"Haha, do you want to fight me?" sneered the arrogant Uchiha boy, his voice dripping contempt.
Another clan member at his side smirked. "Hideaki, since he wants to resist, then play with him! Haha!"
"As you wish, Your Highness." Uchiha Hideaki grinned wickedly, stepping forward. His tall frame dwarfed Obito as he seized him roughly by the collar, lifting him into the air with one hand.
The moment Obito was caught, two blinding flashes erupted—silver and white.
The silver spark was Kakashi, the White Fang's blade gleaming in his grip, pointed straight at Hideaki's neck. The white spark was Shigure, kunai pressed firmly against Hideaki's back.
"Ah!" Rin gasped in shock.
"My teammates don't need saving from you," Kakashi said coldly, face narrow with proud superiority.
Though he knew the boy beside him was his great-uncle in strange seniority, he addressed him without courtesy, his pride unbending.
But Lucien didn't even bother replying to Kakashi. His voice cut sharper than steel as he spoke only to Hideaki:
"One wrong move... and I'll kill you. I mean every word. Try me."
The icy chill transmitted through his kunai made Hideaki's blood run cold. He realized he was far less afraid of Kakashi's glare than of this younger boy's stare.
"B-bastard!" The arrogant youth called "Your Highness" shouted suddenly, rushing Shigure from behind alongside another Uchiha.
Kakashi's blade flicked. "Don't bother. I'll deal with them first." He wanted to prove his speed before Lucien.
But Lucien didn't even glance at him. In the blink before Kakashi could strike, Shigure vanished.
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
Both attackers slammed to the floor, unconscious before they knew what struck them.
The waiting area went deathly silent. Even Kakashi's eye widened, for he hadn't caught Lucien's movement.
"Your Highness..." Uchiha Hideaki still frozen in place, trembled, unsure whether to lash out or shrink back in fear.
Lucien ignored their trembling and turned calmly to Obito. "Obito, be careful. Great clans often breed arrogant fools. Don't waste time stooping to their taunts." His gaze shifted, crisp and clear. "Kusuo. Where's Hongdie? Hasn't she arrived?"
"Yeah... she should be here—" Kusuo began, only for a sharp voice to cut across the courtyard.
"Stop right there!"
A youth with proud bearing and black hair slicked back stepped forward. His eyes burned with arrogance. "A mere Uchiha outcast... you dare flaunt yourself? I am Uchiha Naomasa! Son of the chief elder of our clan!"
With a snarl, he shouted, "Open your eyes!" and revealed his one-tomoe Sharingan. He lunged at Shigure with kunai gripped tight, eager to spill clan blood.
But Lucien remained calm, looking upon him as one would a child tripping over their own feet. His stillness was more terrifying than anger.
Just before the kunai reached him—
Two blurs intervened, seizing Naomasa by the arm and hurling him aside.
"No fighting near the waiting room!"
"If any of you disgrace yourselves again, your entire team loses the right to Chunin promotion. For life!"
The voices struck firm command—belonging to none other than Nara Shikaku and Yamanaka Inoichi, both already prominent among Konoha's younger elites.
"I can't believe this. As Konoha's Genin, do you have no shame?" Inoichi's face hardened. "Save your hostility for the actual exam!"
"Everyone, into the waiting hall. Sit down and wait for order." Shikaku's sigh was heavy, eyes sharp with annoyance. Even he regretted taking this supervisory duty, knowing the arrogance of clan heirs would erupt like sparks.
More Chunin appeared to enforce order, and murmurs were silenced.
Still, before stepping into the waiting room, Naomasa glared murderously at Shigure.
Lucien's three-tomoe Sharingan flashed open, his white-red eyes as deep and silent as the abyss. Naomasa's bravado shattered into a cold flinch, though he tried hard not to show it.
Lucien, Kusuo, and finally Hongdie regrouped, entering the massive waiting room. But the hostility didn't lessen—it grew thicker.
Dozens of eyes watched them. Old students, war-seasoned Genin, and ambitious heirs all filled the air with pressure. Lucien even felt certain spies amongst them—possibly foreign ninja disguised as Konoha youths, here to steal secrets.
So. This is the true battlefield. Not just rivals, but vultures from all sides.
His Sharingan swept the crowd again. Even Kakashi, already ten years old and a Chunin, stood as a glittering target for envious glares.
Suddenly—movement!
"Kakashi!" Rin gasped as a boy in green tights, eyebrows thick as steel brushes, flew with a spinning kick toward him.
Kakashi sidestepped effortlessly, unimpressed.
"Wha—what a guy... with those eyebrows..." Hongdie's eyes widened.
The boy landed with dazzling enthusiasm, unfazed by everyone's mocking stares.
"Kakashi!" he shouted with zeal. "You've dodged me again! Truly worthy of being my greatest rival! This is!! The BURNING FLAME OF YOUTH!" His white teeth gleamed as he gave a shining thumbs-up to the room. "My name is Might Guy! Hello, comrades!!"
The hall fell silent.
Most candidates looked at him as if he were insane.
"It's this weirdo again..." Obito groaned, slapping his forehead.
But Lucien's gaze lingered. This boy... Might Guy. The man who one day will open the Eight Gates and almost kick god himself...
Slowly, he nodded with respect. Approaching, he greeted calmly, "Hello, Guy."
Guy's eyes blazed with joy. "Wow! To be acknowledged by you... my springtime of youth grows ever brighter!!"
Before the awkward silence could settle further, another voice pierced the haze.
"Well, well. We meet again."
Shigure turned. There she was—Suzuran Katori, the purple-haired kunoichi of illusions. Behind her followed Yoshida Kappei, his smile warm and genuine, and Matsuyama Shuichi, whose scowl burned with brute arrogance.
Kusuo clenched his hands tightly.
Shuichi smirked provocatively, flexing his muscles at Kusuo as if daring him to step forward.
Meanwhile, Yoshida caught Shigure's gaze—and offered a faint, respectful nod.
Because strength... demanded respect.
And Shigure was the kind of strength none could ignore.
--
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