Very soon.
Aside from Sunagakure, which had not participated in this Chunin Ninja Exams for various reasons, contestants from every other ninja village had arrived. Even smaller villages like Hoshigakure and Kusagakure had sent ninja.
With so many people around, anyone passing the milk tea shop or barbecue restaurant... would want to eat.
Fuyu had also made quite a profit during this time and built up his reputation. When the time came... he should be able to use this era of underdeveloped commerce to bring his business into other countries.
And he was only a little short of leveling up now. The barbecue restaurant's operation had greatly increased the revenue. He wondered what industry the next stage would be?
And today.
The joint Chunin Ninja Exams began!
At the same time, the intelligence-gathering exam—or cheating exam—held that morning had already ended. Under the guidance of Konoha's examiners, the ninja advancing to the next round arrived at the famed Forest of Death.
After receiving an explanation.
Obito understood that they had simply gone out for ramen that night. It was only because he had seemed so eager to drink milk tea that Rin had not invited him.
So, it had all been a misunderstanding!
And he had not made it clear to Rin... what he wanted was to be with her. It was not that he really wanted to eat or drink anything.
If it had not been for Rin... he would not have wanted that awful guy to earn even a single coin from Uchiha Obito!
He was being bullied too much!
Just then.
"Clap, clap, clap!" A round of applause rang out, drawing the attention of the ninja who had just been bragging about how easy the exam had been and how they could have passed it with their eyes closed.
"I am the chief examiner for the second round, Orochimaru."
As soon as he finished speaking.
All the Genin taking the exam stared in stunned silence at the effeminate-looking man.
A legend of the ninja world!
One of Konoha's Legendary Sannin!
Lord Orochimaru!
Even Asuma and Obito, who normally strutted around with extreme arrogance, froze. "Lord Orochimaru?"
Why was he here?
Had he not already gone out to take up a post?
But Orochimaru did not seem inclined to explain why he had specifically returned at this time. Instead, he licked his lips and said with an effeminate smile, "This exam is very simple. All you need to do is pass through this forest within three days."
As soon as he finished speaking.
Everyone froze again. That sounded far too easy!
However.
"Still, someone just complained that it was too easy, so you should all know that I have a summoned beast called Giant Snake..."
"?!"
At the mention of Giant Snake, everyone shuddered. It was a powerful summoned beast from one of the legendary Three Great Sacred Lands, one that could swallow children whole in a single bite!
"Do not be nervous. I am not asking you to defeat Giant Snake or anything. Of course, if you can do it, I would be very pleased!" Orochimaru smiled gently. Looking at the now-silent Genin, he continued, "I have placed twenty-two stone tablets with Giant Snake. That is right, just as you imagined: if you obtain a stone tablet from Giant Snake and take it out of the forest, you pass. So..." He licked his tongue. "Out of forty-four teams, only twenty-two teams can pass~"
Then, ignoring the ninja on the verge of collapse, he said with a smile, "Those who agree to take the exam may now come sign the death waiver. If you are afraid, it is not too late to withdraw!"
As soon as he finished speaking.
The surroundings fell silent.
Upon hearing the words Giant Snake, some ninja began to hesitate.
After all, people could really die!
However.
Just then.
A black-haired youth wearing clothes bearing the Uchiha clan crest stepped forward!
"Don't joke around! I am a man who will become Hokage. How could I give up on my ninja way here?" Obito raised his fist and declared resolutely, "If you're scared of even this, why become a ninja? Where do I sign? Until I become Hokage, this great Obito will never die!"
At once.
The ninja from the other villages seemed to be infected by his foolish enthusiasm.
"That is right! If you do not even have the courage to take the exam, what kind of ninja are you?"
"Only the weak choose to run away!"
"That guy looks like an idiot, but what he said actually makes sense!"
"Hey, hey! Who said that? Step forward and face your Lord Obito!"
"Idiot!"
"Damn it, Kakashi! Fight me one-on-one if you've got the guts!"
"...Get lost!"
Everyone's spirits immediately soared. Only the Cloud Shinobi... seeing that Obito was different from a few days ago, felt their hearts tighten. As expected... he had deceived them all!
They exchanged glances and subtly nodded, seemingly reaching some kind of decision!
After that, no one who remained said anything else. They signed the death waivers and, under the arrangements of Konoha's ninja, resolutely entered the Forest of Death.
Obito's team also split off from Asuma's team.
"This great Obito will definitely pass!" Obito, who believed in love again, had reverted to being a foolish boy. He looked confidently at Kakashi. "Just lie down and wait, Kakashi!"
"Idiot!" Kakashi rolled his eyes. Without using that move... do you believe I could beat you with one hand?
However.
Suddenly.
Kakashi's expression changed as he looked around with grave focus.
"What is it, Kakashi?" Obito curiously walked over. "Scared?"
"Shut up!" Kakashi ignored him and continued staring around them, lowering his voice. "We are surrounded!"
As soon as he finished speaking.
Bang!
A loud explosion rang out.
Kakashi and Obito's expressions changed. They turned toward the explosion, which had occurred... less than three meters away from Rin!
"Rin!" x2
Amid their cries, Rin was sent flying.
"Not bad. Looks like the Medical Ninja has been dealt with! As expected of Kakashi Hatake! I have heard of your reputation." A teasing laugh came from a tree. "Compared to that idiot, I believe you are the real genius!"
Just then.
Hearing the voice, Kakashi and Obito immediately looked up at the person standing in the tree.
Cloud Shinobi!
And...
"It is you!" Obito's eyes reddened, his expression seeming to twist as he glared furiously at him. "Bastard! What did you do?! I will kill you!"
When enemies met, their eyes burned with hatred. This was the Cloud Shinobi who had ambushed him outside the barbecue restaurant last time, kicking him away when he was not paying attention!
And Rin... she was hurt!
She was not dead!
He had come to his senses, but she was hurt!
"Obito, I am fine! Calm down!" Rin said with a pale face, clutching her right arm. "It is only a minor injury. I have already treated it!"
However.
"Uchiha Obito! Everyone says you are a genius." Amu looked at Obito, continuing to provoke him with disdain. "But I, Amu, do not believe it! I originally wanted to fight you, but time is short, so I will not play with you any longer! Konoha's genius will die here today!"
As soon as he finished speaking.
Several figures appeared with swishes, more than a dozen people surrounding the three of them. Even among the forehead protectors... there were ninja from Kirigakure!
"Stop wasting time. Attack!"
At once.
Obito's expression turned serious as well. Kakashi stood back-to-back with him, shielding the injured Rin. "Damn it! Cloud ninja, Mist ninja, I am definitely going to beat you all senseless!"
"Hehe, still talking tough?" Amu said disdainfully. "Is it that hidden ninjutsu? I heard you are concealing a very powerful ninjutsu. Use it!"
As soon as he finished speaking.
This time, Kakashi and Rin's expressions changed.
"Obito, you..."
But before they could finish, they saw Obito's eyes turn red. Filled with fury, he stared fixedly at the Cloud Shinobi.
In a low voice, he muttered, "Sensei, I am sorry!"
"Achoo!"
"Minato, did you catch a cold?" Fuyu looked at Minato across from him, then accepted the thirty thousand he had discarded. "Kong! Your luck is not very good today! You cannot even compare to the Nine-Tails!"
Although the Nine-Tails had not appeared, it was controlling Kushina. The human and beast worked together, repeatedly feeding winning tiles to others and driving Kushina nearly mad with anger.
But the Nine-Tails was too noisy.
If she did not play the way it wanted, it would make a racket in Kushina's ear. It was unbearably annoying!
Such terrible skills, yet such a serious addiction!
"No, I just suddenly feel a little stifled. Maybe I have been playing too long." Minato smiled helplessly and stretched. Then, looking at the tiles before him, the corner of his mouth curled up slightly. "Fuyu, looks like I should win this round~"
As soon as he finished speaking.
He drew a tile!
His eyes immediately lit up, and he even held his breath. Just as he was about to reveal his hand.
Suddenly.
A ninja rushed inside with a panicked expression.
"Minato! So you are here!" The Konoha Jonin spotted Minato and immediately excitedly grabbed his hand. "Come on, come on! Hurry and come with me to the Forest of Death!"
"What is it? I am off today!" Minato looked at the Jonin in confusion. "Did someone have something come up and need me to cover for them?"
"No! No one has anything going on! No, no, no! You are the one with something going on! Minato, you have something going on!"
"???"
What did he have going on?
Had he lost too much money?
As Minato looked on in confusion, the ninja said exaggeratedly and excitedly, "They have gone berserk, Minato! Your students have gone berserk!"
"Huh?"
Please vote! Please recommend!
Before you continue