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The chapter began with the Third Hokage's speech about the nature of the Chunin Exams, which he clarified was not merely a test, but a miniature political battle aimed at demonstrating the strength of the villages and preserving their prestige to attract clients.
Inuzuka Kiba's question about why one should risk their life in just an exam arose, and the Hokage answered that a shinobi's true strength is only born in life-risking battles.
This was something all shinobi reading the manga at that moment, all across the hidden villages, agreed with… Of course, the civilians had mixed reactions.
After all, they were still getting to know the world of shinobi through the manga, bit by bit.
What made matters even more exciting was the appearance of another Tokubetsu Jonin in the second half of the chapter, who introduced himself as the referee for the third exam, and he wanted to reduce the number of qualifying participants immediately.
…
[— Manga Scene —]
"Before the third test, there's something I'd like you to do…" Gekko Hayate, who announced himself as the referee, began speaking in place of the Hokage from this point onward.
"It's a preliminary for the third test to decide who gets to participate in the main event."
"Preliminary?" Sakura questioned.
"Preliminary? What do you mean?" exclaimed Shikamaru.
"Sensei… I don't understand this preliminary, but… Why? Aren't all the people here allowed to participate in the next test?" Sakura rephrased her question more clearly this time.
"Umm… Because the first and second tests may have been too easy this year… We have a bit too many people remaining…"
"According to the chuunin exam rules, we must have a preliminary and… Reduce the number of participants for the third test." This time, Hayate clearly explained the main reason for what he called the preliminary.
"No way…." shocked Sakura.
"As Hokage-sama indicated earlier, there will be many guests at the third test… So the fights could take too long, we are limited in time…"
"Umm… So anyway… Those who are not feeling well… Those who feel like quitting after these explanations… Please come forward now."
"Since we will be starting the preliminary immediately…" Hayate said, shocking everyone.
"What?!! Right now?!!" Kiba didn't expect he would have to face his fear immediately.
'Alright!! I promised Kabuto-san. I'm going to do my best!!' Naruto showed no outward reaction, but internally, he believed he would do everything in his power to win, as he had promised Kabuto.
"...…" On the other hand, Kabuto was looking in the direction of the disguised Orochimaru, who nodded to him with some order.
"Umm… I'm going to quit." Kabuto raised his hand, announcing his withdrawal at that moment, shocking Naruto, who didn't understand what was happening.
"Huh?!! K… Kabuto-san!?"
[— End Scene —]
"As expected, more impressive characters appear one after another."
The speaker this time was Nara Shikaku, the fifteen-year-old youth, who was sitting cross-legged on his favorite seat in the Art Store.
His narrow eyes were focused on the page, while his mind worked at an analytical speed.
What were the best moments of the month for him?
Of course, it was these manga reading times… because only at this time did he feel his mind working with the necessary efficiency to dive into the events of a slowly unfolding future.
"This person called Gekko Hayate might already have been born in this era…"
He gave a straightforward conclusion, considering that the existence of some characters who had appeared in the manga so far had been confirmed, such as Ibiki Morino, Kakashi, Asuma, Kurenai, and Gai… Of course, all of these were children no older than six years old at the present time.
"To think that he will announce a Preliminary… This is exciting…"
Beside him, Choza Akimichi was devouring a bag of potato chips he had bought from the vending machine in the store.
"Come on, on to the next chapter quickly…! The fierce battles must be about to begin!"
"I feel sorry for Kiba… Since he's so afraid of Gaara, he must be the one who will face him in the preliminary!"
The speaker this time was Inuzuka Kibi, Tsume's cousin, who was laughing out loud, "Hahaha! That will be so funny."
(Author's Note: OC character!)
But Tsume herself wasn't laughing. The girl with long brown hair and sharp eyes sat annoyed, her arms crossed.
"Why am I the only one who feels angry here? This kid… Kiba… How dare he ask such a cowardly question in front of everyone? He could be your future son, you rascal!"
"Calm down, Tsume," said Shikaku without lifting his eyes from the page.
"He's just a little genin. He's never faced anything like Gaara before. Fear is logical."
"Logical?!" Tsume nearly exploded.
"We are the Inuzuka clan! We don't fear! We face!"
"That's what you say now," interjected Choza, swallowing another handful.
"But if you were in his place, and saw Gaara kill without blinking… would you still be brave?"
Tsume fell silent for a moment. She recalled the scenes of Gaara in the previous volumes. The blood-stained sand. The insane smile. The empty eyes.
'…Maybe I would feel fear too,' she admitted in a low voice.
"But I wouldn't say it out loud in front of the Hokage!"
Kibi smiled, "That's why you're stronger than Kiba. But don't worry. He'll learn. That's the point of the story, isn't it?"
"But what's this about him being my future son? I see he looks more like you. It has nothing to do with me."
"Huh?"
Hearing that, Tsume stared seriously at Kiba's appearance, and he did resemble her a little… or so she thought.
…
'Is his surname Yakushi?'
Elsewhere, Danzo's attention was drawn almost instantly to the scene of Kabuto's withdrawal. Since the fact that he was a spy for Orochimaru had been revealed in the manga, Danzo paid great attention to this person, who naturally did not yet exist in the current timeline.
But the moment Gekko Hayate announced Kabuto's full name as Yakushi Kabuto, Danzo remembered a certain name that worked as a talented direct subordinate under him.
A Root Anbu, a talented girl currently eight years old, named Nonō Yakushi.
'Is she related to this spy brat… in other words, will she give birth to him later?'
Danzo thought deeply before moving on to the next scene… From now on, he would pay more attention to the person who might be the mother of a future threat to Konoha.
…
In his favorite seat, Orochimaru was reading these pages slowly, a faint smile playing on his lips.
'Interesting. My counterpart uses this boy Kabuto skillfully. He plants seeds in Naruto's soul… doubt, betrayal, the desire to prove oneself.'
'Hehe… But more importantly, he removed Kabuto from the equation before his cover was blown further. Clever.'
Orochimaru looked around the store. He saw Jiraiya reading with a serious expression, and Tsunade gently holding Kato Dan's arm. He saw the Third Hokage staring at the pages with narrowed eyes.
'All these fools read about their future and do nothing to change it.'
'As for me… I will use this knowledge. I will surpass my counterpart. I will achieve what he failed at.'
Orochimaru did not doubt that he would benefit from the manga… He trusted his counterpart. In other words, he knew his ambition.
He knew his counterpart would reach many useful fruits, and his role was to harvest them through the manga and make them better, stronger, and more mature.
'Of course, with great rewards come difficult challenges… I will be prepared to handle every revelation with the utmost diplomatic methods at my disposal…'
'Just as I will do with this revelation and the consequences of what my counterpart plans to do in Konoha…'
The scene of Orochimaru disguised as a Jonin from Otogakure was reflected in the eyes of the current Orochimaru…
His counterpart was much older than him and had more terrifying eyes. Orochimaru could see life and death in those eyes. Just looking at them made him more eager to see his own life scenario.
"What an interesting future you are painting, Rubiro-kun."
Orochimaru whispered as he licked his lips with his long tongue.
With that, he continued flipping the pages toward the following chapters.
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Upcoming chapter titles (spoilers):
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Chapter 160: The First Fight!
Chapter 161: The Uchiha Blood!
Chapter 162: Orochimaru's Ambition and the Terrifying Insect Clan.
Chapter 163: The Remarkable Potential of an Aburame Clan Member.
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