The next day, news spread from Konoha that Hiruko's whereabouts had been discovered.
Upon hearing this news, many Konoha ninjas flocked out to search for Hiruko.
Some team leaders from small countries, unable to resist the lure of the bounty, also joined the search.
Although tempted by the bounty, the remaining team leaders from the Four Great Ninja Villages chose to stay in Konoha, hoping Konoha would find the participants' bodies. Otherwise, they would have difficulty explaining themselves upon returning to their villages.
But they waited and waited, and no news came.
The team leaders from the Four Great Ninja Villages grew impatient.
If it weren't for the fact that they were in Konoha's stronghold, they might have caused a scene.
However, when they thought about the Konoha ANBU hidden in the shadows, watching them, they forcibly suppressed any violent thoughts.
At this moment, the team leaders from the Four Great Ninja Villages gathered together.
Fuguki, the Jounin from Kumogakure, spoke first, "Everyone, Konoha still hasn't given us any feedback. What do you think?"
"What else can we think? Either they've found the bodies and don't want to return them, or they haven't found them and can't give us an answer," said Kurotsuchi, the Jounin from Iwagakure, as he stroked his chin. "I might be wrong, but those missing bodies all had Kekkei Genkai. If Konoha has them, there's no guarantee they won't do something."
"You mean..." Pakura, the Jounin from Sunagakure, seemed to catch on.
"It's very likely that Konoha is secretly researching Kekkei Genkai!" Kurotsuchi scanned the others with a serious expression. "That's the only reasonable explanation!"
Everyone fell silent.
If Kurotsuchi's speculation was correct, getting the bodies back from Konoha would be almost impossible.
"Everyone, I'm heading back to Kirigakure. There's no point in staying here any longer!"
After a brief silence, Hozuki, the Jounin from Kirigakure, spoke up.
With that, he left.
Fuguki from Kumogakure, Kurotsuchi from Iwagakure, and Pakura from Sunagakure exchanged glances and also bid their farewells.
Thus, the team leaders from the Four Great Ninja Villages left Konoha one after another.
The Chuunin Exams finally came to an end.
The next day.
Tenya, who was staying in Konoha Hospital, received a summons from the Third Hokage.
This meant he could be discharged and no longer needed to pretend to be a seriously injured patient.
After packing up, Tenya headed straight to the Hokage Tower.
In the Hokage's office.
Tenya stood quietly before Hiruzen Sarutobi, pretending to listen attentively.
At this time, Hiruzen began his familiar speech about the Will of Fire.
Tenya internally complained but showed no outward signs.
He had to admit, Hiruzen Sarutobi did have some charisma as a speaker.
If a rookie heard such rhetoric, they might be filled with resolve to die for Konoha.
Tenya didn't dislike Hiruzen Sarutobi; in fact, he thought Hiruzen was a good person.
But as the leader of a village, Hiruzen Sarutobi was unfit.
He was too emotional and too weak!
Thinking about the future mistakes Hiruzen Sarutobi would make, dragging Konoha from its peak to its nadir, Tenya didn't know what to say.
After finishing his speech about the Will of Fire, Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled at Tenya and said slowly, "Your father and uncle sacrificed their lives to protect Konoha. They are heroes of Konoha. I hope that you can inherit their will and continue to protect Konoha in the future. Can you do that?"
"I can!"
Although he was tired of such conversations, Tenya still put on a determined face.
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded in satisfaction.
"You performed very well in this Chuunin Exam. Not only did you earn Konoha some respect, but you also eliminated many future potential threats. I am very pleased!" Hiruzen paused and then continued, "Because of your outstanding performance, I have decided to promote you to Special Jounin. Here is your appointment letter, take it!"
Special Jounin?
Tenya was somewhat surprised.
He had come here for the Chuunin title, but he ended up being awarded the Special Jounin title.
It was an unexpected surprise.
Considering the Chuunin Exam, the Four Great Ninja Villages had collectively cheated, sending many Special Jounin, some of whom even had the strength of a regular Jounin.
Against such participants, even with the Root Team, Konoha almost failed.
If Tenya hadn't stood out in the end, Konoha's participants might have been slaughtered by the teams from the Four Great Ninja Villages.
If that had happened, Konoha would not only have lost face but could also have been plunged into a war initiated by the Four Great Ninja Villages.
Fortunately, Tenya's appearance salvaged everything.
Although there were some border skirmishes with the Four Great Ninja Villages, it hadn't escalated to war.
This allowed Konoha some breathing space and more time to prepare.
"What, not accepting the appointment letter?"
Seeing Tenya in a daze, Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled and urged him.
Receiving the appointment letter, Tenya noticed that the challenge task on his mission panel had shown as completed.
He could formally submit the task and claim the reward.
Challenge Task: Obtain the Chuunin title (Completed)
Task Requirement: Participate in the Chuunin Exams, pass all assessments, and secure a Chuunin promotion slot.
Task Reward: 15% role-playing progress
Because he obtained the Special Jounin title, Tenya received the highest level reward for this challenge task.
A full 15% role-playing progress, enough to enhance his strength to the next level.
Leaving the Hokage's office, Tenya eagerly claimed his reward.
"Ding! Congratulations, host, your role-playing progress has reached 65%, unlocking a new skill: Secret Sword: Kusanagi!"
"Ding! Congratulations, host, your role-playing progress has reached 70%, unlocking a new skill: Tremor Fang!"
"Ding! Congratulations, host, your role-playing progress has reached 75%, unlocking a new skill: Explosion Star!"
In three consecutive prompts, Tenya unlocked three new skills.
Skill: Secret Sword: Kusanagi
Description: Uses internal chakra to quickly heal wounds.
This skill was somewhat similar to Tsunade's Creation Rebirth, greatly enhancing Tenya's survival and sustained combat capabilities.
Skill: Tremor Fang
Description: The swung slash carries tremor force, with a high chance of disarming the opponent.
This skill focused on technique and had its merits.
Skill: Explosion Star
Description: A method of energy transfer, allowing energy to be transferred into a specified object and then detonated.
Blueprint: Explosive Apple
Looking at the process of making the Explosive Apple, Tenya thought it wasn't much different from the explosive tags circulating in the market.
If he understood the principle of the explosion, creating a Fire-style version of a grenade was very possible.
With enough energy, he might even create a Fire-style version of a nuclear bomb.
Just imagining the terrifying power made Tenya eager to try.
If he had a nuclear bomb-level weapon, the so-called White Zetsu army in the later stages of the series would be wiped out in minutes.
He wondered if Sage of Six Paths-level strength could withstand it.
Opening his personal panel, Tenya saw significant changes.
Host: Gekkou Tenya
Persona: Ukyo Tachibana
Style: Shindō Munen-ryū
Role-playing Progress: 75.5%
Combat Strength: Regular Jounin
Daily Task: Swing the sword 1000 times to increase role-playing progress by 0.01% (Incomplete)
Long-term Task: Each new sword technique learned increases role-playing progress by a certain amount (Note: Higher level sword techniques provide more progress)
His combat strength had risen from Special Jounin to Regular Jounin.
The rewards for daily tasks had significantly decreased.
Previously, swinging the sword 1000 times would give 0.1% role-playing progress.
Now, the same 1000 swings would only yield 0.01%.
Accumulating role-playing progress through daily tasks had become more challenging.
It seemed that for rapid progress, he would have to focus on long-term tasks.
These should be more reliable than daily tasks.
If triggered tasks appeared, that would be even better.
The Chuunin Exam was a prime example.
Completing this triggered task gave Tenya a full 15% role-playing progress.
In the future, encountering such tasks wouldn't be as easy.
Just as he left the Hokage Tower, Tenya saw a somewhat familiar figure.
Orochimaru?
Yes, it's him!
Orochimaru was currently observing Tenya with great interest, a constant smile on his lips.
Tenya couldn't help but feel that Orochimaru was waiting for him.
Could that be possible?