Chapter 129: The Difficult Examination!

Uchiha Shisui’s ten teams each had their own initial mission: obtain a Heaven-and-Earth Scroll from their target; only by combining two scrolls could they acquire the next clue.

In reality, only when all ten teams’ gathered information was combined could they obtain the final mission’s intelligence.

Uchiha Shisui’s first target was Fujinaka Genma’s Shadow Clone; defeating or capturing it would yield the scroll it carried.

Each Shadow Clone carried only one scroll, meaning five Heaven Scrolls and five Earth Scrolls existed in total.

But simultaneously, each member of Uchiha Shisui’s team also carried their own piece of intelligence.

That meant their actual mission had two objectives.

One was the overt assessment mission; the other was protecting the intelligence they themselves carried.

Furthermore, the ten teams’ locations for obtaining Heaven-and-Earth Scrolls were all different, each with three sites—only one of which held the real scroll.

However, the rules did not forbid the ten teams from cooperating from the outset.

Yet initially, all ten teams operated separately.

“Fourth Hokage, making Genma their opponent might be too harsh.”

Outside the Death Forest, Mitokado Enji frowned upon learning the candidates faced Fujinaka Genma.

He did not doubt the elite status of Root ninja, but he found Fujinaka Genma utterly monstrous.

“Relax—it’s only a Shadow Clone. Genma will exercise restraint.”

Minato Namikaze smiled in explanation.

Mitokado Enji shook his head: “I only fear no one will pass this training.”

Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled: “This assessment’s primary goal isn’t strength—it’s psychology and mindset.”

Mitokado Enji and Tōnami Koshun exchanged a glance, then nodded and ceased questioning.

Hiruzen Sarutobi knew of Fujinaka Genma’s reforms within Root—he disapproved, yet could do nothing.

Both Minato Namikaze and Fujinaka Genma were newly appointed and had virtually no roots in Konoha.

Yet together, they thrived, leaving both elders with the sense that the era had changed, that they themselves had grown old and should retire.

Especially with the establishment of the Strategy Division, their influence steadily eroded.

Though unwilling, they felt mostly powerless.

Minato Namikaze and the others waited in silence, while within the Death Forest, battle had quietly begun.

Uchiha Shisui, Kakashi, and a member of the Akimichi clan formed one team; they quickly reached Location A and saw a wooden hut beneath a large tree.

Kakashi and Akimichi Taki both turned to Uchiha Shisui.

Uchiha Shisui said nothing, but his three-tomoe Sharingan activated silently; he shook his head and whispered: “No chakra signature.”

“I’ll use a clone.”

Kakashi formed hand seals and summoned a clone, which leapt nimbly through the window.

The next instant, a roar like thunder shattered the hut—Kakashi’s clone was obliterated.

A black bear burst forth, but its roar cut off abruptly as it collapsed with a thud.

Uchiha Shisui struck—his Sharingan instantly felled the bear.

“No scroll!”

Akimichi Taki swiftly searched the rubble but found no trace.

“Next location.”

Uchiha Shisui ordered; the three resumed their march.

Soon, they reached Location B: a hollow tree.

The trio remained cautious, observing from afar; after confirming no obvious traps, Kakashi again sent his clone to probe.

The path was clear; Kakashi’s clone entered the hollow safely.

Moments later, the clone emerged holding a scroll and returned swiftly to the trio.

But immediately, Kakashi’s face paled—he realized he could not dispel the clone.

“Small—”

The warning had not left his lips when—BOOM!—Akimichi Taki, his bulky frame, was kicked into the air by the fake Kakashi clone, slamming into a tree trunk in a perfect cross shape and collapsing unconscious.

The attack was too swift—and Kakashi, even as he tried to dispel the clone, had detected nothing amiss.

Even Uchiha Shisui, with his three-tomoe Sharingan active, had failed to recognize the clone as false.

As he kicked Akimichi Taki away, Fujinaka Genma seized Kakashi’s throat, pressed down—and BOOM!—Kakashi’s lower half sank into the earth.

Yet Kakashi reacted instantly; as Fujinaka Genma struck, lightning chakra already encircled his body.

He had intended to use defense as offense—but the defense was purely defensive; Fujinaka Genma showed no fear of the lightning.

At that moment, Uchiha Shisui fully reacted, swiftly attacking to force Fujinaka Genma back; Kakashi seized the chance to rise from the ground.

The lightning chakra had cushioned the full impact.

Uchiha Shisui drew his blade; Kakashi drew his.

They exchanged a glance—Kakashi charged first, engaging Fujinaka Genma.

Uchiha Shisui raised one hand, his body accelerating into blurs, leaving afterimages that multiplied into clones.

This was his signature technique!

Meanwhile, Fujinaka Genma snatched Kakashi’s blade, kicked him away, and was immediately surrounded by eight Uchiha Shisui clones.

One minute later.

Fujinaka Genma’s body exploded into smoke; Uchiha Shisui’s legs buckled and he knelt on one knee.

All his clones had been destroyed.

Fujinaka Genma had not used his Mangekyo Sharingan, nor his Kamui Eye—indeed, he had not even attempted to discern Uchiha Shisui’s true body.

“Kakashi, are Itachi alright?”

After catching his breath, Uchiha Shisui turned to Kakashi, who leaned against a boulder.

The boulder behind Kakashi was riddled with cracks.

“Cough… cough…”

Kakashi spat blood: “I’m… fine.”

That kick had been brutal.

Uchiha Shisui nodded: “I’ll check on Taki.”

He rose and rushed over—after inspecting him, Uchiha Shisui exhaled in relief.

Akimichi Taki was better off than Kakashi—only unconscious, no serious injury, likely due to his thick hide.

After reviving Akimichi Taki and tending to Kakashi’s wounds, Uchiha Shisui summoned a Shadow Clone and re-entered the hollow—where he found Kakashi’s sealed clone.

But as he dealt with the clone and emerged, Akimichi Taki informed him: the scroll was blank.

“Then the real scroll must be at Location C.”

Uchiha Shisui spoke grimly, glancing at Kakashi: “Can Itachi still move?”

“Yes!”

Kakashi gritted his teeth.

“Good!”

Uchiha Shisui nodded: “We must be more careful now—the enemy is extremely strong, and possesses a transformation technique even the Sharingan cannot penetrate!”

What he did not say was that he had already guessed the identity of the clone he had just defeated.