The Underestimated "D-Rank Threat"

Pushing open the heavy door to Classroom 301, they were hit by an oppressive atmosphere so thick it was almost visible.

The spacious classroom was already packed. Ninja from Amegakure, Kusagakure, Takigakure, and Sunagakure had all stopped talking. Countless gazes—appraising, provocative, even openly murderous—pierced Team 7 like needles as they entered.

For fledglings who had grown up in the greenhouse of the Ninja Academy, this kind of genuine blood-soaked killing intent was enough to make their hands and feet go cold.

"So... so many people..." Sakura instinctively shrank back, finding it hard to breathe.

Sasuke remained expressionless, but his slightly clenched fists at his sides betrayed his tension. Even Naruto, normally so carefree, was stunned for a moment by the grim atmosphere.

Yet among the solemn-faced Genin, there was one oddity.

Ye Tian took a deep breath, and an intoxicated expression actually appeared on his face.

"This smell... is absolutely wonderful."

He did not smell sweat or killing intent. To his senses, this classroom was a massive "energy aggregate."

Several hundred Genin were gathered in an enclosed space, and the Chakra leaking from their bodies intertwined, making the energy concentration here several times greater than outside.

Although that energy was impure and chaotic, filled with violent emotions, to a Cultivator possessing the rudiments of the Heaven-Devouring Demon Art, it would become a powerful tonic with a little filtering!

"It's like walking into a card room full of secondhand smoke. The air may be bad, but it's lively."

Satisfied, Ye Tian found an inconspicuous corner by the wall, pulled out a homemade meditation cushion from his clothes—really just old clothes bundled together—and sat cross-legged comfortably, closing his eyes to "rest his mind."

In truth, every pore in his body had opened, greedily swallowing the free-floating energy in the air.

"Hey, Ye Tian, why are you sleeping as soon as you get here?!" Naruto shouted loudly, trying to hide his nervousness with his booming voice.

Just then, the door opened again.

"What a pain... Having to take an exam like this."

Accompanied by a lazy complaint, Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino of Team 10 walked in. Right behind them came Kiba, Shino, and Hinata of Team 8.

Konoha's nine rookies, the legendary Nine Super Rookies, had finally all gathered.

"Sasuke!"

The moment Ino entered, her radar locked precisely onto Sasuke. Ignoring everyone else, she pounced like a koala, clinging to his back and rubbing against him. "Long time no see! I missed you so much! Your hairstyle is still so cool!"

Sakura instantly bristled, veins popping on her forehead. "Ino Pig! Get off Sasuke!"

The two girls immediately began their usual rivalry, and the heavy atmosphere was instantly diluted.

However, amid her bickering with Sasuke, Ino's gaze drifted toward Ye Tian in the corner.

Seeing that sickly figure resting with his eyes closed, his complexion seemingly a little rosier than before—actually because he was getting high on absorbed energy—Ino inexplicably felt relieved.

"This guy really took what I said to heart. He knows to hide in the corner and not cause trouble..." Ino touched her cheek. After using that Beauty Talisman last night, her skin really did seem much better. It greatly improved her impression of Ye Tian.

"Hmph, everyone's here."

With his hands in his pockets, Kiba swaggered over with Akamaru. "Looks like in these Chunin Ninja Exams, we won't just be fighting outsiders. We'll be fighting each other too. But let's make this clear first—the top spot will definitely go to Team 8!"

"Woof!" Akamaru lay atop Kiba's head and barked in agreement.

Ye Tian happened to open his eyes then. When he saw the little white dog, he immediately grew interested.

He had never kept a spirit pet in the cultivation world. He wondered what the ninja dog in this world tasted like... no, what it felt like.

"Well, if it isn't Akamaru? You look pretty sturdy."

Smiling, Ye Tian reached out, wanting to pat Akamaru on the head.

But just as his hand was about to touch Akamaru.

"Whine—!!"

Akamaru, who had been happily wagging his tail, suddenly acted as if he had seen some horrifying monster. All his fur stood on end as he let out a miserable cry and desperately burrowed into Kiba's arms. He was so frightened that he even leaked a few drops of urine.

A beast's instincts were far sharper than a human's.

To Akamaru's senses, the seemingly frail boy before him was not human at all!

He was a primordial ferocious beast wearing human skin! Beneath that thin shell lurked a terrifying presence that could devour him in an instant!

"Akamaru?! What's wrong?" Kiba's face changed drastically as he hurriedly soothed his trembling companion. "Don't be scared, don't be scared. Did you eat something bad?"

Ye Tian awkwardly withdrew his hand, looking innocent. "Well, looks like I have a body type dogs don't like. Even dogs dislike this sickly aura of mine."

But inwardly, he grumbled, That dog's nose is really sharp. I nearly got found out.

As the Nine Super Rookies continued chattering noisily, drawing unfriendly looks from ninja of the other villages.

A young man wearing round glasses and a silver ponytail walked over.

"Could you rookies keep it down a little?"

The young man wore a gentle smile, though it carried a hint of condescending superiority. "Look around. You've already become everyone's prey."

"Who are you?" Sakura asked.

"I'm Kabuto Yakushi, a senior a few years ahead of you." Kabuto adjusted his glasses and pulled a stack of cards from his clothes. "This is my fourth time taking the Chunin Ninja Exams. It's embarrassing, but I've gathered quite a bit of intelligence. I think you might be interested in this."

"Intelligence?" Sasuke's gaze sharpened.

"That's right. These are Ninja Info Cards." Kabuto poured Chakra into a card, and dense text and charts immediately appeared on its blank surface. "They contain the data I've collected on elite Genin from every village."

To demonstrate their strength, Kabuto deliberately pulled up Rock Lee's and Gaara's information.

Seeing Rock Lee's astonishing taijutsu statistics and Gaara's shocking record of "complete mission victories, never injured," everyone's expressions turned extremely grim.

Sasuke in particular felt immense pressure for the first time in this examination hall filled with monsters.

"Um... Senior Kabuto."

Sasuke took a deep breath. His gaze suddenly shifted toward Ye Tian, who had closed his eyes again in the corner. After hesitating, he still asked, "Do you have... any information on someone named Ye Tian?"

The moment he said that, everyone in Team 7 pricked up their ears. Even Ino and Shikamaru leaned closer curiously.

Although Ye Tian usually looked useless, after the Land of Waves mission, everyone felt that he was hiding something.

"Ye Tian?"

Kabuto paused, seeming to search through the name in his mind. Then he shook his head with an amused smile. "I do, but... this information may disappoint you."

As he spoke, he drew out a card and infused it with Chakra.

The information on the card appeared before everyone:

[Name: Ye Tian]

[Affiliation: Konoha Village (Team 11)]

[Mission Experience: D-rank 5 times, C-rank 1 time (Land of Waves mission; note: unconscious or carried on someone's back throughout)]

[Specialty Ninjutsu: No clear record. According to Ninja Academy reports, skilled at pulling weeds, finding cats, and... pretending to be sick?]

[Overall Assessment: Extremely poor physique, weak Chakra reserves, and useless aside from good luck.]

[Threat Level: None (recommended to ignore, or prioritize as a hostage)]

"Pfft, hahahahaha!"

Laughter suddenly erupted through the silent classroom.

The first to laugh were the three bandage-wrapped Sound Ninja nearby.

"Hey, hey, is Konoha so short on people that trash like this can take the Chunin Ninja Exams?" Dosu, the hunchbacked Sound Ninja, mocked. "Skilled at pulling weeds? Is he here to help landscape the exam grounds?"

"Threat level: none? He's practically a walking burden!"

Mockery rose from every direction. Even Naruto flushed red, feeling a little embarrassed. Sasuke's face darkened further, and he cursed himself inwardly for asking such an unnecessary question.

Faced with the ridicule of the entire room, Ye Tian slowly opened his eyes.

He did not get angry or argue. Instead, leaning on his cane, he slowly walked up to Kabuto and extended a pale hand.

"Um... Senior, could you give me this card as a souvenir?"

Ye Tian wore his signature weak smile. "It's written quite accurately. I really am good at pulling weeds, especially removing those... eyesores."

Kabuto looked at Ye Tian's utterly harmless smile, and a trace of contempt flashed through his heart. Generously, he handed over the card. "Of course. It's just a piece of waste paper anyway."

"Thanks."

The instant Ye Tian took the card, his little finger seemingly brushed lightly across the back of Kabuto's hand.

The movement was so slight that it felt like a passing breeze.

But in that instant, an invisible Spiritual Energy mark silently slipped beneath Kabuto's skin and attached itself deep within his Meridians.

[System Notice: Tracking Seal successfully applied.]

[Target: Kabuto Yakushi (spy/double agent).]

[Duration: Thirty days.]

Ye Tian withdrew his hand and looked at the card in his hand, the smile at his lips growing deeper.

"Orochimaru's gold-medal assistant, the Shinobi World's number one intelligence dealer..."

Ye Tian sneered inwardly. You think I'm a useless nobody with no threat level. Perfect. From now on, you'll be my human mobile ward beside Orochimaru. Every move you make, even your master's hiding place, will soon become mine.

"Laugh. Laugh your fill."

"Once we enter the Forest of Death, I'll show you what real... 'weed pulling' means."

At that moment, smoke exploded from the podium.

A scar-faced man with an imposing presence appeared before them.

"Shut up, all of you! You worthless trash!"

Ibiki Morino, the proctor of the first exam, had arrived.

"The first stage of the Chunin Selection Exams begins now!"