Yagura finally managed to escape from the clutches of the three troublemakers.
Especially Ringo Ameyuri—the red-haired girl had excitedly wrapped her arms around his neck in a tight grip.
After being patted on the head and shaken until he was dizzy, he could feel their warmth and camaraderie through their laughter. The anxiety he had just been experiencing vanished completely.
"Seriously, if I go bald in the future, you guys are taking full responsibility."
Yagura muttered, smiling as he shot a resentful glare at the three. None of them looked the least bit concerned.
Jinin Akebino glanced toward the Konoha side, particularly at the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, whose expression remained calm and unreadable—but if one looked closer, his face was dark as water.
"Could it be that Konoha never noticed this talent?"
The thought nearly made Jinin burst into laughter. He couldn't suppress the amusement creeping onto his face.
He ruffled Yagura's hair again. "Hey, look at the expressions of those Konoha ninja!"
"A Jonin-level elite! A combat force second only to a Kage! And he's down, just like that!"
"He's not just a Jonin-level elite, sensei."
Yagura pushed away Jinin's unruly hand and said solemnly, "He could have become a Kage."
Jinin froze.
A Kage? That Taijutsu kid?
This was Konoha's home ground, and walls had ears.
Yagura didn't elaborate on the Eight Gates but simply warned,
"Jinin-sensei, if you ever run into an older man wearing the same green jumpsuit as him—just run."
"You're talking nonsense." Jinin didn't quite understand but decided not to press further when Yagura refused to explain.
More than eliminating a future elite Jonin (or Kage?), what pleased him even more was Yagura's growth.
The kid was strong, but as a shinobi, he was still too kind and humane.
For a ninja, those weren't exactly good traits. Ninjas didn't need to spread kindness everywhere.
The private response from the Third Mizukage had also contained a similar assessment.
Kirigakure might need a gentle Mizukage, but it didn't need a benevolent or compassionate one.
The decision was left to Yagura himself.
If he remained stubborn in his ways—
Then Kirigakure would never tolerate a traitor.
...
Thankfully, that wasn't the case.
The brat's performance this time was barely acceptable, Jinin thought to himself.
"Understood."
An ANBU member arrived, relaying the medical team's report.
Might Guy was dead. No chance of saving him.
The Third Hokage waved a hand in acknowledgment, and the ANBU retreated.
With decades of experience, Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't let any emotions show on his face.
The death of a Jonin-level prodigy wasn't enough to break his composure.
He could only blame himself for not noticing the boy's potential earlier—otherwise, he could have manipulated the matchups.
A pity.
His gaze briefly flickered toward the four Kirigakure ninja.
Now he understood why the Mizukage had broken from convention and confidently sent only a single team to the Chunin Exams.
His eyes landed on the tea-green-haired child who had yet to fully grow into his frame.
This boy wouldn't just be an elite Jonin.
Kirigakure had produced a true Kage-level genius.
No wonder the Mizukage had acted differently this time.
Was this just to temper the boy? Or was there another purpose?
Various thoughts flashed through Hiruzen's mind as he tapped his pipe and signaled to Shikaku Nara to continue.
"Next, we'll proceed with the second preliminary match!"
Shikaku's voice brought the arena back to order.
The previous match between Yagura and Might Guy had been far beyond average Chunin level, escalating the tension in the room.
One person had already died. No one wanted to be the second.
The second match: Sasori versus an Iwagakure ninja.
From the moment the names were drawn, it was clear this wouldn't end peacefully.
Just as Yagura had anticipated, Sasori ended the fight in a single move. His scorpion tail, coated in deadly poison, pierced the Iwagakure ninja.
Sasori was impatient by nature—he never dragged things out when he could finish them quickly.
The poison took effect instantly. The Iwagakure ninja never even touched Hiruko before his body went limp.
With a flick of his tail, Sasori tossed the lifeless body to Shikaku Nara's feet.
"Hurry up."
Shikaku stepped forward, checked for signs of life, and raised his hand. "Winner: Sasori!"
The arena erupted into an uproar as the Iwagakure ninja was carried away on a stretcher, a white cloth draped over his body.
The Genin weren't shocked by another death—
As shinobi, if they feared death, they might as well take off their headbands and become farmers.
What shocked them was the sheer disparity in strength.
They were all Genin taking the same Chunin Exams—
But their opponents were on a completely different level.
The fallen Iwagakure ninja represented the average ability of most participants.
Thinking about it, many realized that if they had been in his place, they wouldn't have fared any better against Sasori.
A Takigakure ninja gripped the railing, his hands trembling. "There can't be too many monsters like this, right? No way... right?"
His companion forced a laugh, trying to find a silver lining. "Well, at least three of them are already out. There's no way they're all that strong."
Because if they were—
Takigakure would seriously have to reconsider its existence.
Fortunately, the next three matches returned to a more reasonable level.
Konoha, Takigakure, and Iwagakure each claimed a win.
Konoha's match was an internal battle, so the victor spared their opponent. Afterward, they exchanged the Seal of Reconciliation and left amicably.
...
Takigakure barely edged out Iwagakure.
Then, when Iwagakure fought Sunagakure, old grudges resurfaced, and things got bloody again, reigniting the tension.
The sixth match: Shiranui Genma versus a Takigakure ninja. The seventh match: Raidō Namiashi versus an Iwagakure ninja.
At last, two recognizable names.
Yagura perked up, watching the matches intently.
Shiranui Genma—future Jonin, Fourth Hokage's bodyguard, and user of the Flying Thunder Formation. His talent was undeniable.
Though the story never gave him much time to shine.
"Winner: Shiranui Genma!"
"Winner: Raidō Namiashi!"
Both fights ended in under five minutes, with the victors decisively eliminating their opponents.
After two uneventful matches—
"Match ten: Akaiwa versus Uchiha Hisashi!"
Boom!
A heavy impact echoed through the arena as a towering figure landed with a thud.
"Finally, it's my turn!"
Akaiwa's gaze swept across the Konoha side, brimming with fighting spirit.
"Who's my opponent? Get down here already!"
His voice was so loud it felt like he had a built-in loudspeaker.
This guy was noisy.
Yagura had already felt that way while chatting with him two days ago—now it was even worse.
As his voice reverberated in the enclosed space, a black-haired, black-eyed Konoha Genin leaped down to face him.
An Uchiha.
A name that no Naruto fan would ever take lightly.
The Uchiha's Kekkei Genkai—Sharingan, one of the most broken abilities in the entire series.
...
"Winner: Akaiwa!"
Yagura's expression darkened slightly.
His teammates and teacher stared at him with barely concealed amusement.
Damn it, Uchiha. Where's your pride?
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
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