*Chapter 126: Sakura Is About to Get Beaten Up*

"Stop talking. Run, or you'll die," Neji shouted sternly.

Tenten and Rock Lee, knowing Neji's serious nature, didn’t hesitate after hearing his words and sped up their pace.

Only after running a safe distance and confirming that Aizen and his companion weren’t following, did Neji finally stop, his legs trembling as he collapsed onto the ground.

"Neji, what exactly is going on?" Tenten and Rock Lee also stopped, unable to hold back their questions.

It was the first time they had seen Neji this shaken.

Neji took a deep breath and answered, "I sensed two incredibly vast amounts of chakra from those two. Especially the man wrapped in bandages—his chakra seemed bottomless. Even Gai-sensei doesn't compare."

Hearing this, Tenten gasped in shock. "Are you saying they're disguised jonin?"

"It's possible," Neji sighed.

"Should we report this to Gai-sensei?" Rock Lee suggested.

"Not yet." Neji rejected the idea without hesitation.

His goal in this Chunin Exam wasn’t just to become a Chunin. More importantly, he wanted to defeat the main family's eldest daughter, to prove himself and avenge his father’s death.

If they reported this, the Chunin Exams would likely be called off, something Neji did not want.

"Why?" Rock Lee asked, confused.

"As it stands, they haven’t done anything suspicious. Even if we report them, without solid evidence, nothing will happen. Besides, we still need to complete this exam and get the missing scroll. Once we have it, we can report everything then."

Neji’s reasoning was sound enough to convince the others.

On the other side, Aizen, still using his Observation Haki, overheard their conversation.

"So, that's the Byakugan, huh? Able to detect chakra flow in the body and measure strength. It's quite an impressive kekkei genkai," Aizen mused.

Looking in the direction where Neji’s team had retreated, Pakura hesitated and asked, "But Lord Aizen, if we let that Hyuga kid go, doesn't that mean we've been exposed?"

"It doesn’t matter. If we stay hidden the whole time, wouldn't this trip to Konoha be boring? Besides, I’m looking forward to seeing the expressions on the Third Hokage's and his 'eunuch son's' faces when they realize their clan's killer is right in front of them after the third round of the exam," Aizen said with a grin, manipulating three chakra threads from his fingers, using the puppet technique he learned from Sasori.

The threads shot into the air.

Accompanied by three different screams, Dosu, Zaku, and Kin—the Sound trio—were yanked from a tree, choking as the chakra threads tightened around their necks.

Desperately trying to pry the threads from his neck, Dosu barely managed to speak, "Lord Aizen, please spare us! We're subordinates of Lord Orochimaru..."

Aizen raised an eyebrow in surprise, loosening the threads. "Oh? You know me?"

The trio gasped for breath. Dosu, in relief, replied respectfully, "I had the honor of witnessing your battle with Lord Kimimaro from a distance back in the Sound Village. Later, I also heard your name from the person next to you. That's how I learned of your identity. Here's our scroll, please accept it."

With that, Dosu quickly offered up their Earth Scroll, bowing in submission.

Aizen waved his hand, and the scroll flew into his grasp. Eyeing the terrified trio, he asked knowingly, "What mission did Orochimaru give you?"

The three glanced at each other, knowing full well that refusing to answer would likely mean their deaths.

After hesitating briefly, Dosu spoke up, "We were ordered to find Sasuke and, at dawn tomorrow, kill him."

"In that case, I’ll give you a task," Aizen said, casually tossing the scroll in his hand with a playful smile.

"What would you have us do?" Dosu swallowed nervously.

"Among the three of them, there's a girl with pink hair. Tomorrow, at dawn, each of you will slap her ten times, but don't kill her. You also can’t touch the blonde kid. As for Sasuke, if you can kill him, go ahead and try," Aizen chuckled.

"Understood, Lord Aizen." Although unsure of Aizen’s motives, Dosu quickly agreed since it didn't interfere with their mission.

The Sound trio scurried away under Aizen’s watchful gaze, knowing full well that defying him wasn’t an option, especially since even Orochimaru feared him.

Watching them leave, Pakura couldn't help but laugh. "Lord Aizen, do you have a grudge against that girl Sakura?"

"Not really. She just seems like she deserves a beating," Aizen shrugged.

In his previous life, watching the anime, every time he saw her constantly relying on Sasuke, he couldn't help but want to slap her.

When Aizen and Pakura arrived at their destination, the battle between Orochimaru and Team 7—more accurately, Naruto and Sasuke—was nearing its end.

They arrived just in time to witness a dramatic scene.

Naruto, drawing on the power of the Nine-Tails, valiantly protected the terrified Sasuke and Sakura, but due to the overwhelming gap in power, Orochimaru severed Naruto’s connection to the Nine-Tails with a Five-Element Seal, knocking him unconscious and leaving him hanging from a tree.

Sasuke was trembling in fear.

Sakura was on her knees, sobbing uncontrollably.

Meanwhile, Uchiha Itachi, who had arrived earlier, watched the entire scene unfold from the shadows, his brows furrowed in anger at Orochimaru for bullying his little brother. However, he was equally disappointed in Sasuke for his cowardice.

Fortunately, Sakura’s tears weren’t entirely useless.

Her crying triggered a memory in Sasuke, reminding him of the massacre of his clan. Fighting through his fear, Sasuke forced himself to engage Orochimaru in battle.

Seeing this, a faint smile of relief appeared on Itachi’s face.

"Well, that's rare. You’re actually smiling. Are you happy with your brother's growth?" Aizen’s voice suddenly echoed in Itachi’s ear.

Aizen and Pakura appeared beside Itachi as if out of nowhere.

"How are things on your end?" Itachi glanced at Aizen, maintaining his calm facade while internally growing more wary of him. He hadn’t expected Aizen to sneak up on him so effortlessly while accompanied by Pakura.

This stealth skill was truly terrifying.

"I’ve got both scrolls," Aizen replied, showing the Heaven and Earth scrolls.

As they spoke, Sasuke and Orochimaru’s battle had already reached its conclusion.

Orochimaru extended his neck and bit down on Sasuke's, planting the Cursed Seal of Heaven.

Sasuke immediately screamed in agony, writhing on the ground.

Sakura, in despair, cradled Sasuke and began to cry loudly, shouting, "Naruto… Sasuke’s in so much pain! Please help him, Naruto!"