Outside the Konoha Hospital.
Yakushi Kabuto, having finished his day's work, walked briskly toward home.
Halfway there, however, he suddenly stopped.
After confirming no one was nearby, he turned and moved behind a row of roadside trees.
"Lord Orochimaru."
Kabuto bowed respectfully toward the figure leaning against a tree trunk in the shadows.
Orochimaru stood with folded arms. Though he wore a smile, it carried no warmth — only the suffocating sensation of being watched by a predator.
"Kabuto, how is the intelligence gathering on Sasuke and Naruto progressing?"
"And Danzo — have you reestablished contact with him?"
"Two months ago, the base where Danzo and I frequently communicated was destroyed. There has been no news since."
Kabuto removed a scroll from his robes and handed it forward.
"I've recorded Sasuke's progress and information about the Jinchuriki inside."
Orochimaru accepted the scroll, licking his lips excitedly with a faint hissing sound.
"You've done well."
He opened the scroll immediately.
"He awakened the two-tomoe Sharingan… and even learned Kakashi's A-rank Ninjutsu, Lightning Release: Chidori?"
"As expected of Itachi's younger brother. Both truly are geniuses."
"At this rate, the temporary vessel I prepared won't even be necessary… hee hee hee…"
Orochimaru's sharp, almost feminine laughter suddenly stopped when he reached the section about Naruto.
His expression shifted into clear shock.
"Mastered the Nine-Tailed Chakra and defeated elite Jonin like Aburame Torune and Zabuza?!"
"No wonder that old geezer Danzo requested a sealing technique to suppress the Nine-Tails three months ago."
"Judging from this information, that old man must have failed… and even suffered retaliation. Hee hee hee…"
Danzo and Orochimaru had long maintained cooperation.
Danzo provided funding.
Orochimaru provided just enough experimental results to keep him satisfied.
Seeing Orochimaru's rare surprise, Kabuto adjusted his glasses, hesitating briefly before speaking.
"Lord Orochimaru, the Village strictly seals information regarding the Jinchuriki. What I gathered is only verified surface intelligence."
"I also have several personal deductions based on recent Village events."
Orochimaru valued Kabuto's analytical ability highly.
Even speculation from Kabuto was never baseless.
"Speak."
Kabuto continued calmly.
"Naruto is very likely a perfect Jinchuriki — capable of using most of the Nine-Tails' power without losing control."
"Danzo's Forest of Death base was most likely destroyed by a Tailed Beast technique."
"I personally examined the battlefield. The Chakra residue matches what remained after the Land of Waves incident… but on a far more terrifying scale."
Orochimaru's slit pupils widened slightly.
"A perfect Jinchuriki?"
"Are you certain?"
"I cannot confirm," Kabuto replied decisively. "The Village's information lockdown prevents deeper investigation."
"However, Root funding has been restored, and Danzo has regained his position."
"No matter how one looks at it, this appears to be compensation for the destruction caused by Naruto."
Orochimaru fell silent for a moment.
Then a dangerous smile slowly appeared.
"Continue monitoring Sasuke."
"And find a way to reconnect with Danzo."
"As for Naruto… I will personally observe him and complete what Danzo failed to do."
With that, Orochimaru vanished instantly.
He had studied perfect Jinchuriki before during the infiltration of Kumogakure.
Powerful — but unsuitable as vessels for his repeatedly reincarnated soul.
The Uchiha bloodline remained far more appealing.
Still, Naruto had become an unstable variable.
If left unchecked, he might disrupt the plan to destroy Konoha and elevate Danzo to power.
The next day.
After filling out their applications, the teams gathered at the registration point to submit them.
Inside the consciousness space, Lock — already aware of the upcoming events — spoke directly.
"Naruto, give me control of the body. The first stage is a written exam. I'll handle it."
He needed extended proximity to Might Guy, so the system could analyze and acquire target abilities.
Taking the exam himself was the perfect excuse.
"Ah!?"
"The first exam is written?!"
Naruto's face twisted in horror mid-walk beside Sasuke and Sakura.
Sasuke glanced at him strangely.
"That's correct. Didn't you read the exam description on the application?"
Naruto: "…"
He had been too busy imagining himself defeating enemies with Wind Release to bother reading long text.
It wasn't even from Young A-Ming — why would he read it?
"Hurry, hurry, switch with me! I knew you were the best, Lock!"
After finally reading the form, Naruto immediately surrendered control.
His title of "dead last idiot" hada clear meaning.
"Dead last" referred to combat ranking.
"Idiot" referred to academics.
Sakura puffed up proudly, finally finding her area of superiority.
"Don't worry, Naruto! Sit next to us and copy our answers!"
"Sasuke and I were top students in theory back at the Academy!"
Before she finished speaking, Naruto's expression changed.
The goofy demeanor vanished.
Cold, sharp eyes replaced it.
The air temperature seemed to drop instantly.
Lock had taken over.
"No need," he said calmly.
"I'll handle it."
He loosened the forehead protector from his head, letting it hang around his neck.
Then he swept his messy hair back with a Chakra-coated hand, leaving only a few loose strands over his brow.
Without another word, he stepped forward and walked straight into the Ninja Academy.
Sasuke frowned slightly.
"…Why did Naruto let Lock come out again?"
But he said nothing and followed.
Behind them, Sakura stood frozen, face flushed bright red, eyes sparkling foolishly.
It took several seconds before she recovered enough to mumble softly to herself:
"Help…"
"They're literally the same person…"
"So why did he suddenly become this handsome?"
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