Not far from Haruto, a red-haired girl was sprinting frantically through the dense forest, with several Sunagakure Genin in hot pursuit.
"Catch that Kusagakure ninja!"
"Don't let her get away—our teammates' lives depend on her!"
The Sand ninja shouted while closing in from all directions.
Suddenly, a white-furred beast with black limbs lunged out from the bushes, pounced on the leading pursuer, and bit off his head in a single snap.
"What the—?!" The Sand ninja froze in terror.
What kind of monster was this? It killed their strongest member instantly?!
Terrifying!
"Retreat!"
Panicking, the remaining Sunagakure ninja turned and fled. During their time in the Forest of Death, they had encountered countless enemies and beasts, but nothing as vicious and bloodthirsty as this creature.
The sight of the beast's blood-covered fangs sent chills down their spines. Not even the harsh desert of the Wind Country held monsters like this!
"Why is something this dangerous allowed in a Genin-level exam?!"
"I never want to take the Chūnin Exam again!"
While the red-haired girl gasped for breath after stumbling to the ground, the beast—its white and black fur soaked in blood—slowly turned toward her.
Its glowing eyes locked onto her trembling form.
"It's over… I'm going to die here, huh?" she muttered.
Paralyzed with fear, she couldn't move. The creature's menacing presence overwhelmed her.
"Maybe... maybe I was never meant to be a ninja anyway. Might as well end here."
Her breathing calmed, and she closed her eyes, surrendering to what she thought was fate.
The beast crept closer.
Closer. Closer.
She could feel its breath on her cheek, humid and hot, with the faint tang of blood and raw meat.
In her final moments, memories surged—her painful childhood in the Land of Grass, her mother's constant exhaustion, the strange bite marks on her body, and the truth about their Uzumaki bloodline.
She recalled her mother's words on her deathbed:
"Never let anyone know about your body. Survive."
But even she was found out eventually. Her teammates had exposed her healing ability to Sunagakure ninja in desperation, and then... they were executed anyway.
Alone. Hunted.
"At least now I'll be free... Mom, I'm coming to see you..."
And yet—nothing.
A warm, sticky sensation spread across her cheek.
She cracked one eye open—
Lick. Lick.
"Huh?!"
The beast was licking her face!
"A—ahhhhhhh!!"
A piercing scream erupted from her throat, scattering birds from the nearby trees.
Startled, the beast flinched and fell over, legs flailing helplessly in the air.
Pfft!
Watching the awkward creature struggle with its stubby limbs to roll over, the girl couldn't help but laugh. It was... actually kind of cute?
She had completely forgotten it had just decapitated someone.
"You stupid pig!" came a sharp voice.
The redhead turned and spotted a laid-back young man approaching with one hand on his forehead.
Haruto.
He stood there with lazy smile, clearly exasperated.
"So useless! Can't even turn over after acting all fierce a second ago."
He pulled a yellow croaker from his space ring and tossed it up.
In a flash, the beast—somersaulted into the air and snatched the fish with practiced precision.
The red-haired girl was stunned. "...Handsome..."
"Oi, you alright?" Haruto raised a brow as she swooned in place.
"Benefactor!" She suddenly grabbed his arm, eyes gleaming. "I'm Karin. Fourteen. Single. Do you have a girlfriend?!"
"..."
Haruto looked down, expression deadpan.
He wanted to scream: Are you serious? You were just about to die!!
"Cough!" He gently pulled his arm from her grasp and cleared his throat.
"Miss Karin, you're still in the middle of the Chūnin Exam, aren't you?"
"I forfeit!" she replied without hesitation, as if she'd been waiting for the chance.
"My teammates are dead, and there's no way I'm passing alone," she said with an oddly light tone—relieved, even.
"Then… are you a participant too, benefactor? Want to team up?"
Before he could answer, she'd already latched onto his arm again, acting as if he had agreed.
"..."
End of the Chapter.
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