Perhaps due to Tsunade's presence, the two chatted and laughed along the way, letting their guard down significantly. Lobo, eager to track the scent pouches, was so focused that neither the two shinobi nor the dog noticed a figure covered in mud lying in the puddle they had just passed.
That mud-covered person's eyes gleamed as they watched Tsunade and Hoshiyomi leave. They then rose and ran toward a dense patch of forest not far away.
Inside the Kaga Cult's temporary base, Kiru was impatiently waiting for news from his followers, worried that these useless subordinates wouldn't even manage to locate a single target. Just as he paced anxiously, the mud-covered figure rushed in:
"Lord Kiru, I saw two of the targets you selected! They're heading east—together!"
"Quick, take me there!"
As Kiru followed the mud-covered scout to track Tsunade and Hoshiyomi, the two Konoha shinobi ran into their own trouble.
They had been moving through the forest for a while when Lobo suddenly barked, signaling that he'd caught the scent of a pouch.
Hoshiyomi and Tsunade were overjoyed. Just as they turned to head toward the scent, they came face-to-face with someone rushing from the opposite direction. For a moment, the three of them froze in a direct standoff.
Normally, Hoshiyomi—eager to reunite with Sakumo and the others—wouldn't have cared about someone approaching. If there was no confrontation, brushing past each other would have been ideal. But the person in front of them wore a Hidden Cloud forehead protector—and that couldn't be ignored.
Their purpose in participating in the Chūnin Exams was to eliminate as many Cloud shinobi as possible and prevent Kumogakure from claiming victory. The Cloud genin clearly had the same goal in mind.
There was no way this encounter would end peacefully.
The Cloud ninja looked around 14 or 15 years old, built like a small buffalo. He eyed Tsunade and Hoshiyomi—two slender, youthful figures who lacked any imposing aura.
He figured dealing with them would be no problem. Thanks to his age and taijutsu prowess, he held a clear advantage. While he wasn't the top genius in his village, he was still one-in-a-hundred talent.
Too bad for these Leaf shinobi—they had just run into him.
With that thought, the Cloud genin unleashed his strength, roaring as he charged toward Hoshiyomi and Tsunade.
"What an idiot. Doesn't he care about exposing his position?" Tsunade muttered. She was just about to step forward when Hoshiyomi raised a hand to stop her.
"I'll handle this. You take Lobo and find Sakumo and the others. I'll catch up soon."
Tsunade considered Hoshiyomi's ridiculous speed and nodded. She picked up Lobo and continued on her way.
Seeing this, the Cloud genin felt completely dismissed. He sneered at Hoshiyomi, "In such a hurry to die? You two might've had a chance together. But now? You let your teammate walk away? Idiot."
Hoshiyomi ignored the taunt. He drew Mikazuki Munechika and stepped forward, unleashing a swift, wind-like slash straight for the Cloud genin's throat.
The Kumo genin was shocked by Hoshiyomi's speed. He couldn't believe this seemingly frail boy moved like a phantom. Fortunately, he wasn't helpless—his chakra nature was Lightning Release, which significantly boosted his speed.
In a critical moment, he activated his Lightning Chakra and twisted in mid-air, narrowly deflecting the blow with his shoulder. A wounded shoulder was better than a slashed throat.
But in the next instant, his arm flew into the air, and he screamed in pain.
He had assumed taking a hit to the shoulder would simply hinder his offense—then he could use his strength in close combat to overpower his foe. Speed-type shinobi usually lacked physical power.
But he hadn't counted on the ruthless sharpness of Mikazuki Munechika, which severed his arm cleanly.
Now on the ground, clutching his bleeding stump, the Kumo genin was drenched in cold sweat. His gaze toward Hoshiyomi changed from disdain to raw fear and hatred.
He'd thought he'd found an easy target—but this kid was clearly one of Konoha's elite fighters.
Judging from his speed alone, even the best Cloud genin would have a hard time with him.
No. For the sake of the Cloud's victory in the Chūnin Exams—for Kumogakure's glory—even if I die, I have to take this guy down.
I can't let him walk out of this forest alive.
He reached for a scroll at his waist and held it up as Hoshiyomi approached, ready to finish him off.
"Don't kill me! I have a scroll. I'll give it to you. Just let me go."
Hoshiyomi hesitated for a moment. This guy didn't seem like much—and with one arm gone, he wouldn't last long. Maybe it was fine to just take the scroll and move on?
Before he could decide, the Cloud genin added, "It's real. I'll show you."
With one hand, he lifted the scroll to his mouth and bit through the seal strap.
What Hoshiyomi didn't know was that the genin had secretly smeared his own blood on the scroll.
The moment the strap broke, Hoshiyomi felt a wave of unease sweep over him.
That gut feeling pushed away all doubt. He flipped Mikazuki Munechika into a reverse grip, preparing to activate Crescent Moon Slash.
But he was still a step too slow.
Before he could strike, the Cloud genin tore the scroll open.
From it dropped a glowing blue object—straight into his mouth.
Instantly, the genin's body was engulfed in eerie blue chakra flames.
Seeing that, Hoshiyomi froze—not out of indecision, but shock.
Or rather… he dared not use Crescent Moon Slash—because he recognized those flames.
Two-Tails chakra flames. Matatabi.
He'd been too young. Too trusting.
He'd fallen for the deception.
He'd completely screwed up.
He remembered tales from the original records: after the Gold and Silver Brothers, Cloud shinobi had tried consuming the Eight-Tails' flesh—but every single one of them died, unable to withstand the power.
And now… this scene was exactly like those stories.
Except this time, it wasn't Eight-Tails flesh—it was Two-Tails. This guy planned to use a moment of berserker chakra to go down swinging.
As Hoshiyomi grasped the full picture, he saw the Kumo genin—previously writhing in agony—begin to rise.
Yes, rise.
Now fully overtaken by Matatabi's feral chakra, the genin dropped to all fours, his body contorted into something monstrous.
He had become a beast.