"All right. The match is over."
As the entire arena fell into stunned silence, Ren calmly withdrew his kunai. At the same time, he extended a hand toward Uchiha Itachi.
Itachi seemed slow to react. He stared blankly as Ren pulled him to his feet, his mind still completely empty.
Ren didn't say anything else. He simply patted Itachi on the shoulder—more like an elder encouraging a junior—then turned and walked toward Hiruzen Sarutobi.
At that very moment, the previously silent arena exploded.
Cheers erupted like a tidal wave.
"Flying Thunder God—! That was the Flying Thunder God Technique!"
"That's impossible… absolutely impossible!"
"This is insane!"
Voices overlapped, discussions igniting everywhere.
The Flying Thunder God might not rival Wood Release in symbolism, but in terms of practical meaning to Konoha, it was no less important.
Especially for shinobi who had lived through the Nine-Tails incident.
They could never forget it.
That night, when the enraged Nine-Tails had fired a Tailed Beast Bomb straight at the village, it was Flying Thunder God that had saved Konoha.
If the Fourth Hokage hadn't instantly transferred that attack away—
If he hadn't teleported the entire Nine-Tails outside the village—
The losses that night would have been unimaginably worse.
Many shinobi even believed this deep down:
Wood Release represented power.
But Flying Thunder God represented survival.
So how could they not be excited to see it appear in Konoha once more?
"Hokage-sama. Mission complete."
Ren looked calm on the surface, but inwardly he was extremely satisfied.
If he wanted to inherit Danzo's legacy, strength alone wasn't enough—he needed prestige.
And this Chūnin Exam had given him the perfect stage.
With matching missions on top of it, failing to capitalize on this opportunity would have been unforgivable.
"…Mm."
Hiruzen felt his head buzzing.
He truly hadn't expected Ren to actually master the Flying Thunder God.
Originally, giving Ren that technique had served two purposes.
First—Ren's performance in past missions demanded a fitting reward.
Second—Hiruzen wanted to pull this former Root operative fully to his side.
After much thought, Flying Thunder God, the quintessential "Hokage technique," had seemed perfect.
But now…
Hiruzen felt a little dazed.
Ren hadn't just learned it.
He had mastered it—in just a few months.
"Well done!"
Hiruzen quickly recovered, his wrinkled face splitting into a broad smile.
This was an enormous gain for Konoha.
The village was weak right now—very weak.
Ren's appearance was nothing short of a shot of adrenaline.
He raised his hand and firmly patted Ren's shoulder twice.
"Well done, Ren!"
"…."
Ren watched Hiruzen shift seamlessly from shock to pride to joy and briefly wondered if he'd just witnessed professional-level face-changing.
Hiruzen, however, didn't care.
He continued warmly,
"The Flying Thunder God is no ordinary technique. I never thought I'd live to see it bloom again after Minato.
Ren, thank you—and congratulations."
"Thank you, Hokage-sama."
Ren nodded with a smile.
Now this is how a leader speaks, he thought.
Compared to Danzo, it wasn't even close.
"Go get some rest," Hiruzen said with a chuckle. "The exams will continue, but I doubt anyone will be paying attention anymore."
He gestured toward the roaring crowd.
"Kakashi and the others are waiting for you. And after the exams, I have something to give you."
He paused briefly, then added,
"My teacher, the Second Hokage, and the Fourth Hokage Minato's personal notes and insights on Flying Thunder God.
They're meant for you now."
"Thank you, Hokage-sama."
Ren accepted without hesitation.
Even though his mastery of Flying Thunder God could be fully reinforced through upgrades and feedback, these notes would help justify his rapid growth.
After all, he had obtained Level 6 Flying Thunder God directly through Shinobi World Doctor.
How far Minato had taken Flying Thunder God—Ren wasn't entirely sure.
But there was one thing he knew for certain.
Every Flying Thunder God marker Minato had ever placed—
Ren could sense them all.
Like right now.
As Ren smiled and walked toward Yugao, Kakashi, and the others, his peripheral vision casually swept over a distant tree.
There was a Flying Thunder God mark there.
"Uchiha Obito…?"
Why is he here?
"Looks like that kid isn't simple at all."
Hidden behind the tree, the black half of the pitcher-plant-like creature spoke in a low voice.
"I've checked his background. An ordinary orphan, recruited into Danzo's Root and sharpened there.
He excels at Earth Release, has solid Water Release, and now… Flying Thunder God."
"…Mm."
Obito stared at Ren—now laughing and chatting with Yugao and Kakashi—his gaze dark.
He didn't care about Kakashi.
The moment Rin had died by Kakashi's hand, Obito's heart had died as well.
His only dream now was Infinite Tsukuyomi.
A world with Rin.
A real Kakashi.
But Flying Thunder God…
That annoyed him.
He could never forget how Minato Namikaze had humiliated him with it.
"Still, the plan continues."
Obito's voice was calm.
"This kid's background—and Flying Thunder God—just gave me some ideas."
"Oh?" the black half asked.
"You're planning to use his Root origins and Flying Thunder God to stir things up?"
"…Yes."
Obito nodded.
"I know Danzo has deep hostility toward the Uchiha. I've been watching what he's done all these years.
If an Uchiha child were suddenly attacked—without leaving any trace—
Who do you think they'd suspect?"
Only someone capable of that kind of strike.
Obito's gaze shifted toward the distance—
Toward Itachi and Shisui.
They're the real targets.
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