a long time, even Shippuden. It's been years since he last saw it. It's normal to forget certain less important parts.
Like a certain "Honorable Grandson" who goes around pretending to be a clearly fake rock.
Naruto started walking while the "rock" followed him.
Every time he stopped, the rock stopped with him.
Jugo was silent for a moment and heard Dosu say. -Konoha is really... I have no words for it.
Even Jugo didn't know what to say. Hiruzen must have been staring into his crystal ball as he watched the Jinchuuriki and his "adorable" grandson destroy his village's reputation in a matter of minutes.
Naruto began to run around while the box chased him.
The group outside looked amused and mocking, the Konoha group seemed to want to dig holes to hide in. Even Anko looked away, embarrassed.
If she hadn't known exactly who was in the box, she would have exploded in anger by now.
-Hey, Konohamaru! At a time like this, what the hell are you doing here?!- Naruto finally stopped and pointed at the box.
-As expected of the man I admire! You're smart!- Konohamaru spoke from inside the box, his voice muffled.
The next moment, light burst from the box as it exploded with three clouds of colored smoke: blue, yellow and pink.
Soon, three children, coughing from the smoke, leaned on the ground, coughing up their guts.
-Hey, I think we used too much gunpowder. - Konohamaru said between his coughs.
This prompted Jugo to raise an eyebrow. So this world already has gunpowder?
Well, considering Pain had the Asura Path filled with missiles, it seems to make sense.
Can he get his hands on a pistol? It would be fun to see a ninja doing several flips in the air only for Jugo to kill him with a single shot, Indiana Jones-style.
They finally stopped coughing and stared at Naruto in silence for a while.
No one around spoke either, watching for various reasons.
Dosu, for example, was irritated but remained quiet, Kin had a typical villainous sneer and Jugo watched like live theater.
Suddenly, the little girl jumped and struck a pose as she spoke. - So sexy! I'm Moegi, the sexy Kunoichi from the academy!
-I love algebra, I'm Udon. - The phlegm boy jumped next, also striking a pose.
-I'm the number one ninja in the village! Konohamaru! - Finally, the last member wasn't left out, striking a pose, and he jumped in front of them, clearly the childish leader.
-The three of us are Team Konohamaru! - they shouted together.
Jugo was silent for a moment and looked away. - Cringe.
Jugo ignored the next moment, feeling his brain cells dying and looking at Anko with a mixture of judgment and mockery.
This made Anko even more embarrassed and irritated, but in the end, Konohamaru said he'd come for an interview and Anko remembered the old Hokage mentioning it, making her even more exasperated.
So, while the trio of Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura went to be interviewed, they waited for ten minutes.
Jugo sighed at the scene and felt as if the seriousness of the upcoming event was completely ruined.
Sighing heavily, the wait was short, and Naruto returned with Sasuke and Sakura, embarrassed but pretending to be normal.
-This place looks scary. - Sakura said.
-You soon figured out why it's called the Forest of Death. - Anko regained control of the atmosphere, but Naruto, of course, had to ruin it again.
Mockingly, her hands on her hips, he swayed them as he imitated her in a mocking voice. - 'You soon figured out why it's called the Forest of Death.'
-Go ahead! You won't be able to scare me. - He shouted, his nose in the air. - I'll face anything!
Jugo almost laughed when he noticed Anko's evident irritation as she said with a morbid smile. - I see... you're incredible, aren't you?
Jugo smiled as he watched her grab a kunai with a speed Naruto couldn't even notice and throw it right next to his cheek, grazing it lightly.
The next moment, she was behind Naruto. - You're so incredible... you're not afraid, are you? incredible guys like you leave blood all over the forest...
While Anko was still playing with the blood dripping from Naruto's cheek, she felt someone abruptly approaching. The next moment, she pulled a kunai from her sleeve and turned, only to see a grass kunoichi handing it to her with her tongue.
Jugo looked at it with mental disgust... Orochimaru really does have a strong taste.
-Here, I just came to return your kunai. - Orochimaru lifted his straw hat slightly with a smile.
All Jugo could think about was how he could speak with his tongue sticking out of his mouth.
That was a useful skill to have.
-Ah... thank you very much. - Anko said with a fake smile.
They both knew there was more to it, but Anko hadn't imagined that this strange Kunoichi was her former Sensei, who was going through a feminine phase in his life.
Literally, Orochimaru's current body is a woman.
Just thinking about it made Jugo shiver again, the taste of Orochimaru was still too strong.
Jugo watched the silent confrontation, as did everyone around him. Only Naruto was still paralyzed by the previous attack, especially since the Kunai-laced tongue was still in front of his face.
Anko spoke, still smiling. -But... you know, I just want to warn you that if you stay this far away from me... you might meet an untimely end.
She took the kunai from her tongue, not caring about its strange shape. Jugo certainly wouldn't want that kunai anymore.
Well, unless it was washed in bleach.
-Sorry, but seeing so much blood dripping from your kunai into my hair... it actually got me a little emotional. I really didn't mean to hurt you. - Orochimaru teased Anko again.
Jugo wasn't sure what to make of their relationship.
Doesn't Orochimaru care about her? He's let her go repeatedly and hasn't taken her away, knowing it would be safer for her in the village.
Does he care about her? It's hard to say, it's all speculation, but what's certain is that Orochimaru and Anko have a very complicated relationship.
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--x--
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+10 chapters of Jugo - Father of Devils on P_treon.
+17 chapters of The Legendary Mechanic - Triple Six on P_treon.
P_treon: March_Rain