Chunin Ninja Exams

Lost in thought, Shinichi had unknowingly returned to the camp entrance.

"What a diligent little brat." A boisterous voice came from the shadows nearby.

"Lord Jiraiya." Shinichi stopped and turned toward the voice, greeting him calmly.

He had actually noticed him long ago—bolstered by the [Spiritual Sense] Trait, his sixth sense and sensitivity to his surroundings far surpassed those of ordinary people. Though he had not learned any formal sensory ninjutsu, he could clearly detect gazes and presences.

Jiraiya had not deliberately concealed himself, so Shinichi had noticed that observant gaze resting on him before he even entered the camp.

"Supremely gifted, and even rarer, you possess such unwavering determination. No wonder the old man values you so highly..." Jiraiya folded his arms and stepped out of the shadows, sounding somewhat wistful.

"I merely did what was expected of me. It is the Third Hokage's kindness and favor." Shinichi lowered his head slightly, humble without being overly deferential.

"Alright, alright, no need to keep praising that old man." Jiraiya waved a hand. A mysteriously smug grin suddenly appeared on his face as he looked around and lowered his voice.

"Come here. I'll show you something good."

Hmm?

A question mark appeared in Shinichi's mind, but he still walked over as instructed.

Jiraiya chuckled and extended his right hand. His gaze sharpened, and the air above his palm seemed to warp slightly. Azure Chakra surged forth, spinning and condensing. In almost the blink of an eye, a stable, dazzling sphere of Chakra the size of a fist took shape in his hand, quietly rotating with a deep energy hum.

Rasengan!

"Well? Impressive, right, kid?" Jiraiya proudly waved his hand, and the Chakra sphere continued to spin steadily, its glow illuminating the childlike boastfulness on his face. "It only took me three days! Three days to learn your jutsu!"

The distant campfire flickered, reflecting in Shinichi's slightly widened eyes on his otherwise calm face.

He was indeed somewhat surprised—not because Jiraiya had learned the Rasengan, nor because he had learned it in only three days.

What surprised him was that this Legendary Sannin was showing it off to him with a little pride, like a child eager to share a new toy.

Shinichi quickly composed himself and nodded seriously. "As expected of Lord Jiraiya. That is truly impressive. It took me a long time to figure out this jutsu."

"Hehe, that's because I stood on your shoulders." Jiraiya was quite candid. He clenched his hand, and the Rasengan silently dissipated.

He rubbed his chin, his gaze upon Shinichi gaining a more serious, inquisitive edge. "Still, you really are something else, kid. To come up with the concept for a Sealless Jutsu like this, then successfully develop it step by step on your own... The old man wasn't wrong to call you a Genius. More importantly, you're willing to put in the hard work."

He paused, his eyes sweeping over the lingering sharpness and traces of sweat on Shinichi after his training. "I've seen too many people coast on their talent and become lazy. Do your best in this exam. I want to see whether the creator of the Rasengan is just as formidable in other areas."

With that, he patted Shinichi's shoulder with considerable force, then returned to his lazy demeanor and strolled toward the firelight at the center of camp, as though he had not been the one excitedly displaying a jutsu moments ago.

Tch, not even offering a jutsu in return? So you're just freeloading?

Shinichi stood where he was, silently grumbling as he watched Jiraiya's retreating back.

Several days later, at the end of a golden sea of sand that stretched nearly beyond sight, a completely different dark silhouette finally appeared.

It was a settlement built against enormous rocky mountains. The massive symbol of Sunagakure was carved into the towering cliff face, looking solemn and unyielding beneath the scorching sun.

They had arrived at Sunagakure.

Over the following days, the exams proceeded in an orderly fashion.

After the written test and the scroll-grabbing battle in the Desert of Death, they encountered obvious targeted interference from Sunagakure. Yet with the solid strength and coordination of Shinichi, Maruboshi Kosuke, and Might Duy, they still advanced steadily into the final rounds.

One month later, at Sunagakure's largest arena.

The venue was packed, every seat in the stands occupied. The audience included not only Sunagakure's residents, but also wealthy merchants and officials from the Land of Wind who had come to witness the spectacle. The roaring commotion nearly overturned the sun-scorched air.

Most of the contestants who had reached the final rounds were from Konoha or Sunagakure.

The match arrangements seemed deliberate—forcing Konoha's contestants to fight among themselves, exhausting them early and eliminating their own strength.

The first match was Higashino Shinichi versus Maruboshi Kosuke.

However, before the match could begin, Maruboshi Kosuke directly announced his withdrawal, citing "difficulty acclimating to the local conditions and physical discomfort." The move immediately drew a chorus of dissatisfied boos from the stands.

On the elevated main platform, the Third Kazekage turned toward the composed Third Hokage beside him. His voice was not loud, but it was enough for several nearby officials to hear clearly. "Lord Hokage, this ninja of yours... seems somewhat unusual. His age and the strength he displayed earlier do not resemble those of an ordinary Genin. Surely Konoha did not deliberately arrange for a Jonin to disguise himself and enter the competition?"

His tone was calm, but the suspicion in his words was razor-sharp. He had specifically observed Maruboshi Kosuke during the earlier assessments. That veteran experience and effortless strength had unquestionably reached the level of a Jonin.

Was Konoha truly so shameless just to take first place in these Chunin Ninja Exams?

The Third Kazekage sneered inwardly.

He had deliberately arranged this match to force Konoha into a choice: either discard all dignity and keep an old veteran in the competition to fight for rankings, or abandon him and preserve the younger Higashino Shinichi, whose potential was obvious.

Upon hearing this, the Third Hokage maintained his usual gentle smile. He took an unhurried puff of his pipe before slowly saying, "Lord Kazekage, you jest. Kosuke's identity and records can be verified in Konoha. He is indeed a Genin, and I can personally guarantee that."

He then shifted the subject, his gaze seemingly casually sweeping toward Sunagakure's waiting area. "Speaking of which, that young female ninja from your village who can control sand, and whose defenses remain unbroken to this day, has also been remarkably impressive. I cannot help but wonder whether she might be some highly capable Jonin veteran from your village who changed her attire to offer Guidance to the younger generation."

The Third Kazekage's expression did not change. He smiled faintly. "Lord Hokage worries too much. Karura is unquestionably a Genin of our village. I can guarantee that to you as well."

He was not entirely lying.

After graduating from the Ninja Academy, Karura had worked in a clerical position at the Kazekage Building and was not a frontline combat ninja.

However, perhaps because of her kind nature and the experience of witnessing her parents' deaths as a child, she had awakened a unique bloodline ability.

She could infuse sand with Chakra and control it for attack and defense. Her defensive abilities in particular moved according to her will, allowing her to form the Sand Shield known as Absolute Defense.

To ensure that Sunagakure achieved the best possible ranking on home ground, the Third Kazekage had specifically given her the identity of a ninja and deployed this unconventional weapon.

After witnessing the strength Maruboshi Kosuke had displayed—especially that Water Release with its astonishing scale and control—he had still harbored some concern over whether they could secure the championship.

But now, with Maruboshi Kosuke voluntarily withdrawing, the weight in his heart had finally lifted.

Of Konoha's two remaining contestants, one was Higashino Shinichi. He seemed talented enough, but he was still young and ultimately lacked refinement.

The other was Might Duy, a ninja overly specialized in taijutsu. Against Karura's omnidirectional sand defenses, he would be even less capable of posing a threat.

In his view, neither of them could shake Karura's defensive line. The championship was already Sunagakure's for the taking.

Crafty old bastard!

The two old foxes' gazes met for only an instant before separating. Their smiles remained unchanged, but each silently cursed the other in his heart.