Remember to Repay Me Well

Inside the tent, Orochimaru, Tsunade, Minato Namikaze, Aburame Shibi, and the others sat upright.

Genitsu calmly looked at these influential figures.

"Your abilities are even more outstanding than I imagined, Genitsu. You've already grown."

Shibi adjusted his sunglasses and spoke calmly.

"We're all contributing to the village. I'm happy to be able to put my value to use... But I assume you didn't call me here merely to praise me, did you?"

Genitsu rubbed his throbbing head and spoke with a smile.

Tsunade snorted coldly, her expression unpleasant.

An alarming gleam appeared in Orochimaru's eyes. He was already unable to wait any longer.

At that moment, Minato Namikaze smiled. "We've all seen your exceptional performance, especially the immense merits you earned in this western front war. Genitsu, you may make a reasonable request."

"I see... I want to learn powerful ninjutsu, but I'm not sure what suits me yet..." Genitsu said after pondering for a moment.

"Powerful ninjutsu... Given your talent and performance, requesting that thing isn't impossible."

"If you want to view the Scroll of Seals, the old man will have to approve it."

The senior officers of the western front discussed it quietly among themselves.

The Scroll of Seals.

It recorded a great number of Forbidden Techniques. Every one of them far exceeded ordinary ninjutsu in both difficulty and danger.

And this was precisely what Genitsu desired. He remembered a technique within the Scroll of Seals that he urgently needed.

If he could master that technique, perhaps he could truly gain an initial grasp of Godzilla's power.

After a while, the western front's senior officers ultimately did not give a definite answer. It required the Hokage's approval.

However, Genitsu received a new "mission."

"The Chūnin Exams?! I can finally become a chūnin!!"

Obito was overjoyed and howled loudly.

"Yeah, they said it would be too pathetic for us to still all be genin. Strictly speaking, we qualified to become chūnin long ago, but we still have to go through the process."

Genitsu called the other five over and spread his hands as he announced the news.

"That's great! Once I become a chūnin, jōnin won't be far away..." Obito's breathing quickened.

Kakashi sneered. "Whether you can even pass the Chūnin Exams is another matter. What are you so excited about?"

"Ah! You smug Kakashi, even if you can't pass, I definitely can!"

Obito lost it again.

Kakashi's expression remained indifferent. "I'm sorry for being born a genius. I was already a chūnin at six."

Keep insulting me!

Obito was both furious and shocked.

Only then did he remember that smug bastard Kakashi had graduated at five and become a chūnin at six...

"No, Kakashi, you have to participate too. You'll enter as a team with Obito and Rin."

Genitsu shook his head. "It's the village's order. Everyone from our class who's still alive has to participate in these Chūnin Exams."

A genin at five, a chūnin at six, participating in the Chūnin Exams with Obito and Rin at twelve, then being appointed a special jōnin... This was fucking absurd. Those people in the village had Kakashi's entire path arranged perfectly.

Kakashi froze, his expression turning strange, but in the end he merely nodded. "Since it's a mission, I understand."

As for why everyone was required to participate... the reason was easy enough to guess. Just as their entire class had graduated early, the village urgently needed a new batch of chūnin to enter the battlefield.

They were running out of fodder.

Throughout the entire Third Shinobi World War, Konoha had been in the difficult position of facing three enemies at once. At the start of the war, it had fought the Stone, Sand, and Cloud villages. After Kumogakure was driven back by Minato Namikaze, it was now fighting the Stone, Sand, and Mist villages. After years of continuous warfare, its manpower was severely depleted.

Genitsu began recalling the contents of Obito and Kakashi's Chūnin Exams from the original story.

"The first part was a written test... I remember the sixth question asked about Kekkei Tōta. For everyone else, that counted as an advanced question."

"Obito was the only 'provisionally qualified' candidate in the written portion. Rin had to help him cheat just so he could barely enter the second test, and Kakashi even mocked him for it in the hallway."

"The second part was a combat test. Obito fought Might Guy and Kakashi one after another, and lost both times."

Genitsu stroked his chin. No matter how he looked at it, there was no way this could go wrong.

These Chūnin Exams were destined to be merely a formality. The important thing was having a legitimate review process.

Otherwise, it would not be easy to promote him to special jōnin.

If nothing unexpected happened, once he became a chūnin, he would probably receive a slot for promotion to special jōnin.

"Rest up. We're heading back to the village for the exams," Genitsu said.

The group immediately began adjusting their condition, filled with anticipation at becoming chūnin. Naturally, the process was also full of Obito and Kakashi's bickering and mockery.

"Kazue, once we get back, I'll find a way to conduct human experiments on you. Be prepared. If you can't endure it, you're dead."

Genitsu sat cross-legged and suddenly spoke in a low voice.

Kazue's body trembled. She gathered up her much sparser hair. "Is that so? Then I'll have to trouble you, Genitsu... I've already prepared myself."

"Don't get your hopes up. The success rate is incredibly low. I'm gambling too."

Genitsu calmly looked into Kazue's eyes.

Over the past year, although he had spent most of his time running across the battlefield and progress on the relevant research had been extremely slow, he had at least formed some hypotheses.

But... could Kazue endure it?

Even if it succeeded, it would only barely extend Kazue's life by a few years. If it failed... then that would be the end of it. He could focus on arranging Kazue's funeral.

Genitsu's gaze carried a deeper meaning.

The next day.

All members of the new generation carrying out missions outside the village had received the village's order. They were to return in batches to participate in the Chūnin Exams.

Genitsu and the others were fully prepared to depart.

Someone landed before them, his expression gloomy.

"By Orochimaru's order, I will serve as your temporary squad leader. My mission is to escort you back to the village."

Konoha jōnin Hiruko lowered his head to inspect the little brats before him. Then his gaze settled on Genitsu. Only then did a stiff smile appear on his sinister face.

"We'll definitely get along very well."

Genitsu nodded calmly. "Then we'll be in your care, Lord Hiruko. It's truly too much trouble to make you come personally. We're deeply grateful... Once we're back, I'll treat you to a drink."

"Oh? There's no need for a drink. You only need to remember to find an opportunity to repay me well."

Hiruko snorted coldly.