Time flew by.
At last, the day of the Chunin Ninja Exams arrived.
The fresh scent of grass and trees filled Konoha's morning air, though the tension hanging outside the examination venue dulled it somewhat.
"The candidates are coming."
Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane stood at the foot of the stairs leading to the second floor, exchanging glances as smoke swirled around them—they had already transformed into arrogant-looking candidates. As they finished their hand seals, both stamped a foot. "Activate!"
In an instant.
The surrounding scenery seemed to change yet remain the same. Chakra stirred silently as the genjutsu barrier designed to screen the candidates unfolded.
Simple as it looked, the barrier could trap ordinary genin in an illusion that left them unable to distinguish the second floor from the third.
They could wander in circles for ages without figuring out how to get through.
This round was meant to weed out those trying to bluff their way in.
In a sense, it was saving their lives—anyone who insisted on joining the Chunin Ninja Exams without sufficient strength would only end up dead.
"They're here," Kotetsu Hagane said quietly, looking toward a group of boys and girls emerging around the street corner.
Qingwu trailed casually at the back with a blade of grass between his lips, looking for all the world like a spectator there for the fun of it.
He glanced at the two chunin putting on stern faces by the stairs and drawled, "Hey, isn't it about time you changed this genjutsu barrier? You used this trick last year, and now you're using it again. Boring as hell."
Izumo Kamizuki frowned. Left to himself, he would have ignored the remark and simply followed procedure. Kotetsu Hagane held his companion back, however, and offered an apologetic smile. "You must