Just as Takeru was comforting Karin, two kunai suddenly shot towards him from the shadows.
Takeru sensed them instantly. He scooped Karin up and swiftly moved from the spot.
"Tsk, Karin! What are you thinking? Hurry up and kill him!" Two Kusagakure's Ninja appeared, angrily shouting at Karin.
"No!" Karin refused instinctively upon hearing them.
"What? Remember, you only survived this long because Kusagakure took you in!"
"Hmph. Outsiders are truly untrustworthy. And that flaming red hair is so disgusting," The two Kusagakure's Ninjas sneered upon hearing Karin's refusal.
Their words made Karin bite her lip, her heart aching with sorrow.
"Karin, close your eyes," Takeru said gently to Karin upon noticing her distress.
Although unsure why, Karin obediently closed her eyes at Takeru's command.
"Argh!" Not long after Karin closed her eyes, the two Kusagakure's Ninjas let out agonized screams.
"Alright, let's go," Takeru said, not even glancing at the two with kunai embedded in their skulls. He took Karin's hand and led her towards Ui and Ritsu.
Hearing Takeru, Karin instinctively followed. Soon, Takeru brought Karin to where Ui and Ritsu were.
"Takeru, who is she?" Noticing the new girl with Takeru, and the forehead protector clearly not from Konoha, both Ui and Ritsu were slightly puzzled.
Hearing them, Karin instinctively hid behind Takeru, as if seeking safety.
"This is Uzumaki Karin, a poor girl. Karin, this is Hirasawa Ui, and this is Tainaka Ritsu, my companions," Takeru said, pulling Karin forward to introduce everyone.
"Hello, pleased to meet you!" Trusting Takeru, Ui smiled and extended her right hand.
"Pleased to meet you too!" Sensing no hostility from Ui, Karin cautiously shook her hand.
"I'm Tainaka Ritsu! Nice to meet you!" Ritsu also extended her hand cheerfully.
"Hello," Karin quickly shook her hand as well.
Thus, they became acquainted.
"By the way, Karin, have you eaten? We have plenty of roasted bear meat left. Let's eat together!" Ui suddenly remembered, pointing to the large portion of roasted bear meat on the makeshift table.
The aroma of roasted meat made the already hungry Karin's mouth water, but she looked to Takeru first.
"Let's eat together," Takeru said gently upon seeing her look.
"Mm!" Hearing Takeru's approval, Karin nodded happily.
So, the four enjoyed a feast in the perilous Forest of Death. Ui's cooking was excellent. Despite the limited outdoor conditions, the bear meat was roasted to a perfect crispness.
After dinner, Takeru used his Nen to materialize a large tub. Ui used her water manipulation to fill it partially, then Ritsu used her fire magic to heat the water. While Takeru stood guard outside, the three girls washed up inside.
Though Ritsu and Ui felt a bit shy at the thought of Takeru possibly observing them with his Observation Haki, they trusted him implicitly and shared certain unspoken feelings, so neither mentioned it.
Takeru was considerate, deliberately keeping his Observation Haki away from the girls. He wasn't the type to peep.
After washing, the girls called Takeru in. Takeru simply manipulated water to clean himself quickly.
Then, the three girls settled into the tent Takeru had materialized, while Takeru kept watch from a tree outside, also training his Haki.
The girls had offered to take turns keeping watch, but Takeru refused, explaining this was also part of his training.
Lying on the soft bedding, Karin felt dazed. It was as if fortune had suddenly smiled upon her, offering a glimmer of hope. And Takeru was the one who brought that hope. She wished she could stay by his side forever.
Time passed swiftly, and soon it was the next morning. After freshening up and having breakfast, they decided to head towards the central tower.
Although Karin only had an Earth Scroll, having lost her teammates meant she was effectively disqualified. There was no need to collect another scroll. She hadn't come to become a Chunin but was sent by Kusagakure as a mobile healing supply.
Takeru's group moved quickly. Although Karin was slow, with Takeru carrying her, they traversed the dangerous Forest of Death and reached the tower in less than an hour.
Upon arrival, they found two teams already waiting inside: Team 8 and the Sunagakure Siblings.
Seeing them, Takeru paid little mind. He asked Karin to wait outside briefly while he, Ui, and Ritsu entered a room. Following the instructions, they opened their scrolls.
A Chunin was summoned from the scroll, acting as their messenger.
He first congratulated them on passing, then explained the Hokage's views on what makes a qualified Chunin, followed by details about the third exam.
After his explanation, the Chunin vanished. They were told they had three extra days before the next stage. They couldn't interfere with other examinees but were free to move around the tower area. Food and rooms were provided inside.
Hearing this, Takeru's group simply retrieved Karin and selected a spot in the tower to rest and train.
Kiba and his team felt relieved upon seeing Takeru's group arrive. Earlier, they had faced grave danger, if not for Temari's intervention, Gaara might have killed them. Being alone with the Sunagakure's team had been stressful. Now, with fellow Konoha's Ninja present, they felt safer.
"Hey, we meet again. You got here pretty fast," Takeru greeted the Sunagakure Trio with a light smile, unfazed by the killing intent emanating from Gaara.
Gaara nodded slightly in acknowledgment, saying nothing more. Takeru didn't press further and went to briefly chat with Kiba's team.
Upon learning Takeru's name, the three looked at him curiously, remembering Kabuto's earlier remark about Takeru having no Chakra.
Kiba quietly asked Akamaru, who confirmed he couldn't smell any Chakra on Takeru.
Takeru heard their exchange but simply glanced their way before starting his training. Ui focused on physical conditioning and Nen, wholeheartedly believing Takeru's words about Nen's immense potential. Ritsu practiced her Observation and Armament Haki.
While Takeru's group trained, Naruto's team faced crisis elsewhere. With Naruto and Sasuke unconscious, Sakura had to fend off the Otogakure Trio ordered by Orochimaru.
During this fight, Lee arrived to help but, being overconfident and not removing his weights, was defeated by Zaku and Dosu. In the face of danger, Sakura showed growth, displaying strong resolve.
Finally, Ino, who had been watching secretly, stepped in. Shikamaru and Choji were reluctantly dragged into the fight as well.
After a fierce battle with Dosu's team, Sasuke finally awakened and defeated the Otogakure's Ninja. Sakura held him, helping him regain his senses.
As an apology, Dosu handed over their Earth Scroll before leaving with Zaku, whose arms were broken, and the unconscious Kin.
Later, Naruto's team received aid from Kabuto. On the final day, they finally defeated the Amegakure's Ninja who had ambushed them earlier, securing a Heaven Scroll and entering the tower.
Their arrival marked the last team to pass, as the five-day time limit had nearly expired.