Top of the List

7:00 p.m.

Hokage Building, a conference room.

Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, advisers Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, and Anbu Commander Shimura Danzō.

The four high-ranking officials had gathered together, still discussing the Entrance Exam materials submitted earlier that day.

The reason their meeting had run so late—

Was entirely because this year's Entrance Exam had been the most spectacular one yet.

Outstanding candidates had emerged one after another, and there were plenty of exceptional performances.

"Kakashi Hatake's talent is quite impressive." After reading the teachers' evaluations, Hiruzen Sarutobi's appreciation for talent was stirred.

"Hmph. A strong early performance doesn't mean he'll go far."

Utatane Koharu snorted.

"It's even more likely that he'll quickly exhaust his talent."

Leveling up quickly in the early stages only reflected early performance; it could not determine a person's entire life.

"This Senju Jueming is clearly a cut above."

"That's right."

Mitokado Homura nodded.

"In my opinion, Senju Jueming's results in both rounds are more than enough to make him the top-ranked candidate."

The Senju Clan had been in decline for far too long.

This year, at last, one of them had shone.

Utatane Koharu said, "I choose him."

Mitokado Homura said, "So do I. What do you think, Danzo?"

The four high-ranking officials had all studied under the Previous Hokage.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had even been taught by both brothers, Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju.

It could be said that all four of them belonged to the "Senju Lineage."

Watching their teachers' Senju Clan decline day by day—

It would be a lie to say they felt no pain.

Especially with the Uchiha Clan rising by the day, which made it even more unbearable.

"I agree as well."

Shimura Danzō nodded slightly and glanced at the documents.

"Moreover, this child's will is as hard as iron... He possesses much of Teacher Tobirama's spirit."

At the mention of Tobirama Senju—

Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze trembled, and the image of that cold-faced man appeared before him once more.

He knew.

His old friend, Shimura Danzō, held the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, in extremely high regard.

Conversely, Shimura Danzō rather disliked the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, and did not approve of his ideals of peace.

Put simply...

Hiruzen Sarutobi was a dove, while Shimura Danzō was a hawk.

Now that a cold-faced Senju youngster with an iron will had appeared, Shimura Danzō could not help but recall certain things from the past.

"But... what a pity..."

Shimura Danzō murmured inwardly.

"No matter how gifted this Senju Jueming is, he will never amount to anything."

Because that clan had developed a grave problem.

Their decline was irreversible, like a curse of fate.

So when would Teacher Tobirama's unfulfilled wish—to utterly eradicate that evil Uchiha Clan—finally be accomplished?

"Then let Senju Jueming be the top-ranked candidate."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded and announced the decision.

This was merely giving the hopeless Senju Clan some comfort... a false illusion of hope.

"Next is the matter of assigning the candidates to classes..."

The moon rose into the sky, and the Stars began to shine.

The Great Elder stood in the courtyard with a worried expression, gazing at the sky full of stars.

Today's Ninja Academy Entrance Exam would probably be no different from previous years.

At most, two or three children would achieve results worth noticing.

"Great Elder~~~."

Just then, footsteps rang out.

Many members of the Senju Clan came running over.

"Why are you all panicking? Have you no decorum?!"

The moment the Great Elder saw them flood into the courtyard, he immediately rebuked them.

They panicked over every little thing. Where had the grand bearing of the Senju Clan gone?!

"Y-Yes... No, that's not it, Great Elder."

One clansman stepped forward.

"There's tremendous news! In this year's Entrance Examination, Senju Jueming surpassed Konoha's White Fang's son and took first place!!"

"!"

The Great Elder's eyes flew open.

"What did you say?!"

"We mean that Jueming took first place in both the first and second rounds!"

"..."

The Great Elder immediately trembled as he clutched his chest, his eyes turning toward the sky.

"Great Elder! Great Elder!"

Everyone grew nervous.

Please don't get so excited that you pass out.

"..."

The Great Elder steadied himself and raised a hand, stopping anyone from coming over to support him.

"This old man understands."

He slowly nodded, the flush on his face gradually fading into pallor.

Rather than looking happy, he seemed even more worried.

"You all..."

The Great Elder looked over the crowd.

"It's late. Go back and get some proper rest. Do whatever you need to do... What are you standing around for?! Go home!"

"Oh."

Rebuked by the Great Elder, the crowd nodded and left without understanding why.

As they walked back, they chatted and laughed.

All they talked about was Jueming.

Things like how the Senju Clan had hope again, how amazing their Senju Clan was now...

Before long, the courtyard was empty once more.

When the stars filled the sky and all was silent around him—

The Great Elder moved.

He took a deep breath, walked out of the courtyard, and surveyed the surrounding streets.

Only then did he hurry toward a certain place.

Not long after, he arrived at the home of that dirty Little Girl.

"Lord Momoka."

Bowing outside the door, the Great Elder called out.

With a creak, the door opened.

Momoka Senju stepped outside.

Though the Little Girl was about the same age and height as Jueming, the Great Elder was exceptionally respectful toward her.

After explaining that Jueming had taken first place in the examination, the Great Elder raised his eyes to look at her.

"You think that child is going to 'go mad' too?" Momoka Senju stared at him.

"Yes."

The Great Elder nodded.

"I've watched Jueming grow up, just like the other children in the clan who lost their parents. He absolutely does not possess that kind of talent."

Surpassing the Hokage's son, the Son of White Fang, and the Uchiha Prodigy, then taking first place?

What a joke. That was simply impossible.

Yet the facts were right before him. Combined with how Jueming had recently been lying on the ground whenever he had nothing to do, it could only mean one thing.

Senju Jueming was about to go mad as well.

—Just like his parents, and certain other clansmen.

"Let's observe him for a while first."

Momoka Senju thought for a moment.

"Do all we can, then leave the rest to fate. If the Senju Clan is meant to perish, then it will naturally perish. If it is not meant to disappear, it will rise again..."

After a pause, she continued.

"First place... He should receive the rewards he deserves. Teach him a set of Basic Body Technique cultivation methods ahead of time."

"Understood."

The Great Elder nodded.

Things reversed when pushed to extremes; they should not pressure the younger generation too hard.

If they could strive, then they should strive. If they could not, then they should live well. That was better than dying.

At the very least... they had to preserve the Senju Clan's bloodline, even if it was a cursed bloodline.