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[— Manga Scene —]
"It is a fact that this exam decides which shinobis have what it takes to become a chuunin." The Third Hokage looked deeply at the young ninjas, who did not yet know the harshness of the world.
"But on the other hand, this exam has another side.."
"Where each country's shinobis risks their own life to protect their land's prestige." The Hokage said calmly as he looked at them.
"Prestige?" They asked loudly.
"Watching this third exam will be leaders and influential individuals from many countries who make up the clients of the shinobi."
"And the leaders of the countries will also be there to watch each of your battles." The Hokage calmly announced.
"If the strength of a country is clear, that country will receive more clients."
"And conversely, if seen as weak, they will lose clients." The Hokage continued to explain this important information to the Chunin exam contestants.
"And this will signal to potential enemy countries that our village has this much power."
"So it will send a political message to the outsiders."
"Yeah, but why!?"
"Why do we have to risk our lives in battle?!!" Inuzuka Kiba felt the pressure and asked loudly.
"The strength of the country is the strength of the village." The Hokage looked towards Kiba, or rather, all the Jonin and Chunin looked at him, but the Hokage continued to speak, clearly answering his question.
"And a shinobi's true strength is.."
"..Born only through life-risking battle."
This is how a shinobi simply gains their strength.
[— End Scene —]
In the place where the Inuzuka clan members were sitting, Inuzuka Tsume slapped her forehead, glaring annoyedly at Kiba, who had asked a question she completely disliked in this scene.
"What is the point of such a question, for heaven's sake?"
"Why do you have to risk your life in the battle? Seriously?"
"I didn't expect the son of the Inuzuka clan to be such a coward… Did the Sunagakure boy scare you…?"
Inuzuka Tsume was almost fuming with anger because of this scene… where the other clan members made sure to keep a few meters away from her, just in case.
…
"Man… why is she angry? I also wouldn't want to put my life on the line in a losing battle, especially against a monster like that."
One of the clan members whispered in a low voice to a fellow clan member.
"You're right, I'm a Chunin, and I'm terrified of Gaara, let alone a Genin like Kiba… Gaara is a truly terrifying monster…"
The other clan member whispered in a low voice so Tsume wouldn't hear him.
"Are you guys talking about Gaara? He's undeniably scary… I wonder how he grew up in Sunagakure…"
Another clan member turned around, apparently to express his awe of Gaara as well.
"Is he really a fictional character?"
"Seriously, there are more interesting characters than him…"
The discussion quickly grew louder among the Inuzuka clan members, who were not at all bothered by Kiba's stance; in fact, for them, it was completely logical.
Except for Tsume, of course, who had not yet calmed down.
…
At this moment, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, felt a strange phenomenon he had never experienced before.
A moment ago, he was reading the manga, but the next moment, he found himself in a strange, yet familiar place… standing above the arena surrounding the hall, he heard a mysterious and strangely familiar voice at this moment.
"The strength of the country is the strength of the village."
His lips moved automatically with the next sentence he heard:
"And a shinobi's true strength is born only through life-risking battle."
The scene he had just read in the manga was reflected before his eyes at this moment; these were the words of his counterpart to the crowd of young Genin, most of whom were from a later generation in Konoha.
"The next generation that will inherit the Will of Fire…"
Hiruzen whispered, looking at this scene from above in amazement.
Apparently, no one noticed his presence, but he was there, two decades younger than his old counterpart, who was giving this lengthy speech.
"Before we begin the third test, I will tell you one more thing … This is not just a test, this is a life-risking battle with your dream and your country's prestige on the line."
His old counterpart continued his speech… and Hiruzen listened amidst this strange and surreal experience… which he was able to immerse himself in due to his high concentration while reading the events.
When Hiruzen awoke from this phenomenon, he had already finished the chapter, which he had just delved into.
'I want to go back… Did I just travel to the future through the pages of the manga?'
Hiruzen truly felt that he had traveled to the future.
"To think that political battles and devastating wars would turn into a children's battle… children's battles to preserve prestige? What is this?"
At this moment, Hiruzen heard Danzo's sarcastic voice.
"Danzo, why don't you like anything? You don't even like the future? What's bad about this?"
Uzumaki Mito said annoyedly.
Why wouldn't she be annoyed?
People like Danzo and their extremist mentalities were the reason for the disappearance of her original village… just thinking about it made her feel sad for all the children of her clan who were scattered all over the world without a real home or homeland to return to.
And the reason?
Wars, conflicts, excessive ambition… and even fear of how wonderful the Uzumaki were.
The proof stood before her, behind the counter, dealing with customers with a gentle smile, but behind that smile, Mito could see a powerful man like a god controlling everything through art.
This man was an Uzumaki… with his amazing abilities and dominant personality, he made even an ambitious person like Danzo stumble backward and retreat to being just a reader, looking at the future with a critical eye, and feeling that the countdown to the manga's claws reaching him had already begun… unable to do anything.
Mito looked between Danzo and Rob for a long time… she could understand why Danzo was criticizing everything related to the future…
'Because the future shown in the pages of the manga is drawn by that man who appears in your nightmares, Danzo… isn't it?'
Of course, Mito did not ask this question aloud.
After all, the explanation for her survival was still unattainable even for her… and this had long put her under the radar of suspicion from both Danzo and even Hiruzen.
Just showing a tone of annoyance in her question was enough; she didn't want Danzo to scrutinize the reason for her survival until now.
"The bad thing about it is that this…"
Danzo pointed to Gaara.
"What's wrong with that sand boy?"
Mito asked, as Hiruzen, Koharu, and Homura also had their attention drawn.
"Suna sent this monster to humiliate Konoha. Are you telling me that kids like Kiba will preserve any dignity for the village in front of Gaara? What a joke…"
"But we have Sasuke, Naruto, and Neji… Do you think Gaara will surpass them all?"
"Hiruzen… you feel it, don't you?"
Danzo looked deeply at Hiruzen and said.
"…"
Just thinking about Orochimaru, who was standing there with them without his counterpart and the others recognizing him, Hiruzen could tell that a conspiracy was silently brewing against Konoha.
"I hope we are overthinking…"
"Tsk… Well, it's good that this manga exists… It's enough to show that my conclusions are not wrong, Hiruzen… As I told you, it will definitely happen, just watch."
"This world is destined for wars and more wars… There can't be peace."
This was Danzo's vision of the world.
'Even in a world where the Uchiha clan doesn't exist… It's still a world that doesn't know how to achieve peace.'
…
In Sunagakure:
Away from the discussion of wars and peace brought by the manga and ongoing among the upper echelons of Konoha, the leaders of Sunagakure were excited to know the details of the third exam, especially after learning that the leaders of the participating countries would attend.
"Finally, it seems we are about to discover the Kazekage who will be there two decades from now…"
Shazan smiled as he said that.
"I bet it will be you, Shazan-sama."
Ebizo said with a smile, looking at the Third Kazekage.
"You are the strongest Kazekage in your village's history… I don't see anyone capable of overthrowing you… and I also don't see any reason for that, since Hiruzen is still there, and you are younger than him, what's wrong with you still being there too?"
Grandma Chiyo spoke confidently; she trusted her vision of the future.
After all, the next Kazekage being prepared still has a lot to learn… perhaps Rasa will be the Fourth Kazekage… but what if Rasa falls in the Third Great War?
What if an incident similar to what happened to the Fourth Hokage occurs?
At that time, the Third Kazekage would have to reclaim his seat… just as Sarutobi Hiruzen did.
What Grandma Chiyo did not expect was that her gentle grandson Sasori would personally eliminate the Third Kazekage and turn him into a puppet.
When she finds out about that in the future, her shocked expression will be truly interesting.
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Upcoming chapter titles (spoilers):
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Chapter 159: Preliminary and Withdrawal!
Chapter 160: The First Fight!
Chapter 161: The Uchiha Blood!
Chapter 162: Orochimaru's Ambition and the Terrifying Insect Clan.
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