Previously on Konoha no Yoko: Chuunin Exam, Anko challenged the traitor, Orochimaru, only to succumb to the poisonous effects of the curse mark, and Team 7 was left vulnerable to the Oto team's attack. Even with the help of friends and allies, Sakura was no match against the vindictive nature of the Oto. When all seemed too much for the young woman, Sasuke awoke from his fever... but it was not the Sasuke that she knew, and were it not for the gentle touch of the young houshi, Naruto, who knew what type of terror this new Sasuke would unleash on foe and friend alike. As the exam continues, one has to wonder... what other horrors and challenges await for not only Team 7 but for all of Konoha as well?

~Scroll 22~

Hours earlier from the final confrontation between Team 7 and the Oto team, Anko had awoken from her injuries. She gathered her strength and began to stagger toward the direction of the tower. Keeping one foot in front of the other, she forced herself to continue on her trek, even though her body protested every single, agonizing step.

Suddenly over the harsh panting of her breathing, she heard the ominous rumble of the forest's more dangerous denizens. Clutching at her shoulder, Anko found herself surrounded by three giant forest tigers. The beasts stared at her, but with neither the expected glint of hunger in their eyes nor with the usual sense of superiority while in the presence of a weaker prey… no… Anko could see it in their eyes… they knew that she was tainted… that she was diseased…

The giant creatures were not going to kill her for food nor for sport... but to keep her disease from spreading in their forest.

Anko mentally sneered at the animals. I do not have time for this… She thought as she prepared herself for a hard-pressed battle. Normally, she would have no concern for the forest tigers, but she was aware enough to know that in her current state, she would be lucky to escape.

The shinobi and the great beasts kept a wary eye on one another...

In the distance a bird chirped...

The tigers' suddenly charged.

Anko barely took a step back before noticing that the large felines had frozen in mid-charge. It took her less than a minute to realize in her exhausted haze that the massive beasts were stopped by an Art of Paralysis.

"Fancy meeting you here, Anko!"

Anko turned around and sighed in relief to see two of her ANBU colleagues lurking in the trees and not her former mentor.

"You two," She grumbled, "must be the slowest-moving covert operatives I've ever met!"

"Aw!" Pouted the fair-haired ANBU, who wore a bird-like mask, "Don't be like that!"

Anko was about retort to Bird's pout when she let loose a sharp gasp and dropped to her knees in pain.

"Hey," The dark haired ANBU with a bear mask gently called as he and his partner landed beside Anko, "are you all right…?"

Bird glanced down at Anko's pale neck and sharply hissed at the sight of the sickly black mark.

"The mark of the curse we've been worried about has floated to the surface." Bird clinically explained to his partner.

And although he was wearing a mask, Anko knew that Bird was looking directly at her when he continued, "But don't tell me that it -?!"

Anko just nodded her head.

"Orochimaru?" Bear exclaimed, "Really?"

Bird sighed as he stood.

"If he's here, we have to bring you before Lord Hokage, so you can report it to him!"

"No…" Anko protested as she struggled to her feet, "go to the tower…"

"What are you talking about?!" Bird snapped, "If Orochimaru reaches our village, a state of emergency will be declared! Your little exam is the least of our worries!"

Anko leveled a heavy look on her colleague, and in that instant, Bird saw the girl that Anko once was before the snake had left his poison in her.

"Trust me…" She quietly mumbled, "I'll explain why when we reach the tower."

The fair-haired ninja just nodded his acceptance of her request. She then turned to Bear, asking that he have Lord Hokage join them at the tower.

~o.O.o~

It was a few hours later when Anko and her two colleagues made it back to the tower. The medical team was able to tend to the kunoichi's injuries, but there was nothing they could do for the residual effects of the poison coursing through her veins. The lead of the medical team just told the stubborn Nin to rest and to take it easy, which was why Bird had manhandled Anko to a nearby sofa in the tower's surveillance room.

She had made a mental note to get back at her colleague once she was fully recovered.

Bird knew that the slightly less than sane kunoichi was plotting his demise due to his manhandling, but in reality, he could care less, especially with bigger concerns roaming around. And so he stood by her with his arms crossed and his entire demeanor screaming 'well?'.

"What's happened is a disaster…" She began as she looked at both ANBU operatives, "But the exams must go on!"

"Why?!" The fair-haired Nin demanded.

But before she could answer, the door slid open, revealing one of the exam proctors.

"Thank goodness you're here, Anko!" The Jounin exclaimed as he rushed into the room, paying no mind to the two ANBU, "There is something I must tell you right away…"

"Now what?!" Anko snapped, thinking the Jounin's urgent message was about some petty quarrel among the Exam Applicants in the forest, "We're right in the middle of something vital!"

"Observe!" The Jounin said as he presented a video tape and went toward the monitors.

"Video surveillance, eh?" Bird questioned while the Jounin ran the tape.

Anko could feel a migraine coming on.

"Right there…" The proctor exclaimed as he paused the video and jabbed his finger at the screen, "Notice the time and date stamp…"

All three looked at the video's time stamp. Anko stared in disbelief at what she was reading.

1609

"That looks like…" She trailed off.

"It is. It was shot from the interior of the tower…" The proctor confirmed, "A mere hour and 37 minutes after the second exam began!"

On the monitor was the first team to complete the Second Exam… the team from the Land of Sand…

"It's not possible." Anko whispered then took a moment to truly observe the three Sand-Nin, particularly the redhead.

"This is unprecedented! Unheard of!" The Jounin continued, "Those three have far exceeded the skills of mere Genin Junior Ninja! They've beaten the previous record by over four hours!"

"It's more than that…" She calmly stated.

"… what do you mean?"

The kunoichi turned toward the window and stared out to the forest.

"It's roughly 10 km from the gates where the students began the exam to this tower…" She explained, "Their path filled with hazardous terrain, poisonous insects, savage beasts… and they've strolled through it like it was a day at the beach!" She paused, "Especially this red-haired boy with the tattoo…"

"What about him…?"

The kunoichi titled her head to the side, looking over her shoulder.

"Don't you see it?"

"Hunh?"

Silence filled the room as the Konoha shinobi observed the redhead on the video.

"Oh," Bird gasped, "I get it! That's amazing!"

The Jounin continued to stare before letting out an aspirated sigh.

"What are you going on about?"

It was clear that he was not seeing what Anko and the two ANBU were seeing.

"Look at his clothes… his body…" She prompted, and the proctor did.

His eyes grew wide as his mouth formed a perfect 'o'.

"There's not a mark on him anywhere…" The kunoichi quietly said, "and not so much as a smudge on his clothes!"

Even for me… She thought as she looked back out the window, or for any other journeyman-level ninja… a feat like that would be impossible!

"This must have something to do with his innate talents!" Bird remarked with his arms crossed and his eyes never wavering from the monitor, "It's been awhile since we've seen such a promising candidate. But he's got a nasty look in his eye…"