"Where the leaves dance, the fire will burn. The fire will illuminate the village... and new leaves shall sprout from its light!"
While Sarutobi Hiruzen was passionately giving his speech, trying to rally everyone's spirits, Seisui Seisui glanced around at the others, clearly bored.
Besides himself, Minato, and Uchiha Haru, the group included Yuhi Makoto, Hyuga Hiashi, Hyuga Hizashi, Uchiha Fugaku, and a few other nameless extras he couldn't bother to remember.
These were the people Hiruzen considered the most talented among the current generation of Genin.
Looking at them with pride, Hiruzen's heart swelled.
These are Konoha's future. Each one of them possesses tremendous potential.
"Your mission this time is simple—win!"
"Defeat the other Great Ninja Villages and show them the true strength of Konoha!"
Everyone exchanged glances, then nodded seriously.
"We will definitely win!"
"Hahaha!" Hiruzen laughed heartily. "As long as it's within the rules, don't hold back!"
While saying that, he glanced at Seisui Seisui, clearly, those words were directed at him.
He paid close attention to Seisui, and knew that this kid's techniques were mostly lethal.
Most ninjutsu could have their power adjusted depending on how much chakra one infused. But this guy didn't know many jutsu. What he did know, though, was swordsmanship, and every strike was meant to kill.
Seisui caught the look and scratched his head in confusion.
Why is he telling me that?
Do I look like some kind of bloodthirsty maniac?
Hiruzen ignored his reaction and continued, "For this Chunin Exam, life and death are not our concern."
"Go all out. The village will take care of everything else."
As he spoke, Hiruzen stood up. A sudden burst of his powerful presence flared through the room, brief but enough to make several people feel a wave of pressure.
This was Hiruzen in his prime. At forty, he was at the tail end of a shinobi's peak years. Though his strength had begun to fade, he was still overwhelmingly powerful.
So this is what a Kage-level ninja feels like, Seisui thought to himself.
He wasn't particularly fazed. That level of killing intent wasn't enough to shake him.
The Third Hokage at his peak was definitely one of the most powerful ninjas of the era. Just his "Five Element Great Barrage" alone was monstrously strong.
Even when he was nearly seventy, he'd managed to cripple Orochimaru's hands. Seisui actually suspected he could've taken Orochimaru out entirely if he'd wanted to.
Looking at Hiruzen, Seisui hesitated, then asked seriously, "So... can I kill all of them?"
The room went silent.
Everyone instinctively took a step away from him, staring like he was crazy.
Bro… how much have you had to drink? Kill them all?!
All the major villages were participating this time, except for Kirigakure. Among them were notable figures like A, the son of the Third Raikage, Kurotsuchi, the son of the Third Tsuchikage, and many other young prodigies from both the major and minor villages.
If he really killed all of them, wouldn't that just start the Third Great Ninja War on the spot?
"Cough, cough," Hiruzen choked slightly and cleared his throat. "That won't be necessary."
He didn't dare approve that. If Seisui really went ahead and did it, Konoha could be wiped out.
As strong as Konoha was, they couldn't possibly survive the wrath of every other village united against them.
"Young people shouldn't be too bloodthirsty," Hiruzen said with a meaningful look. "Besides… the Tsuchikage, the Raikage, and the Kazekage are all here in Konoha."
Hearing that, Seisui rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
So aside from Kirigakure, every other Kage was present?
Was he implying I can kill anyone else who's not from one of those three villages…?
Worried that Seisui might continue down his line of dangerous thinking, Hiruzen quickly added, "The first exam is tomorrow morning at the Ninja Academy. Don't be late."
"Yes, sir!" the group responded in unison.
As they left the Hokage's office, the group quickly dispersed, though Uchiha Fugaku remained behind, trailing them at a slow pace.
Noticing him, Uchiha Haru turned back and asked curiously, "Young clan head, is something wrong?"
Fugaku approached with a smile, looking at Seisui.
"I'll be keeping a close eye on you during the exam."
"Only the strong are worthy of the Uchiha name."
"I hope... you don't surpass me."
His tone was strange as he said this. Then, without sparing another word for Haru, he turned and left.
Haru blinked, confused. "What's his problem?"
Seisui watched Fugaku's retreating back and shook his head thoughtfully.
"No idea. Maybe he's on his period."
"Are there really that many rules in the Uchiha clan?" Minato muttered nearby. "Hope the Uzumaki clan isn't like that."
"Otherwise, they'll come test me too."
As he said that, Minato's thoughts drifted to the Uzumaki clan. His relationship with Kushina Uzumaki had been improving lately, but it didn't seem like she saw him in that way yet.
He didn't know how to bring it up either.
Whenever he visited her, Uzumaki Mito would always smile knowingly at him, like she could see right through him, and that made him extremely uncomfortable.
Seisui chuckled at Minato's words.
"Don't worry. That day will never come."
The Uzumaki clan is already on the brink of extinction. As long as Uzumaki Mito is alive, no one would dare interfere with Kushina.
Fugaku, though… Seisui couldn't quite figure him out. He didn't seem hostile, but there was definitely something strange going on.
"Forget it. Let's go."
Seisui stretched and walked ahead of the others with his hands behind his head.
His question back in the Hokage's office was just a casual one. He was never actually worried about losing the Chunin Exam.
After daily sparring with Minato and absorbing the chakra gains from winning, Seisui had more chakra than most Jonin, by far.
And his techniques didn't consume much chakra anyway.
A Chunin Exam?
Please. I could do that with one hand tied behind my back.
Back in the office, Hiruzen stood at the window, puffing his pipe, watching the trio walk away.
"He's got a heavy killing intent…"
"That's exactly why he should be mine," came a cold voice from behind.
Danzo had appeared, silently as always, staring in the direction of Seisui Seisui.
"That brat would be perfect for Root. We're short on talent with that kind of edge."
Hiruzen didn't even look surprised. He just exhaled a long puff of smoke.
"Forget it, Danzo. Seisui will never be yours."
Unfazed, Danzo persisted with his usual fishing tactic.
"Then how about that blond kid, Namikaze Minato? Or maybe that Uchiha Haru?"
"No chance."
"Fine. Then what about Yuhi Makoto?"
"That's enough, Danzo!" Hiruzen set down his pipe and stared him down. "They are the leaves that bask in the sun, not the roots that fester in the dark."
"You'll regret this, Hiruzen."
"I am the Hokage, Danzo."
Danzo snorted coldly and stormed off.
BANG!
The door slammed shut behind him.
He had only come because he'd heard that Konoha's most gifted Genin had been summoned, and he was hoping to snatch one or two.
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