"If I have the names, finding them will be fast."
Kabuto held the stack of cards in his palm. With a quick flick of his other hand, three blank cards magically appeared between his fingers.
"Show me." Sasuke said solemnly, his eyes fixed on the three cards.
Mamoru also developed a bit of interest in these 'ninja registration cards.' Did this thing count as Ninjutsu or a special ninja tool?
"Now then, first is Uchiha Mamoru."
Kabuto placed the three blank cards on the ground. As he infused his Chakra and pressed down on the top card, there was a soft 'poof.' Dense text and patterns instantly emerged on the card—Mamoru's information.
"Mamoru... Has performed 6 D-rank missions, 0 C-rank missions, and 2 B-rank missions. His team's Jōnin instructor is Yuhi Kurenai."
As he read the information aloud, Kabuto's expression gradually grew serious.
Mamoru interrupted on purpose, trying to find a flaw in Kabuto's expression, "Hey, you don't seem surprised by my information at all."
Kabuto adjusted his glasses, his gaze behind the lenses turning solemn. "How could I not be? When I first saw your information, I was extremely shocked. I thought I'd misread it and took several days to calm down and confirm it. Naturally, I won't act so exaggerated now, but I'm still shaken in my heart."
"Oh, really?" Mamoru curled his lip.
As if I'd believe you. It's not like there aren't people with even more exaggerated resumes. Kakashi became a Chunin at six, and Itachi became an Anbu captain at thirteen.
"Mamoru has already participated in B-rank missions." Shikamaru muttered.
He had a rare look of seriousness on his face as he analyzed, "He really is abnormal. He's on a completely different level from us."
Mamoru snapped his fingers and pointed at Shikamaru with a grin. "How about it, Shikamaru? Do you regret not being in the same team as me now?"
Shikamaru bluntly turned his head away and responded lazily, "Stop talking nonsense."
Mamoru shrugged, having failed to get a rise out of him. "Tsk, how heartless."
Kabuto continued reading the card's info, his tone scrutinizing. "Now then, except for Genjutsu, all other ability evaluations are exceptionally outstanding. This data is not something a freshman who just graduated from the Ninja Academy should possess."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the listening crowd before finally landing on Mamoru, giving a heavyweight evaluation. "In some ways, Mamoru-kun, you are definitely the strongest among all the candidates this year."
Hearing the latter half of Kabuto's sentence, Mamoru's expression didn't flicker, as if he had expected it but he silently added in his heart, 'If the scope is limited to Genin...'
Everyone's eyes focused on the ninja registration card. The card clearly depicted a pentagonal diagram representing ability values. Except for the corner labeled 'Gen' (Genjutsu), which was noticeably low, the other values—Tai (Taijutsu), Nin (Ninjutsu), Tools, and Blood (Bloodline)—were almost completely filled, forming a nearly perfect shape.
Unfortunately, he was just that one stat away from becoming a true all-rounder.
"The strongest... huh?" Sasuke stared at the card and muttered to himself, his fists unconsciously tightening as a fire of defiance burned in his eyes.
Kabuto took out the second card and did the same. As Chakra was infused, Neji's information appeared on the blank surface.
"Next is Rock Lee. He's one year older than you. He has performed 20 D-rank missions and 11 C-rank missions. His team's Jōnin instructor is Might Guy."
From Kabuto's current expression and tone, it could be inferred that he didn't think much of this Genin named Lee.
"In this past year, his Taijutsu has made extraordinary progress, but in other areas, he's completely lacking. Last year, he was noted as an outstanding Genin but didn't take the Chunin Exams. This year is his first time, just like you. His teammates are Tenten and Neji."
Next, Kabuto found the third card. When the information on this card appeared, his gaze became significantly more solemn.
"And then... Gaara of the Sand. Mission experience: 8 C-ranks, and B-rank missions..."
He paused, seemingly to confirm the number, before reading it out in a tone tinged with disbelief, "Impressive. He has also performed B-rank missions."
Kabuto slowly explained the information on the third card, "Since he's a ninja from another country and a newcomer, there isn't much more information."
Pushing up his glasses, the lenses reflecting the ceiling lights, his face showed a hint of severity and solemnity as he added, "However, it seems he returned from all his missions without a single scratch."
Mamoru nodded, acknowledging the strength of the Jinchuriki. "I've fought this guy, he's indeed very strong. If he fought me with everything he had, it might take me some effort, but in the end, I'd still be the one to win."
Gaara still had his 'cheats' in the early stages, but Kishimoto took them away in the mid-to-late stages.
The grand Kazekage couldn't even handle a Deidara. Don't give me that talk about not going all out to protect the village. You have to remember Gaara was fighting on his home turf, with an endless sea of sand beneath his feet.
What's more, he wasn't killed in battle but captured alive.
And you call yourself a Kage? You should just leave the group.
This is just like how the bosses are super strong when you fight them but are nerfed when they become a playable character.
"Is he really that strong?" Shikamaru asked, half-doubting.
"In some ways, he's even more dangerous than I am. If you run into him, it's best to stay as far away as possible."
Mamoru felt it was necessary to emphasize Gaara's danger. After all, his arrival in this world had already introduced some variables, so it wouldn't be surprising if a few people who weren't supposed to die ended up doing so.
Thus, he added, "That guy's mental state is very unstable. To him, killing a few people is no different from killing a few chickens."
Ino's face instantly turned pale, and she instinctively covered her mouth and exclaimed, "Whoa! Is he really that dangerous? Then won't we be killed if we run into him?"
It wasn't just Ino, the other rookies present also showed fear at the mention of being 'killed.' After all, they were still just kids.
If they knew that Mamoru standing before them, talking to them, was the one who truly killed without blinking, what would they think then?
"Don't go looking for trouble with him. If you happen to meet him by accident, just surrender proactively, and you should be fine... well, probably." Mamoru scratched his face, giving a response he wasn't entirely sure of himself.
He remembered that in the Forest of Death, that brat Gaara seemed to act entirely on his mood. His older brother couldn't talk him down, and his older sister could barely manage to... right?