"Orochimaru…"
The Third Hokage held the report in his hands.
For a long time, he did not speak.
A twisted mental state… a chakra signature resembling split consciousness.
The Third narrowed his eyes.
As Orochimaru's former teacher, he faintly suspected the truth.
If it was really as he feared…
Orochimaru, in pursuit of immortality… you have already sold both your body and your soul.
A deep, heavy disappointment flickered in Hiruzen's gaze.
Perhaps letting you leave back then… was my mistake.
He couldn't help but take out his pipe.
"Lord Third?"
"You, take a squad to reinforce Kakashi. For this Chūnin Exam, one-third of the oversight will be handled by Konoha."
The Hokage gave his order.
"Yes, sir!"
"And bring Haiichi to me."
After a brief hesitation, he added another command.
Tenzo bowed and vanished.
Moments later—
"Lord Hokage."
"Haiichi, come in."
Yamanaka Haiichi stepped inside.
His eyes briefly scanned the intelligence scroll on the desk before he looked back at the Hokage, thoughtful.
"Something happened in Sunagakure?"
"Take a look."
The Third passed him the scroll.
Haiichi nodded and began reading carefully.
At first, he was utterly shocked.
Orochimaru had infiltrated the squad—
And even lived beside them for a day or two?
Even Kakashi didn't notice?
Haiichi frowned, reading further.
Then…
Even a veteran intelligence specialist like him couldn't suppress the astonishment on his face.
"He sensed abnormalities in Orochimaru's mental aura?"
"This…?"
Haiichi was briefly speechless.
Impossible—
And yet, theoretically not impossible.
But for someone with no kekkei genkai and no mental-type secret arts—
Someone like Souma—
To detect something that subtle?
Even Haiichi himself wasn't sure he could.
"What do you think, Haiichi?" the Third asked.
"Lord Hokage… Souma-kun… I fear this is more than simple sensory perception."
Haiichi finally voiced his conclusion.
As a Yamanaka, he knew clearly—
Sensory ability had limits without a bloodline.
Unless…
Souma had mastered an entirely different kind of secret art.
The Third thought briefly.
"Recently, Souma made a trade with Chiriku of the Fire Temple. It may be related."
"Fire Temple… the Sage Talent?"
Haiichi was stunned.
That was the temple's most treasured secret technique—would Chiriku really trade it?
No…
Even if Souma obtained Sage Talent, that was said to be a combat-type art. It should have nothing to do with sensory perception.
"That child constantly creates miracles. It's no surprise if he's invented something new."
The Third shook his head.
Haiichi thought a while before reluctantly nodding.
The Nara and Akimichi clans were already collaborating with Souma.
Even though the Yamanaka clan wasn't directly involved, they had heard about Souma's improvements to the Military Rations Pill.
And the Aburame clan—
Currently assisting the Medical Corps in researching "medical insects," another concept only Souma would dare imagine.
The child simply didn't adhere to old frameworks.
He seemed born to break convention.
Perhaps…
An idea sparked within Haiichi.
"Lord Hokage."
"Hm?"
The Third looked up.
"When Souma-kun returns to the village… May I request an introduction? Our Yamanaka clan hopes to collaborate with him on sensory research."
"Haha, speak with him yourself. I doubt that child would refuse."
"Souma… do you think there'll be more danger later?"
Tenten whispered.
It had been three days since Orochimaru was exposed.
During those days, both Sunagakure and the Chūnin Exams underwent massive upheaval—enough that the exams were moved earlier.
"No. The biggest danger has already passed. Even if something happens next, it won't be as bad as that night."
Souma answered, half reassuring, half certain.
Based on Orochimaru's words that night…
He didn't intend to harm Souma.
He wanted to recruit him.
In that sense, Souma wasn't in danger.
"I hope so…"
Tenten sighed.
"You're not worried about the exam?" Kazusa asked.
Tenten had been worrying about Souma nonstop these days…
But honestly, Souma probably understood the exam better than any of them. THEY were the ones who should be panicking.
"Uh…"
Tenten froze.
It was true.
Though they did well in academy written subjects, that was still academy level.
Chūnin Exam written tests were of real chūnin difficulty.
She wouldn't know any of that!
She glanced at Souma and felt dazed.
Right…
Souma's knowledge base was so deep he could probably score full marks on a jōnin-level exam.
Of course he wasn't worried.
But as for her—
After graduating, she studied only what she liked.
Everything else, she ignored.
And many exam topics felt unnecessary to her.
"Ahhh!! Why today!? Weren't there four more days!? Why did the first exam suddenly start!?"
Tenten wailed.
She hadn't even opened her notes!
"What do you think?"
Souma yawned.
Originally, Sunagakure was hosting the exam.
But—
They were given an opportunity and failed to uphold it.
Konoha wasn't going to tolerate that.
Suna didn't want Konoha interfering too much either.
So after tugging back and forth, the final compromise was:
Change the exam content, and start early.
No one gets to prepare.
Which meant…
Even Souma didn't know what the exam would be.
"Anyway, this year's exam is fair to everyone."
Souma smiled.
"Even if there are strange rules, I have ways to help you. Just relax."
"Really!?"
Tenten and Kazusa's eyes shone.
"Mm. I've recently made a small breakthrough in one of my techniques. This might be the perfect time to test it."
Souma nodded.
He made a "shh" gesture.
They had reached the exam zone.
Even if they hadn't entered the room yet, by standard Chūnin Exam rules—
The moment they stepped into this area, the exam had already begun.
He scanned the surroundings.
"…Huh?"
"What is it?"
Tenten leaned close.
"Nothing."
Souma muttered.
But in his heart—
This setup looks very familiar…
He led the two girls forward.
A large crowd had formed at the front.
Two Suna chūnin and their puppets blocked the "staircase."
This feeling—
Yes. That's exactly right.
Konoha had clearly seized control of the written test.
Souma scanned the area.
Neji and his group stood farther back but had clearly seen through the illusion as well.
Honestly, the barrier setup was crude.
The genjutsu technique wasn't impressive.
If he had to praise anything…
It was that the barrier sigils didn't resemble Konoha's design—
They carried a faint Suna flavor.
Souma studied the markings carefully.
Finally, he concluded:
A simple maze barrier.
Its effect: make people lose their sense of direction.
Useful enough.
Souma memorized several sigils.
He traced the structure—
But the main array was on the second floor.
Second floor…
He became thoughtful.
"Let's go up."
"Eh? But isn't there a barrier up there? Shouldn't we wait for someone else to test it first?"
Tenten asked.
Most people thought the same.
"Wait for what? The more people, the more chaotic it gets."
Souma said.
He bypassed the staircase guarded by the chūnin and instead walked straight into the wall beside it—
And passed through it.
That was the real staircase.
A simple offset illusion.
Nothing complicated.
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