The mesh gate of the Forest of Death slowly opened.
A group of genin rushed in through their respective entrances.
There were plenty of competitors in this exam. Entering earlier meant gaining the initiative sooner, whether by familiarizing themselves with the terrain or setting traps in the forest.
Even Uchiha Itachi was no exception.
Only Akihara Kagura strolled slowly into the examination grounds, weighing the Earth Scroll in his hand as he calmly gazed into the depths of the dark Forest of Death.
"Hey, kid!"
A female ninja responsible for opening the mesh gate at this entrance seemed impatient with Akihara Kagura's slow pace. She snapped, "Get in already! If you move any slower, you'll probably get killed before tonight!"
"..."
Akihara Kagura turned back to look at her.
The female ninja wore a khaki trench coat over mesh armor. Her exposed legs were clad in fishnet stockings, and her light purple hair was loosely tied into a messy bun. She did not appear particularly old.
"Hurry up!"
The female ninja looked increasingly impatient. The moment Akihara Kagura entered the examination grounds, she forcefully slammed the gate shut and clapped her hands together.
"Big sister, what's your name?"
Standing inside, Akihara Kagura smiled at the female ninja.
"Huh?"
The female ninja was surprised by the kid's sheer audacity, then suddenly broke into a grin. "Kid, you're awfully bold for someone taking such a dangerous exam... My name is Mitaraishi Anko. If you make it out alive, treat me to some dango!"
"I'll remember you."
Akihara Kagura did not mention treating her to food at all.
He had not mistaken her. This female ninja was named Mitaraishi Anko, once Orochimaru's disciple, and she carried the scent of Orochimaru's chakra as well.
In a sense, Mitaraishi Anko was both his former colleague and his current colleague. When he had time, he could bring her to meet their old boss.
"What an energetic child..."
Mitaraishi Anko tilted her head and smiled with narrowed eyes. "Then do your best. Try not to die too early in the Forest of Death!"
"Mm. I'll remember you."
Akihara Kagura nodded and repeated himself.
Just as Mitaraishi Anko was about to say something else, she saw Akihara Kagura suddenly raise his fingers and form the Snake hand seal!
Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!
Thick vines and tree roots burst from the ground!
Towering trees rose from the earth as the vines and roots spread outward!
Akihara Kagura controlled his chakra and raised his fingers again, directing the branches of the trees to converge!
Wood Style: Wood Dragon Technique!
A massive wooden dragon coiled out from the trunk!
Like a colossal beast, the wooden dragon slowly lowered itself and slid before Akihara Kagura. It lifted the youngster's body with its head, then slowly raised its head again.
"How is this possible... Wood Style Ninjutsu..."
Mitaraishi Anko stared in horror at the scene within the Forest of Death.
"I'll remember you."
Akihara Kagura turned back and repeated himself to Mitaraishi Anko once more, then controlled the wooden dragon as it spiraled deeper into the Forest of Death.
"Let's go greet everyone first..."
"That kid..."
After pondering for a moment, Mitaraishi Anko leaped away and raced toward where the chief examiner was stationed!
In truth, Mitaraishi Anko did not even need to report it. Nearly everyone present had seen the enormous wooden dragon. It seemed to hover over the Forest of Death, and some had even thought they were under attack by an unknown enemy.
Hokage Building.
A group of Konoha Higher-ups watched the scene on the screen in astonishment.
Even Shimura Danzō, who had long known that Akihara Kagura had mastered the Wood Dragon Technique, had never imagined that the child could fully reproduce it under his abstract teaching methods.
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi held a pipe between his fingers but did not put it to his mouth for a long while. His mind raced as he calmly considered what this child, who possessed Wood Style, truly meant for Konoha.
Unlike Hiruzen Sarutobi, the other two Hokage Advisors did not need to think so deeply. Their proposals all began from the standpoint of Konoha's interests.
Their gazes immediately fell upon Shimura Danzō.
One of them was an elderly man wearing glasses, Mitokado Homura. The other was an elderly woman with narrowed eyes, Utatane Koharu.
These two Hokage Advisors had once been Shimura Danzō's teammates, so they naturally had fewer reservations when speaking to him. They immediately asked the most crucial questions.
"Danzō, when did this child awaken Wood Style?"
"Danzō, whose child is he? How did the Wood Style Bloodline within him awaken? Does he carry the bloodline of the Senju Clan?"
"..."
Shimura Danzō fell silent for a moment before answering, "He was a child from Konoha Orphanage. Years ago, he survived when Orochimaru illegally conducted Wood Style human experimentation on him. Seeing that the child had tenacious vitality, I brought him into Root. Only recently did he suddenly awaken Wood Style..."
"Is that so?"
Layers of wrinkles formed on Mitokado Homura's brow as he sighed. "It seems it was a very accidental occurrence..."
Utatane Koharu's tone was no longer as excited. "I thought the village might regain the First Hokage's Wood Style Bloodline. Those human experiments are ultimately too dangerous for the people involved."
"Kou is merely an exception."
Shimura Danzō slowly nodded as well.
"..."
Having finished thinking, Hiruzen Sarutobi put the pipe back between his lips and slowly spoke his first words. "It seems this child's Wood Style is very powerful. He can almost completely reproduce the First Hokage's Wood Style Ninjutsu. One day, he may even become the next First Hokage!"
"Oh?"
The two Hokage Advisors immediately grew curious.
Mitokado Homura had never paid attention to the Wood Style Ninjutsu recorded in the Scroll of Seals. After all, Konoha had never been able to replicate the First Hokage's Wood Style, so he instinctively pressed for more.
"Can this child become a ninja as powerful as the First Hokage?"
"Hmm?"
Shimura Danzō immediately understood Hiruzen Sarutobi's meaning and hurriedly said, "This child's Wood Style Ninjutsu cannot possibly be compared to the First Hokage's. Deep Forest Emergence..."
"Danzō, your vision is too limited."
Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at Shimura Danzō and seemed to explain seriously, "Deep Forest Emergence is not yet perfect... But the Wood Dragon Technique is different!"
"If his Wood Dragon Technique has the same effects recorded in the Scroll of Seals, and can even suppress tailed beasts, then this child's talent for Wood Style is far greater than you imagine. It would be too wasteful to have him doing those little things in the shadows of Root..."
"Wait..."
Shimura Danzō's eyes involuntarily widened.
"That's right, Danzō!"
Utatane Koharu frowned and suggested, "Danzō, it is too wasteful for this child to remain in Root. He should be given to Sarutobi..."
"..."
Shimura Danzō tightly gripped his cane.
Why did those words sound so familiar? These were the very words he had always said to Hiruzen Sarutobi. How had it become his turn to hear them today?
Second update.
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