Loose Lips Sink Ships

"This..."

Everyone stared at Takizawa Dan, completely speechless.

This kid—at this point, it wasn't even a matter of arrogance or confidence anymore. He was just plain stupid!

Even against one Jonin, his chances of survival were uncertain, and the odds were stacked against him. And now he was facing two?

By now, everyone was too exhausted even to make fun of him...

"Heh. I thought you'd be impressive, but now that I've seen you, Takizawa Dan, I can tell your brain didn't develop properly!"

Noji Daishi shook his head, then turned to the portly Kameda Hironori. "Hironori, don't get involved. Let me handle this kid alone. Someone has to teach him just how high the sky is and how deep the earth runs!"

"Fine."

Kameda Hironori wore a look of disdain as he stepped aside.

He knew his friend's abilities well. He wasn't among the top Jonin, but he was still a capable shinobi who ranked respectably.

In fact, during a mission outside the village, Noji Daishi had once killed two enemy Jonin despite suffering serious injuries!

So the idea that some mere Genin could make Noji Daishi stumble?

Forget it. Not a chance! Did he think this was a manga or something?

Of course, if the two of them could break through the fourth wall, realize they were indeed in a manga, and understand how overpowered the protagonist's plot armor was, they probably wouldn't be so sure...

Up in the stands, Tsunade watched what was happening and shook her head again and again.

Takizawa Dan was far too arrogant. He'd clearly never been taught a hard lesson.

Well, with her abilities, stopping things would be easy enough. She'd let Takizawa Dan take a little beating at Noji Daishi's hands first. If things started to go badly, she could step in then.

Takizawa Dan and Noji Daishi took their places in the arena.

Almost no one thought Takizawa Dan stood a chance. In fact, when he stepped out, the crowd greeted him with a chorus of boos.

"Kid, I admire your courage, but you need to understand that strength doesn't come from nowhere. There's an unbridgeable gulf between a Jonin and a Genin."

Noji Daishi looked at Takizawa Dan and sneered.

"When I was your age, I looked down on Jonin too. I thought I was the best in the world, but reality taught me a harsh lesson. From that day until I became a Jonin, I was always cautious and never overstepped."

That was the truth. Noji Daishi had only become a Jonin more than ten years ago. Before then, everyone knew him as a low-key person, so unremarkable that many people overlooked him. He was practically a different person from the man who now swaggered around, throwing his weight about and doing whatever he pleased.

"So, I'm giving you one last chance. If you surrender now, kneel and bow to me, and apologize for your disrespect just now, I'll let the matter go. How about it?"

Noji Daishi spoke as if he were a kind and honest man.

He thought his offer was perfectly reasonable. Under normal circumstances, Takizawa Dan should have come to his senses, apologized, and surrendered.

After all, as far as Noji Daishi was concerned, it was humiliating for a full-fledged Jonin like him to fight a kid who hadn't even grown a hair on his chin.

Winning would be embarrassing, and losing would be even worse!

So it would be best if Takizawa Dan surrendered on his own.

"Are you done?"

Takizawa Dan had listened patiently. When Noji Daishi finally stopped talking, he spoke in a calm voice.

"I'm done. What are you going to do about it?"

Noji Daishi raised an eyebrow.

"I just wanted to say that you're truly pathetic." Takizawa Dan shook his head. "In your eyes, is strength just a license to do whatever you want? Do you think that as long as you're strong enough, you can do whatever you please? And if you became the strongest person in Konoha one day, would you even set your sights on the Hokage Position?"

Boom!

The entire crowd gaped. Takizawa Dan really would say anything!

"You... You're slandering me!" At that moment, even Noji Daishi's composure finally cracked. "Leaving aside the fact that I could never be stronger than Lord Hokage... How could I possibly harbor traitorous intentions? You're making false accusations! I have neither skill nor a distinguished family background... I, I could never become Hokage!"

"Tsk, tsk, don't get so worked up. I was just saying whatever came to mind!" Takizawa Dan smiled and waved a hand. "Why take it so seriously, Lord Noji? Unless you really have harbored rebellious thoughts all this time?"

The entire arena fell silent.

Up in the stands, Tsunade narrowed her eyes.

Noji Daishi had just declared in public that strength mattered above all else, and that one had to lie low until gaining power, after which one could act however one pleased!

That was an extremely dangerous way of thinking. It reminded her of Orochimaru in the past.

Orochimaru had once held the same beliefs, and in the end, they had led him to betray the village and abandon his comrades.

It seemed... she really did need to issue a warning and take action against certain people in the village soon. Otherwise, wouldn't it mean they didn't take her, the Hokage, seriously?

She had only just taken the Hokage Position, and her foundation was already unstable. She had to snuff out every unfavorable element before it could take root!

As Tsunade thought this, she crossed her arms, and a sharp glint flashed in her beautiful eyes.

At that moment, it wasn't only Tsunade whose attention was fixed on Noji Daishi. Danzo's gaze had also settled on him.

Unlike Tsunade's sharp gaze, Danzo's was brimming with murderous intent!

His lips moved slightly as he silently gave the two Anbu members behind him an order only they could understand.

"After the exam, kill Noji Daishi immediately!"

Danzo was a man who tolerated no threats. Unlike Tsunade's conciliatory approach, he preferred to nip every danger in the bud!

That was exactly what had happened to the Uchiha Clan!

"Yes... Lord Danzo..."

The two Anbu members replied quietly, using a method only Danzo could understand.

As they looked at Noji Daishi in the arena, though, their eyes held a trace of pity.

Another poor soul, about to die by the hands of his own people.

Even if you really did kill Takizawa Dan today, what would it matter? Once Lord Danzo had his eye on you, you were as good as dead...

In the arena.

Perhaps because he was too nervous, Noji Daishi hadn't noticed the gazes of Tsunade and Danzo. Instead, he was completely focused on Takizawa Dan!

"Whew... Takizawa Dan, you certainly have a sharp tongue. You're quite impressive—you almost pinned some baseless accusation on me. I'll admit, I'm no match for you in that regard."

"But when it comes to strength, you're nowhere near my level!"

"Kid, I'll teach you what happens when you talk too much!"

Noji Daishi snarled and charged straight at Takizawa Dan!