The Lee and Tenten behind him didn't feel anything special about it. After all, with Uchiha Kage's strength, becoming a Chūnin was only a matter of time.
Especially Tenten, when Uchiha Kage turned around and looked at them, she subconsciously began fangirling.
She had no intention of standing up for Neji at all.
"Forget it. Since we've run into each other, I'll settle things with you right here!"
"Uh, I'm not a candidate. Even if you beat me, I don't have any scrolls for you."
"Doesn't matter. My target is only you!", Neji looked like he was determined to have a fight no matter what.
And Uchiha Kage…
Also kind of wanted to get rid of this annoying Byakugan brat.
So—
BANG!
As soon as he saw Neji take a Gentle Fist stance, Uchiha Kage smashed a punch onto the back of his head.
[Ninja Fragment x1]
When the dust settled, Uchiha Kage grabbed the back of Neji's collar and tossed his unconscious body in front of Lee and Tenten.
"Don't let him run around again. The Forest of Death is dangerous."
"Uh-huh…"
He went down even faster than last time, so fast that they couldn't even see Kage's movements before Neji collapsed.
Lee had been a bit eager at first, but now it was clear. Even with all his strength, he wouldn't be a match for this guy.
Still, Neji was pretty pitiful.
Even if he passed the Chūnin Exams and became a Chūnin, today's crushing defeat might leave yet another shadow on his heart.
"So… so amazing…", Already a bit dazed by Uchiha Kage's looks, Tenten now had her face flushed bright red.
"Even though I feel a little bad for Neji… after the exam, can I ask you out on a date?", Feeling a bit awkward, she glanced at Neji still lying on the ground, then leaned closer to the Uchiha boy in front of her with a blushing face.
"Sure. I've been thinking of buying some new kunai and shuriken," After a few missions, he had pretty much used up his ninja tools.
Uchiha Kage recalled the ninja tool shop at Tenten's house.
"Not that kind of date… it's… fine, I'll give you a discount then," Tenten, both happy and disappointed, watched Uchiha Kage turn and leave.
'This Uchiha underclassman really doesn't understand a girl's heart at all.'
———
"This way, no one else will come to interfere," After changing into a new mask and nightwear, Uchiha Kage activated his Byakugan again and looked toward Sasuke and Naruto's direction.
"Orochimaru, let's start with you."
'Orochimaru's after Sasuke's body, and he's after Orochimaru's… ahem, jutsu.'
The Edo Tensei technique—he really needed it.
Reviving the dead for battle wasn't the point. Summoning souls of the dead was what made the technique godlike.
Combined with his own Death God abilities…
Not only could he make all those former strong ninja into citizens of his inner space, but even something like "Rise, my beloved" could become possible.
'Right, if I am going to pretend to be Tobi, maybe creating a world with Rin Nohara should be the first step?'
———
"We can basically confirm it now, Lord Hokage," After checking Asuma's condition, in order to fully understand what had happened to him, Sarutobi Hiruzen secretly summoned the Intelligence Division leader—Ino Yamanaka's father, Inoichi Yamanaka.
"This chakra bears the marks of genjutsu. And… it's very advanced genjutsu. As far as I know, no genjutsu user in the village could pull this off, except…", For someone like Asuma, a high-level jōnin of the village, to be controlled by genjutsu without even noticing. It was horrifying in itself.
But even more shocking was that no known ninja in the village had such ability.
Thinking of this, Inoichi couldn't help but break into a cold sweat.
And since he hadn't left the village all this time—
"Except who?"
"Unless it's you, or one of the former Uchiha… Shisui or Itachi Uchiha might be able to do it," Inoichi first gave due respect to the Third Hokage before sharing his guess.
"Uchiha?"
"Yes. There appear to be traces of Sharingan in Asuma's mind."
As someone experienced with the Uchiha clan, Inoichi had a good sense for this sort of thing.
"Alright. I understand."
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the still clueless Asuma in front of him with a weary expression.
"That's it for today. Do not tell anyone about this for now. Understood?"
"Yes!", Inoichi understood the severity of the situation and definitely wouldn't go spreading it around.
But if even Asuma could be controlled, what about other jōnin in the village…
He couldn't help but start imagining more.
"Uchiha…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen had thought about it too.
'And now, there are traces of Sharingan?'
'Could this be Itachi Uchiha's doing?'
In that moment, he recalled the previous intel: Itachi Uchiha had gone alone to the Root division to meet with Danzō.
'Wait, these clues seems to be connecting!'
Everything was connecting.
Danzō used some method to lure or threaten Itachi into doing his bidding, and the goal was the "Future Notebook" in Hiruzen's hand. That's why he had Itachi control Asuma to get information.
Hiruzen felt like he had figured out the truth.
"Father, you suspect I've been genjutsu-ed? That's impossible!"
Asuma, who didn't think he'd been controlled at all, believed Hiruzen was just trying to shut him up.
Afraid he'd spill the news that Itachi had returned to the village, or worse, expose that Hiruzen was protecting this unforgivable criminal.
"Even if someone had that kind of power, the only one who could do it is you!"
Someone who could sneak up on him undetected and control him.
Asuma couldn't think of anyone else with such ability.
Other than his dad, the ninjutsu professor.
"You—you unfilial son!"
'To be controlled and still not realize it, and now throwing dirt on your own father!'
Hiruzen was so angry his beard was shaking.
"You go home right now! And don't take a single step out again!"
"Hmph! Just trying to find an excuse to imprison me? Don't end up ruining your own reputation, Lord Hokage!"
Looking at the surrounding Anbu ninjas, Asuma let out a cold laugh, no intention of resisting.
The village had been smelling off lately. He'd like to see what big move his father was planning.
"Take him away!"
'Ruin my reputation?'
'Hmph, foolish child. I am about to unify the ninja world.'
Hiruzen couldn't be bothered to argue anymore.
This good-for-nothing son could never inherit the Hokage title. Maybe, just maybe, the hope of the future rested on his grown-up grandson—Konohamaru.
'But Itachi Uchiha…'
'Could it be that he has been hiding Shisui's eye all along?'
To pull this off under Hiruzen's nose, without a sound, aside from Kotoamatsukami, he couldn't think of another genjutsu.
'So that Mangekyō Sharingan with the ultimate genjutsu Kotoamatsukami wasn't taken by the Akatsuki, it is with him?'
'And Danzō…'
Originally, planting a spy in his Anbu to search for the "treasure" left behind by Tobirama-sensei, Hiruzen could turn a blind eye to that.
But to think he'd dare join hands with Itachi, an outsider, just to steal the "Future Notebook" left by the teacher, and even lay hands on his son.
"Utterly foolish!"
Hiruzen had no more tolerance left for Danzō.
"Summon Kakashi and Yamato. We're shutting down Root tonight!"
Before dealing with external threats, one must clean house.
To prevent Danzō from making more "mistakes," Hiruzen decided to personally place him under house arrest.
"Yes, Lord Hokage!"
Even the Anbu members had long been fed up with Root. Hearing the Hokage's command, they were fired up.
———
'This bloodlust…"
So intense it crushed all thoughts of resistance, made one want to die from fear. It was like a tangible force binding the body.
Uchiha Sasuke couldn't help but recall that moment facing Zabuza in the Land of Waves.
'Hmph!'
'But I am not the same as before!'
After experiencing the dream dungeon, filled with corpses, filled with killing intent, a real battlefield, he wasn't afraid of this kind of pressure anymore.
Because—
"My killing intent is greater than yours!"
Recalling his dead parents and clan members, Sasuke instantly broke free from the pressure, then yanked his collar, revealing his face with the three-tomoe Sharingan.
Zzzhhh…
Like the chirping of a thousand birds, Sasuke's right hand gathered a sharp, powerful current of electricity.
"Come on, ninja of the Sound Village!"
The ninja in front of him, wearing a Sound Village headband, was definitely on par with Zabuza, Sasuke didn't dare hold back at all.
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