- In Marvel: I Start by Marrying Scarlett Witch [Complete]
- MWM Chapter 136
When the exam participants heard that the Prince of the Fire Country had come personally to cheer them on, they immediately fixed their eyes on Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke.
“Big Brother Chuan, we’ll definitely win!”
Seeing that Leo had come specifically to support them, Naruto jumped up energetically, filled with excitement.
From childhood to now, everyone had their parents or family members accompanying and encouraging them through school and exams, except for him. So, naturally, he was thrilled that Leo had come to cheer them on.
Sakura, on the other hand, blushed and seemed to wish she could find a hole to hide in.
Her reaction was quite normal. Most children from happy families would respond similarly to such situations.
As for Sasuke, he turned his head away with a hint of arrogance, though a faint smile was visible at the corner of his mouth, which quickly turned into a look of cold determination.
He was similar to Naruto in that he became an orphan after his clan was destroyed. Naruto had always been lonely and disliked, while Sasuke, after enjoying the happiest family life, became a vengeful person with a deep-seated grudge.
So, initially, he felt the same inner joy as Naruto, but the sudden appearance of Leo, the warm older brother figure, reminded him of his brother Itachi.
Upon hearing that Leo had come to cheer on Naruto and his team, Anko nodded and continued explaining the rules of the Chunin Exams.
She knew that Leo was close to Naruto and his team, so his presence was not surprising.
Once all the rules were explained, the ninja teams from various villages began to draw scrolls and chose their entrances, numbered from one to twenty, to enter the Forest of Death.
“It seems there hasn’t been any change.”
Not long after Naruto and his team rushed into one entrance, Leo caught sight of the three ninjas from the Grass Village swiftly following them.
“Your Highness, the participants have all entered. Would you like to go to the tower to wait for the results with me, or would you prefer to return and come back after five days when the preliminary selection starts?”
Seeing that the last participant had entered the forest, Anko turned to Leo and asked.
Leo smiled:
“Let’s go now. I want to see which team arrives first. But before that, could we buy some glutinous rice balls and red bean soup?”
“Of course, Your Highness. Glutinous rice balls and red bean soup are the best combination.”
Hearing her favorite glutinous rice balls and red bean soup, Anko almost revealed her true self in front of the prince due to her excitement.
“I’ll treat you. Also, let’s bring some for Lord Hokage and Kakashi. They should be at the tower by now.”
About half an hour later, Tenzō and Anko, carrying a large bag of glutinous rice balls and red bean soup, returned with Leo to the entrance of Training Ground 44.
The half-hour delay to buy glutinous rice balls and red bean soup was mainly to time their arrival.
Otherwise, if they had gone directly to the tower, Orochimaru might not have had the chance to attack Sasuke and the others yet, and they would have arrived at the tower ahead of time, which would not fit his plan.
Now, it should be about right.
Choosing the entrance where Naruto’s team had entered, Leo and the others leaped from tree to tree toward the tower.
“Let’s slow down a bit so we don’t spill the red bean soup.”
Once inside the Forest of Death, Leo deliberately slowed their pace.
Anko, her mouth full of glutinous rice balls and a happy expression, and Tenzō, looking somewhat helpless, quickly nodded.
Even though Leo was treating them, and as a prince, he wouldn’t be tasked with carrying things, Anko carried over two hundred glutinous rice balls, eating and jumping, while Tenzō carefully carried over a hundred cups of red bean soup, trying to keep steady while leaping.
……
“Hiss~~”
Just a short while after entering the Forest of Death, Anko, who was eating glutinous rice balls, suddenly narrowed her eyes. She stopped abruptly, and the large bag of glutinous rice balls she was holding dropped with a thud to the ground.
Noticing the unusual disturbance, Leo glanced back and caught the falling rice balls, looking at Anko with feigned surprise:
“Anko, what’s wrong?”
Tenzō also stopped warily and quickly moved to protect Leo.
Anko touched the cursed seal on her neck, which had started to throb slightly, and murmured:
“I can feel it. It’s him. He’s here, nearby, not too far from us!”
“Who is it?”
Leo’s eyes lit up.
Anko’s gaze sharpened, her face taking on a serious expression as she said to Leo and Tenzō:
“It’s Orochimaru, the S-rank rogue ninja from Konoha. He’s an extremely dangerous individual. I can sense his approximate location. You two go to the tower immediately and notify Lord Hokage. Have him send reinforcements!”
Without waiting for a response, she dashed off in a specific direction.
“Tenzō, go inform Lord Hokage. I’ll see if I can be of any help.”
Leo tossed the glutinous rice balls to the still-stunned Tenzō and, leaving a quick message, chased after Anko.
Tenzō, holding over a hundred cups of red bean soup in one hand and fewer than two hundred glutinous rice balls in the other, was momentarily frozen in place.
Tenzō knew how dangerous Orochimaru was from his years in Root and ANBU. He was once one of the experimental subjects Danzo and Orochimaru used in their quest to revive Wood Release, and he was the only one who survived.
For the safety of Konoha, he should indeed follow Anko’s advice and immediately notify Lord Hokage, then send a large number of skilled ninjas to capture Orochimaru.
To prevent Orochimaru from targeting the exam participants or even assassinating the Third Hokage.
However, according to the Third Hokage’s orders, his priority now was to ensure Leo’s safety. If Leo, the prince of the Fire Country, were to die here, it would also be very detrimental to Konoha.
So he was truly caught in a dilemma.
After a moment of hesitation, he decided to head to the tower to inform the Third Hokage about Orochimaru.
Having reviewed Leo’s information and seeing his performance in the Land of Waves, Tenzō knew that Leo had shown strength on par with a Special Jounin. With Anko also being a Special Jounin, even if they couldn’t defeat one of the Legendary Three, they could at least delay and escape.
Therefore, the safety of all the exam participants and the Third Hokage took precedence.
With that thought, he jumped down from the tree, left the glutinous rice balls and red bean soup behind, and sprinted toward the tower.
Not long after he left, a girl with red hair dressed in Grass Ninja attire, who had lost her teammates and was crying, happened upon the tree.
Seeing the red bean soup and glutinous rice balls on the ground, she displayed an expression of disbelief.