In Naruto: Drinking Makes You Stronger

What Hiruzen Sarutobi had Tanaka Shuichi give Yuu was the answers to the written portion of this Chunin Exam.

That should eliminate any problems, right?

Hiruzen Sarutobi's face was full of helplessness.

This was the first time in history that the Hokage himself had helped a candidate cheat.

But to ensure that Yuu could pass the first exam,

Hiruzen Sarutobi had no choice but to resort to this method.

"Iwagakure and Sunagakure declined the invitation. It's normal for Iwagakure not to come, considering that old bastard Ōnoki is there.

But what happened with Sunagakure?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned as he looked over the replies from the various ninja villages.

"Forget it. Even without Sunagakure and Iwagakure, as long as Yuu demonstrates his strength to Kirigakure and Kumogakure during this Chunin Exam, Sunagakure and Iwagakure will learn of it too."

After pondering for a moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi stopped dwelling on it.

As long as Yuu could use this Chunin Exam to show the Entire Shinobi World the strength of Konoha's new generation, that would be enough.

Time slowly passed.

During this period, Konoha's villagers noticed that there seemed to be more and more outsiders in the village.

"T-That's Kumogakure's symbol. Those bastards!"

A group of powerfully built ninja walked through Konoha's streets.

Konoha's villagers glared at them with anger.

This was not the time when the original story began.

The Second Great Ninja War had ended only recently.

And Kumogakure had been one of the combatants in the Second Great Ninja War!

"What are they doing here?"

"I heard they're holding the Chunin Exams. These guys came to take the exam."

"And those people over there—which ninja village are they from?"

"Kirigakure. It's been a long time since we last saw people from that village."

"Hmph, so this is Konoha? Those weaklings are wasting such a fine place."

Wearing a Kumogakure forehead protector, a Cloud Ninja genin spoke disdainfully.

"Don't let your guard down. Konoha is the cradle of geniuses."

The Kumogakure jonin leading the team glanced at the speaker and replied calmly.

"I know. You mean that guy Kakashi, right? I heard he's the son of the 'Konoha White Fang,' but he's already a chunin, isn't he? Other than him, Konoha is nothing worth mentioning!"

The genin said it dismissively.

As the son of the Konoha White Fang, Kakashi's information had long been known to all the major ninja villages.

But this was the Chunin Exams, not the Jonin Exams. Those who had already become chunin could not participate.

The Kumogakure jonin leading the team said nothing more.

In his eyes, among Konoha's younger generation, only Kakashi was worth a second glance.

The rest were not worth mentioning!

"Konoha really is dry."

A shark-faced, blue-skinned genin wearing a Kirigakure forehead protector bared a mouthful of sharp teeth.

"Kisame, when the exam begins, you'd better give it everything you have. Let Konoha's lot see just how terrifying ninja who emerge from our Bloody Mist truly are."

Suikazan Fuguki, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and Kirigakure's team-leading jonin, grinned savagely, baring his sharp teeth.

"Yes."

Bloodshot filled Kisame's shark-like eyes. He silently watched Suikazan Fuguki for a long while before answering.