SHINOBI EXAM

Uzumaki Mito walked slowly out of the wooden courtyard, a faint smile gracing her face as she looked at the dark crow in front of her. "You're a child of the Uchiha clan, aren't you? How wonderful."

She continued, her voice softening with a hint of sadness. "Has it already reached Mangekyō Sharingan? You must have been through much pain."

When she spoke the last sentence, a touch of melancholy filled her eyes. She thought of Uchiha Kagami, a student and subordinate of both Hashirama and Tobirama. Mito had watched him grow, and after Hashirama's passing, Konoha had entered a period of turmoil. Kagami had endured immense pain after awakening his Sharingan—first one magatama, then two, then three, and finally Mangekyō Sharingan. The pain that followed… Mito could only imagine.

Though Itachi, in the form of a crow, could not directly communicate with her, Mito still asked, "How old is Konoha now? It's been so long since I passed away. And why was I resurrected? Did someone revive me using a power like Hashirama's?"

The crow flapped its wings in response.

Mito took a few steps forward and saw the words etched onto a nearby tree. The carvings were clear:

"Rules: First, there are three opportunities, and all beings in the field are eligible to answer. Second, those who answer incorrectly…"

She paused, frowning. "Is this some kind of quiz question?"

The crow nodded.

"What is the problem?" she asked.

The crow flew up to the tree, perching on the canopy where the question and three possible answers were engraved. It gave a few more caws before Mito approached to read it aloud:

"Konoha Shinobi Uchiha Itachi was brought back through Impure World Reincarnation. What were the last words Uchiha Itachi said to Uchiha Sasuke before their separation?"

Mito's brows furrowed. "Impure World Reincarnation? Isn't that a technique developed by Tobirama? Hashirama had sealed it away in the Sealed Book, but… it seems someone with evil intentions managed to take it…"

Itachi recalled his earlier thoughts, understanding now that the crow was communicating with Mito through written words. He had tried the writing method before, but the mysterious force behind it would not accept silent communication. Now, with Mito's resurrection, Itachi had forgotten about the previous method and instead wrote out his response for her.

He conveyed the history of Konoha, his mission to destroy the Uchiha clan, and the tragic sequence of events that followed.

Mito read his words, her face softening with empathy. She understood the pain that had shaped Itachi's life.

After some contemplation, Mito turned to Itachi. "Since ten people are chosen for resurrection, then I too can make a request. Is that correct?"

Itachi hesitated but nodded.

Mito thought for a moment, then made her request. "I would like to bring back someone dear to me. Can you make that happen?"

Itachi looked away briefly, conflicted. But then, with a sigh, he wrote down the name that weighed heavily on his heart.

"Uzumaki Mito."

The crow, acting on his instructions, soared through the air to the seventh coffin, where Mito was resurrected.

As the energy surrounding the coffin intensified, vibrant green light exploded, enveloping the area with a revitalizing force. Fresh branches sprouted, growing rapidly like a tree springing to life, overtaking the original wooden coffin. The transformation was nothing short of miraculous—like a garden emerging from the ground. The process was similar to the Wood Style techniques of Hashirama.

Mito stood tall, her dignified presence unwavering despite being brought back from death. She sensed the powerful chakra resonating around her. The vitality of the Wood Style… and a faint chakra signature from a child of the Uchiha clan.

She could feel it—Hashirama's chakra was close, and there was something familiar yet different about the Uchiha chakra near her.

"Is this really the work of the Impure World Reincarnation?" Mito muttered. "But how? This should not have been possible."

Mito's attention turned to the crow once more. "What's going on? Why have you brought me back?"

The crow simply cawed in response.

At that moment, Mito turned to examine her surroundings. The transformation of the wooden coffin into a luxurious garden-like courtyard was incredible, but what was even more intriguing was the mysterious nature of her resurrection.

Meanwhile, in Konoha's Training Ground No. 44, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura were locked in a fierce battle against the Sound Ninja trio.

Gaara, his gaze unyielding, focused intently on Naruto. The young ninja, though struggling, had grown in strength and resolve. His determination, fueled by years of hardship, gave him an edge, and he was slowly gaining the upper hand against his opponents.

As the battle raged on, an unexpected presence caught the attention of the Konoha ninjas.

A mysterious figure, half black and half white, emerged from the shadows. In an instant, the figure transformed, shifting into a snake-like arm that reached out and dragged a captured opponent into the bushes several meters away.

"Who's there?!" shouted Temari as she launched a gust of wind from her fan, forcing the attacker out of hiding.

The figure revealed himself to be none other than Orochimaru, the rogue ninja.

A sense of dread swept over the group as the three Sound Ninjas, sensing Orochimaru's presence, instantly froze in fear. The atmosphere grew thick with tension, and even Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, who were used to battling dangerous foes, could not help but feel the weight of the threat they now faced.

Orochimaru's presence was overwhelming—his sheer aura of danger was enough to paralyze anyone in his path.

Naruto, ever the hero, felt a surge of righteous anger. He couldn't let Orochimaru harm his friends. Without hesitation, he summoned more Shadow Clones, charging toward the rogue ninja with determination.

Orochimaru chuckled darkly. "Ah, Naruto, you're so eager to fight. But what can you do against me?" His voice was smooth, almost serpentine, as he exhaled a cloud of chilling intent.

The three Sound Ninjas, still trembling from the pressure of Orochimaru's presence, exchanged nervous glances. They were caught between their loyalty to Orochimaru and their fear of his wrath. They knew all too well the consequences of failing to meet his expectations.

"Don't you want to play, Naruto-kun?" Orochimaru hissed, his amusement evident. "Let's see how well you fare against me."

His words were more than just a taunt. They were a promise of danger.

Orochimaru's chakra surged, and the air around him seemed to warp. The ground cracked beneath his feet as his killing intent enveloped the area.

Naruto hesitated for a moment, sensing the magnitude of the threat. Sasuke, still frozen in place, couldn't move—he was paralyzed by the overwhelming presence of Orochimaru.

"Sasuke-kun," Orochimaru murmured, his eyes glinting with dark amusement. "To be honest, your talent pales in comparison to your brother's. You're just not… special enough."

The words stung, and for a moment, Sasuke's resolve wavered. But as the pressure grew, he regained his composure. He wasn't going to let Orochimaru's words break him. Not now.

The battle continued to intensify, with each side pushing their limits.

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