Any technique capable of such power, regardless of mission experience or achievements, had unquestionably reached the S-Rank Ninja standard of every village.
In fact, it far exceeded that standard.
Once someone reached that line, whether they were Genin, Chunin, or Jonin, they would inevitably be promoted to S-Rank Ninja.
That would not even count as an exceptional promotion.
Why? Why would a ninja like this be participating in these Chunin Exams—or rather, appear at the Chunin Exams venue?
And why had a battle like this taken place?
His eyes narrowed slightly, as if trying to examine the scene before him more thoroughly and uncover more clues. A string of thoughts flashed through Jiraiya's mind.
It was already obvious.
From the scene before him, one could conclude that an S-Rank Ninja-level battle had taken place here. At the very least, the power of the ninjutsu had reached S-Rank or even higher.
And an S-Rank Ninja absolutely could not appear in these Chunin Exams, even if undercurrents were surging beneath the surface of these exams.
After all, an S-Rank Ninja was, in a sense, strategic-level combat power for a ninja village. Whether in war or politics, they were an extremely sensitive asset.
If a village sent such a ninja to another village at an inappropriate time, it would be a show of force in both war and politics—or outright provocation.
Such an act was already the fuse of war.
Especially when it happened in Konoha.
And now, the Chunin Exams were clearly an inappropriate occasion. Moreover, sending a ninja of this level into the Chunin Exams—whether they had truly entered as an examinee or infiltrated as an outsider—was a show of force against Konoha. No, strictly speaking, it was already a provocation.
It showed complete disregard for Konoha's international standing, its defenses,