After hearing Kurenai Yuhi's words, Shin Uchiha affectionately stroked her head and reassured her:
"Everyone follows a different path. Yugao simply loves the path of swordsmanship she's on, and she works hard at it. That's how she's come this far."
Shin Uchiha had a fairly clear understanding of Uzuki Yugao's strength. Although she had yet to reach peak Kage level, she was close.
That was also thanks to Shin Uchiha. After seeing Uzuki Yugao's love for swordsmanship, he had spent the past few years visiting virtually every family in the Shinobi World with an inherited sword tradition. With the help of his dōjutsu, Yugao could practice swordsmanship within it over and over again. That was how she had achieved what she had today.
Shin Uchiha greatly admired Uzuki Yugao's perseverance. In his heart, his women were not merely extensions of himself. He wanted them to do what they loved, rather than lose themselves and spend every day revolving around him.
By then, Uzuki Yugao had taken her place at the very center of the arena, her posture relaxed and casual. After sweeping her gaze over everyone present, she announced clearly:
"All right, we'll be holding another round of matches next. Only those who win this round will be allowed to take part in the final assessment one month from now."
While the Chunin Exams were in full swing in Konoha, hidden observers were discussing those same exams in a remote underground cavern somewhere in the Shinobi World.
Obito Uchiha wore a black robe with a hood and a Spiral Mask that revealed only one crimson eye, giving him an air of mystery.
At that moment, however, Obito Uchiha sat dejectedly on a stone platform. He leaned back, his head raised as he stared blankly at the enormous statue before