Inside the Hokage Building.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's face had already turned green.
He stared at the kneeling ANBU below, unable to keep his voice down. "You said Naruto's Shadow Clones sealed the entrance to Death Tower? And even kept our own people outside?"
The ANBU shrank back.
"Why didn't you report this sooner?!"
"You ordered us not to," the ANBU said, sounding aggrieved. "You told us not to interfere with Naruto's actions inside the exam grounds."
Hiruzen Sarutobi choked on his words.
His original plan had been for Naruto to cause a ruckus in the exam grounds and conveniently eliminate a few more ninja from other villages, which would benefit Konoha.
But now, not only had the outsiders suffered, even Konoha's own promising youngsters had been eliminated.
"How many made it into Central Tower?"
"Three Sand ninja. They arrived before Naruto, so they qualified."
"What about Hinata and Ino? Were they blocked too?"
"Naruto persuaded them to withdraw from the exam."
Bang!
Hiruzen Sarutobi slammed his palm onto the desk.
He had gone to great lengths to gather this batch of geniuses together, all so he could show them off to the feudal lords and prominent figures from various countries. The younger generation of Konoha's major ninja clans were all in there, yet Naruto had eliminated every last one of them in a single stroke.
"What the hell is he trying to do?!"
The ANBU remained kneeling, not daring to make a sound.
"Go find Naruto. Tell him to stop fooling around. This exam concerns the village's reputation. We can't let anyone find something to criticize."
The ANBU acknowledged the order and withdrew.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's brow furrowed tighter and tighter.
He had the nagging feeling that things were sliding out of control.
Deep within the Forest of Death.
Yakushi Kabuto crouched