On the third day of the exam, Kurotsuchi's team was searching for a new hiding spot and additional supplies. However, after two days of consumption, the number of available supplies had significantly decreased, leaving them empty-handed for half a day.
"Wait, there's someone fighting up ahead," Karin suddenly stopped and looked toward the north.
"How many people?" Kurotsuchi asked.
"Two teams, six people in total. Their chakra levels are all quite strong, comparable to ours," Karin replied with some disbelief. She had thought their team was already quite powerful, but now they had unexpectedly encountered two equally formidable teams.
"Let's go take a look. Although it's not yet time to start fighting according to the plan, taking advantage of the situation to eliminate two strong opponents wouldn't be a bad idea," Suigetsu said excitedly, his large sword slung over his back.
Of course, Suigetsu's real motivation was simply his desire to fight, but his reasoning sounded convincing enough.
Hearing this, Kurotsuchi nodded. "Stay close to me. I'll use Earth Release to sneak us over quietly."
On the other side, the two battling teams consisted of the "Family Trio" (Temari, Kankurō, and Gaara) and Neji's team (Neji, Tenten, and Rock Lee).
"Rotation!" Neji was forced to use his signature move to fend off the combined assault of Temari and Kankurō.
Compared to the three opponents, Neji's team was at a clear disadvantage. Even if Rock Lee removed his weights, his base strength was only at the level of an average Chūnin. Tenten, on the other hand, was in an even worse position. After her family's bankruptcy, she no longer had the luxury of using an abundance of ninja tools, leaving her as a burden to the team.
As for the Family Trio, all three of them were at the level of elite Chūnin. Kankurō, with his three puppets, could even reach Jōnin-level combat power, allowing them to dominate Neji's team.
Hmm?
Neji furrowed his brows slightly before a plan formed in his mind. His Byakugan had just spotted something interesting—a strong team lurking nearby, clearly waiting to take advantage of the situation.
In that case, they could pretend to surrender and retreat, letting the two other teams fight it out before returning to claim victory as the true fishermen of the situation.
"We surrender. Here are the map scrolls we've collected. Take them," Neji said, throwing out three map scrolls. Thanks to his Byakugan, he had a natural advantage in these kinds of situations.
"Hmph! The grudge between us and you despicable Konoha ninjas is far more than just a simple matter of scrolls," Kankurō said coldly, though his tone carried a hidden fury.
Beside him, Temari's attitude was equally hostile.
"Temari, Kankurō, don't do this!" Gaara stepped forward, speaking in a calm and gentle tone. "This is all part of Danzo's schemes; it has nothing to do with them."
"How can it have nothing to do with them? As long as they're Konoha ninjas, they're all accomplices!" Kankurō shouted, his voice filled with rage. His words left Neji and his team momentarily stunned.
What was going on here?
However, as soon as Neji heard Danzo's name, he immediately understood. Based on what that old thief had done to the Hyūga Clan, it was easy to imagine the despicable and shameless methods he'd used against the people of Sunagakure.
Realizing that the situation couldn't be resolved peacefully, Neji and his teammates once again assumed fighting stances.
"Rock Lee, protect Tenten later. We'll look for an opportunity to retreat," Neji suggested, making the most rational choice.
"No! Let me cover the retreat," Rock Lee stepped forward, beginning to unwind the bandages on his hands.
"Rock Lee, no!"
The three of them were still arguing when an unexpected development occurred. Gaara walked up to Temari and Kankurō, bowed deeply, and said, "Sister! Brother!"
"I will definitely take revenge on Danzo for this, but please, I beg you, don't let this hatred continue to spread endlessly."
Temari and Kankurō were stunned by Gaara's plea, and after a moment, Kankurō withdrew his puppet, Crow, and spoke in an irritated tone to Neji's team. "Well? What are you waiting for? Get lost!"
"Let's go!" Neji quickly led Rock Lee and Tenten away, a strange feeling welling up in his heart.
Was that person called Gaara? He had let them go for such a ridiculous reason. Was this just luck?
No, it wasn't luck. It was nothing more than the arrangement of fate.
However, their plan to act as fishermen was now pointless, so they decided to leave the area altogether.
After Neji's team left, Kankurō bent down to pick up the scrolls on the ground. "Three scrolls—this is a great haul."
Although he had already decided to join Amegakure, until things were finalized, they still needed to make contingency plans. During the exam, collecting as many map scrolls as possible would give Sunagakure a better chance at securing territory if things didn't go as planned.
"Hey, they're technically on our side now. Do we really need to fight them?"
"Let's not. The scrolls don't matter to us anyway," Karin said. After all, participating in the Chūnin Exams was just a cover, and their performance in the exam had no impact on the upcoming Konoha Collapse Plan.
"No, I need to teach that puppet guy a lesson," Kurotsuchi said as she revealed herself.
"It's you?" Gaara and his siblings were initially startled but quickly lowered their guard.
"Hey, puppet boy! Fight me!" Kurotsuchi pointed directly at Kankurō.
"Tch!"
"The petty malice of a jealous girl, huh?" Kankurō immediately realized what this was about—payback for his earlier disrespect toward Deidara.
But wasn't he the one who had been punished back then? Even if he had been rude, hadn't the matter already been settled?
"Kurotsuchi, why not let me handle him for you?" Suigetsu offered eagerly.
"Hmm?"
"Fine, you can do it," Kurotsuchi said, her piercing gaze making Suigetsu shrink back. He slung his large sword over his shoulder and dejectedly stepped aside to wait.
"Careful! My Crow puppet is very strong," Kankurō said, as chakra threads shot from his ten fingers and attached to various parts of his puppet.
Kurotsuchi smirked, deliberately provoking him. "Really? I couldn't tell. You can't even beat a wooden doll."
Kankurō: "..."
"Take this!"
"Earth Release: Splitting Earth Turning Palm!"
Cracks appeared beneath Kankurō's feet, but he leapt nimbly into the air, grabbing onto Crow to fly. Crow's mouth opened, releasing a barrage of nearly invisible needles.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
A stone wall rose to block the needles, while Kurotsuchi herself burrowed underground, leaving only an Earth Clone in her place.
Clang!
Crow's ribcage released gleaming blades that sliced through the Earth-Style Wall like tofu, aiming for Kurotsuchi's supposed hiding spot.
"You're finished!" Kankurō laughed as his puppet shredded Kurotsuchi's clone. But his laughter quickly turned into a cry of surprise as Kurotsuchi's real body emerged from behind and punched him, sending him flying.
"Ah!"
"You're too strong! As expected of Lord Deidara's girlfriend—I surrender," Kankurō said weakly, lying on the ground.
Kurotsuchi crossed her arms, dissatisfied. "You're making it seem like I'm being unreasonable."
"Isn't that the case?" Suigetsu muttered under his breath.
"Suigetsu!" Kurotsuchi glared at him.
Just as she was about to say something more, Karin suddenly cried out, drawing everyone's attention.
"Enemies are approaching!"
"They're strong! This chakra level is definitely Jōnin-level or higher!"
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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