"We'll discuss the forbidden techniques in detail later."
Sandaime sighed.
He had caught on to the underlying meaning.
Kyōichi had been working on this area recently.
First, there was the Breath Activation Technique submitted to settle a debt, and now the application of the Super Strength Technique—though the latter wasn't widely promoted, the intent was clearly the same.
Forbidden techniques weren't entirely off-limits; it was just a matter of timing.
"Yes!"
Kyōichi nodded.
Sandaime had too much on his mind to leisurely observe the exam.
The results were already quite clear. Even without the third round of assessments, he had a rough idea of the final list.
Might Guy, Yūhi Kurenai.
Normally, he should have given a spot to Shisui, while Kurenai wasn't quite up to par. However, Kurenai's final move had left a deep impression.
And secondly…
Shisui was too young.
This year, he had just turned five.
He was a genius.
But.
A tree that stands out in the forest will be toppled by the wind.
This saying didn't exist in the shinobi world, but the principle was the same.
Sandaime was a seasoned veteran.
If he wanted to deal with the Uchiha, he would promote Shisui and heavily publicize it, making sure everyone knew the Uchiha had produced such a record-breaking genius.
Even further.
He could also promote Obito.
Obito…
Aside from being a bit single-minded, there was nothing wrong with his combat abilities. He was definitely at the level of a chūnin.
With some maneuvering, wouldn't those fools rush to their deaths in a few years?
But.
He had high hopes for Shisui.
This child was a descendant of Uchiha Kagami and had now learned the "Will of Fire" from Kyōichi. He was kind and reserved in Konoha, unlike other Uchiha clan members.
If he protected him, the Uchiha might still have a future.
His thoughts were complex, but as he sorted them out, he slowly exhaled.
This arrangement was good!
Thinking carefully.
It was a good thing Asuma didn't make it to the finals. Otherwise, if Asuma had shown off, and with Yūhi Kurenai's performance, would he have promoted Asuma or not?
Sandaime's eyes regained focus as he looked back at the battlefield, only to be slightly surprised.
"How did Shisui die?"
"After they eliminated Nohara Rin and Shiranui Genma, Shisui used the Body Flicker Technique combined with his sword skills to assassinate Ebisu. However, he was affected by Yūhi Kurenai's genjutsu. Although he broke free in time, he was still killed by Mitarashi Anko."
Nara Shikaku responded promptly, sticking strictly to the facts without adding any personal opinions.
Sandaime was silent for a moment, then a strange smile appeared on his face.
In terms of overall team strength, Yūhi Kurenai's side was indeed stronger, but the actual situation wasn't so clear-cut. Might Guy had charged in and severely injured Ebisu, forcing Kurenai to reveal her trump card.
So.
If Shisui and his teammates had slowly worn down their opponents, given Kurenai's high chakra and stamina consumption, they couldn't have won.
But what happened?
Shisui tried to assassinate Ebisu, who had just been revived and wasn't at full strength.
On the battlefield, this would be like trading one of the Sannin for an enemy genin—an utterly foolish tactical decision.
Someone didn't want to win!
How…
Brilliant!
Sandaime looked at Shisui, feeling both admiration and wariness.
A genius!
In him, Sandaime saw the shadow of Fugaku—no, even greater talent than Fugaku!
But.
What if someone like him took the extreme path, as his teacher had warned?
Wouldn't he become a second Madara?
He felt a headache coming on.
"The third exam will resume in a few days. Invite the Daimyō to observe. Let him see the strength of Konoha's new generation and set his mind at ease."
Sandaime spoke softly to Shikaku.
Shikaku nodded slightly.
Kyōichi didn't need to eavesdrop to know what was going on.
The selection was pretty much decided. The next round would just be a performance, so he didn't bother worrying about the details of the third exam. Let them handle it themselves.
As for the list…
He could probably guess.
Aside from someone slacking off, three people stood out.
Asuma, Might Guy, and Yūhi Kurenai.
Three candidates, but only two spots.
Asuma hadn't made it to the top five, and as the Hokage's son, it was unlikely he'd be promoted. That left Might Guy and Yūhi Kurenai.
Sandaime had already made up his mind.
…
"Shinku, your daughter has the same presence as Lady Tsunade in her youth!"
"Truly!"
"Who knows? She might even become one of the next Sannin!"
"…"
On his way back, Kurenai's father, Yūhi Shinku, was greeted with praise from fellow shinobi.
Shinku, who had just returned from training chūnin, was momentarily confused.
But.
He quickly pieced together what had likely happened.
His daughter must have successfully executed that technique during the exam, showcasing not only her genjutsu but also her medical ninjutsu.
She was probably going to become a chūnin.
This was excellent news.
He felt a surge of pride and gratitude toward Kyōichi.
Shinku knew his own limitations. While his genjutsu was strong, it couldn't compare to the Uchiha's.
His daughter, though talented, had always been a step behind him in that area. Focusing solely on genjutsu would have limited her growth.
But he hadn't been able to provide her with anything else.
Yet, Kyōichi had given her everything she needed.
"I'll have to thank him properly later."
…
In the Hokage's office at the Konoha Administration Building.
"Yūhi Kurenai has done well. I initially thought she would focus on genjutsu, but you've also trained her as a medical ninja."
Sandaime gestured for Kyōichi to sit down.
After a moment of thought, he sighed. "I always considered myself a capable sensei, but since you started teaching, I've realized I have little to boast about."
"You're being too modest. The Sannin are renowned across the shinobi world. Who doesn't know of their achievements?"
Kyōichi shook his head.
Sandaime fell silent, trying to discern whether Kyōichi was being sincere or sarcastic. After a few seconds, he decided not to dwell on it.
"Of the three, only Orochimaru truly absorbed my teachings. Jiraiya was trained by Mount Myōboku, and Tsunade inherited the Senju's legacy. But Orochimaru… he was just one person."
Sandaime paused mid-sentence.
"Your approach was to focus on elite training, while I'm handling a larger group. These are special circumstances, and our methods can't be compared. Any one of the Sannin is irreplaceable."
Kyōichi remained humble.
Still.
He hadn't expected Sandaime to start the conversation with such a bombshell.
To put it bluntly, Sandaime had laid his pride bare, waiting for Kyōichi to step on it. But now wasn't the time for that.
"I'm getting old. I tend to reflect more these days."
Sandaime sighed and shook his head.
Then, picking up his pipe, he asked, "What are your thoughts on forbidden techniques?"
"Not all forbidden techniques should remain unused. Nidaime developed so many jutsu not to lock them away but to strengthen Konoha and protect the village."
"Forbidden techniques should be categorized by their level of danger and discreetly introduced to a small, willing group."
Kyōichi explained calmly.
Sandaime remained silent.
He had considered this before, but how could he define the level of danger?
Each person's circumstances were different.
Kyōichi seemed to anticipate his concern and continued, "As long as the user can recover fully and retain their mobility, I believe the technique has value. For now, we could limit dissemination to special jōnin and jōnin."
The reason for choosing these ranks was simple: their strength and discipline made them trustworthy. It was unlikely they were spies from other villages.