Chunin Ninja Exams 5

Cloud Thunder Gorge had unique terrain.

The twelve peaks used for this exam stood apart from one another in a straight line, stretching deeper and deeper into Cloud Thunder Gorge.

The three suspension bridges at the initial entrance were each separated by several hundred meters.

Other than the first peak's entrance, which had three suspension bridges, every peak after that had only one bridge connecting it to the next.

Kakashi and the other two left their original ambush spot and arrived near the suspension bridge between the Fourth Peak and Fifth Peak.

They found a high vantage point where they could spot anyone entering Fifth Peak immediately.

Watching people occasionally arrive from Fourth Peak while the Sand Village ninja never appeared, Inuzuka Kawa, who was beginning to lose patience, asked Kakashi.

"Kakashi, do you think that puppeteer might not be moving forward anymore? We haven't seen him for so long."

"He will. His real target should be me. Until he finds me, he won't stop moving forward." Kakashi's answer reassured Inuzuka Kawa.

The three continued waiting patiently until sunset.

Kakashi even saw Kitsuchi leading two teammates across the bridge at an unhurried pace.

Unlike the other examinees, Kitsuchi and his team had already gathered three scrolls, with one extra besides. Even while crossing the suspension bridge, when they were especially vulnerable to attack, Kitsuchi did not seem worried in the slightest.

The chance of a group of Genin posing any danger to him without damaging the suspension bridge was practically nonexistent.

Having stepped off the suspension bridge, Kitsuchi quickly noticed Kakashi's group observing from above.

Sensing the surging "chakra" within Kakashi, Kitsuchi's interest was piqued. So far, Kakashi was the competitor who had caught his attention the most.

"Everyone from Stone Village, the opponent we're waiting for isn't you. Of course, if you're eager to settle things now, I'll gladly oblige."

Standing proudly on the steep cliffside, Kakashi spoke down to Kitsuchi.

"Interesting. Are you waiting for Sand Village's puppeteer?"

Having heard the news along the way, it was not difficult for Kitsuchi to guess why Kakashi was here.

"Fine, then. Saving an interesting opponent for later is its own kind of pleasure. I look forward to facing the winner between you and Sand Village in the later rounds."

Seeing that the two sides had already reached a tense standoff, Kitsuchi was happy to play the fisherman.

"Should we stay and watch their fight, Captain?"

"There's no need. We'll face the winner in the third round anyway. As for their abilities, I don't think any Genin can defeat me."

"That's true." The three Stone Village ninja quickly left the bridgehead and headed deeper inside.

"He's here! This guy..."

Aburame Haru was the first to spot him. She had even placed scouting insects on the far side of the bridge.

The information relayed by the insects made Aburame Haru freeze.

"If he has other teammates, you two hold them back. Once I deal with Sasori, I'll support you."

Kakashi, who had been sitting, slowly rose to his feet.

Then he abruptly paused, and his killing intent surged wildly.

Confused, Inuzuka Kawa looked at the strange pair beside him.

In Kakashi's perception, Sasori was approaching from afar and slowly crossing the suspension bridge.

A male puppet followed behind him, holding a rope in its hand. The rope was tied around the ankle of a blood-covered Konoha ninja, dragging him across the ground.

After being dragged all that way, Yoshiu Kawama's clothes had long since been worn through, leaving a dark red trail behind him.

The sight was what enraged Kakashi and made his killing intent spill forth.

Without another word, he flashed forward and landed near the bridgehead.

"I finally found you, Hatake Kakashi!" Sasori's expression was bloodthirsty as he stared fixedly at Kakashi, like a shark that had caught the scent of blood.

"So first, do you want to save your companion?"

Manipulating his puppet, he flung Yoshiu Kawama in front of Kakashi.

Kakashi lowered his gaze to Yoshiu Kawama, whose entire body was covered in blood and whose mind had long since become delirious.

Kakashi felt a faint sense of guilt. If not for the grudge between himself and Sasori, Yoshiu Kawama would never have suffered such inhuman torment.

Rather than rashly checking his condition, Kakashi signaled with his eyes for Aburame Haru to send her insects forward.

Sure enough, the moment several insects touched Yoshiu Kawama's skin, they immediately died and flipped onto their backs.

"Tch... I didn't expect you to be so cowardly and afraid of death." Seeing that his poisonous scheme had failed, Sasori was clearly displeased.

"Do you want to save him? It's simple. Just send chakra into his body, control the poison sac I placed in his lungs, and remove it. Then your companion might still have a chance."

Sasori, who did not find his actions the least bit twisted, explained how to save Yoshiu Kawama with faint excitement in his voice.

"Oh? You're telling me the method so easily?"

Kakashi, who did not believe Sasori could possibly be so kind, remained unmoved.

After going through shock and rage, Inuzuka Kawa now appeared somewhat anxious.

"Hey, Kakashi. Are we really not going to save Senior Yoshiu?"

He knew that treating Yoshiu Kawama now would consume quite a bit of chakra. But standing by and doing nothing while watching a companion die before his eyes was something Inuzuka Kawa could not do either.

"Kawa, calm down. The enemy's words may not be trustworthy," Aburame Haru advised from beside him.

"I'll take him down first, then force him to reveal the antidote."

"But what if Senior Yoshiu can't hold on that long?"

"If we fall for a trap because of a moment of compassion, then the only thing waiting for us—and Senior Yoshiu—is certain death."

At that point, Kakashi looked at Inuzuka Kawa with a stern expression.

"If you stay this irrational, sooner or later... you'll get us all killed. Stop acting like such a child."

Hearing Kakashi's merciless words, Inuzuka Kawa's face turned deathly pale, and he stood there in a daze.

"I didn't care before. It was only natural for you to seek revenge on me. But now, you disgust me. Back then, he should have put your whole family together."

Slowly drawing the short blade from his back, Kakashi walked toward Sasori one step at a time.

Seeing that none of his schemes had worked, Sasori inwardly sighed in regret.

He had not expected the plan he had painstakingly prepared for so long to be useless, while Kakashi's simple words would break through his defenses so easily.

"Hmph, are all Konoha ninja only good at talking?" His ten fingers began twitching rapidly.

Two puppets charged at Kakashi at high speed.

"Haru, watch over Kawa and Senior Yoshiu. Leave this guy to me."

Kakashi had originally intended to have Haru assist him, but his anger had flared up, and they now had two burdens to protect. Inuzuka Kawa was clearly unsettled and unfit for battle.

"I know!"

Easily dodging the shuriken fired from the male puppet's mouth, Kakashi rapidly closed in on Sasori.

Knowing a puppeteer's weakness, Kakashi's strategy had been obvious from the start.

Capture the leader first.

Who cared whether Sasori controlled two people or a hundred?

One slash to take his head, and it would all be over.