Orochimaru remained silent, suddenly recalling an incident from before.
The sudden exposure of Danzo's scandal in Konoha, although containing many detailed inaccuracies, was already strange in itself simply because someone knew these dark secrets.
Orochimaru had previously thought it might be due to internal conflict within Konoha, but now it seemed there truly might be a new power hidden in the village's shadows.
Of course, it could also be the work of ninja from other villages.
Regardless, this had made the Chunin Exams interesting.
Orochimaru licked his lips. His two subordinates leaped over like wolves and knelt on one knee, ashamed for failing to protect him.
Orochimaru naturally wouldn't hold it against them; he needed people now.
"Let's go."
He had come looking for Kaori because he sensed something unusual about her and wanted to investigate the details, but he hadn't expected to lure in a big fish like Ryun.
The sounds of battle here would definitely attract Konoha ninja soon. He needed to hurry and find Sasuke to implant the Heavenly Curse Mark.
Then, Orochimaru led his team away.
The battlefield, filled with smoke just moments ago, returned to calm.
A minute later, another Orochimaru emerged from the earth and then disappeared into smoke. It was naturally a precaution Orochimaru had left behind.
He had already sensed Anko's presence, and since Ryun still hadn't appeared, he had clearly left.
Orochimaru didn't want to meet Anko yet, so it was best to avoid her.
Anko leaped onto a tree trunk, staring with confusion at the traces of battle here. The scorching heat didn't seem to have completely dissipated yet.
Who could have used such a powerful Fire Release? That Uchiha brat?
Impossible, that's not chakra a genin could have.
Could it be... that guy really came?
She then started to pursue in Orochimaru's direction, but Ryun suddenly appeared before her.
"Little brother, what are you doing here? No, you—"
Anko was about to say, how could this person be Ryun? She hadn't seen him use this kind of sudden appearance ninjutsu before.
But in the next second, Anko had already slumped weakly into Ryun's arms, and Ryun kissed her lips.
The familiar feeling made Anko's eyes light up. The tension on her face vanished, replaced by a strange passion as she fervently kissed him back.
It was as if she wanted to release all the fright she got from seeing Orochimaru right now.
But she didn't lose her senses. A minute later, Anko pushed against Ryun's shoulders and asked with a red face, "No, seriously, how are you here? Did you just use—"
"That's right, Flying Raijin. I just learned it not long ago. Pretty amazing, right?"
Anko's passionate gaze at her beloved almost ignited Ryun. She had so much more to discuss with him, but thinking of Orochimaru darkened her expression.
Anko still forced a smile and said, "Alright, I know you're amazing. Now go back and wait for me at home."
"I'll properly reward you tonight—remember to wash up and wait for me, okay?"
Anko urged Ryun to use Flying Raijin and leave, but Ryun pulled her to sit down, saying, "Look, I know what you want to do. See the traces of Fire Release down there? I did that."
Anko stared blankly at Ryun, then cold sweat dripped down her forehead. "You fought Orochimaru?"
"You, how could you take such a risk!"
Anko was both angry and anxious.
She knew Ryun wasn't weak, even learning Flying Raijin, but that didn't mean he could match Orochimaru.
Orochimaru was a long-famous Sanin with Kage-level strength. Even the Fourth Hokage probably couldn't confidently claim a sure win against Orochimaru—at least that's what Anko believed, given the immense psychological shadow Orochimaru had cast on her.
She reached out, feeling Ryun all over, wanting to check if he was injured.
Seeing that she was about to push him into a combat state, Ryun hugged Anko and forced her to calm down, saying, "Relax, it was just a Shadow Clone here earlier. I was curious about the Chunin Exams, so I snuck in to take a look."
Anko finally relaxed, then looked at Ryun with a mix of feigned anger and affection. "Promise me you won't do anything this dangerous again. What would I do if something happened to you!"
Ryun was waiting for these words. He gently bit Anko's earlobe and said, "You have to promise too. Don't go looking for trouble with Orochimaru alone. What would I do if something happened to you and I lost a wife?"
Anko's eyes brimmed with tears. She had tried to stay serious, but she burst out laughing. The warmth and happiness in her heart made her unable to resist kissing Ryun again.
A minute later, Anko reluctantly pushed Ryun away. "I understand. I'll return safely. But as the head proctor for the Chunin Exams, I definitely have to deal with this Orochimaru situation."
"Then why not call the Hokage and the others?"
"No time. Unless—"
Anko looked at Ryun. Relying on Ryun's Flying Raijin might be fast enough.
But she shook her head herself. Ryun told her about Flying Raijin because he trusted her.
However, she also knew Ryun didn't want to be a ninja. If the Hokage learned about Ryun's strength, would he still let him remain free?
"It's fine, let me go. I promise I'll come back safely. Wait for me tonight, washed up. That's final!"
Anko bit Ryun's lower lip hard, then left without looking back.
Her heart was still filled with joy and warmth, and she was determined to try her best to return to Ryun's side. To achieve that, she had to defeat Orochimaru with all her might.
Ryun shook his head. He hadn't intended to stop Anko from meeting Orochimaru like this.
This was Anko's emotional knot; it had to be resolved.
And Ryun hadn't enhanced Anko's strength precisely for this reason. If something about her changed, Orochimaru might notice.
So he had to wait until all this was over before confidently enhancing Anko.
But since Ryun was here, he naturally wouldn't let Anko challenge Orochimaru alone.
He activated his sensory perception and followed silently, planning to make Orochimaru suffer a bit in secret.
Anko tracked him all the way but was still too late.
At dusk, Anko heard Sasuke's scream and gave chase.
Sasuke and Naruto had lost consciousness; Sakura was desperately trying to treat Sasuke.
But the Heavenly Curse Mark on Sasuke's shoulder wasn't something the Mystical Palm Technique could solve, so Sakura's treatment was useless.
Although Team 7's strength was now extraordinary, they couldn't change the situation against Orochimaru.
Moreover, after encountering Ryun, Orochimaru had struck harder than in the original storyline, seeking a quick resolution to prevent interference from Ryun.
After succeeding smoothly, Orochimaru didn't leave immediately but hid to observe the results of the curse mark's changes on Sasuke.
And this gave Anko the chance to find him.
Anko injected chakra into her own curse mark, which housed a part of Orochimaru's chakra. When Anko's chakra disturbed it, it resonated with the original body.
The closer the distance, the more pain Anko felt. She quickly spotted Orochimaru hidden on a tree trunk.
Anko silently charged forward, grabbed Orochimaru's neck, and then used Hidden Shadow Snake Hands to bind him tightly.
Orochimaru laughed deeply, "Using the forbidden technique I taught you against me, Anko? You still haven't improved."
Next, Orochimaru's neck stretched directly, his head striking Anko like a heavy hammer and sending her flying.
But Anko stubbornly endured through sheer endurance, then pulled hard, dragging Orochimaru's body backward with her, and slammed him onto a tree trunk with a shoulder throw.
Immediately after, Anko pinned her own hand and Orochimaru's together with a kunai, then used his hand to prepare the Twin Snakes Mutual Death technique.
This was the only chance Anko could think of to defeat Orochimaru. Unfortunately, the Orochimaru before her had long since become a clone.
"Anko, you're a Tokubetsu Jonin of Konoha now, and you still can't tell a clone apart?"
Orochimaru stood leisurely on a nearby branch as the Orochimaru in front of Anko vanished into smoke.
Enduring the sharp pain, Anko glared at Orochimaru and said darkly, "What are you here for? To assassinate the Hokage?"
"Impossible. I only have a few subordinates; I can't do something like that. I just took a liking to a kid and gave him the Heavenly Curse Mark. But he's not like you; he'll survive it."
"Judging by your expression, you seem quite jealous... jealous that I once discarded you, who were completely useless."
Orochimaru wanted to say more to shatter Anko's mental defenses, but his vision suddenly went dark.
In the distance, Ryun aimed one hand at Orochimaru, unsealed his Yin Seal, and silently used Magical·Naraku's Vision Technique—a low-level Genjutsu that should normally be useless against Orochimaru—with the Formless Wave.
But what if Ryun cast five or even ten of them in one second?