The Third Hokage looked slightly embarrassed at the blunt dismissal.
"You know as well as I do that in our Konoha, you are the only one among the younger generation who can truly shoulder the title of 'Number One Genius'," Hiruzen said, leaning forward.
"And the other hidden villages have sent many of their own highly anticipated prodigies to this session. I'm worried that without a definitive powerhouse representing Konoha in the arena..."
Hiruzen's meaning was clear. He wanted Shiro to participate in this exam purely as a show of overwhelming force, to ensure the other hidden villages witnessed the terrifying reality of Konoha's military potential firsthand. It was a political flex.
"But what about the rules?" Shiro asked, raising an eyebrow. "I'm already a Tokubetsu Jonin. I can't exactly walk into a Genin exam."
"As for the matter of your official rank, there's no need to worry at all," Hiruzen waved his hand dismissively. "Because the method by which you were promoted to Tokubetsu Jonin was... unorthodox, to say the least."
"You never officially participated in or passed a standardized Chunin Exam. Therefore, I can use my executive privilege as the host Kage to temporarily suspend your special promotion and enter you into the roster as a Genin!"
It could be said that in order to secure an absolute political victory, Hiruzen Sarutobi had shamelessly decided to exploit a massive loophole in his own system.
Besides, what made Shiro's status as a Tokubetsu Jonin so unique was that while he received the salary, clearance, and treatment of a Jonin, his foundational academy paperwork still technically listed him as a Genin. So legally, why shouldn't he be able to participate?
"I understand. If it's just showing up to win a tournament, I'll take care of it," Shiro waved his hand casually. He had wondered what the big deal was. A tournament setting would actually be an excellent, controlled environment to test his newly acquired jutsu on live targets without risking a diplomatic incident.
"Excellent!"
Seeing Shiro agree, Hiruzen was so relieved he couldn't stop smiling. This was perfect; Konoha's absolute dominance in the exams was now unequivocally secured!
---
Meanwhile, after the group from the Hidden Sand Village departed the ramen shop and walked down the street.
"Gaara, what the hell was that?! Why did you stop me from testing my puppets against that guy?"
Kankuro demanded, unable to comprehend why his usually bloodthirsty brother had suddenly backed down. Normally, Gaara would have been the first to initiate a slaughter upon being disrespected!
"That person... is incredibly strong," Gaara replied, his voice a hoarse whisper. His sea-foam eyes were still wide with lingering wariness.
It felt as if that boy could have killed him with just a single, casual glance.
"From what that annoying local yelled, that boy is Konoha's 'Number One Genius,' Shiro!" Temari added, her mind racing as she analyzed the encounter.
"Is he a hidden genius from one of Konoha's great noble clans?" Kankuro frowned.
"That doesn't make sense," Temari muttered, shaking her head. "We studied the intel briefings. The only truly famous clans currently operating in Konoha are the Uchiha and the Hyuga. We haven't heard of any god-tier prodigies emerging from the Hyuga recently, and we already met the last remaining Uchiha brat earlier. He was nothing special."
"Then who exactly is this Shiro?"
"I'm not sure," Gaara said, his expression darkening. "But someone possessing that level of monstrous chakra... there is no way he would be participating in a mere Chunin Exam."
Gaara simply refused to believe someone that powerful would join a Genin-level test. If he did, it would leave absolutely no hope for the examinees from the other hidden villages to even compete, let alone survive.
"Damn it... if that guy really is that strong, and he gets involved... our invasion plan..." Kankuro began to mutter nervously, thinking of the grand scheme the Kazekage had orchestrated.
"Shut up!" Gaara barked, his voice dropping into a lethal, demonic register.
He glared intensely at Kankuro, the sand in his gourd hissing menacingly.
Kankuro realized he had nearly leaked their S-rank treasonous plot in the middle of a crowded Konoha street. He quickly snapped his mouth shut, breaking out in a cold sweat. Even though he was technically Gaara's older brother, Gaara was truly capable of murdering him right here and now.
"We need to keep a low profile and avoid making too much of a scene until the finals," Temari stepped in to mediate; she couldn't just watch Gaara crush Kankuro on the sidewalk.
Gaara's anger subsided slightly after hearing Temari's words, though his glare remained. Gaara didn't consider Temari and Kankuro's father—the Kazekage—to be his true father. Therefore, he felt no familial bond with these so-called older siblings.
After all, Gaara fully intended to eventually murder the Kazekage. He just knew he couldn't defeat the man yet.
---
Soon, as the days progressed, the official roster for the first stage of the joint Chunin Exams was publicly released.
Outside the massive academy building designated as the first examination hall.
Naruto and the rest of the rookie Genin were scanning the posted rosters when they discovered the shocking news.
"Are you kidding me?! Shiro is actually participating?!" Shikamaru groaned, his eyes widening as he read the name clearly printed on the sheet.
They had all trained exhaustively for a week, mentally preparing themselves for brutal competition against foreign elites, only to be told that the literal god of their graduating class was also entering the fray. It felt incredibly unfair.
"Shiro is participating too?! That's awesome! I'll definitely defeat him in the arena and prove I'm the strongest!"
In the entire crowded courtyard, Naruto was the absolute only person who held such a delusionally optimistic thought. Everyone else from Konoha who knew Shiro's reputation was terrified of drawing him in a bracket.
"Lord Shiro is so incredibly powerful now! He'll definitely pass the exams with perfect scores!"
Ino and Sakura were, naturally, the exact opposite of the terrified boys. They were instantly filled with romantic fighting spirit upon seeing that Shiro would be present.
However, this chaotic, varied reaction from the Konoha rookies left the examinees from the other hidden villages completely bewildered.
"Hey, who is this 'Shiro' guy they keep freaking out about?" a Rain genin whispered to his teammate.
"I'm not sure, but from the sound of it, he seems to be some kind of local heavyweight!"
However, amidst the confused crowd, there were three specific individuals whose eyes lit up dangerously upon hearing Shiro's name.
"Did you hear that? The target, Shiro, is confirmed to be participating," Dosu Kinuta whispered, his single visible eye gleaming with dark intent.
They were the Sound Ninja trio, covertly sent by Orochimaru.
"This person is extremely important to the master, and he is supposedly very powerful. Remember the parameters. Remember the warning," Dosu cautioned his teammates, silently committing Orochimaru's strict orders to heart.
For a man as arrogant and powerful as Lord Orochimaru to give such a high, cautious evaluation of a Genin... his strength was definitively not something mere pawns like them could compare to.
But on the other side, his teammates, Zaku and Kin, didn't share his caution.
"Hmph. If I can crush this so-called 'genius' named Shiro, I'll definitely earn Lord Orochimaru's direct appreciation and a promotion!" Zaku boasted, cracking his knuckles.
"In your dreams, Zaku! This guy is my prey!" Kin sneered, tossing a senbon needle.
Watching Zaku and Kin court death so recklessly, Dosu simply shook his head under his bandages. They were beyond saving; these two possessed the arrogant bravado of drunks without even needing to take a drink.
Dosu was different; he had a very clear, analytical understanding of his own limitations. If Lord Orochimaru explicitly stated he couldn't win a direct confrontation, then Dosu knew this person was not someone he could handle. He would observe, not engage.
"I just don't understand why this legendary target hasn't shown his face yet," Dosu murmured, scanning the crowd. He wanted to see for himself what this genius, whom Orochimaru had emphasized countless times, actually looked like.
---
A moment later, the intimidating aura of Gaara's group from the Hidden Sand Village descended upon the first exam hall courtyard, drawing wary glances from everyone.
It could be said that practically every notable participant, except for Shiro, had arrived.
However, the majority of the rookies' attention was currently drawn to one specific person in the center of the crowd.
"Over there is Rock Lee, a Genin under the eccentric Jonin Might Guy. He specializes entirely in high-speed taijutsu."
"And the boy next to him is also a student of Guy's; Neji Hyuga, arguably the greatest prodigy the Hyuga Clan has produced in a generation."
"And that redhead over there... Gaara of the Hidden Sand. He is incredibly dangerous..."
Everyone watched in awe as Kabuto Yakushi flawlessly relayed detailed, classified information about various examinees to Naruto and the rookies, reading off his collection of Ninja Info Cards.
"Who is this four-eyes? How does he know so much about us?" Temari frowned, overhearing the analysis. She felt deeply unsettled; it seemed like this seemingly clumsy Konoha senior possessed more accurate intelligence than their own Sand AnbNo matter where you are, a character playing the 'omniscient know-it-all' always attracts attention.
"That's amazing, Kabuto-senpai! You know everything!" Naruto cheered, entirely shocked by the sheer volume of intelligence Kabuto possessed.
"Hey, do you have an info card on Shiro too?!" Naruto asked suddenly, eager to see his friend's stats.
Kabuto Yakushi, who had been smoothly pulling out intel cards on various examinees with a confident smile, physically flinched. He nearly dropped his deck.
*Me? Investigate Shiro? Are you out of your damn mind?!* Kabuto screamed internally.
Ever since his psychological armor had been effortlessly shattered by Shiro outside the village gates, Kabuto hadn't dared to breathe a word of Shiro's true capabilities to anyone, let alone write them down on a physical card.
"Ah... Shiro is... well, he is very strong," Kabuto stammered, adjusting his glasses nervously, sweating profusely. "All I can confidently tell you is this: if you encounter him in the arena... surrendering immediately might be significantly wiser than attempting to resist."
Kabuto could only offer a vague, terrifyingly blunt warning.
"Wait... Shiro? Did he say Shiro is also participating in this exam?"
Kabuto's stammering warning immediately reached the ears of the Hidden Sand group, giving them quite a scare.
Gaara's brow furrowed deeply. *As expected. The most worrying scenario has come to pass.*
Among the hundreds of genin teams that had gathered in Konoha for the exams, Gaara could honestly say he looked down on almost every single one of them as pathetic prey. But not Shiro.
Shiro was an anomaly. Shiro was too strong.
"You there. Glasses," Gaara demanded, walking slowly and deliberately toward Kabuto. "Whatever concrete intelligence you possess on this Shiro... I will buy it all."
Gaara spoke generously. Compared to a few ryo, he desperately needed to obtain a tactical analysis of Shiro's capabilities.
"Hm? People from the Hidden Sand?" Naruto immediately became alert, stepping forward defensively as he saw the terrifying redhead approach his new senior. "What does this guy want?"
But to Naruto's intense annoyance, Gaara ignored him completely, not even sparing the blonde a peripheral glance. Then again, since Gaara had arrived in Konoha, he had only paid attention to recognized elites like Sasuke Uchiha and Neji Hyuga. A loudmouth like Naruto truly didn't register on Gaara's radar.
"Well, about that..." Kabuto chuckled nervously, trapped between a Jinchuriki and the fear of Shiro. He hadn't expected the Sand's ultimate weapon to be so intensely interested in Shiro's information.
"My understanding of Shiro's true capabilities is actually very limited. I can only give you a broad, general overview of his academy days!" Kabuto lied smoothly, trying to deflect.
Gaara didn't argue, his cold eyes unblinking. He merely gestured for Kabuto to continue.__________________________
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