Beneath Konoha.
Inside a dim room.
Danzo sat in the seat of honor, his eyes narrowed.
Listening to his subordinates' report, he knew that the Chunin Exams had already begun above.
When Danzo heard about the clash between the Kusagakure ninja and Sosuke, his eyes opened a fraction, revealing a glint of murderous intent.
Sosuke... He'd done very well this past year... The plan was about to begin...
In the dim room, the candlelight flickered, as if even the candles were trembling with fear.
During this brief year,
Sosuke and Danzo had met many times.
Danzo had finally stepped into the role of teacher, actively teaching Sosuke some of Konoha's Forbidden Techniques and the essentials of combat between ninja.
He hadn't criticized Sosuke over his mission to the Royal Capital of the Land of Fire.
After all, all the evidence pointed to the Rock Ninja having killed Uchiha Pupil first. Sosuke and Hyuga Minato had even nearly died at the hands of the Rock Ninja from Iwagakure.
That had made Danzo hold a deep grudge against Iwagakure.
A man like Danzo could keep such a grudge buried for years, waiting for the right opportunity to strike a fatal blow.
Aboveground in Konoha.
Inside the Ninja Academy, in one of the exam rooms,
dozens of students were crammed into a classroom, intently studying the exam papers before them.
The proctors all wore stern expressions as they stood beside the podium, carefully observing the examinees below.
They had just announced the rules of the exam.
They were simple.
"From this moment on, no questions are allowed. Do your best to answer the paper in front of you. If you're caught cheating, you'll be disqualified immediately!"
After delivering this stern warning, the proctors handed out the papers.
The middle-aged man with a