Becoming a Chunin

The Anbu Chunin assessment.

It had two main parts.

The first part was gathering intelligence, and the second was delivering it.

The assessment took place in the Forest of Death.

There were many beasts inside.

At an entrance to the Forest of Death.

Uzuki Yugao handed Su Yu a scroll.

"This scroll marks the locations of the intelligence you need to retrieve, as well as where you need to leave it afterward."

"Only one of the three Chunin is carrying the real intelligence. How am I supposed to tell which one?" Su Yu asked, looking over the instructions on the scroll.

"The scroll carrying the intelligence is a different size from an ordinary one, so it has to be kept close to the body," Uzuki Yugao prompted him.

"I see. Got it." Su Yu committed the hint to memory and entered the Forest of Death.

Uzuki Yugao watched him enter the forest and disappear from view.

The Forest of Death was unlike the ordinary forests of Konoha.

The trees here were tall enough to block out the sun. Walking beneath them, one could feel the forest's menace.

Following the markings on the map, Su Yu approached a spot not far from the three Chunin.

He didn't activate the Byakugan.

The Third Hokage might be monitoring this Chunin assessment.

"Shadow Clone Technique!" Su Yu formed a hand seal and summoned two Shadow Clones.

Then he distributed the Explosive Tags and Smoke Bombs between them.

The two Shadow Clones took the Explosive Tags and Smoke Bombs and headed in different directions, while Su Yu continued straight ahead, moving closer to the three Chunin.

When he was less than a hundred meters from the three Anbu Chunin,

the two Shadow Clones rushed out from opposite directions.

The three Anbu Chunin were caught off guard. The two on either side moved to intercept them.

At that moment, the Shadow Clones threw the Smoke Bombs in their hands.

In an instant, smoke billowed out, blanketing the area.

The Anbu Chunin who had stayed behind held a Kunai, watching his surroundings warily.

Suddenly, a Kunai appeared.

The Anbu Chunin saw the Explosive Tag attached to it and hurriedly jumped back.

But the next second, he couldn't move.

His hand went against his will to his Ninja Tool Pouch. He pulled out a small scroll and tossed it behind him.

Then he crouched down, pretending to pick something up.

"This is the real intelligence scroll. I didn't expect you to be from the Nara Clan. Take it. Once you become an Anbu Chunin, I hope we can be partners," the Anbu Chunin said.

"Thank you," Su Yu said quietly, then turned to leave.

Being allowed to take part in the Anbu Chunin assessment meant there were no doubts about his identity.

The Nara Clan's Shadow Possession Technique was a terrifying control technique. Someone like him would climb the ranks sooner or later after becoming an Anbu Chunin.

So the Anbu ninja had simply told him that the intelligence scroll was real.

Su Yu had already proven that he was capable of becoming an Anbu Chunin. There was no need for them to actually fight.

The two Shadow Clones disappeared.

Su Yu headed for the place where he was supposed to leave the intelligence.

His next opponent would undoubtedly be Kurenai Yuhi.

Kurenai Yuhi was a genjutsu master. That title was accurate in a way, because her genjutsu really was powerful.

Unfortunately, the first opponent she would face in the future was a genjutsu grandmaster: Uchiha Itachi.

Even the Three-Tomoe Sharingan could render Kurenai Yuhi's genjutsu useless.

Su Yu's Byakugan could also render Kurenai Yuhi's genjutsu useless.

Unfortunately, he couldn't use it in this situation.

So what method should he use to defend against genjutsu?

At the heart of the Forest of Death,

stood a tower called the Heaven and Earth Tower.

Kurenai Yuhi stood before the Heaven and Earth Tower.

There was only one way inside.

She watched her surroundings, not underestimating Su Yu just because he was a Genin.

"Whoosh!"

A Kunai flew out of the forest.

Kurenai Yuhi looked up. A Smoke Bomb and an Explosive Tag were tied to the Kunai.

"Bang!" The Smoke Bomb and Explosive Tag went off at the same time, and smoke instantly filled the area.

Kurenai Yuhi drew a Kunai, only to see two figures charging at her at once.

She was about to form hand seals when she found herself unable to move.

The Shadow Possession Technique had pinned her shadow in place.

"Looks like I win," a voice came from the smoke.

The two Shadow Clones entered the Heaven and Earth Tower.

Kurenai Yuhi opened her mouth, stunned.

She hadn't expected Su Yu to know the Shadow Possession Technique.

"Poof, poof." Su Yu's Shadow Clones vanished.

Someone came out of the Heaven and Earth Tower.

It was none other than Uzuki Yugao.

She was holding a Chunin vest.

"Congratulations on becoming an Anbu Chunin."

"Thank you." Su Yu released the Shadow Possession Technique, walked over to Uzuki Yugao, and accepted the Chunin vest.

"Su Yu, congratulations. I didn't expect you to know the Nara Clan's secret technique," Kurenai Yuhi said.

"I learned it by chance," Su Yu replied.

"It seems you haven't learned many ninjutsu yet. Is there anything you'd like to learn?" Uzuki Yugao asked.

"I'd like to learn Sealing Jutsu and Medical Ninjutsu, as well as Water, Fire, and Wind Style ninjutsu," Su Yu said without hesitation.

"Sealing Jutsu and Medical Ninjutsu?" Uzuki Yugao asked, taken aback.

"I'm suited to working alone. Learning more techniques would give me more ways to protect myself," Su Yu said earnestly.

"All right. I'll put in a request for you," Uzuki Yugao said after a moment's hesitation.

She knew Su Yu had other secrets.

Everyone had secrets they didn't want others to discover. That was perfectly normal.

When night fell,

Uzuki Yugao came to Su Yu's home with three different scrolls.

"I explained your situation to Lord Hokage. He'll give you two months to train in these techniques at your own pace. After those two months, when the Konoha Chunin Exams are over, you'll be assigned to the Intelligence Division to deliver information."

"Ms. Uzuki Yugao, thank you." Su Yu bowed deeply.

"You don't need to thank me. I didn't do much to help. You performed so well that you don't need a Jonin leader at all," Uzuki Yugao said softly.

"Ms. Uzuki Yugao, please wait a moment." Su Yu went into the room.

A little while later,

he came back out with a Ninja Blade.

"This is a Ninja Blade I commissioned from the Land of Artisans. Please accept it."

Uzuki Yugao looked at the Ninja Blade. She knew it was worth a lot, and she also knew where Su Yu's money had come from.

"Ms. Uzuki Yugao." Su Yu looked at her.

"Keep the Ninja Blade for yourself. This is my training method for Konoha-Style Kenjutsu. You can learn it if you're interested," Uzuki Yugao said earnestly, taking out her own scroll and handing it to Su Yu.

"Yes." Su Yu accepted the scroll and lowered his head.

"Get some rest. Good night." With that, Uzuki Yugao turned and left.

Su Yu watched her go without saying a word.

After a long while,

he returned to his room.

The three scrolls contained ninjutsu, Sealing Jutsu, and Medical Ninjutsu, respectively.

There was also Uzuki Yugao's Konoha-Style Kenjutsu.

"Two months should be enough," Su Yu murmured.