"These are my collected Shinobi Info Cards." Kabuto said as he pulled out a stack of cards from his pouch and placed them in front of the others. "They contain all the data I've gathered over the past four years—almost two hundred cards."
"Do they have detailed information on everyone?" Even Karin was drawn in by Kabuto's collection.
"Of course." Kabuto looked at her, the glare from his glasses hiding his eyes. With confidence, he said, "It might not be perfect, but as long as you can describe someone's general appearance, I can probably find them."
"Then…" Karin deliberately drew out the word, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she asked, "Do you have information on Naruto Uzumaki, senpai?"
"Naruto, huh? Let me see." Kabuto glanced at her casually and began flipping through his cards. "As one of the nine rookies being closely watched during this Chūnin Exam, I've collected a fair bit of data on Naruto-kun. Ah, here it is."
He pulled out one of the cards.
Karin leaned over with a smile—but beneath that smile was a dangerous aura.
"If the intel is accurate, I'll kill you."
Not just Karin—Sasuke, Neji, and the others also leaned in, eager to see what information Kabuto had collected.
"If the intel is fully or even mostly accurate, I'll definitely kill you." Each of them had the same thought.
Even Rock Lee looked like he was getting ready to beat Kabuto up.
Poor Kabuto had no idea that in trying to earn some brownie points, he had instead attracted the attention of some of the most dangerous Genin in Konoha.
Let alone being as strong as Kakashi—even if he were stronger, it wouldn't save him from getting beaten up at this point.
"Uzumaki Naruto." Kabuto slowly read out the name, and the card displayed Naruto's image, basic information, and five primary stat values.
"Naruto-kun is extremely skilled in taijutsu and has a natural talent with ninja tools. His teammates are Haruno Sakura and Uchiha Sasuke."
"He's completed 120 D-rank missions? 50 C-rank missions! Zero B-rank..." Kabuto paused here, an expression of genuine surprise crossing his face. "You guys really only graduated this year?"
Kabuto himself had graduated four years ago and had only completed 163 D-rank and 28 C-rank missions.
"No intel on the Land of Waves mission." Sasuke shook his head in disappointment, mentally lowering his opinion of this "senpai." Neji also shook his head slightly.
"Gaara." Sasuke gave another name.
Kabuto searched and pulled out the card on Gaara.
Other than the number of missions completed, nearly everything else was listed as "Unknown."
"Incredible. A Genin who has completed B-rank missions." Kabuto said in awe.
A Genin completing a B-rank mission was considered amazing?
Neji silently scoffed—Guy-sensei had already led them through several B-rank missions.
"This level of intel is no different from reading a ninja's official info card." Every ninja had their own record card that showed their mission history. Karin mentally rolled her eyes. Just another Genin—not a threat. But the malicious aura she sensed from him still warranted a lesson.
Everyone else looked visibly disappointed—except for Naruto.
He noticed something deeper on Kabuto's card.
"Even includes some records from Root… I'm really starting to want to poach him from Orochimaru."
---
Before a battle, what's the most important thing? Intelligence.
After a battle, what's the most important thing? Logistics.
And these were the two things Kabuto excelled at the most.
---
"Shut up, you trash! All of you!" a thunderous voice commanded. Accompanied by a puff of white smoke, the exam proctors for the first round of the Chūnin Exams appeared. Leading them was Konoha's Special Jōnin Ibiki Morino, flanked by Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane.
The First Test of the Chūnin Exams: The Written Exam.
On the surface, it looked like a test of knowledge—but in truth, it assessed the Genin's ability to gather intelligence. The questions were never meant to be solvable by Genin in the first place.
That said, a few of them could actually answer the questions.
Haruno Sakura. Hyūga Hinata.
Top-tier prodigies. Academic monsters.
"This way, and that way… Done. That was easy."
Not even twenty minutes had passed, and Sakura and Hinata were nearly finished.
Masters of study. Dominating intellect. Terrifying beyond belief.
---
Outside Konoha Village.
A Root ninja wearing the trademark ANBU mask blocked a traveling shinobi wearing a straw rain hat.
The mysterious ninja kept his head lowered, face hidden beneath the hat, with only one eye showing. "Is something the matter, sir?"
A strange pressure enveloped the Root ninja—his entire body bound by the eerie sensation.
It was his signature genjutsu: a jutsu that paralyzed targets with spiritual pressure alone, making them unable to move or resist.
The straw-hatted ninja took a step closer, pretending to inquire—gradually closing the distance.
Two steps away.
And then, the Root ninja suddenly spoke:
"Orochimaru-sama, it's been a while."
"So it's you," came the reply. His voice was hoarse yet magnetic, and from under the hat, two golden, slit-pupil eyes were revealed. "Danzo sent you?"
"Even you can't hide anything from Danzo-sama," said the masked figure—Naruto—his tone that of a fanatical believer.
The Naruto inside the exam hall? Just a shadow clone.
No rule said you had to use your real body to take the test.
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed, and killing intent erupted through the forest. "So… Root wants to interfere?"
Naruto remained composed, unfazed by the murderous aura. Only when speaking of Danzo did his tone grow frenzied—just like a true zealot.
"Orochimaru-sama, allow me to remind you once more: your actions may attract another of the Legendary Sannin."
Orochimaru froze. "Jiraiya… is back?"
Naruto didn't answer. His silence was confirmation enough.
"Rest assured. Root has no intention of becoming your enemy."
"We merely want to borrow something—a thing that, to you, is no longer of use."
Naruto spoke slowly and deliberately.
"What does that man want from me?" Orochimaru's murderous aura dissipated somewhat.
"The Ryūchi Cave contract scroll."
"Heh…" Orochimaru let out a cryptic laugh. Suddenly, the surrounding temperature plummeted. The air seemed to freeze solid.
No killing intent—yet Orochimaru was truly enraged.
Naruto pulled out a vial from his robe. The moment Orochimaru saw it, greed lit up in his eyes. The bone-chilling cold instantly vanished.
It was a piece of Hashirama Senju's flesh.
Danzo's treasured specimen. Naruto found it revolting.
"What does he want it for?" Orochimaru nearly couldn't hold himself back—but he knew that taking it would mean a complete break with Danzo.
"You failed. But Danzo-sama intends to try."
There was a hidden meaning in Naruto's words, but Orochimaru understood.
"Heh… That greedy old man."
"Danzo-sama's ambitions… are not something we mere mortals can hope to comprehend."
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