Uzumaki Karin

After Orochimaru left.

Su Yu kept track of his movements with the Mind's Eye of the Kagura.

Before long,

Orochimaru and Mitaraishi Anko ran into each other.

After a fierce fight,

Mitaraishi Anko's chakra was fading.

Su Yu hesitated for a moment, then headed in her direction.

When he arrived, he saw Mitaraishi Anko surrounded by several tigers.

Su Yu formed a Hand Seal and sent a small fireball flying.

The tigers scattered in fright.

Seeing Su Yu's outfit, Mitaraishi Anko breathed a sigh of relief.

"Go tell Lord Hokage that Orochimaru has appeared in the forest."

"I'm not a full-fledged Anbu member yet. My superior is Uzuki Yugao. I came here to secretly protect my girlfriend," Su Yu said, taking off his mask.

"You're that Su Yu?" Mitaraishi Anko asked in surprise.

"Yes." Su Yu began using the Healing Technique.

Mitaraishi Anko said no more, simply studying Su Yu in silence.

In her circle,

Su Yu's name had already made the rounds.

He was a subordinate of Uzuki Yugao who had graduated only recently, yet had passed the Anbu Chunin exam. He was an exceptionally talented shinobi.

Even Kakashi thought highly of him.

After treating her, Su Yu carried Mitaraishi Anko on his back and headed for the Heaven and Earth Tower.

The treatment could stabilize her injuries, but it couldn't restore her chakra.

"Who's your girlfriend?" Mitaraishi Anko asked curiously, leaning on Su Yu's back.

"That's none of your business," Su Yu replied coolly.

"Honestly, I'm very interested in you. If you don't tell me who your girlfriend is, I'll start pursuing you," Mitaraishi Anko said with a grin.

"I'm interested in you, too. As it happens, I've been reading a book by Lord Jiraiya these past few days. If you don't mind how secluded this place is, shall we do it here?" Su Yu said, stopping.

Mitaraishi Anko's face flushed at his words.

"You brat! Keep moving!"

"You're a little heavy, so that's why I'm walking slowly," Su Yu said bluntly.

"What did you say?" Mitaraishi Anko wrapped her arms around Su Yu's neck.

"Could you stop pressing against my back? It's giving me some bad ideas," Su Yu warned her.

At his words, Mitaraishi Anko felt both embarrassed and angry. She silently moved away from him and let go.

"I thought a Jonin like you wouldn't care about this sort of thing. I didn't expect you to get embarrassed like an ordinary girl," Su Yu continued.

"I... I don't care about this sort of thing," Mitaraishi Anko said, pressing herself against his back again.

Su Yu said nothing more and hurried onward at full speed.

Before long,

the two of them reached the Heaven and Earth Tower.

The Anbu members hidden there appeared and stopped them.

"I'm Mitaraishi Anko, the proctor for the second stage of the Chunin Ninja Exams. I have something very important to tell Lord Hokage," Mitaraishi Anko said seriously.

"I'm Su Yu, an Anbu Chunin," Su Yu added.

The two Anbu Ninja exchanged glances, then quickly stepped aside.

Su Yu carried Mitaraishi Anko all the way to the room where the Third Hokage was staying, only setting her down at the door.

"Thanks for your help," Mitaraishi Anko said softly.

"Don't mention it. Thanks for the treat." Su Yu looked at Mitaraishi Anko.

Mitaraishi Anko froze.

By the time she realized what he meant, Su Yu had already walked away.

"You little brat!" Mitaraishi Anko's face turned red as she understood what Su Yu had meant.

In the quiet forest,

Su Yu watched the three people in the distance.

They were a Kusagakure team, and the red-haired girl among them was Karin Uzumaki.

Karin Uzumaki would be eliminated in the second stage of the Chunin Ninja Exams. After that, the Kusagakure Jonin would probably lead the team away.

During the exam,

she would be in danger. Uchiha Sasuke would save her once, and she would immediately fall for him.

The opportunity would come when the other two Kusagakure Ninja left.

As Su Yu was thinking, he saw the two Kusagakure Ninja leave. They handed Karin Uzumaki their scroll and told her to hide.

His two Shadow Clones followed them.

Su Yu's main body approached Karin Uzumaki.

Karin Uzumaki crouched on the ground, looking helpless.

Behind her, a huge bear appeared.

Karin Uzumaki turned around and came face-to-face with it.

The bear roared at her.

Su Yu flashed into view, dropping down from above to land in front of Karin Uzumaki.

His Two-Tomoe Sharingan activated, and he used the Hell Viewing Technique.

The bear's body stiffened, then collapsed to the ground.

Karin Uzumaki stared blankly at Su Yu, sensing a familiar yet comforting presence from him.

Su Yu turned around, crouched down, and removed his mask.

"You're from the Uzumaki Clan, right?"

Karin Uzumaki nodded instinctively.

"I'm from the Uzumaki Clan, too. I know Kusagakure has treated you badly. I've dealt with those two Ninja. When the Kusagakure Jonin takes you away from Konoha, someone will help you escape. Go with him. After the Chunin Ninja Exams are over, I'll come find you. Then we'll work together. I'll make you stronger, and no one will bully you again," Su Yu said earnestly.

Karin Uzumaki froze for a few seconds.

Then she nodded firmly.

Su Yu held out his arm, placing it near her mouth.

"I have the same constitution as you."

Karin Uzumaki understood what Su Yu meant at once, but she was a little afraid to bite his arm.

"I want us to trust each other," Su Yu said, looking at her.

Hearing that, Karin Uzumaki hesitated no longer and gently bit down on Su Yu's arm.

When she felt his chakra, she couldn't help feeling excited.

Su Yu secretly escorted her,

all the way to the Heaven and Earth Tower.

Without any teammates, Karin Uzumaki had effectively given up on the exam.

Fighting was forbidden inside the Heaven and Earth Tower.

After the Konoha Ninja monitoring the situation spotted Karin Uzumaki, they took her to a room of her own.

The Jonin from the various ninja villages would gather here in a few days.

Until then, she had nothing to worry about.

Karin Uzumaki gazed out the window at the forest, hugging her knees, a smile of anticipation on her face.

She had always longed for someone to save her.

Unfortunately, she had never found anyone.

Now, at last, someone had come—someone from the Uzumaki Clan, just like her.

It felt as if she had finally found her home.

Meanwhile,

in a hollow in one of the trees,

Haruno Sakura was tending to Naruto Uzumaki and Uchiha Sasuke.

Fortunately, she had learned Medical Ninjutsu earlier, so she could at least help a little.

Otherwise, she could only have watched.

Not far from the hollow,

three Otogakure Ninja appeared.

They were watching Uchiha Sasuke.

Orochimaru had just planted the Heaven Curse Mark on Uchiha Sasuke, and he was in agony.

Once he adapted to the power of the Cursed Seal, they could go test him.

Honestly, the Otogakure trio weren't happy with this mission, but given their rank, they had no choice but to obey orders.