Hokage Office.
The central domed building of Konoha Village.
An Anbu ninja knelt on one knee on the ground, speaking mechanically as if reporting the latest news to the elderly man sitting at the desk: "Lord Hokage, news from the second alert zone indicates a violent tremor near Training Ground No. 9..."
"Hmm."
Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, wearing a hat, nonchalantly held his pipe while flipping through a stack of papers in his hands, seemingly indifferent to the Anbu's report, casually saying: "I remember Training Ground No. 9 is assigned to the Anbu training class..."
Anbu training class.
The Anbu training class nominally belongs to the Anbu.
However, most Anbu personnel are aware that the Anbu training class is actually Shimura Danzo's Root Organization, which in reality has far exceeded a single class size.
"Yes."
The Anbu ninja acknowledged, continuing to report: "From observations afar, a forest has appeared at Training Ground No. 9 within a short time..."
"Oh?"
The Third Hokage continued holding his pipe, carefully flipping through the stack of papers in his hands: "This situation sounds somewhat familiar..."
"Yes."
The Anbu ninja quickly bowed his head to explain to his superior: "Not long ago, Tianzang, who was recently transferred into the Anbu by you, released a Wood Release Ninjutsu called 'Wood Release: Forest Sea Emergence' in the Anbu training ground, creating a sea of trees in a short amount of time. It is preliminarily suspected that someone used the same Wood Release Ninjutsu at Training Ground No. 9."
"Hmm, no need for further investigation."
The Third Hokage nodded, still unconcerned, while continuing to look at the stack of papers: "I knew about this matter, and Kage Assistant Danzo has already informed me about another Wood Release Bloodline Ninja in the Anbu training class."
Clearly.
The Third Hokage lied to his subordinate.
After all, not long ago, he had mobilized Anbu to surround the Root, ready to suppress it at any moment, snatching a Wood Release Bloodline Ninja from Danzo's command...
Now that he knew there was another Wood Release Bloodline Ninja under Danzo's command, should he mobilize Anbu to surround the Root again to snatch the second one?
Such a thing...
Can be done once, but not again.
Especially given the short time since the last incident, doing the same thing to Shimura Danzo would inevitably cause Danzo displeasure and resentment.
If that Wood Release Bloodline Ninja has considerable talent, he can be transferred into Anbu at a later opportunity, without stirring up conflict with Danzo at this time.
Konoha needs Danzo to handle some unsavory troubles.
The Ninja World remains unstable, with the Great Country Ninja Villages still engaging in open and covert battles, with infiltration, assassinations, and clandestine operations never ceasing;
Even internally within Konoha, instability exists, particularly with the ambitious and powerful Uchiha Clan, whose conflicts with the village continue to escalate and could erupt at any moment;
All of these matters...
Require Shimura Danzo's assistance.
However...
Danzo must be given a warning now.
Let Danzo know that his every move is being watched.
Danzo must curb any inappropriate intentions, for possessing another Wood Release Ninja doesn't give him the courage to attempt another assassination of the Hokage like years ago.
That old friend...
Narrow-minded yet cowardly...
Once a flaw is caught, he'll be scared into hiding in the sewers.
"Alright."
"No need to discuss this any further."
"The most important thing now is the Chunin exams in the latter half of the year for the village."
Despite having that stack of papers in hand, the Third Hokage continued to flip through them; they were the Konoha Village's Chunin exam applications for the latter half of the year, representing the most critical assessment for the entire Konoha Village.
The Chunin exams are meant for talent selection.
The Konoha Village is home to a vast number of Genin, who are the foundation for the village to undertake low-level ninja commission tasks, serving as important support for Konoha's prosperity, though they spend a lifetime reliant on the C-rank and D-rank ninja commissions to maintain their existence.
However, the nature of a Chunin is different.
If a Genin performs excellently in the Chunin exams and is promoted by the village to become a Chunin, they then have the option of a stable career.
A Chunin can take on lucrative B-level battle commission tasks and even work in various departments within the village; there's even a chance to join Anbu.
The Chunin exam is the highest level of unified examination in Konoha.
Konoha conducts a total of two Chunin exams annually, sometimes in collaboration with other small and medium-sized Ninja Villages, and without exception, the pass rate for each Chunin exam is extremely low.
Since the end of the Third Ninja World War, with the Ninja World entering a period of peace, the Chunin exams have acquired new significance, becoming an important occasion to showcase Konoha's national power.
The main source of Konoha Village's financial income is derived from the Daimyo of the Land of Fire and ninja commissioned tasks.
The Daimyo of the Land of Fire frequently comes to observe the Chunin exams to determine whether to increase or decrease financial support; other small country Daimyo or nobles also attend to decide whether to assign high-level commissioned tasks to Konoha.
Moreover...
Most importantly, it is to intimidate and attract Konoha's allies.
Typically, small Ninja Villages are alliances sought after by the Five Great Countries' Hidden Villages. These small Ninja Villages often compare the national power of various Great Country Ninja Villages to decide to pledge allegiance to a more powerful Hidden Village.
Without a doubt, the Chunin exams, in a time of peace, are the best opportunity for small Ninja Villages to directly observe Konoha's national power, compelling Konoha to place even greater emphasis on the Chunin exams.
"Are all the Chunin exam applications here?"
The Third Hokage slowly put down the pipe at his mouth and suddenly asked, "Did Uchiha Itachi apply to participate in the Chunin exams alone?"
"Yes."
The Anbu ninja nodded and explained: "According to the information we've gathered, two years ago, Uchiha Itachi's teammates all perished during a mission..."
"Since then, Uchiha Itachi has never formed a team again, nor has he participated in any commissions, and naturally doesn't have teammates to take the Chunin exams with..."
"However..."
"In the past two years, Uchiha Itachi has been training with Uchiha Shisui and has even assisted Uchiha Shisui in completing collaboration assessment tasks..."
"Even if that assessment task is interrupted, we can still determine that he is an excellent ninja, capable of completing the Chunin exam alone."
"The only unfair part is the three-person cooperative combat assessment."
"The village has had many precedents."
"For example, when the Anbu Captain Kakashi Hatake's teammates, Uchiha Obito and Nohara Rin, participated in the Chunin exams, due to a lack of teammates for the three-person cooperative combat assessment, even though their classmate Kakashi Hatake had become a Chunin, he was still allowed to assist the two teammates in the final three-person cooperative combat assessment of the Chunin exam..."
"However..."
"Since Uchiha Itachi only has Uchiha Shisui as a teammate, having the renowned Shisui of the Body Flicker participate in the Chunin exams would be somewhat..."
"Hahahaha..."
The Third Hokage laughed heartily, interrupting his subordinate, waving his hand, "That would be too much bullying for these children; it would make the exam a joke."
"Yes."
After nodding, the Anbu ninja looked up at the elder, continuing to add: "However, Uchiha Itachi indeed has the ability to pass all exams alone, as Uchiha Shisui mentioned, Uchiha Itachi's training results in every aspect are exceptional..."
"Alright, let it be this way this time!"
The Third Hokage nodded, seemingly unintentionally saying: "Kakashi, Tianzang, go deliver an application form to the Anbu training class..."
"Yes, Lord Hokage!"
Two masked figures quickly stood out!
The Third Hokage looked at one of them, his gaze becoming somewhat sharp: "Tell Danzo to let that child with the Wood Release participate in the Chunin exams too!"