If it were just this, it would be fine, as continually producing elite Jonin like Kakashi Hatake isn't unacceptable, but in recent years, talent has been lacking, mostly those being promoted to Special Jonin...
Fortunately,
Konoha's situation has finally improved somewhat during this period.
During this time, the Konoha Ninja School has produced many excellent graduates. Quite a few of these kids are very talented, and Sarutobi Hiruzen holds high hopes for them.
"These are all talented kids..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep drag from his cigarette, looking at the group of ninjas not far away, and blew out a thick smoke ring: "I hope the little ones can show their excellence in this Chunin exam, and in the future, uphold the Will of Fire..."
"There's one more issue..."
Kakashi Hatake scratched his head, raising a somewhat ambiguous matter: "I don't know if it's my misperception, but I've always felt Sasuke's actions seem a bit extreme, and his personality is overly mature and composed for his age..."
"It's just immature kids liking to imitate adult maturity..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen neither confirmed nor denied this, sighing: "They'll yearn for their youthful selves once they truly grow up..."
As an elder who has controlled Konoha for over thirty years, the Third Hokage has seen quite a few kids who matured early, like the Kakashi Hatake behind him and the Uchiha Itachi, who left the village. Didn't they all possess overly mature minds since childhood?
And then?
Both Kakashi Hatake and Uchiha Itachi have borne the Will of Fire for Konoha, solving many crisis tasks for it, haven't they?
Moreover...
Uchiha Sasuke's background is so bizarre, having faced the past where all his parents and clan were killed by his own brother, becoming mature early is quite normal...
Frankly speaking, considering all Sasuke has been through, the fact that his spirit remains relatively stable even becoming a ninja shows his mind is quite strong.
"Go get ready."
Sarutobi Hiruzen waved his hand to have Kakashi Hatake withdraw.
"Yes."
Kakashi Hatake's figure vanished instantly from the spot. He needed to inform the little ones of Team 7 about their participation in the Chunin exam.
However...
Uchiha Sasuke had already anticipated this.
When Kakashi Hatake announced their eligibility for the Chunin exam, Naruto Uzumaki and Haruno Sakura were also quite eager.
"This exam will be lively..."
Uchiha Sasuke had to remind Naruto Uzumaki and Haruno Sakura, especially emphasizing two names: "That guy named Gaara we met this afternoon, and among the Hidden Grass Village ninjas, there's one wearing glasses..."
"Huh?"
Naruto Uzumaki looked somewhat confused.
"Um..."
Haruno Sakura furrowed her brow. She remembered when Uchiha Sasuke ignored the clearly menacing Hidden Sand ninjas in the afternoon and kept his gaze on a seemingly plain, unkempt red-haired girl from a small ninja village...
To be honest...
Haruno Sakura felt a bit jealous.
She thought she was quite cute, yet Sasuke never gave her a second look. But after seeing that plain red-haired girl, he stared at her and even seemed somewhat reminiscent after she left his sight...
"That red-haired girl with glasses..."
Haruno Sakura recalled Karin's image, wanting to make a snide remark.
Whether it was the noticeably oversized and worn Hidden Grass Ninja Uniform that seemed scavenged from someone else's leftovers, the large black frame glasses, or the messy fiery red hair, it was clear her life wasn't great...
"Sakura."
"Don't underestimate anyone."
Uchiha Sasuke's voice was unwaveringly firm, even offering an example: "I've heard before there's an allied clan in the village called the Uzumaki Clan, and everyone in that clan had red hair..."
"Exactly."
Kakashi Hatake nodded, pointing to the spiral on his Ninja Headband, softly saying: "The Uzumaki symbol on Konoha is in memory of our friendship with the Uzumaki Clan. Sasuke is right; don't underestimate any opponent..."
"..."
Uchiha Sasuke nodded in agreement.
Honestly...
Karin's image in this world was indeed lacking.
However, the Karin in Uchiha Sasuke's memory was very domineering, often considering herself Root's future leader, and was even seen as Akihara Kagura's successor. It's not necessarily the case that Karin in this world wasn't pretending to be weak...
Disguises and deception...
Are second nature to ninjas from Root.
Uchiha Sasuke couldn't imagine Karin being just an ordinary person.
Sakura and Naruto in this world were too shortsighted; the Karin in reality was Akihara Kagura's most trusted subordinate, someone who stood beside one of the Ninja World's most terrifying masterminds, how could she be just an ordinary person in this Illusion World?
"Uzumaki... Clan?"
Naruto Uzumaki scratched his ear, curiously asking: "My name is Naruto Uzumaki, so am I from the Uzumaki Clan?"
"..."
Kakashi Hatake immediately fell silent.
Because Naruto Uzumaki's background had always been a village secret, the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen forbade anyone from revealing it, as his father was an important figure.