Seeing Kimimaro and Haku of Otogakure choose to retreat, Kakashi and the other Jonin proctors in the distance all breathed a sigh of relief.
At this point in the exam, every proctor had been on edge, walking on thin ice, because none of them had anticipated that the second stage would be this dangerous!
Kurenai sighed. "I never expected Otogakure's examinees to be this strong. Are kids these days all monsters?"
Shizune nodded with a solemn expression. "Yes. Those two Oto ninja named Kimimaro and Haku are probably already close to the level of Elite Jonin!"
Kakashi, however, furrowed his brow and sank into thought.
Before the exam, the Advisory Elder Council had assessed Kimimaro and unanimously concluded that he possessed Jonin-level strength. Yet they had still underestimated Kimimaro—underestimated Otogakure.
The fact that Kimimaro could suppress Sasuke, who had summoned Gamabunta, all by himself was enough to leave anyone speechless.
Gamabunta alone was not something an ordinary Jonin could handle, much less Sasuke, who possessed the Three Tomoe Sharingan and could combine with Gamabunta to use Fire Release oil techniques.
Against such a combination, let alone a Jonin, even some Elite Jonin might not have been able to suppress them.
Therefore, in Kakashi's view, Shizune's assessment had not been accurate. Kimimaro's strength—or, more precisely, Kimimaro's strength after activating his Curse Mark—had undoubtedly entered the realm of Kage-level.
And aside from Kimimaro, Haku's strength, backed by the Ice Release Kekkei Genkai, was equally astonishing.
In his battles against Naruto and Garaga, as well as Sasuke and Gamabunta, this Ice Release ninja from Otogakure had remained completely at ease. If Neji had not arrived in time to bail Sasuke out, Kakashi might not have been able to stop himself from stepping in and halting the exam.
It was no exaggeration to say