In the office, Hiruzen frowned, appearing worried about something.
Seated across from him was Danzo. Despite their political disagreements, as a close friend Hiruzen was still willing to trust Danzo
Regardless of Danzo's intentions, whether good or bad intentions, his loyalty to Konoha wasn't weaker than himself. Danzo's actions, no matter how questionable, could be offset by the merits as long as loyalty to Konoha remained unwavering.
In today's Konoha, where radicals were gaining strength, Danzo's existence had become crucial.
"You came to see me specifically; do you have something to discuss?" Hiruzen inquired, having been occupied with root affairs for over half a year.
Due to the Root situation, they hadn't met in over half a year. Although Root still needed cultivation and expansion, Anbu's suppression limited their growth. Hiruzen believed Danzo wouldn't bring this up. Danzo considered himself invincible in terms of the balance policy.
"From Kakashi's surveillance, there seems to be some chaos within the Uchiha. Ignoring these problems might lead to disadvantages for the village."
"Such as?"
"A coup."
"You're joking." Hiruzen shook his head.
"I'm just expressing my opinion. If you disagree, I hope you won't regret it when the time comes." Danzo responded with a cold smile.
In the past, he might not have thought of this, but lessons have been learnt.
Particularly from the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, who ascended through a violent coup, have changed his perspective. And from information received, Yagura's position as Mizukage was secure. Itemphasized that violent coups require strength and decisive actions, something the Uchiha possess.
Danzo admitted that the Uchiha radicals have a genuine opportunity, especially considering the impressive performance of Uchiha Fugaku in the Third Ninja World War and the remarkable abilities of Shisui.
"In any case, they're all part of Konoha. As long as they don't cross a line, there won't be a clash. Moreover, I've reached an agreement with Fugaki. After this Chunin exam, I'll recruit his son Itachi into the Anbu to ease relations with Uchiha." Hiruzen said, not willing to waste more time.
Hiruzen didn't want to waste more time. Despite ANBU's efforts, Shisui couldn't uncover the hidden spies Uchiha Ruri placed within the Uchiha clan. Monitoring the Uchiha through another avenue seemed necessary.
"Has Fugaku Uchiha agreed?"
"Yes, he has."
"I'm afraid they are using him to monitor ANBU and our movements." Danzo's eyes flashed fiercely.
"I have observed that child. He has the ability to think about the overall situation like the Hokage. He will be on our side."
"Ten years ago, your assessment of Chiba Shiraishi was the same." Danzo gave Hiruzen a strange look.
Hiruzen's mouth twitched slightly. Danzo's words brought back an unpleasant memory.
"Itachi is different from Chiba Shiraishi. He'll never become an evil and traitorous ninja like him. He is Konoha's Uchiha Itachi."
"I hope so."
Danzo thought of his cooperation with 'Madara,' feeling a sense of regret towards Hiruzen. However, Hiruzen would eventually forgive him in the end, just like before. Their old friendship stood the test of time.
"Did Koharu and Homura agree?"
Danzo asked once more.
"No, they are adamantly against it. So, I need your opinion on this matter."
After hearing Hiruzen's words, Danzo nodded. While Koharu and Homura appeared harmless, they followed the Second Hokage's orders regarding the Uchiha. Allowing the Uchiha into a crucial department like Anbu was not ideal.
The Uchiha already controlled the Police Force, a significant department. Further empowerment of the Uchiha could not only fuel the clan's ambition but also create dissatisfaction among the other clans.
"As long as you, thr Hokage, have no objections, I naturally have no problem. I will support it if it benefits the village."
"I'm relieved to hear you say that. After all, a place like Root isn't suitable for Itachi's growth."
Two years ago, Danzo suggested having Itachi take the Chunin Exam alone and training him to be a sharp asset like White Fang and Yellow Flash. However, Hiruzen rejected this idea, it also made him realize that Itachi had caught Danzo's attention, hoping to have Itachi in Root.
Hiruzen wanted to ensure Itachi remained an Anbu ninja under his authority, not under Root's control.
"Wouldn't it be better to let Itachi decide for himself? That child has darkness." Danzo suggested with a frown.
"The light of the fire will illuminate the darkness in his heart." Hi Zhan firmly asserted, mentioning Shisui Uchiha as his trump card.
Hiruzen said firmly. He held a trump card.
Uchiha Shisui who was a top-secret Anbu operative only known to him as Hokage. Shisui was Itachi's best friend, and Hiruzen trusted he would guide Itachi on the right path.
Danzo left without saying anything.
...
"Participating in the Chunin exam alone? What is Konoha doing?"
This year's Konoha Chunin Exam was exceptionally lively. Not only did Konoha genin take part, but also genin from other countries, making it a joint Chunin Exam between various nations.
With home advantage, Konoha clearly stood better odds. Though the reason the other ninja villages agreed was to test Konoha's upcoming ninjas, while showcasing their own strength to the other countries.
Konoha had also revealed a vital piece of information..In this year's exam there will be a Konoha genin who will participate in the Chunin Exam solo.
And the Konoha Genin participating solo in the exam was revealed to be Uchiha Itachi.This had caught Kazuhime's attention
Uchiha Itachi, another genius after Uchiha Shisui, was gaining fame. Participating alone set him apart in the history of Chunin Exams.
Ninjas typically don't fight alone, emphasizing the importance of teamwork, whether a Genin, a Chunin, or a seasoned Jōnin. Teamwork was a focal point in Konoha, driven by the Will of Fire.
While there were exceptions like speed ninjas such as Namikaze Minato, who wasn't suited for teamwork due to the nature of his ninjutsu.
However, Uchiha Itachi, from all perspectives, didn't fit the mold of a ninja like Namikaze Minato. Considering this, Kazuhime speculated that Konoha's senior management might have planned Itachi's solo participation. Otherwise, the exam would prove highly unfavorable for Itachi alone
"He will likely fail the second test," The Miko beside her spoke.
The Konoha Chunin Exams had also drawn Genin from the other ninja villages. All forming a three-man team.
While Itachi excelled in the written exam, showcasing a perfect theoretical score from his academy days, the second exam, testing their abilities, should prove challenging for him acting alone.
"Since the Uchiha hailed him as a rare genius, he cant be judged using common sense. His results should prove interesting regardless," Kazuhime mused.
Common sense acted as a limitation for ordinary people, but for geniuses, particularly that of Uchiha Itachi, transcended such limitations. Perhaps, there might be some unexpected surprises from a genius of his caliber.
...
"He cleared the second exam in less than six hours... the fastest ever in history."
An Anbu reported to the Hokage and the Root leader. Upon hearing this result, both were unable to conceal their surprise.
The examinee mentioned by the Anbu was none other than Uchiha Itachi, who had undertaken this Chūnin Exam solo. He had achieved almost perfect scores in the initial written test. Moreover, on the second test, which was to traverse the Forest of Death, he had also successfully reached the central tower of the Forest of Death in under six hours, ranking first place.
Hiruzen took a deep breath, possibly contemplating something.
"Such an achievement is comparable to Minato's back then."
However, the difference lay in Minato completing the Chūnin Exam as part of a three-person team, while Itachi undertook it alone. From this standpoint, Itachi hadn't necessarily surpassed Minato completely, but his accomplishment was undeniably impressive..
"Next is the third exam. For Itachi, it shouldn't be a problem."
Hiruzen breathed a sigh of relief. In fact, he hadn't been sure about allowing Itachi to participate in the Chūnin Exam as a solo entrant initially. But, seeing Itachi's performance thus far, he now had full confidence in Itachi's ability to succeed in the third exam.
In the third round, there was absolutely no ninja who could defeat Itachi. He even ventured that none of the ninja could stand in the same level as Itachi.
Not even official chūnins were capable of achieving these results that Itachi had obtained. Itachi's strength had already surpassed that of most chūnins despite being only 10 years old.
"Are you relieved now?" Danzo asked.
Hiruzen nodded without attempting to hide anything.
"This achievement is indeed something to be proud of. It would be even better if he weren't from the Uchiha clan." Danzo remarked, intentionally or unintentionally.
Hiruzen fell silent. Indeed, it would have been better if Itachi wasn't a ninja from the Uchiha clan. The Uchiha, after all, was a thorn that was difficult to pull out.
Regardless of the era, there never seemed to be a shortage of powerful ninjas bolstering the Uchiha clan.
It was because of this that Hiruzen wanted Itachi to join Anbu and serve. However, as Danzo pointed out, no matter how talented Itachi was, he still belonged to the Uchiha clan.
"Itachi is not that kind of kid." Hiruzen protested mildly.
"If you cannot control such a dangerous blade, it does not matter if you let me tame it instead." Danzo responded.
'You simply do not have what it takes to wield such a dangerous weapon!' These were Danzo's true thoughts.
Accustomed to the Hokage's more virtuous methods, Hiruzen didn't truly grasp the darker nature of ninja conduct.
To Danzo, Itachi was a shinobi crafted from darkness itself. Even the Anbu couldn't be Itachi's ultimate destination. The Root was where the Uchiha genius rightfully belonged instead.
"Such discussions are impossible. Your current Root forces are sufficient for your needs." Hiruzen dismissed firmly with a shake of his head.
Regardless of whether such a deadly blade could be controlled or not, entrusting it to Danzo would be an extremely dangerous decision.
"Still so confident. Forget it, I'll go back and rest first. There is no need to call me for the third exam. There is also no need paying attention to a blade that won't belong to me."
Danzo snorted coldly and strode out of the room.
Hiruzen knew that Danzo was unhappy, but it didn't matter. As Konoha's Hokage, he was the one who truly made the decisions. With Danzo conceding defeat and retreating despite his displeasure, Hiruzen was spared much unnecessary effort.
....
The massive circular wall resembled a cage, its roof open to the sky so the clouds and blue expanse were visible. At the top of the tall barricade was an enormous platform where audiences could view the ninja battles happening below.
Officials, businessmen from various nations, Konoha residents and ninja alike had all gathered here to watch the third phase of the Chūnin Exams.
Kazuhime had also been seated in the VIP section. As a princess of a country, Konoha would naturally spare no effort in catering to her needs and comfort. Such royal treatment was accorded without Kazuhime needing to voice out any requests, Konoha took it upon themselves to arrange everything befitting her stature.
Sitting here and spectating the ninja duels unfolding below was quite a novel experience for Kazuhime. While there were some children her age present, most of the audience comprised adults, officials from different nations and big businessmen/woemn, and some influential figures
It was fair to say that anyone who could secure seating in this exclusive zone was either tremendously affluent or influential.
Sitting next to Kazuhime on both sides were her two handmaidens, who also served as her personal guards. At the edge of the passageway, a jōnin from their country who stood vigilantly, attentive to any occurrences in the vicinity.
Although Konoha Anbu forces had also deployed protective measures, but with so many prominent dignitaries congregated here, any sudden accidents would still overwhelm their defensive capabilities.
Hence, important guests like Kazuhime who brought their own security details also stationed accompanying ninja guards to protect them.
The first phase of the Chūnin Exams had been a written test. The second test took place in Konoha's Forest of Death. The goal was to reach the central tower within the allotted time, by any means necessary.
The third and final stage comprised one-on-one duels. Any ninja who emerged victorious from their fight would be eligible for promotion to chūnin rank.
The assortment of ninja who had progressed to this concluding trial from the previous two tests represented the elite of their respective villages. making victory in a one-on-one duel challenging.
After all, none of the genin who had survived thus far were anything but exceptional. Many likely operated at chūnin capacity already.
However, Itachi was determined to claim total victory here. And it was going to be an overwhelming and absolute victory.
He intended to impress upon the congregation of influential figures from various countries observing from the spectators' platform the formidable might of both Konoha and the Uchiha clan.
In doing so, he would be one step closer to his goal, protecting Konoha, protecting everything precious to him, and eliminating any lingering thoughts of war from the ninja world.
Therefore, the moment the referee shouted "Start!", Itachi activated his Sharingan and lifted his fingers casually from his waist.
Then...it was over.
His stunned opponent gazed numbly ahead, as if he had seen something utterly terrifying. His previously dazed expression transformed immediately into a broken look. He screamed in horror as he collapsed, unconscious, to the ground.
"What...what just happened to him?"
"Why did that guy suddenly faint that way?"
The spectacle elicited much confusion among the spectators above.
The officiating chūnin in the arena seemed to understand something the audience didn't. He strode purposefully into the center of the battleground, glanced down at the now convulsing form of the foreign genin, and announced clearly, "Winner, Uchiha Itachi."
Itachi exited the arena with utmost calm.
The spectators peering down from the platform were astonished by the unexpectedly swift conclusion.
"The power of the Sharingan...it's that powerful?" One of the accompanying Miko marveled aloud.
None of the genin who had lasted until the third test were mediocre. However, under such challenging circumstances, Itachi ended the battle effortlessly with overwhelming dominance, which was genuinely unexpected.
"No, he didn't use his Sharingan because the moment Itachi activated it, the ninja on the opposite side deliberately avoided making eye contact."
Kazuhime narrowed her eyes. As long as one didn't look directly at the Sharingan, its illusory powers remain ineffective.
"Huh? Then why did..."
"There's an issue with the way he raised his finger. It likely misled his opponent into assuming he was planning to use the Sharingan genjutsu which made his opponent deliberately avert hus eyes to to avoid falling into a genjutsu, lowering his guard against other types of illusion in the process. The Uchiha Itachi pretended to weave hand seals to draw his attention further...his actual genjutsu was probably triggered by that finger motion alone." Kazuhime analyzed insightfully.
"Using fingers to lauch genjutsu? Is it that powerful?".
"Well..... very powerful."
Without intimate knowledge of Itachi's methods, one would certainly perish against such method. Kazuhime was sure of that.
It was very similar to how her mother used genjutsu. She didn't rely on her Sharingan to use genjutsu, instead laying traps in unexpected plays to decisively overwhelm the enemy.
What made it even more frightening was that Itachi's opponent had no choice but to monitor his every action closely. During the battle, it would be difficult to avert their gaze from the Sharingan to avoid falling into the genjutsu, so observing Itachi's hands and movements to anticipate his next maneuver became the key to break the game.
Thus, it was an inescapable trap. Even perceiving the underlying trap didn't enable one to evade it. Only matching Itachi's genjutsu prowess with equally formidable genjutsu countermeasures offered any hope of resistance.
Using this method to conceal the flaws of the Sharingan illusion meant the opponent wasn't merely facing Sharingan.
Kazuhime attentively observed every move Itachi made..His flawless figure, seemingly honed through thousands of years of training, showing physical abilities far superior to those of peers. The dexterity of his fingers, raised to perform hand seals, evidenced highly proficient ninjutsu skills.
He could be deemed a ninja without flaws in ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu.
After witnessing the match, Kazuhime stood up from her seat.
"Kazuhime-sama?"
"I have seen all I need to. The following matches will probably show nothing new. Let us take our leave."
"Yes."
The two Miko, along with surrounding ninjas, left together.
....
Walking to the inner corridor leading to the lounge, Itachi could feel he was in an unusually good mood.
He was filled with gratitude towards the village elders for permitting him to participate in the Chūnin Exam and providing this opportunity to showcase himself. This way, foreign ninjas witnessing his power would likely be in awe of Konoha's might.
The ninja represented the future of the village. At the age of ten, he defeated a powerful genin who had participated in the chunin exam in a few seconds. It was undoubtedly an achievement to be proud of.
Those who weren't optimistic about him participating in the Chunin exam alone would also change their opinion of his strength.
Following this, he planned to enter the Anbu and serve as a bridge between the village and the clan..... Itachi felt the weight of his responsibility.
So, he needed to become even stronger. No rest, no relaxation. He was about returning totjr Uchiha's private training ground to continue training.
"Congratulations, Uchiha Itachi."
A voice suddenly reached his ears, startling Itachi slightly.
Only then did he notice a girl about his age leaning against the wall, watching him with inexplicable eyes. Beside her, two young women in Miko outfits and several male ninjas also radiated a strong, oppressive force.
Jōnin.
The male ninjas accompanying the girl were powerful Jōnin with significant strength.
On the foreheads of these people, they wore ninja headbands different from those of the five major ninja village.
There wass a specific flower pattern engraved on their foreheads. A Rose.
Ninjas from the Land of Demons? Plus the accompanying Miko... Itachi discerned the identity of the girl.
Mahiru Kazuhime.
The adopted daughter of the Land of Demon's Miko, Country, the princess, she currently held a distinguished status in Konoha.
Considering the scale of this joint Chunin exam, it was reasonable for the princess of a country to watch his battle.
"Is there anything i can help you with, Hime-sama?"
The Land of Demons was a unique country. Especially regarding the various mysterious legends about demons, Itachi had gleaned from some books.
In recent years, the Land of Demons had experienced considerable international changes, particularly in the thriving medical industry, showing signs of surpassing Konoha.
A significant portion of Konoha's current medical market was dominated by the Medical Company from the Land of Demons, supplying many of Uchiha's imported medicines.
"I'm merely interested in the genius of the Uchiha clan."
"I see. If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave then."
"Are you feeling tired? Is everything alright?" Kazuhime asked..
However, Itachi didn't detect any genuine concern in her words, instead, they seemed mostly malicious. It sounded more like someone who had found some kind of interesting toy.
Itachi disagreed when Kazuhime suggested he was tired. Dealing with opponents at that level wouldn't make him tired.
"You should take enough rest. If you suddenly died of illness one day, I'll be very sad..."
'Die of illness? What a weird princess.' Itachi concluded as much.
Enough rest? How is that possible? He hasn't yet become the world's strongest ninja, and the relationship between his clan and the village remained unresolved. But he would soon join the Anbu, undertake secret missions, accumulate enough reputation to become the Hokage in the future, and then dedicate his life to advocating for world peace...
There was no spare time for rest.
Shouldering everything alone was the path Uchiha Itachi will take. He was confident that he could handle everything by himself. Rest wasn't an option for him yet.
Watching Itachi leave, the Miko next to Kazuhime couldn't help but ask, "Does Kazuhime-sama care about Uchiha Itachi?"
"Ha, that's really funny. I simply think without a strong stepping stone on my path to becoming an overlord, I would miss out on a lot of fun. After all, I'm worst at genjutsu." Kazuhime sneered.
.....,
"Itachi?"
Someone was calling him? Itachi turned his head in some doubt, walked to the door of the lounge, and suddenly found his father, Fugaku, coming from another corridor, beside him.
"Is something wrong? You seemed distracted, you didn't respond the few times I called you now." Fugaku praised "I watched your fight, it was interesting, and you're worthy of being my son. There shouldn't be an issue for you joining the Anbu."
"Yes."
Itachi nodded. But he still couldn't let go of the weird feeling from earlier.
His father mentioned him not reacting until he called him several times, which seemed a bit strange. It was impossible for him to be so careless. Even if he had been distracted, he believed as long as someone called him, he can react.
He could only think of one possibility.
Genjutsu... he's been under someone's genjutsu, causing him to have a misleading reaction to everything around him.
It couldn't have been on the side of the arena. Before going to the lounge, the only people he met were the princess and a few attendants beside her.
The gestures of those following people weren't suspicious, and the princess wasn't suspicious either, she just communicated with him normally.
Itachi frowned deeply. If that was the case, how did he fall into the genjutsu?
"Could it be... a voice...?"