Orochimaru (Konoha Sannin)

After the battle between Akiyama Shun and Kakashi ended, the award ceremony didn't begin right away.

After all, anyone could see that Kakashi needed treatment after taking those punches from Akiyama Shun. No matter how important the award ceremony was, they had to consider the injured.

Once Akiyama Shun helped Kakashi out of the arena, several of Konoha's medical ninja took Kakashi away for treatment.

"You really do know how to surprise people."

Tsunade leaned against the wall, a faint smile on her face as she looked at Akiyama Shun.

"Is that so? I don't think there's anything surprising about me winning the championship."

Akiyama Shun waved a hand.

"That's not what I meant. Anyway, congratulations on winning!" Tsunade said, giving him a thumbs-up.

After that, Akiyama Shun followed Tsunade away from the Chunin Ninja Exams venue.

In fact, as soon as Akiyama Shun had drawn Ice Release and obtained [Haku], he'd already figured out how he would explain where it came from.

Unfortunately, his preparations had been unnecessary.

When he met with Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others, they didn't bring it up at all.

They simply praised Akiyama Shun's performance and said nothing about Ice Release.

Only as they were leaving did Sarutobi Hiruzen pat Akiyama Shun on the shoulder and say earnestly, "Child, don't hold back. Use your Kekkei Genkai to its fullest. Remember, Konoha will always be your strongest support."

After Sarutobi Hiruzen said that, Jiraiya, Namikaze Minato, and even Tsunade looked at Akiyama Shun and gave him encouraging smiles.

Huh? Was I really holding back?

Akiyama Shun scratched his head in confusion, but still agreed.

"I've always believed in Konoha. I'll definitely use my Kekkei Genkai to its fullest from now on!"

Hearing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction and patted Akiyama Shun lightly on the shoulder.

"Go on. Kakashi should be done with treatment by now, and the award ceremony is about to begin. Enjoy the cheers that come with being champion!"

At exactly five in the afternoon, the Chunin Ninja Exams award ceremony began.

When Akiyama Shun stood on the podium as champion, the entire crowd erupted in enthusiastic cheers.

His performance had been worthy of the title. He'd dominated every match on his way to the finals, then delivered an exciting ninjutsu showdown against Kakashi, before dazzling the whole crowd with Ice Release at the end.

From this moment on, Akiyama Shun's name was no longer limited to "Konoha's genius"!

"Congratulations, Akiyama Shun. From now on, you're a Chunin of Konoha."

"Thank you, Lord Hokage!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen personally presented the award. The moment Akiyama Shun reached out to accept his Chunin certificate, his rank finally changed!

[Name: Akiyama Shun]

[Ninja: Hatake Kakashi (Young), Haku, Yakushi Nonō, Uchiha Itachi (Ninja Prodigy), Gekko Hayate, Naruto (Ninja Academy Student), Shiranui Genma, Haruno Sakura, Konohamaru Corps]

[Summoning Beast: None]

[Scrolls: Earth Release: Rock Fall (LV2), Water Style: Water Shield (LV1), Forbidden Technique: Yin Healing Wound Destruction (LV1)]

[Artifact: None]

[Rank: Chunin (3200)]

[Coins: 2324]

The instant he saw his rank increase, Akiyama Shun immediately claimed his stipend. Just as he'd expected, he received 3,200 coins!

5,524 coins!

That was enough for 34 draws—three ten-pulls!

Akiyama Shun looked around at the lively scene, the champion's podium beneath his feet, the Third before him, and the Third Kazekage not far away.

This place really was a lucky spot.

It was time to draw, right!?

Let's go!

[Summoning Beast]

[Shukaku of the Sand Fragment X1 (3/100)]

[Scrolls]

[Water Style: Water Shield Fragment X3 (3/10)]

[Lightning Style: Earth Flash Fragment X1 (4/5)]

[...]

[S-Rank Ninja]

[Otsutsuki Toneri (Final Chapter) Fragment X4 (8/100)]

[A-Rank Ninja]

[Haruno Sakura Fragment X4 (12/40)]

[B-Rank Ninja]

[Orochimaru (Konoha Sannin) Fragment X16 (40/40)]

[Kushina Uzumaki (Winter Limited) Fragment X4 (4/40)]

[C-Rank Ninja]

[Uchiha Madara (Young) Fragment X2 (2/10)]

[Senju Tobirama (Young) Fragment X1 (1/10)]

[...]

As expected, this place really was lucky.

Not only had he gotten a summoning beast equivalent to an S-Rank Ninja, but he'd also gotten quite a few B-Rank fragments. He hadn't hit the pity limit across the board.

But...

Why did he only need four more [Kimimaro] fragments? It hadn't appeared once in these 30 draws, but [Orochimaru (Konoha Sannin)] had dropped four times in a row?

What was the logic behind that?

There wasn't much to say about the C-Rank draws. After [Uchiha Madara (Young)] showed up, [Senju Tobirama (Young)] had followed right on his heels, but neither had yielded a complete character card.

Still, between the two, Akiyama Shun was most excited about [Uchiha Madara (Young)]. For no other reason than that he had the Sharingan!

After sorting through his winnings, Akiyama Shun immediately synthesized [Orochimaru (Konoha Sannin)].

Now, counting [Haku] and [Hatake Kakashi (Young)], he had three B-Rank ninja!

Seeing the smile Akiyama Shun couldn't suppress, Sarutobi Hiruzen assumed he was happy about the award ceremony.

The award ceremony didn't take long and was soon over.

Besides Akiyama Shun, the two other people who received the loudest cheers were Kakashi and Karura.

Although they'd lost, everyone present had seen how well they'd fought.

It was no exaggeration to say that if these three had competed separately in any ordinary Chunin Ninja Exams of the past, each would have won the championship without a doubt.

Karura had simply been unlucky. She'd run into Akiyama Shun and Kakashi at the Chunin Ninja Exams, and was eliminated in the quarterfinals.

The Chunin Ninja Exams ended perfectly.

The people of Konoha prepared to leave. They'd come for the Chunin Ninja Exams, and now that the exams were over, it was only natural that they should go.

After all, Konoha had such a pleasant environment. They had no reason to stay here and keep eating sand.

And so, amid the Sunagakure people's cheerful faces and their genuinely reluctant hearts, the Konoha delegation left Sunagakure.

On the way back to the village, Jiraiya kept pulling Akiyama Shun aside to discuss his writing.

Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't hear what they were saying, but whenever he saw the two of them huddled together in private, he felt pleased.

He had literary talent, unwavering faith in the Will of Fire, and exceptional ability as a ninja.

He was practically perfect!

That night, Jiraiya called Akiyama Shun over to a secluded corner again to ask about possible subjects.

"Teacher Akiyama Shun, do you have any suggestions for a subject?"

If other ninja had seen them, they would've found it hard to imagine that Jiraiya, one of the renowned Sannin of the Ninja World, was humbly asking a student for advice.

"Hmm, how about a young man with an older woman?" Akiyama Shun answered casually.

"Huh? What does that mean?"

Jiraiya decided to listen with an open mind. Every time he asked Akiyama Shun for advice, he learned something new.

"Well, it means..."

As Akiyama Shun explained, Jiraiya nodded again and again, the light in his eyes growing brighter.

"I see! Teacher Akiyama Shun really is so knowledgeable!"