It wasn't just the Third Hokage who was paying attention to Uchiha Sora; Danzo was also watching from the shadows. He had received the intelligence immediately and had dispatched his subordinates to monitor him closely.
Uchiha Sora was naturally aware of the attention from the higher-ups in Konoha Village.
However, he had already prepared himself to be the center of attention, so he didn't really mind.
Because he needed to demonstrate a certain level of ability in the upcoming events, which would make his entry into the Anbu for training much smoother.
Uchiha Sora spent the entire month in silent cultivation.
Soon, the day of the finals arrived.
Konoha Village had become exceptionally lively, with many outsiders filling the streets and alleys.
The exam venue was a massive arena. It was large enough for Ninja combat, and the surrounding spectator stands were spacious enough to accommodate at least tens of thousands of people.
Before the start of the finals, Uchiha Izumi and her mother had already secured seats in the front row of the spectator stands.
Hirai Mitsuteru, who happened to be free, also came to cheer him on.
Yūgao Uzuki was currently on a mission and could not attend to watch the battle.
Before the start, the ten Genin who had qualified for the finals, including Uchiha Sora, entered the arena under the gaze of the crowd to receive instructions from the proctor.
High up in the spectator stands, the Third Hokage was also silently watching the exam.
The participants of the Chunin Exams had never experienced such a scene, being the center of attention while watched personally by the Hokage. Except for Uchiha Sora, everyone was quite excited, and Uchiha Itachi was no exception.
After the proctor announced the rules, the first match of the finals began immediately.
Those who could participate in the finals were not lacking in strength; one could even say they had basically reached the level of a Chunin.
To the ordinary spectators in the stands, the battles were quite exciting, and bursts of cheers rang out from time to time.
Uchiha Sora, however, watched with little interest, though Uchiha Izumi, sitting beside him, was chattering away in excitement.
Still just a student at the Ninja Academy, seeing the real, brutal combat between these Ninjas made her a bit afraid, yet she was also filled with admiration.
Time passed bit by bit.
The first, second, and third matches passed, and it still wasn't Uchiha Sora or Uchiha Itachi's turn.
Even by the fourth match, it still wasn't their turn.
Uchiha Sora and Uchiha Itachi immediately understood that they would be the grand finale in the fifth match.
Finally, the fourth match ended.
The fifth match arrived.
Amidst the gaze of the crowd, the screen displayed: Uchiha Sora vs. Uchiha Itachi.
"Sora! Good luck! Even though your opponent is Uchiha Itachi, I believe you can definitely win!" Uchiha Izumi encouraged.
Uchiha Sora nodded and looked toward the spectator stands not far away, where Uchiha Itachi was sitting with his parents.
Uchiha Itachi nodded back at him and entered the arena first.
Uchiha Sora was also preparing to enter when Uchiha Fugaku, who was not far away, suddenly spoke to him: "Sora, you are a member of my Uchiha Clan, and I have some words for you."
A look of confusion appeared on Uchiha Sora's face.
The next second, a ripple of Dōjutsu power struck him, and he saw Uchiha Fugaku's eyes instantly turn into a pair of crimson Sharingan.
The environment around Uchiha Sora changed instantly; the entire arena became empty, leaving only him and Uchiha Fugaku.
Genjutsu!
Uchiha Sora, who possessed immunity to Genjutsu, frowned slightly. Just as he was about to break Uchiha Fugaku's Genjutsu and leave, Uchiha Fugaku spoke: "Sora, there are some things that are inconvenient to say in front of everyone, so I brought you into this Genjutsu space. Please don't take offense."
Uchiha Sora then decided not to act rashly.
Uchiha Fugaku said: "I hope you can let Uchiha Itachi win this battle."
Upon hearing this, Uchiha Sora couldn't help but frown: "Clan Leader, I need a reason!"
Uchiha Fugaku pondered and said: "I need Uchiha Itachi's path as a genius to continue. This has great strategic significance for my Uchiha Clan!"
"Sora, you should know that most of our Uchiha Clan members can only join the Konoha Military Police Force after becoming Ninjas. But do you understand that while the Konoha Military Police Force looks prestigious, its status in Konoha Village is not high? It can be said to be a marginalized department."
"And if I want to increase the influence of the Uchiha Clan, I must arrange for clan members to enter higher departments in Konoha Village, such as the Anbu!"
"I have long held high hopes for Uchiha Itachi entering the Anbu. If he loses in this duel, it might create many obstacles for this matter."
After Uchiha Fugaku said so much, Uchiha Sora couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion.
Uchiha Itachi's childhood could be said to have been clearly mapped out by Uchiha Fugaku, but unfortunately, Uchiha Fugaku did not know that as Uchiha Itachi's strength continued to grow, he would eventually walk a path that went against his parents and the clan.
Between the clan and Konoha Village, Uchiha Itachi would ultimately choose Konoha Village.
In fact, from Uchiha Sora's perspective, Uchiha Fugaku was not wrong; the higher-ups in Konoha Village were indeed corrupt. It was just a pity that he overestimated his son's feelings for the clan and underestimated Danzo's treachery.
However, this time, with Uchiha Sora, a transmigrator who knew the plot, he would never let the Uchiha Clan walk the old path of being exterminated.
Thinking of this, Uchiha Sora couldn't help but shake his head slightly and smiled: "Clan Leader, I understand what you want to do, but I'm sorry, my goal is also to enter the Anbu!"
"What? Uchiha Sora, you want to enter the Anbu?" Uchiha Fugaku was very surprised to hear this.
Then he immediately frowned and said in a low voice: "Sora, in the short term, there is only one quota for the Uchiha Clan to enter the Anbu. I have always reserved this quota for Uchiha Itachi, so I do not agree to you entering the Anbu!"
"Then there is no other way. If you, Clan Leader, do not agree, then I will let the Third Hokage make the choice himself," Uchiha Sora said indifferently.
He knew Uchiha Fugaku's thoughts very well.
Uchiha Itachi was his son, whom he could naturally control, but his relationship with Uchiha Sora was merely that of clan members. Once Uchiha Sora's strength grew and he entered the Anbu, he would be extremely easy to lose control of.
Just like Uchiha Shisui now, Uchiha Fugaku, as the Clan Leader, could no longer boss Shisui around.
Uchiha Fugaku said with an ugly expression: "Sora, are you going to defy the will of your Clan Leader as well?"
"Clan Leader, you have your will, and I have mine!" Uchiha Sora smiled slightly: "But in any case, I will always remember that I am of the Uchiha Clan!"
After speaking, Uchiha Sora snapped his fingers.
In Uchiha Fugaku's incredulous gaze, the Genjutsu space he had constructed shattered with a bang!
The surroundings returned to a noisy state.
Uchiha Sora turned around and drifted into the arena.
Uchiha Fugaku sat dazed in his seat, his heart filled with turbulent waves.
This Uchiha Sora had hidden himself so deeply! Even he himself hadn't known that his strength had grown to this extent over the years! He had broken his Genjutsu so easily!?
Such Genjutsu ability—perhaps even Uchiha Shisui might not be able to achieve it, right?
Uchiha Fugaku was incredibly shocked, and at the same time, extremely puzzled.
What exactly did Uchiha Sora want to do? What was his purpose?
A child of only ten years old could have such extraordinary performance; what was his will? What was it?
In the arena.
Uchiha Sora stood in front of Uchiha Itachi, looking at him with a smile.
He had been friends with Uchiha Itachi for four years now. As a friend, Uchiha Sora felt it was time for him to do something for him.
"Uchiha Itachi, bring out all your strength. Do not hold back at all, otherwise, you will be defeated in an instant!" Uchiha Sora said.
After speaking, a crimson color emerged in Uchiha Sora's eyes.
Three-Tomoe Sharingan! Activate!
Hearing Uchiha Sora's arrogant words, the proctor standing closest to them couldn't help but be stunned, but when he saw Uchiha Sora's pair of Three-Tomoe Sharingan, he couldn't help but subconsciously agree with his words.
The spectators on the high stands also showed expressions of shock.
"Sharingan! It's actually the Sharingan!"
"My god! This guy's Sharingan is actually Three Tomoe!"
"He's only ten years old, and he has already developed the Sharingan to this extent? This kid didn't seem to have much of a reputation before!" the outside spectators exclaimed.
"Heh, he is Uchiha Sora, a genius who graduated in the same year as Uchiha Itachi. How could he be a simple person? It's just that he has kept a low profile all these years," the people from Konoha Village said proudly.
"Opening the Three Tomoe at ten years old—even for the genius Uchiha Itachi, he's probably going to be in trouble this time, right?"
"I really didn't expect that such a genius was hidden within the Uchiha Clan! It truly is the Uchiha Clan!"
"Konoha Village is indeed powerful! Just one Uchiha Clan brings such a big surprise!"
The spectators discussed among themselves.
The Third Hokage on the high stand also stared closely at Uchiha Sora, his face revealing great interest.
In the arena, Uchiha Itachi also instantly activated his two-tomoe Sharingan and locked eyes with Uchiha Sora.
Although the two were friends, they had never truly fought each other. Before, Uchiha Itachi had always heard Big Brother Shisui talk about how strong Uchiha Sora was. Only now, standing opposite Uchiha Sora, did he truly feel that powerful pressure.
"Sora! I will definitely go all out!" Uchiha Itachi suddenly leaped up, drew a Kunai, and attacked Uchiha Sora.
Swish!
A flash of a blade swept past, and Uchiha Sora's short sword was unsheathed.
Clang!
The Kunai and the short sword collided, bursting into intense sparks.
Uchiha Itachi used the force to retreat, his hands quickly forming seals, and suddenly, a stream of flames spewed out from his mouth!
Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!
But almost at the same time, Uchiha Sora had also already formed seals and released the same Ninjutsu.
Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!
The two huge fireballs collided with a roar in mid-air, and the heat wave kicked up by the scorching flames allowed even the people in the distant spectator stands to feel a hint of the heat.
Both of their fireballs continued to output power, pitting their Chakra against each other.
Suddenly, Uchiha Itachi's expression changed slightly; he hurriedly withdrew the fireball, rolled his body, and dodged to the side.
Losing the opposing force, Uchiha Sora's fireball roared through, and the spot where Uchiha Itachi had originally stood was instantly crushed into a charred pit.