So They Were Small Fry

Orochimaru had arrived with the leaders from several major ninja villages. Though he had not watched the entire clash, he could tell that Raiga Kurosuki was roughly Tokubetsu Jonin level.

Yet Nara Tsukimi had subdued him with ease without using the Shadowkhan. Among all the candidates in this year's exams, Tsukimi already stood at the very top.

Tsukimi turned toward him, his expression relaxed, and gently shook his head.

"You give me too much credit, Orochimaru-sensei."

"It wasn't entirely effortless. Talented shinobi from across the Shinobi World have gathered here, and there may be a Genin or two with a hidden trump card."

He spoke of pressure, but his tone was thoroughly casual. "From the list I saw earlier, there are one or two who might just catch my eye. I should still be careful."

Yugito of Cloud Hidden, in particular. The others might not know, but Tsukimi knew perfectly well that her unusual constitution made her the future Jinchūriki of the Two-Tails.

Of course, she was not one yet. Cloud Hidden was no fool. A Jinchūriki was a strategic weapon to the Five Great Nations. If they sent one to the Chunin Ninja Exams, whether Konoha would even let her in was one question. They themselves would fear she might never come back out.

But that was all the more reason not to underestimate her.

Cloud Hidden might look like a band of brutes, but they were more calculating than anyone. The Chakra Cannon in the original story was proof enough. If Naruto and Sasuke had not kept them in check, who knew what Cloud Hidden might have done?

So if Cloud Hidden had a contingency, it would surely be placed with Yugito. And did Cloud Hidden have one?

That hardly needed thinking about!

"Is that so? It seems