Chapter 287 283: Karin's Chuunin Exam 21

The moment Hayate declared Sasuke the winner, the Konoha side of the chamber erupted.

Well, some of them did.

Naruto shouted the loudest, his voice echoing across the stone chamber as if he had been the one who had won the match. Sakura looked like she was about to cry from relief, and several of the other Konoha Genin looked impressed, annoyed, or both.

It wasn't much of a surprise that they cheered for Sasuke, despite it also being a Konoha shinobi who lost.

They were, after all, largely former classmates of Sasuke, so between someone they knew and someone they didn't, they naturally cared far more about their friend.

Karin naturally wouldn't cheer for a Konoha Genin.

She did, however, crack a small smile.

Sasuke Uchiha had done better than expected.

Not because Yoroi was all that impressive. He wasn't. His technique was dangerous, but he had relied on it far too much, and the moment Sasuke figured it out, the fight had shifted in his favor. Against a fool, Yoroi would have won. Against someone reckless, he might have won even faster.

Against Sasuke, he had been exposed.

That was the problem with having one good trick.

If it failed, what else did you have?

Still, the fight had shown a few useful things.

Sasuke had good instincts. He was able to fight while injured, while exhausted, while under the pressure of Orochimaru's curse mark, and still keep himself under control. He also adapted fast enough to avoid giving his opponent more than the smallest openings.

Still, it had also shown that he relied heavily on ninjutsu, as even though he knew it was best to avoid it, he still tried to use a Fireball Jutsu.

Then again, Karin could hardly go about pointing fingers; she herself heavily leaned into ninjutsu or Kekkei Genkai.

It just felt so much cooler than taijutsu and genjutsu.

Karin adjusted her glasses as Kakashi appeared beside him.

The silver-haired Jōnin was quick. One moment he had been on the balcony, the next he was on the arena floor, catching Sasuke by the shoulder before the Uchiha could stumble.

Sasuke looked annoyed.

Clearly, he had his pride, and getting helped like this seemed like him showing weakness, but then again, it was surely still better than falling to the ground, wasn't it?

Maybe it was just a guy thing.

Kakashi, however, did not seem to care whether Sasuke was thankful; he cared only about whether his student was okay or not.

Good.

At least one of Konoha's adults had enough sense not to let their wounded genius pretend everything was fine just because he had pride.

"Strong," Tōji muttered from beside her.

Karin could hear the undertones, the hate, the jealousy, the fear. Clearly, he was starting to understand that Konoha was still worthy of being one of the great shinobi villages, and why it was considered the leader among them.

The overflowing talent of younger generations.

Still, even though Yoroi had everything stacked in his favor and still lost, it wasn't because he was weak; Karin did consider him weak, but that was merely because she herself was stronger.

For a normal Genin, Yoroi was miles ahead.

Just having the basics down was already good enough; having a special signature ability was plenty for someone to become a Chūnin, even an elite Chūnin in a smaller village.

Not that Karin cared overly much about that; that was something Naho and Tōji had to be concerned about.

Karin was instead far more interested in the seal filled with Orochimaru's chakra.

As an Uzumaki, she naturally had an affinity for Fūinjutsu, and thanks to Kaguya, she had a good grasp on many of the Uzumaki clan's techniques.

This clearly wasn't among them, so she found her curiosity piqued.

But for now, all she could do was watch as Kakashi Hatake took him away for treatment, unable to peek at the process since she had her own fight.

A shame, a real shame indeed.

Her senses shifted.

Orochimaru was still there.

For a moment.

Then, as Kakashi and Sasuke moved deeper into the tower, the disguised Sannin's chakra faded from the chamber.

Not quickly. Not suddenly. Nothing that would draw attention.

He simply slipped away from the gathered adults like a shadow detaching itself from a wall.

Karin's smile widened.

No one noticed.

Or rather, they didn't pay any attention to the person, just a lowly Tokubetsu Jōnin. How could they possibly have known that there was something far greater hidden behind that boring face?

Well, Karin did think they should have known; any half-competent Hyūga would easily have seen that something was wrong with him.

After all, the Byakugan wasn't so easily tricked. No matter how hard one concealed their chakra, it was still there, and the Byakugan? It could directly see it.

Karin didn't blame the two Hyūga clan Genin in here; they were, after all, just kids.

Even if they saw the disguised Orochimaru's chakra, they wouldn't be able to figure out what it meant.

They didn't know Orochimaru was lurking around, didn't know that a normal Tokubetsu Jōnin shouldn't have so much chakra.

No, a proper adult Hyūga was needed, one with experience and knowledge, someone who knew what to look out for.

It was just another example of Konoha not knowing how to best use its resources, not trusting a shinobi clan like the Hyūga enough to have them around their leader.

To Karin, this was the height of foolishness, which was why she found the whole thing so damned amusing.

Konoha truly was funny.

She wondered if Kakashi would notice before Orochimaru reached him. He might. He was sharp enough, and he clearly knew something was wrong with Sasuke's mark. But even if he did, what then?

Kakashi Hatake was strong.

Orochimaru was Orochimaru.

That was not a fair fight.

Still, Kakashi probably wouldn't die. Orochimaru had gotten what he wanted from Sasuke, and killing one of Konoha's famous Jōnin right now would make too much noise.

Probably.

Karin turned her attention back to the chamber.

The proctors were carrying Yoroi away now. He wasn't dead, but he was not getting up anytime soon. Sasuke had held back more than Karin would have, but apparently not enough to leave his opponent walking.

That was acceptable.

More so when one considered he was using a new technique, one he had only just copied a few days ago, so it was hardly a surprise he hadn't totally mastered it just yet.

The board above the chamber flickered to life again, names blurring across its surface too quickly for most of the Genin to follow. Karin watched them move until they finally slowed, then stopped.

Shino Aburame.

Hisame Tōji.

For a second, no one spoke, and then Tōji straightened.

"Ah," he said.

Karin glanced at him, feeling his chakra sharpen almost instantly. There was fear there, but not enough to shame him, and excitement too, but not enough to make him stupid. He knew this was not a good matchup. He was simply pleased to have the chance to prove himself anyway.

Naho looked at him from the side. "Don't lose too badly."

Tōji turned his head toward her. "Your faith is touching."

"You are fighting an Aburame," Naho said.

"I noticed."

"Then don't let the insects get inside your mask."

Tōji paused, then reached up and adjusted the straps of his respirator. "...Good advice."

Karin almost snorted. Almost.

For all his arrogance, and for all his pride, Tōji did not go down to the arena without looking at her first. He turned to her, waiting, and asked, "Karin-sama?"

Karin studied him for a moment.

Hisame Tōji was not weak, at least not by the standards of ordinary Genin. He was fast, clever, and mean in a fight. His umbrella techniques were reliable, his senbon aim was good, and he had enough poison and wire tricks hidden under that ugly Ame uniform to make most Genin regret underestimating him.

But Shino Aburame was a bad opponent.

Karin could already feel the insects under his skin and clothes, packed into his body like a living weapon. They weren't simply tools he carried; they were part of him, with his chakra flowing through them in a quiet, steady pattern that was patient, disciplined, and difficult to disrupt.

A trap user against a hive was not impossible, but it was unpleasant.

"Don't embarrass Ame," Karin said.

Tōji's eyes curved slightly beneath his mask. "Never."

Only then did he jump down to the arena floor. His landing was clean, neither flashy nor heavy, one hand resting against the handle of the closed umbrella strapped across his back.

Across from him, Shino Aburame stepped forward without hurry, his hands in his pockets, his high collar hiding most of his face and dark glasses covering his eyes. He looked almost bored, and Karin thought that was more dangerous than Tōji's arrogance.

Hayate looked between the two of them. "Second match. Shino Aburame versus Hisame Tōji."

Tōji rolled one shoulder, loosening his umbrella. "Aburame, huh? Konoha really likes hiding clans behind sunglasses and coats."

Shino did not react.

Tōji tilted his head. "Not much of a talker?"

"No."

That was all.

Tōji stared at him for a second, then laughed beneath his mask. "Fine. I can work with that."

Hayate raised his hand.

"Begin."

Tōji moved first.

His umbrella snapped open as he threw it upward. The motion was fast, practiced, and smooth enough that several of the Konoha Genin leaned forward to watch.

The umbrella spun above the arena.

A soft clicking sound echoed through the chamber.

Then the senbon rained down.

Not all at once.

That would have been too easy to dodge.

The umbrella rotated, releasing needles in waves, each burst angled differently, forcing Shino to move not just away, but in the correct direction. Tōji was already moving below, throwing his own senbon by hand, guiding the pattern and narrowing Shino's possible escape routes.

Good opening.

Simple, but good.

Shino lifted one hand.

Insects rose from his sleeves.

They did not form a shield exactly. They formed a moving cloud, spreading in front of him, between him and the falling needles. Senbon struck insects by the dozen, punching through bodies and scattering them, but the cloud remained.

More insects replaced the dead.

Karin's eyes narrowed.

So that was how it worked.

The insects were not individually strong, but there were too many of them. Losing a few dozen meant nothing. A few hundred probably meant nothing.

And senbon was a rather spread-out attack; each could at most kill one insect, and there were clearly far more of those than the senbon.

Furthermore, Karin could clearly see that Shino was dealing only with the senbon that would hit him, sacrificing as little as possible.

Tōji clicked his tongue.

The senbon wave ended, and the umbrella dropped. He caught it by the handle and immediately charged forward, using the closed umbrella like a staff.

But getting close to an Aburame was a foolish move, and while it was true that Tōji had few other options, it was still a sure way to lose. Without ninjutsu to deal with the countless insects, it only made the trip said insects needed to make from their host to their target shorter.

And indeed, before Tōji had a chance to do more, he was swallowed up by a wave of insects.

They came from the sides, from the ground, from the air.

And while his umbrella was indeed useful for knocking them aside, there were too many. He managed to keep them off for a moment, then they swarmed his arms, his legs, and tried to burrow beneath his clothes.

Tōji hissed, spinning and twisting to shake them off, but the insects clung to his uniform.

Karin leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching calmly.

Tōji was doing well enough, but it would not last. The Aburame's insects were not merely weapons. They could drain chakra, poison, or simply feed on flesh, depending on how they were used.

Shino had not started with the most dangerous approach, but it was only a matter of time.

Or rather, it was a matter of mercy; he could have already poisoned Tōji to death. Instead, he just stood back and watched as the Ame Genin struggled for a while, trying to counter, but eventually falling to the ground.

Hayate raised one hand.

"Winner, Shino Aburame."

The insects retreated immediately.

Once they were gone, Tōji was revealed again; he was disheveled and barely able to keep his eyes open. Clearly, his chakra had been drained.

Karin couldn't help but find it slightly amusing that, in the first two fights, both had someone use chakra drain, a normally insanely rare technique.