"No... gone?"
Jiaodu stared at the list, expression darkening.
He had been waiting—waiting to see the one who achieved true longevity in the ninja world. Why… why were they gone?
He had looked forward to it. Surely, someone worthy of being called the No. 1 Immortal Ninja must be below?
> "Only after the exam can I continue watching…"
"Impossible! Deidara, the number one artist in the ninja world, isn't even on the list? What kind of fake list is this?!"
"Hmph. Don't kid yourself." The voice came from the shadows.
Sasori's puppet body clinked as he stepped forward. His hollow eyes scanned the list with indifference.
> "If there's a true number one artist in the ninja world—it's me."
Despite having forsaken emotion, even Sasori felt the sting of ambition reawakening.
---
"Mother…"
A trembling voice whispered in the void.
Seeing Kaguya Otsutsuki's name, Black Zetsu's whole form shuddered.
He hadn't expected it. That name—long erased from history. Scrubbed from memory, records, bloodlines… everything.
> "I wiped them all away… even her blood kin…"
He stared skyward, heart pounding.
> "Could it be… someone on the moon is behind this?"
Black Zetsu looked up, only to meet empty silence.
---
The moment the list appeared, ripples echoed across the shinobi world.
To civilians, it was a novelty.
To leaders?
It was a declaration.
A threat.
> "Konoha... are you flaunting your power?"
The Five Kage could see the truth clearly.
Ten names.
Seven of them tied to Konoha.
The other three? Unknown origins.
> "Heh… pathetic bluff."
In the Cloud Village, the Fourth Raikage let out a snort. Sparks flickered from his arms, muscles tense.
In a flash of rage, the desk before him shattered.
> "Konoha, you've gone too far."
"The number one body in the ninja world? A mere jōnin dares bear such a title?!"
He turned toward his guards.
> "Prepare the guards. In three days, I'm personally visiting that arrogant 'Blue Beast' of Konoha."
---
"Lady Tsunade! You're on the list!"
At a casino table, Shizune pointed at the screen, eyes wide.
Tsunade's head snapped up. Her hand trembled slightly, spilling her sake.
Her expression? Complicated.
> "That old fool… he's gone too far."
She exhaled slowly, voice softer than usual.
Even if she hated it—even if she ran—Konoha… was home. The village built by the First and Second Hokage.
> "Shizune, let's go."
"Go? Where to?"
> "Konoha."
---
"EH?! MY NAME?! That's MY name!"
Naruto Uzumaki practically screamed at the screen, jumping up and down in front of Ichiraku Ramen.
Everyone in the shop turned with annoyed stares.
> "I did it! I became a real ninja, dattebayo!"
"Hah?! You?! The dead-last? Must be someone with the same name."
"Yeah! No way that guy is on the list."
Outside Konoha's gates, a crowd had formed. Citizens stared at the sky, voices overlapping in debate.
> "Did you see it? Seven names out of ten! That's the power of Konoha, baby!"
"Yeah! The Strongest Ninja Village title isn't for show!"
Villagers puffed with pride. A man with some flair for poetry shouted dramatically:
> "One stone in the ninja world—Konoha wields seven fights alone!"
High above, from the tower, Sarutobi Hiruzen's face darkened.
Even as cheers rang below, suspicion filled his heart.
> "Someone's provoking us…"
He clenched his pipe tighter.
Could this be a trap? A ploy to ignite war?
> "A Fourth Ninja World War…?"
He remembered the strange Rinnegan… and fell into deep thought.
---
"Sensei! It says you're the Number One Martial Artist in the ninja world!"
From Konoha's wall, Rock Lee pointed up, eyes shimmering with tears.
Might Guy rubbed his eyes in disbelief before grinning his classic grin.
> "YOUSHAA! Then we'll celebrate—with 500 extra laps of running today, Lee!"
> "YES, SIR!"
Lee took off like a bullet, pure joy radiating from him.
Guy's smile faded slightly as he looked back up.
> "Number one... me?"
He chuckled softly.
> "What nonsense. I can barely last ten minutes when opening all Eight Gates."
In his heart, a figure burned.
> "He… he was the true taijutsu god."
---
In the exam space, Pain stared at the list. Twice he checked—his name wasn't there.
> "As expected. A list made by mortals cannot comprehend gods."
Suddenly—
The scene changed.
Golden letters formed in the sky:
[The exam time is up. Exam begins.]
Question: What was the true reason Akatsuki was destroyed before the Fourth Ninja World War?
A. The goal of peace was unrealistic
B. Too weak to resist the Allied Forces
C. Members took off their clothes mid-battle
D. Betrayal from within since the beginning
The entire space went silent.
> "What…?!"
> "These questions… are too direct!"
Even among seasoned ninja, the shock was visible.
Not just the content—but the implication.
Was this the future?
> "Akatsuki… destroyed?"
Pain clenched his fists. Rage swelled within him.
> "This was Yahiko's dream. Our dream! It can't end like this!"
He trembled. Just then—a soft hand fell on his shoulder.
He didn't need to look up.
> "Don't be afraid. Nothing's happened yet," Konan whispered gently.
Pain's breath steadied.
He understood now—this list... showed the future. It wasn't too late.
---
"My God… what is this Akatsuki group?!"
"Ninja World Alliance?! What the hell is that?! The Five Great Nations, together?! Impossible!"
"They killed my cousin during the Sand-Konoha war. Why would I ever fight beside them?!"
The crowd grew restless.
This wasn't just a question.
It was a revelation.
Many ninja realized: this test… was about the future.
---
Inside Konoha, two generations played shogi—Shikaku and Shikamaru.
Pieces half-moved, their attention locked on the sky-screen.
> "Shikamaru, what do you make of this?"
The boy tilted his head.
> "Well... it's definitely not C. Stripping during a fight? That's just dumb."
Shikaku smirked.
> "Hah, your reasoning matches mine."
"Lord Shikaku, the Third Hokage summons you!"
Two ANBU knelt behind him.
> "Yeah, yeah. I'm coming."
He stood, dusted himself off.
> "Can't dodge politics forever."
---
In the Mist Village, Terumi Mei bit her lip.
Seven out of ten—Konoha.
While her own village...
> "Aside from Ao and myself... no one left I can rely on."
Her gaze shifted to a particular face on the screen.
> "Kisame Hoshigaki…"
Her brows furrowed.
Other villages were gathering think tanks.
Meetings exploded across shinobi nations, trying to decipher the truth behind the questions.
But the more they analyzed, the more uneasy they became.
Because this wasn't just a quiz.
It was prophecy.