Everyone held their breath, their eyes glued to the two figures as they slowly walked onto the field.

Kabuto Yakushi pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, his face a mask of feigned humility. "Oh, dear. I've lost count of how many times I've taken the Chunin Exam. I really thought I would pass this time, but to think I would be matched against an Uchiha. It seems I won't be becoming a Chunin this year, either."

Looking at Kabuto's hypocritical act, Shiro replied, his voice flat and bored, "Come on, just stop pretending. You're embarrassing us both. If you want to fight, then fight. If you don't, then just forfeit according to the script. You're wasting everyone's time."

Hearing this, Kabuto was stunned. His smile slowly faded, and he muttered, his voice so low it was almost inaudible, "You truly are a special one. No wonder Lord Orochimaru is so wary of you. How did you know I intended to forfeit?"

Shiro simply pointed to his own eyes. "Because I have a very good pair of eyes."

According to the original timeline, Kabuto only participated in the exams to gather information on the other Genin, always forfeiting once he had what he needed. He had been doing this for years. But this year was different. Before the preliminaries began, Orochimaru had found him and given him a new mission: fight Shiro Uchiha with all his strength and force the boy to reveal his full capabilities. Orochimaru was deeply interested in Shiro and wanted to know just how powerful he truly was. In order to achieve his goal, he had even intervened in the match scheduling through his own covert means, all to ensure Kabuto would face Shiro, even if it meant exposing Kabuto's own hidden strength.

Now, looking at the boy before him, Kabuto could see that he was indeed far from simple.

"Ahem, let the match begin," Gekko Hayate announced, waving his hand to signal the start of the battle.

"Chakra Scalpel!" A faint, blue light, as thin as a cicada's wing, enveloped Kabuto's hands. It was originally a medical ninjutsu, used to make precise incisions during surgery. But in battle, with proper application, it could produce deadly results.

"Oh?" Seeing the chakra scalpel, Hiruzen Sarutobi raised an eyebrow and turned to the other examiners. "This young man's chakra control is quite perfect. In terms of medical ninjutsu alone, he is almost on par with a Jonin. With such talent, why is he still a Genin?"

Anko Mitarashi chimed in, "I've seen him around for the past few years. I remember he forfeited during the final selection last time. I don't understand what he's thinking."

Morino Ibiki added, "According to his file, Kabuto Yakushi has failed the exam six consecutive times."

"…" Hiruzen frowned. "What is his background?"

Anko flipped through the information in her hand. "During his time at the academy, he was not a particularly prominent student. His grades were mediocre at best."

"Kabuto took the exam three times before finally graduating. He subsequently completed two C-rank missions and fourteen D-rank missions. Nothing particularly impressive."

"But… his origins are somewhat unusual. Lord Hokage, do you remember? After the battle at Kikyo Pass, there was a young enemy survivor who was brought back to the village."

"Ah, yes. I remember now," Hiruzen said, exhaling a puff of smoke. "I heard he was later adopted by a Jonin in the medical unit. To think, after so many years, he has grown up so much."