Naruto: Forbidden Arts and an Immortal Agenda

Aya hurled a smoke bomb, then immediately activated [Beast Human Transformation] before darting into the smoke.

Despite her incredible speed, her footsteps were barely audible.

Meanwhile, White Dog circled around the smoke, distracting Senbon while preparing to block any escape routes.

Though the smoke could obscure vision, it couldn't stop the flow of scent. With Aya and White Dog's sharp sense of smell, Senbon had no place to hide within the dense fog.

Knowing how difficult he was to deal with, she decided to end this before the smoke cleared.

"Shiu! Shiu! Shiu! Shiu——"

Suddenly, dozens of senbon shot out from within the smoke.

Aya began to dodge, only to realize these were just randomly thrown.

Relaxing slightly, she silently continued to close in on Senbon.

Underneath the smoke, she failed to notice the thin strings tied behind each senbon.

"Ding ling ling——"

The moment she heard the bell ringing, Aya knew something was wrong.

But she reacted too slowly—the senbon came faster than expected.

"Si——aaah——"

Struck by the needles, Aya first held back the pain but cried out the next moment.

An enemy wouldn't show mercy.

Without hesitation, a dense wave of senbon rained down like a storm.

Cries of agony echoed from within the smoke.

Soon after, Aya—covered in senbon—was kicked out of the smokescreen.

"Damn it!"

Both Aozora and Jifeng clenched the metal railing atop their platform tightly.

"Stay in your mother's arms until you're weaned, brats!"

Senbon twirled his weapon skillfully in hand as he walked slowly out of the smoke.

Despite her body trembling in pain, Aya struggled to rise.

Senbon shook his head. Two senbon flew forward, striking her elbows and knees.

Instantly weakened, Aya collapsed helplessly.

Only then did Senbon smile. "Now that's better."

Seeing this, anger flared inside Aozora. His hands clenched unconsciously until the metal railing twisted beneath his grip.

The proctor hurried over, checked Aya's condition, and announced, "Inuzuka Aya is no longer capable of battle. Senbon wins!"

Upon hearing this, Aozora and Jifeng immediately leapt down from the platform to check on Aya's condition.

"There are no fatal wounds, but her entire body has been pierced by senbon——"

The medical ninja paused briefly, looking pained, "She should recover fine, but for the time being, she must remain completely still."

Watching Aya—who was already unconscious—curl up in pain, Aozora felt a deep pang of sorrow.

Back on the platform, Aozora cast a cold glare at Senbon and Kunai before silently waiting for the announcement of names in the next round draw.

Aozora didn't specialize in fighting against opponents who used senbon.

He knew, though, that striking several vital points on the human body could completely disable someone's combat capability.

Given Senbon's demonstrated throwing ability, accomplishing such a task wouldn't be hard.

Yet instead, he chose the most torturous method.

Aozora didn't care about his reasons.

If he had used such tactics against others, Aozora might have simply looked down on him.

But using such methods against his own friends? That, Aozora couldn't tolerate.

Aozora seldom spoke harsh words. Compared to threats, he preferred to take real action.

Even so, he couldn't help but think inwardly, "You'd better pray you never meet me in battle, or I'll show you what real cruelty means!"

Names flashed one by one on the large screen as the matches began sequentially.

Before long, the second round was nearly finished. On the southern high platform, only four people remained who hadn't yet participated in this round: Aozora, Jifeng, Kunai, and a random Genin background character.

Concerned something bad might happen, Aozora approached Jifeng and said, "If you end up against Kunai later, just forfeit."

Even though Jifeng had chosen his clan, Aozora still didn't want to see him get hurt.

Jifeng looked at Aozora with guilt and said, "Sorry."

Aozora waved him off, brushing it away. 

Pointing toward Kunai, he continued, "Those two are suspicious. It's not just their strength—Their combat experience is too rich, their moves too ruthlessly effective.

Aya's already been hurt. I don't want the same happening to you."

He hesitated before continuing, "The Chunin exams come around a couple of times each year anyway. No need to push it now."

Jifeng glanced toward Senbon and Kunai, who stood apart from the others, and nodded. "I understand."

Soon after they finished speaking, the list for the second-to-last match appeared.

[Uchiha Aozora VS Kunai!]

Seeing this, Aozora couldn't help but let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Jifeng chuckled, "Looks like your prediction was wrong."

Aozora replied, "Better that way."

This mistake not only meant Jifeng wouldn't be hurt—but more importantly, it gave him a chance for revenge against this suspicious pair.

They wore matching outfits and bore names that clearly belonged together—obviously, they were a team.

Though he couldn't face Senbon yet, taking some payback from Kunai was a solid start.

With that thought, he exchanged a glance with Kunai across the arena, then leapt down from the high platform.

On the northern elevated platform, Sarutobi Hiruzen instantly figured out Danzo's game the moment he saw the match list.

He turned slightly, confronting Danzo in a low voice, "Danzo, do you even realize what you're doing?"

Without looking away, Danzo fixed his lone eye on the two fighters now standing below. Calmly, he responded, "Of course I do."

As the match was about to begin, Hiruzen angrily slammed his hand on the armrest. "You'd better hope nothing happens to Uchiha Aozora."

Then he lifted his hand, ready to signal the proctor overseeing the exam.

Danzo spoke slowly but pointedly, "Hiruzen, ever wonder what really caused the Uchiha protests?"

Hiruzen lowered his raised hand and turned back. "Wasn't it because of relocation compensation?"

"That certainly was the direct cause."

Danzo first nodded, then shook his head. "But given Fugaku's personality, he would've inevitably compromised for the greater good."

Hiruzen inhaled deeply from his pipe, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

"Won't you wonder what made Fugaku Uchiha tolerate those protests in the first place?"

Putting aside his pipe, Hiruzen stopped smoking and asked, "Go on."

Though both men knew Fugaku had reason to visit Naka Shrine recently, neither truly believed he had been completely unaware of the protests.

"Heh..." Danzo gave a light chuckle before continuing, "Two months ago, after the Reconstruction and Revitalization Plan was announced, Uchiha held a clan meeting. During that meeting, Aozora spoke out directly..."

As Danzo continued speaking, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression slowly hardened. He responded with measured words, "Aozora has misunderstood the Village!"

At this moment, he had already forgotten to remind the proctor to pay attention to this exam.

Tracing his fingers across the bandages wrapped around his right arm, Danzo shifted his gaze toward the center of the field.

One of the elders once said that the Sharingan is born as a vessel for darkness.

Leaving such power in the Uchiha's hands would inevitably harm Konoha. Then why allow them to remain in this world?

Rather than waiting for the Uchiha to betray the village, it would be better to strike first.

This way, not only could Konoha be protected, but he could also fully harness the power of the Sharingan, wielding it to safeguard the village itself.

Even if it weakens Konoha for a time, history will prove I was right.

Aozora is still very young, yet remarkably intelligent. His talent is no less than that of his older brother.

If allowed to grow, he will bring unpredictable changes in the future. He must be dealt with before he becomes a threat.

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