[Everyone's gaze toward Gekkō Hayate changed.]
[Bro, you're really brave.]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi's face turned ashen as he stepped back.]
[Asuma Sarutobi frowned deeply.]
['Looks like another one who won't submit...']
[Glancing at Hiruzen Sarutobi.]
['Father will probably take action... He seems to have a good relationship with Yūgao Uzuki, and Yūgao Uzuki is close with Kurenai... Should I stop him?']
[Just as Asuma Sarutobi was contemplating whether to win people over and indirectly capture Kurenai Yuhi's heart.]
[Gekkō Hayate remained completely unaware of the abnormality.]
[Covering his mouth and coughing lightly a few times, he said with a pale face:]
['Hokage-sama, may we begin?']
[Since you've said that, what more do I need to say?!]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled without warmth: 'Of course. Then, I'll leave the selection matches before the third exam to you.']
[Upon hearing this.]
[Gekkō Hayate merely nodded faintly, then turned to face the group of Genin.]
[Seeing that Gekkō Hayate didn't even know how to say a few polite words.]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi's temples bulged.]
[Fortunately, there were still a few secretaries beside him who 'respected' him, the Strongest Hokage, immensely.]
[Otherwise, Hiruzen Sarutobi would have truly lost his temper.]
['Before the official matches of the third exam, many distinguished guests will come to watch.']
['There are too many people, and time does not permit it.']
['Cough... So, I hope everyone can understand this selection match.']
[Kankuro opened his mouth, but in the end, he glanced strangely at Gekkō Hayate, then looked at Konoha's Third Hokage.]
[The expression on that old face... probably meant this consumptive referee was done for.]
[Thus, Kankuro refrained from provoking this consumptive referee whose life had begun its countdown.]
[Neji frowned slightly.]
['Will many people come to watch?']
[Then...]
[Neji instinctively placed his hand over his forehead protector.]
[Caged Bird Seal.]
[The Hyuga Clan's family shame.]
[Should it be exposed in front of many dignitaries from other villages, then used to pressure the Hyuga?]
[The thought had just arisen.]
[Neji looked at Naruto.]
[And immediately froze.]
[At that moment, Naruto happened to be looking at him.]
[Still wearing that familiar smile on his face.]
[In an instant.]
[Neji dismissed the thought.]
[Cursing himself inwardly.]
[Was it that Naruto hadn't made things clear, or that Hinata, the future clan head, wasn't good enough?]
[Was the current Hyuga not good enough?]
[How could he have such a thought?]
[Neji shook his head.]
This scene made Neji's gaze in the Arena grow complex.
If... if this world also had Black-framed Naruto-kun, then, would he not be like this now?
Even if the Hyuga Clan's family shame was exposed in front of dignitaries from other villages... yet, it seemed nothing had changed.
Only adding to the ridicule, and being mocked by the village's Ninja... no!
Just as Black-Framed Naruto said, this Ninja World itself is sick, let alone Konoha under the brainwashing of the Will of Fire by that Old Thing, the Third Hokage?
Then, Neji looked again at Naruto, who wore a thoughtful expression.
'Perhaps... I can try to trust Naruto... Indeed, I have no other choice. Besides trusting Naruto, what else can I do?'
Only hoping that Naruto would change, not expecting a complete replica of Black-framed Naruto-kun, but... even half would make Neji feel that the future Hyuga would surely change because of Naruto.
However, as Neji looked at himself in the black frame world, deep in his eyes there was still a trace of envy.
['The upcoming selection matches will be conducted in a one-on-one individual format.']
['No longer advancing in team form... So, those feeling unwell may raise their hands to indicate.']
[Gekkō Hayate coughed twice, then swept his gaze over the group of Genin.]
[Seeing no one withdraw, Gekkō Hayate was about to announce the start of the draw.]
[Suddenly, a hand slowly raised, trembling slightly.]
[Immediately, everyone's attention was drawn to it.]
['Sorry... I'll withdraw.']
['After the trip to the Forest of Death, I'm not feeling well.']
[Twenty-one people, one-on-one format. If no one withdraws, then someone would get a bye.]
[Even if unwell, it's unlikely anyone would withdraw at this critical juncture.]
[Gekkō Hayate choked, coughing repeatedly.]
[After a moment, he looked at the white-haired Konoha Genin with glasses and said:]
['Are you sure?']
['I'm sure.' Yakushi Kabuto forced a weak smile.]
['Good.']
['In that case... do you wish to observe or have our proctor teacher escort you out?']
[Gekkō Hayate asked.]
['My apologies.' Yakushi Kabuto seemed resigned.]
[Everyone frowned slightly.]
[However, Yakushi Kabuto's behavior was still reasonable.]
[Of course, it was most likely intentional.]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately narrowed his eyes.]
[Glancing at the'secretary' beside him.]
[The secretary nodded, then slowly retreated.]
[Subsequently, Yakushi Kabuto was led out of the Central Tower by a proctor.]
[On the second-floor viewing stand, a Jōnin Instructor with an androgynous face and casually tied black long hair curled the corner of his mouth.]
[Those snake-like eyes shifted.]
[His gaze lingered on Uchiha Sasuke's back for a moment, then shifted to Uzumaki Naruto's back.]
[Unconsciously, he extended his long tongue, licking his dry lips.]
['The Uzumaki Clan's revenge... Heh, interesting... So interesting.']
['It seems coming to Konoha was truly the right decision.']
[Then, Orochimaru forcibly withdrew his gaze.]
[His intuition told him that Naruto might have already awakened the Uzumaki Clan's bloodline Secret Technique, Kagura Minds Eye.]
[One more look and... he'd be discovered.]
[His gaze then fell upon Hiruzen Sarutobi.]
[That peculiar expression grew even stronger.]
[Looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had been elevated to a placenta, Orochimaru's mouth twitched, almost unable to hold back laughter.]
[Of course.]
[There was also a beautiful figure Orochimaru dared not look at.]
[Especially after discovering earlier that the woman, upon brief eye contact with Naruto, had a strange light flash in her beautiful eyes, followed by her gaze constantly wandering over Naruto.]
[Orochimaru naturally recognized the Hidden Rain Village's angel, Konan, also on the second-floor viewing stand.]
[After all, he had also once joined the Akatsuki Organization.]
[Moreover, after Orochimaru defected from the Akatsuki Organization, until now, the Akatsuki Organization's Kill Order on Orochimaru had never ceased.]
[Though not deliberately seeking Orochimaru out, if members of the Akatsuki Organization encountered him, they would certainly act.]
['Uzumaki Naruto... Hahaha~' Orochimaru inwardly chuckled strangely.]
[His 'casual' glance at Naruto grew intensely fervent.]
['Cough...']
[At that moment, Gekkō Hayate began coughing again.]
[Since returning from the mission to capture Orochimaru, his lung condition had worsened.]
[After crossing out Yakushi Kabuto's name.]
['Alright... Then, let's begin the draw... The draw will use Computer Random Matching.']
[Gekkō Hayate said weakly.]
[Beep beep beep—]
[As his words fell, the Display Screen above the Dojo showed everyone's names.]
[Then the left and right name boxes began to scroll.]
[Click—]
[At the same time.]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru simultaneously and discreetly pressed the buttons in their hands.]