"How is it? Does the curse mark still hurt?"
About ten minutes later, somewhere in Konoha, the Third Hokage looked at Anko Mitarashi, who was clutching her left shoulder. He gently removed the pipe from his mouth, his brow furrowing slightly as he asked.
"No. Thanks to you, it's almost better."
Hearing the Third Hokage's words, Anko Mitarashi quickly replied. However, her slightly strained tone and trembling hand told of the front she was putting up.
The curse mark still hurt.
And it hurt terribly.
However, after saying that, she did not force herself any further. Soon, the pain seemed to subside, and the hand pressing against the curse mark stopped trembling as well.
Then, she lightly lifted her jacket and covered the three tomoe-shaped curse marks branded onto her left shoulder.
"No matter what, Orochimaru is one of the legendary Sannin. He's an S-rank ninja listed in the bingo book, someone even the Anbu can't handle, right? I heard he was already dead, but..."
At this time, Izumo Kamizuki, standing behind Anko Mitarashi, spoke.
A grave expression had already appeared on his face.
"Why would he appear here at a time like this..."
At the same time, Kotetsu Hagane beside him slowly frowned.
That was right. The reason Anko Mitarashi had appeared here injured was because she had come into close contact with Orochimaru, one of the legendary Sannin, within the venue of the Chunin Exams—the Death Forest.
And it had triggered her curse mark.
In the end, Orochimaru seemed to have retreated of his own accord for some reason.
Purpose...
Hearing Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane's words, that word flashed through Anko Mitarashi's mind.
At the same time, she recalled the name of the boy Orochimaru had mentioned after defeating her—the boy her former teacher had once valued.