Chunin Exams

At the end of Year 37 in Konoha, the Chunin Exams began.

During peacetime, the Chunin Exams served as a declaration of Konoha's potential for war and were extremely important.

During wartime, the Chunin Exams showcased Konoha's military strength and were even more important.

Unlike in the original story, these Chunin Exams took place during wartime. Any Genin who passed the second round, the Forest of Death, would be promoted to Chunin.

The third round was to select ten people to demonstrate their strength before the villagers of Konoha, the daimyo of the Land of Fire, the daimyo of the Land of River, and the daimyo of other vassal nations.

Konoha was simultaneously at war with Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure, while Kirigakure had closed its borders under its Bloody Mist Village policy. Only Konoha Ninja were participating in these Chunin Exams.

Kawadera Uchiha stood alone behind a pillar, watching the third round of the Chunin Exams.

To avoid suspicion, he and Seigetsu Senju kept their distance in public.

They watched Shingu Senju from different spots around the arena.

Five Genin from the Senju Clan were taking the Chunin Exams this year, and three had made it to the final round.

Though the clan had entered only a few contestants, a high proportion had made it to the third round. Mei Senju and the others had clearly put in a great deal of effort.

Kawadera Uchiha was confident in Shingu Senju. In the three months before the exams, Shingu Senju had made great progress.

It was just...

Kawadera Uchiha thought of the needles in Shingu Senju's arm.

Two more needles every day. His wrists, forearms, and elbows—everywhere with a vein—were covered in rows of pinpricks.

There was no doubt that Shingu Senju's talent fell far short of Nawaki Senju's and Fugaku Uchiha's.

Xingwei Senju had used some method to make Shingu Senju's strength surge in a short time.

The side effects were severe, but Shingu Senju never complained.

What he wanted was to make a name for himself in these Chunin Exams, take over Nawaki Senju's place in the clan, and keep fighting and in the public eye, creating an environment of public support for others to transition into Medical Ninjutsu.

Shingu Senju was improving, and Kawadera Uchiha had been improving as well.

[Uchiha Kawadera's Eight Ninja Stats:

Nin-6.8, Tai-7.1, Gen-8.5, Int-6.9;

Str-5.5, Spd-6.3, Sta-7.2, Hand Seals-7.1.

Overall-55.4]

An overall score of 55 was roughly equivalent to Ibiki Morino's in the original story.

While training Shingu Senju to resist genjutsu, his own [Gen] stat had also increased a little.

At the other end of the arena, Nawaki Senju sat in a wheelchair, watching anxiously.

Seigetsu Senju stood beside him, reassuring him. "Young Clan Leader, don't worry. Shingu's strength is sure to amaze everyone.

"My brother Xingwei and the specially hired genjutsu teacher we found will make sure Shingu can carry on the Senju Clan's name!"

Hearing this, Nawaki Senju only grew more despondent.

He should have been the one to take on such a difficult task.

He should have stepped forward and borne the pressure for his younger cousins.

Shingu had clearly become quieter lately.

The pressure was helping him improve, but it was also turning him into a balloon about to burst.

Not far away, Xingwei Senju wore a grave expression.

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

Fortunately, the medical jonin Mei Senju, his younger sister Seigetsu, and many jonin from the three allied clans were on his side.

Shingu's performance in the Chunin Exams was crucial.

A commotion broke out on the Podium.

The Konoha High Command entered the Podium.

The important figures stood in the front row, waiting to take their seats.

Naraichi led Hiruzen Sarutobi to the Hokage's seat, then immediately turned to invite Mito Uzumaki to sit on Hiruzen Sarutobi's left.

Next came Utatane Koharu, who sat on Hiruzen Sarutobi's right.

After the three most prestigious figures in Konoha had taken their seats, Naraichi looked toward No Uchiha, the clan head.

"Clan Head No Uchiha, I've heard that the Uchiha Clan is now Konoha's foremost ninja clan.

"Konoha's future needs the full support of its foremost ninja clan.

"Please, this way. Have a seat."

Naraichi led No Uchiha to the seat beside Utatane Koharu.

No Uchiha made no fuss. He turned, flicked the hem of his robe, and sat down.

The other clan heads all looked toward Toku Hyuga, the head of the Hyuga Clan.

Ever since Madara Uchiha, the rogue ninja, had returned to the village and fought the First, the Uchiha Clan had been kept under the village's thumb.

At public functions, the seat of honor after the Konoha High Command's advisors and Mito Uzumaki had always belonged to the Hyuga Clan.

There was not a trace of emotion in Toku Hyuga's Byakugan, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking.

Naraichi glanced at Hiruzen Sarutobi. Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression was just as impassive, so Naraichi continued assigning seats.

The heads of the great clans took their seats one after another.

They occasionally glanced at No Uchiha, thinking that this relic from the Warring States Era, now over fifty, still carried the Uchiha Clan's arrogant air.

The title of foremost ninja clan was extremely important.

Some clients traveled a long way to hire ninjas and knew nothing about Konoha. They had no idea whether the Yamanaka Clan or the Aburame Clan was stronger, or which one was better suited to their needs.

Once they arrived in Konoha, they only had to seek out the strongest clan.

It had been the Senju Clan before, and now it was the Uchiha Clan. Either way, they couldn't go wrong.

Could the Hokage control heaven and earth? Could he control which ninjas the clients chose to complete their missions?

More missions meant more pay.

Naraichi stepped onto the Podium and announced the start of Konoha's Year 37 Winter Chunin Exams.

The first match was between Shingu Senju and Xiaojie Senju.

The very first match was an in-clan battle between two members of the Senju Clan. Kawadera Uchiha didn't believe for a second that the drawing had been fair.

After a single exchange, Xiaojie Senju realized that a kunai had slashed open a cut on his leg.

Shingu Senju lowered his gaze to his kunai, unsure whether he had struck a little too hard.

A green glow of Medical Ninjutsu chakra rose from Xiaojie Senju's left hand. With his right, he kept throwing shuriken as he backed away, disrupting his opponent while treating his own injury.

He was doing several things at once. Though at a disadvantage, he remained perfectly calm.

More than ten seconds later, Xiaojie Senju took his left hand away from his thigh.

On the Podium, the clan heads nodded repeatedly.

An impressive medical ninja, and steady under pressure. When injured on the battlefield, he had treated himself without the slightest panic.

A few minutes later, Xiaojie Senju panted and conceded.

Shingu Senju stood across from him without a scratch, while Xiaojie Senju had already used Medical Ninjutsu six times.

The goal had been achieved. Xiaojie Senju had proven his Medical Ninjutsu skills, and would surely be sent to Konoha Hospital for proper training.

The second match was between Fugaku Uchiha and Zhi Sarutobi.

It was quick and clean. Three seconds later, Zhi Sarutobi hit the ground.

Neither of them had moved the entire time. Zhi Sarutobi had fallen under a genjutsu and was completely helpless.

The spectators in the stands let out a chorus of boos.

They had come to see Fire Release clash with Water Release, or Lightning Release and Wind Release pierce the air. They hadn't come to watch someone fall flat on his back and smack the back of his head in an undignified heap.

Naraichi felt a little helpless. The Sarutobi Clan's Genin weren't much good this year.

The third match was between a Genin from the Shimura Clan and Zhu Senju.

Wind Release repeatedly sliced open Zhu Senju's flesh, but Zhu Senju's Medical Ninjutsu was even stronger than Xiaojie Senju's.

Each time she was knocked back through the air, she used Medical Ninjutsu to heal herself. Within seconds of landing, the wounds had stopped bleeding.

One deep wound had clearly damaged a nerve, but Zhu Senju repaired it in seconds.

On the Podium, Utatane Koharu said, "Lady Mito, the Senju children seem to have quite a knack for Medical Ninjutsu this year."

Mito Uzumaki nodded. "Tsunade is renowned for her Medical Ninjutsu. Many children in the clan have admired her these past few years, and they've all taken the initiative to study Medical Ninjutsu. It makes me very happy."

Naraichi had a vague feeling that something was off, but it seemed perfectly natural for the Senju Clan to study Medical Ninjutsu.

Time passed quickly. The first match of the second round began.

Fugaku Uchiha versus Shingu Senju!