410. The Joint Chunin Exam

"I heard that Elder Danzo has taken on three more disciples?" The next day, in the Hokage's office, Minato and Shikaku both turned their curious gazes toward Danzo.

Meanwhile, Fugaku Uchiha, another high-ranking elder, wore a satisfied smile.

Although the Uchiha clan's reputation had improved significantly after the reform of the Konoha Military Police Force into the Police Department, and the internal situation in the Land of Fire was no longer as precarious as before, Fugaku was still thrilled that his son, Itachi, had been taken as a disciple by Danzo.

After all, who wouldn't want to be associated with Shimura Danzo, the father of the Land of Fire and the current strongest shinobi in the world?

Moreover, Fugaku knew Danzo's temperament well.

If Itachi didn't possess exceptional qualities, Danzo would never have taken him as a disciple—even if he was Fugaku's son.

The fact that Itachi had succeeded in becoming Danzo's disciple could only mean one thing: Danzo believed Itachi had potential and a bright future.

This was evident from the examples of Shisui, Kabuto, and Chino.


This was what made Fugaku the happiest.

The Uchiha clan had successors!

Even if he were to die on the battlefield, the clan could still be entrusted to Shisui and Itachi.

Facing Minato and Shikaku's curiosity, Danzo simply nodded calmly.

"That's correct. One of them is Uchiha Itachi, whom you're familiar with. The other two are promising talents I discovered in the Land of Water."

"Promising talents?" Shikaku raised an eyebrow.

For someone like Danzo, the strongest shinobi in the world, to refer to them as "promising talents" was no small matter.

Moreover, Danzo's ability to recognize talent was well-known.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to assemble a terrifying team like the Earth Branch Squad.

If Danzo acknowledged their abilities, those two kids must be extraordinary.

Danzo didn't hold back.

"One is named Kimimaro, and the other is named Haku. The former is the last survivor of the extinct Kaguya clan, possessing their inherited Kekkei Genkai, the Shikotsumyaku. He's a natural-born fighter. The latter is a survivor of the Yuki clan, who has awakened the Kekkei Genkai, Hyōton, and also possesses immense potential."

Hearing this, the three men in the room collectively gasped.

Minato and Shikaku exchanged glances, both sensing a startling speculation in each other's minds.

Konoha, of course, knew about the fall of the Kaguya and Yuki clans—not just in passing, but in great detail.

After years of Root's operations, the Land of Water had been thoroughly infiltrated.

Many of the prisoners released during the Third Shinobi World War had been successfully turned into Konoha's spies within Kirigakure.

Although Yagura's Bloody Mist had eliminated many of them, Konoha still received a wealth of intelligence, including news of Yagura's actions against these two clans.

After Yagura's regime collapsed, Kirigakure's affairs became even more transparent to Konoha.

With the Land of Water reopening, it became easier for Konoha's spies to send information back.

Moreover, thanks to Konoha's aid policies toward Kirigakure, a large number of new "loyalists" had been successfully recruited—or rather, "visionaries" who recognized the times!

What struck Minato and Shikaku as both coincidental and shocking was that the fall of the Kaguya and Yuki clans, as well as the collapse of Yagura's Bloody Mist faction, all seemed to have occurred after Danzo's visit to the Land of Water.

Now, he had brought back Kimimaro and Haku, the last survivors of these clans, and taken them as disciples.

It was hard for them not to connect the dots.

After all, their "founding father" had once been known as the "Darkness of the Shinobi"!

Seeing Minato and Shikaku's expressions, Danzo instantly understood their thoughts and immediately clarified, "I merely went to investigate an old acquaintance. The internal changes in the Land of Water were purely coincidental and had little to do with me."

Well... it was true that he had gone to investigate, but he had also conveniently cut that old acquaintance in half.

As for the internal changes in the Land of Water? That was their internal affair.


Konoha had never been one to interfere in other nations' politics.

The aid to Kirigakure was purely humanitarian.

And as for the Land of Water's people leaning toward the Land of Fire? That was undoubtedly because they had been moved by Konoha's burning Will of Fire!

Hearing Danzo's explanation, Minato, Shikaku, and Fugaku all nodded in understanding.

"Alright, let's not dwell on the Land of Water anymore," Danzo said. "Have you considered the matter of the joint Chunin Exam?"

Danzo taking on disciples was a minor issue.

The upcoming joint Chunin Exam was the real matter of importance, one that concerned the entire shinobi world.

Why did it concern the entire shinobi world? Mainly because such joint exams were often seen as a simulation of a small-scale shinobi war.

They attracted the attention of the entire shinobi world's populace, merchants, and nobles.

If a village performed exceptionally well, it would easily gain the favor of these potential clients, thereby securing a larger market share.

Of course, Konoha no longer needed to compete for market share to develop itself.

They had transitioned from being mercenaries to a professional military force.

The number of missions within the Land of Fire had significantly decreased after the reforms.

After all, most of the bandits and other threats had been cleared out during Konoha's "Anti-Crime and Anti-Evil" campaign.

The vast majority had become experience points for the military ninjas.

Even the usually active underground bounty stations had been severely cracked down on.

Under Danzo's warning, they had voluntarily dismantled many of their bases within the Land of Fire, retaining only a few hidden outposts near the borders.

Therefore, Konoha's purpose in hosting this joint exam was not to compete for market share.

It was to showcase their military strength and the various technologies they now possessed.

They wanted the entire shinobi world to know that Konoha had entered a new era.

The old traditions they once followed no longer applied to the current rules.

Danzo wanted to prove to the entire shinobi world that the path Konoha had chosen was the correct one!

Minato and the others, of course, unconditionally supported his vision and plan.

However, support didn't mean they were without concerns.

"Elder Danzo, are you so confident that Konoha's ninjas will stand out in this exam?" Minato, as the Hokage, asked curiously. He wanted to know what Danzo's plans were.

Hearing this, Danzo smiled confidently and assured them, "In the coming days, I will personally train my five disciples, including Kabuto and Itachi. They will all participate in this joint Chunin Exam as Konoha genin."