Chapter 25: How Dare You Give Me a Zero! (2/2

With an answer like that, it was clear that Wakaho wouldn't pass the first stage of the exam.

But perhaps that was for the best.

Although the war was intense, Konoha wasn't yet desperate enough to need to send children to the battlefield.

Letting a little one like him stay in the village for a few more years certainly wouldn't hurt.

However...

"I think this Uchiha kid has a point, Monkey."

Danzo suddenly spoke up.

"Hmm?" The Third Hokage was momentarily taken aback, then looked at Danzo with a curious, yet gradually sharpening gaze, his expression becoming serious.

"He's still just a child, Danzo," the Third Hokage said in a low voice. "You'd better not have any dangerous ideas."

Long-time friends, they knew each other inside out.

Understanding what Danzo might be thinking, the Third Hokage immediately voiced his warning.

"And he's Orochimaru's disciple. It's not your place to interfere."

"I'm just discussing things logically, Monkey." Danzo's expression remained indifferent, completely different from the irritable old man he appeared to be earlier.

"The Uchiha kid is right. On the battlefield, before launching any operation, the minimum requirement is to confirm the enemy's identity."

"His answer does deserve some points..." Danzo's single eye narrowed slightly. "This is also your oversight, Monkey."

"Under my rules, the candidates whose information was identified would lose points, so even if every candidate gave such an answer, they wouldn't gain more than a few points."

"It was your unilateral change to my rules that caused this loophole, so you're fully responsible."

Danzo's argument was logical, his reasoning sound and clear.

But the Third Hokage remained unmoved throughout.

His sharp gaze bore into Danzo, the two of them locked in a silent battle of wills, two eyes against one, with the Third Hokage continually pressing Danzo with invisible pressure.

"I'll say it again. He's still just a child, and also Orochimaru's disciple, Danzo..."

"You'd better not get any ideas about him."

"This is just following the rules." Danzo was equally unfazed, replying with a taunt. "Monkey, what exactly are you afraid of? Is it me, or the Uchiha?"

"You're too soft, Monkey..." Danzo shook his head.

"I'm the Hokage, Danzo!" the Third Hokage raised his voice.

Danzo stood up. "You'll regret this, Monkey!"

"Is that good enough now!?"

Wakaho's youthful voice suddenly echoed from the crystal ball.

The two old men, standing by the desk, were momentarily taken aback, and both looked at the screen. They saw that the examiner's face was full of surprise.

"If you knew all this, why did you answer the way you did earlier?"

The examiner quickly realized what had happened and asked, "You saw it when you were up at the podium?"

"If you didn't keep the roster secure, can you really blame me?" Wakaho retorted, tilting his nose up. "You said yourself that all the information was with the examiners. If I don't get the information from you, who else should I ask?"

The roster was quite comprehensive, listing names, blood types, star signs, ninja registration numbers, and even the names of their supervising instructors.

"Hah! Not bad... You even managed to fool me."

The examiner sneered, but he collected Wakaho's exam paper nonetheless.

"Congratulations, kid. You've passed..."

Wakaho adjusted his forehead protector, ignored the examiner, and walked out coolly.

As he watched Wakaho's retreating figure, the examiner chuckled and then looked at the time, flashing a sinister smile at the remaining candidates.

"There's only one minute left, everyone..."