"The Jonin Exam is about to begin. Those whose names are called, come collect your credentials... Tekuno."
"Here!"
"Baiyun Hayama."
"Here!"
"Hyuga Tao."
"..."
"Kanda Kyoichi."
"Present!"
Kyoichi stepped forward and respectfully accepted his credential, just like the others.
Afterward, he listened carefully to the names.
Baiyun Hayama didn't surprise him. His distinctive features were so obvious that Kyoichi recognized him instantly.
But.
That slightly plump young ninja was actually Tekuno, who had appeared in the anime alongside him...
That was somewhat unexpected.
Kyoichi remembered him for a simple reason.
Tekuno had appeared quite a few times. He was also one of the few ninja-tool masters who, like Tenten, integrated ninja tools with things such as summoning scrolls, eventually relying on that ability to become a Jonin.
That showed he truly had considerable attainments in ninja tools.
Kyoichi couldn't help taking a few extra looks at him.
Aside from those two, there was also an elite Chunin with no reputation to speak of. However...
The exact opposite was true.
This person posed the greatest threat to Kyoichi. That was the information he had obtained through Chakra Sensing, and he strongly suspected that this person had transformed and disguised himself as someone else.
Orochimaru?
There was a certain possibility.
That guy loved playing such tricks.
Kyoichi swept his gaze around and gained a rough idea of the situation in this Jonin Exam. Most of the people here were ninjas who couldn't be promoted directly through battle merits, yet whose abilities had reached the required standard.
"The first test will be held here. The seven examinees, please take your papers."
The one speaking was a Jonin.
Kyoichi recognized him: Kurenai's Father, Kurenai Yuhi's father.
However.
This wasn't the time to meet his student's father. He stepped forward to take his paper, then quickly sat in the position that had been prepared in advance in the training ground and began answering the questions.
To become a Jonin, one needed to possess a certain amount of knowledge.
Even Naruto, in the Naruto anime, couldn't avoid this hurdle in the end and had studied hard for a long time because of it.
Kyoichi glanced at the paper and couldn't help letting out a faint sigh of relief.
The questions on it.
They were difficult and easy at the same time. Most concerned battlefield tactics, battle formation positioning, and similar knowledge. Any experienced Chunin would basically know the answers.
Kyoichi couldn't claim to understand everything, but with his predecessor's knowledge and the small amount of experience he had gained from watching the anime in his previous life, answering the questions wasn't difficult.
The others could answer them even more easily.
Because Kanda Kyoichi was the youngest person here.
He had been promoted to Chunin at fourteen. That speed was indeed rather slow, but if he could become a Jonin at fifteen, he certainly couldn't be considered weak. He could be called the focal point of this examination.
In fact, Kyoichi himself understood that half of the seven people in the examination hall might have come specifically because of him.
The first test was merely the beginning.
He calmed himself and answered the questions while observing the others. Before long, the unknown Matsunohara handed in his paper, and the others followed one after another.
Kyoichi was the last.
It wasn't that he couldn't answer the questions. He simply wanted to be the last to leave so he could observe the condition of these people.
Now, he basically had his answer.
The two members of the Aburame Clan probably came from Root. They had been secretly observing him the whole time, while Hyuga Tao might genuinely have come to take the exam. He had finished and handed in his paper very early.
"The second test is very simple. There are two scrolls in the Forest of Death. The first four people to gather the scrolls will qualify for the third test."
After Kurenai's Father finished announcing the rules, he directly made a dispersal gesture.
The next moment, everyone vanished instantly.
Kyoichi understood.
The second test examined intelligence gathering, combat, and speed.
In terms of gathering information, no one could surpass the Aburame Clan and the Hyuga Clan. These three were the biggest problems in this examination, but they weren't the only ones Kyoichi had to face.
There was also Matsunohara.
Was this guy really here to take the exam?
When they had dispersed with the Body Flicker Technique just now, Kyoichi had noticed that Matsunohara had run in the same direction as him. They both possessed Jonin-level strength, so he didn't believe the other party couldn't sense his position.
Forget it.
It didn't matter. It was unrealistic to find both scrolls by himself anyway. He would still have to rely on the Aburame Clan and the Hyuga Clan. Those two clans were experts at scouting.
Kyoichi ran while using Chakra Sensing to investigate his surroundings.
Matsunohara was still following him.
This person was definitely disguised and hadn't come for the sake of being promoted to Jonin.
Kyoichi knew it clearly.
He didn't follow directly. After following for some time and judging the other party's speed, he kept himself within a range of Aburame Hiyori that allowed him to catch up quickly.
"His position... Interesting. Sensory abilities?"
Matsunohara licked his lips, and excitement flashed in his eyes.
The Senju.
Truly enviable!
Before long.
Aburame Hiyori found one scroll, then hurried toward another location. From his appearance, it was obvious that insects had helped him locate the other scroll.
Kyoichi was just about to catch up.
At that moment, whoosh~
With a sound, Matsunohara, wearing a green vest, landed in front of Kyoichi and said in a slightly hoarse voice, "Kanda Kyoichi, there are only four places in this examination. Do you want one?"
"..."
Orochimaru, you perverted bastard.
Kyoichi cursed inwardly.
"Hehehe, I'm not interested in the scrolls, but I'm very interested in you. If you can defeat me, perhaps I can help you obtain a scroll."
As Matsunohara spoke, he couldn't help licking his lips.
That voice and those mannerisms made it clear that he was undoubtedly Orochimaru.
"I'm not interested in you."
Kyoichi wasn't surprised.
He had suspected that this guy was Orochimaru during the first test. Jiraiya was handling the negotiations with Sunagakure on the front line, so Orochimaru must have already returned to the village.
"Then it won't be up to you."
Matsunohara smiled.
He drew a Kunai and instantly appeared beside Kyoichi.
However.
The next moment, the Kyoichi before his eyes turned into fragmented shadows.
The Clone Technique?
No.
What incredible speed with the Body Flicker Technique!
The excitement in Matsunohara's eyes intensified.
With a lift of his hand, a giant snake appeared.
For fuck's sake.
He doesn't even care about hiding his identity anymore?
When Kyoichi saw the giant snake land in front of him, he cursed inwardly. However, he didn't hesitate to attack. He formed hand seals, then spat out a jet of water.
Water Release: Water Severing Wave!
The razor-sharp water spear sliced the giant snake in half at the waist. It even changed direction and shot toward the "Matsunohara" behind it.
Matsunohara hadn't expected Kyoichi to unleash such a powerful ninjutsu.
But.
When the water jet cut through him, his body transformed into a pool of mud.
Earth Replacement Technique!
This was the Sannin.
They could evade a ninjutsu attack at the lowest possible cost.
Kyoichi wasn't surprised. He quickly chased after Aburame Hiyori.
Orochimaru was like sticky taffy: impossible to beat and irritatingly clingy. There was no need to get tangled up with him. The priority now was obtaining a scroll and securing a place.
Moreover.
Distinguishing friend from foe and completing missions were also abilities a Jonin needed. So there was no point complaining about it at all.
Orochimaru, however, had become interested.
At first, he had only wanted to test Kyoichi's abilities and see whether the Senju physique had truly awakened. But after observing him...
Kyoichi's strength had far exceeded his expectations.
A modified Body Flicker Technique, and the almost-lost secret Water Severing Wave of the Second Hokage.
What else had he failed to anticipate?
Before you continue