Konoha: You're letting me build up my bonds, but you're offending the entire ninja world.

After making the announcement, Bingzu Leitong left.

As Itachi Uchiha looked at the few remaining ninjas from other villages in the arena, his fear of Gengetsu Shimura grew even stronger.

Hokage's office.

Standing before the Third Hokage were the Jonin leaders from the other six countries.

With the exam over, news naturally spread throughout the Death Forest.

This group of people came to demand an explanation.

Such a high mortality rate was unprecedented, even during the tense period when war was about to break out. The representatives of the three countries, Iwa, Kusanagi, and Amane, were so angry that they trembled with rage.

died.

All dead!

"Hokage, if you don't give a reasonable explanation, the next time we'll be talking to you, it will be the army of Iwagakure ninja!"

The Jonin of Iwagakure were the most agitated because Iwagakure had suffered the greatest losses.

Following closely behind was Sunagakure, who said, "That's right, I strongly suspect that this is a premeditated assassination plan by Konoha, targeting the future pillar of our village!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi, puffing on his cigarette, glanced at the two of them with disdain.

Like Onoki, Iwagakure is an old hand in ninja, and Iwagakure has the largest number of ninja, whose skill levels vary greatly.

The deaths of thirty genin are not a serious injury; this jonin is just putting on an act.

Sand Village?

The weakest of the Five Great Nations, whose daimyo has just cut funding and reduced the number of ninjas.

Killing twenty-seven this time was considered helping them and easing the burden on the village.

As for other small countries?

What a joke! Apart from that old guy Hanzo who's a bit of a concern, that's about it. The other small countries have no say at all; they're just destined to become battlefields.

"This is the explanation you wanted."

Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand, and one of the ANBU members inside the room turned on his screen.

The video playing above showed scenes recorded by several proctoring Chunin, all of which depicted Shimura Gengetsu killing ninjas from other villages.

Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head with feigned regret, "I didn't expect that our village's genius ninja would be so bloodthirsty. Perhaps it's related to the fact that this child's father died in the war, and he has a deep-seated hostility towards ninjas from other villages."

"But there's nothing I can do. That's the rule of the Chunin Exams. I can't really say anything. In fact, it allowed him to advance early and saved a few promising talents."

Several Jonin were staring intently at the screen...

until...

"Scorching Release?" the Sand Village ninja exclaimed in surprise.

"That's right, Scorching Release."

Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled and replied, "After all, he's a genius; he'll always be different in some ways."

He was actually quite surprised when he first received the news, and it took him a long time to regain his composure.

When the last frame froze, Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled and asked, "Do you guys have any further questions? Konoha has absolutely no intention of targeting you."

"If anyone is to blame, it's the child's elders for not raising him properly. I will take good care of him in the future."

"Konoha is indeed Konoha." The Jonin leading the Iwagakure team took a deep breath. "Iwagakure has conceded defeat this time, and I have no face to stay here any longer. Hokage, please forgive my rudeness, I will take my leave now."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded in acknowledgment, "You are welcome to visit Konoha anytime."

After speaking, Iwagakure took office and left, and the Jonin from the other villages also left one after another.

Aside from Takigakure and Sunagakure, whose ninjas still have to participate in the competition, the other Jonin are also preparing to return to their respective countries as soon as possible to hand over information about Shimura Gengetsu.

Even the Sand Village Jonin who remained used various means to send out intelligence.

"Call the two advisors and Danzo over."

Once everyone had left, Hiruzen Sarutobi sent a message through the Anbu.

Soon, all four members of Konoha's F4 team gathered.

Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately took the initiative.

"Danzo! Do you know how much trouble you've caused me? Why didn't you consult me ​​before you acted? Now Iwagakure and Sunagakure are very dissatisfied with us, and if we're not careful, war will break out again!"

"Who gave you the authority to instruct Xuan Yue to do this!"

Danzo, his eyes half-closed, leaned back on the sofa with an air of composure. "Did I break any rules? Hiruzen, don't pin everything on me."

"In this competition, I made Xuan Yue complete the assessment honestly without using any tricks."

"You want to talk to me about rules?" Hiruzen Sarutobi laughed in anger. "Do I need to take stock of how many shady missions Root has done behind my back?"

"The impact of this incident is far too severe. Geniuses are meant to be nurtured, not used as targets."

"Now that the Chunin Exams are over, I'll be in charge of Shimura Gengetsu. I can't let you put him in danger again."

Danzo's face suddenly darkened. "Sarutobi, so this is what you were planning."

"What idea?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked righteously. "I'm doing this for the future of Konoha, and even more so for the safety of your grandson!"

“Yes, Danzo, you’ve gone too far. What the village needs now is to rest and recuperate. There’s a limit to how much authority you can establish.”

“I agree with your idea, but I have to consider Shimura Gengetsu’s safety. It would be more reliable to let Hiruzen take charge.”

The two advisors spoke out in support of Hiruzen Sarutobi, making Danzo's face even more somber.

He realized that the three of them had already reached a consensus: they had called him over today to try and take Xuan Yue away.

"Old monkey, that's my grandson. Even if you take him away, that's still an unchangeable fact."

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled slightly. "I just don't want Gengetsu to be influenced by the darkness in your heart. He can have a brighter future."

bright?

It means you are expected to be upright and honest, but you yourself are doing hard and tiring work?

Danzo Shimura inwardly scoffed, even wanting to laugh.

Did he really think that he had affected Xuan Yue?

Danzo understood that Gengetsu had his own judgment and was also very stubborn, because he dared to argue with him countless times for the sake of a girl from the Uchiha clan.

The only way to change him is through guidance and subtle hints, so that he comes to accept this idea himself.

Even he, as the grandfather, couldn't do it, let alone Hiruzen Sarutobi?

This old monkey's plan was destined to fail.

"In that case, you can make the arrangements." Danzo closed his one eye. "This matter is settled once and for all. Don't bother me unless it's absolutely necessary."

After saying that, he slowly walked out of the office, leaning on his cane.

Hiruzen Sarutobi finally revealed a smug smile.

He won this round again.

With the conclusion of the second exam, some of the events that occurred in the Forest of Death were revealed, and within a few days, other major ninja villages also received the news.

Konoha has produced another genius. At the age of eight, he used ruthless methods to almost wipe out all the ninjas from other villages.

Among them, the Sand Cavern reacted the most strongly.

The Scorching Release technique seemed to have touched a taboo in the heart of the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa. After receiving the information, he angrily tore the letter to shreds and then summoned all the elders.

"Konoha has produced a Scorching Release ninja. He's already this cruel at just eight years old. He must be eliminated as soon as possible, or he'll become another Konoha's White Fang, Minato Namikaze!"

He absolutely will not allow anyone who has mastered the Scorching Release technique to live in this world!

The elders' expressions were also very unpleasant.

When Shimura Gengetsu awakened the Scorching Release, it was like a slap in the face to them. Only those who had been teammates with Pakura's Scorching Release did they know just how powerful this ninjutsu was.

Therefore, they unanimously agreed to Luo Sha's plan and arranged for people to prepare for the assassination.

In the Land of Earth, Onoki was furious upon receiving news of the complete annihilation of his army... he was enraged.

"Damn Hiruzen Sarutobi, he must have planned all of this."

"Should we retaliate?" The burly man with yellow earth scratched his head.

"Revenge my ass."

Onoki floated up and gave his son a sharp rap on the head. "I told you to think about the bigger picture. Thirty genin are just genin. If they die, they die. Do you want to sacrifice more elites for these cannon fodder?"

Huang Tu was completely bewildered. "Then what should we do?"

"Just wait and see what the other villages do."

Onoki remained calm and composed, saying, "We're not the only ones who don't want Konoha to produce a genius. Just watch, Sunagakure will definitely make a move, and Kirigakure hates Scorch Release the most because it's very effective against their Water Release. They probably won't sit still either."

"This is Danzo's grandson. Although we in Iwagakure are not afraid of him, we can't afford to provoke such a disgusting character without good reason..."

“Shimura Gengetsu…” Huang Tu repeated the name again before remembering something.

“Father, I remember now. The ambush squad of Shigeto and Ishigaki was defeated by the squad that Shimura Gengetsu was in. The Jonin leading the squad was Hyuga Hizashi from the Hyuga branch family.”

"This is working time. Who is your father? You should call him Lord Tsuchikage!"