Asuma, Shisui, and Kurenai exged gnces.

  Familiar!

  Way too familiar!

  This was their teacher’s cssic tactic.

  Just when you thought the test hadn’t started yet, the exam had already begun.

  Of course, it was Kyoichi’s doing.

  They didn’t dare let their guard down. The map they had just seen fshed through their minds again and again, but…

  "Be tent..."

  Shisui murmured softly.

  Asuma and Kurenai paused for a moment before quickly uanding—don’t be too greedy, just remember part of the map.

  One minute…

  Normally, that lenty of time to memorize a map.

  But…

  There were only a couple of clear vantage points.

  And there were fifty to sixty people here.

  In that instant, there was no way to vince everyoo rationally transcribe the map. They weren’t teammates; they were petitors.

  It was unsolvable…

  Kyoichi’s voiterrupted their thoughts.

  ", we will fiscate all ninja tools and supplies. Everything you need for the sed exam, you’ll have to obtain ihe test site."

  "Additionally…"

  "Be prepared. We will be shuffling all teams."

  Kyoichi’s smiling eyes swept over the crowd.

  An uproar broke out instantly.

  Shuffling the teams?!

  That meant former teammates could now be enemies.

  Which meant…

  The intelligehey had just gathered…

  Everyone looked at each other, speechless.

  Kurenai g her two teammates, silently exging wry looks.

  Yep. This felt exactly like their teacher’s work.

  That distinct sense of mischief—it was so thick you could almost smell it.

  "The rest of the details were on the map earlier, so I won’t repeat myself."

  "Sensei, what if we didn’t see the map clearly?"

  "If you couldn’t see it clearly in a mihen you’re not qualified to be a in."

  The field fell into silence.

  Some were angry but had no way tue.

  Kyoichi didn’t give them a ce to dwell on it, simply waving his hand to signal them forward—

  To the Forest of Death!

  ---

  The atmosphere was tense on the way.

  Shisui exged hand signals with Asuma and Kurenai.

  Nearby, Obito's eyes lit up when he saw them.

  The Police Force’s hand signs!

  Excited, he pulled Rin over and started wildly signaling to Shisui.

  But…

  Halfway through…

  He fot how to sign a particur word.

  Awkward.

  Fortunately, Shisui uood his iion and signed back with a slight nod.

  It wasn’t hard to guess—probably something about proteg Rin.

  Because Obito himself had never learhe word "fear."

  Most of the examinees were cautious around each other.

  But…

  Some had already started f temporary alliances—especially those who were former teammates or had good retionships.

  Meanwhile…

  Kyoichi and Might Duy trailed behind them.

  "Kyoichi, how does your mind even work? All these twists and turns… you sure have a lot of devious tricks."

  Might Duy was amazed.

  As a proctor, he was only and providing emergency prote if necessary.

  So…

  He had no idea what Kyoichi had pnned until now.

  This…

  He wasn’t sure about Guy, but he himself definitely couldn’t ha.

  Duy knew his own abilities.

  Sure, his Taijutsu was strong, and he had the Eight Gates, but he cked the knowledge and strategic thinking required of a in or Jōnin. If he were in charge of a squad, he’d only be a liability.

  Seeing how this exam ying out only reinforced that belief.

  "It’s nothing special. I’m just standing on the shoulders of giants."

  "That makes sehis is youth!"

  "Uh…" Here we go again.

  Kyoichi ignored Duy’s sudden outburst of passion and focused his gaze on the Genin ahead.

  By now, it was easy to tell who was smart and who wasn’t.

  Some had already started f alliances.

  The team shuffle wasn’t just to test and skills or improvisation—it was also a test of grand strategy.

  If three inal teammates mao spread across three separate squads while maintaining trol of those teams, they could coordinate and systematically elimihe petition.

  In a structured exam, this kind of tactic would be sidered cheating.

  But otlefield?

  It was standard practice.

  Life-ah bat didn’t care about sportsmanship.

  If you couldn’t grasp that cept…

  You had no business being a ninja.

  Kyoichi followed them to the outskirts of the Forest of Death but didn’t go in.

  Rushing around to wat person was too exhausting.

  Better to find Hiruzen!

  Hiruzen’s Telescope Jutsu was the ultimate live broadcast tool—o run around.

  As for emergency rescues…

  That’s what Minato and the medical team were for.

  o get his hands dirty.

  "Lord Hokage…"

  "You’re not supervising the exam site? What are you doing here?"

  Hiruzen looked at him curiously.

  He was statio a distance from the Forest of Death. If something happened, it would take him a moment to reach.

  Usually…

  The head proctor should be nearby monit the test.

  Kyoichi grinned.

  "Minato-senpai is already there. What would a mere junior like me o tribute? I heard you have a Jutsu that allows remote observation. I was just curious and wao see it in a."

  "Uh…" Hiruzen eechless.

  Telescope Jutsu.

  That teique…

  Was a little embarrassing to talk about.

  His small personal hobby was basically an ope among the younger geion now.

  Awkwardly clearing his throat, he said, "Fine. Using it to monitor the exam is actually a good idea—it allows for a broad perspective."

  "Lord Hokage, I’ve prepared a rge mirror for you."

  Kyoichi unsealed a massive mirror from a ste scroll.

  Hiruzen eechless.

  After a long silence…

  He still cast the Jutsu, using the mirror to project a real-time view of the Forest of Death.

  Though the teique needed a small adjustment, it was nothing difficult for Sarutobi Hiruzen.

  Kakashi’s eyes widened.

  This Jutsu…

  Was amazing!

  With this mirror, they could instantly switch perspectives and track multiple areas within the exam.

  The only downside?

  The Hokage had basically beeed to a live broadcast cameraman.

  Shikaku sighed.

  Kyoichi has no fear.

  No one else would have dared ask the Hokage to use this Jutsu.

  The first image that appeared in the mirror was—

  Uchiha Obito.

  His team: Obito, Yamashiro Aoba, and Might Guy.

  "This team is actually pretty strong. Guy’s Taijutsu is top-tier, Obito pensates with Ninjutsu, and Aoba specializes in reaissance."

  Chōza analyzed thoughtfully.

  He wasirely wrong.

  But Hagaetsu knew better.

  He sighed softly.

  He already saw the iable failure.

  Obito and Guy.

  In the same squad?

  "Chōza-senpai, you’re only half right. On paper, this team is strong. But the problem is, betweehree of them, they only have the bined intelligence of two people."

  Kyoichi chuckled.

  Minato really did them dirty with this grouping.

  Kakashi thought it over carefully.

  And realized…

  Kyoichi’s assessment was absolutely spot on.

  Obito and Guy…

  Together, they barely had half a brain.

  "I memorized the map! First, we should secure a resource point, then—"

  "What resources? Let’s find aeam and take them down first!"

  "Yes! My youth is burning!"

  Hiruzen watched the se unfold and fell silent.

  He started doubting his own judgment.

  Was Obito really the sed ing of Uchiha Kagami?

  "...I overestimated them."

  "Clearly, they don’t even have a single braiween them."

  Gcell