When Uchiha Houka appeared, Uchiha Tenzen's eyes narrowed to slits.
"What's this guy up to?"
Kakashi and the other ninjas hidden in the shadows were just as puzzled.
But they all tacitly stayed where they were, without moving a muscle.
Houka's Shadow Clone wandered around for a while. Seeing that these guys were determined to play the Ninja Turtle to the bitter end, he came up with a mischievous idea. He turned around and headed straight for the Central Tower.
"What? He just went inside?"
"Could that be a clone?"
"Is he the first one in?"
"Damn it, I can't get a single scrap of information!"
Uchiha Tenzen opened his Sharingan at once. When he saw the Chakra inside Houka, his confusion only deepened.
At the same time, a little dog suddenly ran over to the tree where Kakashi was hiding.
"Pakkun, did you get a good look?"
"Yep, I saw. There aren't any Genin inside the tower." The little dog was adorable, with a sweet, babyish voice. He wore dark blue clothes, and a Konoha Headband was tied around his head. He was one of Kakashi's Ninja Dogs.
"Got it. Thanks, Pakkun."
Poof!
When the smoke cleared, Pakkun had disappeared.
Kakashi peered out from behind the tree with one eye, watching Houka walk into the Central Tower. His brow furrowed.
"Shadow Clone? Or is he just gambling on luck?"
If it was the latter, then any ninja who followed him inside would be the second to arrive and would pass the exam. But if it was the former...
Inside the Central Tower, Orochimaru stood with several Chunin Examiners. As they watched Houka walk in, a meaningful, sinister smile spread across Orochimaru's face.
One of the Chunin Examiners beside him called out, "Uchiha Houka, do you know what number you