Watching Shinji Uchiha ride the momentum of his victory over Yakumo, he stood there with only a cat at his side, yet silenced the gathered ninja and students. Hidden in the shadows, Danzo's face was livid.
"Damn Uchiha remnants."
Danzo was reluctant to admit it, but for one fleeting moment, he had felt a deep wariness toward this Uchiha, still a student at the Ninja Academy and only nine years old.
If Yakumo's performance had been shocking,
then the only word for Shinji's performance this time was "brilliant."
Whether it was his Taijutsu contest with Yakumo earlier, or the strategy he devised, the battlefield he chose, and the final surprise attack when she unleashed Wood Release, he had handled almost everything perfectly.
So Danzo grew wary.
He felt that if Shinji kept growing like this, it wouldn't be long before another Uchiha like Shisui Uchiha or Itachi Uchiha appeared—one who would make the entire Hokage faction wary.
"Thankfully, he hasn't awakened the Sharingan yet!"
At that thought, Danzo breathed a little easier.
In another shadowed corner,
Orochimaru was staring intently at Shinji, his eyes filled with covetousness. "That brat..."
Even someone of his stature had been certain Shinji would lose when he saw Yakumo unleash Wood Release. Yet Shinji had thoroughly proved him wrong.
But Orochimaru was Orochimaru. He wasn't embarrassed or angered by his misjudgment. Instead, he grew even more excited.
Just then, Sasuke stumbled out of the crowd. "Shinji, you... you won!? You beat Wood Release?"
Sasuke's shout was like a thunderclap, finally snapping the stunned crowd back to their senses.
Everyone turned to look at Shinji. Some were delighted, some shocked, some surprised, and many looked as if they couldn't accept what they'd seen. Their reactions ran the gamut.
Shinji smiled. "I only beat Yakumo."
Meanwhile, Fuki,