The night was getting later.
The moon overlooked the ground from the sky.
Uehara Naraku's figure shuttled through the Forest of Death. He chose not to slack off, but quietly appeared in a hidden corner, observing a few figures under the moonlight.
Team 3.
Hyuga Neji, Tenten, Rock Lee.
The plan of their ninja squad was very interesting. They disguised themselves during the day, not doing anything, but only started to act after nightfall.
Who knows what they were thinking.
Did their instructor Jonin Might Guy not teach them any strategies?
The lead, Hyuga Neji, flicked a shuriken onto the ground and said in a deep voice, "Now all our opponents are resting. Let's set out under the cover of darkness, scout intelligence in all directions, and regroup here after dawn. Dismissed!"
"Understood!"
"Yes!"
The three of them each chose a direction and leaped away from the spot.
The direction Hyuga Neji chose was facing the tower, a path where they might encounter fast-moving enemies, increasing the risk of danger.
However, Hyuga Neji believed himself to be the strongest in this squad, naturally taking on the responsibility of the strong, and he could also use the Byakugan to scout.
Besides, he was the strongest rookie last year!
The nine rookies from Konoha this year were simply too weak, even Uchiha Sasuke. Sasuke was even beaten up by Rock Lee.
Therefore, among all the candidates in the Chunin Examination, Hyuga Neji didn't think anyone could defeat him. Even a team of Genin might not beat him.
While Hyuga Neji was sprinting, he suddenly saw a shadow on a large tree ahead, seemingly looking in his direction.
Hyuga Neji frowned, which meant he had already been exposed!
However, Hyuga Neji estimated himself to be the strongest person in this Chunin Examination, so he was not particularly panicked.
In the next second, the figure on the tree suddenly disappeared.
"Byakugan·Open!"
Hyuga Neji activated his Byakugan, watching a figure swiftly approaching him, but the massive chakra on that figure made Hyuga Neji's face suddenly change!
The chakra intensity of that person was something Neji had never seen before!
When Hyuga Neji saw that person's face clearly, his expression changed even more: "It's that guy called Uehara Naraku!"
That arrogant guy in the written test!
Hyuga Neji had thought that a ninja as arrogant as Uehara Naraku couldn't possibly pass the second stage in the Forest of Death, but it turned out his arrogance was backed by strength.
"Hello!"
Uehara Naraku greeted him while colliding his arm head-on into Hyuga Neji's chest, launching Neji directly with a powerful and heavy blow!
This Byakugan genius held his chest and spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, weakly watching the enemy approach him, only managing to utter a desperate inquiry: "Did I... lose? How could there be such a huge gap, that I couldn't even withstand one strike from the enemy..."
"Facing someone as strong as me, if you could withstand even one move, wouldn't that mean there's something wrong with my strength."
Uehara Naraku chuckled lightly, picked up Hyuga Neji by the collar, and threw him back to the assembly point they had arranged for Team 3.
Looking at the desperate gaze of the Byakugan prodigy, Uehara Naraku chuckled softly, comforting him: "Don't worry, I'll soon bring your teammates to accompany you."
Hyuga Neji's despair deepened, gritting his teeth: "You... you've been watching us all along?"
"Probably, maybe, sort of?"
Uehara Naraku tilted his head and disappeared from Neji's sight.
After a while, Uehara Naraku returned again, carrying the unconscious Tenten and throwing her next to Hyuga Neji, then disappeared once more.
Hyuga Neji: "..."
This was a bit too shameless, right?
Uehara Naraku targeting just him was one thing, but why did he have to bully Tenten, a little girl?
Hyuga Neji sighed inwardly, likely it wouldn't be long before Rock Lee was brought over by Uehara Naraku!
Team 3 hadn't gathered any intelligence yet, and they were already taken down separately!
A bit embarrassing indeed...
However, after waiting for a long time, Hyuga Neji still didn't see Rock Lee arrive.
Uehara Naraku couldn't catch Rock Lee because Rock Lee happened to meet Maruboshi Kosuke, who was asking around about his whereabouts.
Kosuke was even badmouthing him.
"He's a guy with a really nasty personality."
Maruboshi Kosuke was chatting with Rock Lee, recounting Uehara Naraku's shoddy background with some bias: "I suspect he might be targeting you little ones, maybe just wanting to gain spiritual satisfaction by defeating you."
Uehara Naraku: "..."
How did Old Man Kosuke come to this conclusion? Although bullying Konoha's rookies indeed feels satisfying, he's mainly doing it for the mission!
"Huh?"
Rock Lee swiftly formed a hand sign: "Faced with any strong enemy, I must rise to the challenge! Especially an enemy with such a bad personality and great strength, if I encounter him, I will use youth and passion to show him the true path of a ninja!"
"It's truly wonderful..."
Maruboshi Kosuke looked at Rock Lee's tight suit and softly exclaimed: "Seeing you little one, it reminds me of someone who was also a Genin for many years like me!"
Unfortunately, that Genin named Might Duy died in the war.
It's said that before his death, he unleashed his power, taking down the Seven-swords Ninja of the Hidden Mist, the strongest squad from The Hidden Mist Village.
"Ah, youth should be full of hot-blooded enthusiasm!"
Rock Lee suddenly clenched his fist, saying in a deep voice: "Elder, I can't keep wasting my youth anymore!"
"You're leaving?"
Maruboshi Kosuke nodded with sentiment, saying: "Very well then, be careful on the road. If you meet the ninja named Uehara Naraku, you can fire this signal flare..."
After saying this, Maruboshi Kosuke handed Rock Lee a signal flare.
However, before Rock Lee could take the signal flare, a swiftly flying card suddenly sliced it in half!
"Careful, Elder!"
Rock Lee's face instantly showed a hint of vigilance!
Maruboshi Kosuke's expression also became serious, suddenly drawing a shuriken and throwing it in the direction the card had come from: "Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Countless dense shurikens appeared in the air, almost covering a large area. If someone stayed in that area, absolutely no one would survive!
Rock Lee watched the countless shurikens appearing instantly, unable to hold back a compliment: "The elder's Ninjutsu is really amazing!"
Before Maruboshi Kosuke could reply, a young man's voice rang out: "The Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu was studied by Konoha's Third Hokage, and it shouldn't be underestimated."
A figure walked out from the depths of the forest, wearing a kind smile on his face, waving to the two of them: "Old man, I treated you so well, do you really enjoy speaking ill of me behind my back?"
Maruboshi Kosuke shook his head, sighed lightly, and said: "Although I know your nature isn't bad, the things you do aren't very decent... Of the nine rookies from Konoha and the three rookies from the Hidden Sand Village, only one Seventh Class remained unscathed, right?"
"As for them, I have other plans."
Uehara Naraku smiled, shook his head, pointed at Rock Lee, and whispered: "Elder Kosuke, can you allow me to have a fight with this young friend first?
I've always heard that Konoha's Might Guy is a Taijutsu expert, the strongest Taijutsu expert in the Ninja World, so I'm eager to challenge him.
Unfortunately, I've never had the chance. Now, being able to challenge his disciple is also fortunate for me. Rock Lee, will you accept my challenge?"
Maruboshi Kosuke frowned, saying in a deep voice: "Uehara Naraku, go to the tower..."
However, before Maruboshi Kosuke could finish, the guarded Rock Lee beside him suddenly leapt up high, spinning 360 degrees in the air before landing in front of Uehara Naraku!
Rock Lee thrust out his thumb fiercely, his eyes nearly blazing with passionate flames, confidently revealing a radiant smile, with his teeth faintly glowing in the moonlight!
"Alright, I'll first accept your challenge on behalf of Teacher Guy! Before you fight Teacher Guy, let me first experience your youth!"
After saying this, Rock Lee even extended a palm.
Uehara Naraku could hardly bear to see this smile directly, his forehead twitching slightly, as he patted Rock Lee's palm, forming a battle agreement.
Thinking back to when he just joined the Akatsuki, he laughed as brightly as Rock Lee does now. No wonder none of the rebel ninjas in Akatsuki liked him...
Damn, he really does look like an enthusiastic idiot!