"With the Chunin Ninja Exams about to begin, I've decided to have you participate."
Inside the Hokage's Office, Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke to Uchiha Shunichi with a solemn expression. Among the Anbu, Uchiha Shunichi was the only Genin.
During wartime, ninjas had many paths for advancement, and they rose quickly. But in peacetime, things were more troublesome—they had to take the Chunin Ninja Exams and such.
Of course, that was not the main point. Becoming a Chunin was unimportant; what mattered was the role Uchiha Shunichi would play in this exam.
"I'll arrange two teammates for you, but the exam won't be your primary mission. Your main task will be protecting Naruto. According to reliable intelligence..." Sarutobi Hiruzen went on at length to Uchiha Shunichi.
"Mm, I understand." That was Uchiha Shunichi's only response.
His current goal was not to reveal himself, but to pretend to be obedient while waiting for Orochimaru to launch the Konoha Crush Plan, then find an opportunity to kill Danzo.
As long as Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo died, Konoha would no longer pose much of a threat. It would be somewhat difficult to accomplish alone. Should he find someone to help?
Sarutobi Hiruzen never could have imagined that the expressionless youth standing before him was currently plotting how to deal with his old partner.
Uchiha Shunichi listened attentively, appearing very obedient. At this moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen had no guard against him either. After all, he had practically watched him grow up.
Even if those eyes were somewhat intimidating, Sarutobi Hiruzen still trusted his own judgment.
After leaving the Hokage's Office, Uchiha Shunichi met his teammates for the Chunin Ninja Exams. They were unfamiliar faces, and they looked like nothing more than minor nobodies.
"You're our new teammate? Your eyes are kind of strange..." A brash man looked at Uchiha Shunichi, venting all his dissatisfaction through his words.
Their previous teammate had died during a mission, so they were not in a very good mood.
Although this was not a time of war, ordinary ninjas still had a chance of dying while on missions.
The gap between ordinary ninjas and genius ninjas in this world was enormous. Some Chunin were not even as strong as Genin. They narrowly escaped death on missions, and they might die one day without warning.
But... none of that had anything to do with Uchiha Shunichi.
Uchiha Shunichi's calm gaze swept over the two of them. As their six eyes met, the two teammates assigned to him for the exam were controlled by his Genjutsu.
In truth, Uchiha Shunichi was not particularly skilled in Genjutsu. He could only barely use it, but with the amplification of the Mangekyō Sharingan, its power was still formidable.
Especially against Genin-level ninjas like these, it was practically like cutting vegetables.
"Aah!!!" The two Genin cried out in agony, their eyes filled with terror.
Uchiha Shunichi was merely teaching them a lesson, so the effects of the Genjutsu quickly ended.
"I'll be taking the Chunin Ninja Exams with you. I don't care about your strength, nor do I care about your past or your names. There is only one thing you need to remember: obey me." Uchiha Shunichi spoke coldly, then turned and left.
The two Genin watched Uchiha Shunichi's departing back, not daring to entertain even the slightest thought of resistance. The terror of death they had just experienced had left them with no time to think.
After a while...
"This new teammate seems really strong..." one of them said hoarsely to his companion. By now, he had forgotten the grief of losing his former teammate.
The other looked at him and said bitterly, "He's not one of us. He should only be temporary."
As they spoke, the two exchanged a glance. Then they went to find their instructor...
The Chunin Ninja Exams would begin very soon.
Because many outsiders had come to the village, Uchiha Shunichi had much more work to do on the eve of the exams. Not only did he need to keep watch over Naruto Uzumaki's safety at all times, but he also had to monitor the contestants from other villages.
As a result, Uchiha Shunichi had been very busy lately.
He was clearly just a Genin and was about to take the Chunin Ninja Exams, yet the work Uchiha Shunichi was doing now was Jonin work.
Fortunately, Sarutobi Hiruzen was not stingy when it came to money. As the wealthiest nation, the Land of Fire and Konoha rarely worried about funding.
Though exhausting, Uchiha Shunichi gained something extra. He had found the location of Root—only its entrance, and he did not yet know what lay inside, but it was still a gain.
If Shimura Danzō ever hid in Root and refused to come out, Uchiha Shunichi would have no choice but to fight his way in. Danzo had to die alongside Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Only after those two died would Uchiha Shunichi dare to live in Konoha with peace of mind and do what he wanted. If the assassination failed, then Uchiha Shunichi would defect to Orochimaru.
Honestly, the odds of failure were quite high.
If he could bring Orochimaru along, they would probably succeed. But Orochimaru might not be willing to help, and Danzo and Orochimaru had dealings with each other.
Since he could not find anyone else, Uchiha Shunichi decided to look for another method. If he could find some special Ninjutsu, that would be ideal.
Unfortunately, Uchiha Shunichi searched every library in the clan, yet still failed to find a way to use Izanami.
"Shunichi, you seem pretty restless lately!"
Second Pillar looked at the unsettled Uchiha Shunichi and spoke cautiously.
The Chunin Ninja Exams would begin tomorrow, but Second Pillar did not care about that at all. What truly worried him was Uchiha Shunichi.
Ever since Uchiha Shunichi spoke to him that day, Second Pillar had sensed that something was wrong. But no matter how he asked, Uchiha Shunichi would not tell him.
In the end, Second Pillar could only give up.
"Mm, it's nothing." Uchiha Shunichi casually brushed him off.
Though he knew he would not die, Uchiha Shunichi was still somewhat worried about doing something so uncertain.
After thinking it over again and again, Uchiha Shunichi finally decided to take the Explosive Tags.
A spy had infiltrated Konoha. But although this spy had completed his mission, he did not want to continue.
Therefore, a huge number of Explosive Tags had been buried deep within Konoha—enough to blow up half the village.
Uchiha Shunichi had long since found their exact location. The reason he had never touched them was that he had planned to use them to draw attention when he defected.
But... Uchiha Shunichi had now decided to use them on Shimura Danzō.
Before you continue