55 Chapter 55: Chunin Exams
"In addition to the major nations, this time, lower-ranking ninjas from Grass, Waterfall, Rain, and other villages will also come to Konoha to participate in the Chunin Exams," Lord Third explained, tapping his fingers lightly on the desk in front of him.
"There's a possibility that they might take this opportunity to gather intelligence and test Konoha's strength. Therefore, this Chunin Exam is not only a test but also a chance for Konoha to showcase its power and deter these neighboring smaller nations."
"Given the current stalemate on the front lines, Konoha is facing an unprecedented shortage of forces," he continued. "Most of the village's ninjas have been deployed to support the front lines, leaving limited manpower behind. Among all the lower-ranking ninjas, I have the highest expectations for you and Shisui."
At this point, Lord Third took a deep drag on his pipe, and his eyes, both murky and wise, focused intently on Yu, carrying a sense of anticipation.
"Shisui has been sent on a special mission by me, so Yu..."
"This Chunin Exam, perform well and let ninjas from those villages and other forces witness the strength of Konoha!"
"Yes! I will definitely not disappoint Hokage-sama!"
Facing Lord Third's expectant gaze, Yu readily accepted the task. Participating in the Chunin Exam was a simple matter for his current level of ability.
"Wait, Yu, there's one more thing..."
As Yu turned to leave the Hokage's office, Lord Third suddenly stopped him, his gaze showing some hesitation.
"What's wrong?"
"Is there anything else, Hokage-sama?"
Rarely did Yu see Lord Third with such a look of uncertainty.
"Jiraiya, Tsunade, Orochimaru... these three, you should be familiar with them, right?"
Amidst the lingering smoke, Lord Third gazed intently at Yu standing by the door.
"Of course, the title of the Legendary Three Ninjas is known throughout the entire ninja world..."
Unsure why Lord Third suddenly asked this, Yu instinctively nodded.
The Toad Sage Jiraiya, Princess Tsunade, Lord Orochimaru.
The strengths of the trio, disciples taught by Lord Third, all reached the level of Kage. Whether for the transmigrator Yu or the people of this world, they were undoubtedly legendary figures.
"If, by chance, you successfully pass this Chunin Exam."
Watching Yu, who looked somewhat bewildered, Lord Third revealed a meaningful smile and uttered words that shocked Yu.
"I'm considering taking you as my disciple, becoming their junior disciple. What do you think?"
What?! Yu's mouth hung open, and he stood frozen at the office door.
Lord Third...wants to take me as his disciple?
"This matter isn't urgent... Take your time to think about it when you return."
However, before Yu could speak, Lord Third interrupted him once again.
"In three days, participate in the Chunin Exam. Remember to perform well."
In a daze, Yu didn't know how he walked out of the Hokage's office.
Walking on the bustling streets of Konoha, Yu's mind was filled with what Lord Third had said.
Is it because of the strength and talent I displayed?
Yu didn't understand why Lord Third favored him so much.
If it's true, as he mentioned—choosing a disciple before retirement—then Shisui, as the descendant of the Uchiha clan, would undoubtedly be a better choice than himself.
However, Lord Third chose him instead, leaving Yu feeling both pleasantly surprised and confused.
Can I really live up to his expectations?
...
Three days later, the Chunin Exam in Konoha began.
The classrooms of the first examination venue were already crowded early in the morning with Ninja from surrounding countries.
"Hahaha! Come over here and take a look!"
"Even such little brats are participating in the Chunin Exam!"
Inside the exam room, a Ninja wearing a headband from the Rain Village seemed to have discovered something astonishing.
"No wonder, Konoha is struggling so much on the battlefield now. The Ninja from the village are probably all deployed to the front lines."
Another Rain Ninja beside him sarcastically remarked, "So, little brats like these who haven't even graduated from the Ninja school are sent to participate in the Chunin Exam."
Rain Ninja, huh…
Feeling the gaze of everyone on him, ignoring the inconsequential conversation, Yu sat quietly in his seat, lost in thought. "Obito hasn't turned dark yet, and Yahiko hasn't died either..."
"The Rain Village is probably still under the rule of the 'semi-god' Hanzo of the Salamander, right?"
The Hidden Rain Village—constant rainfall, situated at the intersection of the Earth, Wind, and Fire countries. Due to the ongoing wars among the major nations, the village remained in constant turmoil, causing the Ninjas from the Rain Village to harbor a deep resentment toward the Ninja villages of larger nations like Konoha.
In addition to Rain Ninja, Yu also saw many Ninjas from various other villages. Despite the ongoing wars in the other four major nations, Ninjas from smaller villages like the Grass Ninja Village and Waterfall Ninja Village were still participating in the Chunin Exam hosted by Konoha, as customary.
The Chunin Exam—literally meaning the exam for promoting Genin to Chunin—is held roughly twice a year. It serves as an important occasion for nations to observe each other's strength and engage in a subtle battlefield for resources without visible gunpowder.
Because Ninja villages symbolize the comprehensive strength of their respective countries, a powerful Ninja village naturally receives more missions. On the contrary, a Ninja village with weaker strength has to continue reducing its already scarce resources.
"Quiet, everyone!"
"I am Hyuga Tokugen, the chief examiner for this Chunin Exam! I will be overseeing the first round of examinations!"
The chaotic exam room suddenly quieted down as a Ninja with long black hair and pure white eyes ascended the platform.
"A Chunin from the Hyuga clan's branch family..."
"It seems that Konoha is indeed severely short-handed," Yu couldn't help but sigh as he saw through the strength of the chief examiner on the platform with a single glance.
Having a Chunin oversee the written portion of the Chunin Exam was enough to indicate how scarce Ninja personnel were in Konoha. "This is the Byakugan, a Kekkei Genkai of the Hyuga clan in Konoha," Hyuga Tokugen stated after distributing the papers. "I advise everyone not to even think about cheating in this exam."
After distributing the test papers, the chief examiner Hyuga Tokugen activated his Byakugan, a dojutsu that allowed him to see through everything. His sharp gaze swept across all the Ninjas present, eliminating any possibility of cheating.
"Damn it... the Byakugan of the Hyuga clan..." One Grass Ninja muttered as he received the challenging written test paper. Feeling the penetrating gaze of Chief Examiner Hyuga Tokugen's Byakugan, the Grass Ninja reluctantly abandoned the Ninjutsu he intended to use for cheating.
"In the silent classroom, the sound of pencils writing echoed. Yu, with a calm expression, looked at the test paper in his hand."
Although the theoretical aspects of these Ninja exams were challenging, they were not enough to stump him. After all, during his time at the Ninja Academy, he consistently ranked first in theoretical classes.
It's worth noting that, due to not being part of a Ninja team, Yu participated in the Chunin Exam alone this time.
----
Support me on patreon for More advanced chapters up to 50 so far patreon.com/DemonWriter
