193

Chapter 193: Sasuke: I’m Done Playing the Nice Guy! 1

+50 (25)

The numbers in front of Sasuke’s eyes flickered as he completed another system-determined moment of showing off.

Now, only Team Guy remained.

Team Guy’s strength could be considered among the top in this Chunin Exam.

However...

It depends on who they’re compared to!

In front of Sasuke, their strength didn’t seem all that impressive.

Sasuke stood at the entrance of the tower.

He hadn’t left yet.

Standing there meant no one could pass.

While listening to the sounds around him, Sasuke opened the system panel.

*Current System Points: 22,634.*

These points were accumulated from the moment he met Orochimaru up until now.

An increase of more than 10,000 points.

Sasuke was quite satisfied with this!

For now, he decided not to spend them.

The current lottery feature hadn’t been unlocked yet, so aside from boosting attributes, the only option was to make purchases in the shop.

But there was no urgency to buy anything now.

He planned to wait until after unlocking the lottery to make his purchases.

Sasuke already had a plan for his next steps. Both the Mangekyō Sharingan and the Susano’o had reached a bottleneck.

The Mangekyō Sharingan required 10 upgrade packs to evolve into the Rinnegan.

That wasn’t happening anytime soon!

As for the Susano’o, it required SSS-level refined attributes.

Currently, Sasuke had only refined attributes left to upgrade to SSS level, as both his ninjutsu and genjutsu attributes were already there.

Refined attributes still served a purpose!

Sasuke was puzzled, though. The system manual was far too sparse in its explanations.

If refined attributes reached SSS level, the subsequent upgrade slots might max out.

That could mean no more attribute points to distribute!

And without attribute points, he wouldn’t be able to reset his chakra!

This could render his "bugged" version of the Living Corpse Reincarnation technique useless!

Of course...

SSS-level refined attributes might come with other benefits, but Sasuke didn’t dare test it lightly.

He decided to wait a while longer!

It wouldn’t stay stagnant forever. After all, a complete-body Susano’o was still incredibly tempting!

“It’s time to take care of those three old friends of mine!”

Just as Sasuke was about to take a step forward, he heard the sound of hurried footsteps approaching the tower.

A group of over a dozen people was rapidly heading his way.

*Who?*

Sasuke decided to stay where he was and observe the incoming group. He couldn’t imagine when so many people had decided to team up in the Forest of Death.

*Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!*

Moments later...

Several figures darted out of the forest and appeared in front of Sasuke.

Leading the group was none other than Anko Mitarashi, the proctor for the second round of the Chunin Exam.

Behind her was Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, dressed in his red-and-black Hokage robes.

Trailing the two were several masked ANBU members.

“Sasuke?!”

Anko’s eyes flashed with surprise when she saw Sasuke’s handsome face.

She hadn’t expected to see a participant reach the tower so quickly in such circumstances.

“Proctor!”

Sasuke nodded politely at Anko.

Then, his gaze shifted to the Third Hokage, and he nodded in greeting as well.

“Hokage-sama!”

Sasuke greeted the two prominent figures. Honestly, he was a little surprised himself.

He hadn’t anticipated running into them here.

It was a complete coincidence!

“Sasuke, what are you doing here?”

The Third Hokage looked at Sasuke intently, his tone filled with curiosity, almost as if a detective had found a suspect.

“I’m participating in the Chunin Exams!” Sasuke replied confidently.

---

Sasuke said matter-of-factly, "There’s no need to come up with a reason. Just tell the truth directly."

+20 (10)

As soon as Sasuke finished speaking, the numbers in front of him began to jump.

"What I mean is, why did you show up at the tower?"

The Third Hokage looked at Sasuke with even more suspicion in his eyes. He had never stopped doubting Sasuke.

Ever since that night when he followed Sasuke and overheard him mention Danzo, the Third Hokage had felt that Sasuke’s shadow was subtly present in the series of events that unfolded afterward.

But he lacked concrete evidence!

Yet he still had this nagging intuition.

"I defeated all my opponents, obtained the scrolls, and reached the tower. What’s the problem with that?"

Sasuke replied nonchalantly.

+30 (15)

Once again, the numbers in front of Sasuke jumped, instantly shocking everyone present.

"You defeated all the opponents?"

Anko’s tone was filled with disbelief as she looked at Sasuke with a subtle change in her expression.

It had only been a little over two hours.

For the vast majority of participants, this exam had just begun!

Reaching the tower this early was already impressive, but Sasuke even dared to claim he defeated all his opponents.

Anko found it hard to believe.

Or rather...

She couldn’t—and didn’t want to—believe it!

"Actually, to be precise, I haven’t defeated all of them yet. There’s still one team left, and I was about to go find them," Sasuke stated his current situation plainly.

There was nothing to hide!

At this point, there was no longer a need for concealment!

+40 (20)

The numbers in front of Sasuke continued to jump, with every sentence helping to boost his score for acting cool.

It seemed like...

Staying here and chatting with Anko and the Third Hokage wasn’t a bad idea.

He could rack up points while waiting for Team Guy to arrive!

Sasuke still hadn’t fully determined Team Guy’s location. If he went out recklessly, he might miss them, rendering all his efforts in vain.

"Which team is left?"

The Third Hokage’s face darkened. He feared most hearing Sasuke mention the team from the Grass Village. He wasn’t certain if Orochimaru had arrived, but all signs pointed to the possibility that he had.

"Team Guy—Neji, Tenten, and Lee," Sasuke said calmly. At this stage of the Chunin Exams, he could afford to tell the truth and still appear cool.

+50 (25)

Just as Sasuke had expected.

As soon as he mentioned their names, the numbers in front of him jumped again, confirming the system’s evaluation of his coolness.

"So... you’ve met Orochimaru?"

The Third Hokage asked directly.

As he spoke, the Third Hokage stared deeply at Sasuke, his gaze seeming to pierce through him, as though he wanted to scrutinize every expression on Sasuke’s face.

Swoosh!

In an instant.

Anko collected herself, focusing all her attention on Sasuke with an extremely serious expression.

Even the ANBU operatives standing behind her were now fully focused on Sasuke.

Everyone’s emotions were complicated.

Standing before them was Uchiha Sasuke!

A genius of the Uchiha Clan!

But...

No matter how talented he was, he was still just a 12-year-old child!

How could he possibly face Orochimaru?

Why would the Third Hokage even ask such a question of a child?

In that moment.

Sasuke felt the weight of countless gazes on him, but he remained completely composed, as though none of this concerned him at all.

"I did."

Sasuke nodded and answered truthfully.

+60 (30)

It was a very honest reply.

No further explanation.

Just...

Not a word more!

"Uh..."

Everyone’s hearts tensed up immediately. No one had expected Sasuke to actually confirm meeting Orochimaru.

"Are you sure?"

The Third Hokage, seeing Sasuke’s honest response, suddenly felt that the situation wasn’t as simple as it seemed.

Could Sasuke be saying this on purpose?

Was this part of Danzo’s plan?

Could the bodies outside have been staged by Danzo to mislead Anko into thinking of Orochimaru?

After all, Anko was Orochimaru’s student!

Moreover.

Anko still bore Orochimaru’s curse mark, making her extremely sensitive to him and easy to deceive!

Things were becoming rather tricky!

The Third Hokage narrowed his eyes slightly, staring at Sasuke. In his mind, Sasuke had a history.

Sasuke had been swayed by Danzo before!

It wasn’t entirely impossible that he was working for Danzo now!

The more the Third Hokage thought about it, the more tangled and complex the situation seemed.

Why did Sasuke happen to show up at this moment?

Chapter 193: Sasuke: I’m Done Playing the Nice Guy! 2

*How Did He Even Recognize Orochimaru?*

The Third Hokage's mind was flooded with one question mark after another. Each seemed illogical and defied explanation.

“I’m sure of it. I’ve met Orochimaru.”

Sasuke nodded slightly. A faint smirk appeared on his lips as he added, “I even fought him!”

*+100 (50)*

The number in front of Sasuke’s eyes surged upward.

This wasn’t like the previous increase.

It shot straight to 100 points.

According to the system's evaluation, this statement qualified as a much higher level of boasting than the previous one.

“Oh?!”

The Third Hokage’s gaze turned peculiar. He had no concrete understanding of Sasuke’s current strength.

But...

The Third Hokage knew Orochimaru’s strength very well!

Orochimaru was one of the Legendary Sannin!

And Sasuke? Just a mere Genin.

What right did he have to claim he fought Orochimaru?

Moreover, while Sasuke’s body bore traces of battle, he didn’t have a single injury.

Could a Genin really walk away unscathed after fighting Orochimaru?

The Third Hokage already had an answer in mind.

And it was a resounding no!

Even someone like Kakashi Hatake wasn’t a match for Orochimaru. How could a Genin think he stood a chance?

In just an instant, the Third Hokage dismissed Sasuke’s words as lies—or more accurately, as sheer boasting.

Forget about fighting Orochimaru!

He doubted Sasuke had even seen Orochimaru!

The Third Hokage’s judgment was firm, and he trusted it completely.

In that moment, he signaled to Anko with a glance.

Coincidentally, Anko was just seeking instructions from the Third Hokage, asking what to do next.

Upon catching his gaze, Anko immediately understood.

“Sasuke, the fight with Orochimaru you mentioned—could it be related to the disturbances in the Forest of Death? Was it that eight-headed serpent I thought I saw?”

Anko voiced her deepest suspicion.

At first, she had been convinced Orochimaru was there. But when she arrived, there was nothing to be found.

Now, she wasn’t even sure if Orochimaru had really shown up!

The whole process left her feeling conflicted, as though she had lost her ability to make sound judgments.

She needed Sasuke to give her some confidence.

“Exactly.”

Sasuke nodded, directly affirming Anko’s guess. Just as she suspected, those disturbances had been caused during his fight with Orochimaru.

*+90 (45)*

The number in front of Sasuke’s eyes jumped again, though the increase was slightly smaller this time.

Seeing the points, Sasuke was momentarily stunned.

Why did it decrease?!

It used to increase the more he boasted, but now it seemed to be declining. Was there something wrong with telling the truth?

Sasuke’s words left the entire room in silence.

None of the ANBU members dared to openly show any reaction, remaining stoic onlookers.

The Third Hokage and Anko exchanged a glance, each seeing doubt in the other’s eyes.

Neither believed him!

Anko harbored a sliver of skepticism—after all, Sasuke was among the stronger participants in this Chunin Exam.

But still...

The opponent was Orochimaru.

If it were anyone else, Anko might have believed it!

The Third Hokage, however, was entirely unconvinced. From the moment he deemed Sasuke’s words a lie, his mind was set.

No matter what Sasuke said, it was all nonsense!

“Sasuke,” the Third Hokage said in a deep voice, “you claim to have fought Orochimaru and caused such a commotion, yet I don’t see a single injury on you. How do you explain that?”

His tone shifted from curiosity and doubt to outright interrogation.

It was no longer about seeking answers—it was about calling him out!

“It’s quite simple, really.”

Sasuke shot a meaningful look at the Third Hokage. He could tell the Hokage didn’t trust him.

How amusing.

You don’t believe me, yet you keep asking.

Isn’t that just looking for trouble?

Well, Sasuke Uchiha doesn’t fear trouble!

“Because Orochimaru’s strength is far too weak. He’s no match for me and couldn’t even manage to injure me!”

*+80 (40)*

Sasuke spoke with a humble tone, stating the truth. But to the others, his words sounded like outright lies, causing his points to drop further.

Bluffing!

Arrogance!

Boasting!

These words flashed through everyone’s minds one after another.

---

It’s just that they didn’t say it aloud.

Not because they were polite or composed.

But because the Third Hokage was right there, and it wasn’t their place to speak.

“Sasuke, are you saying that you’re stronger than Orochimaru?”

The Third Hokage’s mouth twitched hard. He was filled with guilt toward Orochimaru, believing he had failed to guide him onto the right path.

He hadn’t properly instilled the Will of Fire into Orochimaru’s mind.

This was his failure in the art of persuasion!

But!

Orochimaru was undeniably a true genius!

The Third Hokage couldn’t bring himself to believe that Sasuke could so effortlessly defeat Orochimaru without even a scratch.

Not even a punctuation mark’s worth of belief!

It was absolutely impossible!

In fact, deep in his heart, the Third Hokage felt that even if he personally fought Orochimaru, he might not emerge unscathed!

“Yes, that’s correct. I’m stronger than Orochimaru, and not just by a little!”

Sasuke nodded, answering with absolute seriousness.

It was as if he hadn’t noticed the sarcasm in the Third Hokage’s tone.

Once again, he had spoken the plain, unvarnished truth!

+70 (35)

Sasuke looked at the number floating before him and couldn’t help but think how unfriendly this pretentiousness system was to honest people!

Life should be about being truthful and realistic!

What’s wrong with being honest?

Why is it that whenever I speak the truth, no one believes me?

Fine, if the Third Hokage doesn’t believe me, so be it. But why is the system reducing my points as well?

Sasuke sighed internally.

Pretending is too hard!

“Heh, so you’re saying that you injured Orochimaru. Can you take us to him?”

The Third Hokage squinted at Sasuke. Though nearly seventy, he suddenly felt like playing along with this little game.

Might as well humor Sasuke.

Let’s see how far you can spin this tale.

“I can’t.” Sasuke shook his head.

“Why not?” The Third Hokage cut him off before he could finish speaking.

“Because I’ve already sealed Orochimaru.”

Sasuke’s casual statement was like a thunderclap, exploding in everyone’s hearts.

It was a truly shocking declaration!

For a moment, everyone—including Anko—looked at Sasuke with admiration in their eyes.

Of course, this wasn’t admiration for Sasuke’s strength.

It was admiration for his ability to lie so boldly!

What a smooth talker!

Give him an inch, and he’ll take a mile!

If he’s this impressive, why doesn’t he just ascend to the heavens?

The way he can cover for himself, no matter the situation, is unparalleled!

At this point, no one believed Sasuke was telling the truth. They all thought he was bluffing—and doing it poorly at that.

If not for the Third Hokage playing along,

They would’ve lost their patience already!

They were on the verge of throwing up!

+60 (30)

The numbers before Sasuke’s eyes shifted again, dropping another 10 points from before.

Hah?!

Sasuke couldn’t believe it!

Fine, today I’m sticking to the truth!

Let’s see when the truth will finally start earning me points!

Sasuke became determined to push back against this system that bullied honest people.

“Ahem… ahem… ahem…”

The Third Hokage was so startled by Sasuke’s words that he choked on his own saliva, coughing several times before catching his breath. His old face turned beet red from lack of oxygen.

“Sasuke.”

“You’re saying that you sealed Orochimaru?”

“With what did you seal him?”

“Where did you seal him?”

“Can he still be released?”

“How about this—why don’t you release Orochimaru and leave him in my custody?”

“Don’t worry!”

“I’ll make proper arrangements!”

Chapter 193: Sasuke: I’m Done Playing the Nice Guy! 3

--

The Third Hokage spoke several sentences in a row and posed numerous questions. These questions sounded like genuine inquiries, but in reality, they were designed to leave Sasuke speechless.

Whoosh!

Everyone's gaze once again focused on Sasuke. This time, every eye carried a mocking glint, as if they were watching a joke unfold at Sasuke's expense.

"Lord Hokage, you're asking too many questions. Let me answer them one by one."

Sasuke stared coldly at the Third Hokage, his demeanor aloof and unwavering, showing no signs of guilt for supposedly being exposed as a liar.

Exposed?

What was there to expose?

Everything he said was the absolute truth!

"Orochimaru was indeed sealed by me!"

"I used the Totsuka Blade to seal him!"

"I trapped him in an illusory world akin to a drunken dream."

"I think it’s possible to release him, but I’m not entirely sure. After all, I haven’t tried it myself."

"As for releasing Orochimaru..."

Sasuke pinched his chin thoughtfully, giving the matter some serious consideration before finally shaking his head.

"I think releasing Orochimaru now would be unwise. It would pose a great threat to the Hidden Leaf Village. It’s better to let him stay sealed in the illusory realm for now!"

+50 (25)

Sasuke answered all of the Third Hokage’s questions with a deadpan expression. The points before him were dwindling rapidly.

Unacceptable!

This old man's behavior was so fickle!

Sasuke was done playing along!

He decided it was time to stop telling the truth.

"Ha ha ha ha ha..."

But then—

The Third Hokage suddenly threw his head back and laughed. It was as if he’d just heard the funniest thing in the world.

After laughing, he pulled out his pipe and lit it slowly with a match.

Once the tobacco was lit, he took a deep drag and blew out a smoke ring.

Ah, refreshing!

The Third Hokage felt much better now. Listening to Sasuke’s awkward boasting for so long had almost clouded his mind.

But now, he was thinking clearly again.

"Sasuke, in that case, bring out your Totsuka Blade so we can see it!"

The Third Hokage’s tone grew heavier, his attitude completely different from before. Clearly, he and Sasuke were now on the same page—neither wanted to continue the game.

"Ah..."

Sasuke sighed and shook his head, feeling both amused and resigned.

This crafty old man! When he

wanted to play along, he’d feign sincerity and cooperate in the act. But when he was done, he expected Sasuke, the "honest one," to clean up the mess.

How convenient!

Well, this so-called "honest one" had finally seen the light.

No more honesty!

If you think I’m lying, then I’ll lie so well that you’ll be utterly baffled. Did you think my ability to bluff came out of nowhere?

"Lord Hokage, I can’t bring out the Totsuka Blade."

Sasuke shook his head. At that moment, his transformation from the "honest one" to a master of mischief was complete.

The entire crowd froze.

So, after all that talk, you have nothing to show for it?!

"Sasuke, what do you mean by this?"

The Third Hokage frowned, his expression darkening as he bit down on his pipe. He looked deeply displeased.

"I mean that I was just messing with you earlier."

Sasuke suddenly grinned, showing no regard for the Third Hokage’s authority.

Why should he care?

The Third Hokage’s position was already shaky. Future predictions consistently indicated that a Fifth Hokage would take over after the Chunin Exams.

And as for sealing Orochimaru with the Totsuka Blade—

If not for Sasuke’s intervention, the Third Hokage would have had to trade his life just to succeed!

+60 (30)

Sasuke’s words sent shockwaves through the crowd. Everyone’s perception of him shifted dramatically.

He dared to speak like this to the Hokage?!

And he had openly admitted to toying with him?

This boy...

"Sasuke, what’s really going on here?"

The Third Hokage’s composure wavered. His usual calm demeanor had eroded, worn down by the ongoing troubles surrounding his role as Hokage. Maintaining the appearance of a wise and righteous leader was becoming increasingly difficult.

"Lord Hokage, do you truly want to know?"

The corners of Sasuke’s mouth curled into a devilish smirk. He showed no fear of overstepping boundaries as he added meaningfully, "If you really want to know, I can tell you everything I know!"

+70 (35)

As Sasuke finished speaking, his dwindling points began to recover.

Indeed!

Honesty was overrated.

Kind men were bullied, and kind women were taken advantage of. Only when you seized control of your own destiny could you truly enjoy life!

Sasuke felt that he no longer wanted to be the good guy.

He decided to start bluffing.

The more exaggerated the bluff, the more people believed it!

The more truthful it was, the less people trusted it!

"I obviously want to know!"

At this moment, the Third Hokage couldn't care less about saving face. Since this matter involved the position of Hokage, he was eager to extract some information from Sasuke—whether it was true or not.

"Alright, then. I'll tell you!"

Sasuke stared intensely at the Third Hokage. When he spoke earlier, it wasn't entirely in a straightforward Q&A manner.

He was also observing and guessing the Third Hokage’s thoughts.

"Orochimaru."

"Never even came to the Hidden Leaf Village!"

"Did I make myself clear?"

Sasuke directly voiced the suspicion lingering in the Third Hokage’s heart. Only such revelations could truly make someone believe.

People are just like that.

Often, when asking questions, they don’t genuinely want an answer. They want to hear someone confirm the thoughts already in their minds.

This creates a sense of validation!

Especially true after drinking.

+80 (40)

The numbers in front of Sasuke’s eyes rapidly flashed. The system directly identified it as "acting cool," striking the Third Hokage’s nerves right on target.

"How is that possible?!"

Anko Mitarashi was the first to speak up. She glared at Sasuke and said, "I saw the bodies of those three Grass Village shinobi. Their faces were destroyed—that’s Orochimaru’s doing! Other than him, I can’t think of anyone else who uses such techniques."

What Anko said mirrored the concerns lingering in the Third Hokage’s mind.

Instantly, everyone's eyes turned to Sasuke, their gazes filled with curiosity. Each person wanted to know what kind of truth Sasuke would reveal.

"Examiner, does the cursed mark on your neck hurt?"

Sasuke didn’t directly respond to Anko's statement. Instead, he shifted the topic to the cursed mark.

Orochimaru scattered his marks like strawberries, leaving behind traces of his wicked deeds.

Especially when he marked Anko. Back then, she might not have even been eighteen. A death sentence wouldn’t be undeserved!

+90 (45)

The numbers in front of Sasuke’s eyes jumped again. The points accumulated were nearing 100, making it clear he had to keep bluffing. The system wasn’t friendly to honest people!

"How do you know I have a cursed mark on my neck?"

Anko’s eyes flashed with surprise as she instinctively raised her hand to cover her neck, as if Sasuke had seen through her completely.

"Is that a secret?"

Sasuke retorted irritably. He couldn’t exactly admit he knew because of his transmigration and his extensive knowledge.

+100 (50)

The numbers before Sasuke’s eyes returned to their previous peak.

"Not really," Anko admitted, shaking her head. Then she thought of Sasuke’s earlier question and pressed harder on her cursed mark.

"It doesn’t hurt," she replied.

"So, do you still think Orochimaru came here, or do you have your doubts?"

Sasuke sneered, his words leaving Anko speechless.

The same question had been asked earlier by the Third Hokage.

This hesitation was exactly why Anko remained undecided.

+110 (55)

The numbers before Sasuke’s eyes rose again.

"If Orochimaru didn’t come, then what about the three Grass Village shinobi outside the Forest of Death? Why were their faces destroyed?" Anko asked persistently.

"That’s simple."

Sasuke raised his hand and wiggled a finger in front of Anko.

"Someone staged the scene, deliberately making it appear that way to mislead you into thinking Orochimaru came!"

Sasuke spoke with righteous conviction, as if it were the absolute truth.

These ideas hadn’t even crossed his mind before.

Seeing how the Third Hokage’s imagination was running wild, Sasuke built on it and crafted a narrative that sounded more believable than the truth.

+120 (60)

After finishing, the numbers before Sasuke’s eyes climbed again.

"Who was it?"

The Third Hokage couldn’t help but ask.

In fact, he already had a name in mind.

However, he wanted to hear Sasuke say it.

"Why don’t you guess?"

Sasuke grinned at the Third Hokage. You old geezer, you want me to say it? Well, I won’t. You can think it through yourself.  

+130 (65)

The numbers ticked upward.

"Sasuke, don’t tell me you don’t actually know!" The Third Hokage narrowed his eyes slightly, using reverse psychology to provoke the boy's competitive streak.

Chapter 193: Sasuke: I’m Done Playing the Nice Guy! 4

--

"You're right, I really don't know. Everything I just said was pure nonsense. Lord Hokage, please don't take it seriously!"

Sasuke waved his hands repeatedly, taking the opportunity to climb down the ladder.

This surprised many people.

This wasn't the same Sasuke as before!

Earlier, he would force his way through any situation, even if it meant making completely fabricated statements. He could spin such grandiose tales that it seemed he was about to soar and touch the sun.

But now, he was taking the opportunity to back down gracefully.

He said nothing more.

+140 (70)

The numbers in Sasuke's field of vision suddenly jumped.

In that instant—

The Third Hokage fell silent.

If Sasuke were to explain everything in perfect detail and even provide evidence, the Third might not believe him.

Evidence can be fabricated.

Narratives can be written.

But...

The less Sasuke said, the more the Third Hokage felt there were hidden truths—secrets that needed to be kept.

"Danzo Shimura, is it?"

The Third Hokage could no longer suppress his curiosity. If he didn't ask now, he would lose sleep over it.

Lately—

The Third Hokage's thoughts had been dominated by Danzo.

This was the longest Danzo had been away from the village.

The two had never been apart for such a long time.

However, after Danzo's return, he hadn't met with the Third Hokage, let alone greeted him. It was as if nothing had happened, as if he had simply retreated back to the Root organization.

Between the two, an undercurrent of tension flowed. They thought about each other but said nothing. In modern terms, you could call it a cold war.

When the Third Hokage finally voiced his suspicion—

Sasuke's expression changed dramatically, his eyes flickering with panic.

Not good!

The Third had fallen into the trap!

He had been drawn in so easily! His imagination was really something else!

Sasuke almost wanted to give the Third a thumbs-up and award him the "Best Overthinking Award," but now wasn't the time for that.

"Lord Hokage!"

Sasuke quickly suppressed the panic on his face and adopted a serious demeanor.

"Every word you speak must be carefully considered. Especially when there's no evidence, speculation isn't something befitting of the Hokage!"

Sasuke began using reverse logic, employing the same tactics others had used to cover for Danzo in the past.

"I still have exams to take. I'll be going now."

With that, Sasuke turned and left without hesitation or another word.

+150 (75)

The points in Sasuke's field of vision jumped again.

Run!

Run fast!

Sasuke's figure flickered through the forest, disappearing from everyone's sight.

He couldn't stay there any longer.

If he did, he'd burst out laughing!

Sasuke never expected to trick the Third Hokage here of all places. This was becoming far more entertaining than he anticipated!

...

The Third Hokage watched Sasuke's departing figure, sinking into deep thought.

Danzo Shimura!

It has to be him!

There's no one else!

Danzo had a certain connection with Orochimaru and was familiar with his methods.

This must be why three Grass Ninja, with such conspicuous characteristics, were left outside the Forest of Death!

It had to be a deliberate ploy by Danzo to confuse everyone, making them believe it was Orochimaru, thereby inciting fear.

If it really were Orochimaru, with his cautious nature, he would never have left three bodies in such an obvious location.

Exactly!

The more the Third thought about it, the more it made sense.

In the past, Orochimaru had conducted secret ninjutsu experiments right under his nose, and he hadn't noticed a thing.

There's no way Orochimaru would make such a careless mistake now!

Someone is pretending to act in Orochimaru's name!

So then—

What was the purpose of inciting fear?

The Third Hokage furrowed his brows, forgetting the pipe in his mouth.

Anko and the others, noticing his deep contemplation, stood quietly to the side, not daring to interrupt.

"I understand now!"

The Third's eyes widened suddenly, his pupils contracting as a look of shock filled his face.

Such a simple truth!

He should have realized it earlier!

The purpose of creating fear was straightforward.

Anko had been trying to convey this to him earlier.

To cancel the Chūnin Selection Exams!

If the exams were canceled, the various national leaders and nobles would leave disappointed. Not only would they see nothing, but it would also severely damage the Third Hokage's reputation.

At that point—

Danzo Shimura would undoubtedly become the Fifth Hokage!

Such a devious plan!

The Third Hokage took a deep breath. He had always thought he understood Danzo well. But now, he realized he had been wrong.

---

He still doesn’t know enough!

But.

Even if he doesn’t know enough, no one knows Danzo better than he does!

Danzo is absolutely not leadership material!

With Danzo’s dark personality, he might even do something foolish like injecting people with disinfectant during an unknown outbreak!

“Why does Sasuke know?”

Hiruzen thought through one question and moved on to the next.

This question was equally critical!

Sasuke initially claimed he saw Orochimaru!

And fought him!

And sealed him!

That was obviously a lie!

Why would Sasuke lie?

Wait...

A light bulb went off in Hiruzen’s mind. He instantly understood and even wanted to shout, “There’s only one truth!”

Sasuke must have received orders from Danzo.

The first objective of the mission: assume Orochimaru’s presence!

If he hadn’t pressed Sasuke so hard earlier, causing him to slip up, or if he had been even slightly careless, he might have truly believed Orochimaru was present.

Then...

The result would likely be the cancellation of the Chunin Exams!

Sasuke’s second objective must have been to reveal the truth after his lie was exposed, plunging Hiruzen into deep thought, thereby stalling for time.

*Stalling for time!*

Hiruzen’s face changed drastically, going pale in an instant!

“There’s only one team left in the Forest of Death!”

He immediately turned to Anko and the nearby Anbu. Although he had no concrete evidence for his conclusion, he believed it wholeheartedly.

“Anko, come with me to the tower to check the situation.”

“To the remaining Anbu members.”

“Divide into four small teams.”

“One team will secretly protect Guy’s team.”

“If Uchiha Sasuke attacks the three members of Guy’s team, you must subdue him as quickly as possible to ensure they reach the tower safely!”

Hiruzen issued one command after another.

“Yes!”

The dozen Anbu members responded in unison and vanished instantly, leaving only Hiruzen and Anko on the scene.

“Lord Hokage, this is against the rules. This is the second stage of the Chunin Exams!”

Anko stared at Hiruzen in confusion, her eyes resolute as she argued, refusing to back down. “You shouldn’t let the Anbu interfere with the outcome of the exam!”

“Anko.”

“You don’t understand.”

“The stakes of this exam are too high!”

Hiruzen said meaningfully, unable to explain everything. In her current position, Anko shouldn’t know too much.

“This will affect the exam results!” Anko exclaimed, eyes wide.

“Anko.”

“Didn’t you hear what Sasuke said?”

“If we don’t stop him, the second stage of the Chunin Exams will mark the end of the entire exam.”

Hiruzen spoke sternly.

Now he fully understood Danzo’s plan.

First, fabricate evidence of Orochimaru infiltrating Konoha to incite fear and attempt to cancel the Chunin Exams. Then, use Sasuke to eliminate all the candidates, effectively erasing the third stage entirely.

This plan...

Was too ruthless!

Too insidious!

Danzo was willing to do anything to become Hokage!

“Lord Hokage, in the second stage of the exam, candidates have five days. It’s not over yet. Sasuke has every right to eliminate any opponents—it’s fair and within the rules. Whether there’s a third stage or not, we shouldn’t interfere in the second stage!”

Anko stubbornly stood her ground.

“As the proctor of the second stage, I can’t allow such behavior! Lord Hokage, you’ve let me down!”

With that, Anko turned and started to leave.

“Where are you going?”

Hiruzen’s eyes flashed with fierce determination. No matter what, he couldn’t let the Hokage seat fall into Danzo’s hands. This was his final stand.

“I’m going to secretly protect Sasuke. If the Anbu don’t intervene, fine. But if they do, I’ll stop them and ensure the Chunin Exams remain fair!”

Anko said coldly.

At that moment...

She seemed like a naïve child standing before the cunning old fox that was Hiruzen.

“Anko...”

Hiruzen sighed helplessly, then shook his head, his face showing a trace of resignation.

“I’m sorry.”

Whoosh!  

Before he finished speaking, Hiruzen’s figure blurred and reappeared behind Anko, grabbing her neck with one hand.

Anko was strong, a special Jonin, but against Hiruzen, she didn’t stand a chance!

“Lord Hokage, what are you doing?”

A trace of panic flashed in Anko’s eyes. It was the first time she had been restrained so closely. In the deserted Forest of Death, with night falling, she couldn’t imagine what Hiruzen might do.

---

Meanwhile...

Not long after Sasuke ran off, he heard Neji’s voice.

Not footsteps.

But voices.

He could even hear the content clearly.

“I see Sasuke, 2,000 meters ahead. Let’s bypass him and head straight for the tower!”

Neji’s voice was low, his tone clearly issuing commands to Lee and Tenten. It was obvious Neji was using his Byakugan.

“Heh heh heh...”

Sasuke’s lips curled into a sinister smile.

“You won’t escape!”

---

(End of Chapter)