(Woo~ I Also Panicked When I Didn't Get a Grade)
---
"I have a hunch… That one-eyed guy can't be Madara Uchiha."
"No way! Look at him—he's such a coward. If that were Ban, he would've already torn off the mask and challenged everyone to a fight. He wouldn't be spouting nonsense like that."
"Wait, if he's Uchiha Obito… does that mean he's also a survivor of the Uchiha clan?"
"Nonsense! Didn't you hear? He and Uchiha Itachi together wiped them out."
"The Uchiha clan is scary… They're all wolves."
"Then, what about that orphan from our village…?"
"Shh! Don't say it out loud. He's still alive because those above said so. We can't talk about it."
"But really, when you think about it… the Uchiha clan weren't victims. Their love was just too narrow."
A crowd had gathered near the gates of Konoha, chatting without realizing that a figure in black, wearing a white cat-faced Anbu mask, was silently watching them from atop the wall nearby.
Still as stone, he stared at the massive screen overhead.
---
"Whether or not you're Madara Uchiha—Obito Uchiha is a traitor, a Konoha spy!"
Dried Persimmon Kisame's voice was sharp with disgust.
He hated traitors. He didn't care about others' paths, but he held himself to an unbending standard.
To Kisame, a true ninja must be pure. If captured, they must be ready to die rather than betray secrets.
Now, rage burned in his eyes.
He shifted his gaze from the expressionless Konan to the silently observing Pain in his wheelchair.
"Boss. Do I kill him, or do you?"
As if responding to Kisame's rage, Samehada, the sentient sword strapped to his back, suddenly unwound its bandages. The massive blade leaped forward, its jagged mouth opening toward Konan. The air grew thick with killing intent.
---
[Because you changed the correct answer, the exam difficulty has increased. If you answer correctly, half of your reward will be deducted and redistributed to another candidate.]
[Randomly selecting candidate…]
[Bonus reward granted to: Angel Konan.]
Above the test arena, Jia Yi ignored the system's mechanical voice. His eyes sparkled with amusement as he watched the chaos unfold below.
To most, this was just another exam question.
But for Pain—this question was personal torture.
Should he trust himself, the truth, or his friend?
People are selfish, Jia Yi mused.
Especially Pain—his heart consumed with revenge against Konoha.
Jia Yi glanced at the unruly Samehada.
Annoyed, he slapped his palm down through space.
---
Samehada, sensing danger, suddenly froze mid-air. It sniffed, trembled, then quickly recoiled behind Kisame, wrapping itself tightly again.
Kisame barely had time to notice before a massive fog-covered palm descended from the sky—
BOOM!
Samehada was crushed instantly. Kisame trembled, blood gushing from his mouth—
Then his body exploded into red mist and jagged shards.
Blood rained through the air like spears, staining Akatsuki robes an even deeper crimson.
In the corner, Kakuzu, stunned, reached up to wipe his face—only to find a chunk of Kisame's flesh in his hand.
"Kisame…?"
His body trembled. The resentful aura around him recoiled violently. All four of his hearts spasmed at once.
He hadn't expected Kisame—the Tailless Tailed Beast—to die so suddenly, so easily.
Even he wouldn't dare challenge Kisame lightly.
Now he was… gone.
The rest of Akatsuki stood paralyzed, flesh and blood on their robes, yet not one of them dared to move.
Pain, in particular, was shaken.
A moment ago, Kisame was barking orders.
Now—nothing left. Not even bones.
He hadn't even seen what hit him.
What if that thing came for him next?
Could he dodge it?
No.
He absolutely couldn't.
Not just him—everyone was thinking the same thing.
Obito especially felt the cold sweat running down his back.
He'd almost acted out just now!
Thank goodness I used words, not violence!
Obito reminded himself again and again:
Absolutely do not provoke this space!
---
"So strong…?"
Even Jia Yi was a little stunned.
He hadn't expected such a casual strike to outright obliterate Kisame.
He didn't even mean to kill him—it was his first time acting out, after all.
These weren't pirates—they were ninjas. Quiet, obedient, respectful since entering the space.
He finally gets one troublemaker—and he accidentally overkills him!
He just wanted to make a statement—not erase Kisame from existence.
[Warning issued: Dried Persimmon Kisame violated exam room discipline.]
---
"WHAT?! A WARNING?! That was a death sentence!"
In the Hidden Mist Village…
A tall, thin man stared at the screen and cursed.
Not because Kisame died—that guy would've died by his hands eventually anyway.
But Samehada? What was that sword's crime?
It was just a blade!
It didn't even have a brain!
---
"Lord Mizukage!" Ao shouted beside Terumi Mei, his Byakugan activating automatically in panic. His veins bulged—terrifying to look at.
"Cancel the plan."
Terumi Mei's voice was exhausted.
She and Ao had just finalized a plan to retrieve Kisame—he didn't betray her, after all.
His defection was due to failed assassination of the former Mizukage, and he'd never harmed her or the village.
She'd been quietly searching for him.
Now…
He was dead.
Could the Mist Village ever return to glory?
Terumi Mei rubbed her temple, her voice low and bitter.
"From today onward… the Seven Ninja Swordsmen are no more."