After forcing Orochimaru to retreat, Naruto's team pressed onward toward the central tower. With the combined strength of the three, no one aside from Orochimaru, who had slipped into the arena with Kage-level power could truly block their path.
This time, Hinata didn't use her Byakugan to scout, yet even so, two more unlucky teams happened to cross their path. They were swiftly dealt with, nothing more than obstacles swept aside as Naruto and the others advanced.
While they pushed through the forest, not far away, a red-haired girl stumbled across the ground, patting the dirt blindly as she fumbled for her glasses.
What she failed to notice was the hulking shadow looming over her. A massive bear had fixed its hungry gaze on her fragile form, drool dripping from its jaws as it crept closer.
By the time the girl managed to shove her glasses back onto her face, the first thing that came into focus was not safety but a monstrous bear's grin, jagged fangs glistening with saliva.
Nature's gift. A tender human delivered right to its claws.
The bear roared and raised its paw, heavy enough to crush a man's skull with a single swipe. It brought it down toward her head with lethal intent.
"Ahhh!" The girl's terrified scream ripped through the forest as she squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the end.
But the expected pain never came.
Instead, she heard a dull thud.
Trembling, she cracked one eye open.
The bear lay collapsed in front of her, lifeless. Standing above its corpse was a cold, dark-haired boy. The beast's head had been cleanly severed.
The boy's voice was calm, but icy. "What village are you from?"
"G–Grass… I'm from Grass…" The girl stammered, her voice trembling as she shrank back. Faced with someone who had casually slain such a massive creature, instinct demanded she answer honestly.
The moment the words left her lips, Sasuke's gaze sharpened. Not from Konoha. If that was the case, he had no reason to let her live.
"Where are your teammates?" he asked, his tone flat, as if already considering whether to eliminate them too.
"They… they were killed. By a Sand ninja," the girl whispered.
"Sand ninja?" Sasuke's eyes narrowed. A name came to mind immediately Gaara. "Was he the one with dark circles under his eyes?"
She nodded quickly. "Yes."
"Tch." Sasuke glanced at the fragile, trembling girl in front of him, his voice laced with disdain. "Trash like you isn't even worth killing."
Crouching, he hoisted the bear's corpse onto his shoulder with effortless strength. "This exam isn't for you. Leave."
He turned, ready to walk away with his prize, but before he could take a step, Naruto appeared at his side in a flash.
"Whoa! That's a big one!" Naruto's eyes lit up as he eyed the bear. "Those paws are huge. They'll taste amazing roasted! Thank you, nature, for your gift!"
He clasped his hands together in mock reverence, grinning widely.
The girl Lily stiffened at the sight of the blonde boy. Her body trembled violently as she buried her face into her chest, curling up like a frightened chick.
But her fear wasn't baseless. The chakra pouring off this boy… it was terrifying in its sheer volume. Warm, yes but overwhelming. A sea of power that dwarfed her own.
"Who is she?" Naruto asked offhandedly, glancing at Sasuke.
"Grass ninja. The only survivor of her squad," Sasuke replied.
"Oh." Naruto shrugged, resting a hand on Sasuke's shoulder. He was about to use Flying Thunder God to teleport them back but paused. His gaze flicked to the girl again.
"What's your name?" His tone was casual, but his eyes lingered on her crimson hair.
Such a color wasn't common.
"U–Uzumaki… Lily Uzumaki," she answered hesitantly, her voice almost a whisper.
For a moment, both Naruto and Sasuke froze.
Naruto's eyes narrowed slightly. He had seen old photos of his parents. His mother's hair was the same deep red. That was why he had asked.
"I see…" His lips curled into a small smile.
Then he tilted his head. "Oi, hungry?"
"Eh?" Lily blinked, confused. This boy wasn't going to kill her? Wasn't that how the world worked where the strong crushed the weak without a second thought?
"We're about to eat lunch. Come with us." Naruto pointed at the bear Sasuke carried.
"But… why?" She shrank back, instinct screaming at her not to trust anyone. Even if his chakra radiated warmth, even if some part of her wanted to believe him, Grass had taught her differently. She was nothing but a tool there a body to be used.
"Because you're an Uzumaki too," Naruto said simply, flashing her a smile that was both disarming and sincere.
Her eyes widened.
"U–Uzumaki?" she whispered, stunned. Aside from her mother, she had never met anyone else with that surname.
For reasons she couldn't explain, her walls cracked. She felt a flicker of trust born not of logic, but of blood. Surely another Uzumaki would not wish her harm.
"Will you join us?" Naruto asked again.
Her lips trembled, but this time she nodded. "Y–Yes."
Naruto grinned and clapped a hand on both her and Sasuke's shoulders. In the next instant, Lily was enveloped in a surge of chakra. Darkness swallowed her vision, then light returned, and she found herself somewhere entirely different.
A girl with pale eyes was waiting, quietly observing her.
"Hm? Hinata, this is someone I just met. She's an Uzumaki like me," Naruto explained.
Sasuke dumped the bear on the ground and immediately began preparing it for cooking.
Of course, eating hot food in the Forest of Death was reckless. The scent would attract beasts and other competitors alike.
But so what?
It wasn't arrogance. It was fact. There was no one in this exam who could take them down.
"An Uzumaki… related to Naruto?" Hinata tilted her head, her voice curious. A moment ago she'd been wondering why Naruto and Sasuke hadn't killed the other ninja they encountered. Now, it made sense.
"Something like that. My mom's side, maybe," Naruto said with a shrug. His father was just an ordinary man there was no clan connection there.
"Hinata, take her to wash up. After we eat, I'll take her out of the forest," Naruto instructed.
"Oh, and you don't still plan to keep taking the exam, right?" he added, glancing at Lily.
She shook her head furiously. "No. Please, just take me out. I never wanted to be here. I'm not strong enough. I was only dragged along… used as a blood bag by my teammates."
"Good." Naruto nodded.
Hinata's soft smile returned as she gently led Lily away to freshen up. Compared to the neat, clean trio, Lily was a pitiful sight covered in grime, her body riddled with wounds.
Meanwhile, Naruto and Sasuke turned their attention to their meal.
The bear's massive paws made Naruto practically drool as he brushed marinade and spices from a scroll across the meat.
"Think it's enough?" Sasuke asked, frowning slightly. Their appetites had grown enormous thanks to years of grueling training.
Naruto scratched his head. "Might need another one. I'll send a clone."
With a poof, a shadow clone darted off to hunt.
The forest was silent again, save for the crackle of fire.
"Hey, Sasuke," Naruto said suddenly.
"What?"
Sasuke looked up and a water balloon smacked him square in the face with a splash.
Naruto burst out laughing. "Pfft HAHAHA!"
"You idiot!" Sasuke snarled, retaliating as he scooped up a double handful of water from the river and hurled it at Naruto.
The Forest of Death, feared by so many, had become their playground.
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