"No way!" Uchiha Shigure's eyes narrowed as his heart skipped a beat. He hadn't expected this turn. Hatake Sakumo—Konoha's White Fang—had just painted a target squarely on his back.
Already, Shigure could feel the gazes cutting at him from all corners of the examination field, candidates sizing him up like hungry wolves. He clenched his fists. There was no way he couldn't understand Sakumo's true intention.
"The nail that sticks out gets hammered down… as the first one singled out, I'll draw everyone's fire," he thought darkly. "White Fang… you're deliberately making us a lightning rod."
Beside him, Hatake Kusuo and Hyūga Akane also sensed the sharpened hostility in the air. The shift was palpable, every ninja within earshot now marking them as priority prey.
But Shigure was not one to flinch. Uchiha pride burned too brightly in him. If this was a game of survival, he'd take it head-on—and answer provocation with boldness.
He raised his voice, cutting through the noise of the gathering candidates.
"All examinees, listen up! I—Uchiha Shigure—will be waiting in the Konoha Forest. If you're not cowards, come and face me!" His words rang unnaturally sharp for someone barely five years old, taunting, daring them all.
"And hear this—I'll be near the Minami Tower first. Anyone who wants me, come there!"
Without waiting for a reply, his team vanished into the depths of the forest.
"Hah! What a reckless brat," Sakumo laughed quietly from the examiner's post. But there was no disgust in his tone—if anything, there was approval. Energy, audacity, courage… all things he liked to see in Konoha's young.
Within minutes, spurred by Shigure's words, the sea of candidates surged. Tens of teams flooded into the forest, and before long, the arena lay empty.
Sakumo's face hardened again. "Seal the entry. First shrink happens in two hours—begin preparations."
"Yes, sir!" The proctors flickered away, leaving the forest to its deadly game.
Deep among the towering trees, three small figures darted agilely across branches. Their speed belied their small statures—this was Team Shigure.
Kusuo's voice came first, half-frustrated. "Shigure, why attract even more attention when we're already everyone's target? Now every team will hunt us!"
Hyūga Akane, red strands dancing, tugged along lightly beside him. "And… where exactly are we even going? You said Minami Tower?"
Without realizing it, both had already fallen into a rhythm that revolved around Shigure's commands. He was the axis pulling them forward, voice firm, eyes unshakeable.
"We'll head straight for the southern periphery of the Tower of All Things," Shigure explained plainly, strategy clear in his voice. "We'll intercept anyone who tries to enter. At the start, flanking ambushes are nearly impossible, so we'll strike first by cutting them down as they approach."
Kusuo frowned. "Will they really come to Minami Tower like you predict?"
"Byakugan!" Akane's sudden cry startled the two boys. Her pale eyes dilated as veins spread at her temples—the activation was swift, practiced.
Only last week she'd barely struggled to hold it, but now, after fighting alongside Shigure against Matsuyama Shuichi and training daily, she wielded it freely.
"I see teams moving north at speed… definitely toward both the Minami Tower and the Sen Tower," she reported swiftly. "Shigure, I… did I help?"
Kusuo laughed, relieved. "Perfect! Akane, from now on you're our scout. With Byakugan, you can keep us ahead of everyone."
Shigure, however, was stern. "And that makes you the most obvious target. We'll protect you. No exceptions."
He continued, voice crisp with tactical conviction. "Minami Tower sits near the center of the nine towers, making it the obvious choice. After that bold announcement of mine, plenty of candidates now see me as the prize. They'll head there, thinking to corner me. Instead, they'll run into us first, right outside."
His lips quirked slightly. "They won't even know what hit them. Now, let's move."
But plans crafted against the unknown rarely unfold seamlessly. Progress slowed. Not every team chose the nearest tower route—some acted cautiously, retreating away, while others charged recklessly… straight toward Shigure's squad.
Their first encounter arrived faster than Shigure hoped.
"Swish! Swish! Swish!" Kunai split the air.
"Enemies incoming!"
Steel clashed in sparks as the trio parried shuriken with practiced precision. Across from them stood three older Genin, smirking with bravado.
One jeered, "So you're Uchiha Shigure? Hah! The genius first place is just a five-year-old brat? Shouldn't you quit while you're ahead, kid?"
Shigure's eyes narrowed. "Dream on."
Hands blurred into seals too fast to follow. His chest swelled.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
Beside him, Kusuo slammed his palms forward. "Wind Style: Fierce Gale Palm!"
And Akane spun with grace, her palm thrust outward. "Eight Trigrams: Empty Palm!"
The three attacks roared together, colliding in a thunderous wave that knocked the enemy trio clear off their feet. Burnt earth and shredded trees marked the aftermath. The enemy hadn't stood a chance.
"How—how is that possible!?" one groaned, stunned.
"I thought he was weak!"
"Five years old… wielding that level of ninjutsu—!!"
They barely twitched as Shigure calmly strode forward, plucked their exam tags from pocketed jackets, and sealed their elimination.
"You're done here," he said flatly, turning away.
Akane blinked, conflicted. "Shigure… why do they feel so weak now? Was it really that easy?"
"I was thinking the same," Kusuo admitted. "It's like… they're not even in the same league."
Shigure chuckled softly. "It's not that they grew weaker. We've grown stronger. Ordinary Genin are no longer our opponents. Honestly, Akane, your strength already borders Chunin level."
Akane flushed, unused to the praise.
Yet Shigure's thoughts carried heavier weight. This exam… it won't be simple. Not only Konoha's examinees, but my own clan—the Uchiha—will no doubt move against me.
They pressed forward at increased speed now; hesitation would only squander momentum. Still, pursuers chased relentlessly.
Akane's Byakugan flared. "Another squad trailing us… closing fast!"
"We can't let them lock on," Shigure decided instantly. "Erase all signs of our trail, or they'll hound us forever."
He gripped his familiar-marked kunai, handing them out. "I'll buy time. You two head for the Tower. Drop these along the way—I'll catch up in no time."
Kusuo and Akane stared, then gave solemn nods. "Be careful, Shigure."
"Go."
The two bolted north, leaving Shigure alone in the shadows. Slowly, he spread his stance, hand sliding toward his blade. His blood sang with battle-thirst.
"Sharingan!" Red eyes spun to life, the tomoe rotating keenly. He fixed his gaze ahead, where movement flickered.
Six figures emerged—two full teams. All bore the fan crest.
"Uchiha…"
He exhaled slowly.
"Two squads working together? Was this planned in advance? Illegal teaming, huh? Well, the rules say nothing against it. This is war, after all."
Shigure straightened, a small grin flashing across his face.
"Perfect. Let's see how far I've come."
--
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