Once the details were hammered out, the meeting broke up.
On his way out, Minato Namikaze cast Sogetsu a complicated look, lips parting, closing, then parting again. Who would've guessed that a boy who looked this sunny could dream up something that terrifying?
Privately, Minato also felt relieved—thank goodness he'd long since made jonin. In that exam format under this proctor, who knew if he'd have ever climbed out of genin?
He sighed from the heart and offered a silent prayer for this year's candidates. "Here's hoping they don't all walk away with trauma."
As for Obito and Rin… he could only say: may fate be kind.
The Hyuga representative shot Sogetsu a venomous glare, then hurried home muttering, intent on warning the clan: this Chūnin Exams must—must—be approached with extreme caution. If necessary, pull out. Better to quit than acquire a lifelong phobia.
"Heh… an interesting idea," Orochimaru said, studying Sogetsu with bright, almost predatory amusement. "I like you, Uchiha Sogetsu. Your research into genjutsu runs deep. I've questions of my own—let's talk sometime."
He sauntered away, unconcerned with anyone's stares.
The two advisors left with iron-blue faces, unsure whether their humiliation or their loss of power stung worse. They didn't even bother with goodbyes.
As for the culprit himself, Uchiha Sogetsu? Not a trace of guilt—if anything, he looked delighted.
There's a saying: because I've been soaked in the rain, I must tear up everyone else's umbrella. Sogetsu hadn't actually been soaked, true—but that didn't mean he couldn't enjoy shredding a few parasols.
"Ho? A new task already?"
Transparent text fluttered up in his vision:
Side Quest: The Deepest Fear
Prompt: Fear is humanity's deepest emotion. Make every genin in the Chūnin Exams experience a fear they'll never forget.
Reward: Witch's Ring
Path: Witch Path — Rank V "Pain Witch"
Form: A silver-black ring set with a crimson gem
Power: Greatly amplifies the wearer's allure; grants minor "witch" traits; can synthesize occult viruses/bacteria to propagate large-scale plagues. No immediate backlash for the first ten minutes; beyond that, risk and side-effects ramp up with time and spread.
Drawback: Prolonged wear subtly corrupts the user, gradually converting them toward the Witch Path's Rank.
"…Hn."
Not bad, exactly—just not… appropriate. The side-effects were bigger than the benefits.
Still—everything has two faces. With the right framing, even this could be useful. A plan took shape; Sogetsu's smile turned opaque and unreadable.
Uh-oh. He was enjoying himself even more.
—
Back at the Hokage Tower doors, Hiruzen stopped two men who were about to leave. "Shikaku, Inoichi—stay a moment."
Once the hall had cleared, he nodded to the ANBU. Rinkaku closed the door and stood guard outside.
"Shikaku, your view of Uchiha Sogetsu?" Hiruzen asked, relighting his pipe. A hard glint cut through the smoke.
"'Outlier of the Uchiha' is fair," Shikaku said after a beat, thoughts ordering themselves. "First impression: polite, gracious, well-mannered—an amiable young man."
It was a measured, factual assessment. Shikaku didn't let the surname bias him; if anything, Sogetsu's composure and low heat impressed him. The boy carried a quiet charm that made people want to draw closer.
"Hm." Hiruzen frowned faintly, dissatisfied.
"Inoichi?" he prodded.
Inoichi traded a glance with his friend; a hint of wryness crossed his face. What was there to say? Still, the Hokage had asked. "I don't interact with him much, Hokage-sama. But… his reputation in Konoha is good."
That, too, was true. As a "psychologist," Sogetsu had built a sterling name among shinobi; his mild temper and lack of Uchiha-style swagger had earned him real popularity with civilians. Ask around and you heard precious little ill of him.
"I see." Hiruzen pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling a headache bloom.
At first, he'd thought much the same—a promising child with a temperament he could shape. Properly cultivated, Sogetsu might become another Uchiha Kagami: a stabilizer for the Hokage's camp and a balm for the clan's restlessness.
But Danzo had whispered in his ear so many times that the itch had burrowed in. U-chi-ha, U-chi-ha—as if the very syllables offended the man. Always preaching the Uchiha Threat, until repetition carved a groove in Hiruzen's mind.
One line had lodged like a splinter:
"Hiruzen, have you forgotten the Mangekyō?"
Memory leapt back decades to a man whose name Konoha preferred to forget—Madara Uchiha, co-founder of the village. The clan hadn't birthed a Mangekyō in ages, true—but what if one appeared? A Mangekyō in a restless clan? That was a fuse begging for a match.
A Hokage cuts threats in the cradle.
"Shikaku, continue the investigation," Hiruzen said at last. "Quietly. Don't let him notice."
Shikaku bowed. "Understood."
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