Chapter 236: 235
Haruto and his team moved through the dense forest, their footsteps barely making a sound as they approached the chakra signatures ahead. With Haruto's enhanced chakra sensitivity, they had tracked the other team without being detected. As they got closer, the headbands of the opposing team became visible through the trees.
Hidden Sound? Haruto's thoughts immediately raced. In the anime, the Hidden Sound village didn't exist until Orochimaru created it long after he went rogue. But here, in the world he lived in now, the Hidden Sound was already competing in the Chunin Exams—and Orochimaru hadn't even defected from Konoha yet. Has Orochimaru already begun moving in the shadows, or is this village yet to fall under his control? Haruto wondered. This world is different.
His eyes narrowed as he signaled to Shisui and Daichi, preparing them for the confrontation ahead. There was no time to dwell on the differences between this reality and the anime he once knew—they had a mission to complete.
The team moved closer, Haruto casting a genjutsu over the Hidden Sound team. Two of the three genin fell under the illusion instantly, their bodies locking up as their minds were ensnared. However, the third ninja reacted faster than Haruto had anticipated, breaking free of the genjutsu with a burst of chakra.
Before the Sound ninja could retaliate, Shisui's Sharingan activated with a flicker. In the blink of an eye, he closed the distance, casting his own genjutsu. This time, the third ninja was unable to resist, and his movements ceased as he was pulled into the illusion.
Daichi acted swiftly, creating three shadow clones. Each clone held a shuriken to the throats of the Sound ninjas, ensuring they couldn't escape. Realizing they were trapped, the Sound team's leader raised a Heaven scroll in submission.
Shisui took the scroll, giving a brief nod to the Sound team. Haruto kept his senses sharp, watching them closely to ensure they didn't try anything as Shisui led their team away toward the tower.
As they moved through the forest, Haruto's thoughts wandered back to the anomaly of the Hidden Sound's early presence. Orochimaru hasn't gone rogue yet, he thought, but his influence is already beginning to take root. This world isn't the same as the one I know. I need to stay sharp—who knows how much has already changed.
Soon, the dense trees gave way to a clearing, revealing the massive tower standing tall ahead of them. Haruto's heart skipped a beat as the structure loomed, signifying the end of the second phase of the exam. They had made it this far, and though exhaustion tugged at their limbs, the sight of the tower brought a sense of accomplishment. But that feeling quickly faded as Haruto noticed they weren't alone.
Another team had arrived before them.
Standing near the entrance to the tower was a group from the Hidden Sand, led by a familiar figure: Rasa. Even as a young genin, Rasa stood out with his short, auburn hair and sharp amber eyes that gleamed with an air of quiet authority. He had a lean, athletic build, wrapped in the traditional beige garb of the Hidden Sand, with a forehead protector gleaming under the light. Though Rasa was only around eleven years old, his posture and calm demeanor suggested someone far more experienced. Haruto recognized him immediately. In the anime, Rasa would go on to become the Fourth Kazekage, a man who wielded the rare Gold Dust technique. But here, Rasa was still young—formidable, but not yet the ruthless leader he would one day become.
Next to Rasa stood another familiar face: Pakura of the Scorch Release. She appeared to be a couple of years older, perhaps around thirteen or fourteen. Pakura had long, dark brown hair tied back in a neat ponytail, her sharp teal eyes scanning the area with the vigilance of a seasoned shinobi. Her figure was slender but deceptively strong, her Hidden Sand attire fitting closely to her athletic frame. Haruto remembered her from the anime—Pakura, a shinobi known for her devastating Scorch Release, who had later been betrayed by her own village. Here, she was calm and composed, already a shinobi to be feared.
But it was the third member of Rasa's team who caught Haruto's attention the most. He didn't recognize this one. The ninja was wrapped almost entirely in bandages, his face hidden beneath a dark hood that cast shadows over his features. Only his sharp eyes were visible below the headband, cold and emotionless, scanning the area like a predator waiting for prey. His presence gave off an unsettling vibe, as if violence was always a hair's breadth away. Haruto's unease only grew as those cold eyes briefly locked with his before moving on.
Haruto's team stopped a few paces away, and for a moment, the two groups simply stood there, sizing each other up. Pakura was the first to acknowledge them, her teal eyes lingering on Haruto's team a second longer than necessary before turning back to Rasa. The bandaged ninja's gaze remained on the tower, indifferent to their presence.
Rasa's amber eyes finally flickered in their direction, meeting Haruto's with a calm, assessing gaze. For a moment, it felt as if the entire clearing was holding its breath. Rasa's stare was intense, not hostile but calculating, as though he was weighing Haruto's worth. After a few seconds, Rasa turned his gaze away, refocusing on the tower without a word.
Haruto let out a quiet breath, keeping his face neutral as they made their way toward the tower's entrance. We're second to arrive, he noted. Rasa and Pakura… both future powerhouses. We're up against some of the strongest shinobi in the world, and they're just kids right now.
As the group entered the tower, Haruto's thoughts drifted to the next phase of the exam. If this follows the same pattern as the anime… the next stage is the final test—the one-on-one battles. He mentally prepared himself. In the anime, these fights were the true test of a shinobi's strength and abilities, showcasing everything they had learned up to that point. Haruto knew that in these battles, every move, every decision, could be the difference between success and failure.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone