Izuna's Assault

Before they knew it.

This time, the Chunin Selection Exam required teams of three to report to the designated location at the time specified on their admission tickets.

Shuri's team was assigned a reporting time of 10 AM today.

This book is first published by Taiwan Novel Network, t̲̲̅̅w̲̲̅̅k̲̲̅̅a̲̲̅̅n̲̲̅̅.c̲̲̅̅o̲̲̅̅m̲̲̅̅, a highly reliable source for Taiwan novels, offering you an experience of reading chapters without errors or disorder.

The location was a place of nostalgic memories—the Ninja Academy.

★

"Ah..."

Tsunade and the others were walking along the fence of the Ninja Academy towards the main gate, which served as the entrance.

As soon as they could see the gateposts, Tsunade let out a small gasp, noticing a blonde woman standing nearby as if surprised.

Orochimaru was fine.

But for Tsunade, the time spent traveling with Shuri, with whom she had little acquaintance, was truly hard on her stomach.

Therefore, it was understandable that she viewed Ina's appearance as that of a savior goddess.

Tsunade unconsciously quickened her pace.

This put Orochimaru in a difficult spot.

He had cleverly hidden in the background, pushing Shuri onto Tsunade to deal with. If Tsunade ran off, it would be troublesome.

However, Orochimaru's worries seemed to be in vain, as Shuri also followed Tsunade, hurrying towards Ina.

"Miss Ina... what's with the outfit?"

Tsunade felt a strange sense of incongruity with the way Ina was standing.

Tsunade knew Ina was a woman who liked to wear revealing clothing.

Of course, Tsunade also understood that Ina chose her fashion because she was confident in her skin and figure.

It was by no means because she had some strange fetish for exposure itself.

Now, Ina was wearing a green vest.

Tsunade recognized it.

This was a uniform only distributed to Chunin and above rank ninja in Konohagakure—it could be said to be the formal attire of Konohagakure.

For Tsunade, who only had the chance to see Ina in private settings, Ina's formal appearance was a novel sight.

"Ina, what's with the outfit?"

Shuri's eyes were fixed on Ina, his gaze sweeping over her as if he were licking her.

It seemed that for Shuri, Ina's formal attire was also a novel sight.

"Who knows~"

"Hmm..."

Shuri seemed a little displeased with Ina's nonchalant reply.

She slightly raised one of her eyebrows.

"Miss I-Ina, why are you here?"

Seeing Shuri's displeasure, Tsunade hurriedly interjected.

She didn't want to see her beloved elder sister Ina and Shuri Uchiha, who could rival her brother... come into conflict. It would be too terrifying.

"Hmm—well, it's because I'm doing something that requires me to wear this outfit."

"You're being vague."

"Heh, then why don't you guess, Shuri?"

"Stop beating around the bush."

Tsunade tilted her head in confusion, not yet fully grasping the relationship between the two.

The atmosphere between them just now, in Tsunade's eyes, was like a tinderbox.

But the scene before her was clearly not like that.

"...Hmm?"

While Tsunade was groaning in distress beside them, Orochimaru was observing Ina.

His gaze fell upon the clipboard Ina was holding under her arm.

"--You're an examiner."

"Oh my, so clever."

Ina, having finished her conversation with Shuri, smiled at Orochimaru.

Her attitude, like that of a guardian praising "good job," made Orochimaru snort unhappily.

"Hmph, it's no wonder anyone would figure it out when a Jonin is wearing their mission uniform in a place like this—"

Orochimaru wanted to coldly interrupt Ina, but was pierced by the sharp gazes of Juri and Tsunade.

On one side, they blamed her for being rude to their elder sister, and on the other, they were angered by the contemptuous undertones in her words.

Orochimaru was speechless, clicked his tongue in annoyance, and averted his gaze.

"So you're here to participate in the Chunin Exams?"

"Of course. That's why you've been helping me train for this past month, haven't you?"

"Yeah..."

"...?"

Juri nodded proudly at Ina's words.

But Ina's expression turned somber.

Juri felt confused.

Ever since Juri discussed participating in the Chunin Exams with Ina, Ina had been accompanying Juri, helping her train and cheering her on.

Juri had expected Ina to offer words of encouragement as usual, even on the day of the exam, so she was puzzled by Ina's attitude.

"Hey, Juri, take my advice, it's better to skip this time—"

"—Upper Ninja Yamanaka, a 'disqualified' person has appeared! Please handle it urgently!"

"Got it! I'm sorry, ladies. Please wait a moment."

Ina responded to the shout from the school building, clasped her hands apologetically, and turned to run towards the school.

Ina's figure disappeared across the gate.

"Ughhhhhh..."

From the direction Ina went, beyond the wall, a low groan, as if from the depths of hell, echoed.

"What is it...?"

Tsunade cautiously peeked out from the gate and saw three figures being carried out on stretchers.

Tsunade couldn't clearly see the village symbols from her position, but all three wore headbands.

They seemed to be ninjas from some village.

The stretchers carrying the three were slowly placed on the ground, and Ina, who had run over, extended her palm, which emitted a light.

It was the Mystical Palm Technique, one of the medical ninjutsu.

It seemed they were injured.

Considering this was the registration venue for the exams, and the word "disqualified" they had just heard, they were likely people who had been disqualified from the Chunin Exams.

Had the exams already started?

A trace of anxiety flickered in Tsunade's heart—then she was too stunned to speak by the sight before her.

The man Ina was treating—no, the bodies of the people lying on the stretchers were completely blood-red, and "parts of their limbs" were missing.

★

"—Sorry to keep you waiting."

Ina, who had finished treating the injured with the Mystical Palm Technique, returned to Tsunade and the others.

Her hands and cheeks were stained with red liquid, like bloodstains, which was particularly striking.

"Miss Ina, those people...?"

"You saw them... I managed to stop their bleeding, so they should be fine... But I don't know any jutsu that can regenerate 'torn-off' limbs, so unfortunately, they'll just have to be like that—"

"That's not what I meant! Why are such severely injured people being carried out of the school!"

Tsunade's urgent cry was also the shared question of Orochimaru and Juri.

Anyone would have their voice change when ninjas with missing limbs and covered in blood were carried out of their former school, the place where the exams were about to be held.

Facing Tsunade's questioning tone, Ina lowered her eyes apologetically.

"That's why I was about to say... 'it's better not to participate this time.'"

"...So, what exactly do you mean?"

Juri, who had been frowning with her arms crossed, interjected as if she couldn't wait any longer.

Her tone was rough.

Ina hesitated for a moment, as if about to speak, but then, as if resigned, she whispered softly:

"In this Chunin Exam... disqualified participants will lose a part of their limbs."

The exam had already begun on a first-come, first-served basis, and Ina said she had already seen several groups of Genin from other villages who had registered before Tsunade and the others being sent to the hospital.

Her voice was tinged with a sigh, her tired voice trembling.

"Why would it be so dangerous... Was it like this before?"

"No..."

Regarding Tsunade's question, Shuri calmly shook her head in denial.

"If that were the case, I wouldn't be here now. If there's any difference from previous Chunin Exams... Ina, though I hate to think it, could this be..."

"That's right, it's Diejian."

Ina explained.

Over the past year, after experiencing many days where her life was targeted by numerous ninja, Diejian had come to truly grasp the terrifying combat power of his village's enemies.

In the brutal battles against those powerful ninja who had reached mastery, Diejian conceived an idea: destroy their combat power while they were still young.

Thus, seizing the perfect opportunity of the Chunin Exam, Diejian altered the content of the first stage, turning it into more difficult and fiendish challenges.

And he made the disqualification penalty the loss of a body part.

Whether it was an arm or a leg, once lost, it would be very difficult for a ninja to survive.

However...

"Still, he hasn't attacked Konoha's Genin yet, and it seems he's assigned them simpler tests... But the Kage of other villages would never allow such a thing. Once exposed, the lightest consequence would be for Konoha's Genin participating in the exam to suffer the same fate... especially your Sharingan, which is an excellent target, Shuri. So, this time..."

As she spoke, Ina quietly lowered her eyes.

"How could... Big Brother..."

Facing her beloved brother's actions, Tsunade was speechless, her lips trembling.

Even Orochimaru swallowed and watched the unfolding events.

"...I see, I understand. Then, please help us with the exam registration."

Shuri's calm voice.

Ina, Tsunade, and Orochimaru's gazes, as if repelled, focused on Shuri.

But Shuri paid them no mind, calmly taking out her exam permit and handing it to Ina.

"Shuri, did you hear what we said?!"

"I heard... but I came here to become a Chunin. I have no intention of turning back now."

"You...! I'm advising you for your own good! Why are you always like this, never listening to people--"

"--Ina. Senju Diejian has taken the wrong path."

Shuri's didactic voice interrupted Ina's sorrowful cry.

That overly calm voice made Ina swallow her words.

"I don't know how cruel a year he's had. Regardless, I have no experience on the 'real battlefield.' So... if I'm called a woman who only talks the talk, I won't be able to refute it. But Ina... please let me say this. The current Diejian is wrong."

Shuri's gaze drifted to the sky with a hint of loneliness, then fixed on Ina's eyes.

Piercing Ina's wavering eyes, which were shaken by emotion, was an unprecedentedly direct and sincere gaze.

"Ina, a woman like you, why you don't stop the current Diejian... I have no way of knowing. You are a Jonin, and he is the Hokage's right-hand man. You are the second daughter of the Senju Clan, and he is a direct descendant. There must be some hidden circumstances. So--"

--- A moment.

Beside Ina and Shuri, who were gazing at each other, Tsunade peeked at Shuri's profile.

Tsunade's impression of the ninja "Uchiha Shuri" was entirely based on the demonic, enraged figure she had seen a year ago.

Coupled with rumors of the "Ice Woman," the image of Uchiha Shuri in Tsunade's mind had been molded into an "irritable and cold-blooded femme fatale."

But-- Tsunade thought.

The aura of the woman before her now was by no means the bone-chilling, demonic charm of the rumors.

Her clear eyes were filled with immeasurable tenderness.

Tsunade was unconsciously drawn to that warm atmosphere.

"(--Ina, you must be in so much pain...)"

Seeing Ina's trembling brow and wavering gaze, Shuri felt a pang of heartache.

Shuri had heard that Diejian and Ina had been friends before Shuri even knew Diejian.

If Diejian had become twisted, then the one who would feel the most pain wouldn't be Shuri or Sakumo.

Shuri was certain it was this gentle woman before her.

But Ina, for some reason, was in a position where she couldn't admonish Diejian.

So, at the very least, she wanted to stop Shuri.

So that, in the worst-case scenario, it would only end with Ina's own sacrifice.

Therefore--

"--So... I hope you can rest assured. No matter what happens, I will stop that fool Diejian."

Shuri offered strong words to Ina with a gentle smile on her face.

"Shuri..."

Ina accepted Shuri's smile and shyly averted her gaze.

(Once, Sakumo bet his life to stop me from going astray. As Sakumo's friend, I must also bet my life for my friend.)

--Whether Senju or Uchiha.

These things were not important to Juri now.

Juri now believed that a companion was someone who could speak directly about wrong things, even if they were disliked.

Moreover, the "Way of the Ninja" was the same.

"Tsunade, Orochimaru, what do you guys think? It's come to this, it's fine even if I can't participate in the exam."

The Chunin exams were basically conducted in teams of three.

If either Orochimaru or Tsunade shook their heads, the exam would be off.

But Juri now no longer cared about participating in the exam or becoming a Chunin.

No—she actually still felt quite attached, it wasn't that she didn't care.

But if she forced an unwilling Tsunade and the others to participate now, it would be no different from the exams she had failed before.

The moment she chose not to respect her companions, she had already disqualified herself in Juri's heart.

At the same time, she could not choose to ignore her friends.

"I..."

Juri waited silently for an answer to Tsunade's troubled words.

Juri thought that since they had heard this, Tsunade and the others probably wouldn't participate.

In the first Chunin exam, with no information, why should they gamble their lives?

Under normal circumstances, they would withdraw from this exam as Ina suggested and wait for the next opportunity.

(Goodbye, my Chunin exam...)

Juri shed tears in her heart, and at the same time, she resolved to take out her resentment on Diejian.

Just then, Tsunade clenched her fist forcefully.

"--As Senju Diejian's sister, I'm going to... beat up that idiot older brother!! I can't explain this to Grandpa and Lord Second Hokage! Let's go, Orochimaru!!"

"Eh?"

Tsunade grabbed Orochimaru's arm and dragged him towards the school building with her proud monstrous strength.

Watching Tsunade's retreating figure, Juri's eyes widened in stunned silence for a moment, then her lips relaxed into a happy smile.

"Ina, that's how it is. Register, please."

Juri walked quietly past Ina, who was still in a daze.

As they brushed past each other, Juri's hand gently touched Ina's shoulder.

That warmth, as if saying "Don't worry, leave it to me," made Ina's cheeks blush.

"...Really. Who do you think you are..."

Watching Juri's retreating figure with her long black hair swaying, Ina whispered shyly.

"Really!"

Ina's voice burst out as if unable to suppress her surging emotions, with a shy bounce.

A wry smile appeared on her face, yet it carried a hint of happiness. She put her hands behind her back and spun around bashfully.

Her somewhat childish demeanor seemed to contain a hint of loneliness, as if she, a protector and a friend, was not able to openly rejoice in Juri's growth.

"--But, congratulations. Next time too... do your best."

Ina first showed a slightly bitter smile, then a gentle smile, thinking of Juri who had already disappeared into the school building.

Ina's whisper blended into the Konoha sky.

★

Juri and the others were led to a spacious gymnasium.

This was where kumite practice was held on rainy days, and it was designed to be sturdier than the school building, at least not something that could be destroyed by student fights.

The walls and floor were still new then, but now they felt a bit old.

But before Juri could reminisce about her past aspirations, her attention was drawn to a circular formation carved in the center of the gymnasium.

"Is this a summoning jutsu?"

In response to Juri's whisper, the examiner explained:

The examinees would be transported to a location far from Konohagakure through this "reverse summoning" formation for about half a day.

Within the time limit of half a day, finding the scroll hidden somewhere and returning safely would be considered passing.

If the summoning effect disappeared after half a day, they would be forcibly sent back to this place, and if they did not have the scroll, they would be disqualified.

After hearing the explanation, the three of them stood side by side in the center of the formation.

The moment had finally arrived—they struck a slight pose and in the next instant, they vanished from the gymnasium.

★

"What a quiet place."

Juri nodded silently in agreement with Tsunade's murmur.

Snapping back to reality, Juri found herself in an unfamiliar forest.

It seemed different from the "Death Forest" she'd been sent to during the Chunin Exams as a member of Kagami Squad.

Juri had been on guard, expecting another survival competition in that place, but now felt she'd worried for nothing and breathed a sigh of relief for the moment.

That place was filled with the scent of beasts and death, making the very air feel chillingly sharp against the skin.

She never wanted to go back there if she could help it.

In contrast, this place was so quiet she could hear the chirping of birds, and the atmosphere was peaceful.

The air was fresh, filled with the warmth of life.

"A quiet place, huh. Don't let your guard down, Tsunade... Pay attention to your surroundings."

Orochimaru said unhappily, picking up a kunai.

"Huh?"

"On a tree a little distance from here, you can see broken branches. And the trampled grass over there... those aren't the tracks of wild animals. There are people nearby."

Hearing Orochimaru's words, Tsunade looked around as if startled.

Realizing the situation, she finally understood what she was "facing" and felt ashamed of her naivete.

At the same time, Juri, who had agreed with Tsunade's careless remark, retracted her embarrassed expression so as not to be discovered by the two.

To salvage her reputation, Juri immediately activated her Sharingan and scanned the surroundings.

She saw three sources of Chakra.

They were gathered under the shade of trees a short distance away.

"I see them. Three of them, gathered in one spot. But they show no signs of moving. It doesn't look like an ambush..."

The Sharingan was a dojutsu that could see the color and flow of Chakra.

Unlike the Byakugan, which was passed down in the Hyuga Clan, it couldn't fully perceive the movements and conditions of distant targets.

"Are they people who started the exam before us... Maybe we were coincidentally teleported to where they're resting."

"--Should we fight?"

"But... what if it's a trap?"

Tsunade voiced her hesitation at Orochimaru's suggestion.

Juri closed her eyes for a moment, then cast a sharp gaze at the three Chakras.

"I've scanned them with the Sharingan, and there are no signs of a trap, nor do they show any intention of moving. If they haven't detected our presence, a surprise attack should be easy. Even if they did, if they harbor the naive thought that they can hide from me—they aren't much of an enemy."

"--Decided."

"Understood."

By majority vote, Orochimaru's and Juri's aggressive opinions prevailed, and Tsunade agreed.

Her earlier hesitation wasn't due to a dislike of fighting.

She just felt it wasn't appropriate to engage in combat carelessly with insufficient information.

Since "that" Juri said it was fine—Tsunade thought.

The three of them infiltrated the bushes, silently approaching the target's location.

Holding their breath, they moved with the stealth of tigers stalking prey.

"(Stop)"

Juri signaled Orochimaru and Tsunade with her hand.

After confirming that Orochimaru and Tsunade had stopped, Juri began to quietly observe the targets.

"(Are they ninjas after all? Judging by their headbands... are they from Iwagakure?)"

Juri felt a slight surprise at the sight of the ninjas there.

Although she couldn't tell their exact ages, judging by their appearance, they seemed older than Juri.

She secretly felt relieved that there were still Genin "below" her.

"(They seem to be injured...)"

All the Genin hiding in the shade of the trees were male, and two of them appeared to be wounded.

One had blood flowing from his forehead, leaning powerlessly against a tree trunk, while the other had a blood-soaked bandage wrapped around his leg.

"(It looks like they've already engaged in combat... So, like the previous exams, this is a scroll-grabbing battle—a survival competition, then.)"

Juri narrowed her eyes and licked the back of her teeth with her tongue.

In a past exam, due to Diejian's mistake... she was forced into an unfavorable battle, and it was thanks to Juri's Sharingan... that they escaped the predicament and found a breakthrough.

Having won with an overwhelming advantage before, there was no reason to lose to a Genin now that I've become even stronger.

"(--I've definitely won.)"

Confident of her victory, Juri licked her lips.

--Rustle, the wind blew.

The only ninja with all his senses intact twitched his nose and sprang to his feet as if he'd been flicked.

"(--I've been found!)"

Juri instantly made hand seals, signaling an attack on the two.

Orochimaru leaped from the bushes, Tsunade following a moment later.

To cover their backs, Juri also pushed off the ground and charged out.

"--Please wait a moment! We have no intention of fighting!"

Ignoring the shouting Genin, Orochimaru swung his Kunai.

The Genin barely deflected it with his own Kunai and kicked towards Orochimaru's abdomen.

Orochimaru blocked with his knee.

But the Genin's kicking power was stronger than expected, and Orochimaru's body was sent flying backward.

The second strike—Tsunade's punch was blocked by a sudden earth wall.

The ninja, injured in the leg, had created a wall when his comrade was in danger.

But Tsunade's true strength lay in her monstrous power.

The earthen fist only blocked Tsunade's punch for an instant before being pulverized the next moment.

Tsunade's fist sank deep into the Genin's abdomen.

"Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!"

The Genin, injured in the leg, let out a piercing scream.

Witnessing his comrade's abdomen being punched with a fist capable of shattering an earth wall, his face turned pale.

"I, I held back properly, you know. You won't die."

Tsunade said gruffly.

She seemed to feel considerable anxiety and a slight mental scar from being looked at like a monster.

"You guys are," new recruits," right! You'll regret this—"

The Genin, with his injured leg, lunged at Tsunade with a terrifying expression, but the next second his head drooped, and his movements stopped.

"So boring."

Turning around, they saw Juri, who had deactivated her Sharingan, and Orochimaru, who was patting his clothes as if to brush off dust.

Tsunade noticed the Genin's sudden change and, guessing that Juri had used genjutsu to subdue him and silence him, was once again amazed by the terrifying power of the Uchiha clan's ocular jutsu.

At the same time, she felt respect for her brother, who could fight Juri to a standstill.

"Regret... huh, that's a bit interesting."

"Indeed."

Tsunade nodded in agreement to Orochimaru's musing.

The injured Genin, hiding his presence.

And their attempt to persuade him when attacked by Juri and the others was indeed suspicious.

Juri began to feel that the attack might have been too hasty, but since it had already happened, she changed her mood.

--Juri, as expected, is not thorough enough in some areas.

"Understood. I'll use Sharingan to layer genjutsu and make them talk—"

"—There's no need for that."

Her words were interrupted by an unfamiliar male voice.

Orochimaru reacted instantly, but before he could even make a sound, he was sent flying by the man and disappeared into the bushes.

"Orochimaru!!"

As Tsunade's shout vibrated against her eardrums, Juri finally understood the situation.

"(An attack!!)"

Instantly, Juri poured Chakra into her eyes, trying to activate her Sharingan—but her vision was dyed completely black.

Juri had experienced this phenomenon before.

"Is it Darkness Walk!?"

Deprived even of her sense of touch, Juri raised her voice in panic amidst the unpleasant sensation of falling through the air.

Her mind was in chaos, unable to concentrate her thoughts.

This became a clear weakness in actual combat.

"—Five Elements Seal."

Five fingers pierced Juri's wavering abdomen with astonishing force.

One of them accurately crushed Juri's solar plexus, and intense pain coursed through her body.

"—Gah."

The impact was too great, and Juri couldn't even cry out in pain.

She simply expelled the air from her lungs along with saliva, her eyes nearly bursting from the agony, and her knees buckled as she collapsed to the ground.

Kneeling on the ground, Juri clutched her abdomen, which throbbed with a dull ache, desperately trying to draw air into her lungs, her shoulders heaving violently.

(Who is this guy... In an instant, he cast a sealing jutsu on me and used genjutsu to silence Tsunade, who is by no means weak...)

Juri was now attempting to refine her Chakra to manifest her Sharingan.

But her eyes remained black, showing no signs of change.

When she came to her senses, Tsunade was lying beside Juri.

Her eyes were open and unmoving, and Juri momentarily worried she had been killed.

But she immediately noticed the faint sound of breathing and realized Tsunade had fallen unconscious due to genjutsu.

(My Chakra... My Sharingan is sealed... What a miscalculation...)

In pain, Juri bit her lip tightly.

Having the Uchiha's symbol, the Sharingan, sealed was an unbearable humiliation.

"Who... are you..."

Juri asked painfully, in a voice like a gasp.

Feeling her strength return, Juri glared hatefully at her attacker—then froze at the color of his eyes.

"Sharingan... You, you're from the Uchiha...?"

The attacker's eyes were dyed red, three Tomoe swirling within them.

This was undoubtedly the Uchiha clan's legendary dōjutsu, the Sharingan.

However, Juri did not recognize the attacker's face.

"—The young people of the Uchiha today don't recognize me."

In response to Juri's words, the attacker replied in a flat tone.

Juri tried to get a clear look at the attacker, but still had no clue.

The hair that stuck up at the back of his head was cut shorter.

A refined face.

His particularly striking, slender eyes looked down at Juri coldly.

—The man's lips moved.

Juri felt as if the world had slowed down, following the movement of the man's lips.

After understanding the meaning of his words, she was struck speechless.

The next second, accompanied by an explosion, Juri's vision turned white.

—It was Orochimaru who had cleverly detonated a smoke bomb.

Juri only realized this after she and Orochimaru had left the area carrying the unconscious Tsunade.

After a while, Juri, snapping out of her daze, thanked Orochimaru and kicked at a tree branch with her own feet, leaping through the woods.

(If what he said just now was true... I have to find a way...)

From the brief exchange of attacks and defenses, Juri understood the opponent's strength and judged that "even at full power, I don't know if I could win."

However, Juri's Chakra was now sealed by the jutsu, greatly weakening her combat power.

Anxiety began to sprout in Juri's heart.

But this was not born from the fear of her own life being threatened.

"—Diejian is in danger."

If Juri's prediction was correct, then the targets were undoubtedly Tsunade, who was still unconscious, and one of Juri's closest friends—Senju Diejian.

"—Why, now of all times, here..."

Juri gritted her teeth.

The attacker's final words echoed repeatedly in Juri's mind.

—My name is Uchiha Izuna.

A ghost from a past era.

A monster of the old era, baring its fangs at Konohagakure—

Juri unconsciously clenched her fists, which were slick with cold sweat.