Cursed Seal?

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As Yami suddenly became enveloped in the smoke from the explosive tag, the crowd gasped.

"The examiner from the Aburame clan used an explosive tag? Is he for real?"

"That young man didn't get blown to pieces, right?"

The thick black smoke made it hard for the audience to see what happened to Yami, but everyone shared the same thought. They couldn't believe that a special Jonin examiner would stoop so low as to use an explosive tag on a mere Genin.

Although there are no rules against using exploding tags in the exam, Ryoma was likely the first examiner to do so in years.

"Explosive tag? Sensei?"

Rin was just as shocked and turned to Minato, hoping for some answers, but she saw that his eyes had narrowed. He also had a serious look on his face.

"I'll check it out. Kakashi, watch for anything suspicious."

Feeling something was wrong with this assessment, Minato hurried toward the senior ninjas serving as jurors. He didn't know what caused the examiner to suddenly use an explosive tag despite being at an advantage.

'Could ninjas from another village be manipulating this Chunin exam?'

After reminding Kakashi to protect Rin and stay alert, he left to figure out what was happening.

"Yes," Kakashi nodded, holding the White Fang short sword at his back. He could also feel something fishy about this situation, so he raised his guard to the maximum while glancing at the crowd near him.

In times of war, caution was essential even in the village.

---

A few insects that survived the explosion flew back to Ryoma's finger.

"So his chakra presence disappeared, huh? Looks like it worked."

Killing someone with insect bites would raise suspicion, but an explosive tag seemed less serious. Injuries or deaths from explosive tags were not uncommon, making it easier to pass off as an accident. And since the victim was just a civilian Genin, no one would challenge him over it.

"Danzo-sama will be pleased," Ryoma thought, seeing that his mission was successful.

He turned around, preparing to leave and report back to Danzo. Suddenly, with a puff of smoke, one of the shurikens he knocked off earlier transformed into Yami.

"What?!"

Without giving him a chance to react, Yami swung his sword, causing a large gash across Ryoma's chest. Ryoma staggered back, clutching the wound, his eyes wide with shock.

"How did you survive?" Ryoma gasped, blood seeping through his fingers.

"Dead people don't need to know," Yami replied coldly.

Yami had used the smoke as cover to form shadow clones and transform himself into one of the shurikens thrown away during the explosion.

Seeing Ryoma trying to gather the remaining insects, Yami quickly clenched his fist, gathered chakra in his hand, and began to compress it. An intense blue chakra glowed around his fist.

After one month of training, Yami had finally managed to master Chakra Discharge, and he was now prepared to use his remaining chakra to crush Danzo's lackey's head.

'Agh, the injury is too deep,' Ryoma thought as his vision blurred from blood loss. If he couldn't heal his wounds in time, he would surely die and fail to complete Danzo's mission.

Yami saw insects gathering around Ryoma, trying to protect him. Without wasting his chance, he slammed his chakra-infused fist toward his opponent.

Ryoma could only watch helplessly as the devastating punch hurtled toward him. But to his astonishment, a yellow flash appeared before his eyes, and suddenly, Minato stood between them.

Minato grabbed Yami's hand and redirected the attack toward the ground, causing the chakra-infused punch to create a crater on impact.

"Wait," Minato said, holding Yami's arm firmly. "If you kill him now, it will only cause more problems for you, even if it is justified."

Yami, still seething with anger, struggled against Minato's grip. "He tried to kill me. He deserves it."

He didn't care if the other party was the future Hokage; nothing would prevent him from killing that bastard. Even though Yami usually is carefree and doesn't care about rumors or insults, once someone tries to mess with his life, Yami would do everything to eliminate that threat.

"I understand," Minato replied. "But this isn't the way."

Minato glanced back at Ryoma. "And you, you planned to harm your fellow villagers. I've already notified the Konoha Guard. They'll be here soon."

The Uchiha clan's Sharingan and the Yamanaka clan's mind-reading skills meant no crime could be hidden in Konoha Prison.

Seeing that Yami still glaring at Ryoma, Minato opened his mouth, trying to diffuse the situation.

"Your skills are impressive, and I'll report to the Hokage that you are qualified for promotion to Chunin."

Yami's fists tightened as he glared at Ryoma, his mind torn between rage and reason. Minato's words slowly began to sink in, and he realized the potential consequences of his actions.

Even if killing this lackey was justified as self-defense, Danzo could still influence the judgment against him. Yami doubted that Sarutobi would risk falling out with Danzo just for him, a civilian Genin, especially during a time when the war had already started.

---

Taking a deep breath, Yami loosened his fist. He looked at Minato and nodded reluctantly. "You're right, Minato-sensei."

Minato smiled approvingly. "You made the right choice, Yami."

Seeing them distracted, Ryoma tried to secretly call for his insects.

"Don't move."

Without turning around, Minato sensed Ryoma preparing a jutsu.

"I'm sorry, but this is my mission," Ryoma said.

"Secret Technique: Cocoon."

Insects began to gather around him. Despite Minato's presence, he was determined to complete his mission. At Root, failure meant death.

"Secret Technique: Insect Tornado!" Ryoma summoned a swarm of insects that formed a growing tornado around them.

But Yami remained unfazed, knowing that everything was under control.

"Why don't you stop?" Minato's voice suddenly came from behind Ryoma.

"Shadow clone?" Ryoma saw another Minato behind him, raising a Rasengan. The real Minato in front of him held a kunai to his neck.

'Dammit.' Seeing his target, Yami, protected behind Minato, Ryoma knew he had failed his mission.

"Don't do anything stupid now."

Seeing through Ryoma's intent to commit suicide, Minato quickly immobilized him, pressing the kunai closer to his neck. "If you take your own life, you'll bring disgrace upon your clan. Think about your family and what they will endure."

Ryoma's eyes widened as he suddenly found himself paralyzed. He opened his mouth, trying to speak but couldn't say a word.

"Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal?" Minato observed the mark on Ryoma's tongue.

"He's from the Root," Yami said.

"Root?" Minato looked back at him. This was the first time he heard this name. Was it an organization under Konoha? But why would they target Yami?

Many questions filled Minato's mind, but before he could think of any answers, he heard Yami's voice.

"Even if you take him to the Hokage, the chances he would walk out unscathed are quite high," Yami continued. "I can't allow that to happen. It will leave a bitter taste in my mouth if nothing happens to him, so..."

Before Minato could ask what he meant, he saw Yami suddenly jump back.

Yami smiled and spat one word. "Detonate!"

An explosive tag that he had attached to Ryoma's leg earlier suddenly formed eyes and a mouth on the paper and answered, "Ai!"

Just as Minato noticed the explosive tag, it was already too late. Blinding lights flashed before an explosion erupted, engulfing Ryoma in a sudden burst of fire and smoke.

***

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