"Team 7."
At this moment, the still-young Danzo Shimura strode to the doorway and called out briefly.
As expected, it was that strange man from yesterday who bought books.
Akaba sighed inwardly, already feeling sorry for his future days.
"Let's go."
Shiso stood up first and strode outside.
Danzo didn't wait. By the time they reached the door, he had already disappeared down the corridor.
When they turned a corner, they found Danzo had vanished.
"No way, did it really already begin?"
Akaba sighed helplessly.
"This is an exam question," Mitashigo Shishio said solemnly. "We must find him before we can become his students."
"Let's check ahead first—there must be clues," Akaba calmly suggested.
Danzo wouldn't leave an unsolvable problem because he was only testing them, not deliberately refusing to take them as students.
At the staircase, Mitashigo Shishio swept his eyes around and soon fixed on one corner. "Lord Danzo has left us a clue."
It was a piece of torn cloth, clearly left intentionally.
Sakumo Hatake bit his finger, then formed hand seals—a unique ninja technique—and pressed his palm on the ground.
A summoning circle appeared, followed by the appearance of a dog. Though still very young, it was undeniably a dog.
"Fang, help us find the owner of this cloth."
"Woof! Woof!"
The little puppy quickly darted forward, sniffing along the corridor.
Akaba immediately relaxed—he felt confident that his reliable teammates would have no trouble tracking down Danzo Shimura. Looks like I can finally relax a bit now.
When reaching upstairs, Fang stopped.
"Release!"
"The second floor likely has another trap. Everyone, stay alert."
Mitashigo Shiso formed hand seals. Instantly Fang got back up and continued upstairs.
"It seems like Genjutsu—I specialize in this."
Akaba stepped forward confidently, entering the trap laid with illusion techniques first. The moment he stepped inside, dozens of shuriken flew toward him.
[Genjutsu released!]
With powerful spiritual energy, he instantly dissolved the low-intensity illusion technique.
"Proceed."
The group advanced upward. Now they understood—the school building had five floors total. They'd only get to see Danzo Shimura if they passed all the tests.
The third and fourth floors were entirely filled with traps, which they easily passed through.
"The third floor was a shuriken trap. The fourth combined Genjutsu with shuriken traps. The fifth might be even more dangerous—everyone prepare yourselves," Mitashigo Shishio gravely said.
The first four levels weren't difficult. They tested perceptiveness, survival ability, and teamwork. Based on this logic, the fifth floor would involve actual combat.
How strong was Danzo Shimura?
Emerging fresh from the war, Danzo was regarded as second only to the Third Hokage in Konoha at that time.
Not only these three Genin but even three Chunin together couldn't stand against him.
Though appearing lazy, Akaba was actually extremely vigilant.
They reached the rooftop from the fourth floor. No traps, no illusions—only one figure standing with its back turned, carrying a blade.
"There are no bells here—just a Shadow Clone. The condition is simple: this clone will strike once. Those who survive... pass."
"Of course, I gave you another path!"
Danzo's voice turned icy cold at the end, filled with killing intent.
The terrifying killing intent pierced through them like icy needles, sending waves of dread down their spines.
"Go!"
Mitashigo Shiso acted instantly, hurling several shuriken toward Danzo.
However,
"[Moonlit Sword Dance]."
As the words fell, Danzo had already split into three figures, attacking them from three directions.
"Throw smoke bombs."
All three were Shadow Clones, but Akaba instantly barked the order without hesitation—throw the smoke bombs.
Shiso and Sakumo didn't hesitate either. Each tossed a smoke bomb onto the ground, quickly engulfing the surroundings in smoke.
"Foolish."
Danzo's cold voice came from outside the smoke.
Such smoke might blind ordinary ninja eyes—but for someone like Danzo, not even the Hiding in Mist Technique could mask his perception, let alone a few puny smoke bombs.
He could sense one figure moving upward.
However,
Below, there were still three presences.
Shadow Clones?
Only one among the three could use Shadow Clones; Danzo immediately understood what was happening but decided not to care.
Akaba's genjutsu was powerful, but he needed to locate Danzo first, and Danzo could simply choose not to target Akaba.
Yet when the smoke cleared, three identical figures stood in the center of the rooftop, while Akaba remained hidden in the shadows, unknown whether clone or original.
"Clever use of the rules—quite admirable."
A laugh sounded out, though the killing intent grew even more intense. The three clones' blade attacks never faltered, rushing toward the trio.
Danzo was observing their reactions, something all three were well aware of. However, faced with such overwhelming killer intent, who could possibly suppress even the slightest sign of panic?
A blade slashed forward like lightning.
Targeting all three figures on the battlefield!
There was no rule stating a single slash could only kill one person. Danzo's killing intent was genuine, as was his attack.
Yet just as the blade struck out,
Akaba formed hand seals rapidly: "Genjutsu: Narakami no Jutsu."
The seals were quick, instantly hitting Danzo. But instantly, Danzo dispelled the technique. Yet that single instant was enough for everyone to react.
Substitution Jutsu!
The incoming blade struck, turning the replaced shadow clone into fragments.
At the same time, Hatake Sakumo unsheathed his tanto; Sakumo's sword technique was as bright and swift as lightning, rushing directly at Danzo.
Shiso hesitated momentarily before acting without hesitation, forming hand seals as well.
"Katon: Ryūka no Jutsu!"
Sakumo's blade and Shiso's flames, plus Akaba potentially looking for an opening to use the Sakuma clan's genjutsu—in Danzo's eyes, this was genuinely a crisis.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough."
A C-rank jutsu—but coming from Danzo's mouth, it emerged like a terrifying whirlwind, wind blades hidden within.
It tore through everything with uncontrollable fury, completely unstoppable. Sakumo and Shiso tried to dodge, but it was already too late.
Akaba was caught up in the genjutsu, managing to release it timely, yet the blade was already right before his eyes.
Just when all three faced life-or-death danger, everything vanished in an instant.
"You... pass."
The clones disappeared. As Sakumo and Shiso watched Danzo reappear, the storm created by Danzo's Wind Release technique barely crossed half a step before gradually dissipating.
That guy's insane!
Akaba's forehead was drenched in cold sweat. In that split second when the blade arrived before his eyes, he could feel its icy chill and piercing killing intent.
"Thank you, sensei."
Shiso bowed deeply to Danzo.
Akaba emerged from the shadows, lining up beside Sakumo and Shiso.
"That was your first lesson—never trust rules set by your enemies because they can overturn those rules anytime."
Danzo said flatly.
"The strong make the rules."
Sakumo replied with realization.
"I can break the rules again—second, third strikes—but I cannot kill you because I'm still bound by Konoha's principles."
Danzo continued.
Akaba nodded in understanding. Indeed, Danzo was different back then—he still carried the Will of Fire within him, still had a moral compass, unlike the man he would later become, accustomed to darkness and unscrupulous methods.
"Today is enough. Starting tomorrow, we begin our missions."
The first lesson ended in a way Akaba would never forget.
Unlike Hiruzen, Danzo's teaching style was brutally straightforward, leaving a lasting impact on Akaba.
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