Hiruzen Sarutobi's Shock

"What do you mean, this is your hunting ground?"

"Exactly what it sounds like."

Kazan sounded casual, as though he were talking about something perfectly ordinary.

"I eat a lot. One bowl of ramen fills most people up; I can eat dozens."

"So?"

"So I started hunting in this forest when I was little, just to fill my stomach."

Are you insane?!

This is the Forest of Death!

Tsume Inuzuka was losing her mind. When she was little, her parents had warned her never to set foot in this forbidden place.

More than ten years had passed, and only now, thanks to the Chunin Ninja Exams, had she entered the forest.

But this brat...

He had been hunting here since childhood. No wonder he had seemed so at home the moment he entered the Forest of Death.

"And this tiger..."

"You mean Hakimi? His mother died not long after he was born. Luckily, he was smart enough to hide near the edge of the forest. That's where I found him. That's about it."

That's about it, my ass!

What kind of kid goes hunting in the Forest of Death because he can't get enough to eat, then finds a beast this clever?

Are you the protagonist of a novel?

Still, she was so jealous.

Tsume Inuzuka found herself appreciating Kuromaru less and less.

How cool would it be to ride Kazan's tiger around Konoha?

"We're here!"

Shibi Aburame, who had barely made his presence felt, finally found a chance to speak.

Most of his clan were quiet and reserved.

Of course, they had not always been that way.

Shibi Aburame had been quite cheerful when he was young, until the day he tried to show his classmates his adorable insects. Every one of them had fled home in terror.

After that, Shibi Aburame rarely spoke up.

Poor, helpless, practically invisible.

"Head back to the Back Mountain. It isn't safe here right now."

"Roar!"

"Be good. I'll make you barbecue when I get back."

Kazan patted Hakimi and sent him home, telling him not to hunt in the Forest of Death for now.

"You won't run into Ninja from the other Shinobi Villages if you go that way."

"Rrr..."

Hakimi reluctantly licked Kazan's face, then leaped into the forest and vanished.

"We should go too."

The three entered the Central Building and handed their Heaven Scroll and Earth Scroll to the examiner in charge.

"Everything's in order. Congratulations, you've passed the second stage."

"Get some rest for now. The Forest of Death exam won't end for another four days or so."

They were the next generation of the examiner's own village, after all. The examiner treated them warmly and even arranged a room and food for them.

Sitting around for more than four days would be a waste.

Poof!

Poof!

Poof!

"..."

Kazan created more than a dozen Shadow Clones and sent them to train at the Back Mountain.

Then he took out a Sealing Scroll. He released its seal and removed the Weighted Training Gear he had asked Hiruzen Sarutobi to prepare.

There were pieces for his arms and legs, along with Weighted Armor—a complete set.

"What's that?"

Tsume Inuzuka came over and touched one out of curiosity. The moment she picked it up, she realized something was off.

"These are weights..."

But why are they so heavy?!

"Kazan, do you always train with these on?"

"I only started recently. I didn't wear weights before."

Yeah, right!

Tsume Inuzuka's mouth twitched as she watched Kazan strap on the weights and still move with ease.

Even the lightest piece had to weigh at least a hundred kilograms. The heaviest might be five hundred.

Her estimate was accurate. Kazan's lightest weight was indeed a hundred kilograms, while his Weighted Armor weighed more than five hundred.

The weights were based on the ones Rock Lee wore during the Chunin Ninja Exams. Kazan simply wore more of them, and his body was stronger.

Once he was ready, Kazan began his daily training.

Shibi Aburame said nothing. This time, he was too stunned to find the words.

He stared blankly as Kazan punched, did push-ups and sit-ups, then ran sprints back and forth...

Meanwhile, at the Hokage Building.

"Has the daimyo arrived?"

"Not yet. At their current pace, they'll need another five days to reach Konoha."

"Is everything going smoothly?"

"Yes. They encountered a group of bandits on the way, but the Anbu Ninja dealt with them easily."

"Good."

Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a thick plume of smoke.

These Chunin Ninja Exams were unusually important.

He had invited the daimyo in person because he wanted to speak with him directly.

Konoha had to persuade the daimyo to allocate funds from the Land of Fire in preparation for the coming war.

And there was more.

"What about the other Shinobi Villages?"

"They've all arrived, but most sent only representatives. Their Kage didn't come in person."

"That's fine. As long as they can speak for their villages."

Everyone was in place. Next, Konoha would display its strength and discuss an alliance with them.

"How are the Chunin Ninja Exams going?"

"They've reached the second stage. We've received word from the Forest of Death that Lord Kazan's team has already passed it."

The ANBU now added "Lord" whenever they addressed Kazan.

His status had changed.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had not made an announcement, but he had not denied it, either.

By now, everyone in Konoha knew Kazan had become Hiruzen Sarutobi's Fourth Disciple.

Given time to grow, Kazan would surely become one of Konoha's most important figures.

"I see."

Hiruzen Sarutobi dismissed the ANBU operative, then channeled Chakra into his Crystal Ball and used the Telescope Technique to spy on Kazan.

The image showed Kazan practicing his punches in the rest room.

"He looks well. Plenty of energy."

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled with satisfaction.

With that talent and diligence, Konoha would someday have another top-tier fighter who could stand alongside the Sannin.

Just then, another ANBU operative appeared before Hiruzen Sarutobi with a whoosh.

"Lord Hokage!"

He knelt on one knee. His mask hid his expression, but his voice was grave.

"What happened?"

"We've received reliable intelligence and confirmed it through investigation. Among the Genin taking these Chunin Ninja Exams is Kumogakure's Two-Tails Jinchūriki!"

A Jinchūriki?!

Hiruzen Sarutobi's pupils contracted.

Of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, none was more domineering or aggressive than Kumogakure.

Ever since acquiring its Tailed Beasts, the village had researched ways to make them a regular part of its fighting force.

That research had cost Kumogakure many lives. Yet its fanatics had never given up.

At last, a prodigy had emerged among this generation of Jinchūriki: the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, Killer B.

Aside from Madara Uchiha, he was only the second person in history to wield a Tailed Beast perfectly.

And now Kumogakure had sent the Two-Tails into the Chunin Ninja Exams.

"In other words, Kumogakure has completely mastered the art of controlling Tailed Beasts!"