At this moment, in the conference room above the written examination room, the major figures of the ninja world were seated, watching the Chunin Exam unfold. When Anko Mitarashi announced the rules of the second round, they initially found the difficulty level excessive, but ultimately acceptable—this was the Chunin Exams, after all. Competition was expected to be fierce.
However, when Kurenai mentioned that the Human Scroll contained a healing potion, everyone—except Uchiha Hikaru and Tsunade—fell into a stunned silence, disbelief etched across their faces.
In the shinobi world, medical ninja were rare and precious. To protect them, the Five Great Nations had even reached a consensus: medical ninja were not to be targeted in war.
And now, Konoha had developed something akin to a universal healing potion?
No one knew how effective it truly was, but for Konoha to publicly advertise it—and include it in an exam—meant the technology had to be stable. Even if it had side effects, they were likely minimal.
Within moments, the attendants and bodyguards behind the various Kage began excusing themselves one after another to "use the restroom."
Uchiha Hikaru didn't need to guess. He already knew—they were scrambling to contact their villages.
Secure a copy of the Human Scroll at any cost.
Even if their Genin had to forfeit the second round afterward, it was worth it.
The strategic value of such a substance was immeasurable.
Even Konan personally left the room, preparing to use a reverse summoning technique. She crafted a paper crane and imbued it with chakra to send to Nagato immediately.
Though Uchiha Hikaru's voice vaguely resembled a certain masked man from the past, Konan had been warned before—confirm his identity repeatedly before trusting him.
For now, the priority was informing Nagato of both the healing potion... and Uchiha Hikaru's return.
Whether to continue with Black Zetsu and Madara's long-laid plans would be up to Nagato's judgment.
Back inside the conference room, upon hearing about the Human Scroll, Ōnoki grew visibly agitated and leaned toward Tsunade with a probing tone.
"As expected of the Medical Saint of the Leaf. You've even developed a healing potion now?"
"I wonder… does Konoha have any plans to sell it?"
Tsunade grinned at the elderly Tsuchikage and burst into hearty laughter.
"Hahaha."
"You flatter me, old man. But that healing potion? That's not my doing."
"It was developed by Orochimaru."
"As for selling it—nah. No plans for that. We can't mass-produce it yet. Maybe someday."
But inwardly?
Tch. Sell it? In your dreams.
This was made from my grandfather Hashirama's cells. It's for Konoha shinobi only.
I even knelt before my grandfather's memorial for three whole days just to justify using it. If I dared to sell it off to outsiders, he'd come back in my dreams and drag me to the Pure Land himself.
Uchiha Hikaru couldn't help but feel bemused.
In the original timeline, Tsunade had always been opposed to using Senju cells.
But now?
She'd willingly undergone a transplant herself and even awakened Wood Release. The so-called healing potion was a side product from Orochimaru's lab, but instead of reprimanding him, Tsunade had approved its development.
Worse—Orochimaru had already begun mass production.
Using just a small sample of Hashirama's flesh, he'd cultivated vast amounts of new tissue. Now, they had tens of thousands of doses stored in Orochimaru's lab.
Among the Kage, the one with the strongest reaction was Rasa, the Kazekage. Though hidden behind his face veil, his fury was clear.
Shit… I'll have to ask Granny Chiyo to restart our medical research department. If we can just obtain a single sample, Sunagakure might have a chance at replicating this technology.
Over half an hour passed.
Naruto stood at the edge of the Forest of Death, watching his classmates enter one by one.
Finally, he took a deep breath, signed the waiver alongside Sasuke and Sakura, received a Heaven Scroll from Anko, and stepped through Gate 27.
They moved in formation—Sasuke in the lead, Sakura in the center, and Naruto at the rear—as they advanced cautiously into the dense forest.
But only a few minutes after entering, Sasuke's Sharingan picked up a strange outline—a faint chakra shimmer ahead.
Camouflage technique, huh?
Most wouldn't notice it. But unfortunately for the poor bastard, they were facing none other than Uchiha Sasuke, the prodigy of Konoha.
Through the lens of his Sharingan, the enemy's position was laughably obvious—like a toddler playing hide-and-seek with half their body sticking out.
Sasuke subtly signaled with his right hand behind his back. Sakura immediately understood, relaying the message through her own hand gestures to Naruto.
Naruto squinted, trying to decipher her signs.
"Huh? Sakura? What's with your hands? Are you cramping up?"
"Need me to rub them for you?"
Before she could react, Naruto hurried up to her side, wearing the dumbest grin imaginable as he reached for her hand.
Hehe~ Sakura's little hands must be so soft and warm~ If I touch them, I'll never wash my hands again~
Sakura instinctively jerked to the side, her expression one of pure revulsion. She glared at him like he was some kind of perverted trash.
Sasuke sighed audibly, resisting the urge to facepalm.
But the Genin from Iwagakure, who had been lying in wait about 100 meters ahead, noticed the noise.
"Shit… we've been spotted?"
"Guess the Uchiha brat saw through our camouflage. We'll have to go loud."
The lead Iwa-nin activated a Shadow Clone Jutsu, forming two duplicates as he rushed toward the trio in a pincer formation.
Meanwhile, he shouted, "Iwano! Takuichi!"
In response, his two teammates erupted from the earth, having hidden underground using Earth Style: Hiding Like a Mole Technique. They each grabbed one of Sasuke's ankles from below.
"Dammit! They used Earth Style to tunnel beneath us?"
"Careless."
Realizing what was happening, Sasuke attempted to react, but it was too late to dodge entirely.
The lead Iwa-nin smirked as he charged. His original body and two clones all aimed for Naruto and Sakura from different directions.
Even Naruto, slow as he sometimes was, understood now.
Oh… Sakura was warning me about an ambush… not flirting.
"…Oops."
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