Orochimaru: "Heh heh, see? I told you, Hiruzen-sensei knows what dirty deeds Danzo is up to, but he always turns a blind eye, or rather, he seizes the fruits of Danzo's labor just as Danzo is about to succeed."
Orochimaru: "That way, all the blame falls on Danzo, while he reaps the benefits and gains a good reputation."
Uchiha Izuna: Some people's lineage... Heh heh, those who know, know.
Senju Tobirama: Enough!
Senju Tobirama: I will personally clean up the mess. You, shut your mouth!
Danzo Shimura: "I told you, Tobirama-sensei, Hiruzen is the Hokage!"
Danzo Shimura: "Clean up the mess? You're just a dead man, a relic of the old era. Don't make a fool of yourself in front of the strongest Hokage!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "Danzo!!!"
Danzo Shimura: "Yes, yes, you are the Hokage. I'm not even the Hokage's assistant anymore."
Danzo Shimura: "I'm just taking the blame for you."
Danzo Shimura: "Tobirama-sensei, you chose him~!"
Outside the Hokage's office.
Danzo clenched his fists.
He harbored a secret resentment.
If only he hadn't hesitated back then, if he had been one step faster... that Hokage position...
Senju Tobirama: It wouldn't have been yours either!
Inside the Root Organization's base.
Danzo, upon hearing Senju Tobirama's words, was stunned for a long while.
Then his eyes turned red.
Danzo Shimura: "I knew it!"
Bang—
He slammed his fist heavily on the table.
Danzo Shimura: "It's because of the Sarutobi Clan behind Hiruzen, isn't it!"
Danzo Shimura: "Damn Senju Tobirama!"
Danzo Shimura: "Hmph!"
Danzo Shimura: "It serves your Senju Clan right to be completely divided by me and Hiruzen!"
Senju Tobirama: ???
Senju Hashirama: ?! !
Danzo Shimura: "Heh heh, go ask your successor. He himself did a lot, gained a lot, and always condoned me doing these things!"
Danzo Shimura: "Serves him right!"
Danzo completely broke down.
In reality, he could vaguely guess the truth of what happened back then.
But he kept telling himself that it was because he wasn't decisive enough, which allowed Hiruzen Sarutobi to seize the initiative.
Otherwise, Senju Tobirama would have definitely chosen him as Hokage.
Now, hearing Senju Tobirama speak his thoughts from back then firsthand, how could Danzo not break down?
"I still have a chance."
"Uchiha Madara... Hmph! I will get what I need from the Uchiha!"
With that, Danzo left with two guards.
At the same time.
The Ninja Academy also began its practical assessment.
"Go, Sasuke-kun~!"
"Go, Naruto-kun~!"
Almost all the girls were cheering for Sasuke and Naruto-kun.
This made the other boys extremely envious.
Their gazes at Sasuke and Naruto-kun were filled with ill will.
Sasuke, as always, was arrogant, which made those boys even more displeased.
In contrast, Naruto-kun's performance didn't make people dislike him.
It was precisely because of this that Ino and Hinata became nervous, and Sakura also clenched her small fists.
Shikamaru rolled his eyes at those girls.
"What a drag~"
"I thought you'd say you were envious." Inuzuka Kiba came up beside Shikamaru.
"Women are such a drag." Shikamaru, of course, knew Inuzuka Kiba.
Shikamaru's words displeased quite a few women in the Ninja World.
Ino Yamanaka: "Shikamaru is still Shikamaru."
Temari: "Hmph, always complaining about things being a drag."
Sakura Haruno: "Honestly, who talks like that? What do you mean 'women are such a drag'?"
Nara Shikamaru: "Sorry, sorry, that was another me talking. I've never said anything like that."
Feeling the constant unfriendly gazes, Shikamaru was a little scared.
"Next group."
"Uchiha Sasuke."
"Uzumaki Naruto."
Iruka had a faint smile on his lips.
He hadn't manipulated anything behind the scenes.
Sasuke had approached him before the practical assessment, saying he wanted to challenge Uzumaki Naruto.
But he didn't want to say it in front of everyone, so he hoped Iruka would agree to just put his and Naruto-kun's names together.
This wasn't according to the rules; to challenge someone, one had to do it in front of everyone.
However, Iruka glanced at the scoreboard.
He found that Sasuke and Naruto-kun had already been randomly assigned together.
At that moment, he explained to Sasuke.
Only then did Sasuke return to the group.
Iruka looked at Naruto-kun.
He took a deep breath.
Naruto-kun seemed to sense something and looked at Iruka with a hint of surprise.
This time, in Iruka's eyes, there was no longer any malice at all.
Instead, there was the appreciation a teacher feels when looking at an excellent student.
"Step forward."
Sasuke was the first to step out of the line.
He met Ino and Sakura's unfriendly gazes.
He instinctively snorted.
But very quickly, Sasuke felt a chill down his spine.
He glanced sideways and saw Hinata also staring intently at him.
Sasuke wouldn't assume Hinata was like those other girls.
Gulp—
'If I fight Naruto, will Hinata beat me to death?'
Clearly.
A well-fed Hinata put a lot of pressure on her companions.
It was impossible to predict whether that girl, as gentle as water, would leave them half-dead or instantly deceased with a single palm strike.
"Naruto, step forward." Iruka said kindly, looking at Naruto-kun who was still in place.
"Mhm." Naruto-kun nodded slightly.
Iruka's change in attitude.
Naruto-kun could only think of one reason.
That was that the Third Old Man had intervened.
"Form the Seal of Confrontation," Iruka said.
Naruto-kun and Sasuke did as told.
After forming the Seal of Confrontation.
Sasuke took a deep breath.
Looking at Naruto-kun, who still maintained a faint smile before him, the pressure in his heart doubled.
His clenched fists were covered in sweat.
The battle began!
Sasuke's eyes sharpened.
He had been waiting for this moment for a long time.
Immediately, he charged forward in a sprint.
Naruto-kun didn't move.
Watching Sasuke's movements, the next instant, Naruto-kun frowned slightly.
He seemed to sense what Sasuke was going to do next.
A straight punch, aiming directly for the face.
In a flash, Sasuke was in front of him, throwing a punch straight at Naruto-kun's face.
Naruto-kun suppressed the urge to kick Sasuke away and dodged the attack by turning his head.
Seeing the unfavorable situation, Sasuke immediately created distance.
Looking at Naruto-kun, he frowned slightly.
'Why do I feel like Naruto saw through my movements?'
'No, impossible!'
Sasuke attacked again.
Soon, Sasuke was dumbfounded.
The girls, who had been loudly chattering, also widened their eyes, looking at Naruto-kun in disbelief.
"How... Naruto-kun is so amazing~!"
"Sasuke-kun is absolutely no match for Naruto-kun!"
"Oh my god... The feeling of Naruto-kun and Sasuke-kun fighting is like a big kid playing with a little kid!"
"Go, Naruto-kun~!"
"Sasuke-kun, try attacking his lower body!"
"..."