Danzo Shimura and Sarutobi Hiruzen

Murakami Kaze had a well-proportioned build, yet the contours of his muscles bulged slightly beneath his clothes.

One could tell just by looking that his body contained explosive power.

His face was covered in stubble, making him look like a man in his twenties.

"I won't be as foolish as Akano Ryofu; when facing someone from the Uchiha clan, there's no need to talk about fairness!"

He gave a sinister grin, the corners of his mouth curling upward into a cold, icy smile.

A flash of sharp insight crossed Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes. Although the two ninjas chosen for the match were nominally Genin, both possessed the strength of Chunin, and this ninja named Murakami Kaze was even capable of rivaling an elite Chunin!

However, unlike ordinary ninjas, Murakami Kaze was a pure Taijutsu specialist!

It was difficult for a Taijutsu specialist to achieve great heights, but as an elite Chunin, Aogami Yama was certainly an excellent whetstone for testing Uchiha Gray!

Sarutobi Hiruzen was very much looking forward to seeing how Uchiha Gray would handle such an opponent.

Uchiha Gray had a strange expression; it was obvious that the ninja before him was a Taijutsu specialist.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's intentions could not have been clearer: he wanted to use this Taijutsu ninja's speed and power to probe the full extent of his strength.

But... you, a Taijutsu ninja, want to compete in speed against me, who possesses the Glint-Glint Fruit ability template?

"I now declare the battle between Uchiha Gray and Murayama Kaze to begin."

The referee shouted loudly!

Murakami Kaze's figure lunged forward instantly, swift as the wind, sweeping a whirlwind across the arena!

He had no intention of holding back; he wanted to teach Uchiha Gray a lesson.

He wanted to let the Uchiha clan know that even commoners could become powerful ninjas, and they were not to be looked down upon so easily!

"You arrogant brat of the Uchiha clan, surrender obediently!"

In just a fleeting moment, his attack had already neared Uchiha Gray's face.

But in the very next instant, Uchiha Gray's figure vanished.

Murakami Kaze's speed was indeed fast, but in front of someone with a partial Glint-Glint Fruit ability template, he was no faster than a snail!

Uchiha Gray curled his lips into a smile. If his opponent were a Ninjutsu specialist, he might have had some reservations.

But against a ninja who only knew Taijutsu, even if they used their full strength, they would struggle to touch a single hair on his head.

This was not just a crushing of strength; it was a difference in dimensions!

"Bang!"

Uchiha Gray launched his counterattack, his right leg seemingly turning into light as he kicked out fiercely.

Murakami Kaze had not even reacted before the kick connected, sending him flying dozens of meters away until he slammed into the wall!

This kick, delivered at extreme speed, carried such immense force that even an ordinary Chunin would have been unable to withstand it.

Yet, as a Taijutsu specialist, Murakami Kaze managed to force himself back to his feet.

He was dizzy, feeling as if he had been struck by a prehistoric beast!

A look of terror appeared in his eyes. What kind of existence was Uchiha Gray?

That kick just now was at a speed no human should be able to reach.

It had filled him with the fear of death; he had no doubt that if Uchiha Gray had used a bit more force, he would have been kicked to pieces instantly!

This was his instinctual intuition.

He could feel the bone-chilling cold hidden beneath Uchiha Gray's inscrutable, smiling face.

If he continued to provoke this man, he would be killed!

"I—I surrender!" Murakami Kaze couldn't help but roar.

After saying this, he lowered his head in fear, refusing to say another word regardless of what anyone asked.

Uchiha Gray stood back in place, looking as calm and indifferent as if nothing had happened.

Uchiha Itachi would awaken his Sharingan this year and his Mangekyo Sharingan at the age of thirteen.

He himself was eight years old this year; defeating a Chunin shouldn't be a problem, right?

Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo Shimura could no longer sit still. If Uchiha Itachi's performance earlier had amazed them, then Uchiha Gray's performance now left them so shocked they could not sit in peace!

If such talent could not be kept under their control, then he must be destroyed!

To be able to easily defeat an elite Chunin at only eight years old—did that mean Uchiha Gray already possessed the strength of a Special Jonin or even an ordinary Jonin!?

This was terrifying.

An eight-year-old Jonin!

One had to remember that even Kakashi, during the war era, had only become a Jonin at twelve.

Could it be that the Uchiha clan was about to produce another existence as powerful as Uchiha Madara once was?

"Hiruzen, I have a request: Uchiha Gray must come to my Root, and I will be the one to guide him!"

"A ninja as powerful as him must be in Root to fully unleash his talent and potential. Besides, I see the Will of Fire of Uchiha Kagami within him!"

"That is impossible!"

Danzo Shimura wanted to continue, but Sarutobi Hiruzen refused without a moment's hesitation, a cold glint flashing in the depths of his eyes.

Konoha was currently in desperate need of talent.

As members of the Uchiha clan who also possessed the Will of Fire, Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Gray were both monstrous geniuses.

Uchiha Itachi had to be kept firmly in his grasp, and Uchiha Gray, even more so, had to be bound to the Anbu.

"I have already made arrangements for Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Gray; both of them will become Anbu ninjas in the future!"

Danzo Shimura's expression turned ugly, filled with fury, his voice sounding like the low growl of a beast, "Hiruzen, your greed is truly unsightly!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen was genuinely enraged as well.

The village had been plagued by frequent incidents lately, especially yesterday, when the Cloud Village ninjas had acted aggressively and domineeringly, not even bothering to show him the slightest bit of respect.

It had left him burning with suppressed anger.

He realized deeply just how important it was for the new generation of ninjas to grow rapidly. If this matter were delayed any further, it would no longer be just a question of his own face.

The other four great ninja villages could be shitting on his head at any moment!

Cold, bone-chillingly cold!

The temperature in the air seemed to drop several degrees, freezing like ice. Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze was icy as he stared fixedly at Danzo Shimura.

He sneered, "Unsightly? Don't forget, Danzo, that I am the Hokage!"

"Everything in this village is decided by me!"

Danzo Shimura's complexion turned ghastly, resembling the color of a pig's liver, his expression grim!

He slowly sat back down, but his gaze remained locked onto Uchiha Gray and Uchiha Itachi.

Even if Sarutobi Hiruzen wanted to arrange for them to join the Anbu, that would only happen after they graduated and became Chunin.

In the meantime, he still had at least a year or two to plot and change the outcome!

Sooner or later, he would win Uchiha Gray and Uchiha Itachi over to his side!

"Just you wait, Sarutobi Hiruzen. One day, I, Danzo Shimura, will defeat you and become the greatest Hokage of Konoha!"