Support me in Patreon.
A Kusagakure ninja wearing a conical hat looked at Sasuke's back, his eyes full of greed.
"Is this the same eye technique that Itachi used?!" the Kusagakure ninja murmured. "Although Sasuke has these eyes, he hasn't truly mastered the power of the Mangekyō yet."
The Kusagakure ninja stuck out his long tongue and licked the edge of his mouth, eyes gleaming with hunger like a coiling serpent.
Central Tower.
An invigilator suddenly appeared and whispered something in Anko Mitarashi's ear.
"What?!" Anko's expression turned grim. "This happened right at the start of the exam? Damn it!"
"You—go report to Haruto-sama. The rest of you, come with me!" Anko ordered without hesitation, immediately dashing out with her team of proctors.
The messenger ninja gave a small nod and quickly turned, heading toward the village.
He had heard of Haruto—the enigmatic owner of the Golden Egg Shop who had recently become a legend among Konoha's shinobi.
Still, it puzzled him.
Why go to Haruto instead of reporting to the Hokage first?
But the urgency in Anko's tone left no room for doubt. Orders were orders.
Golden Egg Shop.
Haruto lounged comfortably on a recliner, fishing lazily beside his indoor pond, looking almost like a civilian.
Suddenly, someone shouted at the shop's entrance.
"Haruto-sama! There's an emergency at the Chūnin Exams! Anko-sama sent me!"
"Come in and speak," Haruto said with a stretch, barely turning his head.
The door swung open, and a flustered Chūnin rushed in.
"Sir, several Genin corpses have been discovered outside the Forest of Death. Judging by the state of decay, they were killed days ago. Anko-sama suspects an intruder may have assumed their identities."
Haruto blinked, still reclining as he rubbed sleep from his eyes.
At his feet, the iron-eating beast—Konoha's odd but beloved mascot—merrily devoured a fish from the bucket.
The Chūnin hesitated. This was the one everyone was relying on?
He seemed no older than the Genin in the exams...
But the moment Haruto's eyes narrowed, a chill ran through the room.
"So, Orochimaru finally makes his move," Haruto murmured with a smirk. Then, in an instant, he vanished.
The Chūnin gaped at the empty chair, sweat beading on his forehead.
Outside the Forest of Death.
Anko crouched over the corpses of three Genin. Their bodies were bloodied and partially decomposed.
"They entered shortly after Kakashi's team," Anko said, her voice cold. "Orochimaru... I should've known you'd try something."
"The impersonator likely used a transformation jutsu. But why target this exam specifically?" another proctor asked.
"Should we suspend the exam?" a young Chūnin asked nervously.
Before Anko could reply, a casual voice floated in.
"No need."
Everyone turned in unison.
Haruto stood behind them, clad in a loose black robe, expression unreadable.
"You're here!" Anko's face lit up, eyes softening as she stepped forward.
"Continue with the exams," Haruto instructed. "This isn't your fight."
"But—"
"Do as he says!" Anko barked at the others. "He's not just a shopkeeper!"
"Yes, ma'am!" The proctors moved out immediately, resuming their positions.
Haruto leaned closer to Anko, lifting her chin with a sly smirk.
"I like that tone. You've earned yourself a reward."
"W-What kind of reward?" Anko muttered, blushing faintly.
"Stop by the shop tonight, and find out." Haruto chuckled and disappeared once more.
Anko's cheeks burned as she watched him go.
"Ugh, that jerk... Always teasing me."
Above the Forest of Death.
Haruto floated silently, surveying the battlefield.
The teams were progressing well.
"Good... It seems my little investments are paying off," he murmured.
Most of Konoha's Genin teams had already collected their scrolls and were en route to the central tower.
But then Haruto frowned.
"Naruto's team... where are they?"
He scanned the forest but saw no sign of Naruto, Sasuke, or Sakura.
Had they already passed? No... that didn't feel right.
His attention shifted.
He spotted Gaara, stalking through the forest like a bloodthirsty predator.
Behind him, Temari struggled to carry the unconscious Kankuro, blood staining her clothes.
Behind them, a trail of corpses.
Shinobi from every village lay crushed and mangled, yellow sand still clinging to their broken forms.
"Well, well..." Haruto narrowed his eyes.
"Looks like Gaara didn't take his defeat lightly."
Haruto's gaze shifted again—and narrowed sharply.
Across the forest, a figure moved alone, cloaked and unfamiliar.
His chakra was... odd.
"And who might you be?" Haruto whispered, eyes gleaming.
"I didn't expect her to be here... This year's exam might just be the most entertaining one yet."
End of the Chapter.
Read 175 +Chapters:- patreon.com/Novelmaker
Update Schedule: 7 Chapter/week.
Every 300 Power Stones+1 (5 ⭐ Review)
= 1 Chapter+1Chapter
By voting with [power stones], you can easily get double the number of chapters
Special update of Upto 15+Chapters on Patreon Stay tuned.