"Why did the Allied Forces hold the selection exam together?" At this point, Sarutobi Hiruzen stopped walking and said, "The purpose is to improve mutual relations and the strength of the shinobi. I hope you won't misunderstand what he truly means!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen fell silent for a moment, his grave expression revealing "a miniature of war between the allied forces."
The day before yesterday, Itachi and the others had already understood Sarutobi Hiruzen's meaning and appeared calm. However, some candidates, such as Qiu Yidao, had yet to fully grasp it. They looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen with puzzled expressions, but did not voice their curiosity, quietly waiting for the Third Hokage to continue.
"Looking back through history, today's allies were yesterday's rivaling neighbors. In order to avoid wasting useless fighting strength in conflicts between these countries, the Chūnin Exams were chosen as the battlefield. That is the origin of the Chūnin Exams!" Sarutobi Hiruzen explained in a steady, impassioned voice.
All the candidates fell silent, lowering their heads as they pondered the information in Sarutobi Hiruzen's words, their hearts heavy.
"This shows that this is not merely a selection exam. It is a battlefield where shinobi must bear the prestige of their nations and fight for their own lives."
"In the third exam, many distinguished figures who commission work from us will be invited. In addition, famous shinobi villages and shinobi leaders will also be watching your performance!" Sarutobi Hiruzen continued.
"Thus, once the difference in national strength becomes clear, commissions will flood toward the strong countries, while the weak countries will receive relatively fewer. At the same time, this is also a good opportunity to demonstrate our abilities to neighboring countries—to exert pressure on the outside world."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice sank as he asked anxiously, "So, what do you think?