White Fang's Gift, Chunin Joint Examination

The news of Hatake Sakumo regaining his spirit was like a boulder dropped into a calm lake, stirring up a massive commotion throughout Konoha.

In just a single day, the tone of the gossip in the streets and alleys shifted completely.

"Have you heard? Lord Sakumo went to the Hokage Building this morning, and he looked incredibly sharp!"

"My friend was in the hallway when he spoke outside the Hokage's office—he heard it with his own ears! 'Protecting one's comrades is the bottom line for a ninja'—he was absolutely right!"

"What about those people who were talking trash before? Why have they gone quiet?"

"Sigh, we were just being manipulated by those with ulterior motives... Come to think of it, was Lord Sakumo wrong to save his comrades?"

"Of course not! Missions can be taken again, but once a comrade is dead, they're gone forever!"

Public opinion began to reverse.

The hero remained the same hero; he had simply made a difficult but reasonable choice.

And this choice, once reinterpreted by Hatake Sakumo with such a powerful stance, actually won him even more understanding and admiration.

Of course, there were still dissenting voices among the higher-ups, and discussions regarding his punishment continued.

But at least, Hatake Sakumo would no longer be shrouded in the shadow of "suicide."

Uchiha Ryūha saw it all.

He sat in the training ground behind the Uchiha clan compound, toying with a shuriken while his gaze calmly swept over the bustling village below the mountain.

A system panel flickered into view before him.

[Special bond "Oath of the White Fang" activated: Hatake Sakumo's current favorability: Trust (75/100)]

Uchiha Ryūha's lips curled upward.

75 points of favorability was already at the "Trust" level.

In the ninja world, this was practically equivalent to a bond of life and death.

Just then, footsteps echoed at the entrance of the training ground.

Uchiha Ryūha did not turn around; his Reiatsu perception had already told him who was coming.

The footsteps were steady, radiating a firm strength.

Hatake Sakumo walked to a spot three paces behind him and stopped.

"Ryūha-kun."

Uchiha Ryūha turned and gave a slight nod: "Lord Sakumo."

Hatake Sakumo was not wearing his dejected loungewear today; instead, he had changed into a dark gray ninja outfit, with the White Fang Short Blade tucked behind his waist.

His hair was neatly combed, his stubble was shaved clean, and although there was still fatigue in his eyes, his entire spirit was completely different.

He was like a blade that had been sharpened anew.

"This, for you." Hatake Sakumo took a short blade from his bosom and handed it over.

The blade was about one foot and two inches long, with a scabbard made of deep black sharkskin, engraved with the Hatake clan crest—a pattern of a lightning bolt piercing through a fang.

The hilt was wrapped in black binding, offering a solid grip.

Uchiha Ryūha did not decline; he took the short blade and drew it from its sheath.

Clang—

A clear, resonant ring echoed from the steel.

The blade was bright as snow, shimmering with a cold, icy light.

The temper line flowed like water, and the tip curved slightly upward, elegant yet lethal.

Near the guard, a tiny character, "Saku," was engraved.

"This was a spare weapon I used when I was younger," Hatake Sakumo said.

"Although it is not the White Fang, it was forged by a master craftsman and can cut through iron like mud. You saved me, and you saved Kakashi's future; I don't know how to repay this kindness. Please accept this first as a token of my sincerity."

Uchiha Ryūha sheathed the blade and held it in his hand.

The blade was light, but it felt perfect.

He could feel the biting killing intent contained within the steel—this blade had tasted plenty of blood.

"Thanks." He didn't stand on ceremony. "Just in time, I was lacking a decent short blade."

A flash of appreciation crossed Hatake Sakumo's eyes.

No affectation, no pretense, accepting the gift with ease—this personality suited him well.

"Also," Hatake Sakumo paused, his voice dropping, "I heard that Shimura Danzō's 'Root' once made a move against you... is that true?"

Uchiha Ryūha adjusted his glasses: "Yes, they even tried to recruit me a couple of days ago, but I refused."

"Damn old man." Hatake Sakumo gripped the short blade in his hand, "I will go and warn them."

"It's fine." Uchiha Ryūha truly did not care; with his current strength, unless Danzo made a move personally, the Root could not cause him any trouble at all.

"There is one more thing," Hatake Sakumo said.

"The Third Hokage has just announced that in half a month, Konoha will join forces with Sunagakure and Kumogakure to hold a Chunin Selection Exam.

Nominally, it is to 'promote exchange and test the new generation,' but..."

A sharp glint flashed in his eyes: "Kumogakure has also sent a delegation to 'observe.'

Those guys have always been bellicose; coming here voluntarily this time, they certainly have no good intentions.

During the exam, Konoha will strengthen its guard, but omissions are inevitable.

If you intend to participate, you must be careful."

Uchiha Ryūha nodded: "I was just planning to sign up."

Hatake Sakumo was not surprised.

Given the strength and temperament Uchiha Ryūha had displayed, participating in the Chunin Exams was inevitable.

The status of Genin was already a shackle for him.

"The registration office opens this afternoon," Hatake Sakumo said. "If you need to, you can use my name.

Although the Hatake clan is not a large one, because of me, it still carries some weight in Konoha."

This was a blatant show of support.

Uchiha Ryūha smiled: "Alright."

Hatake Sakumo patted him on the shoulder, said nothing more, and turned to leave.

As he walked out of the training ground, he deliberately slowed his pace, letting several Uchiha clansmen along the way see him talking to Uchiha Ryūha and the scene of him gifting the blade.

Soon, the news that "Hatake Sakumo visited Uchiha Ryūha and gifted him a blade" would spread throughout the Uchiha compound, and subsequently, throughout Konoha.

This was a silent declaration:

Uchiha Ryūha is under my, Hatake Sakumo's, protection.

In the afternoon, at the Ninja Academy.

The registration office for the Chunin Exams was set up inside the largest training hall.

Behind a long table sat several Chunin examiners, responsible for registration and verification.

The training hall was already crowded with people.

Recent graduates, Genin from previous years, and even some veteran Genin who looked to be in their twenties were all lining up to register.

The atmosphere was lively, but also somewhat tense.

"Did you hear? This exam is a joint effort between three villages; both Sunagakure and Kumogakure are sending people!"

"Kumogakure? Those battle-crazed maniacs? They're coming to 'observe'? I don't believe it for a second!"

"Be careful. I heard the ones Kumogakure is sending this time are ruthless characters; they might play dirty during the exam..."

When Uchiha Ryūha walked into the training hall, it caused a small commotion.

"It's Uchiha Ryūha!"

"That genius who awakened an unknown bloodline limit?"

"I heard that a few days ago, during a mission, he took out a Genin-level rogue ninja in a single move..."

"Lord Hatake Sakumo even went to visit him specifically this morning!"

The murmurs buzzed around him.

Uchiha Ryūha turned a deaf ear and walked straight toward the registration desk.

Following behind him were Haruno Kazuya and Fujiwara Itsuki from Team Seven, as well as their Jonin instructor, Matsumoto Ryūichi.

"Lord Ryūha, have you really decided to participate?" Haruno Kazuya asked in a low voice, his tone full of admiration.

"Yes." Uchiha Ryūha nodded.

"Then we..." Fujiwara Itsuki scratched his head, "We should sign up too! Even if our strength isn't enough, it'll be good to broaden our horizons by following Lord Ryūha!"

Matsumoto Ryūichi also spoke up: "Ryūha, with your strength, passing the Chunin Exams shouldn't be a problem.

But the situation is special this time; with the three villages joining forces, the content of the exam might be... brutal.

You need to be mentally prepared."

"I know," Uchiha Ryūha said.

The three of them walked up to the registration counter and were about to fill out the forms—

"Ryūha!"

A crisp, lively female voice rang out from nearby.

Uchiha Ryūha turned his head.

Uzumaki Kushina, with her vibrant red hair, emerald eyes, and a brilliant smile on her face.

She was dragging over a handsome youth with golden hair, blue eyes, and a gentle smile.

Namikaze Minato.

The future Fourth Hokage, and his wife.

"Senior Kushina, Senior Minato." Uchiha Ryūha nodded slightly in greeting.

"Are you here to sign up for the Chunin Exams too?" Kushina leaned in, patting Uchiha Ryūha on the shoulder in a carefree manner.

"Not bad! I told you this kid wouldn't be simple! Minato, look, didn't I say he would participate?"

Namikaze Minato smiled gently and looked at Uchiha Ryūha: "Ryūha-kun, I look forward to your performance in the exam."

His smile was infectious, his blue eyes filled with sincere appreciation.

This was Namikaze Minato.

Sunny, powerful, a genius ninja who could easily win people's favor.

In the future Third Shinobi World War, he would shine brilliantly and become the renowned "Yellow Flash."

Uchiha Ryūha adjusted his glasses: "Senior Minato is too kind; I am just here to gain experience."

"Don't be so humble!" Kushina said with a grin, "Right, did all three of you from Team Seven sign up? There's an advantage to team competitions, you know! Minato and I signed up as a team too, along with another teammate... well, he had something come up and will be here later."

Just as she was speaking, a commotion suddenly erupted at the entrance of the hall.

The crowd parted automatically.

A group of ninjas dressed in dark gear, tall and dark-skinned, walked in.

They were surrounding an old man wearing a white robe and a Raikage hat.

The symbol on their forehead protectors was a lightning bolt amidst clouds.

Kumogakure!

The chatter in the training hall died down instantly.

Everyone looked at the group of Kumogakure ninjas with eyes full of vigilance and caution.

The Kumogakure ninjas didn't care at all, swaggering over to the vicinity of the registration desk, their gazes sweeping across the crowd in line.

The mohawked youth leading them let his gaze linger on Uzumaki Kushina for two seconds.

Red hair was rare in the ninja world, especially in Konoha.

Then, his gaze shifted to Uchiha Ryūha.

To be precise, it shifted to the newly acquired short blade at Uchiha Ryūha's waist.

The crest of the Hatake clan was faintly visible under the lights of the training hall.

The mohawked youth raised an eyebrow, his mouth curling into a provocative arc.

He scanned Uchiha Ryūha up and down with an undisguised look of sizing up prey, and finally sneered:

"A Genin of Konoha, and yet someone is actually allowed to carry the short blade of White Fang?"

As the words fell, the training hall fell into dead silence.

The expressions of all the Konoha ninjas darkened.