I'm Done Pretending

"Hey, this place is hidden enough, right? If we climb any higher, we'll practically be at the top of the tree." Hatsumi poked her head through a gap in the leaves, a bunch of grass perched atop it.

"It's hidden enough. I haven't spotted any other teams nearby." Chino activated her Byakugan to scout the area. Once she'd confirmed it was safe, she pushed Hatsumi's head back down.

"It's not just people we have to worry about here. But why aren't we taking the initiative and attacking?" Hatsumi casually slapped away a Centipede that had landed on her shoulder. The bugs she'd placed along the way had sensed quite a few unfamiliar Chakra signatures. They couldn't pinpoint their exact locations, but they could still identify the general area.

"We're far enough away from that place now, so we can consider it. But we're one person short. Fighting three-on-two would still be difficult." Chino wanted to play it safe. Their chances would be better once Zi Xu returned.

"But Chino, if I remember right, there are two members of the Hyuga Clan taking the exam this time. What are you planning to do about that Hinata girl...?" Of course, Hatsumi knew Hinata's identity. She was the heir to the Main House of the Hyuga Clan—in other words, the little princess of Chino's family.

"You don't get many chances like this. You never know what might happen during the Chunin Ninja Exams." Hatsumi spoke with a slightly wicked air. Perhaps she was trying to get back at Chino for once scaring her by claiming she had a mother-and-child bug inside her. That had affected her badly. For a while, she'd been constantly on edge, and it had turned her whole worldview upside down.

"Give me a break. What would killing her accomplish? She doesn't know about the Caged Bird Curse Seal. Killing her would only enrage that old geezer in the Main House. The most likely result would be a fight to the death with the Branch Family. If we're going to kill someone, we don't need to target an idiot who knows nothing." Chino had grown used to Hatsumi stirring things up. The girl looked harmless, but she was actually quite devious.

"Ah, ah, Zi Xu's back already?" A little bug in Hatsumi's palm began nudging her, tickling her. She knew that meant Zi Xu had reached the area.

Chino activated her Byakugan again. The obstacles around them vanished from her sight, and she spotted Zi Xu beneath the tree.

Zi Xu looked to be in great shape, and he was happier than she'd ever seen him. Who knew what he'd just discussed with Orochimaru? As for his body, Zi Xu had made it clear he wouldn't hand it over to Orochimaru. If Orochimaru had the ability, he could take it himself. Zi Xu had even recommended a few other bodies to him:

"Naruto Uzumaki and Gourd Baby. They both have strong life forces. Go possess them. I guarantee you'll live to a hundred."

"If I devoured those two, I might drop dead on the spot..."

"Come on, let's go find a few teams and fight them. We'll finish this trial as soon as possible. Afterward, I have something important to tell you." Zi Xu could barely wait. He grabbed Chino and the others and leaped down, telling Chino to use her Byakugan to scout. He planned to beat up every team they came across.

Hatsumi and Chino both noticed that Zi Xu's eyes were shining. They gleamed with a light he'd never shown before.

"Zi Xu?" Chino asked tentatively. She had a feeling that what he was about to say would be important, and she wanted to know what had happened to him.

Zi Xu waved her off, indicating he'd explain later. After his conversation with Orochimaru, he'd made a decision that went against his ancestors—no, he'd made a very important decision.

He was done pretending. He was laying his cards on the table. Now he'd practice on Ninja his own level.

Elsewhere, near the edge of the Forest of Death, several Ninja, including Anko, stood over a few corpses, examining them.

"That's right. These are the bodies of several Ninja who entered the Forest of Death. It looks like someone killed them and took their identities to get inside." A Ninja with a bandage wrapped over the bridge of his nose set down a corpse and reported to Anko.

Anko's expression had already darkened when she heard the news. After seeing the wounds on the corpses, her gaze grew more and more dangerous. Remembering that long-tongued woman from earlier, she realized just how serious the situation was.

Anko touched the mark on her neck, left there by the teacher she'd once revered.

", quickly inform the others and have Lord Hokage and the Anbu come provide support. I'll head into the Forest of Death first and deal with the situation."

"Understood? Then go do it. Quickly." After leaving them with those words, Anko disappeared into the trees. Her smiling expression had vanished, replaced by one of grim resolve.

"That little guy has some ideas. Cooperation... it's not out of the question. But since I can't get his body for now, I'll just have to take his..." After repairing the cracked skin on his face, Orochimaru gave a chilling smile. His entire face slowly melted like wax into a puddle. Perhaps he found that too much trouble, because he simply tore the whole face off. He'd already found a target.

With Chino's Byakugan to help, Zi Xu and the others soon found a team. They weren't from Konoha, though. Judging by their Headbands, they seemed to be from Amegakure. They were all carrying umbrellas despite the clear weather. What were they thinking?

"You're the ones." Zi Xu didn't use the advantage of catching the enemy unaware. Instead, he charged straight at the three of them. Sometimes, tactics were only necessary when you lacked strength. If you were strong enough to steamroll everyone, why waste time? Beat the crap out of them!

The three Rain Ninja were taken aback when they saw the redhead burst out of hiding. They wondered where this reckless idiot had come from, charging at them so brazenly.

But they didn't waste any time talking. Judging by their ages and heights, they were definitely adults. The tall man leading them had one eye slashed out by a claw-shaped scar. He pulled several umbrellas from behind his back and tossed them into the air. They opened midair, revealing countless fine needles along their ribs.

Under the one-eyed man's control, the umbrellas began spinning rapidly. The silver needles scattered around them like a dense rain, unleashing a wide-ranging, vicious attack. The assault was powerful; the needles sliced through the air and whipped up a gale. The three men's combined barrage poured down over Zi Xu like a waterfall.

"Rain of a Thousand Needles!" The leader wore a confident, cruel grin. He wanted to see how that redheaded brat could possibly dodge the countless attacks raining down on him.

"Die, you redheaded hedgehog! I was just lamenting that we didn't have a scroll, and now you've delivered one right to us. Hahahahaha! You even dared to come alone. Is this what Konoha's Ninja are like?" Watching the huge cloud of dust rise where the needles struck the ground, the man could already picture Zi Xu being pierced like a sieve.

"Hey, you..." The smoke began to clear, but the scene they'd imagined never appeared.

"Put some effort into it. That didn't even qualify as a massage..." Zi Xu stepped through the dust. As the dirt settled, the "Senbon" on the ground came into view, bent into U-shapes.

"What?"

"How is that possible?"

The Rain Ninja could barely hide their shock. They couldn't believe their prized Senbon hadn't even managed to break through their enemy's defenses.

While the three were stunned by what they'd just seen, Zi Xu used the Body Flicker Technique to appear behind one of the Rain Ninja, who'd let his guard slip.

"Crack!" The sound of a bone dislocating rang out. Zi Xu twisted a Rain Ninja's head clean off, leaving behind only a pair of furious, unwilling eyes that stared fixedly at him.

Zi Xu had always either avoided making enemies or killed every enemy he made, leaving no loose ends. How could he possibly let people who now knew his face get away?

The one-eyed Rain Ninja leading the group only saw a blur. His two comrades' necks had been snapped, and they fell dead with their eyes still open. He stared at Zi Xu in terror and bewilderment.

"I... I'll give you the scroll! Just... just don't kill me!" The one-eyed man hurriedly threw the scroll from his arms. At that moment, it was a hot potato to him.

This kid looks pretty harmless, but he really does kill without hesitation. Still, most kids his age can be fooled pretty easily...

Snot and tears streamed down the one-eyed man's face as he tried every way he could think of to beg for his life. He looked truly pitiful, and it was impossible to tell that he was already plotting how to get revenge.

"..." Chino and Hatsumi arrived only after Zi Xu had dealt with two of the Ninja.

Chino felt uneasy as she watched. She wasn't opposed to killing, but she despised the sight of the Rain Ninja begging for his life. A Ninja shouldn't act like that.

"What's wrong? Feeling sorry for him? Or has your saintly side gone into overdrive?" Hatsumi asked with a smile, squeezing Chino's arm.

"Hah. As if." Chino replied coldly. Hatsumi had expected her to protest, and she wasn't satisfied with that answer.

Zi Xu didn't even look at the leading Ninja. Whether he knelt and begged or did anything else, Zi Xu didn't care. He picked up the scroll the one-eyed man had thrown, then walked away without looking back, as if he really planned to let him go.

Chino couldn't understand why Zi Xu would let the man go. It wasn't like him. But Hatsumi was still smiling. She believed Zi Xu wouldn't disappoint her.

Brat, just you wait. One day I'll pay you back a hundredfold for the humiliation you've dealt me today. Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west. Don't look down on a poor young man! When the time comes, I'll make you wish you were dead! The one-eyed man swore to himself, his expression growing ever more respectful, like a real lackey.

"Thank you for your great kindness! I'll repay you one day! I'll gladly serve you like a dog or a horse to show my gratitude..."

Zi Xu dug at his ear, as if he'd only just noticed the one-eyed man. He glanced at him, then looked away.

Seeing that he'd been spared, the man tried to run. He hadn't gotten far on all fours before he felt an invisible force squeeze in around him. His organs shifted, and his bones shattered into pieces that pierced his flesh. His revenge plan had been snuffed out before it could even begin.

"You talk too much." Zi Xu had never intended to spare the man. He hadn't killed him right away because he was worried he might have joined forces with another team. He'd wanted to wait and see, but no big fish had taken the bait. What a waste of having Hatsumi and the others watch their surroundings.

Zi Xu tossed the scroll in his hand, threw it to Chino, and stretched. His bones cracked all over.

"Come on. Let's go find another team. As long as we don't kill anyone from our own village, old man Hiruzen Sarutobi won't hold it against us. He might even encourage us. But even if we do kill someone, it won't matter..." Zi Xu walked ahead. Watching his back, Chino seemed to remember something.

"Zi Xu, don't you have a Crowbar too?"

"I do. Now that you know, that's enough. Don't worry, we won't die here. Not for now, anyway."

Hatsumi's eyes grew brighter as she looked at Zi Xu. Chino even felt like the light in them could blind her Byakugan.

"I knew it!" Hatsumi was excited. Ever since she'd killed someone that night, she'd been acting a little strange. It had taken her a long time to recover. What had affected her the most was the lightning that had turned the stone pillar into dust that night.

After seeing how weak she was, she'd gone nearly mad in her pursuit of power. When she heard Zi Xu admit that he was the Mysterious Crowbar Man, she'd wanted to ask him how she could become as strong as he was.

"Yeah, yeah, we'll talk about that later. It's all small stuff. After this exam is over, I want to discuss something important with you. It concerns our organization, and it'll determine where we—and the organization—go from here." Zi Xu lowered his voice, acting mysterious, and pushed Hatsumi's head away as she leaned in close to his face.

"So, how did you escape that night? And the one who escaped with us must have been your clone, right? But why didn't even the Byakugan detect anything strange? And..." Chino fired off question after question like a machine gun.

Zi Xu had planned to answer, but the first question left him at a loss for words. He remembered the [Buggy's Stinky Socks] still stored away in his storage space and decided to skip that topic.

"That's not important. Let's go find the other teams! We can beat up any team except that Gourd Baby one!" Zi Xu was terrible at changing the subject. He even had a knack for jinxing things.

"Zi Xu..." Chino gave him an odd look and poked him in the back, as if trying not to laugh.

"What?" Zi Xu replied without turning around, puzzled.

"Is that Gourd Baby also a redhead, with a character written on his forehead? Are his teammates a man and a woman, with the man carrying something wrapped in bandages on his back and the woman carrying a huge fan?"

Zi Xu was pleased by Chino's description. It seemed Chino was observant; she remembered them clearly despite only seeing them a few times. Well done. Very well done.

"Exactly. You remembered perfectly. I can always count on you."

Hatsumi pointed beside Zi Xu. Not far away stood a team, and their leader seemed to be carrying a big Sand Gourd.

"Could it be—just possibly, and I'm not saying I'm right—that those three over there are the Gourd Baby team?" Hatsumi was trying to hold back her laughter too, but in the end she burst out laughing.

"Hey... you girl with the glasses over there, what are you laughing at? What's so funny?" The boy, his face painted with purple markings and a human-shaped object strapped to his back, angrily pointed at Hatsumi, his tone hostile.

"N-nothing. I just thought of something funny... Hahahahaha..."

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