CH_97

Namiashi Raidō walked out from the other side with a grin. "Gotta play the part all the way! But the scroll really was made by Tōji—and he told me to carry it. If you've got a problem, take it up with him!"

"Raidō-senpai! That's way too unfair!" Tōji yelled. "Natchi! Neru! Why are you two hiding so far away~"

"Yelling won't help you today! Let's see how I deal with you!" Anko grabbed Tōji by the collar and started dragging him toward the door.

"Ah—wait, Anko-senpai! You still have time to find a real scroll! Don't give up! I'm sorry—please let me go!" Tōji didn't dare fight back…

For one thing, Anko had already learned quite a bit from Orochimaru at this point. And if a guy got into a fight—not a battle, but a brawl—with a girl and couldn't even win… that would be way too humiliating.

And given Anko's personality, if you didn't let her vent her anger on the spot, Tōji's future days in the village would be miserable…

"To be fair—you're out of time! Our mission was to take the scroll out of the Forest of Death as soon as we ran into any examinee squad, then wait at the Hokage Tower for Lord Shinku to collect any scrolls that weren't taken by examinees~" Raidō kept fanning the flames…

"Raidō-senpai, that's enough!" Tōji had already figured out—Namiashi Raidō was just here for the drama.

"Hear that? You're not getting out of this without losing some skin. You ruined my chance to pass this exam!" Anko stopped and prepared to give Tōji a beating right at the entrance.

"There's still a chance!" Tōji didn't give up. "There are still some squads that got scrolls but haven't come back yet—go intercept them!"

"Hmm… that actually makes sense. Well, good luck to you, then. If I manage to get a scroll, fine—but if not~!" Anko threatened him as she called over her two no-name teammates who'd been watching from the sidelines.

"Saved!" Tōji straightened his collar, which had been nearly deformed by Anko's grip.

"Tōji…" Natchi walked over with an awkward smile.

"You're all a bunch of traitors—hmph!" Tōji pretended to be angry.

"How about Neru and I treat you to some barbecue later…" Natchi quickly signaled Neru with his eyes.

Neru turned her head away as if she hadn't seen.

"Tōji, you're in trouble." Izumo finally walked over to tease him.

"Sigh—what a cold world. I'm going to have to avoid Anko from now on." Tōji didn't even want to imagine running into her in the village later. "I really have to thank Raidō-senpai!"

"Don't mention it—I've got to get going! I'm still a proctor, you know—I have duties." Raidō hurried off to escape Tōji's resentful stare.

"Yeah right—like I believe you still have duties." Tōji muttered.

Natchi patted Tōji's shoulder and pulled him back over to chat with Kotetsu and the others.

More examinee squads that had secured scrolls were slowly trickling back in. The central hall on the first floor of the tower was growing lively.

Bam! Suddenly, the tower's doors slammed shut.

The chatter died down instantly, replaced by silence…

"Alright—congratulations to everyone here!" Yūhi Shinku announced the results of the second exam.

"A total of six squads have found 'genuine' scrolls and made it here." Shinku deliberately emphasized the word "genuine."

It was clear—he'd witnessed the earlier scene between Anko and Tōji, and had taken note.

"The third exam—which is also the final round—will take place in three days. It will be individual matches. Now—does anyone wish to withdraw?" Shinku asked as a matter of routine, giving the examinees time to think.

"I withdraw!" "Me too!" The two examinees who withdrew were actually from the same squad…

And standing right beside them was the one Tōji suspected to be Mizuki…