"Hokage-sama."
"Shikaku, sit down. Take a look at this—Souma just submitted this proposal."
When Shikaku entered the office, he saw the Third Hokage reclining in his chair, massaging his temples, his expression caught somewhere between a headache and indecision.
…What happened?
Following the Hokage's gesture, Shikaku stepped forward and picked up the document from the desk.
It wasn't long.
After a quick scan, he already grasped the general structure of the revised Chūnin Exam. He mentally ran through the process once—and his expression immediately turned strange.
This exam design…
It wasn't bad.
On the contrary—it was too good.
A brilliant revision.
With only minor adjustments, the first and second stages were tightly linked together, drastically increasing the importance of intelligence gathering, analysis, and information verification.
But—
For the examinees, this would be the hardest Chūnin Exam in history.
If this plan was implemented as-is, other villages—especially the smaller ones—would definitely raise objections.
Shikaku felt his own head starting to hurt.
Sometimes, something being too good was a problem in itself.
Just like now.
"Shikaku," the Third Hokage sighed, "Souma has handed me an enormous problem. He even refused to send a shadow clone to discuss revisions."
How could the Hokage not understand why Souma had sent the proposal via the Beetle King?
It was simple.
He didn't want changes.
If anyone wanted to modify it, they could do it themselves.
And the worst part?
The Third Hokage couldn't even get angry.
Souma's proposal perfectly tested all the capabilities a chūnin should possess. Anyone who passed the first two stages would unquestionably be elite.
As for the third stage—
That was pure combat strength.
But after such brutal filtering, anyone who reached the final stage already deserved the rank of chūnin. The last battle merely gave the promotion authority and legitimacy.
Shikaku thought for a few seconds.
"…I think it's acceptable."
Then he elaborated calmly.
"The proposal is excellent. It looks harsh, even cruel, but in reality it simply eliminates the unqualified at the very first stage. In other words, the first exam is the real hurdle."
"Exactly," the Third Hokage nodded.
The issue was that the shinobi world simply didn't value theory.
Konoha was already better than most.
In Sunagakure and smaller villages, survival itself was a struggle—who had time to study theory? Such knowledge was reserved for elites, far beyond the reach of ordinary genin.
For them, this exam would be devastating.
"Even so," Shikaku added, "last year's Chūnin Exam was brutal as well."
"..."
The Third Hokage fell silent.
Last year's first exam had wiped out huge numbers too—and why?
Because of Souma.
And because of what Souma demonstrated afterward, even the Fourth Kazekage had refused to let him enter the third stage, promoting him directly to Special Jōnin instead.
Now, another exam was about to cull candidates en masse—
Again, because of Souma.
After long consideration, the Third Hokage realized it was workable.
Being eliminated in the first stage at least meant survival. The second and third stages claimed lives every year—ironically, this structure might be kinder to smaller villages.
And—
The spectacle would be far better.
After one final mental storm, the Third Hokage made his decision.
"Alright. We'll use this format."
He smiled faintly.
"And once the villages arrive, make sure they know who designed the exam."
"Yes."
Shikaku understood immediately.
That was a warning—and a courtesy—to the smaller villages. They'd be given advance notice, the pros and cons clearly explained, so they wouldn't be blindsided and refuse participation later.
After Shikaku left, the Third Hokage couldn't help but curse inwardly.
Souma had complained endlessly about how troublesome and time-consuming this would be.
And yet—
They spoke in the morning.
By the afternoon, the proposal was already finished.
He probably hadn't even spent an hour on it.
This is what he calls "wasting time"?
"So… the client hasn't come knocking yet."
Souma smiled to himself.
"Good. That means they accepted it."
When the client didn't demand revisions, it meant everything was proceeding smoothly.
Souma turned and walked straight into the Medical Corps. This time, his objective was clear.
"Kabuto-senpai, I have a personal matter to discuss. Could you step outside for a moment?"
"Yes!"
Yakushi Kabuto immediately wiped his hands, putting on an eager expression, and jogged out with him.
Souma led him away from the Medical Corps.
Once outside, Kabuto spoke apologetically.
"I'm still researching your technique, but I haven't made much progress yet. However, I've already submitted a report on the combat adaptation of the Chakra Scalpel."
"That's fine. I didn't come for that today," Souma replied calmly.
"But since you brought it up—I'll say this: with your abilities, entering the research institute would be effortless."
"Really? That's… that's wonderful!"
Kabuto sounded genuinely thrilled.
Souma nodded, then gestured ahead.
"Let's talk while we walk. Somewhere quieter."
"Of course."
Kabuto understood.
Anything involving the research institute meant classified matters—this wasn't a conversation for crowded places.
They walked into a wooded area.
After confirming no one else was around, Souma pointed to the grass by a tree.
"Sit. I've actually wanted to talk to you for a long time."
"…Why?" Kabuto asked, surprised.
His public record wasn't impressive. If anything, he looked like a chronic underperformer. Even joining the Medical Corps had only happened recently.
How did that attract the attention of a genius?
"Because in my eyes," Souma said calmly, "you're a genius."
"Come on," Kabuto laughed bitterly.
"If I were a genius, I wouldn't still be a genius after six attempts."
Souma didn't argue.
"Are you participating in the Chūnin Exam again this year?"
"To be honest, I'm scared," Kabuto admitted.
"But for their sake… I have to become a chūnin."
Impressive acting, Souma thought.
He didn't waste time.
"You know I'm a Special Jōnin. My teammates are currently missing one person for the exam, so the Third Hokage suggested you join them."
"I see. I'll do my best not to hold them back," Kabuto replied smoothly.
Souma smiled.
"You won't hold them back. Kabuto-senpai, with your strength, just guiding them a little would be enough to clear the first two stages safely."
"…Huh?"
Kabuto froze, then let out a self-deprecating chuckle.
"Well… I do have plenty of experience with the first and second stages."
"Kabuto-senpai," Souma said lightly, "you might have forgotten—but let me remind you. The day Naruto stole the Forbidden Scroll… you and I fought in the woods."
Kabuto's pupils contracted violently.
His entire body tensed.
Up until now, he had still clung to a sliver of hope.
Now—
Souma had laid everything bare.
Still, Kabuto forced a confused expression.
"What are you talking about? Naruto stealing the scroll? And fighting you? I couldn't possibly—"
"At the time, I wasn't suspicious," Souma continued calmly.
"You were only using a shadow clone, and my strength and perception weren't as sharp back then. I didn't realize it was you."
"If I were capable of fighting you," Kabuto retorted desperately, "I wouldn't have failed the exam six times!"
Souma raised a hand.
"I didn't come here without evidence. Let's stop pretending, Kabuto-senpai."
His gaze sharpened.
"Or should I say—Orochimaru's medical assistant?"
Kabuto's smile remained.
But chakra quietly gathered in his hand.
"Don't you want to try making a move?"
Souma stared at him steadily.
Kabuto's face darkened.
He had just started circulating chakra—and Souma noticed immediately.
That level of perception was terrifying.
Slowly, Kabuto lowered his hand.
He wanted to fight.
But he didn't dare.
Based on Orochimaru's intelligence, Souma had likely already mastered Sage Mode—a power even Orochimaru couldn't fully obtain.
In Sage Mode, Yagyū Souma was terrifying.
Kabuto wasn't his opponent.
Running?
Kabuto reviewed everything he knew—and laughed bitterly.
Souma had already been faster than him a year ago. After this much growth, escape was impossible.
And—
Souma had defeated Kimimaro.
All conclusions pointed to one result.
He couldn't win.
Kabuto adjusted his glasses.
"…I don't understand where I slipped up. Was it really just that encounter?"
"Of course not," Souma shook his head.
"Jirōbō and Mizuki were mentally unstable, but we still extracted something useful from their memories."
Kabuto stiffened.
"From them, we learned Orochimaru had a medical-ninjutsu specialist by his side."
"That alone doesn't prove it was me."
"True," Souma agreed.
"But someone who takes the Chūnin Exam six times, passes the first stage every time, survives the second without fail—doesn't that say something?"
He leaned against the tree.
"More importantly, your chakra control is absurdly refined—and your chakra reserves aren't small."
Kabuto exhaled.
"…I see. I shouldn't have lingered near you."
Chakra quantity.
It didn't always correlate to combat strength—but refined control, large reserves, and six failed promotions?
That was abnormal.
Especially when Kabuto used Chakra Scalpel modifications as his ticket into the research institute.
Too many inconsistencies.
He had underestimated Souma.
Once he showed interest in the research institute, exposure was inevitable.
Kabuto finally accepted it.
"So," he said quietly, "you're after my techniques?"
"Yes."
Souma nodded openly.
"I proposed approaching you to Orochimaru-sama because I was interested in your jutsu. I just didn't expect…"
Kabuto sighed.
"…that I'd be walking into a dead end."
If he'd known, he would've stayed as far away from Souma as possible.
But—
Souma hadn't dragged him to the Hokage or ANBU.
Which meant—
There was still room to negotiate.
Kabuto steadied himself.
"Souma," he said carefully, "you didn't bring me here to turn me in… did you?"
Souma met his gaze.
"That depends on your attitude."
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