"Was that guy just now really Anbu?"
Rock Lee handed Tenten some water and asked.
The two of them had found a large tree near a water source and stopped to rest.
Tenten took a sip of water and said, "I don't know, but that body-flicker technique was definitely on the level of a Jonin."
"I just don't know why someone that powerful would show up in the Forest of Death. Could something have happened in the Forest of Death?"
As they talked, they suddenly heard footsteps.
Rock Lee immediately tensed, but saw that it was Neji.
Neji stood across the stream and smiled at them. "I thought you'd run into danger. Why did you suddenly stop?"
So Rock Lee and Tenten told Neji what had happened.
As she spoke, Tenten sighed. "Neji, when are you going to improve your Byakugan? We shouldn't be far away, but you still couldn't sense what was happening over here?"
Neji gave an awkward smile. "Sorry."
Rock Lee also smiled, trying to smooth things over. "It's fine. Neji-kun has been working hard at training. He hasn't let us down once during these Chunin Ninja Exams!"
"By the way, Tenten was poisoned? That's perfect..."
In a fluster, Neji rummaged through his ninja pouch and pulled out several rustling pieces of herb.
He also removed the wrinkled outer leaves and said to Tenten, "I saw this herb along the way. It can counter poison. I didn't expect it to actually come in handy!"
"Neji, you know about herbs?" Rock Lee asked in surprise as he took them.
"Yeah, the clan elders taught us about the preparation and varieties of herbs..."
Tenten frowned as she looked at it. "This is Time-Crow Fern? It's a very rare variety. There's actually something like this in the Forest of Death?"
She looked at Neji in disbelief.
Neji was taken aback too, and hurriedly explained, "Yeah. I saw just one plant over there. I was lucky; there probably aren't any more elsewhere."
Rock Lee handed the herb to Tenten. She seemed to know what she was doing, too. She poured water from her bamboo canteen over the Time-Crow Fern, prepared it simply, and swallowed it.
"Rock Lee, this portion is for you. That poison has lingering effects on your mental strength."
Rock Lee let out a breath. "Neji really came through for us this time. Otherwise, we might have been ambushed again."
"...Yeah. Let's rest here for a while tonight. Tomorrow we'll head toward the center!"
"Okay!"
They decided to rest nearby. The exam, which lasted three days and three nights, had already reached its second night. Tomorrow was the final day, so they had to hurry.
But what Neji needed to hurry for had nothing to do with that.
He went to sleep early, but woke not long after nightfall.
He had rested for only an hour. He was a little tired, but couldn't afford to delay any longer.
While Rock Lee and Tenten were still asleep, he left them a note saying he was going ahead to scout and they shouldn't wait for him.
Neji's goal, of course, was Orochimaru.
Orochimaru had failed to get what he wanted on the first day, so he would definitely make a move on the second. At this hour, Orochimaru was probably searching nonstop for Sasuke. Neji had no idea whether Anko and the others would make it in time.
If he didn't hurry, Orochimaru might leave the Forest of Death.
"Ding! Training complete!"
"Tenketsu Strike proficiency +499! Rotation proficiency +443!"
Neji was only now checking the rewards from his battle with Kabuto and the others.
"Congratulations, host! Your Gentle Fist: Tenketsu Strike proficiency has reached 30,000, advancing to the mastery stage! Reward: Explosive Tags ×10! Wujue Special Herb ×10!"
Neji was delighted. Fighting skilled opponents really did bring plenty of benefits.
Explosive Tags had plenty of uses. But Wujue didn't seem as effective as Time-Crow Fern. Perhaps the special herb could improve his mental strength a little?
"What does Wujue do?"
The system replied, "Wujue can counter poison. The special herb can relieve fatigue and ward off drowsiness."
Neji was taken aback, then immediately ate two sprigs of the herb.
It was faintly sweet, but unfortunately, it tasted bitter.
Still, if it could keep him awake, it was exactly what he needed right now.
Neji immediately opened his status panel.
"Host: Hyuga Neji Age: 13 Basic Ninja Skills (including throwing and all other basic techniques) proficiency progress: 82.7% (Reach 100% to complete the beginner stage and activate the proficiency consumption system!) Rank: Konoha Genin Ninjutsu: None Taijutsu: Gentle Fist: Tenketsu Strike (30001/30000), Eight Trigrams Palms: Heavenly Spin (23429/30000), Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms (16799/30000), Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm (11043/30000), Eight Trigrams Body Strike (9044/10000) Genjutsu: None Kekkei Genkai: Byakugan (25508/30000) Basic Items: Military Ration Pills ×7, Wujue Special Herb ×10, Explosive Tags ×10 Advanced Items: None Special Items: None"
"Ah! Aaaah!"
Uchiha Sasuke fell to the ground, clutching his neck tightly.
Sakura stared with wide eyes, fear and fury in them.
"You bastard! What did you do to Sasuke-kun?"
Orochimaru merely replied in a leisurely voice that sent chills down the spine, "I gave him a gift. A gift he needs more than anything right now..."
"You bastard!"
Sakura could only rage helplessly, holding Sasuke without being able to do anything.
Meanwhile, Naruto, who had let the Nine-Tails Chakra leak out, was easily captured by Orochimaru and marked with the Five Elements Seal.
Neji's figure appeared silently in a corner of the bushes.
Looks like I made it in time! But...
"Don't run!"
Naruto hit the ground, and Sakura actually charged at Orochimaru without regard for her own safety.
"What does that brat think she's doing?"
Neji sensed trouble. The timeline in this Naruto world had already been thrown off by his arrival. Anything could happen now, even something that would have irreversible consequences later!
If she ran over there, wouldn't she be walking to her death?
"An annoying little girl. If you're so eager to die, I'll send you there!" Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, his murderous intent rising.
Neji had originally planned to wait until it was all over. But now, it looked like he had to show up in time to save them.
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Sakura looked at her fallen teammates. She was on the verge of a mental breakdown. Driven into a corner by fear, she was nearly frantic and didn't even notice the vicious snakes rushing toward her!
With a sharp "crack," a kunai flew past and struck the branch above, splitting it cleanly and sending it crashing down.
It landed right on the two snakes, pinning them beneath the branch.
With her path blocked, Sakura stared at the writhing, terrifying snakes. Only then did she come to her senses and retreat several steps.
Sakura looked to the side and saw someone standing not far away, walking toward her at an unhurried pace.
"Anbu?"
Sakura had never seen an Anbu so small. He was only a little taller than her, and she would have believed they were the same age.
"Heh heh heh... You again, boy? You really are troublesome!"
Orochimaru's hoarse voice made Sakura's scalp prickle.
"Take your teammates and leave. Take this!"
Sakura caught the object Neji threw her and looked at it. It was a Military Ration Pill, a ninja tool that could restore her stamina.
"But you..." Sakura gritted her teeth, unsure what to do.
Neji said, "Stop wasting time. If you don't leave, all your teammates will die. This guy is an S-rank wanted criminal. If you stay, you'll only get in my way."
Before you continue