Chunin Exam.
Right next to the Forest of Death, a massive venue appeared.
On this sunny day, the venue was bustling with excitement, filled with a dense crowd.
Ninjas were maintaining order, while members of the Hyuga clan with their Byakugan and sensory ninjas constantly observed the people in the venue.
Ordinary merchants and villagers without chakra were in one area, while those with chakra gathered in another.
Perfectly separating ordinary people from those with chakra, each area was guarded by ninjas from the Barrier Corps.
Once the seats were filled, the Barrier Corps would erect barriers to protect the spectators, claiming that some of the genin in this final battle had reached Jonin level, and they wanted to prevent accidental injuries.
There were also dignitaries from various countries in luxurious seats, protected by barriers, and within those barriers were ninjas ready to guard at any moment.
Guards from various noble families, because they possessed chakra and were outsiders, were also arranged in another section of seats, equally protected by barriers.
The presence of these barriers provided a sense of security and also served to prevent anyone from causing trouble during the opportunity.
Even before the start of the Chunin Exam, the massive venue was already buzzing with noise.
…
The Sarutobi Clan.
Sarutobi Asuma, with his head lowered, slowly walked into his family's home and then threw a medicine bottle to the side.
*Creak.*
The door opened, and inside, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was as usual, staring dazedly at the large 'Ninja' character painting.
"Father!"
With a hoarse voice, Asuma let out a bitter laugh and dejectedly approached his father, then started muttering to himself.
"I can't bear the burden of the clan's militant faction anymore, I really can't. They are actually secretly colluding with the Sand Ninja..."
"Now that the evidence is conclusive, for the sake of the Sarutobi clan's bloodline, for the sake of Konohamaru, I choose..."
In sorrow, Sarutobi Asuma shed tears and then tremblingly took out the Chakra Blade Flying Swallow given to him by his father.
"Father!"
Tears flowed down, dripping onto the wooden floor. The Flying Swallow, charged with wind attribute chakra, was just about to pierce his father's heart.
However, at that moment, the murky and dazed gaze suddenly became spirited.
"Asuma!"
At the sudden call, Asuma's eyes trembled, and he lifted his head, his face covered in tears and filled with shock.
"Father~ Father!"
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, slowly turned his head, revealing a hoarse voice, and the dazed look on his face had already disappeared.
It turns out that all these years were a pretense. At this moment, Asuma seemed to understand something, but because he understood, he was even more incredulous.
If all of this is true, then who is the leader of the clan's militant faction? And who is colluding with the Sand ninja?
All this was the last thing Sarutobi Asuma wanted to see.
"Asuma, you have grown up."
With a familiar, hoarse voice, Sarutobi Hiruzen's face showed a touch of gratified smile.
But under Sarutobi Asuma's dazed gaze, the next moment was filled with disbelief!
"Father! You! Did you do all this! Why would you collude with the Sand ninja! Why!"
Watching his son cry in disbelief, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, fell silent, finally his eyes showing determination.
"Asuma, Konoha must not fall into the evil hands of the Uchiha!"
"Just for this! Is this really why you colluded with the Sand ninja!" At this moment, Sarutobi Asuma roared in questioning.
In his mind, no matter how despicable his father was, he would never be involved with the traitors colluding with the Sand ninja, but now!
Asuma's heart was shattered, and Sarutobi Hiruzen, seeing this, snorted coldly.
"Asuma, for Konoha, for the village!"
"Father, then what about our clan?" At this moment, Asuma asked loudly.
Faced with his son's questioning, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was full of determination.
"Asuma, rest assured, everything I've done is for the village. Your talk of colluding with the Sand ninja, in fact, was a ploy by your father to divert the attention of the Uchiha, and it was deliberately exposed..."
Following Sarutobi Hiruzen's hoarse explanation, finally, Sarutobi Asuma understood it all.
But even though he understood, he still couldn't comprehend!
At this moment, Asuma looked at his father in pain, somewhat unable to believe.
"Father, for the Will of Fire as you see it, you used the entire clan as bait! Do you know the fate of the clan?"
After a long silence, Sarutobi Hiruzen hoarsely said, "I know! But for the sake of the village, for the Will of Fire, even if it means sacrificing the Sarutobi clan, I am willing."
"The village cannot fall into the evil hands of the Uchiha. Asuma, don't worry, this time your father is making amends for his mistakes. The village will have Tsunade and Jiraiya."
In Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart, as long as it's not an Uchiha, anyone else will do. Not to mention his plan ensures that ultimately, Konoha will be in Tsunade's hands.
After all, she is his disciple, isn't she?
As long as it's not an Uchiha, anyone else is better. This is the Third Hokage's mindset.
Pfft!
Just as Sarutobi Hiruzen was explaining, suddenly a voice sounded. The precious chakra-infused metal weapon, Flying Swallow, impaled his chest with wind-attributed chakra.
"Asuma!"
In the end, Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled, "Well done, Asuma."
With a bang, Sarutobi Hiruzen turned into a puff of white smoke, leaving Asuma in shock.
"Father! You're crazy! You've really gone mad!"
"For your so-called Will of Fire, you've sacrificed our clan and even bear a stigma!"
Upon realizing that his father was a shadow clone, Sarutobi Asuma screamed in despair.
He knew it was too late, everything was too late!
His father had used the Sarutobi clan as bait and must have gone to the Chunin Exam venue by now, and it was already too late for him.
"Damn it, the water source is poisoned!"
"No good, a barrier has trapped us."
At this moment, the Sarutobi clan was in utter chaos, but their once powerful Jounin were nowhere to be seen.
In the secret chamber of the Sarutobi clan, a group of Jounin were writhing in pain on the ground, pale and weak.
With a creak, the door opened, and a tall figure entered.
Seeing the person, the Jounin of the Sarutobi clan were enraged.
"Asuma! You traitor!"
"Scoundrel! You will not die a good death."
"Traitor, you've slaughtered your own clan..."
Amidst the vile curses, what greeted them was a cruel massacre.
Blood splattered everywhere, and Flying Swallow was stained with the blood of his kin. Now, Sarutobi Asuma was like a devil emerging from hell.
Tears flowed, but his hand did not stop, and his eyes shifted from pain to numbness.
Until he slaughtered the last person, Sarutobi Asuma looked at the blood-soaked scene and suddenly burst into insane laughter.
"Ha ha, a sinful clan, they all deserve to die! Ha ha!"
In his mad laughter, Sarutobi Asuma's eyes were ferocious and filled with insanity, having lost all reason.
After rushing out of the clan's secret chamber, Sarutobi Asuma began killing anyone he saw. In the clan area without Jounin, he was like a tiger among sheep.
He spared no one, not the elderly nor children.
In the shadows, the single Sharingan eye of the masked Obito glowed ominously, laughing crazily as he watched the scene.
"Ha ha, keep killing, once you regain your senses, there will be no turning back."
As Asuma's mind teetered on the brink of collapse, the masked Obito seized the opportunity, using his powerful genjutsu to bring out Asuma's evil and bloodlust.
By then, a barrier had completely sealed off the Sarutobi clan.
Sensing people outside, the masked Obito smiled, "It seems I need to assist Asuma, at least until Jiraiya arrives with reinforcements. Asuma needs to complete his masterpiece."
Meanwhile, on another side of Konoha, the Chunin Exam is being held fiercely.
Chunin Exam venue.
With the arrival of the Fourth Kazekage Rasa, the Fourth Raikage A, and the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki, the atmosphere in the venue reached its peak.
Amidst high-pitched cheers, excited people were shouting everywhere.
"Welcome."
The Fifth Hokage Tsunade and the Fifth Mizukage Terumi Mei, the only two female Kage at the time, stood up valiantly to greet the arrival of the three Kage.
The gathering of the five Kage in a public event was almost a grand event in the ninja world.
"Hehe, worthy of Konoha."
The cunning Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki chuckled, but his words were full of provocation.
Tsunade was not oblivious to this and responded with a hearty laugh, "Of course, now Konoha and Mist are one family, naturally the strongest village."
Their conversation was a mismatch.
But Tsunade was not one to be outdone. Looking at the guards brought by Ōnoki, she shook her head, "At this age, it's really something that Rock can't even bring out a noteworthy person."
As the saying goes, 'insulting someone without exposing their weakness,' but Tsunade was all about exposing weaknesses.
This made Ōnoki's face stiffen with frustration, but he had to bear it and pretended to be relaxed, laughing loudly, "This old body of mine can work for another decade or two."
Terumi Mei, standing beside them, also chuckled lightly, "Tsunade, our village's rising stars are not few. I feel like I'm getting old."
Damn, knowing you have many talents, but you don't have to show off like this.
Ōnoki, inwardly cursing, still had to maintain a smile in front of so many people.
As the five Kage took their seats, the entire venue erupted in intense cheers again.
Five Kage hats, five Kage gathered, and at this moment, a voice slowly rose from behind.
"They're all here."
Although very soft, it spread throughout the venue. Under this voice, the Tsuchikage, Raikage, and Kazekage's faces changed, showing a hint of fear in their pupils.
They had no inkling, and suddenly Uchiha Yoru appeared.
Below the seated five Kage, there was another chair. Under the large 'god' character, the figure of Uchiha Yoru appeared.
Instantly, the Chunin Exam venue was buzzing with noise, as countless people cheered excitedly.
"Night God!"
Under the loud cheers, most ninjas and civilians cheered, but the faces of the aristocrats and daimyo representatives turned ugly.
In recent years, Night God's weakening of the daimyo's power was not something that could be explained in a sentence or two.
With the arrival of Uchiha Yoru, many ninjas in the venue respectfully saluted, and many even showed fanatic adoration.
This scene made the visiting ninjas from various villages secretly fearful. Such a terrifying charismatic presence could be understood from the expressions of the Konoha and Mist ninjas.
"The Chunin Exam can now begin."
With a casual remark from Uchiha Yoru, the ninjas already prepared in the venue instantly understood.
"The Chūnin Selection Exams, the first match starts now! Contestants, please enter the arena!"
Uchiha Sasuke VS Uzumaki Naruto.
Son of the former Uchiha clan leader VS The orphan of the Fourth Hokage.
This is a battle of the second generation versus the second generation, and a clash of geniuses.
"Yo! Uzumaki Naruto, at your service!"
At that moment, Uzumaki Naruto, dressed in bright orange, descended from the sky, giving a thumbs-up to the crowd as he landed.
Swoosh~
A gentle breeze blew, and a leaf fell, revealing the figure of Uchiha Sasuke.
However, as Uchiha Sasuke appeared, the numerous ninjas in the audience showed a look of astonishment, quickly drowned out by the excited cheers of the spectators.
Uchiha Sasuke, with a cold face, wore a pure white kimono and black trousers. His chest was slightly exposed, revealing his eye-catching muscles. His deep black arm guard extended from his forearm to his palm, and a black rope belt was tied around his waist, with a ninja sword inserted horizontally.
This scene amazed many.
Especially among the Konoha Jōnin, many exchanged glances, turning their attention towards Uchiha Yoru.
Even the Fifth Hokage Tsunade and Terumi Mei narrowed their eyes upon seeing this.
"Yoru, no wonder you appreciate and value this kid so much."
"No wonder, despite his talent being far inferior to others, Yoru, you still favor this kid so much."
Wow, with a single sentence from Tsunade and Terumi Mei, the atmosphere turned awkward. Among the three Kage present, aside from the Kazekage, who remained silent, the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki showed a look of admiration,
Ōnoki seemed to be saying, "Young people play quite extravagantly, I admire that."
Among the Jōnin present, Momochi Zabuza, who rarely looks back, whispered to Kakashi, "Kakashi, could this kid be Lord Yoru's child?"
Many colleagues also looked on curiously. Hatake Kakashi, as a classmate and right-hand man of Uchiha Yoru,
At this moment, Kakashi, holding his forehead, sighed in helplessness. It was too coincidental that Uchiha Sasuke and the young Uchiha Yoru looked exactly alike, especially in their attire.
If it weren't for the current hairstyle of Uchiha Yoru being different, they would look almost like they were cast from the same mold.
"This, well... I can't say for sure."
Although Kakashi wanted to deny it, looking at Sasuke, he began to doubt and fell silent.
Uchiha Sasuke was born on the night of the Nine-Tails' attack, and he and Yoru were 14 years old then. If Sasuke's birthday is in July, calculating backwards! Yoru were already capable at the age of 13! Thinking of this, Kakashi shook his head awkwardly.
Considering the number of women Uchiha Yoru currently has, it seems somewhat possible.
Already capable at the age of 13, not to mention the faster development in the ninja world.
…
However, at this moment, Sasuke appeared at the venue, filled with a proud demeanor. In his heart, Teacher Yoru was his idol in life, and his own dress-up was all to prove himself.
"Show-off Sasuke."
Seeing Sasuke's outfit, Naruto across from him immediately widened his eyes, unwillingly pointing and shouting loudly. Had he known this would happen, he would have changed into a new outfit as well.
"Tsk, bottom of the class."
Sasuke snorted arrogantly, determined to prove himself in front of everyone this time.
He, Sasuke, had the ability and talent to become a disciple of Teacher Yoru.
After being initially shocked, the referee beside them smiled at Sasuke, secretly deciding that he must keep a close watch on him, as this one could not afford any mishaps.
"The first duel now begins!"