SHINOBI EXAM

[In the video, a silver-haired ninja appears, revealing only his right eye.]

The lower half of his face was concealed by a mask, and his forehead protector, now engraved with the word "nin", covered his left eye. Despite the change, his identity was unmistakable. He had copied countless jutsu, earning fame as the "Copy Ninja."

Who doesn't know Sharingan Kakashi?

"Captain of the Third Unit, Konoha Village—Hatake Kakashi!"

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "Kakashi?"

Naruto practically leaped in excitement. "Kakashi-sensei!"

Sakura blinked, the words sinking in slowly. "Wait... Kakashi-sensei? The captain of the Third Unit in the Ninja Alliance during the Fourth Ninja War? That Kakashi-sensei?!"

Naruto spun away from Shikamaru, his energy boundless. "What about us?! What happened to me, Sakura-chan, and Sasuke? Did I become Hokage?!"

His bright, expectant gaze was met with Sasuke's calm and cutting response. "No way."

Those two words deflated Naruto instantly, his enthusiasm replaced by indignation. Just as he opened his mouth to argue, Sakura's fist cracked the air, silencing him.

"But still!" Naruto exclaimed, rubbing his head and staring at the screen. "Kakashi-sensei is amazing! I told you he's awesome!"

The others nodded in agreement.

[The video transitioned, revealing an older man who didn't resemble a typical ninja.]

The sight made Temari's heart race. A suspicion crept into her mind, one she instinctively tried to deny. Her gaze flicked toward her intimidating brother, Gaara, and quickly darted away.

"Captain of the Fifth Unit, Admiral of the Iron Kingdom—Mifune!"

The screen shifted again, leaving Temari's suspicions no room to hide.

[A pair of boots appeared, firmly planted in the center of the formation. The camera panned upward, revealing a young red-haired ninja.]

Shikamaru's voice narrated over the image: "The captain of the Fourth Unit, the commander of all combat units, and the commander-in-chief of the Ninja Alliance—Kazekage Gaara!"

The crowd collectively gasped as the image focused on Gaara's calm, mature face. He was a far cry from the bloodthirsty child they had known. The eighteen-year-old Gaara radiated authority and composure, showing no fear of war or traces of his former murderous intent.

He had emerged from the depths of a lonely hell.

The sight shocked everyone.

"Gaara?!"

All eyes in Konoha turned to the boy standing among them. They saw not the leader from the video but a morbid, bloodthirsty twelve-year-old radiating murderous intent.

Konoha's younger ninjas, guided by the past Hokage, had grown up cherishing camaraderie and protecting their friends. Gaara's stark contrast was unsettling. His psychological scars painted a picture of cruelty that seemed unimaginable to them.

The transformation they saw in the video raised a troubling question:

What had turned a bloodthirsty child into a calm and rational leader in just three years?

And more importantly: What kind of threat could unite the entire ninja world under a single leader's command?

For the doubters in the ninja world watching the video, it seemed incomprehensible. Many questioned the authenticity of what they were seeing. Could a child truly bear the weight of commanding the entire world's ninja forces?

In Konoha, Gaara stood under the weight of countless stares, his younger self the stark focus of their scrutiny.

Shikamaru let out a long sigh, hands buried in his pockets. "Dad, it seems we were all wrong." His lazy drawl was tinged with exasperation. "That Naruto guy is more trouble than I thought."

Shikaku arched an eyebrow, intrigued.

His son had shared his thoughts earlier, analyzing the peculiar situation. Shikamaru had viewed the quiz as a strategic game where the rules—though seemingly vague—offered crucial hints to guide the players.

First, the quiz had clear rules, which reduced the risk of random guesses.

Second, the rewards for correct answers were often revealed before answering, providing subtle clues.

Finally, the wording of the question itself was significant:

[Question: During the Fourth Ninja War, in order to protect someone, the captain of the Ninja Alliance did something like, 'Come and chop off my head after the war is over!' Who was he referring to?]

The choice of "who" rather than "what" suggested a fill-in-the-blank response, narrowing down the possible answers.

Shikamaru had pieced together that the question's answer was linked to Konoha, Hatake Kakashi, and the Chakra Blade—a hint embedded in the phrasing itself.

As the screen continued to display the ninja captains, murmurs spread across the world. The sight of these leaders solidified a single truth: the threat posed by the masked man was unlike anything they had faced before.

The world had united under the banner of the Ninja Alliance, and its captains were its greatest pillars of strength.

In Konoha, Temari couldn't shake her growing admiration—and dread—for Gaara's future self. Despite her best efforts, her eyes darted to Shikamaru, who looked more annoyed than impressed.

"Shikamaru," Ino whispered, nudging him. "You know this is amazing, right? Even you have to admit it."

He sighed deeply, staring at the ground. "Troublesome. All of it."

Naruto, meanwhile, was practically vibrating with energy. "Just wait! I'll become Hokage, and everyone will see how amazing I am!"

Sasuke's voice was cold and cutting. "Stop daydreaming."

As the crowd's focus returned to the projection, the ninja captains' faces were framed by an aura of gravitas. One thing was certain: this war was about more than just villages or rivalries. It was a battle for the survival of their world.

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