At the Chunin Ninja Exams venue, inside a huge, open-air circular arena.
"Quiet!"
A booming voice rang out over the venue, drowning out the noise.
The chief examiner, an experienced Konoha jonin, stood on the raised platform in the middle of the arena. His gaze swept over all the Genin present like a hawk's.
"I'm the chief examiner for these Chunin Ninja Exams, Umino Ikkaku."
Hiroki didn't pay much attention to the chief examiner.
But the name did ring a faint bell. Umino Ikkaku, Umino Iruka's father, was a jonin who had been killed by the Nine-Tails during the Nine-Tails' attack.
Hiroki turned his attention to the other teams.
This joint Chunin exam was much smaller than he'd imagined. Including Konoha, there were only seven or eight teams at most.
Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Konoha had each sent only one team.
"Given the small number of participants, and after discussions among the three Kage-level leaders, you've all completed the written exam. We'll now proceed directly to the second stage: one-on-one individual matches!"
The candidates immediately stirred at his announcement.
Straight to combat?
Already?
"Remember, this is a joint examination between the villages. Friendship comes first, rankings second. Do not take the lives of shinobi from other villages. Show as much mercy as you can—"
As soon as Umino Ikkaku said that, a wave of snickering rose from below.
What a joke. It was a shinobi exam where they fought for their lives, and they were supposed to spare the other shinobi?
"Don't worry, good little Konoha boys. If we run into you, we'll spare your lives," Pakura mocked without restraint.
Sasori said nothing, only glancing over at Hiroki.
Hiroki ignored them.
"Now, we'll draw lots to determine the order of the matches. We'll do our best to avoid pitting candidates with