Chunin Exams

Late 37th year of the Konoha era, the Chunin Exams.

During times of peace, the Chunin Exams serve as a declaration of Konoha's war potential and are of extreme importance.

During times of war, the Chunin Exams serve as a display of Konoha's combat strength, making them even more critical.

Unlike the original timeline, this Chunin Exam is taking place during wartime; any genin who passes the second stage in the Forest of Death will be promoted to chunin.

The third stage currently underway is designed to select ten individuals to showcase their strength before the villagers of Konoha, the daimyo of the Land of Fire, and the daimyo of various vassal states, including the Land of River.

With Konoha simultaneously at war with Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure, and Kirigakure enforcing its isolationist Bloody Mist Village policy, only Konoha ninja are participating in this exam.

Kawadera Uchiha leaned against a pillar all by himself, watching the third stage of the Chunin Exams.

To avoid suspicion, he and Seigetsu Senju maintained a distance from one another in public.

They stood at different locations in the arena, watching Shingu Senju on the field.

The Senju Clan had five genin participating in the Chunin Exams this year, with three making it to the final round.

Although the number of participants was small, the ratio of those reaching the third round was high; Mei Senju and the others had put in a great deal of effort.

Kawadera Uchiha had confidence in Shingu Senju; over the three months leading up to the exam, Shingu Senju had made significant progress.

However...

Kawadera Uchiha recalled the needle marks on Shingu Senju's arms.

With two more needle marks added every day, his wrists, forearms, and the crooks of his elbows—anywhere there was a vein—were covered in rows of puncture wounds.

Shingu Senju's talent was undoubtedly a far cry from that of Nawaki Senju or Fugaku Uchiha.

Seiei Senju had used some unknown method to force an explosive growth in Shingu Senju's strength over a short period.

The side effects were severe, yet Shingu Senju did not utter a single complaint.

What he wanted was to stun the audience at this Chunin Exam, take over the ecological niche left by Nawaki Senju, continue fighting, maintain exposure, and create a favorable public opinion for others to transition into medical ninja.

While Shingu Senju was improving, Kawadera Uchiha had also been making progress during this time.

Eight Ninja Stats of Kawadera Uchiha:

Ninjutsu-6.8, Taijutsu-7.1, Genjutsu-8.5, Intelligence-6.9;

Strength-5.5, Speed-6.3, Stamina-7.2, Seals-7.1.

Total Rating-55.4

A total rating of 55 was roughly equivalent to that of Ibiki Morino in the original work.

While he was providing special training for Shingu Senju's resistance to genjutsu, his own [Genjutsu] stat had also increased slightly.

On the other side of the arena, Nawaki Senju sat in a wheelchair, watching the proceedings with unease.

Seigetsu Senju comforted him from the side, "Young Clan Head, please rest assured. Shingu's strength will surely shock everyone else."

"My brother Seiei, along with the special genjutsu instructor we hired, will certainly ensure that Shingu can continue to carry the name of the Senju Clan!"

Upon hearing this, Nawaki Senju felt even more dejected.

Originally, such difficult tasks should have been his to shoulder.

He should have been the one to stand out and bear the pressure for his cousins.

During this period, Shingu had become noticeably more silent.

The pressure had forced him to improve, but it had also turned him into a balloon stretched to its limit.

Not far away, Seiei Senju wore a grave expression.

He had been running around constantly, trying to change the Senju Clan's predicament.

Fortunately, the medical jonin Mei Senju, his sister Seigetsu, and many jonin from the vassal clans were standing on his side.

Shingu's performance in the Chunin Exams was of vital importance.

A commotion broke out on the main platform.

The high-ranking officials of Konoha walked onto the stage.

The important figures stood in the front row, waiting to be seated.

Naraichi guided Hiruzen Sarutobi to the seat of the Hokage, then immediately turned to invite Mito Uzumaki, requesting that she sit to the left of Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Next was Utatane Koharu, who took her seat to the right of Hiruzen Sarutobi.

After the three highest-ranking individuals in Konoha were seated, Naraichi looked toward the clan head, No Uchiha.

"Clan Head No Uchiha, I have heard recently that the Uchiha Clan has truly become the number one ninja clan in Konoha."

"The future of Konoha requires the full support of its greatest clan. This way, please, take your seat."

Naraichi led No Uchiha to the seat beside Utatane Koharu.

No Uchiha did not hesitate; he turned, flicked the back of his long robe, and sat down.

The other clan heads all turned their gaze toward the head of the Hyuga Clan, Toku Hyuga.

Ever since the rogue ninja Madara Uchiha returned to the village and fought a great battle against the First Hokage, the Uchiha Clan had been under constant suppression by the village.

In public settings, the third-seat position—aside from the high-ranking Konoha advisors and Mito Uzumaki—had always belonged to the Hyuga Clan.

There was not a flicker of expression in the Byakugan of Toku Hyuga, making it impossible for others to discern his mood.

Naraichi glanced at Hiruzen Sarutobi, who also remained expressionless, and proceeded to arrange the seating.

The heads of the various great clans took their places one by one.

From time to time, they cast glances at No Uchiha, thinking to themselves that this relic of the Warring States period, now over fifty years old, still retained the arrogant air characteristic of the Uchiha Clan.

The title of the number one ninja clan was of vital importance.

Some mission clients traveled from afar and knew nothing of Konoha; they had no idea whether the Yamanaka Clan or the Aburame Clan was more powerful, or which was better suited to their needs.

Once they arrived in Konoha, they simply sought out the strongest.

It used to be the Senju Clan, and now it was the Uchiha Clan—you could never go wrong with that.

The Hokage might govern the heavens and the earth, but could he govern which clan a client specified to complete their mission?

More missions meant more rewards.

Naraichi stepped onto the podium and announced the start of the Konoha 37 Winter Chunin Exams.

The first pair of opponents were Shingu Senju and Xiaojie Senju.

The very first match was a civil war within the Senju Clan; Kawadera Uchiha did not believe for a second that there was no foul play in the drawing of lots.

With just a single clash, Xiaojie Senju discovered a gash on his leg carved by a kunai.

Shingu Senju looked down at his own kunai, wondering if he had been a bit too heavy-handed.

Green medical chakra glowed from Xiaojie Senju's left hand, while his right hand continuously threw shuriken, retreating and creating distractions while he healed himself.

Despite being at a disadvantage, he remained calm, multitasking with ease.

A dozen seconds later, Xiaojie Senju pulled his left hand away from his thigh.

On the podium, the various clan heads nodded repeatedly.

A fine medical ninja, with a steady temperament; even when injured on the battlefield, he performed self-treatment without a hint of panic.

A few minutes later, Xiaojie Senju, panting, conceded the match.

Shingu Senju stood opposite him, completely unscathed, while he had already utilized medical ninjutsu six times.

The goal had been achieved; Xiaojie Senju's prowess in medical ninjutsu was proven, and he would surely be sent to Konoha Hospital for proper training in the future.

The second match was between Fugaku Uchiha and Zhi Sarutobi.

It was crisp and clean; three seconds later, Zhi Sarutobi collapsed to the ground.

Neither had moved a muscle throughout the entire encounter; Zhi Sarutobi had been caught in a genjutsu and was left completely defenseless.

The audience in the stands erupted in boos.

They had come to see the clash of Fire and Water Style, to see Lightning and Wind Style piercing the air, not to watch someone fall backward and clumsily smash the back of their own head.

Naraichi felt a bit helpless; the quality of the Sarutobi Clan's genin this year was mediocre.

The third match pitted a genin from the Shimura Clan against Zhu Senju.

Wind Style sliced through Zhu Senju's flesh time and again, yet her medical ninjutsu was even more potent than Xiaojie Senju's.

Every time she retreated through the air, she would treat herself, and within seconds of landing, her wounds would stop bleeding.

Even when a deep wound clearly damaged a nerve, Zhu Senju repaired it in a matter of seconds.

On the podium, Koharu Utatane remarked:

"Lady Mito, the children of the Senju Clan have quite the talent for medical ninjutsu this year."

Mito Uzumaki nodded and said, "Tsunade is renowned for her medical ninjutsu, and many children in the clan have idolized her over these past few years. They have taken the initiative to study medical ninjutsu, and I am very gratified."

Naraichi felt a vague sense that something was amiss, but it seemed perfectly normal for the Senju Clan to delve into medical ninjutsu.

Time passed quickly, and the first match of the second round began.

Fugaku Uchiha versus Shingu Senju!