The High Tower Assembly and the Fangs in the Dark

The brutal screening of the Forest of Death finally drew to a close. The surviving genin, laden with exhaustion, wounds, and varying degrees of growth, arrived one after another at the central tower.

Ling, acting as a special observer, had long been sitting quietly in an observation room within the tower that offered an excellent vantage point. His gaze swept over the examinees gathering in the hall below.

Uzumaki Naruto and Haruno Sakura helped Uchiha Sasuke, who remained weak but had regained consciousness, walk inside. The markings of the curse seal on Sasuke's neck had faded, but his face was deathly pale, and his eyes held not only their usual coldness but also a newfound gloom and suppressed agony. He subconsciously avoided Ling's gaze; that crushing defeat and the loss of control over the curse seal left him unsure of how to face this fellow clansman.

Next to enter were Team 8, consisting of Hyuga Neji, Rock Lee, and Tenten. Neji's gaze met Ling's for a fleeting moment; the extremism previously present in those white eyes had diminished, replaced by a hint of indescribable contemplation.

Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro from Sunagakure also arrived. Gaara kept his head lowered, the cold, untouchable aura surrounding him seemingly even more intense, yet Ling could sense that the Shukaku chakra within him was abnormally calm, as if it had been temporarily "soothed" by something. Temari and Kankuro appeared exceptionally nervous, cautiously guarding Gaara on both sides.

Immediately following, Haku and Kimimaro also entered the hall, disguised as exhausted survivors among the remnants of several smaller ninja villages. They gave a subtle nod toward Ling's direction, signaling that their mission was complete.

Mitarashi Anko appeared at the front of the hall, announcing the end of the second exam and explaining the significance behind the "Heaven" and "Earth" scrolls. Only then did the surviving genin realize the truth.

Just as Anko prepared to dismiss everyone to rest while awaiting notification for the third exam, a sudden burst of smoke exploded on the high platform!

As the smoke cleared, several figures emerged. Leading them was the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, flanked by several Konoha jonin. Standing on his other side was a figure that made Ling's pupils constrict—Shimura Danzo!

Danzo still leaned on his cane, his single eye sweeping over all the genin below like a hawk. It lingered for a moment on Ling, Sasuke, Gaara, and finally Haku and Kimimaro, his gaze deep and inscrutable, as if he were plotting something.

"First, congratulations to you all for passing the second exam," the Third Hokage's aged, gentle voice rang out. "You have proven your strength and perseverance. However, due to the high number of people who passed the second exam, according to custom, an additional preliminary round is required to determine the candidates for the third official exam."

A preliminary round! A commotion immediately broke out below.

The Third gestured to his side, and a man wearing a high-collared trench coat and sunglasses with a pale complexion stepped forward—Gekko Hayate.

"I am Gekko Hayate, and I will be presiding over the upcoming preliminaries. The rules are simple," Gekko Hayate coughed twice, his voice sounding somewhat weak. "One-on-one combat; the winner advances until the final roster is decided. Now, please look at the screen."

He pointed to an electronic screen on the side of the hall that had suddenly lit up, where the names of all the genin who had passed the second exam began to scroll randomly.

Everyone's heart tightened as they stared nervously at the screen.

In the observation room, Ling's gaze turned cold. Danzo's sudden appearance was no coincidence. This preliminary round was likely not as simple as just filtering the number of participants. He was likely using this opportunity to observe, probe, and perhaps even... eliminate certain individuals he found displeasing.

"First match: Uchiha Sasuke versus Akado Yoroi!"

The screen froze, displaying the two combatants for the first match.

Ling's gaze sharpened instantly. Akado Yoroi, a spy planted by Orochimaru in the original timeline, was skilled in chakra absorption techniques. To pit Sasuke, who had just been branded with a curse seal and was in an extremely unstable state, against him? Was this truly a coincidence? Or had Danzo or Orochimaru already extended their reach into the preliminary roster?

Sasuke's expression grew even uglier. His current state was dire; his chakra was in disarray, and the curse seal was still throbbing with pain.

"Sasuke-kun, are you alright?" Sakura asked with concern.

Sasuke did not answer, only clenching his fists tightly as a flash of ruthlessness crossed his eyes. He could not fall here! He still had to take revenge on that man!

Watching Sasuke's back as he forced himself to walk toward the arena, thoughts raced through Ling's mind. He could not directly interfere with the match, but he had to ensure that Sasuke wouldn't be forced into a curse seal eruption in front of everyone, or have his chakra drained dry by Akado Yoroi—the consequences of which would be unimaginable.

He quietly channeled a sliver of extremely faint spiritual energy, connecting it to a special item in his system called the "Wayfinder Stone (Weak)."

In the arena, Gekko Hayate announced the start of the match.

Akado Yoroi wore a sinister smile and immediately launched an attack. His goal was clear: to get close to Sasuke and absorb his chakra!

Sasuke struggled to respond, but his movements were sluggish and his chakra flow was obstructed, quickly forcing him onto the defensive and into precarious situations.

In the stands, Naruto and Sakura were frantic. Kakashi had also appeared at the edge of the stands at some point, his brow furrowed.

Just as Akado Yoroi's hand was about to grab Sasuke's arm to execute the chakra absorption technique—

In the observation room, Ling's mind stirred, and he activated the "Wayfinder Stone"!

An imperceptible ripple of spiritual energy, like a gentle breeze, quietly slipped into Sasuke's mind in the arena.

For Sasuke, who was in a state of extreme anxiety and suppression, it was as if a bolt of lightning had flashed through his mind! A detail he had overlooked suddenly became clear—the Sharingan! He still had the Sharingan! Although he couldn't use large amounts of chakra, the basic insight and copying abilities of the Sharingan remained!

He jerked his head up, his single-tomoe Sharingan instantly activating! Akado Yoroi's seemingly swift movements became clearly visible in the Sharingan's vision, riddled with openings!

Just before Akado Yoroi's hand could touch him, Sasuke slid to the side at an incredibly tricky angle, simultaneously thrusting his kunai precisely into the only opening in his opponent's stance—the wrist!

"Squelch!"

The kunai sliced through Akado Yoroi's wrist, and the chakra absorption technique was instantly interrupted!

Akado Yoroi retreated in pain, his face filled with disbelief.

Sasuke did not let up, enduring the discomfort of the curse seal and his lack of chakra, and relying on the insight of the Sharingan to launch a fierce counterattack! Taijutsu, shurikenjutsu... although their power was greatly reduced, their precision was extremely high, with every strike aimed at a vital point!

In the end, he used a clever Body Replacement Technique combined with a sneak attack from behind to hold his kunai against Akado Yoroi's throat.

"The winner is Uchiha Sasuke!" Gekko Hayate announced.

Sasuke gasped for air, deactivated his Sharingan, glanced toward the stands with a complex expression, and then staggered off the field.

In the observation room, Ling slowly let out a breath. The effect of the Wayfinder Stone was even better than he had anticipated, successfully guiding Sasuke to find a way to break the deadlock at the critical moment and avoiding the worst-case scenario.

However, his gaze grew even more solemn. Danzo still stood beside the Third Hokage with an expressionless face, as if none of this had anything to do with him. But Ling knew this was only the beginning.

The curtain on the preliminaries had been raised, and the fangs hidden in the shadows were waiting for their next prey.

The screen began to scroll again, and the next name was about to appear.

In Ling's perception, Orochimaru's cold, sinister aura seemed to be quietly spreading through some corner of the tower as well.