I'm Not Picking on Any One of You

PS: At first, I'd imagined the Nen Beast as the Wish Machine of the Zoldyck Family, but after thinking it over, I gave up on the idea. It would throw the balance off too much!

February in Konoha was still a little chilly, but the lush trees hadn't been affected by the mild winter that had just ended.

Suifeng guessed that Konoha was somewhere in the tropics. There was practically no winter here; everywhere he looked, all he saw was green. And the moment he stepped into the woods, bugs were crawling all over the place. It was extremely annoying.

The Chunin Ninja Exams these days weren't like the ones ten years later, with written tests and the like.

Everyone confident enough to take the Chunin Ninja Exams was fairly capable. They were Genin who had graduated several years ago, and the situation between the various countries was growing tense again. Who had time for something like a written test, just for show? Everything came down to strength.

So this year's exams had only two parts: a free-for-all and one-on-one fights.

The free-for-all in the Forest of Death, followed by one-on-one fights between the victors.

"So, you haven't found anyone to team up with?!"

The rules of the Forest of Death trial had remained unchanged for a hundred years. The only difference was that most Genin formed teams, while the rare few who thought they were stronger than the rest chose to go it alone, like Kakashi now.

"No need!" Kakashi glanced at Suifeng, a complex look in his eyes.

Truth be told, he was deeply grateful to Suifeng. Because of what Suifeng had done, Murakami Ame had been exposed as a spy from another village and executed. It had also proved that White Fang had been framed, turning public opinion in the village around to some extent. It was more or less revenge for his father.

But with his heart closed off, Kakashi had no idea how to treat Suifeng. The two of them felt awkward whenever they met.

"Team up with me!" Suifeng said with his usual friendly smile. "Otherwise, you won't make it through the Forest of Death!"

"Hm?!" Kakashi looked up, confusion in his eyes. "I can make it through!"

"You won't make it through!" Suifeng said with a smile. "I'll cross the Forest of Death as fast as I can and block the exit. I won't let a single scroll get past me. If you don't team up with me, your scroll will become my spoils, too!"

"What?!"

"What an arrogant guy!"

"Who does he think he is?!"

"He actually dares to say that!"

"Has he gone crazy?!"

Suifeng hadn't bothered to keep his words private. A large group of Genin and examiners stood nearby. Everyone had already received their scrolls and was ready to set out. Who could have imagined that, before the start, Suifeng would make such a brazen declaration in front of everyone?

It wasn't just the Genin who thought the world had gone mad. Even a few examiners felt that way.

Could someone really do that?!

He really was an arrogant Uchiha!

"I refuse!" Kakashi raised his head and looked Suifeng in the eye.

"All right, then. Good luck!" Suifeng smiled and said no more.

Did you think he was really trying to carry Kakashi through the exam? No. He just wanted to show off.

I'm not picking on any one of you. I'm saying you're all trash!

His boast worked beautifully, earning him the hatred of everyone there. As a result, once they entered the Forest of Death, nobody felt like fighting one another. Most of them raced straight toward the exit, planning to fight their way through whoever stood there, grab a scroll, and leave at once.

But how could their speed compare to Suifeng's?

He activated Shave Body Flicker, and in just half an hour, he had reached the exit of the Forest of Death.

Half an hour later, Kakashi appeared.

Seeing Suifeng leaning against a tree, he slowly took a step back. A sharp, gloomy presence washed over him.

"Kakashi, hand over your scroll. I won't hit you!"

Whoosh!!

Kakashi shot forward like lightning, appearing before Suifeng in an instant. The kunai in his hand slashed across Suifeng's neck.

It passed through smoothly. The Suifeng before him gradually faded and vanished.

A clone? No, an afterimage!!

Bang!!

As his thoughts raced, a sharp pain suddenly flared in his right side. A powerful force swept him five or six meters away.

He forced himself to endure the pain and adjusted his position in midair, but the moment his feet touched the ground, pain struck his left side. He was sent flying again. After that happened twice, he could no longer keep his balance and crashed heavily to the ground.

Suifeng walked up to him, took a scroll from his clothes, unrolled it, then tossed it aside. "So, Kakashi, why put yourself through all that? I can't use your scroll anyway. How about I let you pass?"

"Is the gap between us really this big now?!" Kakashi said nothing. He gave Suifeng a long look, then stood up without even glancing at the scroll on the ground and limped silently out of the Forest of Death.

"This is going to be a problem!"

In the Hokage Office, the Third Hokage stared intently at the crystal ball before him, his brows furrowed into a deep frown.

Konoha had taken the Chunin Ninja Exams very seriously and made careful preparations. Kakashi was only six years old. If he passed the exams, he would become the youngest Chunin in history, firmly establishing his reputation as a genius. It would also show the other villages Konoha's potential.

Don't think that Konoha had no talent left just because White Fang was dead. White Fang had a successor.

Now the whole plan was ruined. Kakashi hadn't even been able to fight back against Suifeng. Uchiha Suifeng was far too fast. Forget the Genin—even some Jonin who weren't speed specialists might not be able to keep up with him.

He didn't even need to use ninjutsu. With that extraordinary speed alone, he could thrash every contestant this year.

In other words, just as Suifeng had said before the exams, no one else would pass the Forest of Death trial, and there wouldn't be a second round.

"Damn it, why is he doing this?! Is it part of the Uchiha Clan's plan?"

Hiruzen stared fixedly at Suifeng in the crystal ball, the veins on his forehead bulging.

"Hiruzen, are you going to let that Uchiha brat keep causing trouble? This exam is about to become a joke!"

Danzo shoved open the office door with a bang and shouted angrily, "Stop him at once!"

"Stop him? How?" Hiruzen Sarutobi said. "He hasn't broken any of the rules of the Chunin Ninja Exams. Once the exams begin, everyone is responsible for their own life and death. No one is allowed to interfere!"

"But at this rate, no one except him will pass the Forest of Death. Are you really going to let that brat become a Chunin? Don't forget, he's an Uchiha, and he's only eight. If he becomes a Chunin, he'll be the youngest in history. The Uchiha Clan will become even more arrogant!"

"I know!" Hiruzen Sarutobi was troubled, too.

Normally, he could accept any outcome from the Chunin Ninja Exams. So what if not a single person passed?

But this time was too unusual.

Uchiha Suifeng and Kakashi were both far too young, and both were known as geniuses. If either became a Chunin, it would cause a sensation.

If they both passed the exam, Kakashi was a year younger than Suifeng. At least his age would give him the edge, making him the youngest Chunin.

It wouldn't have mattered if Suifeng passed the exam.

But now Suifeng was acting in a way no one could have predicted. He had eliminated Kakashi outright and looked set to disqualify everyone else. That meant the title of Konoha's greatest genius and youngest Chunin in history would go to the Uchiha Clan. For the Hokage's side, that was hardly good news. No—it couldn't get any worse.

"Hiruzen, you've indulged the Uchiha for too long. Since you won't act, I will!"

"What are you going to do?!" Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression changed as he stared at Danzo. "Don't do anything reckless. If something happens to Suifeng, the Uchiha Clan will never let it go."

"Hmph. A genius is only a genius while he's alive. Once he's dead, he's nothing. The Uchiha Clan won't start a major conflict over a dead man!"

"Danzo, whatever you're planning, stop at once!" Hiruzen Sarutobi cried, furious and alarmed.

"It's already too late!!"

"What?!" Hiruzen Sarutobi cried in shock, his eyes returning to the crystal ball.

At the exit of the Forest of Death, Suifeng frowned as he looked at the three figures surrounding him. "Who are you? Anbu? You've got some nerve, interfering with the Chunin Ninja Exams!"