At this moment the Third Hokage, who had been watching the show outside for an unknown amount of time, finally showed himself.
"Elder Rengoku, what happened? Do you need help?"
Rengoku had no intention of playing chess with the Third Hokage; he just gave a grim half-smile and said lightly, "You flatter me, Third Hokage. Just two insignificant thieves."
"Our Uchiha clan needs no help."
Orochimaru ignored this former teacher and squatted to inspect Hiruko's arm.
Although the arm had been petrified, there were still some useful things to be found on it.
The Third Hokage couldn't tell if the Rengoku in front of him was a clone or the real thing.
But he had just seen Rengoku's combat power, and he began to worry about his own plan.
Rengoku ignored the Third Hokage and continued pondering why Moryo and Hiruko had come, was it exactly as Obito intended?
"Retreat!", Rengoku waved his hand, and the clansmen returned to the clan grounds.
The people next to Itachi glanced at the Third Hokage a few times, their expressions complex.
That was Shisui using a transformation jutsu.
The Third Hokage's trip had yielded plenty: Obito, Moryo, and Hiruko were all mixed together now.
Hiruko in particular had collected several kinds of kekkei genkai and even used an Uchiha Susanoo.
If not for Rengoku being so strong, the Uchiha would probably have suffered heavy losses today.
On another front, Miroku hadn't died and was hiding among the Uchiha.
The rumors outside claiming Miroku was dead and that Shion had fled to Konoha were plainly smoke screens spread by the Uchiha.
Miroku had been rescued by Rengoku.
This was no small matter, Miroku was the leader of the Demon Country.
In short, the Uchiha now had the backing of a small nation.
The Third Hokage only watched Rengoku and the others withdraw from the clan grounds, silently praying that Ishishu's operation would go smoothly.
———
Split scenes: while the Uchiha clan was being attacked, the Third Hokage's actions in the Forest of Death also began.
Inside the Forest of Death, four members of the Hyuga clan noticed those proctors in disguise approaching them.
Knowing the others had bad intent, each became guarded.
Seeing the Hyuga notice, the Anbu immediately swarmed.
One of them fired a signal flare into the sky.
Their mission was to delay the Hyuga branch so they couldn't monitor Naruto.
So their attacks weren't strong.
The Hyuga, however, were prepared. Fully equipped as Sota had instructed.
They weren't trying to break out; they were holding firm and using Gentle Fist defense.
Although the fight looked dangerous, everyone was holding back.
At that moment several nearby signal flares shot into the air.
Hidden, Sarutobi Ishishu and Senku also emerged from concealment.
An Anbu dropped in front of them, "Naruto's trail is locked. Jiraiya-sama is on standby near the tower."
"Lead the way!"
"Yes!"
———
[Forest of Death]
Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata were resting.
This wasn't their first mission; although the exam was a survival test, the three were methodical.
They didn't rush to find other teams; first they planned to move toward the tower.
The closer to the central tower, the more likely they were to run into other teams, and then grabbing the scroll would be easy.
The three were beside a small stream; they checked the map and planned to follow the stream north to the central tower.
Being near water had pros and cons, food was easy to find, but you could also run into enemies.
They had already caught three fat fish in the stream and skewered them on branches to roast.
After trekking for hours that afternoon, everyone was hungry.
Before Rengoku interfered with him, Naruto used to catch and roast fish when he had no money.
He was pretty good at grilling, so he was the one handling it now.
Turning the fish and tending the fire, he wondered aloud, "What was that illusion just now? It looked like someone was looking for Lord Orochimaru."
Sasuke gathered some firewood and said casually, "The announcement already said the exam proceeds as normal."
"Besides, my nee-san and father are at home, there's no real danger."
"Teacher Itachi and Lord Fugaku both have Mangekyo. I don't know who that person was to come provoke us."
Naruto mumbled, pulled the fish off the fire, sprinkled a bit of salt and chili powder, and skewered them again.
"Coming! It'll be ready soon!"
"Hinata, come eat!"
Seeing the fish were about right, Naruto hurriedly called Hinata over.
Hinata stood on a nearby tree, opening her Byakugan intermittently to scan the surroundings for enemies.
Using the Byakugan consumes chakra; Hinata was only ten now and had limited chakra, so she could only use it intermittently.
Hearing Naruto, Hinata smiled happily, eating food prepared by her crush was a small happiness.
"I'll check a bit more and then come!"
Hinata didn't forget her duty. She formed hand seals and opened her Byakugan.
She began sweeping the area repeatedly, then saw several groups of unusually strong chakra coming.
Hinata at first thought they were proctors, but their state didn't match.
She quickly jumped down and landed beside Naruto and Sasuke, "Naruto, Sasuke, several groups of very strong chakra are coming our way."
"They're not exam proctors."
Naruto and Sasuke exchanged looks. Sasuke warned cautiously, "Let's change position."
"Right!", Sasuke grabbed his pack, Naruto snatched the grilled fish.
The three immediately shot into the forest.
Naruto leapt through the trees, taking a bite of fish as he went.
The fish was crispy outside and tender inside; with chili and salt, Naruto chewed with satisfaction.
Sasuke muttered, "Now's not the time, why are you still thinking about food?"
Naruto handed the other two skewered fish to Sasuke and Hinata.
"Even if something sudden happens you gotta eat, if you're hungry you'll have no energy to fight."
Hinata and Sasuke took the fish and ate quickly while moving through the trees.
They'd been taught these survival skills at the academy: even with bones, they chewed and swallowed, Hinata was no fuss.
After moving a bit, Hinata formed seals again.
"Byakugan!"
She looked back toward the direction they had come.
This time her expression changed, "They changed direction, they're coming toward us!"
"Keep moving!"
Naruto and Sasuke sensed something wrong and shifted course again.
A few minutes later, all three, except Naruto, were a bit tired.
Hinata opened her Byakugan once more.
"They caught up!"
Hinata's voice held confusion and alarm. She didn't understand why someone was chasing them.
Several figures leapt out of the woods; although the Anbu were disguised, Senku's appearance was deeply etched in their minds.
He was the one who last time extracted Gaara's tailed beast.
Remembering Rengoku's words, Sasuke pulled out a distress flare and shot it into the sky.
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