Special Spectators

"All right, complaining won't solve anything," Funeno Daikoku said, tapping the blackboard.

"Everyone, gather up. We're heading to the training ground."

With that, Funeno Daikoku began organizing the students, lining them up in a long column and leading them to the training ground.

The training ground at Konoha Ninja Academy was covered in all kinds of signs of battle.

The students lined up in orderly rows and listened as their teacher explained what they needed to know.

"After all that talking, I doubt many of you were able to take it in," Funeno Daikoku said, pausing his long-winded explanation to give them a stern reminder.

"I have just one rule: this is a match, not a fight to the death. You're only competing to see who wins, so don't get carried away. Save your ruthlessness for your enemies in the future, not the classmates standing beside you. Understood?"

"Understood!" everyone shouted in unison.

"Good. But before we officially begin, I have a surprise for you little tykes." Funeno Daikoku's tone shifted as he gave the students a strange look.

"What? Teacher Funeno has a surprise? Seriously?"

"What is it, Teacher Funeno? Don't keep us in suspense." Several excitable students quickly perked up and started asking questions.

At that, Funeno Daikoku rubbed his nose and pointed mysteriously to one side.

"The surprise is that a special guest will be coming to watch this exam."

The students looked in the direction he pointed. Then they saw someone they never would have expected.

The newcomer wore a fitted combat outfit. Her long, silky hair fell loosely over her shoulders, and her pale skin went well with the faint smile that always rested on her lips.

"Seriously?" "Is that Lord Orochimaru?!"

"Lord Orochimaru! We love you!"

The moment Orochimaru appeared, the students went wild with excitement. After all, in Konoha these days, everyone from eighty-year-old grandmothers to three-year-old toddlers knew him.

Who didn't know the legendary shinobi who had just won the Battle of Kikyo Mountain, the great hero who had crushed the Sand Ninja's scheme—Orochimaru?

"Ha, hello. Yes, I'm Orochimaru. I'm here on behalf of the Third Hokage to see Konoha's fresh crop of talent. What lively children..." Orochimaru's voice was calm, with a slight rasp.

Anyone who didn't know him might have mistaken him for a villain with ulterior motives. But this was Konoha, and under the dazzling glow of his heroic reputation, that minor flaw might as well not exist.

At his response, the students grew even more excited. Everyone started shouting something different.

Only Uchiha Kai and his two companions, who had moved away from the crowd early on, stayed calm. They didn't keep yelling like everyone else.

"Orochimaru..." Uchiha Kai repeated the newcomer's name gravely, looking so troubled that it might as well have been written all over his face.

After all, the man who had appeared out of nowhere was Orochimaru.

A legendary figure who appeared throughout nearly the entire Naruto story, he had countless nicknames and was the archetypal villain: one of the Sannin, the Ninja Scientist, a kidnapper of loner boys, a master of making dreams come true.

Orochimaru embodied the words "villain" and "dream" almost perfectly. The pressure he exuded had left a lasting impression on Naruto fans.

Uchiha Kai was no exception. He widened his eyes and studied the smiling man carefully.

Hmm... At this point, Orochimaru probably hasn't completely fallen yet. He hasn't started researching immortality...

As the boy pondered, Orochimaru, surrounded by the crowd, suddenly turned his head and followed the boy's gaze.

That keen, huh?

For an instant, Uchiha Kai felt the blood drain from his body. Even his breathing seemed to stop. The sensation passed in a flash, but the boy was still left in a cold sweat.

The next moment, Orochimaru noticed the boy's gaze and gave him a gentle smile, as if nothing had happened.

"Are you okay, Kai-kun? You suddenly froze." Hyuga Rei seemed to have been watching the boy all along. She had noticed the instant he began acting strangely.

She lightly patted the boy's shoulder and asked him gently.

"Ah, I'm fine. Something just came to mind."

Uchiha Kai quickly suppressed his strange expression and explained.

"Really? You seem kind of weird. Don't tell me you're scared of Lord Orochimaru..." The girl rolled her eyes, her tone teasing.

Uchiha Kai jolted. Then he saw the girl pull a face at him.

"All right, all right. I'll stop teasing you. Looks like they're about to start over there." Hyuga Rei stuck out her tongue mischievously and hurried toward the crowd.

"Huh? What were you two talking about? I didn't understand a thing." Morino Kei looked utterly confused. His honest expression nearly made Uchiha Kai laugh.

"Nothing. Go have fun."

"Okay..."

Turning back to Orochimaru, the stern-looking man surveyed the boys surrounding him and skillfully answered their questions.

He looked gentle and amiable, but inside, he felt nothing.

"When did I become so unmoved by a scene like this?" he wondered.

"If this had happened in the past, I probably would have been quite happy..."

Suddenly, he felt an unfamiliar gaze.

It held no admiration or awe. It was almost scrutinizing. He instinctively pressed down on the other person with his presence, only to realize that the target was just a student.

An interesting child... From the Uchiha Clan, perhaps? They have so many talented people... Orochimaru glanced casually at Uchiha Kai. A little surprised, he then seemed to think of something, and the corner of his mouth curled upward.

"Now we'll draw lots to choose the first pair to fight!" Funeno Daikoku called out.

At the same time, information that only Uchiha Kai could see appeared before his eyes.

[Trigger quest: Startling the World]

[Only after enduring hardship can a treasured sword be forged; only after enduring bitter cold does the plum blossom release its fragrance. The proud one who has trained tirelessly for ten years and refuses to take second place—go claim everything you deserve. Crush your opponent completely in this exam.]

[Reward: Energy +20, special reward "Proof of Sweat"]

"Phew, another quest finally triggered. 'Startling the World'? Interesting. Even if you hadn't said anything, that's what I would've done anyway..." The boy murmured to himself, anticipation rising within him.

"Hyuga Tetsu versus Hyuga Rei! Both contestants, get ready." Funeno Daikoku's voice rang across the training ground.

Hyuga Rei looked shocked when she heard her name. She glanced at Uchiha Kai, then stepped forward.

"Good luck. You can do it," Uchiha Kai whispered.

"Mm! I'll do my best." Hyuga Rei nodded firmly, then hurried toward the center of the training ground.

On the other side, Hyuga Tetsu, whose hair was tied in an odd, high ponytail, went to stand beside Funeno Daikoku.

"Both contestants, get ready," Funeno Daikoku ordered.

The two raised their hands and formed the Opposing Seals. The battle began the next instant.

Hyuga Tetsu pushed off the ground and charged toward Hyuga Rei at incredible speed, aiming to engage her in close combat. He was confident he could beat her in hand-to-hand combat. They were from the same clan, after all, so they all knew roughly how much training the others had undergone.

Hyuga Rei clearly knew that too. There was no way she'd let Hyuga Tetsu achieve his goal so easily.

The girl retreated, then threw several shuriken toward the path Hyuga Tetsu would have to take.

"Hmph, a waste of effort." Hyuga Tetsu snorted, keeping his eyes fixed on the incoming shuriken. With a quick sidestep, he dodged them, then sped up again and reached the girl in an instant.

"Rei, you still rely on outside tools too much. You'd rather waste your effort on little tricks like these than settle down and train in our Hyuga Clan's secret techniques?"

"Hmph, enough with the long-winded nonsense. Beat me first, then you can spout that useless crap." The girl shot back without mercy, her tone cold.

"Then let's settle this with our hands! Hah!" Hyuga Tetsu roared and struck out with his palm.