Chapter 36 - Unsolved case! Death of the Wind

"It's really you."

Gaara retracted his sand, showing no intention of attacking. With his arms crossed, he landed on the ground and walked forward at a steady pace.

Hayate frowned, ready to spring into action at any moment.

"Don't move."

Neji picked up his mask, and Hayate immediately obeyed, though his eyes reflected disbelief. The powerful figure who had saved him from so many skilled enemies was none other than the same candidate who had taken the Chūnin Exam under him just a few days ago!

Could a Genin truly be this strong?

Temari and Kankuro earlier, Gaara now, and then this mysterious man—Hyuga Neji! What was going on with this year's Genin? Their strength was baffling!

"However, the most important thing now is to report this intel. He's the enemy, Neji."

"I know," Neji replied, walking forward with the mask still in his hand and exhaling.

"This time, you win," Neji admitted, sounding sincere. Gaara's strength wasn't the only factor—his tactics had been carefully concealed and manipulated, forcing Neji to unmask himself and derail their plan.

Neji hoped Hayate wouldn't report this to the Hokage; otherwise, his abilities would undoubtedly be exposed.

"…No."

Gaara shook his head slowly, eyes closed.

"You are far stronger than I expected. At first, I thought of you as just another plaything, but now I see I was wrong. Hyuga Neji, I remember you. You are not someone I can ignore."

Neji steadied his breathing, extending his hand.

"Examiner, you should leave. This is between him and me."

"You…"

Hayate hesitated.

Gaara turned, walking away without looking back. "You can go, but remember what you promised me."

"What?"

Neji swallowed nervously, having braced for the worst. Suddenly, this felt like good news.

"You promised to defeat me completely. Don't forget that," Gaara said, leaving without another word.

Neji and Hayate stood in silence, exchanging glances.

…

Under the moonlight, Hayate and Neji moved swiftly through the village.

"So, you've been hiding your true strength to avoid attention, and you took the Chūnin Exam just to prove yourself to the Hyuga clan?"

Neji nodded. "Yes. So please, keep my identity secret."

"I'll keep it to myself," Hayate agreed. "But we're getting close now. You should go ahead, or the Anbu might spot you."

With that reassurance, Neji felt a sense of relief as they neared the Hokage building.

"Alright."

They parted ways, and Neji covered the wound on his arm. The cut inside his left arm still throbbed with pain, though a protective layer of chakra dulled the worst of it.

Orochimaru's attempt to infiltrate Konoha would fail, and Neji had done everything in his power to ensure that. Originally, he hadn't wanted to get involved in these conflicts, but his position in the Hyuga clan left him with little choice. This was no longer just a village issue—the upcoming Chūnin exam was wrapped up in international tensions, a brewing war between nations. He had no option but to wade into this dangerous situation.

In the shadows, Neji moved quickly, leaving Hayate to approach the barrier surrounding the Hokage building.

Just a few more steps…

He heard an eerie, slithering sound. It grew louder.

Hiss… hiss…

"What?"

Hayate noticed something wrong and hurried toward the barrier.

Just a few steps away...

Blood splattered!

In his final moments, Hayate saw something that filled him with terror. He had never seen anything like it: snake-like eyes, a horrifying pale face illuminated by the moonlight. Fear gripped his body just before consciousness slipped away.

"Hahaha..."

Orochimaru grinned with satisfaction as he looked down at Hayate's lifeless body, now held by two giant serpents. A few splatters of blood marred his face, which he licked with his long tongue, his eyes cold and calculating.

"Hyuga Neji? An intriguing young man."

The night was as still as water.

…

"Hayate!"

Yūgao wept uncontrollably as she saw Hayate's body tossed onto the rooftop. Her tears fell without restraint. Around her, several Anbu members bowed their heads in silence.

Mitarashi Anko, arms crossed, stood solemnly.

"Did anyone else see anything?" Anko asked a nearby Konoha villager.

The middle-aged man, still a little drunk from the previous night, was pale with fear. "I—I didn't see much, but I remember a young man wearing a mask. He fought six people by himself!"

Anko sighed and placed a comforting hand on Yūgao's shoulder.

…

In the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, looked over the reports on his desk, taking a final puff of his pipe before removing his hat. His face was etched with weariness and a heavy burden of responsibility.

"Does this involve Orochimaru?" he asked.

Anko hesitated. "No direct sign of Orochimaru nearby," she said cautiously.

Hiruzen nodded. "That's to be expected."

His expression turned grim. "He was once my most gifted student. How are we tracking him?"

Anko confirmed what she knew. "The masked man from the Forest of Death is not one of the Anbu. The mask belonged to Yūgao."

Hiruzen took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"You and Yūgao should focus on investigating Hayate's death. Send for Ebisu."

"Yes, Lord Hokage."

As Anko left the office with two Anbu members, Ebisu, a Jonin dressed in dark blue Konoha attire, entered.

"Lord Third Hokage, you summoned me?"

"How is Konohamaru doing lately?" Hiruzen asked, though his thoughts seemed elsewhere.

Ebisu, sensing something was amiss, stiffened. "Konohamaru has been studying hard. He keeps saying he wants to surpass Naruto and become Hokage."

The Third Hokage chuckled. "That boy."

But then his tone shifted.

"Hayate is dead."

Ebisu froze, then clenched his fist in anger. "Do you need me to take action?"

"No. The upcoming Chūnin exams involve the Daimyo, and tensions are high between Konoha and the Land of Fire. The Jonin stationed at the borders cannot be recalled. Something ominous is brewing, just like it was twelve years ago."

"Lord Hokage…"

"I'm old, Ebisu. Even if I give everything I have, we may not be able to prevent what's coming. We need to find him. It may be time for me to step down."

Ebisu's eyes widened. "Are you speaking of *that* person? One of the Legendary Sannin?"

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