"You can die peacefully now—Tsubaki no Mai!"
A three-meter-long bone spur erupted from Uchiha Shigure's body, piercing straight through the chest of the last Root operative.
The illusionist ninja, eyes wide with shock and terror, stammered as his body convulsed. "Y-you… you're a devil!" Desperate, he unleashed a barrage of layered genjutsu, hoping to ensnare Shigure one last time.
But instead of taking effect, the illusions rebounded, crashing back onto their caster. His own mind twisted against him, leaving his soul frayed and on the verge of shattering. Shigure stepped forward coldly, his hands tightened in a silent mudra, and the bone chains of the Kaguya bloodline—his secret fusion with the Hyūga's veins—tore through the man, ending him without hesitation.
The three elite jōnin of Root lay crumpled at his feet, their faces frozen in bewilderment even at death's door. None of them had ever imagined that Shigure could wield power like this—Hyūga's famed Jūken mixed with the corpse bone veins of legend, impossible and terrifying in equal measure.
Shigure stood still, his Sharingan spinning red. His voice darkened.
"Danzo… since you dared to attack me, I'll never let you go. One day, I'll kill you."
His hatred burned hot, but he clenched his fists, forcing calm. He knew attacking Danzo head‑on now was suicide. Danzo schemed like a snake in tall grass; every strike left hidden fangs ready to bite back. To rush for vengeance now would not only risk his own life, but expose his teammates as pawns.
Patience. He would bide his time. When the moment came, he would cut the old war hawk at the root.
Gathering himself, Shigure scooped up the three men's score cards—tokens of their defeat—then glanced back at the ruined battlefield. The Fighting Tower had been destroyed in the clash; there was nothing left to protect.
"Time to regroup."
With a flare of kunai marks, Shigure blurred away, vanishing through the shifting patterns of the Flying Thunder God.
When he reappeared inside the Tower of Formation, the others gaped.
"Back so soon?" several asked in surprise, staring at him as if he'd skipped the trial altogether.
Shigure brushed their questions aside. "The Fighting Tower was… compromised early, so I came here instead." His tone was even, giving nothing away. Nara Kazu, sharp-eyed as always, studied him but asked nothing further. He understood that some truths weren't meant for open ears.
The atmosphere in the Tower of Formation was calm, almost unnervingly so. The senior examinees had already taken charge of minor disputes; Shigure didn't need to lift a finger. He folded his arms, watching the barrier overhead.
Time slipped by faster than anyone anticipated. Then, all at once, the barrier in the sky shimmered and shifted again.
The glowing sigil above the southern Xingzhi Tower dimmed, until its light flickered out entirely.
Obito gasped, pointing upward. "That's it! That's the sign!"
"It means…" Nara Kazu's lips curved in triumph. "This Tower—the Tower of Formation—is the true destination!"
Excitement rippled through the teams. Relief, too; the struggle and uncertainty of the trial were finally over.
"Let's decide entry order by score cards," Kazu added, ever-practical. "Those who fought harder should earn the right of priority. Not everyone pulled their weight equally."
The suggestion was fair, but when Shigure loosened the strap of his satchel and let his cards clatter onto the floor, the group erupted in stunned silence.
"How… how many teams did you take out?!" gasped one boy, eyes as round as saucers. "That's impossible!"
The pile stacked like a small mountain, more than double what most entire squads had scraped together.
Shigure only shrugged faintly, giving no explanation. Kakashi smirked knowingly from where he leaned against the wall, Obito gaped like a fish, and Rin covered her giggle with one hand. They had already expected nothing less from Shigure. His reputation in the exam had shifted from prodigy… to something greater, almost unnatural.
With no disputes, the result was obvious: Team Shigure would enter first.
Shigure extended a steady hand to Hyūga Akane on his left and Hatake Kusuo on his right. Together, they stepped through the great gate of the Tower.
The instant their feet crossed the threshold, crushing chakra pressure wrapped around them. It wasn't hostile—rather, it pulled, tugging their bodies like leaves caught in a whirlpool.
"Barrier chakra," Shigure murmured, eyes narrowing. "The entrance here isn't the real finish line. We're being funneled—redirected—to the true examination site."
The vortex of power drew tighter, pulling them downwards into a shining aperture like a window opening.
And with a resounding bang, the three were pulled through.
They staggered into light. A new chamber sprawled before them, vast and filled with shinobi. Other examinees stumbled nearby, looking just as disoriented from the transition. Higher-ranking chūnin and jōnin ringed the edges, eyes sharp and watchful.
At the center stood Sarutobi Hiruzen himself, the Third Hokage, pipe in hand. His keen gaze swept the gathered hopefuls. Notably absent, however, was Shimura Danzō or any of the other village advisors. Their absence settled heavily on Shigure's mind.
"Congratulations!" boomed another voice. Hatake Sakumo, the White Fang of Konoha, stepped forward, his presence commanding instant respect. "You have completed the preliminary phase of the Chūnin Selection Exams. From this point forward, you advance to the individual rounds."
Sakumo's eyes flickered briefly toward Kusuo, and his expression dimmed with faint disappointment—it seemed he had been hoping to see Kakashi himself leading a squad. But the matter passed without a word.
Moments later, Kakashi, Rin, Obito, and the other remaining Konoha examinees appeared as well, pulled into the same great hall by the barrier transfer. Relief spread among rookies and veterans alike—most had never seen so many of their village's rising generation together in one place.
"Well done, all of you," Hiruzen said, his voice warm yet commanding. He drew on his pipe, smoke curling overhead. His eyes lingered on Shigure, pride flickering there. "This year's candidates are exceptional. To make it this far required overcoming countless obstacles. Each of you has shown remarkable ability."
"Hand over the score cards you've gathered," Sakumo ordered. "Your numbers will determine the advantages you receive moving forward."
Chūnin moved among them, collecting the cards into neat piles. But when they reached Shigure, whispers rippled instantly through the hall.
"So many—how is that even possible?"
"How many opponents could one genin defeat?"
"Even if some were taken from those who had already collected others, this is… absurd!"
Five years old. Barely an academy graduate. And yet Shigure's stack dwarfed them all. Murmurs turned to heated talk, even awe.
"A genius unlike anything Konoha has seen in decades…" someone murmured.
"He's a guaranteed chūnin already!"
Shigure stood calmly through the storm of speculation, unmoved, though he could feel the attention weighing on him like chains. Being noticed this much by the village had its dangers.
Once the collection was complete, Sakumo spoke again. "The numbers are sufficient. From here, the test shifts."
Hiruzen inclined his head. "Yes. The team phase is concluded. Further candidates will not enter; those yet outside are eliminated."
Shigure frowned slightly. "So it's only those of us here who passed? But the exam time hasn't run out. Some teams are still advancing toward their towers, aren't they?"
Sakumo answered evenly. "The numbers for advancement are capped. With you here, the quota is met. Anyone still outside is disqualified by default."
As his words sank in, the White Fang began reading the names of the qualifiers.
"Uchiha Shigure. Hatake Kusuo. Hyūga Akane.
Hatake Kakashi. Nohara Rin. Uchiha Obito.
Shiranui Genma. Might Guy. Ebisu.
Nara Kazu. Yamanaka Yuki. Akimichi Dotonoki.
Katori Sumire. Yuhi Kurenai. Yoshida Kappei."
Fifteen names in total.
Shigure caught sight of Kurenai across the chamber. She stood alone, no teammates beside her, which meant she had taken a gamble in the final hours—risking companionship for survival. Their eyes met briefly, hers calm but proud.
On the opposite side, Yoshida Kappei glanced Shigure's way with a grin, then waved lightly toward Sumire, his own teammate. Shigure arched a brow. That man carried secrets of his own.
When the names were complete, Sakumo's voice deepened. "Listen well. In three months' time, Konoha will host the final matches. The world will watch—foreign delegations, rival nations, and our allies alike. But to stand in that arena, you must survive one more round."
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle.
"From you fifteen, only eight will move on. The selection begins now. Each of you will face single combat. One versus one. Victory determines who advances."
The hall buzzed with tension. Shigure felt Akane's grip tighten slightly at his side, Kusuo exhaling a sharp breath beside him. This was it—the individual battles that would determine who rose to the finals and who fell.
Sakumo raised a hand.
"Prepare to draw lots."
The moment hung heavy in the air. Behind his calm expression, Shigure's Sharingan gleamed with anticipation.
Who would fate pit against him first?
--
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