Route Selection

These forum users really had a talent for saying weird things!

Sasuke did not know whether to laugh or cry.

After waiting a little longer, he finally got the answer he wanted.

Wu Que: "Stop flooding the thread, all of you. Can't you see? The game has reached a critical moment!"

"On the surface, it's about whether to report some intelligence, but in reality, it's a crossroads in the protagonist's relationship with Konoha! It's time to choose a route!"

Sasuke froze. That really was true.

Soon, another reply popped up.

Xin Ping: "I don't understand all that. The poster asked whether the intelligence should be reported, so I'll honestly answer that."

"Let's analyze them one by one:

"First, Orochimaru is colluding with the Sand Shinobi. Third, Orochimaru may be the one controlling the Sound Shinobi.

"These two pieces of intelligence sound explosive, but reporting them or not doesn't actually matter much. Why?

"Because Konoha probably already knows all this. Since Hayate Gekko is already dead, that means Yakushi Kabuto must have been exposed long ago. Do you really think Konoha's intelligence agency is useless? Based on what Utatane Koharu said, they've sent out quite a few people recently.

"Now look at the fourth point: Yakushi Kabuto impersonated an Anbu member to assassinate Sasuke. That's easy to understand too—a scheme to sow discord! This intelligence may be important to Sasuke, but to Konoha's High-Level Executives, it doesn't mean a damn thing.

"Looking only at these three points, telling Konoha won't benefit them much. At most, it gives Sasuke a chance to show that he's willing to side with them.

"Whether you like Konoha or not, there's no downside to having them trust you. Besides, you haven't really helped them with anything. At most, you've confirmed some intelligence they already had.

"In conclusion, I suggest concealing the intelligence about Impure World Reincarnation and reporting everything else."

You have received a new suggestion: Conceal the intelligence about Impure World Reincarnation and report the other intelligence to Konoha's authorities. Adopt and complete this suggestion to receive a Rank E Scroll.

Wu Que: "I think it doesn't really matter whether you conceal it or not. So what if you know they can use Impure World Reincarnation? But if you know and fail to report it, then someone finds out later, that'll be a serious offense. You know what I mean."

You have received a new suggestion: Report all intelligence to Konoha's authorities. Adopt and complete this suggestion to receive a D-Rank Scroll.

Sasuke understood.

Just as he was about to close the system, another reply appeared.

Shui Mo Qing Han: "I'd still like to talk about the route selection issue.

"I won't say much else. I just want to remind the poster that the Third Hokage does not represent Konoha. When I was in graduate school, my advisor once told me: if you want to go far, travel with a group; if you want to fly high, fly alone. The more I reflect on those words, the more profound they seem.

"Ever since history began, everyone in the entire Uchiha clan has taken the second path, and not a single one has succeeded. Uchiha Sasuke, decide for yourself."

Those words carried a certain Zen-like profundity.

Sasuke seemed to gain some insight. After confirming that no more information was appearing, he silently closed the system and stood up.

"Have you decided?" Jiraiya asked.

Sasuke nodded, walked to the door to pick up the armor, and replied, "Having accepted someone's trust, I must see their task through."

"Great! I knew you wouldn't really ignore the village!"

Naruto said happily.

Sasuke was about to leave when Jiraiya stood as well.

"Toad Master, please keep Naruto company for a while longer. The Hokage Building isn't far from here, and nothing will happen in broad daylight."

Jiraiya had not wanted to meet with the authorities in the first place. Seeing Sasuke say this, he stopped insisting.

Konoha, Hokage Building, Chunin Exam Committee office.

Sasuke presented the armor and explained the situation according to Dosu's account.

Everyone was startled.

They quickly became busy. Some reorganized the tournament schedule, some adjusted the list of participants, while others went to notify the people in charge on the Sound Shinobi side.

"Also, do you know where Kakashi is? I have a personal matter to discuss with him."

Sasuke continued.

"Kakashi? I saw him just a moment ago. How about you wait in the Meeting Room first? If I run into him, I'll have him come find you."

"Alright. Thank you for the trouble."

Inside the Meeting Room, Sasuke grew more and more uneasy as he waited. Since the confrontation at the hospital, he had not seen Kakashi again.

The more he thought about it afterward, the more absurd his suspicions seemed. The Hokage might order him eliminated, but Kakashi would never do so.

He had probably truly panicked with death closing in.

"You were looking for me?"

Kakashi poked his head inside, holding a copy of Make-Out Paradise.

Sasuke hurriedly stood up, not knowing where to put his hands and feet.

"How's Naruto? A couple of days ago, I heard an enormous toad appeared near the village, and someone heard Naruto shouting at the top of his lungs. What are you two up to now?"

Kakashi asked casually.

Sasuke's heart warmed. "Toad Master—oh, I mean Lord Jiraiya—taught Naruto the Summoning Technique. He threw Naruto off a cliff to make him learn how to use the Nine-Tails' power inside him."

"Huh? Lord Jiraiya really is reckless."

Kakashi said in surprise.

"Yeah, haha. It gave me quite a scare too."

Sasuke smiled.

The atmosphere between them was as it had always been, as though nothing had happened before.

"By the way, what did you want to see me about?"

"Oh, right! Please promise me that you'll keep the source of this intelligence confidential."

"Tell me first."

Kakashi would not yield an inch.

After thinking it over again and again, Sasuke still decided to report everything truthfully.

Of course, while giving his report, he also mixed in Yakushi Kabuto's attempt to assassinate him and Baki's murder of Hayate Gekko.

When reporting Yakushi Kabuto's assassination attempt, Sasuke felt somewhat embarrassed. He was afraid Kakashi would make the expression that said, "I told you so."

Fortunately, Kakashi only looked serious and listened attentively.

When he heard that Baki of the Sand Shinobi was Hayate's true murderer, Kakashi showed extreme shock.

As for Orochimaru being the power behind the Sound Shinobi, Kakashi did not react much.

"Oh, right. Dosu said that Orochimaru is researching an evil forbidden technique. According to Lord Jiraiya's analysis, that technique is called Impure World Reincarnation."

"He actually mastered even that technique... Orochimaru truly is a genius at researching ninjutsu."

Kakashi sighed.

"That was also the fundamental reason Dosu decided to run away. I've already handed his armor over to the Exam Committee. That's why I want you to keep the source of the intelligence confidential."

Sasuke said.

"Understood. I'll state in the report that he said all of this while begging for mercy before he died."

Kakashi did not care about such a minor figure either.

Sasuke nodded and prepared to take his leave.

As Kakashi sorted through the documents in his hands, he said in an apparently casual tone:

"If you have time, come to the Top of the Western Rocky Mountain again tomorrow morning."

"There's still one final move of Chidori that I haven't taught you. Speaking of which, there are less than six days left before the third exam."

Sasuke's nose stung, as if he were a child who had caused trouble and been indulgently forgiven.

He gave a quiet sound of acknowledgment. Without looking back, he fled as though escaping.