After the battle, Jiogan grilled fish by the river while Maruboshi Kosuke set up a pot beside him and cooked soup. The two divided the work clearly and worked together, enjoying a hearty lunch!
"Senior Kosuke, you're so strong. Why are you still only a Genin?" Jiogan had watched the anime and knew Kosuke's story, but he could only pretend not to know.
At this time, only the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju's direct disciples and members of his guard knew Kosuke's story. Even the Sannin did not know.
Just like in the anime, Maruboshi Kosuke told Jiogan about his past without holding anything back. It was basically the same as what Jiogan had seen in his previous life.
"Senior Kosuke, you're amazing! I respect your decision! Actually, I feel much the same as you do. If Yoru and Feiyun lost their lives because of my mistakes, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself either!" Jiogan said, and the atmosphere grew somewhat heavy.
"Jiogan, I can tell that you're someone who values bonds deeply. From those two months of missions, I could feel that your bond with your companions ran deep. You're very mature—far more mature than I was back then!" Maruboshi Kosuke said.
"Strong power, a sharp mind, and powerful bonds... Jiogan, honestly, I truly envy you!" Maruboshi Kosuke looked into the distance, his words full of emotion.
Seeing Maruboshi Kosuke like that, Jiogan did not know how to comfort him. After a moment of silence, Kosuke spoke first.
"From our battle just now, honestly, your talent for Water Release far surpasses mine. When I was your age, I was nowhere near your level. If we had fought at the same age, I wouldn't have lasted more than a few moves against you. Your talent can rival that of the Second Hokage!" Jiogan said.
"Senior, you flatter me. The Second Hokage has always been the ninja I admire most. Compared to him, I'm ashamed of myself," Jiogan said modestly.
"Your combat awareness and imagination in battle are both excellent. And you were able to develop practical Ninjutsu like the Water Needle Technique and Water Palm Prison Technique. You lost to me this time only because you lacked combat experience!" Maruboshi Kosuke said.
"However, once you become a Chunin, you'll have plenty of chances to face more and stronger opponents and gain combat experience. Only trials of life and death can forge true gold!" Maruboshi Kosuke said.
"Every powerful ninja has walked out from mountains of corpses and seas of blood!"
As a university student from Blue Star, Jiogan had not encountered any large-scale battles in this life. Mountains of corpses and seas of blood existed only in the impressions left by his dreams. In reality, Jiogan instinctively wanted to avoid them.
That was why Jiogan had not developed the Water Coffin Technique, instead developing the Water Palm Prison.
The impact of mountains of corpses and seas of blood was simply too overwhelming!
"Your Water Palm Prison Technique can actually be developed along a different line of thought and turned into a powerful offensive Ninjutsu. That way, if you encountered the previous situation again, you could use the immense power of Water Palm to tear apart the Water Dragon Bullet! Then I naturally wouldn't have been able to keep the water dragon attacking you, and the outcome would have been another matter!" Maruboshi Kosuke instructed.
Kosuke's advice matched what Jiogan had been thinking, but Jiogan still could not overcome that mental barrier for the time being. The scene from his dream, that sea of blood... Jiogan frowned.
Seeing Jiogan's expression, Maruboshi Kosuke knew he had his own thoughts. Besides, developing and improving Ninjutsu was already an extremely difficult matter. It could not be rushed!
"Senior Kosuke, what are your plans next? Anima and Okamura Taro have both signed up for the Chunin Exam. Are you still not participating?" Jiogan asked.
"No. I will continue to uphold my promise and remain a Genin for my entire life!" Maruboshi Kosuke answered without hesitation.
"Perhaps there will be an opportunity in the future for me to serve under you and carry out missions together!"
Jiogan said, "In my heart, you will always be my senior. I don't care about the ranks attached to ninja titles. We are companions—companions who can give our lives for one another!"
Maruboshi Kosuke showed an approving expression after hearing this. After considering it for a moment, he said, "With your current strength, passing the Chunin Exam will be easy. There are still fifteen days left. I suggest that you spend more time resting and clearing your mind. It may actually be more beneficial for you!"
"Mm, Senior Kosuke, I'll seriously consider your advice!" Jiogan said.
"Tomorrow, I'll be carrying out my next Patrol Mission. This mission will probably take two months as well. But when I return, I'll give you a big gift as congratulations from your senior!" Maruboshi Kosuke said.
"You're too kind, Senior. I'm looking forward to that big gift!" Jiogan said.
After chatting for quite a while longer, the two finally parted and returned to their respective homes.
Over the next fifteen days, Jiogan followed Maruboshi Kosuke's advice. Aside from sparring with Anima and the others, he spent all his remaining time resting and helping out at his family's Fruit Shop. He was extremely relaxed, and his condition had never been better!
Sure enough, balancing work and rest was the right way. The ancient people of Blue Star had not deceived him!
At last, the day of the Chunin Exam assembly arrived.
Forty-eight people were participating in this Chunin Exam. Quite a few of them were familiar to Jiogan. Aside from Team 11, Might Duy, Anima, and Okamura Taro, there were also several classmates from the same class at the Ninja Academy, including Dōton Akimichi and Nawa Uchiha.
Dōton Akimichi was alright. He was neither especially close nor distant with Jiogan and the others, and their relationship was acceptable. Nawa Uchiha, however, had a poor relationship with the members of Team 11. They had never gotten along at the Academy and had clashed several times. Nawa Uchiha always looked down on others and acted arrogant and domineering.
Another thing worth mentioning was that Might Duy's teammates were two civilian classmates from his graduating class, Tōji and Kusama, rather than members of his usual team. His original teammates had been injured during a previous mission and could not participate, so Might Duy could only form another team!
At present, the Chunin Exam did not yet have a written-test stage. There were only two stages: the Forest of Death Survival Challenge and the Chunin Battles. Only Genin who passed the Forest of Death Survival Challenge were qualified to enter the Chunin Battles stage.
The chief examiner for this Chunin Exam was Orochimaru, a Jonin and disciple of the Third Hokage.
At this time, Uncle Snake was a cold, cool, handsome man. No matter how one looked at him, he could not be associated with the perverted, villainous middle-aged man from the anime.
This was also Jiogan's first time meeting one of the Sannin. He had yet to meet Jiraiya or Tsunade.
Everyone gathered at the edge of the Forest of Death. After a ninja from the Nara Clan, serving as the deputy examiner, announced the rules of the Chunin Exam, Orochimaru gave the order and declared the Chunin Exam officially underway!
In an instant, all forty-eight examinees shot into the Forest of Death, swiftly disappearing into the dense woods!
Within the forest, Team 11 moved together. After an hour of travel, the three stopped at a concealed location beside a river in the northeastern part of the Forest of Death.
"Feiyun, Yoru, the village's Search Team will set out in half a day to sweep through the Forest of Death. We need to avoid getting caught during the two and a half days after that. Fortunately, both Yoru and I are Sensor Ninja. Our strategy is to hide and avoid the village's Search Team!" Jiogan told Kurama Feiyun and Inuzuka Yoru.
After the two agreed, the three concealed themselves in the forest by the river.
Jiogan used the Qi Sensing Technique to scan the area within a radius of ten kilometers. He discovered Might Duy's team hiding six kilometers directly north of their current location—not too far, but not too close.
When we move later, we'll head toward Brother Duy. With the two of us working together, even if we clash head-on with the Search Team, we won't have to fear them! Jiogan thought.
The highest-ranking captain in the Chunin Exam Search Team was a Special Jonin, while all the remaining members were Chunin.
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