Only the orange-red sunset remained on the horizon.
Anko left, and the Anbu who had been with her left too.
The three kids leaned against a tree trunk and slumped to the ground, still shaken by what had just happened.
When Shinmoku walked over, Hinata edged closer to Shinna. She had seen him detonate the Explosive Tag without hesitation. Wasn't that person his teammate?
By comparison, Shinna was a little cold...
No, she was pretty scary too. She hadn't said a word, yet she'd been the first to attack.
"What's wrong?" Seeing Hinata duck her head like a fledgling, Shinmoku reassured her. "It's okay. Orochimaru's already gone."
"Mm..."
His reassurance didn't seem to help. Knowing that was just how she was, Shinmoku didn't say anything more.
Darkness swallowed the forest.
"Our cooperation is over. Are you leaving, or coming with us?"
"Coming with you!"
Inuzuka Kiba was still shaken. He also took back all the disparaging things he'd thought about Shinmoku. He knew all about the Konoha Sannin.
"Good. Let's rest and set out again tomorrow morning."
He still had plenty of chakra, but he didn't like traveling at night unless it was necessary.
With Hinata's Byakugan, they found a spot where tree roots twisted and intertwined, and took shelter in a hollow.
Once the three kids had finished setting traps,
"Shadow Clone Technique."
"Demonic Illusion: False Surroundings Technique."
According to Orochimaru, he had already placed the Heaven Curse Seal on Sasuke. Since he was one of their own, Shinmoku should go check on him.
But Shinmoku needed to rest, so he could only send a clone.
"Tch~"
Their thoughts were in sync. Though the clone was pretty annoyed, there was nothing else he could do.
"Time to sleep!"
Shinmoku summoned sleeping bags, but the others didn't move. They just stared at him blankly.
"...You don't bring the necessities for survival when you go out?"
"We don't know Summoning Technique," Inuzuka Kiba replied.
"What about you?" Shinmoku asked Shinna.
"You didn't remind me," she said, turning the blame back on him.
"Oh, sorry."
"Gurgle~"
"Whose stomach is growling?"
"M-mine," Hinata said softly.
He'd forgotten they had a big eater with them.
"Summoning Technique!"
Water, instant noodles, hardtack...
"Fire Release."
Well, he'd become their babysitter.
Once they'd eaten their fill,
For comfort, Shinmoku had bought an extra-large deluxe sleeping bag. It could fit two adults if they squeezed together, so there was no need to argue over who got to use it.
Shinna and Hinata crawled inside, with the older girl holding the younger one.
While the main group rested, the clone had already found Sasuke.
He was unconscious, as was Uzumaki Naruto beside him. Sakura, barely keeping her eyes open, was watching over them.
There were also a few clumsy traps.
After going around them, Shinmoku crouched beside Sasuke, wanting to see what the Heaven Curse Seal looked like.
He was probably about as strong as an ordinary Jonin now. The difference between an elite Jonin and an ordinary one was that the former usually had a signature trump card or mastered special techniques such as Sealing Jutsu or Space-Time Ninjutsu.
He didn't know any of those, so he could only take a look.
"Swish—"
A Kunai suddenly slashed toward him. Shinmoku tilted his head back. Sakura's expression was tense, but then she relaxed.
"Oh, it's you. Sorry."
"...Go to sleep. I'll watch over you until dawn."
"Thank you."
She really did look exhausted. As soon as she finished speaking, she fell asleep.
Honestly, he'd gone off to rest himself and left me with this lousy job. The clone sat down cross-legged.
Time ticked by. As the sky began to brighten, Sakura suddenly sat bolt upright.
"Thank goodness, it wasn't a dream."
She patted her chest and sighed with relief.
"Well, goodbye."
The clone formed a hand seal and vanished in a wisp of white smoke.
"Goodbye," Sakura said to the air. Then she picked up her Kunai. "From here on, I have to rely on myself!"
When the memories returned, Shinmoku was dispelling the illusion.
The clone had done the right thing. Babysitting them in everyday life was fine, but doing so in battle would only put them in danger.
Facing the rising sun, the group set off for the Central Tower.
They encountered a few ninja along the way, but when they saw the group of five—including two Uchiha—they all backed off.
It was only the second day of the exam. Even if they hadn't gotten a scroll, they weren't desperate enough to go crazy.
They reached the Central Tower without incident. After they opened the scroll, the Summoning Technique called forth two figures.
Waiting for Hinata and the others was their teacher, Kurenai Yuhi.
Waiting for Shinmoku and Shinna was Mitaraishi Anko, whom they'd just seen the day before.
"Congratulations on passing the second exam," Kurenai said warmly to her team. Then she looked at Shinmoku and Shinna. "And thank you for protecting my students."
"But," Anko interjected, "I hope you'll keep what happened in the Forest of Death confidential. That's the Hokage's order."
"Sure." Shinmoku had no objections.
"Also," Anko continued, "the Hokage asked me to tell you that there won't be any more Anbu following you."
"Okay."
He'd refused Orochimaru right in front of both sides. If they were still going to keep an eye on him, he'd really have to consider switching sides.
"So, did you come here purely to deliver the Hokage's order?" Shinmoku asked with a bright smile. "Or did you also want to see me? Your injury must still be quite a hassle, right?"
"???"
Kurenai Yuhi, standing nearby, was stunned.
Was this... flirting?
"Guess."
"No."
Shinmoku answered at once.
"Hmph!" Anko sneered. "There are still four days until the exam ends. Make sure you get some proper rest before then. The third exam is going to be brutal."
As she said this, she didn't look at Shinmoku. He was a little too strong. It wouldn't be fun if he turned the teasing back on her.
Shinmoku smiled faintly.
Gaara would be troublesome, but without Tailed Beast Transformation, he'd be manageable. The one he really needed to watch out for was Shinna beside him.
Her genjutsu could hold Orochimaru in place for two seconds, and her Fire Release and Water Release were just as powerful. Hopefully, he wouldn't draw her.
The four days flew by.
At the Konoha Arena, everyone who had passed the third round of the exam gathered.
There were twenty-three of them: the Konoha Twelve, the Sand Siblings, the Sound Genin Trio, Kabuto Yakushi's team, and the two of them.
After the Third Hokage's long-winded speech, Gekko Hayate stepped forward.
"Cough, cough—before the third exam, we'll first hold a preliminary round."
His words caused an uproar.
"A preliminary round?"
"Why can't we go straight to the third exam?"
"Because... cough, cough, there are a lot of participants, so we need to eliminate half of them first. Cough, cough... Is anyone feeling unwell and wishing to withdraw?"
After a commotion, Kabuto Yakushi raised his hand.
Orochimaru himself was here. He had no reason to continue.
"Cough, cough... Anyone else? If not, we'll begin."