"That joke wasn't funny at all."
Kakashi casually quipped before turning his attention to the Heaven Scroll in his hand and pondering aloud:
"Even if the scroll contains knockout gas, couldn't we just use a clone to open it?!"
"That's true enough."
Uchiha Shingen nodded lightly.
"But having that awareness of risk, along with the means to avoid any possible knockout gas when opening the scroll..."
"Already proves that one is qualified to become a Chunin."
"That makes sense."
Kakashi had no objections to that.
The village's assessment of ninja was not limited to combat strength alone. What mattered more was their overall capability.
Besides, sufficient awareness of danger was itself part of one's strength.
After all, the battlefield was never short of fools who were overly confident in their own strength, only to die at the hands of enemies far weaker than themselves.
"So what do we do now? Use a clone, or..."
Uchiha Shingen weighed the Heaven Scroll in his hand, then grinned at the Genin ahead of them.
"Hey, brother, I've got a favor to ask. Interested in helping out?!"
"..."
The Genin immediately fell silent. Just as he was about to refuse, he saw Uchiha Shingen silently draw the long sword at his waist.
Clang—!
The blade gleamed silver, radiating a chilling aura.
The Genin forced an exceedingly ugly smile onto his face.
"I'll help."
"Oh~"
Uchiha Shingen sheathed Kotetsu with a gentle smile, tossed the scroll in his hand to him, then led Kakashi and Shisui several dozen meters away to watch quietly.
The Genin took a deep breath, then, as though resigned to his fate, abruptly unfurled the scroll.
"It's black..."
Before the mutter could fully leave his mouth, a cloud of purple knockout gas erupted from the scroll and completely engulfed him. He