What to Do When You Incite Public Outrage?

"Hey, have you heard? This Chunin Exams is the first time in five years that rookies are entering. Among the rookies, there's someone from Team Kakashi—Isho is participating too, and he's even in a special one-man squad."

Rock Lee said, his fighting spirit soaring.

"What! If we'd known, we should have entered last year. With a monster like Isho around, we probably aren't his match."

Tenten's confidence was instantly crushed; she had wanted to bully the rookies, only to find a classmate of teacher-level strength mixed in.

"Hmph! That guy's strength might not have improved as fast as you think. Tenten, with the three of us at our current level, it's not certain we couldn't beat him."

Despite those words, Neji Hyuga's expression grew noticeably grave at the mention of Isho's name.

Five days later, inside the Ninja Academy.

"Are you really going to take the Chunin Exams like this?"

"You'd better not participate, kids."

"A bunch of wet-behind-the-ears brats."

The two men disguised as Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki mocked them without reservation.

"Aren't you Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane? Are you the proctors for this exam?"

Just as he arrived, Isho immediately feigned confusion.

"Uchiha Isho, almost forgot—you're mixed in with this year's examinees. The other candidates are in for a treat."

"Since you're here, we won't block everyone anymore. We were planning to give a lecture, but it seems we've lost the chance."

Returning to their true forms, Izumo and Kotetsu smiled at Isho while dispelling the illusion barrier, instantly turning the third floor back into the second.

At that moment, the still-smiling Kotetsu suddenly struck, turning and throwing a side kick aimed directly at Isho's jaw.

"Kotetsu, it's been a while; no need to be so enthusiastic the moment we meet."

Isho smiled and caught the incoming kick.

"As expected, you've improved quickly. There will surely be a time for you to shine in the future. Go up to the third floor and register."

After a few minor incidents, Isho and the nine rookies arrived at the registration office as planned.

As soon as they entered, the room was packed with people. There were hundreds of genin from various villages, and most of their gazes were filled with provocation as they looked at Isho and the others.

Most of them looked to be nearly twenty years old; some had even failed the exam five or six times already.

[Ding! New system mission triggered]

[Mission 1: I've never feared anyone when it comes to provocation. Raise your thumb to the group of examinees, point it downward, and loudly declare: "Even if you all come at me together, I only need to move a finger to wipe you all out in an instant." Reward: 60 Luck Points...]

[Mission 2: Look down upon the crowd and say to the ninjas showing disdain and provocation: "What are you looking at? Haven't you seen a handsome guy like me before?" Reward: 30 Luck Points...]

[Mission 3: Learn to be low-key and quietly wait for the exam to begin. Reward: 10 Luck Points...]

"One, one, one! I choose one! 60 Luck Points—that's enough to save me months of hard work."

[Ding! Mission 1 accepted]

Isho walked unhurriedly to the center of the podium, cleared his throat, and raised his thumb.

"Everyone on the other side, look over here for a second."

Seeing Isho preparing to say something, the members of Team 3 seemed to recall something. They suddenly moved in perfect unison to the corner of the room, distancing themselves from Isho's position.

Catching this out of the corner of his eye, Isho secretly cursed himself for being too careless, then spoke sternly to the nine rookies.

"You lot go over there too, to that corner. Don't blame me for not warning you; I won't be responsible for whatever happens."

Sasuke was the first to heed Isho's command, dragging Naruto and Sakura to claim the corner. Next came the Shikamaru Team, and finally the Hinata team, who followed in confusion as they watched the others comply.

Nearly ninety percent of the people were looking at him, and a few were already cursing impatiently.

Isho pointed his thumb toward the floor and shouted loudly, "To think someone dares to glare at me! And dares to provoke me! Do you know that even if you all come at me together, I only need to move a finger? In an instant, I can wipe you all out!"

At this moment, Neji Hyuga asked himself: there was one thing he would never be able to surpass Isho in, and that was this skill with his mouth.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining 60 Luck Points]

"Ninja Art: Hidden Mist Technique!"

No sooner had the words fallen than countless senbon, shuriken, kunai, and various other weapons pierced through Isho's position, causing the wooden wall behind him to collapse with a roar.

"Baka!"

"Where did that bastard go! Damn him, if you've got guts, don't run!"

"This guy is from Konoha, right? A Konoha ninja being this arrogant! Catch him, I want to make him feel the taste of being reaped by a scythe!"

Isho, who had used the Body Flicker Technique, was nowhere to be seen, as the classroom was suddenly enveloped in a thick, greyish-white mist. Vision was severely obstructed, with the naked eye only able to see things within a meter.

"Wind Style: Scatter!"

Temari swung her Three-Star Fan, and a gust of wind roared, blowing most of the mist in the room toward the ventilation ducts. At that moment, two figures seemed to be standing not far from where Isho had originally been.

A group of ninjas immediately began throwing hidden weapons again, some even preparing to use their trump-card ninjutsu.

"Earth Style: Earth Wall!"

"Everyone stop! Anyone who continues will be disqualified from the Chunin Exams. Do you hear me!" Kakashi shouted loudly. Beside him stood Izumo Kamizuki, and at the doorway stood Kotetsu Hagane; both wore stern expressions with furrowed brows.

"Can you Konoha ninjas just bully people like this!"

"Exactly, exactly!"

Immediately, someone deliberately stirred up the crowd, accusing Isho's arrogance of being a scheme orchestrated by Konoha.

Hiding outside the door, Isho saw that the situation was turning sour and immediately wanted to slip away, whispering, "I'd rather not take this Chunin Exam at all!"

"That would only be reasonable if said by a candidate inside, Uchiha Isho."

Just as Isho turned around, he saw Genma Shiranui and Namiashi Raidō staring at him with unfriendly eyes, as if they intended to apprehend him.

"Teachers, how can you boost others' morale while dampening our own? I just couldn't stand the sight of them; they actually dared to look down on us Konoha ninjas."

Isho wore an indignant expression, putting on a show of defending Konoha's honor.

Just then, a ninja dressed as an Anbu rushed over and informed the three of the Third Hokage's punishment.

Finally, they brought Isho back to his original position and addressed the crowd, "The Hokage has issued a penalty for this candidate: he is prohibited from participating in this Chunin Exam. Anyone who disagrees may go down to the training ground below and duel him."

"The Chunin Exams are about to begin. Any candidates who wish to forfeit this exam to duel him may head down now."

No sooner had the Anbu ninja finished speaking than a ninja from the Sound Village with a fierce look said, "Kid, what's your name? So it's easier for us to find you later."