Then Let's Call It Thousand...

Kakashi vaguely remembered.

That moment just now.

Obito's eyes had turned red!

After awakening his Sharingan, his speed and reactions had improved tremendously. He seemed to have transformed into the God of Shinobi himself, holding his own even against more than a dozen enemies.

Oligay exploded the instant it was mentioned, appearing behind them whenever it pleased.

After that series of moves, the girls were so frightened that their faces went pale and their whole bodies trembled as they cursed the Konoha ninja for being shameless!

Then...

They ran away without looking back.

That was right.

There had initially been more than a dozen enemies.

After Obito showed off, fewer than ten remained. Especially with those things flying all over the sky, the enemies panicked and hurriedly dodged. Yet Obito showed no fear and pressed forward despite the danger. As one side weakened and the other gained momentum... the three of them won under their encirclement.

Especially that last Cloud Shinobi... Amu... Obito's expression turned solemn as lightning danced across both hands. He flickered constantly like a lightning spirit, and even his speed increased. Combined with those scarlet Sharingan, he locked onto the enemy directly.

In the blink of an eye.

The enemy was finished.

That scream... was louder than usual.

Kakashi hesitated, then looked at Obito. "That ninjutsu..."

"Oh, you mean that ninjutsu?" Though both his hands were temporarily crippled, Obito had just shown off in front of Rin again, and he wore a confident smile. "I thought of it on the spot based on the Taro Ball our teacher developed. I tried it today, and I didn't expect it to actually work. Of course, it's not fully developed yet. Because of the Lightning Leap, it sounds like a thousand birds chirping, so I named it Thousand—"

Before he could finish.

"Shut up!" For some reason, Kakashi suddenly wanted to roar that from the bottom of his heart.

"What's wrong?! You actually yelled at me? Why are you yelling at me?" Obito frowned at Kakashi. "Are you jealous because I developed a ninjutsu?"

"..."

Jealous, my ass!

Kakashi looked complicatedly at Obito, who had started shouting again, and sighed. "Obito." He paused. "You're a damn genius!"

"Hahaha! I told you I'm a genius!"

Amid Obito's arrogant laughter.

Kakashi added with a complicated expression, "Also, there's... something black at the corner of your mouth."

As soon as he said that.

"Ahhh!" Obito leaped up at once and looked frantically at Rin, who had turned her head away. "I'm going to brush my teeth first!"

This could not keep happening. It damaged his aura.

He had to find a way to block those things.

As Obito left, Rin and Kakashi both watched his retreating figure with complicated expressions. Finally, they looked at each other and nodded solemnly in unison.

This was a forbidden technique!

They had to tell Minato-sensei and make sure Obito did not use it recklessly!

"Achoo!"

"Minato, you seem... unwell?" Hiruzen Sarutobi's thoughts were interrupted by the sudden sneeze. He frowned at Minato. "Do you need a Medical Ninja to examine you?"

"No." Minato smiled and shook his head. "My nose suddenly felt a little itchy. Thank you for your concern, Lord Hokage."

Though his smile was somewhat forced.

However.

How could Hiruzen Sarutobi not understand Minato's troubles? He sighed and shook his head. "Obito's matter... has truly been hard on you!"

"It is my duty!"

"That child must have strayed onto the wrong path in his pursuit of power." Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up, removed the pipe from his mouth, and gazed out the window. "After all, it is only natural for young people to be competitive. I hope you can guide him back onto the right path!"

Was it because of Kakashi?

Indeed!

Kakashi truly was a genius as well.

"I... will." Minato nodded with an awkward smile.

"I heard he has already awakened the Sharingan?"

"Yes!"

"What a genius..." Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed wistfully. Seeing Minato's bitter smile, he smiled gently. "Don't worry. Obito will surely understand... that it is merely an evil path. He only succeeded because he caught them off guard. If other ninja learn of it, they will certainly take precautions. Besides... it is not difficult."

Its limitations were too great, restricting its range of attack. Thus, it was only useful when it caught people by surprise. Once people knew about it... protecting that area was actually very simple.

Seeing that Minato seemed to understand what he meant, Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled again. "You may go! Do not worry. Since Orochimaru said so, it means there is no problem. After all, this happened during the Chunin Ninja Exams."

"Yes, Lord Hokage." Minato let out a breath of relief, respectfully bowed, then turned and walked out, closing the door behind him.

Hiruzen Sarutobi truly did not seem to care. Thinking about it, that made sense. It was merely a brat with a one-tomoe Sharingan playing a little trick. He did not care.

At that moment, he was more concerned about Kumogakure and Kirigakure... They had begun by probing and intercepting Konoha ninja. If the two villages truly joined forces...

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed wistfully and shook his head. "These are troubled times indeed..."

He rubbed his aching forehead.

Then.

He turned to look at his dear friend on the table, worth... four hundred million, and frowned. "I wonder what Danzo has been doing lately."

"Danzo has had people following me for so many days now. What exactly does he want?" Fuyou glanced outside and shook his head with a sigh. "You know, I'm just an ordinary wealthy man!"

He silently made up his mind.

It was time.

To raise the prices!

Because rumors had spread over the past two days that Konoha ninja and Cloud Shinobi had fought fiercely over Fuyou barbecue, business at the grill had been quite good.

It felt like a festival was underway.

So he had earned a little more. Especially with Fuyou VIP and the system's special customer-attraction function, it seemed people would gradually come to accept the Fuyou brand.

He was more than halfway to success!

The other half was finding a chance to expand his business into other countries.

Of course.

It was still too early to talk about that.

Besides... he did not know what exactly Obito's so-called killing frenzy meant.

Could Rin have run into some accident, causing him to awaken the Mangekyo in an instant? Was he about to create a world with Rin in it, so he had begun a massacre?

That could not be possible, right!

Recalling the rumors of Obito's great displays of power lately, Fuyou's mouth twitched. "That can't be possible, right!"

Had Minato not told him that it was only an exam and that he should not go so overboard?

This was bad.

If he stabbed everyone there... Fuyou truly could not imagine it!

Obito would probably have no choice but to follow in his ancestor's footsteps and walk another lonely path!

Creating a path where people approved of him using Thousand Years of Death?!

With a sentimental sigh, he thought, Madara, the substitute you chose is outstanding. No need to worry.

At that moment.

Kushina had gone back with that vegetable fox. After all, she was a Jinchuriki, and he was an Uchiha. Although he had not awakened his eyes, if they stayed together for too long, who knew what those people above might think.

Perhaps they would suspect that he, a wealthy man, had ulterior motives?!

He shook his head wistfully, looked at Suzune beside him, and pondered for a moment. "Do you want to go watch the Chunin Ninja Exams together in a few days?"

The first two rounds were not open to spectators, but the final one-on-one round was open to the public. Many people who had come to Konoha at this time were planning to join in the excitement and watch this peculiar sports festival of the ninja world.

"?" Suzune froze for a moment, then nodded lightly. Her lips curved slightly as she smiled. "Mm!"

Very soon.

The three-day Forest of Death survival competition came to a successful conclusion.

It was said.

A remarkable Konoha ninja had appeared. The moment he showed up... the enemies around him scattered, directly giving up the stone tablets and not daring to clash with him easily.

The ninja leading teams from each village also said they understood and did not blame them.

What a strange sight!

Next.

After one day of rest, which allowed Fuyou Grill to make a profit.

Today.

The weather was clear and pleasant.

The final round of the Chunin Ninja Exams arrived as scheduled.

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