Ch-69 Will Sasuke Continue?

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Despite several minutes passing, not a single candidate moved. No one was willing to give up. The tension in the room remained thick, as each Genin silently steeled themselves for what lay ahead.

Meanwhile, Kabuto turned and began to leave the hall after his declaration to withdraw.

Naruto, unable to contain his disappointment, called out, "Why, Kabuto? Why are you giving up?"

Kabuto stopped and glanced back at him, a faintly apologetic smile on his face. "I'm sorry, Naruto," he said. "I just can't. My body's too beaten up to fight in the preliminaries without some proper rest. I'd only end up getting hurt worse."

Naruto's expression fell, his shoulders slumping. "But…" he started, though he didn't finish his sentence.

From the side, Ino cut in, her voice sharp. "Huh! What nonsense are you spouting? Seriously injured?" She gestured toward Inoiki, who was standing a short distance away, heavily bandaged and visibly strained. "Look at my brother. He's actually seriously injured, yet he's still here, ready to fight. And you're quitting over this?" She crossed her arms and huffed. "Compared to his injuries, yours look like nothing."

Kabuto shook his head slowly, his expression regretful. "I just can't," he repeated, his tone low. Without another word, he turned and walked out of the hall, his figure disappearing down the corridor.

Up on the platform, Hiruzen Sarutobi watched Kabuto leave, a pensive look crossing his face. "If my memory serves me right," he said thoughtfully, "that face isn't new to me. I've seen him in this hall before. He seems to have participated in previous exams."

Anko, standing nearby, reacted immediately. She reached for the clipboard holding the candidates' records, flipping through the pages with practiced efficiency until she found Kabuto's profile. Her eyes scanned the details quickly.

"Kabuto Yakushi," she read aloud. "It took him three attempts to graduate as a Genin, and he's already failed the Chunin Exams six times. This was his seventh attempt… which now counts as another failure." She closed the file with a soft snap and looked at Hiruzen.

Hiruzen's frown deepened. "This is… strange," he muttered, his voice low.

Anko glanced back toward the corridor where Kabuto had disappeared, her expression hardening as suspicion crept into her thoughts.

 While Hiruzen and the Jonin discussed Kabuto, Sakura was quietly pleading with Sasuke, her voice trembling.

"Sasuke, please give up," she said, her eyes brimming with tears. "In your condition, you can't fight."

Sasuke's expression was resolute, his voice steady as he replied, "No. I'm not giving up."

Sakura's frustration bubbled over, her tone growing more desperate. "Sasuke, please! You can participate in the next Chunin Exams. I just… I just can't bear to see you in so much pain. Please don't push yourself like this."

Sasuke's gaze hardened, and his tone turned cold. "I don't care about passing or failing this Chunin Exam. That's not what this is about." He looked her in the eye, his determination unshaken. "What matters to me is fighting my peers—measuring the result of my training. I need to see how I compare to them. This is important to me, Sakura."

Sakura froze, his words cutting deep. She understood the resolve in his voice; nothing she said would sway him now. For a moment, her mind raced with the urge to act—to go to the Hokage or the Jonin and tell them the truth about Sasuke's condition, about the curse mark Orochimaru had planted on him.

But she hesitated. If she told them, Sasuke would never forgive her. She could see the hatred that would spark in his eyes if she betrayed his trust. That thought alone was enough to silence her. Swallowing hard, she stepped back, biting her lip to keep herself from saying anything further.

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A few feet away, Inoiki stood quietly, standing beside Ino as he observed the room. His sharp senses caught every word of the exchange between Sakura and Sasuke.

He sighed softly, shaking his head. What was bound to happen… has happened, he thought.

His gaze shifted slightly toward Sasuke, his expression grim. I saved him from Orochimaru's first attack, but it seems Orochimaru struck again after I left. And this time, he succeeded in planting that accursed mark on Sasuke.

Inoiki's mind churned with frustration. He had done everything in his power to prevent this, yet it hadn't been enough. Still, he knew there was no time to dwell on regrets. Sasuke's resolve had been made clear, and Orochimaru's influence was a threat they couldn't afford to ignore.

I can only hope you're strong enough to resist him, Sasuke, Inoiki thought as he turned his attention back to the Jonins and Hokage.

Hiruzen, Anko, and Kakashi stood on the platform, engaged in an intense discussion about Sasuke's fate in the Chunin Exam. The revelation that Orochimaru had marked him with the cursed seal had sparked a heated debate.

"I strongly oppose this," Anko said firmly, her voice laced with concern and anger. "The curse mark is a threat not just to Sasuke but to everyone around him. Allowing him to continue is reckless."

Kakashi, however, stood his ground. "I understand your concerns, Anko," he said, his tone calm but resolute. "But this is Sasuke's decision. He knows the risks, and he's made it clear he wants to continue. I believe we should respect his wishes."

The final decision rested with Hiruzen, the Third Hokage. He listened intently to both sides before speaking, his voice carrying the weight of authority.

"Okay," Hiruzen said, his gaze steady. "I will allow Sasuke to continue participating in the Chunin Exam."

Anko immediately opened her mouth to object. "But—"

She was cut off by Hiruzen's calm yet firm voice. "Do not worry. We are all still here, aren't we?" His gaze softened slightly, though his tone left no room for argument.

Anko hesitated, her frustration evident, but she didn't press further. She knew better than to question the Hokage's decision once it was made.

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