"Hey! You're Natsuki, right?"
The sudden voice made Natsuki blink in confusion, and he quickly identified the speaker as Kankurō standing beside Gaara. So it was this guy who spoke up.
Naturally, his friends who were about to leave also paused, turning back instinctively to see what this Suna shinobi wanted.
Kankurō continued, "That sword you just used—the one that cracked and reford—what is it?"
Oh ho, fishing for intel? That's pretty bold. Asking the person directly in front of everyone?
Clearly, Natsuki's performance had unsettled the Suna nin. He was probably worried Natsuki would ss up their original plans.
But Natsuki didn't care. He casually replied, "That's the Mato Senren (Demonic Blade: Thousand Edges). Forged from over a thousand chakra shards, each shard is linked by chakra. With control over the chakra, I can split or reassemble the blade at will. It can stretch, shrink, or act like a thousand flying projectiles. Very versatile. Satisfied with that explanation, you puppet master Kankurō, hiding behind your mummy bandages?"
Kankurō's expression changed in surprise. He instinctively gripped the bandaged 'mummy' strapped to his back.
He originally wanted to probe Natsuki for so information, and figured the worst that would happen was that Natsuki wouldn't answer. But if he did answer, he'd score so intel.
He didn't expect Natsuki to actually give an answer... and then expose his identity in the process!
The surrounding friends and still-present examinees all turned to look at the bandaged mummy on Kankurō's back. So even grinned mischievously. Kankurō's face went dark.
Even Gaara couldn't help but curse, "Idiot."
Luckily, no one said more on the subject and soon returned their focus to Natsuki.
They rembered the image of Natsuki using that bizarre sword—bypassing Orochimaru's guard and nearly decapitating him.
Everyone got goosebumps.
The Mato Senren, huh?
A truly unique weapon... almost impossible to block!
With Natsuki already being so strong, and now wielding such an unconventional weapon, even Orochimaru suffered a loss. What chance did they stand?
This thought alone made so examinees, who were already shaken by Orochimaru's presence, start seriously considering quitting the exam. It was just too much pressure.
Natsuki didn't waste any more ti. He waved again to his friends, then left hand-in-hand with Tenten.
anwhile, the na Mato Senren spread rapidly throughout Konoha. So gossipmongers even gave Natsuki a new nickna: Konoha's Demonic Blade.
It was inspired by the na "White Fang of Konoha." Since Natsuki had studied the White Fang's kenjutsu and wielded such a mystical blade, Konoha no Madō felt like a fitting title.
Naturally, this brought back stories about the White Fang. Many village elders still felt guilt over the public backlash that had driven the White Fang to suicide, causing the loss of a powerful asset and arguably triggering Konoha's slow decline.
Fortunately, with Root disbanded, no one was manipulating public opinion now. The rumors stayed positive.
Danzo probably wouldn't care enough to pick a fight with a dead man.
So even ran to Tenten's family's ninja tools shop, pestering her parents to add the White Fang as a character in the Ninja Card Ga. It gave the poor shopkeepers a headache.
Natsuki didn't concern himself with any of this. The man was long dead. No amount of talk could change anything.
As for the Chūnin Exams, they would be delayed. All of Konoha needed a thorough sweep to ensure Orochimaru wasn't hiding sowhere. Only then could the exam resu. But such a search couldn't be done quickly—it would take days.
During this ti, missions were also on hold. Which ant: more training.
Rinya was dragged into extra practice by Aoba.
Even gumi didn't go to the hospital. She joined the training as well.
But the girl had beco rather anxious. She seed upset about not being able to help earlier. She had studied dical ninjutsu but hadn't even been able to identify the source of Anko's pain during the incident. It left her deeply frustrated.
In truth, it wasn't her fault. The cursed seal placed by Orochimaru wasn't sothing a normal dic-nin could handle. Even Kakashi could only suppress it with a forced sealing technique.
Still, gumi remained emotionally shaken.
Rinya had tried to comfort her, but failed. So he turned to Natsuki for help.
"Boss, I'm begging you! You're so amazing—you've gotta help cheer up gumi! She's super down, and if this keeps up, it's going to be bad! You're our team leader, after all!"
"You? Her boyfriend, and you can't do it? And now I have to?" Natsuki rolled his eyes in disbelief.
Still, he agreed.
gumi was part of Team Nine, and they'd be entering the Forest of Death together. If she stayed like this, it could be dangerous for her and the whole squad.
So Natsuki waited until Aoba was busy training Rinya and called gumi over alone.
He handed her a skewer of dango. Supposedly, sweets help calm people down.
"Thanks, boss," gumi murmured. She took a bite, and the sweet taste lit up her expression just a little.
"gumi," Natsuki said gently. "What's wrong? You've been off lately. That's not good. I know you're strong—you're the type who wants to handle everything on her own. But sotis, talking to a friend helps. I know you didn't want Rinya to worry, which is why you didn't talk to him. But you can talk to , right? I'm your leader—I can give you good advice."
gumi hesitated, then, seeing that Rinya was far away and wouldn't overhear, she finally began to speak, her voice a little shaky.
"...Boss, I feel useless."
"Why do you say that?"
Her expression dimd. "Back then... I couldn't help at all. I was so scared of Orochimaru, and I couldn't even treat Anko-sensei properly. I've been learning dical ninjutsu, but at that mont, I couldn't do anything. I'm just... useless."
So that's what it was!
People always say girls are emotional—and clearly, that's true.
But honestly, it wasn't just gumi. Most people were frozen with fear during that confrontation. So even fainted. Even soone like Sasuke, who calls himself a genius, was trembling like a leaf.
So really, her reaction was completely understandable.
But gumi didn't think so.
She wasn't like Sakura, who could just brush things off. gumi couldn't accept being useless.
She could accept being weak.
But not being useless.
She had been the only one to step up and try to treat Anko. Yet she couldn't even diagnose the condition. Her dical ninjutsu had felt aningless.
That's what hit her so hard.
This silly girl—no one blad her, yet she blad herself so harshly.
But that's exactly what makes her such a kind, compassionate, and hardworking person.
Rinya is one lucky guy...
(End of Chapter)
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