As long as they could reach the main arena, they could catch the Third Hokage's attention.
Never mind taking first place. To these students, simply reaching the main arena and catching Hiruzen Sarutobi's attention was already an incomparable honor.
Amid the uproar throughout the third sub-arena, Uya left and headed for the main arena!
Kushina wanted to abandon her own matches and go straight to the main arena, but once she had entered, she had to stay until the end to establish a complete ranking, even if she conceded every match.
And so, standing among the crowd, Kushina watched Uya leave with a trace of hope in her eyes.
The clamor in the third sub-arena shook the heavens.
Even people in the first, second, and fourth sub-arenas in the other directions, as well as those at the main arena, turned to look.
In the first sub-arena.
Minato Namikaze, who was about to begin his fourth match, looked toward the distant, clamorous third sub-arena with a hint of surprise.
"Looks like someone has already won. Even faster than me."
After a flicker in his eyes, he smiled unconcernedly.
It did not matter who got there first. Once they reached the main arena, the rankings would still be decided through battle.
He would not yield first place to anyone.
There was a trace of relaxed confidence in Minato Namikaze's eyes.
Meanwhile, in the main arena.
With all the arrangements complete, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi sat waiting on the main platform. Hearing the commotion, he smiled faintly as well.
"It seems an outstanding child has already emerged. Who could it be?"
"It has to be Minato Namikaze, that prodigy who surpasses Orochimaru!"
Standing behind Hiruzen Sarutobi was Jiraiya, already an elite Jonin and a future member of the Sannin.
At the Ninja Academy, Minato Namikaze was the undisputed best in every respect, and in nearly all of them, he utterly outclassed whoever came second. He was even more outstanding than Orochimaru had been at his age!
Under these circumstances, Minato Namikaze's reputation as a genius had naturally long since drawn the attention of Konoha's higher-ups.
Hearing Jiraiya's words, Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled faintly and nodded.
He thought that, barring any surprises, it should indeed be that child Minato Namikaze.
Just then, however, Orochimaru walked over quietly from another direction, an inscrutable curve rising at the corner of his mouth.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk... not necessarily."
"What, Orochimaru, can't accept it? You weren't as outstanding as Minato at his age either!"
Jiraiya looked at Orochimaru with a huff.
Orochimaru could scarcely be bothered with Jiraiya. He merely shrugged and said mildly, "That's not what I meant."
"Then what do you mean?"
"See for yourself!"
Orochimaru gestured slightly in one direction.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Jiraiya both looked over in some surprise.
Then both of them were startled.
For they had both seen the first winner walking toward the main arena.
It was a boy with silvery-white hair.
Not Minato Namikaze, but Uya!
"Impossible! Someone actually finished faster than Minato!"
Jiraiya nearly cried out, his face filled with disbelief.
The first winner... actually wasn't Minato Namikaze?!
Beside him, Orochimaru wore a slightly sinister expression and chuckled. "What's impossible about it...?"
"Interesting. I thought Minato Namikaze was the only genius of this era."
Tsunade walked over from behind them, looking somewhat languid. An unusual gleam flickered in her beautiful eyes as she said, "He's the child who's going to fight Uchiha Kan to the death, isn't he?"
"That's right. It's him." Orochimaru nodded.
Jiraiya, who favored Minato Namikaze most, looked thoroughly displeased when he saw the conversation shift entirely to Uya.
"So what if he made it here? He can't possibly beat Minato Namikaze. Minato's talent is even greater than yours, Orochimaru!"
"Heh heh heh..."
Hearing Jiraiya's words, Orochimaru gave a slightly wicked smile. Rather than getting angry, he said mildly, "A special kekkei genkai, composure in the face of danger, and exceptional intelligence. I think that child may well turn out to be even more outstanding than Minato Namikaze."
Those words immediately startled everyone present.
Although most did not believe Uya could truly be more outstanding than a genius like Minato Namikaze, the certainty in Orochimaru's words told them that Uya's talent could not be underestimated either!
Even Hiruzen Sarutobi fell into thought for a moment.
Of course he had heard about Uya.
Faced with a fatal predicament, he had chosen a duel to the death with Uchiha Kan to break the deadlock, gaining three months. Yet however one looked at it, it was still a road to death.
But on closer consideration, under those circumstances, Uya had probably made the best possible choice!
That child was certainly no ordinary boy.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes flickered.
If Uya truly possessed such talent, then a promising seedling like him could not be ruined at the hands of the Uchiha Clan.
In that case, he would see how Uya performed next!
Under Hiruzen Sarutobi's somewhat expectant gaze, Uya finally reached the main arena and stopped quietly below to wait.
As he waited, Uya also discreetly surveyed the main arena for this practical combat ranking assessment.
The main arena was far more formal than the sub-arenas.
The entire main arena was situated within a venue similar to the Chunin Ninja Exams arena in the original story.
At the very top, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat quietly in his Hokage robes.
Behind and beside Hiruzen Sarutobi stood three figures very familiar to Uya.
Looking up, an almost imperceptible gleam flickered in Uya's eyes.
Orochimaru, Tsunade, Jiraiya!
He had not expected the future Konoha Sannin to all be here.
But now, the Sannin looked far younger than they did in the original story, and all three wore formal Jonin uniforms.
Seeing so many familiar figures at once stirred a ripple in Uya's eyes.
While Uya looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others at the highest point, they were naturally studying him as well.
Sometimes, one could discern a great deal from a person's eyes.
Being too composed would instead arouse suspicion, but amid Uya's composure, his gaze betrayed a faint trace of something like excitement, leaving no opening in his mental defenses.
"A very good look in his eyes."
Tsunade studied Uya, then offered a quiet appraisal.
Having reached this place in provisional first place, he could remain so calm before the Hokage and elite Jonin like them, keeping his excitement in check.
That was the mindset of a qualified ninja.
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded as well. Although Uya had come from another village, that had been when he was very young.
There was no need to question Uya's identity at all. In Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes, Uya was no different from the other children born in Konoha.
As he saw it, Uya's brilliance had simply been hidden because he had been unable to practice ninjutsu before. Now that he had awakened his kekkei genkai, he had begun to shine with the brilliance of a genius.
While everyone was studying Uya, the second winner finally emerged. This time, there were no surprises. It was none other than Minato Namikaze!
Upon arriving at the main arena, Minato Namikaze wore an equally calm expression.
Jiraiya, whose enthusiasm had somewhat waned, grew excited once more.
"Look, Minato has the same look in his eyes! No matter how outstanding that Uya is, he can't possibly compare to Minato."
"Heh, then let's wait and see."
With a faintly sinister smile on his face, Orochimaru leaned lightly against the wall behind him and said no more.