Chapter 31: Future Plan

When Sato returned to Konoha, there were less than 24 hours remaining for the second exam.

Presently, Konoha was going through an extraordinary period marked by Orochimaru's return, which had kept the senior management of the village preoccupied.

Sato, therefore, made his way to Konoha's cemetery without attracting the attention of the guards. In the event of discovery, he could easily explain his visit as paying respects to his parents who had sacrificed themselves for Konoha. However, his true intention was to conduct tomb raids in the cemetery, a plan he had been contemplating for years.

From a young age, Sato had learned from the guards that burials were the customary funerary practice in Konoha and throughout the ninja world for thousands of years. The preservation techniques were so effective that even after many years of burial, corpses appeared as if they had just recently deceased. This fact explained how Kabuto could plunder graves and collect countless deceased ninja for the Impure World Reincarnation, as long as the bodies hadn't decayed into skeletons and their brains remained intact.

Sato possessed the ability to devour others, granting him access to their bloodline limits and certain memories as long as they hadn't reached the state of skeletal remains. This fueled his desire to plunder graves in recent years. However, he had to wait until his strength grew, as attempting such acts while weak would surely lead to pursuit by elite Jōnin and Anbu, even if he were to defect immediately.

Sato's opportunity would arise in the plan to cause additional choas in Konoha, set to occur a month later. If both Otogakure and Sunagakure were to attack simultaneously, the destruction of the cemetery and the disappearance of numerous corpses would be attributed to Orochimaru, who possessed mastery over Impure World Reincarnation. The only regret was that the body of Senju Hashirama, the best descendant of Ōtsutsuki Ashura and the first individual below the Six Paths level, was not present in the cemetery.

When Hashirama was alive, his body exuded extraordinary vitality due to his developed Sage's Body. Even after death, his corpse retained vitality, surpassing that of a living person. Those who had been experimented on with Hashirama's cells would explode and die. The sole exception was Yamato.

The abundance of Sharingan possessed by Shimura Danzō and Uchiha Obito's utilization of the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan were also attributed to the Hashirama cells. Senju Hashirama's body was an invaluable treasure. Hence, it was highly improbable for his body to rest within a coffin. Devouring Senju Hashirama's body would grant Sato super Kage-level power, a sage body, and the Wood Style bloodline limit, bringing peace to the troubled times. Obtaining Wood Style, Mangekyō Sharingan, Rinnegan, Tenseigan, and even Blood Release was only a matter of time for Sato.

For the present plan, the "Fish Leaping over the Dragon's Gate" plan took top priority. After confirming the points earned, Sato returned home and awaited the conclusion of the second exam.

At noon the following day, Sato, Hinata, and Shino met at their usual gathering spot for Team 8, and together they proceeded towards the outskirts of the death forest, making their way back to the central tower with the assistance of outsiders and the invigilators.

By this time, many candidates had already arrived at the central tower.

However, those who arrived on the final day were clearly not given the same treatment as Team 8 and Gaara's siblings. They were covered in dirt, and some even had wounds and bloodstains on their bodies.

Among these candidates, Sato quickly spotted Ino-Shika-Chō.

"Sato, Hinata, and Shino when did you guys arrive?"

Ino-Shika-Chō also noticed Team 8's presence, and Ino trotted over with excitement to inquire.

"We arrived at the central tower on the first day, and then we left the death forest with the help of a Summoning array. We have been at home for the past few days."

Sato gently touched Ino's head, looking at her dirt-covered face, and said with a smile, "You've been through a lot these past few days. I'm glad you're okay."

"Hee hee... Actually, we could have come to the central tower much earlier, but we encountered some trouble along the way." Ino rubbed her head against Sato's palm without any hesitation and cheerfully shared their experiences over the past few days.

As Sato had expected, Ino-Shika-Chō had come across Team 7, who were targeted by Team Duso.

Ino, who hadn't fallen out with Sakura, joined forces with Shikamaru and Chōji to rescue Sakura from the clutches of the cursed Sasuke.

During this period, Ino-Shika-Chō had faced considerable hardships at the hands of Team Duso, due to Rock Lee's absence. Their dirt-covered bodies were evidence of the battles they had fought.

"The three of them?"

Upon hearing Ino's account, Sato's eyes gleamed with a cold light as he glanced in the direction of the Team Duso

However, he maintained a smile and said, "If you encounter them in the third exam, I'll make sure to avenge you."

"Uh-huh…"

Ino nodded vigorously and began chatting with Hinata.

Shikamaru interjected with a reminder, "Sato, if you come across those three from Otogakure, be cautious of the devices they carry. They possess sound wave ninjutsu that can harm their enemies without direct contact…"

"I understand," Sato replied earnestly.

While Team 8 and Team 10 engaged in conversation, the time for the second exam finally came to an end.

After a short while, an invigilator arrived to inform the Genin in the lounge to assemble in the central tower's lobby.

Sato entered the hall and surveyed all the candidates, noticing that the number remained the same, except for the addition of three individuals.

These three individuals were the Third Hokage's exiles: Kiba and two ordinary Genin from Team 11.

There were a total of fifteen Konoha Genin who had successfully passed the second exam.

Taking into account Team Kabuto, who was undercover in Konoha, there were a total of 18 Konoha Genin who had passed the exam.

The number of candidates who passed the second exam amounted to... twenty-four people!

Among these twenty-four candidates, eighteen were Konoha Genin, with the remaining candidates having met their demise within the death forest.

The sole survivor was Karin, whom Sato had safely guided out of the death forest.

However, with only 24 people passing the second exam, Konoha's senior management felt that the number was still quite high.

The third exam was a crucial competition, showcasing a nation's strength to other countries. Only the elite would have the opportunity to stand on that stage.

Therefore, prior to the commencement of the third exam, all candidates would undergo a preliminary round in the central tower.

The twenty-four candidates were divided into twelve groups, with twelve outstanding Genin selected to demonstrate the caliber of this year's Genin to both their own country and other nations.

Based on the performance of these Genin, each respective Ninja Village would then consider whether to promote their own Genin as leaders of the Chūnin teams.