Chunin Exams Amid Surging Undercurrents!

Death Forest!

It was one of Konoha's important material storehouses.

It was filled with ninja beasts, medicinal herbs... and all sorts of other precious materials.

Moreover, its Natural Energy was denser than elsewhere, making it an absolute treasure trove.

So people were normally forbidden from entering.

However, an exception was made during the Joint Chunin Exams, when it could serve as an examination site.

Benefits!

Battle placed immense strain on both mind and body, especially in a special place like this.

Therefore, it was easy for one's strength to enter a period of rapid growth after the Chunin Exams.

And the corpses and flesh of ninjas were also the finest "nutrients" for Death Forest.

It was a complete win-win!

They were winning big.

The Chunin Exams were like a sacrificial ritual. Every time, Death Forest gained something from it, so it was no wonder Konoha was willing to use it as an examination ground.

Ninja squads gathered outside the wire fence at the edge of the forest.

A large number of examiners stood at the entrance as well.

Do not mistake that layer of wire fence for the defensive measures.

Those were merely meant to keep out ordinary people. The real defenses were barriers and traps.

Without knowing about them, even jonin would have no easy time infiltrating Death Forest.

On a raised platform near the entrance.

Numerous examiners stood above, looking down at the candidates gathered below.

"Everyone, welcome to hell!"

"The upcoming test will definitely be unforgettable for the rest of your lives!"

"The rules are simple. Tokens have been scattered throughout Death Forest. Grab any one of them and enter the central tower, and you pass!"

"Now, take your signal flares and begin!"

Mitarashi Shiso had people lay out the signal flares for the candidates to collect.

Signal flares!

Once used, an examiner would come to the rescue, but it also meant forfeiting one's qualifications for the exam.

Of course, that was assuming one could use the signal flare and survive long enough for rescue to arrive.

The rules of this examination were unlike those in the peaceful era of the future—far crueler and more direct.

After all, a large number of hunters were hidden among the candidates.

Yet despite knowing that, they provided the candidates with no stricter protection. It could only be said that the ninja world was truly brutal.

Only those who survived under such circumstances were the geniuses the villages needed. As for those who did not survive, it did not matter.

A ninja-world battle royale.

It was also a game, except lives were the stakes.

"What's over there?"

Yamaa Koji noticed that Tang Ping had been constantly surveying the surrounding candidates and examiners, as though he were particularly concerned about something.

"No, it's nothing. Let's go!"

Tang Ping shook his head.

He had merely wanted to see whether there were any "old acquaintances" around.

And he really did recognize one.

Pakura!

The beautiful young woman who had shown off her bare back, competed with Rasa for the position of Fourth Kazekage, and had ultimately been set up and killed.

She was far prettier than in the anime!

If not for her distinctive outfit, he would have barely recognized her.

The real ninja world looked completely different from the anime, only somewhat similar. That was why Tang Ping had been unable to quickly recognize some figures from his memories.

This is really interesting!

Carrying the feeling of "witnessing history" and "a two-dimensional character becoming real," Tang Ping picked up a signal flare and headed toward Death Forest.

There were many entrances, enough for the participants to enter from different directions.

He chose an entrance with no one around.

But who would have thought that quite a few people suddenly followed behind him?

They were coming for them.

"Plan A!"

Tang Ping said to his two teammates.

They had discussed various response plans since yesterday, so of course they had made preparations.

They did not know the exact details of the exam.

But the general content of the test was known to genin from the Three Great Ninja Villages, so they could prepare in advance.

Kakashi and Yamaa Koji nodded to show they understood.

After passing through the entrance at a leisurely pace, the three of them suddenly accelerated and vanished into the forest.

"Quick, chase them!"

The examinees following behind seemed provoked and sped up after them.

"Verify the examinees' qualifications!"

However, among the several examiners stationed at the entrance, a Konoha examiner spoke coldly, blocking their way.

What a joke!

This was Konoha.

No matter how generous they were, they could not possibly watch outsiders hunt down the village's younger generation without offering any help, could they?

And verifying the examinees' qualifications was perfectly reasonable.

Didn't the Sand and Iwagakure examiners mixed in among the examiner team remain silent?

No one would stop such an easy favor.

Because if they were examinees from their own village, they would do the same.

The examination rules did need to be fair.

But as the hosts, they would not truly give up every bit of home-field advantage.

The complete fairness seen in anime was simply unrealistic.

Would the five permanent powers of Blue Star talk about "absolute fairness" with other forces?

Giving you an environment of "relative fairness" was already generous enough. What more did you want?

The real ninja world was not filled with only "passion," "Bonds," "hard work," and the like. It was a grim, dark, and brutal version of reality.

That was why there was that lyric: "Fairy tales are all lies."

Elsewhere!

Inside the central tower of Death Forest.

Ninja village higher-ups, nobles, and wealthy merchants packed the space, which was even larger than a Blue Ball arena.

The numerous surveillance screens in the center allowed everyone to see every movement taking place throughout Death Forest.

(The ninja world's technology was bizarrely uneven. It had surveillance cameras and computers... yet elsewhere remained at a Warring States level where people could not even afford food!)

Seated in the places of honor were three figures wearing hats marked with "Wind," "Rock," and "Fire," draped in long robes.

Among the three Kage, the shortest one—the Iwagakure representative with a red nose, Ōnoki—was the first to speak.

"Konoha truly is blessed by nature, constantly producing geniuses. Unlike Iwagakure, which does not even have a single genius. This old man is truly envious."

He opened with a barbed remark.

He directly insinuated that Konoha could only keep producing geniuses because of its uniquely favorable environment, while also hinting at Iwagakure's weakness.

If it had only been him and Hiruzen Sarutobi, it might have been nothing more than casual talk.

But with so many people present—and the Kazekage here as well—it would not have been surprising if stirring up the latter's greed and jealousy brought unexpected gains.

"That's right. It is precisely because of these geniuses that Konoha has remained safe and sound despite countless covetous eyes!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi took over.

He also made it clear that Konoha did not fear anyone coveting it.

The verbal clash between Kage might not have involved ninjutsu, but it was no less dangerous.

"Is that so? I truly hope those geniuses can continue protecting Konoha well!"

The Third Kazekage beside him added a comment.

It sounded like praise, but it was actually undisguised malice.

The Land of Wind had been driven mad by poverty, while its neighbor was the Land of Fire, a "wealthy household." Given the chance, they would naturally want to rob it.

Their own lives were worthless anyway. If they succeeded, it was a profit; if they failed, they could still expend a large number of ninja and lighten the village's burden.

"Under the light of the Will of Fire, Konoha ninja have never disappointed anyone. Let us watch the match!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi sensed that the other two Kage might have reached some tacit understanding, so he suggested they watch the match.

"That's right, let's watch the match."

"I hope there won't be any 'accidents,' and that everything goes smoothly."

"Maybe there'll be some surprises."

After the Tsuchikage and Kazekage exchanged a few words, they both fell silent.

Hiruzen Sarutobi appeared calm on the surface, but he had already notified the Anbu in code and told them to begin moving.

Because the two Kage had practically been hinting that someone was about to cause trouble.

Thus.

Beneath Konoha's seemingly lively surface, undercurrents began to surge.

However, everyone's attention was focused on the second stage of the Chunin Exams, and no one noticed it.