Chigen practically fled from the Hokage Tower.
After cutting through several side streets and making sure none of Minato's curious little brats were tailing him, he dove straight into the modest courtyard of his own home.
Bang.
The door slammed shut. Chigen leaned against it and let out a long, heavy breath.
A Chūnin exam…
And on the same day as Kakashi, that genius.
That old Third Hokage had definitely done this on purpose.
He could already picture the scene on the day of the exam—half of Konoha showing up just to watch the spectacle.
"Look! That's the Ultimate Repeater Student—he's actually taking the exam alongside Kakashi-sama!"
"Isn't that too harsh?"
So annoying.
What was so great about becoming a Chūnin, anyway?
Missions jump straight from D- and C-rank to B-rank or even A-rank.
Enemies go from bandits and rogue samurai to well-trained shinobi from other nations.
That tiny pay raise—how many explosive tags could it even buy?
This was basically trading lifespan for salary.
All he wanted was to lie low until the end of the Third Great Ninja War, then figure out how to win Tsunade over and retire into a peaceful life—drinking when he felt like it, counting his savings, and enjoying life.
"System."
Chigen spoke silently in his mind.
A pale blue translucent interface unfolded before his eyes—visible to him alone.
[Host: Sakuya Chigen]
[Secret Jutsu: Asura Mode (Self-Created)]
[Evolution Points (EP): 3500]
[Ding! C-Rank Mission "Recon the Land of Earth Border" completed beyond requirements. Mission Rating: Perfect. Reward: 1000 EP.]
Seeing the points he'd accumulated over time eased his irritation a little.
This was his true foundation.
"Draw."
[Each draw costs 1000 EP. Confirm?]
"Confirm."
The interface shifted instantly. A massive roulette wheel began spinning at high speed.
The rewards on it were all over the place—from "Ichiraku Ramen Lifetime Pass" to "Kotoamatsukami Mangekyō Sharingan", and even world-ending monstrosities like Ryūjin Jakka.
Of course, after so many draws, the best thing Chigen had ever gotten was just a kunai sharp enough to cut steel.
The pointer slowed, wavering between "Better Luck Next Time" and a glowing golden skill icon.
Chigen's heart jumped into his throat.
Please—anything but nothing. Just give me something useful!
The pointer trembled… and finally stopped on the golden light.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host. You have obtained the rare skill — Restore!]
[Skill Description: Restores the target to their optimal condition prior to injury.]
[Special Effect 1: During treatment, you will synchronously experience ALL of the target's pain and memories.]
[Special Effect 2: When healing others, there is a chance to copy one of their talents or abilities.]
Chigen froze.
His first reaction wasn't joy—but a chill creeping up his spine.
Experience their pain?
If he healed someone who'd been tortured half to death, wouldn't he have to relive all of that himself?
Then his eyes locked onto the second effect.
Copy… abilities?
This was insane.
His pitiful chakra reserves had always been his greatest weakness.
Asura Mode was powerful, but its consumption was absurd—like charging for five minutes just to use it for two seconds.
But if he could copy someone else's talent…
Uzumaki-level chakra reserves.
Or the Senju clan's Sage Body.
His thoughts stretched even further.
If he healed Tsunade, could he copy her monstrous strength?
If he healed an Uchiha... Ahem—no, that risk was way too high.
Used properly, this skill was a stairway to the peak of the shinobi world.
Used poorly, it was a psychological torture device that could destroy him.
But no matter what, with this ability, his chances of surviving the coming war had increased.
Well? Quite lucky it semms.
---
Back inside the Hokage's Office.
Minato and his students had already left. Only Hiruzen and Danzo remained.
The atmosphere was even heavier than before.
"Orochimaru's experiments must be stopped," Hiruzen said, fatigue seeping into his voice.
In the end, he still couldn't bring himself to deal decisively with his former student.
"The risks of transplanting the First Hokage's cells are too great. Too many children have died—and there hasn't been a single success. This cannot continue."
Danzo leaned on his cane, expression unreadable.
"Hiruzen, sacrifices are necessary for Konoha's strength. You're still as naïve as ever."
"This isn't naïveté—it's a line that must not be crossed!"
Hiruzen's voice hardened.
"In the name of the Hokage, I order you to immediately terminate all cooperation with Orochimaru and destroy all experimental data!"
Danzo's uncovered eye narrowed beneath the bandages. After a long moment, he nodded.
"…Understood."
Outwardly compliant—inwardly sneering.
Stop? Impossible.
The power that once brought peace to a chaotic era—that was his life's pursuit.
Hiruzen seemed to see through him, but didn't expose it.
Instead, he changed the subject.
"Hatake Kakashi is a promising talent."
"Indeed," Danzo replied instantly.
"His mindset is unyielding. Perfect material for Root. Hand him over to me, and I'll forge him into Konoha's sharpest blade."
"No."
Hiruzen rejected it without hesitation.
"Kakashi is Konoha's future—not a tool for your shadows. His path should be his own, not something you carve into a weapon devoid of emotion."
Danzo's expression darkened.
"Sentimentality."
He snorted coldly.
"Then what about that boy—Sakuya Chigen? His secret jutsu allows explosive power despite his low chakra. He's ideal as a trump card. Give him to me, and I'll make his value absolute."
"Even more impossible!"
Hiruzen's stance was unyielding.
"Chigen has reached this point through sheer perseverance. I will not let you destroy him."
Rejected twice in a row, the office felt as though it might freeze solid.
A chilling aura leaked from Danzo as he stared at Hiruzen.
"You're weakening Konoha, Hiruzen! The four great villages are about to surround us—and you're still protecting these so-called 'saplings'!"
"Protecting them is protecting Konoha's future. This discussion is done." Hiruzen replied, not wavering the slightest.
---
Chigen had no idea he'd just circled the gates of hell twice.
He lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, contemplating the future.
This was no joke.
Kannabi Bridge.
Kikyo Pass.
The Grass Country battlefield…
Familiar—and deadly—names flashed through his mind.
Countless geniuses and powerhouses would fall in that war.
He had to survive.
At the very least, he had to live long enough to witness the Nine-Tails Incident—the night that reshaped the entire shinobi world.
The newly acquired Restore gave him some confidence.
But it wasn't enough.
Before absolute power, all schemes were meaningless.
He needed to become stronger—strong enough to handle any sudden turn of events.
This Chūnin Exam might be…
An opportunity.
A chance to reveal some of his strength legitimately, gain more resources—and maybe even copy a few useful abilities along the way.
For example… Kakashi's—
---
Meanwhile, outside the Hokage Tower, Danzo's expression was dark enough to drip water.
Two masked Root operatives appeared silently behind him.
"Danzo-sama."
He stopped without turning around, his voice cold as the abyss.
"Sakuya Chigen."
"Dig up everything about him. His origins, relationships, abilities—leave nothing out."
"Yes."
"And one more thing…"
A sinister curve lifted Danzo's lips.
"This Chūnin Exam is supposed to test his strength, isn't it?"
"Arrange a special… trial for him. I want to see for myself just how much weight this genius Hiruzen values really carries."
"Yes!"
The two Root operatives vanished back into the darkness.
A cold wind blew.
Danzo leaned on his cane and walked step by step into Konoha's deepest shadows.
If he couldn't control a piece—
Then he would destroy it.
He never allowed pieces beyond his grasp to remain on the board.