Chapter 302: Uchiha Madara’s Understanding of Obito

“Why choose Uchiha Obito? That Uchiha Shisui seems to have better talent.” In a dimly lit cave, Black Zetsu made a puzzled expression as he asked Uchiha Madara.

Shisui was two years younger than Obito, but he had always been ahead in terms of strength.

“This is because you don’t understand the Uchiha.” A trace of a smug smile appeared on Uchiha Madara’s face, which was densely wrinkled with age.

“You only see the apparent gap in their talent on the surface, but you haven’t perceived the love in their hearts. Uchiha Obito is a very special Uchiha.

Ordinary Uchiha keep their love hidden deep within their hearts, but Uchiha Obito’s love is so abundant it overflows, so much that he shares it with everyone who needs help. As long as this immense love is stimulated, he can obtain powerful strength corresponding to that love.”

Uchiha Madara believed that an Uchiha who awakens love is a true Uchiha, and Obito’s talent in his complete form would absolutely not lose to Shisui’s.

“Moreover, Uchiha Obito’s personality is also easy to train.” This was another reason Uchiha Madara chose Obito. Someone who believes whatever you say is just too easy to fool.

“As expected of Lord Madara.” A strange, sarcastic smile appeared on Black Zetsu’s face.

Uchiha Madara didn’t mind Black Zetsu’s expression. After all, Black Zetsu’s face didn’t look like one that could smile properly. He began discussing his plan with Black Zetsu… “Obito and the others’ taijutsu training is quite good.” Watching Obito’s trio quickly turn the situation favorable on the monitor, Hiruzen Sarutobi commented.

This was the first time the Chunin Exams were jointly held with the Hidden Mist Village. Hiruzen Sarutobi placed considerable importance on it. The Hidden Mist Village rarely interfered in the affairs of the Four Great Shinobi Villages on the continent. If the Mist could be pulled in as an ally, then Konoha would have more capital to deal with the current chaotic situation.

“They usually train very diligently. I wasn’t as good as them at their age.” Minato, also in the monitoring room, sighed.

The impression Obito and Kakashi gave Minato was that they were both talented and hardworking.

At a young age, Obito had already awakened the Uchiha’s Sharingan and even achieved the two-tomoe stage.

Kakashi used all his Ninjutsu with great proficiency and possessed speed beyond ordinary people.

Originally, Rin Nohara was already considered an excellent student, but compared to Obito and Kakashi, she seemed quite ordinary.

“Being able to teach students who surpass oneself better reflects teaching ability. This shows that you, Minato, have great potential in teaching.” Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a cheerful smile.

“If anything, it’s Muzuki who taught them well.” Minato shook his head.

He was well aware. While Obito and their current strength was related to him, it had more to do with Muzuki. Because during the bell test, Obito and the others had already demonstrated the ability to defeat a Jonin by working together.

“Minato, you shouldn’t underestimate yourself. Obito and the others have praised you plenty to me.” Muzuki smiled, engaging in a round of professional flattery.

“Neither of you should be modest. You’ve both contributed.” Hiruzen Sarutobi stroked his small mustache and chuckled. Looking back at the monitors, he noticed an interesting team.

“This Mist Ninja team is quite bold. Do they want to attract all the surrounding teams?”

Muzuki looked at the display screen. It showed the team of Zabuza and Kisame Hoshigaki. They had found a large open area, piled up many trees, and set them ablaze. A raging fire burned, sending large amounts of black smoke skyward.

Muzuki wasn’t too surprised. Previously, that Kurosawa had publicly revealed his own scroll information right in the open, practically asking for a fight. Doing something like this in the Death Forest was also quite normal.

After all, their team’s combat power was truly excessive. Besides Kisame Hoshigaki with his 7000 Chakra, neither Zabuza nor Kurosawa were pushovers either; their stats were much stronger than an average Chunin’s.

Muzuki knew at a glance that this team was specifically sent by the Mist to stir up trouble. Zabuza was understandable, being relatively young, but Kisame Hoshigaki and Kurosawa clearly shouldn’t be Genin.

“If Kakashi holds off Kisame, and Obito deals with either Zabuza or Kurosawa, the chances of winning are high.” Muzuki glanced at the positions of the two teams, saw they were likely to meet, and briefly analyzed the combat power on both sides.

In a one-on-one fight, neither Obito nor Kakashi were likely to defeat Kisame. Obito’s Fire Release was countered by Kisame’s Water Release, and Kakashi was slightly lacking in raw power. Rin Nohara wasn’t a key factor in victory; she could automatically be considered as tying up one enemy.

In terms of overall team strength, the Minato Squad was actually the number one in this Chunin Exam. Both Might Guy and Kisame were strong, but their teammates’ strength wasn’t on the same level as theirs.

While Obito could beat Kakashi, their actual strength wasn’t that far apart. Plus, there was Rin Nohara, a support who could both heal and fight.

Because the original Chunin Exams were always full of surprises, the cautious Muzuki had directly used Appraisal to check all the students’ stats when explaining the exam rules, ensuring no strong individuals disguised as examinees had snuck in. Thus, Muzuki also knew the information of all the students in the field.

Muzuki continued watching the monitor screen. A Grass Ninja team and a Konoha Ninja team had successively approached Kisame’s team.

“How lucky! It’s that team with the earth scroll. If we defeat them, we’ll pass the exam.” Seeing it was the team that had previously exposed their scroll information, the Grass Ninja immediately showed delighted expressions.

Seeing the newcomers were only Grass Ninja, Kurosawa revealed a disappointed expression.

“Just Ninja from a small village like the Grass Ninja Village? That won’t prove strength.” Kurosawa sighed.

Hearing this blatant village discrimination, the three Grass Ninja Village Ninja all showed expressions of anger.

“Bastards! Don’t look down on our Grass Ninja Village! Compared to your great villages, we just lack some top-tier powerhouses, that’s all!” The Grass Ninja shouted defiantly while pulling out their Ninja tools.

Swish swish swish!!

The three Grass Ninja threw Shuriken at Kurosawa with all their might.

Having anticipated their attack, Kurosawa immediately dodged, causing their attacks to miss. While dodging, Kurosawa also threw Shuriken back at the three in retaliation.

“If this is all you’ve got, don’t blame others for looking down on you.” Zabuza drew the long sword from his back and charged towards the three Grass Ninja.

Swish!

Zabuza’s timing was perfect. One Grass Ninja, flustered while dodging, had his arm severed.

“Yoshimura!” His two teammates, who had narrowly escaped, saw this and instantly roared in fury, eyes wide with rage.

However, Kisame didn’t give them much time to worry about their teammate. Chakra burst from his feet as he charged straight at the two.

“What kind of strength is this? Is this guy even human?”

During the exchange of fists and kicks, the two Grass Ninja felt Kisame’s immense power and instantly changed color.

Even fighting one against two, Kisame easily suppressed them with taijutsu. Meanwhile, Kurosawa took the opportunity to stab one Grass Ninja to death with his short blade.

The Grass Ninja with the severed arm naturally couldn’t fight Zabuza with only one arm. He was killed within a few moves.

In less than three minutes of contact with Kisame’s team, the Grass Ninja team was completely wiped out.

“So strong! Good thing you were cautious, Shiosui, and made us observe first.” Seeing the three Mist Ninja cut down the three Grass Ninja like vegetables, Inuzuka Midori clicked her tongue.

“Since these guys dare to be so arrogant, they must have some skill. Those who are arrogant without ability usually don’t live long.” Nara Shiosui said calmly.

They also had a Heaven scroll, so when Inuzuka Midori saw them, she wanted to go up and snatch their scroll, but the cautious Nara Shiosui stopped her.

“Detour and retreat. There’s still plenty of time; the first day has just begun. There’s no need to rush to collect the Heaven and earth scrolls. We have Nao’s intel; there’s no need to take risks.” Nara Shiosui decided to lead his teammates on a detour.

Aburame Nao had placed insects in the hut where the scrolls were distributed, so they had obtained the scroll information of most teams.

“Only dare to hide in the shadows and peek? You’re even worse than those Grass Ninja just now. At least they had plenty of courage.”

At that moment, Zabuza spoke towards the area where Nara Shiosui’s trio was hiding.

“Damn, we’ve been discovered.” Nara Shiosui glanced at the positions of Kisame’s trio and immediately frowned deeply.

He noticed that after the fight, Kisame’s trio had subtly blocked some of their escape routes. Nara Shiosui had initially thought they were checking if other teams were arriving. But judging by the current situation, they might have discovered them even during the battle.

“Retreat!” Nara Shiosui immediately warned his teammates and dashed towards the rear.

“Since you’ve come, don’t be in such a hurry to leave.” Kurosawa threw several Kunai at Nara Shiosui’s team, then burst with Chakra and gave chase.

Kisame and Zabuza also rapidly closed in, blocking Nara Shiosui’s team’s escape.

Nara Shiosui wasn’t originally fast. Knowing he would eventually be caught, he simply stopped in an area with dense tree shadows.

“You’ve already collected both the Heaven and earth scrolls. You can head directly to the Central Tower to complete the exam. Fighting us is meaningless. Are you sure you want to take risks for something meaningless?” Nara Shiosui said solemnly.

At this moment, he was prepared for battle. But if he could avoid this fight, that would be best, as he really didn’t have much confidence.

“That’s right, Midori isn’t a pushover either. Keep chasing and Bai Maru will bite you.” Inuzuka Midori chimed in.

“Woof woof!” The small white dog on Inuzuka Midori’s shoulder made a fierce face and barked.

Although Aburame Nao didn’t speak, he silently released his insects, showing his determination to fight.

“How can it be meaningless? Isn’t the point of an exam to prove you’re better than others? If we defeat all of you, then we’re the best.” Kurosawa revealed a cruel smile.

Nara Shiosui’s reasoning would normally be sound, but they weren’t here to take the exam seriously, so they weren’t in a hurry to complete it.

“Konoha Ninja should be a bit stronger than those Grass Ninja, right?” Zabuza pointed his blood-stained sword at Nara Shiosui.

At this point, Nara Shiosui knew this battle was unavoidable.

Having diarrhea is really uncomfortable. I wrote on and off until almost 3 AM to finish this.