194

*Chapter 194: Future Events Take a Turn! 1*

Sasuke's calm voice echoed clearly into the ears of every member of Team Guy.

+50 (25)

As soon as Sasuke spoke, the points on the system screen jumped instantly, marking the completion of a "cool act."

In that moment—

Neji's expression changed dramatically!

Just now, he had locked onto Sasuke's position with his Byakugan. But in an instant, Sasuke had appeared right in front of him.

This speed...

Neji immediately realized a very serious problem: Sasuke had become even more terrifying!

“Sasuke…”

Neji’s voice trembled slightly.

If there was one person he least wanted to face during the Chūnin Exams, it was undoubtedly Sasuke.

There was no one else.

“Sasuke?!”

When Tenten saw Sasuke, her eyes lit up suddenly.

Even though they were opponents now, she couldn’t help but admire Sasuke Uchiha’s stunning looks. He was truly handsome!

After all, who isn’t a sucker for good looks?

“Sasuke, we’ve finally met again!”

Rock Lee’s gaze toward Sasuke grew intense and serious. Ever since returning from the border, Sasuke had occupied his thoughts.

Especially after Guy-sensei explained that Sasuke had already mastered the Eight Gates technique and could even open higher gates than Lee himself.

This had lit a competitive fire in Lee’s heart.

Over the past few weeks—

Lee had been pushing himself even harder, hoping that the next time he met Sasuke, he could spar with him properly!

“You won’t escape this time!”

Sasuke repeated what he had just said, his sharp gaze locking onto the three members of Team Guy. A slight smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

This was the final showdown in the second stage of the Chūnin Selection Exams—the Forest of Death!

All he needed was the scrolls in their possession.

Then, the Forest of Death would be fully cleared.

+60 (30)

As Sasuke spoke, the system’s points jumped once more.

“Sasuke, where are Naruto and Sakura?”

Neji stepped forward decisively, taking on his role as team leader. His Byakugan remained activated, and his posture exuded vigilance.

“They’re not here,” Sasuke replied coolly, maintaining his aloof demeanor.

“Sasuke, with your strength, you must have already obtained a scroll. There’s no conflict of interest between us, so why are you chasing us?”

Neji questioned again, trying to find a way out of this predicament.

He had initially planned to avoid Sasuke altogether, but when Sasuke saw them, he had immediately given chase.

Neji had every reason to believe—

Sasuke had intentionally come after them!

That gut feeling was undeniable.

“Neji, let me ask you something. Do you have three Heaven Scrolls and two Earth Scrolls in your possession?”

Sasuke got straight to the point.

This question was critical to him.

If the numbers matched, he could complete his collection of all the scrolls in the Forest of Death.

+70 (35)

As Sasuke finished his question, the system points jumped again. The reaction confirmed his suspicion.

He had guessed right!

The scrolls were indeed with them.

There was no doubt anymore.

“How do you know that?!”

Tenten’s eyes widened in shock. They had only recently obtained the scrolls. How could Sasuke possibly know?

It was one thing if he guessed they had scrolls, but for him to pinpoint the exact number—now that was terrifying!

Not just Tenten—

Even Neji and Rock Lee were stunned. Their gazes toward Sasuke shifted slightly, a mix of awe and unease.

After Tenten spoke, a sudden realization dawned on her.

“Still, Sasuke, if your team needs scrolls, we can give you a set!”

Tenten offered generously.

After all, they had two sets of scrolls. Giving one away wasn’t unacceptable.

“Agreed,” Neji nodded. This was the best course of action to avoid conflict with Sasuke.

“There’s no need for that,” Sasuke replied casually. His tone paused deliberately, as if to heighten the suspense.

“Let me tell you why I know the exact number of scrolls you have.”

He smirked slightly before continuing, “Because…I’ve already collected every other scroll in the Forest of Death!”

Actually—

This was just his deduction.

He hadn’t seen Orochimaru’s scroll yet and could only assume it was an Earth Scroll.

His memory of this part of the original story was fuzzy.

However, based on the fact that Team 7 had previously clashed with Orochimaru in the Forest of Death, it was likely that the scrolls differed.

And he had guessed correctly!

“…”

Neji took a deep breath, his pure Byakugan reflecting utter disbelief. Sasuke’s statement was nothing short of shocking.

Rock Lee’s thick eyebrows twitched violently, his body trembling slightly as he stared at Sasuke, at a loss for words.

Tenten, meanwhile, was completely dumbfounded. After a brief pause, her bright eyes shimmered with a peculiar light.

For a moment—

The entire scene fell silent.

Those words sounded simple yet carried an intimidating tone.

All the scrolls were now concentrated in Sasuke's hands alone!

Doesn't this mean only two teams remain?

Could it be…

Neji's expression immediately became cautious.

"Sasuke, what are you planning?"

There was a hint of resistance and reluctance in Neji's voice. The current situation made him feel uneasy.

"It's simple," Sasuke said, raising his hand, palm up, making a gesture as if to receive something.

"Hand over all your scrolls, and I won’t make things difficult for you!"

+80 (40)

The points in front of Sasuke's eyes fluctuated. To describe his act of seizing in such a refined manner, even he felt he was particularly clever.

"Sasuke, this is only the second round of the exam. There’s no need to go to such extremes. The Chūnin Exams have three rounds!"

Neji’s eyes flashed as he maintained his Byakugan stance, trying to buy time.

As long as they could make it to the third round of the exam, the three of them would still have a chance.

Not everyone would face Sasuke directly!

After all, Naruto and Sakura were still there!

Neji, as someone who had graduated a year ago, understood clearly that the third round of the Chūnin Exams would have many prominent spectators.

It was an extremely important stage to showcase their talents!

He had to seize the opportunity!

He couldn’t miss it so easily!

"Your eyes have already seen it, haven’t they?"

Sasuke spoke faintly, his words seemingly cryptic to both Rock Lee and Tenten, leaving them puzzled.

+90 (45)

The points in front of Sasuke’s eyes jumped once again.

"What do you mean?"

Rock Lee was utterly confused, looking between Sasuke and Neji in bewilderment. Just moments ago, they were talking normally—why did it suddenly turn into a riddle?

"What did you see?"

Tenten also had a big question mark in her mind. The statement seemed baseless; she couldn’t understand it at all.

"You can come out now. We just met, and now you’re following us. Did the Third Hokage send you?"

Sasuke’s voice remained calm and quiet, but in the deathly silence, everyone could hear him clearly.

+100 (50)

The points in front of Sasuke flickered once more.

No response.

The only reply Sasuke received was the faint sound of the wind.

It was as if there wasn’t a single person around.

"I didn’t see anything," Neji quickly said. He had realized that these Anbu ninja might be opposing Sasuke.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Neji wasn’t asking for much.

He only wanted to pass the second round of the Chūnin Exams.

They had already secured the scrolls.

And not just one set—but two!

The tower was so close.

How could they fail here?

It was impossible to accept!

After Neji spoke, Rock Lee and Tenten became even more confused. From Sasuke’s words, it seemed someone was indeed present, but they had no sense of it at all.

What on earth was happening?

The two stood frozen in place.

Tenten’s beautiful eyes locked onto Sasuke, her mind beginning to turn.

Logically speaking, everyone in the Forest of Death should be participants in the second round of the Chūnin Exams.

To remain undetected by them—

How strong must such a participant be?

Could it be…

Was Sasuke’s strength truly that much greater than theirs?

Tenten knew Sasuke was strong; after all, they had done missions together. But strength always had its limits.

"Do you see this? This is the Anbu. Even when they’ve been discovered, they insist on pretending they haven’t!"

Sasuke shook his head in exasperation.

These people…

Refusing to come out even after being exposed left him halfway through his performance.

It was truly awkward!

+110 (55)

The points in front of Sasuke’s eyes flashed.

"Anbu?!"

Tenten and Rock Lee exchanged a glance, both seeing the surprise in each other’s eyes. Their gaze then shifted to Neji.

Neji continued staring at Sasuke without giving them any hints.

However…

The two of them understood some of it. After working together for over a year, they had built a deep sense of teamwork.

"I’ll give you one last chance. Come out now, and we can talk things over. If not, and you interfere with me, don’t forget where you are!"

Sasuke’s voice turned icy, filled with intense killing intent.

"This is the Forest of Death!"

+120 (60)

The moment Sasuke finished speaking, the points jumped again.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!  

In an instant—

*Chapter 194: Future Events Take a Turn! 2*

---

Four masked ANBU ninjas appeared in a flash, positioning themselves at the four corners surrounding Sasuke.

These ANBU were part of the group he had encountered earlier.

"Uchiha Sasuke!"

"By the command of the Third Hokage!"

"You are no longer permitted to continue seizing the scrolls!"

The ANBU ninja spoke in a deep voice, his tone firm and authoritative, laced with a warning.

"Oh? The Third's reach has extended into the examination hall now? Even cheating and rigging admissions are done so blatantly?"

Sasuke retorted sarcastically.

*+130 (65)*

When it came to the Third Hokage, Sasuke had utterly lost all respect for him.

It was bad enough that he was insidious and hypocritical on normal days.

But now, he was blatantly violating order and fairness.

What kind of contribution could a self-serving Hokage like this bring to the village of Konoha?

Sasuke no longer cared to criticize the Third Hokage.

From advancing the Chunin Exams to summoning Jiraiya back, every move was meticulously calculated to prevent Danzo from succeeding as Hokage.

Danzo was undeniably sinister—his darkness was pure. At least he took responsibility for his actions, and in some ways, that showed a degree of accountability.

And the Third?

All he cared about was preserving his reputation, completely washing his hands of everything else.

As if nothing ever had anything to do with him!

Such a person disgusted Sasuke even more.

"Uchiha Sasuke, watch your words!"

One of the ANBU ninjas warned in a low voice. He was directly under the Hokage's command and had been loyal to the Third for a long time.

"I'll give you one chance—get out of my sight now. Otherwise, I'll show you why the flowers bloom so red!"

Sasuke said coldly.

He hadn’t originally intended to go hard on them, but now they dared to threaten him?

They were wielding authority like it was absolute.

The orders of the Third? Laughable.

It wasn’t just these few ANBU; even if the Third Hokage himself were standing here, he wouldn’t be able to stop Sasuke!

*+140 (70)*

The numbers in front of Sasuke's eyes flickered again, rising higher and higher.

After his words, none of the ANBU moved.

The four of them remained in their positions, surrounding Sasuke, waiting for his next move.

"Interesting."

A cold smile appeared at the corner of Sasuke’s lips. These individuals were truly loyal.

Without bothering further with them, Sasuke turned and began walking toward Neji.

Whoosh!  

As Sasuke took his first step, one of the four ANBU moved suddenly. The others followed suit, all lunging toward Sasuke at once.

One ANBU reached for Sasuke’s neck, aiming to subdue him with a grappling technique.

Sasuke kept walking, seemingly ignoring the attack.

Just as the ANBU’s fingers were about to touch Sasuke’s neck, Sasuke moved.

He struck like lightning.

In an instant, Sasuke’s hand shot out, gripping the ANBU’s neck with astounding speed.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!  

In the blink of an eye, the other three ANBU attacked, wielding swords and chains to try to restrain Sasuke.

Smack!  

But Sasuke ignored their attacks entirely, holding the first ANBU by the neck with a single hand.

"If I wanted to kill you, you'd already be dead."

*+150 (75)*

Sasuke said indifferently. With that, he violently threw the ANBU to the ground.

Crash!  

The ANBU hit the ground with a heavy thud, the sound echoing loudly.

Meanwhile, the attacks of the other three ANBU reached Sasuke. Chains snaked toward him, attempting to entangle him.

Although this was the Forest of Death, Sasuke was still a Konoha ninja.

The ANBU's objective was to restrain him and prevent him from attacking Team Guy, not to kill him.

Zzzzz...  

However!

When the chains wrapped around Sasuke, they simply passed through him without leaving a mark.

Lightning Release Body Technique!

---

Sasuke's body instinctively entered a lightning-infused state, evading the imminent physical attack.

+160 (80)

The numbers in front of Sasuke's eyes flickered once more.

"This..."

Neji’s eyes widened in shock, his pupils reflecting sheer disbelief. It wasn’t just Neji; both Rock Lee and Tenten were equally stunned.

In their line of sight, the attacks from the chains of the three ANBU operatives all seemed to pass through Sasuke's body. One chain, which was meant to bind him at the waist, even sliced through his torso completely.

Zzzt... Zzzt... Zzzt...  

Electric sparks flickered continuously across Sasuke’s body, making him appear as though he were entirely composed of lightning.

Even though his body had been split apart, it quickly reassembled itself.

All physical attacks were rendered completely ineffective!

+170 (85)

The numbers in front of Sasuke's eyes kept jumping, their intervals growing ever shorter.

In an instant, the attacks from the three ANBU operatives missed entirely. None of their moves landed.

"What’s going on?"

"Be careful!"

"Sasuke has a special ability!"

The three ANBU operatives immediately deduced that Sasuke possessed a hidden power, which spoke volumes about their combat prowess.

But...

Just as their words fell, Sasuke's figure appeared behind one of the ANBU operatives. His right hand clasped tightly around the ninja’s neck.

In the next moment, Sasuke flickered and reappeared behind another ANBU operative. His left hand extended, gripping that ninja's neck as well.

Then, with both hands exerting force—

Bang!  

A resounding crash echoed as the two ANBU operatives' heads collided violently.

In the blink of an eye, their vision went dark, and they both fell unconscious.

Sasuke’s movements had been so quick that Team Guy’s members were left completely dazed, their vision spinning.

Before they could react, the three ANBU operatives lay collapsed on the ground. They had sustained only superficial injuries from the collision and were in a temporary state of unconsciousness, without any severe damage.

+180 (90)

The numbers in front of Sasuke’s eyes jumped again.

At this moment, only one ANBU operative remained standing.

"Now you have a choice: knock yourself out, or let me handle it."

Sasuke's cold, detached gaze landed on the remaining ANBU operative.

From beginning to end, he had only relied on taijutsu.

He hadn’t even activated his Sharingan.

The only ninjutsu used was his passive Lightning Transformation technique.

"Friendly reminder: if I have to do it, it might hurt quite a bit."

Sasuke’s icy tone sent chills down everyone’s spines.

+190 (95)

Instantly, the numbers in front of Sasuke’s eyes jumped again, as the system registered his "show-off" moment, adding points to his tally.

"You’re underestimating the ANBU!"

The last ANBU operative swiftly formed hand seals, his movements a blur.

"Fire Release: Flame Bullet!"

The ANBU operative launched a fireball, its scorching heat rushing directly toward Sasuke.

"Although I don’t use Fire Release..."

"But..."

"You dared to use Fire Release in front of a Uchiha!"

Sasuke glanced at the fireball, unimpressed. This jutsu’s rank was clearly low.

+200 (100)

The numbers in front of Sasuke’s eyes jumped once more.

This fireball wasn’t even close to the power of the Great Fireball Technique!

Whoosh!  

At that moment, the ANBU operative’s figure flashed, charging straight toward Sasuke. It turned out that the fireball was merely a distraction.

"A feint, huh?"

Sasuke stood motionless, neither dodging the oncoming fireball nor the close-range attack from the ANBU operative. He simply watched with an air of indifference.

+210 (105)

The numbers in front of Sasuke’s eyes jumped again.

"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"

Suddenly...

*Chapter 194: Future Events Take a Turn! 3*

---

Sasuke quickly formed hand seals with both hands.

Just two seals.

A terrifying water wall erupted instantly, extinguishing the fireball's flames and sweeping the Anbu ninja into its current.

+220 (110)

The numbers in front of Sasuke's eyes flickered again.

The moment the Anbu ninja closed in on Sasuke, the ferocious torrent struck him, sending his entire body shaking from the impact.

Then—

A figure emerged from the water.

It was Sasuke.

Sasuke grabbed the Anbu ninja by the neck and flung him forcefully to the side.

Instantly—

The Anbu ninja’s body flew backward like a kite with its string cut, slamming heavily into a nearby tree trunk.

*Bang!*

With a violent tremor, the Anbu ninja's head struck the tree trunk before collapsing onto the ground.

The impact made the entire tree shudder, scattering green leaves to the ground.

"I warned you," Sasuke said casually. "If I have to make a move, it’s going to hurt. A lot."

In mere moments, Sasuke had effortlessly dealt with four Anbu.

+230 (115)

The numbers in front of Sasuke’s eyes flickered once more.

This scene fell into the eyes of Team Guy, leaving them shocked.

Particularly stunned.

Unbelievable!

How could Sasuke’s strength have reached such terrifying levels?!

While none of them knew the exact strength of the Anbu, they were certain of one thing—they couldn’t take down four Anbu ninja themselves.

Sasuke, on the other hand, hadn’t suffered a single attack.

The entire process seemed effortless.

The more effortless it looked—

The more it made the three members of Team Guy uneasy.

"Now, it’s your turn," Sasuke said, turning his gaze toward Neji. He raised his hand again and, with a faint smile, added, "How about handing over the scroll now?"

+240 (120)

The numbers in front of Sasuke’s eyes jumped again.

"Sasuke, you can’t do this! Even the Hokage sent Anbu to stop you. You can’t keep going down this path!" Neji stared intently at Sasuke, continuing to stall for time. He couldn’t afford to miss even the smallest opportunity.

"Neji, you saw it yourself. Do you really think they can protect you?"

Sasuke shook his head slightly. He had already detected the presence of more approaching Anbu ninja.

There were about seven or eight of them.

Each step they took was steady, a clear indication that none of them were weak.

However—

Sasuke didn’t take these Anbu seriously at all.

+250 (125)

The numbers in front of Sasuke’s eyes flickered once more.

"Really? Then why not show me? If you can deal with all these Anbu, I’ll personally hand over every scroll I have!"

Neji forced a smile. He was still trying to buy time.

Just as he said—

If the eight incoming Anbu couldn’t stop Sasuke, there would truly be nothing they could do.

But—

If these Anbu could subdue Sasuke, they might stand a chance at advancing.

"Fine!"

Sasuke nodded, withdrawing his extended hand and crossing his arms over his chest.

"Remember your words. If you go back on them, the consequences will be very severe!"

+260 (130)

Sasuke stood there, waiting for the Anbu to arrive.

These Anbu were fast.

Even if he took the scrolls now—

They would still catch up.

So—

Why not wait?

Deal with them all at once.

*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*

Figures darted rapidly toward Sasuke, stopping in front of him.

Eight in total.

All Anbu.

Judging by their numbers, there were likely two or three squads.

All of them wore masks. Upon seeing the four fallen Anbu on the ground, their gazes immediately focused on Sasuke.

No words were needed.

They could all see it—

Sasuke had already started his attack.

*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*

The Anbu began shifting positions, surrounding Sasuke from all sides.

"Come at me together. Show me the strength of Konoha’s Anbu!"

Sasuke stood with his arms crossed, his black hair flowing in the wind, exuding an air of unparalleled confidence.

+270 (135)

The numbers in front of Sasuke’s eyes continued to flicker.

---

"A mere genin, yet so arrogant!"

Behind the masks of the Anbu ninja, a cold gleam flashed in their eyes.

Then, without hesitation, the Anbu ninjas reached into their tool pouches and quickly pulled out handfuls of shuriken, hurling them toward Sasuke.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!  

The shuriken tore through the air, creating sharp whistling sounds as they flew.

The Anbu ninjas' throwing speed was incredibly fast, leaving no room for mercy. In an instant, a dense barrage of shuriken surrounded Sasuke.

"Is that all you've got?"

A trace of disappointment flashed in Sasuke's eyes.

This shuriken attack method was far too primitive—so primitive that Sasuke felt no urge to even dodge.

Zzzzt! Zzzzt! Zzzzt!  

With an air of confidence, Sasuke activated his lightning transformation technique, his entire body becoming enveloped in crackling electricity.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!  

The shuriken passed harmlessly through Sasuke's electrified body and clattered to the ground without causing him any harm.

*+280 (140)*

The numbers flickered before Sasuke's eyes once more.

"What just happened?"

One of the Anbu ninjas exclaimed in confusion.

This Anbu ninja, clad in white, was the only one among the group of eight who hadn’t taken the initiative to attack. He appeared to be the leader, observing Sasuke’s every move with keen attention.

"I'm actually quite curious about your identity. Who exactly are you?"

Sasuke's body gradually reverted to normal from its lightning state as he turned his gaze toward the white-clad Anbu.

The attire alone set him apart.

All the other Anbu wore black uniforms, but this one was dressed in white.

Not only that—Sasuke’s attention lingered on this particular Anbu. He distinctly remembered seeing someone like this standing outside the barrier during the battle between the Third Hokage and Orochimaru.

This Anbu seemed to have been narrating the events.

This individual knew a lot, which meant their identity was extraordinary, though Sasuke wasn’t entirely sure who they were.

Without further delay, Sasuke raised his hand and, with a swift motion, threw three Flying Thunder God kunai directly toward the white-clad Anbu.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!  

The kunai shot forward at incredible speed, carrying Sasuke’s overwhelming strength.

The white-clad Anbu ninja immediately dodged, swiftly sidestepping to avoid the kunai.

But just at that moment—

Sasuke’s figure flickered and suddenly appeared beside one of the kunai.

This kunai had landed right behind the white-clad Anbu.

"Not good!"

A flash of surprise crossed the white-clad Anbu's eyes as he instantly sensed the impending danger.

Quickly forming hand signs, he raised his right hand and swung it back toward Sasuke. From his palm extended a twisting length of wood, flexible yet incredibly resilient.

"Wood Style: Silent Strangling Binding Technique!"

The sudden appearance of the wood caused Sasuke to pause for a moment. He quickly used the Flying Thunder God technique again, narrowly avoiding the wooden restraint.

His gaze sharpened as he stared at the white-clad Anbu.

"So it’s you!"

Sasuke’s lips curled into a faint smile. By now, he was certain of this person’s identity. In the entirety of Konoha, there was only one person capable of using Wood Style ninjutsu.

*+290 (145)*

The numbers before Sasuke’s eyes jumped again.

"You know who I am?"

The white-clad Anbu’s voice was calm, devoid of emotion, as if he were speaking for the sake of speaking.

"Wood Style ninja, Yamato," Sasuke said, fixing his gaze on him.

But the moment he said it, Sasuke realized something. That name—"Yamato"—was a nickname given later by Tsunade.

"No, that’s not right."

"At this moment, your name should be..."

"Tenzō!"

Sasuke quickly corrected himself, addressing him by his current name.

Perhaps, due to Sasuke’s arrival, Yamato would never take on the name "Yamato." His identity would remain Tenzō!

*+300 (150)*

Once again, the numbers in Sasuke’s vision leaped, signaling an increase in his points.

"Since you know who I am, you should stop resisting. The second round of the Chūnin Exams is already over. Your only task now is to follow us back to the tower," Tenzō said in a low voice, his confidence in his strength unwavering. Capturing a genin like Sasuke was no challenge in his eyes.

"Tenzō."

"Don’t you think it’s funny?"

"In just one day, I’ve encountered two Wood Style users!"

Sasuke chuckled, recalling what the Five-Tails Jinchūriki had said earlier in the forest—how meeting three Sharingan users in one day was astonishing.

And now?

*Chapter 194: Future Events Take a Turn! 4*

---

He had encountered two Wood Release ninjas.

The odds of this happening were far lower than running into someone with the Sharingan!

+310 (155)

The numbers before Sasuke's eyes fluctuated again.

“Two Wood Release ninjas?”

Yamato’s tone immediately turned strange. He knew full well that in all of Konoha, he was the only Wood Release user.

Not only that…

In the entire ninja world, he was the only one who could use Wood Release.

How could someone else have mastered it?

“Who’s the other person you’re talking about?”

Yamato suspected Sasuke was deliberately making things up, but even if that were the case, he couldn’t help but ask.

“The First Hokage, Hashirama Senju!”

Sasuke coolly uttered a name that carried an overwhelming aura. The moment the name was spoken, everyone present was visibly taken aback.

+320 (160)

The numbers in Sasuke’s vision jumped again, once more increasing his point count.

“…”

Yamato fell silent immediately.

You’ve got to be kidding me.

The First Hokage?

Why don’t you just claim you’ve seen the Second Hokage too?

Who do you think you’re fooling here?

Yamato didn’t believe it—he absolutely didn’t believe it. Not only that, but the ANBU members accompanying him didn’t believe it either.

Even the three members of Team Guy didn’t believe it.

Everyone thought Sasuke was just bragging.

And yet.

He wasn’t even bragging believably.

In such a situation, Sasuke had anticipated this reaction. He didn’t expect anyone to believe him. Across all of Konoha, or even the entire ninja world…

The only person who might believe him was Naruto Uzumaki!

“Wood Release: Great Forest Technique!”

In an instant, Yamato formed hand seals, and the wooden vines on his arm grew dense and coiled toward the enemy in front of him.

The attack was so sudden.

Even their own comrades were still lost in the absurdity of Sasuke’s claims when Yamato launched his offensive.

“Yamato.”

“Your Wood Release is leagues behind the First Hokage’s!”

“It’s not even the same thing!”

Sasuke watched the trees Yamato conjured fly toward him without the slightest concern. He activated the Flying Thunder God Technique, instantly reappearing behind Yamato.

Raising his hand.

Clenching his fist.

Sasuke launched a direct, unrelenting physical attack, aiming straight for Yamato’s head.

“Not good!”

Yamato felt a chill in his heart. He could sense Sasuke’s extraordinary speed—speed that he had no hope of matching.

Quickly, he formed hand seals.

“Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall!”

In an instant.

A series of wooden planks rose up around Yamato, encasing him within for protection.

The planks didn’t appear too quickly, but not too slowly either—just fast enough to block Sasuke’s attack.

“Hiding in your turtle shell now?”

Sasuke pulled his hand back without pressing the attack further. This jutsu had been used by Hashirama Senju before, and its defensive strength was formidable.

Of course.

When Yamato used it, there was a noticeable downgrade.

But still, it was a Wood Release technique with significant defensive power.

+330 (165)

Sasuke leapt up, landing directly atop the Wood Locking Wall, and looked down at the seven remaining ANBU members.

“Your captain has already turned into a coward hiding in his shell. Do you all still plan to continue?”

Sasuke’s voice was cold and carried an intense sharpness, penetrating straight into their ears.

“Attack together!”

Someone among the ANBU shouted, and in an instant, all seven of them rushed toward Sasuke simultaneously.

“This works too.”

“Saves me the trouble of dealing with you one by one.”

“Honestly.”

“I’m getting tired of playing with you all!”

“I don’t feel like dragging this out any longer!”

Sasuke could see that the numbers before him were still increasing. If he kept fighting these ANBU members, he could gain hundreds, even thousands, more points.

But…

Sasuke was feeling exhausted.

He didn’t want to keep toying with these ANBU anymore.

---

---

The Third Hokage's group should already have entered the tower. Currently, Naruto and Sakura are still in the tower. Although this won’t lead to an unfavorable situation, I’d better head over as soon as possible.

Otherwise, if the Third Hokage issues some strange command to intercept all ninja movements, all efforts would be in vain.

*In an instant.*

Sasuke glanced at the ANBU ninja, and his eyes transformed from pitch-black pupils to the crimson Mangekyō Sharingan.

"Art of Darkness."

Sasuke's cold, stern voice echoed.

As the words left his lips, it felt as if someone had switched off the lights.

Darkness engulfed the area, and the ANBU ninja were plunged into pitch blackness, unable to see anything.

*+340 (170)*

*Whoosh!*

In a flash, a sound of cutting through the air rang out.

Sasuke grabbed one of the ANBU ninja by the neck and slammed him fiercely into the ground.

*Bang!*

The ANBU ninja hit the ground with such force that cracks radiated outward from the point of impact.

He passed out immediately.

*Whoosh!*

Sasuke moved like a phantom, darting past each of the remaining ANBU ninja.

One by one, the ANBU ninja were thrown to the ground, each losing consciousness in turn.

*Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!*

The three members of Team Guy couldn't see anything; their ears were filled with the sound of impacts. It was a nerve-wracking experience for them.

*Crack, crack, crack...*

At that moment, the wooden dome opened.

Yamato emerged from within, stepping into the darkness.

"What’s going on?"

Yamato’s head was filled with confusion. He had just gone inside to dodge Sasuke’s attack, but now it was pitch dark outside?

*Bang!*

Suddenly, Yamato felt a powerful punch land on his face. The force was so strong that his head spun in dizziness.

*Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!*

Punch after punch rained down like a torrential storm, each one landing squarely on Yamato’s face. His entire body was left stunned and disoriented.

*Crash!*

Yamato collapsed heavily to the ground, the surrounding darkness making it impossible to tell where he was.

To be honest, he wanted to shout: *"Don’t hit me in the face!"*

But…

His jaw had already been punched out of alignment.

*Whoosh!*

At that moment, Sasuke’s figure suddenly appeared before the three members of Team Guy.

*Genjutsu: Release.*

Sasuke’s Mangekyō Sharingan reverted to its normal pitch-black state. The darkness instantly vanished, returning the world to a bright and sunny afternoon.

The entire world seemed to come alive again.

“Now,” Sasuke said, his piercing gaze fixed on Neji Hyuga. He raised his hand, palm upward, in a gesture of demand.

“Have you decided to hand over the scrolls yet?”

The numbers in front of Sasuke’s eyes began to fluctuate.

*350 (175)*

“I understand,” Neji sighed deeply. He knew they couldn’t delay any longer. At this point, resisting would only lead to a beating.

“Tenten, give the scrolls to Sasuke.”

Neji’s voice carried a hint of defeat.

The Chūnin Exams this year…

There was no place for their team anymore.

“Got it!”

Without hesitation, Tenten handed over the five scrolls in her possession to Sasuke. As she walked up to him, her eyes sparkled with admiration.

*So cool!*

Not only was he incredibly handsome, but his strength was also unmatched.

*Strong and attractive!*

Tenten felt like she’d discovered a treasure. She had witnessed Sasuke grow into the person he was today step by step.

“Thanks!”

Sasuke took the five scrolls, then swiftly stored them in his personal storage space with a flick of his wrist.

*Ding!*

Suddenly, a crisp system notification sounded in Sasuke’s mind.

“Future Event Guide: A one-year reminder has been triggered. Future event nodes may change. Would you like to check?”

“1. Yes.”

“2. No.”

Hearing the familiar electronic voice, Sasuke felt a sudden sense of urgency. He didn’t expect the situation to change so soon.

He chose *1* without hesitation.

With a single thought, the system’s voice rang out again:

“Current Time: Konoha Year 60, April.”

“Future Event Prediction Updated.”

“Prediction Node 1: Konoha Year 60, May. Danzo Shimura becomes the Fifth Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village!”

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*End of Chapter*1