Orochimaru's Covetous Gaze

Kakashi Hatake looked at the three students before him, panting with sweat beading at their temples, and nodded in satisfaction before raising a hand and clapping.

"Whew... That's enough training for today." Kakashi's voice carried a hint of laziness, yet every word reached their ears clearly.

"Now get some proper rest. Build up your strength and prepare thoroughly for the Chunin Exam. That's what matters most right now."

He deliberately emphasized the word "rest," his gaze sweeping over their somewhat exhausted yet still spirited faces.

Intense training was certainly vital, but being alert and at one's best could often determine life or death in an examination.

"Yes, Kakashi-sensei!" the three answered in unison, their breathing not yet fully steady.

Namikaze Naruto wiped away his sweat with his wrist guard and suddenly asked, "Kakashi-sensei! Do you have any intelligence on the ninja from other villages taking the exam?"

Before his words had even faded, Sasuke Uchiha immediately turned his head. Even the usually quiet Hinata Hyuga shifted slightly, clearly concerned about the question as well.

As an experienced Jonin, Kakashi Hatake naturally understood the weight of intelligence in a ninja confrontation. It was a bargaining chip capable of overturning the entire battle.

An opponent with only Chunin-level strength could, if they knew every weakness of their Jonin target, stand a chance of victory through carefully arranged traps and favorable terrain—and perhaps not even a small one.

What he did not know was that...

This struggle over intelligence ran throughout a ninja's life, all the way until they climbed to the level of a "Kage."

Yet once one's strength truly entered the nearly inhuman realm of Super Shadow, intelligence still mattered, but the decisive impact it could bring would be greatly weakened by the absolute gap in power.

"Hmm... Well now~" Kakashi