Outside the Forest of Death.
"Brother," Hizashi Hyuga broke the silence.
"In this exam, we must obtain at least three Ninja Beast Eggs."
His White Eyes shifted slightly, piercing through the trees to observe the large group of Uchiha members on the other side.
"If the Hyuga fail to rank within the top three, the Uchiha will surely use it to boast again."
The elder Hiashi Hyuga didn't respond immediately, merely raising his head slightly as his gaze settled into the distance.
There, the young members of the Uchiha clan stood in orderly formation, their presence blazing like fire, nearly overshadowing everyone else around them.
Meanwhile, the Uchiha camp was buzzing with fervor.
Under the flickering firelight, the young Uchiha clansmen.
Their eyes gleamed with pride and fighting spirit.
Beside Fugaku Uchiha stood two companions.
Uchiha Yatsushiro and Uchiha Yakura were conversing in low tones.
Yakura whispered excitedly, his eyes flashing with ambition, "This time, we should seize all twelve Ninja Beast Eggs! Let the entire village witness the true power of the Uchiha!"
His words drew approving looks from several clansmen nearby.
"Exactly, the Uchiha clan is the strongest in the Hidden Leaf Village! Even the Hokage must acknowledge this!"
However, Fugaku merely frowned slightly.
He spoke calmly, "Yakura, don't overdo it."
Yakura froze, clearly surprised by the clan prodigy's response.
Fugaku's tone remained steady, "We must not provoke widespread resentment. Taking half is sufficient."
Yakura opened his mouth to argue but ultimately lowered his head.
Yatsushiro sighed softly and patted Yakura's shoulder.
Yet, Yakura's words had been loud enough for many to overhear the Uchiha's discussion.
"Taking half? Hah, we should be grateful for their mercy."
Shikaku Nara rested his chin on his hand, muttering half-jokingly.
"Truly befitting the top noble clan."
Choza Akimichi, chewing on dried meat, grunted in agreement, "Mhm, we only need three anyway."
Inoichi Yamanaka facepalmed with a sigh, "According to the rules, one Ninja Beast Egg per team is enough, Choza."
Choza Akimichi: "Oh, I see. Then we just need to figure out how to get one."
Farther away, youths from the Aburame, Inuzuka, and other clans clenched their fists subtly, their expressions grim.
They were deeply displeased with the Uchiha's arrogant stance of monopolizing the Ninja Beast Eggs.
At the other end of the Forest of Death, in a concealed meeting room.
A transparent Crystal Ball hovered above the table, displaying real-time images of the forest's outskirts.
The Third Hokage, Danzo, and Akimichi Torifu sat side by side.
"Heh... so full of vitality."
Hiruzen Sarutobi narrowed his eyes slightly, smiling as he exhaled a puff of smoke, his voice filled with contentment.
Watching the scenes of the youths, a benevolent smile curled at the corners of his mouth.
Akimichi Torifu, seated on the other side, also nodded, his plump face bearing a gentle smile.
"The Hyuga and Uchiha both seem to be performing well. It's a pity the Shimura and Sarutobi clans haven't had children of suitable age in recent years."
However, Danzo remained silent throughout.
His single eye fixed intently on the images in the Crystal Ball, his expression dark.
Smoke drifted past him but failed to conceal the chill he emanated.
Though the Uchiha's arrogance was expected, hearing the condescending tone of their youths in conversation left Danzo deeply unsettled.
Far away, in a hidden cavern deep underground.
Uchiha Madara sat cross-legged.
Just then, the ground began to squirm.
A pale figure emerged from the soil, revealing that familiar yet eerie grinning face.
"Lord Uchiha Madara," White Zetsu spoke with a teasing smile, "I discovered that the Hidden Leaf Village is currently hosting a... rather interesting event."
Madara opened his eyes, his gaze shifting toward him. "An event?"
White Zetsu waved his hands exaggeratedly, his tone so lighthearted it hardly seemed like he was addressing Uchiha Madara.
"Yes, a large-scale examination—the Hidden Leaf Ninja School's comprehensive assessment! All students are participating, and I heard the Hokage, Danzo, and even the Three Ninja are present."
"Moreover, the reward for the assessment is a Ninja Beast Egg."
Madara's eyes narrowed, his brow slowly furrowing.
"A Ninja Beast Egg?"
White Zetsu promptly relayed all the intelligence he had gathered.
When he mentioned that even ninja students in the Hidden Leaf could receive Ninja Beasts as rewards, Madara finally narrowed his eyes slightly.
"That Tobirama... he's left behind quite remarkable technology this time."
His gaze fell upon the colossal Gedō Mazō behind him.
Between the conduits of the Gedō Mazō lay a Ninja Beast Egg that Madara had personally incubated and hidden within the statue.
At this moment, it was slowly absorbing the Gedō Mazō's chakra.
"...This is somewhat intriguing."
The Gedō Mazō could actually supply energy to the Ninja Beast Egg. Madara could sense that as he intensified the energy output from the Gedō Mazō, the egg's potential was still rising.
White Zetsu stared wide-eyed, utterly astonished. "It can even artificially boost its potential?"
Madara slowly closed his eyes, his tone calm yet carrying a hint of appreciation. "Indeed, a small-scale Tailed Beast experiment. I never expected it to unfold in this manner."
At the very least, this incident led Madara to consider the future—the Eye of the Moon Plan. If the number of Tailed Beasts couldn't be gathered, having enough of these new Artificial Tailed Beasts could still perfect the Ten-Tails.
In essence, it was merely a game of filling chakra energy.
White Zetsu continued chattering on about various matters.
Finally, he added one more point.
"Lately, we're a bit short on White Zetsu."
Upon hearing this, Madara indifferently raised a hand.
"No matter."
In the next instant, a low rumble echoed from within the Gedō Mazō.
Several chakra conduits suddenly swelled, from which two masses of milky-white mucus oozed out.
The liquid slowly solidified, eventually forming two newborn White Zetsu individuals.
Their faces were hollow, their expressions blank.
"Take them and use them," Uchiha Madara said dismissively. "Lead them to the Hidden Leaf and observe this so-called Ninja School assessment closely."
White Zetsu snapped to attention, glanced back at the two newborn counterparts, his eyes full of disdain.
"To be honest, Lord Madara... they look much dumber than me. I'll probably have to teach them even how to dig a hole."
Madara closed his eyes, unwilling to engage further with White Zetsu.
White Zetsu chuckled to himself, feeling he had said enough.
Then, his body merged back into the earth, taking the two White Zetsu with him as they vanished underground.
The cavern returned to silence.
The Gedō Mazō's heart continued to beat slowly, and Uchiha Madara sat alone in the profound darkness.
His gaze fell upon the Ninja Beast Egg absorbing chakra. "Supplied with the Gedō Mazō's chakra, what kind of surprise will you bring me?"
In the darkness, the Gedō Mazō's eyes suddenly snapped open, two beams of red light illuminating the entire cavern.
Meanwhile, on the other side, White Zetsu emerged rapidly from underground with the two new companions just created by the Gedō Mazō.
"Hehe, next..."
He grinned with an eerie smile, his tone almost playful.
Before the words faded, White Zetsu suddenly opened his mouth and spat out two faintly glowing Ninja Beast Eggs.
These were items Shiroishi had given White Zetsu when they last left the Breeding House.
"Come on, let me give you some souls."
As he spoke, he forcibly shoved the two Ninja Beast Eggs into the chests of the two White Zetsu clones.
The soft tissue instantly absorbed the eggshells, spreading throughout their bodies.
The two White Zetsu bodies twitched slightly, their vacant eyes gradually gaining focus.
Strange halos shimmered across their chests, as if hearts were being reborn and beating.
White Zetsu clapped his hands contentedly, revealing an amused smile.
"Haha... This looks much more proper now."
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