"The third exam has begun?"
"Yes. The Third Hokage and the Kazekage are already seated in the arena, waiting for the examinees to enter. Since your exam process was particularly demanding, not many teams remain, so there's no need for additional rest or a separate second-round arrangement."
An ANBU ninja delivered the report.
Souma listened, his expression thoughtful.
That voice…
It had been disguised—but unmistakably, it belonged to Gekkō Hayate.
Wasn't he supposed to be the proctor of the third exam?
Souma glanced at the crystal ball beside him. Inside, Hayate could clearly be seen presiding over the exam.
Then who was standing in front of him now?
Suddenly, Souma recalled that the Third Hokage had once assigned Hayate a "special mission" midway.
Could it be—
His eyes narrowed slightly as he sent out a mental transmission.
"Hayate-senpai. That's you, isn't it?"
"—!"
Hayate stiffened.
Even with the mask on, that sharp spike of emotional fluctuation couldn't be hidden.
Not only Souma—Yamanaka Inoichi noticed it too, glancing over from a distance.
Hayate didn't respond immediately.
He scanned his surroundings.
No one else seemed to hear anything.
Only Inoichi appeared vaguely unsettled.
A concealed communication technique?
Hayate pondered.
Just as he was deciding how to respond, Souma spoke again mentally:
"The Third Hokage's safety—is it guaranteed?"
That confirmed it.
This was a mental communication technique, similar to Yamanaka methods.
But Hayate hadn't expected Souma to possess such an ability.
It caught him off guard.
The Yamanaka clan…
Were they investing that heavily?
Hayate couldn't help but feel a strange sense of clarity.
The Moonlight clan had little foundation—aside from Second Hokage sword notes that weren't even confidential among jōnin.
Cooperating with the research institute had been nothing but beneficial.
But the Yamanaka clan was different.
Even if they didn't match the former Uchiha or current Hyūga, they were still a top-tier noble clan—
Yet even they were lowering their stance.
That realization oddly soothed Hayate.
Suppressing a cough, he replied mentally:
"Yes. The Third Hokage has heavy protection and is completely safe. You don't need to worry. As for you—Hokage-sama was concerned something might go wrong and ordered me to assist you."
"Then stay here and help protect the Daimyō," Souma replied calmly.
The Third Hokage's level of trust…
Across the entire shinobi world, only one person had ever received that much—
Jiraiya.
Hayate's departure from the village must've been tied to Jiraiya's intel.
If it concerned Orochimaru, one of the Sannin, Jiraiya would never ignore it.
Souma sent another transmission.
"The one replacing you as exam proctor… is Jiraiya-sama, right?"
"Yes."
Hayate's reply carried double meaning.
Souma's doubts vanished.
With Jiraiya back, it made sense that the Third Hokage remained calm—even knowing Orochimaru and the Fourth Kazekage might strike.
That left only one target.
Shimura Danzō.
Danzō was waiting for chaos.
For Orochimaru. For the Kazekage.
When the village fell into disorder, he would strike—using Kotoamatsukami to seize control of Souma's true body.
Danzō was confident.
The Souma beside Inoichi was the real one.
Of course—
Souma had intentionally let him know.
Otherwise, how would Danzō find him?
The first probe had been Homura.
The second—
Would be war.
Hayate slipped into a hidden corner, silently guarding the Daimyō.
Souma closed his eyes outside, quietly examining the mental states of every Yamanaka clan member present.
He needed precise understanding.
Only then could Mental Synchronization minimize loss and unleash maximum power.
Elsewhere—
Kakashi finished examining Sasuke, gave a few instructions, then leaned against the corridor wall in thought.
Footsteps echoed.
A figure emerged from the shadows.
Kakashi instantly lifted his headband, eyes locking onto the newcomer.
A medic-nin?
No—
That familiar mental presence.
Orochimaru.
"I'm only a weak shadow clone," Orochimaru said lightly.
"I came to say a few words."
He glanced toward the ward.
"Kakashi… projecting your feelings for someone else onto Sasuke is a mistake. Sasuke isn't your companion. He has his own will."
"Don't talk like you understand him," Kakashi said coldly.
One hand gripped his blade.
The other silently gathered Lightning Release chakra.
He could now perform a seal-less Chidori—
At the cost of power and preparation time.
But against Orochimaru, any jutsu with hand seals was meaningless.
Orochimaru chuckled.
"You're self-righteous. He's a revenge-driven avenger. Greenhouse training will never suit him."
"…."
"Oh, and compared to Sasuke," Orochimaru continued softly,
"you should worry more about the Nine-Tails jinchūriki."
He smiled mockingly.
"The Fourth Hokage's son… stripped of name and honor, turned into a container."
"Konoha hasn't changed. Still ugly."
"The Third Hokage has his reasons," Kakashi said icily.
"Of course," Orochimaru smiled.
"The old man is excellent at staying clean—leaving others to curse his weakness."
"Stop sowing discord."
Kakashi was ready to strike—
Then—
BOOM.
A shockwave.
A roar.
That chakra—
A tailed beast.
Shukaku.
Kakashi had felt it before, in the desert.
"The Fourth Kazekage… allied with you?" he demanded.
Orochimaru smirked.
"Isn't it obvious? You left ANBU—your instincts dulled."
Suddenly—
Pain pierced his chest.
Kakashi's blade had struck through him.
But as Orochimaru said—
This was only a shadow clone.
It shattered, leaving behind a pierced serpent.
"Souma—over there?"
"No need to panic," Souma replied calmly.
"The Third Hokage has prepared thoroughly. We only need to secure this area. The Daimyō must be protected."
Inoichi nodded.
In truth, he had already contacted trusted subordinates through mental channels.
Now—
They waited.
Moments later—
Souma gave him a look.
He's here.
Danzō ascended the building alone, cane in hand.
He stopped at the door.
"Inoichi. Souma. The Hokage is under attack by Sunagakure. Go support him immediately."
Souma and Inoichi exchanged glances.
Then nodded.
Arrangements for the Daimyō were already in place.
If his life were threatened, Genma and the others would instantly send him back via Flying Thunder Formation.
Souma stepped out.
The instant he did—
Three eyes met.
Danzō had just begun activating Kotoamatsukami—
When a blade of pure mental force pierced his mind.
His thoughts collapsed.
Before he could recover, another mental strike smashed through his defenses.
Blood streamed from Danzō's eyes, ears, nose, and mouth as he clutched his right eye in agony.
This was a direct assault on the soul.
He couldn't focus.
Couldn't even extract chakra.
But he knew—
He had to save himself.
He forced Kotoamatsukami.
The world turned blood-red.
He barely made out a humanoid shape—
Success.
But then—
He realized.
The mind he controlled was vast. Deep. Terrifying.
Even Kotoamatsukami struggled.
Commands lagged.
Then—
He understood who he'd controlled.
Yamanaka Inoichi.
The Yamanaka clan head.
The strongest mind here besides Souma.
Not ideal—but acceptable.
Except—
Why were their minds linked?
Why was Souma the one in control?
Why couldn't Inoichi break free?
Danzō's mind went blank.
He turned and fled.
If he escaped the building, he could call for help—turn the situation around.
But—
Another thunderous mental impact exploded in his mind.
His mental energy shattered completely.
No mental control.
No chakra.
No jutsu.
As for genjutsu—
Against this kind of mental linkage, it would collapse instantly.
Then—
Agony tore through his shoulder.
Sage Mode.
Danzō wiped the blood from his eyes mid-run and saw—
His right arm was gone.
Not severed—
Removed.
He hesitated for a split second—
Should he sacrifice the Mangekyō?
Then another mental strike hit.
Souma aimed directly at the neural pathways linked to the Mangekyō.
The eye beneath the bandages spun wildly.
Its power backfired, shredding Danzō's nerves.
"No—don't kill me! I am the darkness of the shinobi world! I've served Konoha—!"
He babbled incoherently.
Souma had already sealed the grotesque arm into a scroll.
Fortunately—
Danzō hadn't unsealed it yet.
Otherwise, Souma would've gotten a tree instead.
He glanced back inside.
Most of the Yamanaka clan members were unconscious.
"We can't test further. What a pity."
Souma sighed.
A test subject like Danzō—durable, dangerous, consequence-free—
Was rare.
But—
The hesitation lasted less than a blink.
His blade swung.
Against an unprotected enemy, swordsmanship was the most direct answer.
Danzō dodged a fatal blow—
But he knew.
There was no escape.
"Wait!"
He laughed miserably.
"You sealed my arm. Even Izanagi can't save me. I can't escape anyway…"
Souma slashed again—this time severing Danzō's other arm.
No seals anymore.
"Good," Danzō laughed madly.
"You must be this ruthless to become Hokage. That's why the Fourth died early. You're excellent. Truly excellent!"
"What are you trying to say?" Souma frowned.
"Heh… Orochimaru betrayed me, didn't he?"
"No. I guessed."
Souma raised his blade.
"If you have no more—"
"Mangekyō Sharingan," Danzō blurted.
"Shisui's eye. The ultimate genjutsu. Do you want it?"
"…?"
Souma stared.
Was this man insane?
He wanted it—of course.
But Danzō—
Then Souma understood.
"If you think I didn't notice your Reverse Four Symbols Seal, you're underestimating me."
He lifted his hand.
"Someone like you is better off dead."
Danzō fell silent.
After a few seconds, he muttered:
"What a shame… if only you'd been born earlier."
Inoichi staggered over.
To prevent backstabbing, his mind had been pushed beyond its limit.
He could still move.
Souma watched silently.
Inoichi reached out—
Rip.
He tore the eye free.
Danzō laughed weakly.
Then—
He jumped.
The height wouldn't kill even a genin.
Midair—
Souma entered Sage Mode.
One slash.
The blade pierced Danzō's skull.
Death was certain.
The Reverse Four Symbols Seal began activating.
Souma punched—
A Sage-enhanced strike blasted a massive crater into the ground.
Danzō's body fell into it.
"I don't know what you intended," Souma said quietly,
"but I'll say it again."
"You're better off dead."
If you live, I can never rest.
He turned.
"Hayate-senpai—have them evacuate the Daimyō immediately. This area is extremely dangerous. The seal is about to detonate."
"Yes!"
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