Uchiha Chiri

"I hope the four of us get assigned to the same team after graduation."

In the hot spring, Jiraiya scrubbed his back and sighed, "I'm more comfortable with you guys. The others in class have a bit of an air of superiority."

"Each team can only have three new students, so it's impossible for four of you to be together," Hiruzen reminded him.

He had another thought he didn't voice: his goal was to become Hokage's disciple, and he didn't want to join a regular ninja squad like the other new students.

"Then let's just cut Watanabe. Compared to us, he'd rather be with Tsunade anyway," Jiraiya joked.

Watanabe smiled slightly, not denying it.

"Orochimaru, how about you? Is there anyone specific you want to team up with?"

Orochimaru shook his head silently.

"Stop being so quiet! That kind of personality won't win you any girls," Jiraiya teased him. "Orochimaru, you'll definitely never get a wife in the future."

Orochimaru hesitated for a moment, then slowly asked, "Do you... have any dreams?"

"Of course! My dream is to get intimate with countless beautiful girls!" Jiraiya replied with a grin. The three of them knew him well enough and weren't surprised.

"I want to become Hokage!" Hiruzen stated firmly.

"I wish for world peace," Watanabe said.

The three of them froze. For some reason, they felt Watanabe's dream was incredibly noble.

"Orochimaru, you're the only one left who hasn't said anything," Jiraiya pointed the spotlight at him.

A look of confusion flashed across Orochimaru's face. "I don't know."

He felt empty, without anything he particularly wanted or anything he particularly wanted to do. He was like a follower without faith, always just doing what he felt he should be doing.

The four of them soaked in the hot spring for the entire afternoon. When they emerged, their friendship had deepened incalculably.

"The written exam results should be out. Let's go to the school to check," Hiruzen said impatiently, eager to see the scores.

Watanabe felt the same.

At that moment, the school's athletic field was packed with people. Countless students and parents crowded around the notice board. Watanabe and the others had to exert all their strength just to squeeze into the crowd.

"Ninety points!"

Hiruzen's name appeared, and he beamed with joy.

"Heh heh, seventy-eight points. As long as I pass, I'm happy," Jiraiya chuckled foolishly.

Watanabe's written exam score was ninety-five, higher than Hiruzen's. However, he saw Orochimaru's name at the top of the list; he had achieved a perfect score.

Orochimaru remained calm throughout. "Twenty-five people were eliminated," he stated.

The names marked in red behind the notice board all indicated elimination.

Only those who scored sixty points or above were eligible to proceed to the next round of the exam.

"Tomorrow morning is the Illusion Technique test, and the afternoon is the practical combat test. Both will be held at the training grounds, and the difficulty will definitely be greater than the written exam," Hiruzen mused. After thinking for a moment, he bid farewell to the three of them:

"I'm going home to prepare. Don't let your guard down either; we might become opponents tomorrow."

"Okay, see you tomorrow."

Watanabe also took his leave shortly after. His emphasis on the graduation exam was no less than Hiruzen's, just less outwardly apparent.

That night, Watanabe continued to stay up late to improve his kidney function, reviewing all the Ninjutsu he had mastered to ensure he wouldn't forget hand seals during the practical combat.

The next morning, the spectator seats at Training Ground 15 were filled early. From a distance, it looked like a sea of people, a spectacle comparable to the Chunin Exam period.

"Senior Chiri, we'll trouble you to participate in the Illusion Technique test later."

On the judges' bench, a young man wearing a forehead protector respectfully addressed a woman.

The woman was about thirty years old, her clothes bearing the Uchiha's iconic Gunbai clan crest. She had a cold, beautiful face and a tall, slender figure. Her long legs were wrapped in black stockings, giving her a mature allure. She replied calmly to the young man, "Understood. Just call me when it's time to begin."

"Is it a waste of talent to have Chiri test the Illusion Techniques for the Ninja Academy students?" the Nara Clan Leader asked with a chuckle, sitting on the same judges' bench. He also subtly observed Hiruzen's expression next to him.

"The Uchiha are synonymous with the ultimate mastery of Illusion Techniques, and Chiri is even more so."

"I'll hold back and won't let them be completely wiped out," Uchiha Chiri said, her tone still indifferent, unfazed by the Nara Clan Leader's flattery.

"With Chiri's words, we can rest assured."

At this moment, the young ninja who had greeted Uchiha Chiri walked to the center of the training ground and directed the candidates to enter in an orderly fashion. His name was Gekko Hayate, and he was in charge of today's graduation exam.

"So many people!"

Jiraiya muttered softly as he walked beside Watanabe. The dense crowd in the spectator seats made him dizzy.

Watanabe, on the other hand, looked towards the judges' bench. He recognized almost all the judges there; they had all attended the Senju Clan Compound for Tsunade's birthday, including Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shimura Danzō, the Hyuga Clan Leader, the Nara Clan Leader, the Hatake Clan Leader, and others.

"I wonder if Tsunade is here yet, or if she's already undergoing special training?"

Watanabe thought, his gaze sweeping from the judges' bench to the spectator seats. He couldn't find Tsunade.

"Chiri-senpai, it's ready."

Gekko Hayate called out to the distance, seeking permission.

Uchiha Chiri left the judges' seats, striding forward with her long legs to meet the crowd.

The moment she appeared, Jiraiya's eyes lit up. He stared intently at her legs, his mind instantly filled with lewd thoughts.

"She's truly exquisite..."

He muttered to himself.

"Uchiha Chiri, is it."

Watanabe guessed the woman's identity based on Gekko Hayate's address. The Uchiha, Senju, and Hyuga were the three great, renowned clans of Konoha. Uchiha Chiri had made quite a name for herself in the village over the years. It was said her mastery of Illusion Techniques was unmatched, and many believed she would undoubtedly be the next Uchiha clan head.

"Next, Chiri-senpai will test your Illusion Techniques."

Gekko Hayate explained to the examinees: "Starting from this line, for every step you take while conscious, you will earn ten points. Those who take fewer than three steps will be eliminated."

The rules were simple and easy to understand.

Uchiha Chiri stopped about ten steps away from the crowd. As she closed and then reopened her eyes, her two eyes transformed into a scarlet, three-tomoe Sharingan, like the eyes of a demon from the depths of hell opening.

[Hypnotized by Illusion Technique: Willpower +10, Spirit +8, Clarity +9...]

Watanabe was slightly startled. When had the opponent used the Illusion Technique?

Seeing many examinees display confused expressions, Gekko Hayate understood that Uchiha Chiri had already made her move. He immediately announced, "Illusion Technique test, commencing now!"

Orochimaru formed hand seals, causing the Chakra within him to become turbulent, thereby maintaining his consciousness. He took his first step towards Uchiha Chiri.

The others followed suit, advancing behind him. However, with each step they took, the effect of the Illusion Technique grew stronger, their eyelids uncontrollably closing.

"An Illusion Technique of this level can't trap me, Jiraiya!"

Jiraiya gritted his teeth, his Chakra already in such a turbulent state that his whole body trembled.