I Was Just Checking His Body

Anko did not believe Kanami when he said Orochimaru was dead.

The Curse Mark on her neck was still there, proving that Orochimaru was not dead.

However, she did not suspect that Kanami had lied.

How could three Genin possibly kill Orochimaru, one of the legendary Legendary Sannin?

There was only one possibility: Orochimaru had held back for some reason and had not used his full strength.

And this Grass Ninja's body proved that he definitely had some other scheme, which was why he had concealed his identity and infiltrated the Forest of Death.

Kanami tossed the Grass Ninja's head toward Anko. "Then I'll be going."

"Wait. What's your name?"

It was here. Finally.

This was the moment Kanami had been waiting for.

"My name is Kanami."

Anko nodded. "All right, I'll remember you. Good luck with your exam."

She turned and headed in the direction indicated by the Curse Mark. Her desire to perish together with Orochimaru had not changed because of Kanami's mention of "dear disciple."

In her eyes, that was Orochimaru trying to lull Kanami and the others into lowering their guard so he could escape unnoticed.

After Anko left, Kanami met up with Fūka and Yuzuki, who had been waiting in the distance.

Fūka looked Kanami over from head to toe.

"Where's the head?"

Kanami pointed toward where he and Anko had been standing.

"There, over there. Go pick it up if you want it."

Remembering that shriveled head, Fūka shuddered and hurriedly shook her head. "I don't want it!"

"Then let's go. To the tower."

Kanami led the way, with Fūka and Yuzuki following behind him.

The three headed at a steady pace toward the tower in the center of the Forest of Death.

Teams occasionally leaped out to attack them, but with a casual wave of Kanami's hand, they were beaten until some died and others fled.

They did not encounter another powerful team along the way.

"We're here!"

Fūka excitedly embraced Yuzuki.

When Kanami pushed open the tower doors and entered, he found that someone had already arrived.

Kanami was not particularly surprised. He knew Gaara's team would be the first to arrive.

He simply had not expected that even after slowing down a little, his team would still be the second to reach the tower.

When Gaara saw Kanami and the other two enter, his hostile gaze drifted over Kanami.

"Gaara," Kankuro said quietly from beside him.

Gaara immediately turned his cold stare on Kankuro. The sparse sand around him began to swirl faintly.

Kankuro's expression soured as he avoided Gaara's gaze.

The sand around Gaara then settled back onto the ground.

Fūka blinked her beautiful eyes as she looked at Gaara, muttering inwardly.

He's the boy Kanami said we should run from the moment we see him, right?

She moved close to Kanami and whispered into his ear, "Can you beat him?"

I fought an Orochimaru who was holding back, and now you really think I'm invincible?

Kanami flicked her on the forehead.

"Shouldn't a girl be less belligerent?"

Fūka rubbed her reddened forehead and pouted. "I'm not a girl. I'm a ninja!"

Gaara cast a disgusted glance at Kanami's group before turning to leave.

Seeing him depart, Kankuro quickly asked, "Where are you going?"

Gaara swept him with a cold glance.

Under Gaara's gaze, Kankuro lowered his head, cold sweat streaming down his face. He did not dare ask any more questions.

But after Gaara had gone farther away, Kankuro still followed behind him with Temari.

Fūka was deeply confused by the sight and murmured:

"Aren't they on the same team?"

"Because he is very strong and has a twisted personality, even his brother and sister fear him from the bottom of their hearts. They are afraid he might suddenly kill them."

Kanami calmly answered her question.

Fūka considered this and said, "Very strong, twisted personality... that sounds like you."

Kanami rolled his eyes at her, then looked at Yuzuki. "Your sister does have a sense of humor."

Yuzuki smiled awkwardly along with them.

The three waited for a long time and only saw one more team arrive at the tower. All three of them bore varying degrees of injury.

It seemed they would not be seeing Hinata and the others.

After discussing it, Kanami, Fūka, and Yuzuki all left on their own for the time being.

The second day, the third day...

It was not until the final day that Hinata's group of three arrived at the designated tower.

Kanami, Yuzuki, and Fūka had already been waiting for them for quite some time.

Kiba Inuzuka waved at Kanami's group from afar.

"You guys really got here already."

Kanami nodded at him, passed by Kiba Inuzuka, and went to Hinata's side.

Seeing this, Kiba Inuzuka walked away unhappily.

That guy cares more about girls than friends!

"At least Akamaru is with me."

Hm?

"Where's Akamaru?"

Kiba looked down and discovered that the large dog that had just been in his arms had vanished without a trace.

Then he heard Fūka giggling.

He immediately understood. That damn lecherous dog had run into Fūka's arms again!

"Damn it, even you won't keep me company! Just wait until I get you neutered!"

Kanami rubbed Hinata's little head.

"You weren't hurt, were you?"

Hinata was very happy to see that Kanami had passed the exam as well.

"No. What about you?"

Kanami clutched his body and put on a pained expression. "I... I was hurt."

"Ah? Where? Let me see..."

Hinata's expression changed as she anxiously lifted his shirt.

The moment she accidentally saw his eight-pack abs, her fair little face instantly turned bright red.

She hurriedly turned her head away, but the corner of her eye still kept sneaking glances at his abs.

Then her little hand unconsciously touched them.

She could not help crying out inwardly.

So hard!

Kanami felt Hinata's cool little hand roaming restlessly over his abs. His whole body trembled, and he nearly failed to restrain little Kanami.

While Hinata was still feeling Kanami's abs, a head wearing dark sunglasses slowly poked out from the side.

"What... are you doing?"

Seeing Shino, Hinata hurriedly pulled her little hand from Kanami's embrace and hid it behind her back, trying to conceal the evidence.

The flush on her face instantly spread to her neck, and her body temperature rose sharply.

White steam could even be seen rising from above her head.

"I-I was helping Kanami check... check his injuries..."

Her voice was as quiet as a mosquito's, and she stammered before finally getting the words out.

Shino calmly adjusted his black sunglasses. "Oh? Kanami was injured?"

Ruining my good time again!

Kanami glared viciously at Shino.

"So what if you can use invisibility? Does having invisibility mean you can do whatever you want?"

"..."

Shino activated his invisibility technique and blended into the background again.

Mitaraishi Anko's voice rang out beside everyone's ears:

"Candidates, first of all, congratulations on passing the second stage of the exam."

Everyone turned to look. Once they recognized the newcomer, they instantly fell silent.

Because standing beside Anko was none other than the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Looking around, Kurenai Yuhi and Kakashi were there as well, along with several Jonin leading teams from other villages.

Anko spoke into her headset. "Next, we will invite the Hokage to introduce the third stage of the exam. Please listen carefully."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took several steps forward and coughed lightly.

"Cough. The third stage of the exam will begin next, but before that, I must make one thing clear to you."

"That is the purpose of this exam."