Falsehood

Dean's Office.

After listening to Anko's report, Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed and lightly waved her away.

He rose and walked to the window, staring blankly out at Konoha.

First Shiraishi Yoshijo, then Orochimaru.

"False Konoha."

Sarutobi Hiruzen had actually felt the same way. Without a Hokage, without Hokage Rock, they had instead survived ignobly beneath the shadow of traitors. The villagers were dispirited, and even he himself had once wandered in the darkness.

Could Konoha, having lost the Will of Fire, truly still be Konoha?

Sarutobi Hiruzen had no answer either, but he always felt that he ought to do something. Yet he had no idea what he could do, and the feeling of having strength with nowhere to use it had constantly tormented him.

Now that Orochimaru had emerged, an answer suddenly formed in his heart.

Even if this Konoha was a false existence, as long as they could reignite the Will of Fire in the villagers' hearts and bring everyone together, falsehood could become reality.

"Orochimaru, perfect. Let me, your teacher, give you another lesson!"

Central Tower.

Twelve from Konoha, three from Sunagakure, three from Otogakure, and nine from Peach Country—a total of twenty-seven ninjas had passed the second selection round.

Kusagakure, Takigakure, and the Land of Water Academy had been wiped out entirely.

At that moment, the twenty-seven ninjas stood in orderly ranks in the tower's hall. Sarutobi Hiruzen stood before them, with the leading jonin from the other countries behind him and Konoha's jonin and chunin on either side.

Among them, one man dressed entirely in green, with only black hair, stood out particularly.

That man was Might Guy.

Standing beside Guy was Kakashi. One had black hair and the other white, yet they looked surprisingly well-matched.

"Not bad luck. Your team actually made it through