Danzo

The rules of the finals were simple. The sixteen winners from the four separate arenas would draw lots to determine their opponents, then compete in single-elimination matches until a champion emerged.

Before long, the drawing began.

The first opponent Lin Ze drew was Namiashi Raidō!

Namiashi Raidō, huh... Lin Ze looked at the dark-haired boy with the rather cool expression not far away.

He remembered a little about this guy. In the original story, he later became one of the Fourth Hokage's guards, specialized in using the Black Blade, and could even perform the Flying Thunder God Formation. He was a fairly capable Jōnin.

The question was how strong this roughly seven-year-old Namiashi Raidō was now.

Probably mostly taijutsu and swordsmanship. At this age, he definitely hasn't started learning those advanced ninjutsu yet, Lin Ze quickly analyzed. To be safe, I'll finish this quickly with taijutsu.

Just as the match was about to begin, a slight commotion arose at the entrance to the main spectator stand.

A figure slowly walked in, exuding a cold, oppressive aura. Wherever he passed, even the atmosphere around him seemed to grow a little more rigid.

It was none other than the Hokage Advisor, Shimura Danzō!

However, unlike in Naruto's time, Danzo did not yet walk with a cane, have only one eye, or have his arm covered in bandages. He merely looked somewhat cold and sinister.

But his arrival instantly made the previously relaxed atmosphere in the main stand somewhat delicate.

Danzo walked straight to the empty seat beside Hiruzen Sarutobi and sat down, speaking in a low voice. "Hiruzen, I hear there are a few promising prospects in this year's class?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi blew out a smoke ring, his expression unchanged, and said mildly, "Yes. The children are all working hard. Konoha's future is always full of hope."

At Danzo's arrival, Hiruzen Sarutobi gave an inward snort, immediately seeing through his purpose.

Without a doubt, he was here to select some talented children worth nurturing and take them into Root.

However, as long as things were not serious, Hiruzen Sarutobi generally did not interfere much in Danzo's affairs. He had always turned a blind eye to him.

Danzo swept his gaze over the contestants below, pausing on Lin Ze in particular before saying pointedly, "Hope? Even hope needs proper guidance and tempering before it can become a cornerstone that protects Konoha."

He turned his gaze toward Hiruzen Sarutobi, his tone carrying a hint of coldness:

"I hear there's an orphan named Lin Ze with poor chakra aptitude who reached the finals through taijutsu, and can even... use an extremely powerful Great Fireball Technique?"

"Root needs to conduct a thorough assessment of such an anomaly to ensure his absolute loyalty to the village."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's pipe-holding hand paused slightly, and his gaze deepened. Naturally, he understood Danzo's implication-he wanted to bring Lin Ze into Root.

"Danzo, assessments are ANBU's responsibility." Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was steady, yet carried unquestionable authority.

"That child, Lin Ze, is an orphan of the Uzumaki Clan. His physique is different from ordinary people's, so he is somewhat special. As for that Fire Release technique, he learned it from the Uchiha Clan. There's no need to make such a fuss."

At this point, Hiruzen Sarutobi paused before continuing in a low voice:

"Besides, he's currently a Ninja Academy student, a future Konoha ninja. Whether he turns out good or bad will depend on the path he takes. Guidance from the academy and his companions certainly matters, but the final choice is his own."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's words were impartial. He neither denied Lin Ze's uniqueness nor directly obstructed Danzo, merely making Lin Ze's own conduct the standard by which he would be judged.

He needed to see whether this child could truly follow Konoha's path before deciding whether to intervene.

Ultimately, although Danzo was someone Hiruzen Sarutobi trusted considerably at this point in time,

as Hokage, he could not allow Danzo's influence to expand unchecked.

Moreover, although Lin Ze was a genius, Konoha at this time had no shortage of geniuses or powerful fighters.

The White Fang, the Sannin, the growing Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and Hiruzen Sarutobi's own strength at the pinnacle of Kage Level all gave him ample confidence. As such, he did not show any particular regard for Lin Ze.

And this was precisely why Lin Ze had decided to stop holding back most of his strength and insist on taking first place in this assessment.

A barely perceptible flash of malice passed through Danzo's eyes. He knew Hiruzen was waiting to see how things developed. He nodded slightly and did not pursue the subject, though his tone remained cold:

"I hope your judgment is correct, Hiruzen. But for the village's absolute safety, the necessary surveillance is indispensable. If any destabilizing factors are discovered, Root will take... the necessary measures."

With that, he said no more, merely staring coldly at the arena below, particularly in Lin Ze's direction, like a venomous snake eyeing its prey.

Hiruzen Sarutobi silently smoked his pipe, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly.

He knew Danzo's stubbornness and dark side all too well. With Danzo's sights set on him, Lin Ze's future path would likely be far from peaceful.

But as Hokage, he had to maintain the balance between them.

Below the stands, although Lin Ze could not make out their exact conversation, Danzo's undisguised, coldly appraising gaze made him feel as though needles were pricking his back. A trace of cold sweat even seeped out.

That old fox Danzo really did come! And he's clearly here for me!

I have to take first place today and demonstrate enough value to make Hiruzen Sarutobi take me seriously, giving him a reason to protect me!

Just then, the referee's voice rang out. "First match, Lin Ze versus Namiashi Raidō! Both contestants, enter the arena!"

Lin Ze focused his mind, temporarily setting aside the pressure from the stands, and walked into the arena with a sharp gaze.

"Begin!" the instructor refereeing the match announced loudly.

Before the words had fully faded, Namiashi Raidō's gaze sharpened. Without the slightest hesitation, his right hand swiftly reached behind his waist.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

He instantly flung out three shuriken in a triangular formation, targeting Lin Ze's upper, middle, and lower body.

An opening probe? Lin Ze's thoughts raced. His body swayed slightly as though by reflex, easily dodging the shuriken with the smallest possible movements.

His dynamic vision and physical reaction speed far surpassed those of his peers. An attack of this level posed no threat to him.

However, the instant Lin Ze dodged the shuriken, Namiashi Raidō moved! Rather than charging straight at him like the other children Lin Ze had faced, he rapidly formed hand seals.

"Ninja art: Smoke Screen Technique!"

Poof-

A small cloud of grayish-white smoke suddenly burst open in front of Lin Ze. Though it did not cover a large area, it was enough to briefly obscure his vision.

A smoke bomb? No, it's a simple Smoke Screen Technique! With a quick thought, Lin Ze immediately understood his opponent's tactics.

Namiashi Raidō knew full well how powerful Lin Ze's taijutsu was, so he had no intention of meeting him head-on. Instead, he was using ninjutsu to create an opening!

Almost at the same instant the smoke rose, Lin Ze heard a faint sound of something cutting through the air from the side. Without thinking, he immediately leaped backward.

Swish, swish, swish!

Several senbon skimmed past the spot where he had just stood and embedded themselves in the ground.

Just as I thought! Using the smoke as cover while attacking from the side! Lin Ze landed, his gaze growing serious.

He had indeed underestimated these future Jōnin. Even as seven- or eight-year-old children, their tactical thinking had already begun to take shape. They were by no means brutes who knew only how to charge recklessly.

The smoke gradually dispersed, revealing Namiashi Raidō a short distance away. At some point, he had taken an unsharpened short blade in hand. He stared sharply at Lin Ze and assumed the opening stance of his family's swordsmanship.