Uchiha Noboru said this with a hint of cruelty in his tone.
It made everyone present realize that this was neither a place for kindness nor a playground—this was the ninja world filled with competition and death.
Following his announcement, the crowd began to disperse, each heading to their respective entrances to enter the forest and start searching for the scrolls.
Uchiha Hikaru glanced meaningfully toward the direction of the Hidden Cloud ninjas.
Then, he turned and entered the forest, disappearing from everyone's sight.
The tragic situation of Roshi was still vivid in their minds, and this glance from him added heavy pressure on them.
But this Chūnin exam was too important—they had to succeed no matter what.
They took a deep breath, steadying their emotions as if encouraging and cheering each other on.
Then, they followed closely behind the Hidden Cloud team, stepping deeper into the forest.
Once inside, it felt like stepping into another world.
The forest was thick with the scent of trees; a gentle breeze rustled the leaves, as if whispering secrets.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the foliage, casting mottled shadows on the ground, evoking an inexplicable sense of oppression.
As if sensing their nervousness, Dodai comforted them from the front:
"We're so many of us, what's there to fear? Don't worry, this time, we will win."
His voice carried a touch of gentleness, soothing everyone.
He reached out, gently patting the shoulders of two Hidden Cloud ninjas, giving them an encouraging look.
"According to the original plan, we'll regroup with the other villages, eliminate Konoha first, then..."
"Oh~ Eliminate Konoha first, huh? What a coincidence—I was thinking along the same lines."
Before he could finish, a voice suddenly came from the trees above.
All eyes immediately gathered there, seeing Uchiha Hikaru sitting on a branch, leisurely twiddling his fingers.
His gaze swept over them, a faint smile curling on his lips.
Though they hadn't immediately spotted the hidden Uchiha Hikaru, their ninja instincts had them ready for combat in an instant.
They stared tensely at Uchiha Hikaru, palms sweating.
Uchiha Hikaru looked at their nervous expressions and said calmly,
"Don't be nervous. It'll be over in a flash. Being tense won't help."
No sooner had he finished speaking than Uchiha Hikaru appeared before them like a ghost.
His figure, bathed in the sunset's afterglow, seemed somewhat ethereal, as if he weren't a real person.
This action instantly shattered everyone's mental threshold—they realized this opponent was no ordinary foe.
"Lightning Release: Thunderball!"
With a unified shout, the crowd unleashed their ninjutsu.
Lightning balls tore through the air like streaks of thunder, rushing toward Uchiha Hikaru.
At the same time, several Hidden Cloud ninjas, their bodies crackling with electric sparks, charged alongside.
Determination shone brightly in their eyes.
Facing the combined assault of the Hidden Cloud ninjas, Uchiha Hikaru remained unfazed.
Expressionless, he extended his hand in front of him and slowly said,
"Fire Style: Amaterasu."
In the next moment, tendrils of black flames spread from his hand, instantly engulfing the thunderballs and the charging Hidden Cloud ninjas.
His figure, set against the flames, looked even more invincible.
"Impossible... how can he be this strong?!"
Dodai stared in disbelief at the scene before him, muttering under his breath.
His face drained of color, his eyes filled with fear and confusion.
Inside, Dodai felt as if hit by a massive wave; no matter how he tried, he couldn't accept that their combined attack was so easily countered by one person.
For the sake of victory, every one of them was actually a jōnin, yet now they appeared so fragile.
However, reality was cruel.
After consuming the thunderballs, Amaterasu did not dissipate—instead, it surged forward like a massive dragon under Uchiha Hikaru's control.
The flames roared as they weaved through the trees, consuming everything in the pitch-black blaze.
Dodai watched helplessly, his heart filled with dread.
But clearly, there was no time for despair.
He struggled to calm his mind, refusing to let fear consume him.
Facing the approaching flames, he swiftly formed defensive seals, preparing to block the attack.
His hands waved rapidly through the air, creating illusions that dazzled the eyes.
"Lava Release: Protective Wall!"
With Dodai's shout, a scorching barrier rose from the ground, instantly enveloping everyone inside.
Just as Dodai breathed a sigh of relief, believing his jutsu could withstand Uchiha Hikaru's assault—
Tendrils of flame started to seep through cracks in the barrier before him.
This startled Dodai; he quickly stepped back, shouting loudly,
"Now!"
At his command, everyone simultaneously cast Water Release ninjutsu.
Walls of water materialized instantly in front of them, blocking the flames.
Water and fire collided, producing violent explosions.
The steam formed a dense mist that enveloped them.
Then, screams echoed through the forest one after another.
When the chaos finally settled, Dodai found that all the Hidden Cloud ninjas except himself were lying on the ground.
Their faces were pale, bodies twitching in obvious agony.
Before him, Uchiha Hikaru wore a smile as he looked at Dodai.
"Don't worry, except for those two cursing me, the rest are still alive."
Hearing this, Dodai finally relaxed a little.
He anxiously glanced around, confirming the others were still alive before putting his mind at ease.
But before he could say anything, Uchiha Hikaru spoke again.
"Whether they have any disabilities, or whether they'll still be alive later, I can't guarantee."
As soon as the words fell, Dodai's face contorted with fury as he charged forward.
His body flickered with electric light; chakra transformed into lightning, wrapping his entire form.
His left hand struck fiercely at Uchiha Hikaru, carrying a trace of afterimage and the power of thunder.
However, in the next second, his left hand was severed from his body.
As Dodai's arm flew off, he froze.
A flash of terror and confusion crossed his eyes, followed by intense pain assaulting his mind.
He clutched the severed stump, blood oozing from between his fingers, staining his palm red.
Dodai gritted his teeth, the pain unbearable, but he didn't cry out.
He looked at the seemingly ordinary child before him, no longer feeling any contempt or slackness.
"Who exactly are you?"
Dodai asked through gritted teeth, his voice trembling and weak.
Hearing this, Uchiha Hikaru halted his attack.
Then said the line he had long prepared.
"Konoha Ninja Academy first-year student, Uchiha Hikaru."