Satoru, standing opposite, quickly caught the examiner's curious gaze.
He tilted his head slightly, his innocent expression contrasting sharply with the dark black robe that swayed loosely around him. The sharp contrast between his laid-back demeanor and the somber robe gave him an air of mystery. It was hard to discern what he was truly thinking.
This scene drew the examiner's full attention.
Could this ninja really be that strong?
The Sand Village candidate facing Satoru had chosen to forfeit. This was a rare sight—ninjas seldom reached this stage in the Chūnin Exams and then opted to give up.
The decision stunned everyone watching.
Even Gekko Hayate, the proctor, found himself deep in thought. Is this all just a façade? he wondered, his gaze lingering on the seemingly unremarkable white-haired boy. Satoru's aura was tranquil, devoid of malice or intimidation.
Other examiners whispered among themselves, equally astonished.
What kind of power does he wield to intimidate his opponent into surrendering outright?
Their doubts lingered, but one thing was clear: Satoru was no ordinary ninja. Yet, some dismissed the Sand Village's performance, thinking, No matter how skilled they are, they can't surpass Konoha's brightest talents.
Among the spectators was the Third Hokage, observing the scene with a pensive expression. Turning to Kakashi, he asked, "Has anything unusual happened in the village recently?"
Kakashi replied thoughtfully, "The ANBU and guards are monitoring all areas of the village and keeping tabs on outside competitors. So far, no abnormalities have been reported."
The Third Hokage sighed, his gaze shifting back to the arena. "I can't shake the feeling something's amiss," he murmured. This year's Chūnin Exams feel... different.
On the sidelines, Orochimaru sneered as he observed the scene.
"How disappointing," he hissed. "I was looking forward to more from him."
Despite Satoru's reserved performance in the preliminaries, Orochimaru was confident he would reveal his true strength during the finals, especially when the pressure to represent his village became unavoidable. When that time came, Orochimaru would savor watching him pushed to his limits.
But... Orochimaru's gaze darkened. He's still not as fascinating as Uchiha Satoru back then.
Memories of Satoru Uchiha resurfaced—his brilliance, his vision, and his ability to perceive the ninja world from a detached perspective. He wasn't a tool bound by the whims of a daimyo. Instead, he sought a greater truth, something beyond the constraints of the ninja system.
That singular vision had inspired Orochimaru's own defection and the founding of the Sound Village. Yet Satoru Uchiha's untimely demise left an indelible regret in Orochimaru's heart. It was one of the reasons he now sought eternal life: To have more time to uncover the ultimate truths of existence.
Unaware of Orochimaru's musings, Satoru strolled back toward Naruto and the others, already envisioning the three-color dango he'd enjoy later. If he knew Orochimaru had pinned the blame for the Sound Village on him, he would have vehemently protested the injustice.
Gekko Hayate announced the results, and Satoru left the stage, his pace leisurely.
Naruto scratched his head, his blue eyes wide with disappointment. "I didn't think Mr. Bandage would win that easily," he muttered, his tone bordering on a whine. "I thought there'd be a big fight or something."
Satoru waved him off casually. "It's just the preliminaries. No need to go all out yet," he said, feigning seriousness. "I'm saving my strength for later. It's all about strategy."
His face remained unreadable beneath the white bandages, but his tone was playful.
Sasuke, standing nearby, sneered. "Idiot. You really believe that? He's just being lazy. He doesn't want to lift a finger unless he has to."
Naruto seemed to consider this. "You're probably right," he agreed, nodding solemnly. "After all, this is the guy who claims even his most burnt fish dishes are 'delicious.'" He shuddered, recalling the memory.
Sakura, standing to the side, suddenly remembered Kakashi's instructions. Maintain distance from Satoru, he had warned. Yet now, Naruto and Sasuke appeared entirely unguarded. Tension flickered across her face. If I don't step up, who will?
Elsewhere, other competitors were abuzz with speculation about Satoru's easy advancement.
"That's it?" Yamanaka Ino exclaimed, her disbelief evident. "We didn't even get to see what he's capable of!"
Shikamaru observed Satoru with a contemplative frown. That guy must be hiding something big. No way a Sand ninja would back out unless the odds were impossibly stacked against them.
Meanwhile, Rock Lee's eyes burned with determination. "If he's that strong, then I have to fight him!" he exclaimed, practically vibrating with energy.
"Lee," Tenten sighed, her tone exasperated.
Neji, standing nearby, remained quiet, his gaze fixed on Satoru. Satoru... he thought. I'll remember that name.
Unlike the Sand ninja, Neji resolved to face Satoru head-on. Whatever strength you're hiding, I'll uncover it in battle.