First Battle Victory

Unfortunately, when Minato Namikaze drew lots, he drew a blank. This meant that Qingyun's team had to eliminate another group of examinees to have any chance of advancing to the next round.

"Alright, I announce! The exam begins!"

The proctor sent the examinees into the Forest of Death one by one, with at least a five-minute interval between each group. The Qingyun squad entered relatively late, but Qingyun didn't think much of it; after all, the exam lasted for three days.

Once inside, Yoshihime immediately asked, "We don't have a scroll. What should we do now?"

"I suspect many people have already targeted us. After all, we give off the impression of being weak," Qingyun said.

"Those who possess scrolls probably won't attack us proactively. It is much more likely that those without scrolls will be the ones attacking us," Minato said.

"True, but I have always welcomed all comers. If anyone attacks us, we must strike back."

"Those who have scrolls will likely move toward the Central Tower as fast as they can, so that is our destination as well."

"If someone attacks, we defeat them! If no one does, we keep moving!" Qingyun immediately shared his strategic plan.

As for which group ended up with a scroll, that was purely a matter of luck.

Just as Qingyun had said, they acted far too low-key. Not long after entering the Forest of Death, a group of ninja attacked the Qingyun squad.

"Clang, clang, clang!" Numerous kunai flew in from the surroundings; it was clear the enemies were hiding nearby.

The Qingyun squad knocked away all the kunai aimed at them, and then Qingyun said, "Come out! What kind of hero hides in the shadows!?"

The opponents did not reveal their positions, likely hoping to ambush Qingyun to death.

However, Qingyun saw through their locations instantly, as the Byakugan possessed both X-ray and observational vision.

"Minato, Yoshihime, their positions are at three o'clock and five o'clock." Qingyun used his Byakugan to quickly locate them. Because the system masked his Byakugan, others could not see the veins bulging around his eyes.

The hidden ninja hadn't expected this brat to find them. With no other choice, they had to jump out.

"I didn't expect there to be a sensory-type ninja among the Konoha candidates. This truly exceeds my expectations." The speaker wore a filter over his mouth, and the headband on his head featured several lines; it was obvious these were Rain Ninja.

"Since we've been discovered, so be it. You three, hand over your scroll, and I might spare your lives," the Rain Ninja said.

"Oh? Setting aside whether I even have a scroll, even if I did, do you really think I would obediently hand it over?" Qingyun felt this guy was speaking without using his brain.

"In that case, let's go!"

The Rain Ninja immediately used shadow clones and then followed up with a genjutsu.

By combining their physical presence with genjutsu, they caused Qingyun and his team some trouble for a moment.

"These guys aren't ordinary enemies. We must dispel the genjutsu as soon as possible," Minato and Yoshihime said while using their kunai to deflect several incoming shuriken.

Qingyun, however, remained unhurried as he spoke to the Rain Ninja: "A decent idea—letting the enemy fall into a genjutsu while coordinating physical attacks? This could indeed wear down an average ninja, but this trick is useless against me."

"Genjutsu Rebound!" Qingyun broke the opponent's genjutsu with ease.

"How is this possible!? Our genjutsu failed!?" The Rain Ninja were shocked. This technique had always been infallible; they never expected it to be broken by a mere child.

"Genjutsu: Bringer-of-Darkness Technique!" Qingyun not only broke their genjutsu but also gifted them one in return, using the darkness to instantly seal their vision.

"We can't see!? We've been hit by a genjutsu!?"

"This seems to be the Second Hokage's genjutsu!" Minato Namikaze loved studying techniques, so he naturally recognized this move instantly.

"Minato, take them down." Qingyun couldn't be bothered to lift a finger against these Rain Ninja.

Minato's strength had also improved rapidly; he was already learning the Flying Thunder God. Utilizing his speed to deal with a group of Genin trapped in a genjutsu was a simple task, and he finished off the three Rain Ninja in an instant.

The three Rain Ninja were easily defeated by the Qingyun squad, but just as they had suspected, these three did not have a scroll.

"What a pity," Yoshihime said with a hint of helplessness.

"It doesn't matter. This is only the beginning; after all, there are still three days left until the exam ends!" Qingyun smiled slightly. Time was still plentiful, and there was no way they would be eliminated.

After defeating the Rain Ninja, the three remained vigilant and continued moving toward the center of the tower.

After traveling for about three hours, everyone's stamina had been somewhat depleted. Qingyun said, "Let's take a break. We have to stay alert at all times here, and such high levels of concentration are a burden."

"Wood Release: Four-Pillar House Technique!" As a member of the Senju Clan, Yoshihime had mastered this technique.

After weaving the hand signs, a small wooden "mansion" appeared before Qingyun.

"That's really impressive! I never expected you to have a trick like this up your sleeve!" Both Qingyun and Minato praised Yoshihime.

"Ha, a Wood Release ninjutsu." Yoshihime chuckled as well.

"Let's set up some traps and illusions, then I'll use the Shadow Clone Technique to keep watch for us." Qingyun did not want to take turns keeping watch with his teammates; that would defeat the purpose of resting.

"Shadow Clone Technique!" Qingyun used the Shadow Clone Technique, and together with the chunin, he rested well for a period of time inside the house created by Wood Release.

It wasn't until Qingyun heard something that his expression suddenly shifted.

There was a telepathic link between the shadow clone and Qingyun.

"What happened, Qingyun?" the two of them asked in unison.