"What are you blushing for? I told you to look at that Anbu."
Watching Hinata's cheeks turn pinker by the second, Ino felt a vein pop on her forehead.
"Th-that..." Hinata deactivated her Byakugan and looked away from Jingxin. "It's him."
He was still alive!
Ino took a deep breath and slowly closed her eyes.
When she opened them again, some of the sense had returned to her gaze.
"You can't tell anyone about this, understand, Hinata?"
"Huh?"
"He's our comrade. Whatever the reason, he must have his own difficulties. We need to ask him about it face-to-face," Ino explained. "If you reveal his identity, it could easily lead to a conflict between both sides."
"And people could die."
Hinata jumped at Ino's ominous expression, then obediently nodded.
"Good. Go on." Ino was very pleased. She switched off the flashlight shining on her face, then walked over to Jingxin in full view and sat down beside him, staring straight at him.
Jingxin swallowed.
"Heh heh." Ino chuckled, her laughter growing more and more sinister. "Hahahaha! You... you, you..."
Jingxin: "..."
Fortunately, Morino Ibiki appeared and cut short her arrogance.
Morino Ibiki explained the exam rules from the podium.
Meanwhile, Ino quietly asked Jingxin, "How have you been all these years?"
Jingxin knew that if he didn't say anything, Ino wouldn't let it go.
Left with no choice, he replied, "We'll talk after the Chunin Ninja Exams."
Ino gave him a knowing look. "I get it, I get it. I won't tell anyone a thing."
Kurotsuchi, sitting on Jingxin's other side, heard their entire conversation. She tilted her head and sized Ino up.
In an instant, Kurotsuchi figured out what kind of girl she was.
The movement was so obvious that Ino noticed Kurotsuchi too, and met her gaze.
Kurotsuchi pressed her lips together, a sly glint flashing in her dark eyes. "We're engaged."
"Ah!!!!"
The sudden shout startled everyone in the exam hall, and all eyes turned toward them.
Jingxin: "..."
Morino Ibiki scolded her. "What are you doing, Genin?!"
"I..." Ino wiped the cold sweat from her forehead and explained, "I was just startled by the rules you described."
Morino Ibiki: "..."
He had wanted to make the rules sound intimidating.
But she didn't have to overdo it!
The atmosphere he had worked so hard to create was completely ruined by Ino's inexplicable scream.
"Enough." Morino Ibiki continued, "If anyone dares to break the rules after the exam begins, they'll be thrown out. Does anyone want to withdraw now?"
Not a sound came from below.
For some reason, Morino Ibiki's chest puffed out, and several veins bulged on his forehead. "The exam starts now!"
"What exactly are you trying to do?"
After the exam, Ino didn't go home with the other Konoha Ninja. Instead, she followed the Genin from Iwagakure for several streets.
They were almost at the inn when Kurotsuchi finally lost patience, turned around, and grabbed her.
Ino looked around, puzzled. "Are you talking to me?"
Kurotsuchi narrowed her eyes, a dangerous glint in them.
"Um... ahem." Ino got straight to the point. "This isn't the place to talk. You'll find out in a bit."
Oh?
In a bit?
Once we get back to the inn and see Grandpa Ōnoki and the three elite Jonin, it'll be hard for you to leave.
Kurotsuchi knew Jingxin was special, so she didn't say anything else and turned to quicken her pace.
Everyone returned to the inn together.
To show their sincerity, Konoha hadn't installed any surveillance here. Konoha Ninja.
To keep things from escalating, Kurotsuchi said to Ino again, "I know what you're after, but we're engaged."
"But you're not married yet, are you?" Ino shrugged. "What's the rush?"
Kurotsuchi: "..."
Karin looked at Kurotsuchi curiously. "When did that happen? How come I didn't know?"
Deidara had no idea what they were talking about. He scratched his head. "What a pain, hmm."
He turned and left.
The three girls immediately focused their attention on Jingxin.
Jingxin raised a hand and took off his mask, revealing the handsome face Ino both recognized and barely knew.
"I knew it was you!" Ino patted her slightly raised chest. "You have no idea how happy I am right now."
Kurotsuchi stared at Ino, visibly displeased.
Karin was wary too.
Jingxin glanced at the three girls and said, "Go back to your own rooms. Whatever it is, we'll talk after the Chunin Ninja Exams."
With that, he turned and headed for his room.
Ino hesitated. She was terribly curious, but given Jingxin's words, she had no choice but to turn and leave.
Kurotsuchi and Karin watched Ino walk away.
Kurotsuchi suddenly said, "She's much harder to deal with than you. Good thing she's from Konoha."
"Sister Kurotsuchi, what are you talking about?" Karin looked confused. "I don't understand."
That was called acting weak in front of an enemy.
Karin knew she didn't have much of an advantage over Kurotsuchi.
Not in terms of development, or those "terrifyingly long" legs.
But Jingxin had saved her and her mother, and had always given her whatever she asked for. Apart from her mother, he was the kindest person in her life. She wouldn't change her mind.
At a time like this, she had to be a little "ruthless," or she might never find happiness.
First, let Kurotsuchi's guard down. Then launch a surprise attack on Jingxin.
I don't care what you have to say. I'm taking him first.
Heh heh heh~
Kurotsuchi looked at Karin with disdain. "Could you try not grinning like that in front of people?"
Karin: "..."
The outskirts of the Forest of Death.
A large crowd of Genin had gathered.
They had formed a circle, clearly watching some kind of spectacle.
In the shadows, Mitaraishi Anko watched secretly.
It wasn't that she didn't want to go out. She'd decided to finish watching this drama first.
The whole thing was just too strange.
A few Genin from Kusagakure were provoking the Iwagakure group.
And the Iwa Ninja leading them had an unbelievably good temper. He hadn't even talked back.
"You Iwagakure Ninja stole one of ours. Do you really expect us to prove it?"
"She was our property to begin with. Do you know how much we lost after you took her?"
"How many people went without timely treatment and could only watch helplessly as their lives ebbed away in agony?"
Karin hid behind Jingxin, her expression dark. Clearly, she had remembered something unpleasant.
Kurotsuchi was gently comforting her.
Though they were rivals in certain respects, they were comrades first.
Deidara didn't say anything either. He knew Jingxin would handle this. His gaze rested on the three Grass Ninja, as if he were looking at three corpses.
When the other side finally stopped their incessant complaining,
Jingxin's voice sounded muffled behind his mask, but it was perfectly calm. "Come find me after the exam starts. I'll give you a satisfactory answer."
Before you continue