Uchiha Itachi, You Didn't Disappoint

Chapter 25: Uchiha Itachi, You Truly Didn't Disappoint

People's expectations for villains are often very low.

Even if that villain does a good deed casually, people's attitudes towards him will change. Kabuto Yakushi didn't think Akihara Kagura was a completely cold-blooded child.

He was a young boy with kindness in his heart.

Akihara Kagura, who still resented him and Yakushi Nonō, was willing to tell him important news about the director. Perhaps the boy's killing intent wasn't that strong, and he had simply been blinded by jealousy and hatred all along.

Kabuto Yakushi thought for a moment and decided to show some kindness himself. "I've collected some information about the Chunin Exam. The first written test will likely be under the supervision of the proctor, testing the examinees' abilities in investigation and intelligence gathering..."

"What a coincidence."

Akihara Kagura raised an eyebrow, a smile involuntarily appearing on his lips. "It seems I'm not particularly good at gathering intelligence. Looks like this written test will be a bit difficult for me..."

"Then..."

Kabuto Yakushi adjusted his glasses and said softly, "May I be allowed to help you with a small matter?"

"..."

Akihara Kagura's smile deepened.

If you truly want to help someone worthy of help, you must respect that person seeking help, rather than offering assistance from a condescending position.

Kabuto Yakushi truly understood the ways of the world.

But...

There was another principle in social interactions.

If someone owes you a great favor, it's best not to have them do a small favor. This creates an exchange of quantity for quality, and neither person will be satisfied in the end.

"I don't need it."

Akihara Kagura's expression suddenly turned cold.

The young boy refused Kabuto Yakushi, saying coldly, "I can handle this small matter myself. You should go to Iwagakure and carry out the mission Lord Danzō assigned you!"

"Alright."

Kabuto Yakushi slowly nodded.

Akihara Kagura rubbed his chin, looking back at Ichiraku Ramen in the distance. "I wonder how long Senior Kakashi Hatake will take to eat at Ichiraku Ramen..."

"..."

Kabuto Yakushi turned his head back in confusion.

The entrance area for the Chunin Exam.

The room for the first written test was very large.

A group of genin were gathered there, chatting amongst themselves.

As everyone in the room talked, their gazes would invariably drift towards a figure in the corner, a remarkably handsome young boy.

Uchiha Itachi.

Most of the gazes in the room were focused on him.

The genin examinees present were mostly older than Uchiha Itachi. Seeing this ten-year-old boy in the examination hall made them somewhat uncomfortable. Furthermore, this child hailed from the Uchiha Clan, a clan that villagers most disliked and feared.

"A genius of the Uchiha Clan..."

"I heard that brat is participating in the exam alone?"

"Hmph, people from the Uchiha Clan have always been arrogant. It's normal for them to think they can pass the Chunin Exam alone. That brat is truly conceited..."

"..."

Uchiha Itachi stood quietly in place.

Despite being only ten years old, Uchiha Itachi displayed more patience than the older genin. He seemed capable of standing there quietly forever.

Even with people constantly discussing him nearby, he paid no mind, as if he couldn't hear anything, unconcerned with others' opinions.

CRASH!

The room's door suddenly burst open!

With the door kicked in, the entire room fell silent. A figure with white hair strode into the room, his voice clearly laced with impatience!

"So noisy!"

"This is the noisiest room in the entire building!"

"..."

The genin immediately fell silent, too afraid to speak.

The person entering wore a green Konoha Jonin uniform, someone these genin couldn't casually discuss or curse at.

In fact...

Many genin recognized his identity.

Kakashi Hatake, a highly renowned genius Jonin in the village. It was rumored that he graduated from the academy at five, became a Chunin at six, and a Jonin at twelve.

The ninja world widely referred to him as Bloody Mist Kakashi or Sharingan Kakashi. In terms of both fame and strength, Kakashi Hatake far surpassed the other Jonin in the village.

"The first stage of the Chunin Exam has a new venue."

This Jonin waved his hand at them, his face filled with impatience. "You can go now. Head over to the Hokage Building to check the latest notice."

"What!"

"Why would they suddenly change the venue?"

"We didn't receive any advance notice!"

"All of you, shut up!"

This Konoha Jonin sternly silenced the noisy Genin, a clear hint of disdain in his eyes. "This is the Hokage's order. This place will be used as a conference room for an upcoming allied meeting. Are you going to let your Chunin Exam delay important village matters?"

"..."

The Genin present were seething with anger, but they dared not speak aloud.

"Senior Kakashi..."

Two adults also stepped forward.

These two adults were assisting with the written portion of the Chunin Exam. They weren't Genin but Chunin who had taken the opportunity to infiltrate the Genin ranks.

After all, the first written exam primarily tested the Genin's reconnaissance and intelligence gathering abilities. These two Chunin would pose as Genin and write down all the correct answers to the exam questions, providing the intelligence gathered by the Genin.

"All Chunin assisting with the written exam, report to the new venue!"

Kakashi Hatake's expression was filled with impatience. He seemed to have seen through their identities at a glance but didn't expose them. He continued loudly, "Alright, hurry up and go. Don't be late on your way to the new venue. This place needs to be cleared immediately for Konoha's allied meeting."

"..."

The group of Genin could only silently form a line and leave.

As they left, they didn't even see the Chunin maintaining order around them. It seemed this place truly wasn't the venue for the written portion of the Chunin Exam.

The group of Genin could only obediently head to the Hokage Building to view the new venue notification.

No one noticed that in a small storage room on the stairs, two Chunin responsible for maintaining order were slumped over, unconscious.

The entire entrance area of the written exam venue soon became deserted.

Kakashi Hatake glanced around, his gaze falling on Uchiha Itachi, who was the only one not moving. "Hmm? Kid, why aren't you going to the new venue?"

"What new venue?"

Uchiha Itachi slowly raised his head, but the gentleness of youth was no longer in his eyes. He asked in a deep voice, "Who are you? Why are you deceiving them into going to a new venue?"

"That's very disrespectful to a senior,"

Kakashi Hatake stretched, appearing somewhat displeased. "Kid, even if you're a genius of the Uchiha Clan, you should show a little respect to your seniors."

"The Jonin seniors in the village wouldn't be as rude as you..."

Uchiha Itachi's hand moved towards his ninja tool pouch as he shook his head. "The Chunin Exam is a major village event. It's unlikely they would change the venue right before the exam begins."

"Most importantly..."

Uchiha Itachi's eyes faintly glowed red, and his voice gradually became serious. "Although your Transformation Jutsu is very skillful, under the gaze of the Sharingan..."

"Tsk..."

Kakashi Hatake's figure instantly dissolved into smoke.

A young man revealed his true appearance, a smile playing on his lips. "Hello, Uchiha Itachi. Lord Danzō was right; you haven't disappointed me..."

First update!