Appetizer

"Those Hyuga Clan guys are truly disgusting!"

Even as Uchiha Yue rested, he could still use his Purple Eye to read the lip movements of the Hyuga Clan ninjas, thus deducing what they were saying. Therefore, seeing what the Hyuga Clan were saying to Hyuga Anya, Uchiha Yue could only feel even more disgusted with the Hyuga Clan. After all, the Hyuga Clan, which had just begun to show signs of rise, really acted like nouveau riche, constantly flaunting Hyuga Clan current achievements.

As a long-established and powerful clan in Konoha, the Uchiha Clan ninjas possess an innate pride. However, this pride is ingrained in their bones, ingrained in their blood. Therefore, the Uchiha Clan members would never flaunt their clan's advantages like the Hyuga Clan. In fact, the Uchiha Clan greatly despise the Hyuga Clan's attitude, and now even Uchiha Yue is no exception, feeling that the Hyuga Clan has truly gone too far.

However, after hearing the words of the Hyuga Clan ninjas, Uchiha Yue showed no anger whatsoever. In Uchiha Yue's eyes, those so-called elite Hyuga Clan were nothing but clowns. After all, the fact that Hyuga Hiashi hadn't sent any Jonin-level ninjas to compete with Uchiha Yue in the Anbu selection process proved that Hyuga Hiashi had only sent some members of his clan to annoy Uchiha Yue.

Therefore, if Uchiha Yue felt even a little bit of anger, it was because he was truly disgusted by the people sent by Hyuga Hiashi.

Immediately, Uchiha Yue waited there calmly, preparing to successfully become Anbu under Jiraiya's test.

However, to Uchiha Yue's utter surprise, even after all the elites participating in the Anbu selection had gathered here, Jiraiya was still nowhere to be seen. Just as Uchiha Yue beginning to grow impatient, a ninja dressed in Anbu suddenly appeared before him and the others, saying, "Gentlemen, you must be the ones who came to participate in the Anbu selection?"

"Yes, that's right!"

Upon hearing the words of the Anbu, many of the ninjas who were preparing to participate in the Anbu selection Anbu in response.

Then, the Anbu who appeared nodded slightly and said to Uchiha Yue and the others in front of him, "Alright, now that everyone who came to compete for Anbu is here, the Anbu selection exam will begin from now on! Because Lord Jiraiya -Lord Jiraiya has some matters to attend to, I will be in his place to register everyone's information. Now, please line up and come to me to register your information. After registration, I will explain the rules of the first round of the Anbu selection exam."

"Please line up, everyone!"

As soon as the Anbu finished speaking, some of the Konoha elites who were preparing to run for Anbu began to line up to register their information.

However, it seemed that because there were a slightly large number of people registering, not all the ninjas who came to participate in the Anbu election registered with the Anbu. Subsequently, under the insight of Uchiha Yue's Purple Eye, he discovered that two-thirds of the Konoha elites did not go to register with the Anbu. In fact, Uchiha Yue also noticed that the Hyuga Clan ninjas looked at the elites who went to register with the Anbu with a look of mockery in their eyes.

"Is that really how it is?"

"Actually, was that Anbu not registering information for those running for Anbu, but rather just an appetizer in the Anbu election?"

Noticing the expressions on the faces of the Hyuga Clan ninjas, Uchiha Yue was now absolutely certain of the Anbu's purpose.

That's right, the selection process for the Anbu also has its appetizers.

Just like the Anbu who appeared before Uchiha Yue, he was probably just an appetizer prepared by Jiraiya. What Jiraiya wanted to test was whether the Konoha elites vying for Anbu truly met the standards required for the position. After all, Anbu is an extremely dangerous profession, Anbu they also possess a great deal of crucial intelligence. If Anbu ninja can't even protect their basic information, or leaks it without any warning, what right does such a ninja have to become Anbu?

Now, those Konoha elites who went to register with that Anbu are likely to be eliminated. Because none of them considered the Konoha Anbu's true identity, nor did they consider the possibility of their information being leaked. Therefore, when Uchiha Yue sat quietly resting, his eyes were filled with seriousness as he looked at the ninjas registering before him.

After all, if the appetizers for the Anbu selection process can sway so many people, then the actual test for the Anbu selection must be even more difficult.

If Uchiha Yue relaxes even slightly at that time, he could very well become a laughingstock among the Hyuga Clan ninjas.

Immediately afterwards...

Just as Uchiha Yue had predicted, all the Konoha elites who went to register were eliminated.

Then, after all the eliminated Konoha elites had disappeared from Uchiha Yue's sight, Jiraiya finally appeared. Moreover, Jiraiya was completely unlike his usual approachable Jiraiya; the oppressive aura emanating from him even terrified some of the Konoha elites who had come to participate in the Anbu selection. However, Uchiha Yue was not among those who were terrified, because he had trained alongside Uchiha Yue for many years and was already accustomed to the Tsunade presence of the strong.

Looking at the elites who had come to participate in the Anbu selection, some of them showed fear, and a hint of disappointment flashed in Jiraiya's eyes.

However, Jiraiya skillfully concealed his expression; it's likely that few people, aside from Uchiha Yue, could perceive the disappointment in Jiraiya eyes. Jiraiya then took a deep breath, completely calming himself. His gaze lingered on Uchiha Yue for three seconds, before a slight smile appeared on Jiraiya lips. "Alright," he said, "The selection process for the Anbu officially begins now."

"As for the first round of the Anbu selection, I plan to hold it in the Doomsday Forest."

"Now, let me explain the rules for the first round of selection to you all. Please pay close attention."

Jiraiya paused slightly, then continued, "The first round of selection is simply a strength-based test. Without a certain level of strength, one cannot become an excellent Anbu. Therefore, I require each of you to kill three giant beasts within the Doomsday Forest! Within the allotted three hours, whoever can kill three giant beasts in the Doomsday Forest will successfully pass the first round of the Anbu selection."

"Now, you may depart!"