Hinata-chan

Meanwhile, in the Land of Rain, atop the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.

Nine people stood on the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path's fingers.

Deidara looked around. "Where's Hyuga Kei? Why isn't he attending the meeting again?"

Sasori's voice was gloomy. "You should be thanking the heavens if you see him a few days out of the month."

Pain spoke. "Zetsu, where did Hyuga Kei go?"

Black Zetsu thought for a moment, then shook his head. "I don't know either."

Pain said, "Forget it. Leave him alone. We'll assign the tasks ourselves."

Everyone in the Akatsuki Organization was used to Hyuga Kei's frequent absences. In any case, even when he came, he rarely took on missions.

The second day of the survival exam.

In the Forest of Death, Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro of Sunagakure were facing off against three Rain Ninja.

Meanwhile, hidden in a corner were Konoha's three-man team: Hyuga Hinata, Kiba, and Aburame Shino.

The captain of the three Rain Ninja said, "Hey, brats. Choosing the wrong opponent can get you killed."

Gaara's expression did not change, completely unfazed by the threat. "Then hurry up and fight, Rain Ninja uncle."

"Ask about their scrolls first. If they have the same one, there's no need to fight," Kankuro advised. Before the plan began, he did not want to kill too much, as it would draw Konoha's attention.

Gaara refused. "No need. I want to kill everyone who appears before me."

Everyone present was stunned by those words, which were filled with viciousness and Killing Intent.

The Rain Ninja captain snorted. "Then die."

He swiftly flung the four wooden umbrellas from his back into the air, where they floated overhead.

The Rain Ninja captain narrowed his eyes and pressed his hands together. "Ninja Art: Rain Needle Senbon!"

Before his words had even faded, countless senbon rained down from beneath the wooden umbrellas, shooting at Gaara from every angle like a barrage of arrows.

Yet Gaara's expression remained unchanged. The sand beneath his feet seemed to come alive, rapidly rising into a wall of sand that protected him from all directions.

The sand wall was incomparably sturdy, like a barrier that blocked every incoming senbon.

"Damn it!" The Rain Ninja captain's expression shifted slightly as he rushed forward, intending to engage him in taijutsu.

Gaara merely extended a hand toward him. Sand rose beneath the Rain Ninja captain's feet, quickly spreading over his entire body and wrapping him inside.

The ball of sand gradually rose into the air as the Rain Ninja captain let out continuous anguished screams!

Gaara picked up one of the wooden umbrellas that had fallen to the ground, opened it above his head, and clenched his raised hand toward the sand ball. "Sand Burial!"

The sand ball enclosing the Rain Ninja suddenly tightened. The Rain Ninja inside exploded, his blood turning into a rain of crimson that filled the sky.

Gaara stood beneath the umbrella, bathing in the blood rain. The sight deeply shocked the three people still watching in secret.

Konoha's trio in particular had never seen such a bloody scene before.

The remaining Rain Ninja were already terrified stiff. They placed the Heaven Scroll at their feet. "The scroll is here. Please spare our lives!"

Gaara said nothing. The sand was the best answer. It rose again and enveloped the two men. They died the same way, and blood rain once more fell across the clearing.

Gaara grinned eerily. "An Asura can only grow stronger when nourished by blood."

The three hidden observers involuntarily backed away at the sight.

"Go. If they discover us, we'll die," Kiba said.

Just as the three were about to leave, a wall of sand blocked their path.

"You little rats have been watching for so long. Aren't you coming out?" Gaara's killing intent-filled voice rang in their ears.

The three forced down their fear and stepped out from the grass.

"We'll give you the scrolls we collected. Please spare our lives," Aburame Shino said, still trying to fight for a chance to live.

"No chance. I already gave you the opportunity to run." Gaara extended his hand again.

Sand from all around flowed toward their feet, gradually compressing the space where they could stand.

The three were nearly desperate. Kiba said guiltily, "Sorry. I dragged everyone down. We should've gone straight to the central tower."

Just then, a voice came from afar. "Hinata-chan, what a coincidence. You're here too."

The sand beneath the trio's feet halted.

Then someone walked out of the nearby forest. It was Hyuga Kei, disguised as Chiba Kishu.

"Kishu, run! It's dangerous here!" Hinata said anxiously.

"It's fine. Leave it to me." Hyuga Kei took out two metal bracers from a Sealing Scroll and put them on. Before the plan began, he still needed to disguise himself as much as possible.

Hyuga Kei lightly punched the tree beside him, and it fell straight toward Hinata and the other two, crashing down beside them.

The three instantly understood Hyuga Kei's intention. They jumped onto the fallen tree and reached his side.

"Thank you." Hinata came up behind Hyuga Kei.

"No need. I should thank you too, for helping me pass the first round."

Hinata said timidly, "I actually didn't help at all."

Hyuga Kei rolled his wrists. "I'll handle these three. You go first."

Kiba assumed a fighting stance. "I don't have a habit of abandoning someone who saved my life and running away."

Kikaichū appeared in Aburame Shino's hands. "Neither do I."

"I'll do my best too." Hinata activated her Byakugan and assumed the opening stance of the Gentle Fist.

Across from them, Gaara showed an excited expression upon seeing Hyuga Kei. "I wonder whether your blood tastes even sweeter."

After watching Hyuga Kei's match against Sasuke, Gaara had placed Hyuga Kei on his kill list. Now, Hyuga Kei had delivered himself right to his door.

Hyuga Kei did not refuse their help. He could not reveal too much of his strength, so having help was not bad.

"Those things on the back of that one are puppets. He's a puppeteer who uses chakra threads to control them. Boy from the Aburame Clan, use your Kikaichū to destroy his chakra threads when the time comes. That'll cost him more than half his strength."

"That female ninja carrying the fan specializes in Wind Release. That fan can unleash Wind Release, so be careful to evade."

"Boy from the Inuzuka Clan, you and Hinata-chan deal with the Wind Release ninja. Try to get close to her and deny her the chance to use ninjutsu."

"I'll take the last one, the sand user."

Hyuga Kei laid out the strategy, and everyone nodded. His plan was logical and convincing.

"Got it." Kiba felt more confident after hearing Hyuga Kei's words. "Akamaru, can you still fight?"

"Woof!" The white-furred ninja dog named Akamaru barked as he leaped out from Kiba's clothes.

Kiba took out a Soldier Pill and tossed it to Akamaru. The little dog's white fur visibly turned red.

Kikaichū poured out from beneath Shino's wide sleeves.

Hyuga Kei nodded to himself. As expected of the heirs to Konoha's great clans.

Hyuga Kei leaped up onto a large tree, then explosively pushed off with both feet. His body shot toward Gaara like an arrow released from a bowstring.

A ball of sand rose beneath Gaara's feet, protecting him within it.

Hyuga Kei delivered a fierce punch against the sand wall.

Ridiculous. He actually thinks he can break through Gaara's absolute defense, Temari thought.

But the next moment, she could no longer smile. Waves of sound burst from Hyuga Kei's bracers, passing through the sand wall and penetrating deep inside.

Gaara let out agonized cries. As the sound entered his ears, he felt as though his head were splitting apart.

Within the sealed confines of the sand ball, Hyuga Kei's sound attack kept reverberating and echoing.