Satoru's pale blue eyes scanned the battlefield with an almost lazy calmness. The chaos of the moment—the strange ninjas and their eerie abilities—didn't faze him. He had already deduced the truth. These weren't real opponents; they were mere illusions, puppets of genjutsu.
His thoughts were interrupted only by the night breeze brushing his hair. He let it fall naturally across his forehead, blending seamlessly into the shadows.
These three can handle this, he thought, silently excusing himself from the battle. I'll let them gain some experience while I take it easy.
A faint smile played on his lips. He stepped back, becoming one with the night.
Naruto, meanwhile, had his hands full. A kunai was hurtling toward him, and he froze in the split second of realization.
"Naruto!" Sasuke's sharp voice cut through the night.
In a flash, Sasuke threw a shuriken, deflecting the kunai with a metallic clang. The enemy shifted focus, directing an attack at Sasuke. A second kunai was launched with deadly precision, grazing Sasuke's hair as he dodged.
"An actual kunai," Sasuke muttered. His Sharingan spun as realization struck. This is no illusion. The enemy is somewhere nearby, using these phantoms as distractions.
"Sakura, Naruto," Sasuke called, his voice steady despite the tension. "These ninjas are illusions, just shadows created by genjutsu. The real enemy is hiding and attacking through these distractions."
Sakura and Naruto nodded, quickly grasping his analysis. They regrouped and formulated a plan.
Naruto created a multitude of shadow clones, their identical forms spreading throughout the battlefield. The real team concealed themselves among the clones, their movements carefully orchestrated to draw out the hidden enemy.
Moments later, the plan bore fruit. A ninja from the Land of Rain revealed himself, his guard lowered by the apparent exhaustion of Naruto's clones. In an instant, Naruto struck, incapacitating the ninja with a decisive blow.
"Got him!" Naruto said, holding up the scroll. "It's the Book of Heaven. Not that we need it."
Satoru emerged from the shadows, lazily munching on a skewer of three-color dango. "Not bad," he said with a faint smile, the night breeze ruffling his short white hair.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "You just stood there, didn't you?"
Satoru tilted his head innocently. "Me? I was providing... moral support."
Unbeknownst to the team, Kabuto had been watching from the trees, silently taking notes. His eyes gleamed with curiosity and calculation.
Sasuke's skill with the Sharingan is developing rapidly, Kabuto observed. His reaction time and analysis are exceptional for his age. And Naruto… his chakra reserves are immense, his strength surprising.
But when Kabuto turned his attention to Satoru, his sharp gaze faltered. This boy barely moves. Is it intentional? Or is he simply as unremarkable as he seems?
He adjusted his glasses and pondered the enigma of the white-haired teen.
Later, Kabuto stood before Orochimaru, reporting his findings. Orochimaru's golden, serpent-like eyes glinted with interest.
"Did you gather what I need?" Orochimaru asked, his voice a low hiss.
Kabuto handed over a card, detailing Sasuke's abilities. "Sasuke Uchiha's data is complete," Kabuto said. "But the other one… Satoru… there's nothing definitive. He barely acted during the exam. Either he's hiding his abilities, or he's insignificant."
Orochimaru's lips curled into a sinister smile. "You've underestimated him. I can feel it—there's more to that boy. Much more."
Meanwhile, Satoru and the team reached the central tower, reuniting with Hozuki and Shiro. Together, they opened their scrolls, advancing to the next stage.
"Is this the next exam room?" Satoru asked, looking around with mild interest. Candidates from various villages were gathered, exchanging hushed conversations. The tension was palpable.
As Satoru leaned back, taking in the scene, a sudden voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Hey, Satoru."
He turned, meeting the piercing gaze of Gaara. The boy's cold, beast-like eyes radiated a chilling intent.
"I'll destroy you next," Gaara said, his voice eerily calm.
Satoru tilted his head, unfazed. "Oh? Good luck with that."
Temari and Kankuro exchanged uneasy glances. While they trusted Gaara's power, they couldn't shake the unease Satoru's nonchalant demeanor gave them.
"Calm down, Gaara," Temari urged, wiping a bead of sweat from her brow. "Don't let him provoke you."
"Kill him," Gaara muttered, his murderous intent thickening. "I'll crush him."
The sand at Gaara's feet began to stir violently, responding to his growing bloodlust.
Before tensions could escalate further, Moonlight Guy, the next examiner, appeared before the gathered candidates.
"The third exam will soon begin," he announced, his tone calm but commanding. "But first, we'll conduct preliminary matches. These one-on-one battles will determine who advances to the next round."
The room fell silent as the weight of his words sank in.
From the shadows, Orochimaru watched with a predatory grin. This will be interesting, he thought. Let's see if you can keep hiding, Satoru. Let me see what you're truly capable of.
>>>>>
Complete Story available on Patreon.com/c/GGFanfiction :)
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