Persuasion

On a new day, Kanna rose early. After tidying his attire and checking his ninja tools, he set off toward the examination grounds.

Although this Chunin Exam held unusual significance within Kirigakure, it was not a global event comparable to the joint exams of Naruto's generation. Consequently, the Third Mizukage had only invited a few representatives to observe, keeping the attendance low.

The exam location remained the same as the one used two years prior. Half an hour later, Kanna arrived at his destination.

Upon entering, Kanna scanned the room. Yuli and the others were already in position. Seated on the dais were the Third Mizukage and several department heads. Kanna only recognized the proctors from the previous two rounds, Ao and Long, along with a boyish-looking ninja who was none other than Yagura.

Beyond them, there was an acquaintance in the representative section: Hozuki Mangetsu. When Kanna noticed him, Mangetsu even nodded in greeting.

After another moment, the Third Mizukage checked the time and stood up.

"Most of you have arrived. Now, will the four candidates please step forward."

Kanna and the others stepped out of line, walked to the center of the room, and stood in a row.

Looking down at the four young faces, the Third Mizukage nodded with satisfaction and said slowly, "The Chunin Exam is an important test of a ninja's comprehensive quality, and it will be the final formal examination of your ninja careers. Please cherish this opportunity."

"Yes," the four replied in unison.

The Third Mizukage smiled and continued, "Although the examination system differs from previous years, the specific rules remain unchanged. It is the same as always: draw lots for duels, and the winners advance to the final match. What determines whether you can become a Chunin is the capability you demonstrate in combat; victory is merely one reference factor. Please reflect on this yourselves."

A cold-faced middle-aged ninja holding a cardboard box walked up to the four and signaled for them to draw lots, while the Mizukage continued from above, "The box contains your exam numbers: One versus Two, and Three versus Four. The first two rounds will take place this afternoon, while the final round will be held in three days to give the winners sufficient rest."

By the time the Mizukage finished speaking, Kanna had already drawn his lot: Number Three.

The middle-aged ninja checked the four lots, jumped onto the dais, and nodded to the Mizukage.

"Very well, now, your proctor will explain the rules of the exam." The Mizukage stepped aside and returned to his seat.

"I am your proctor, Kuga Enji."

This middle-aged ninja named Kuga Enji had an unremarkable appearance, but his voice was resonant and powerful, sounding as if blades were grinding in his throat, which naturally inspired a sense of awe.

"For this exam, Candidate One, Fuyuki Sanzenryo, will face Candidate Two, Linqin Yu Yuli. Candidate Three, Kanna, will face Candidate Four, Momochi Zabuza. The rules are: First, attacking an opponent who has lost the ability to resist is prohibited. Second, surrender results in an immediate loss and the end of the match. Third, the use of the Seven Ninja Swords is prohibited. Fourth, in special circumstances, such as when a candidate loses consciousness, the proctor will make the judgment; candidates must obey the proctor's orders. If the proctor issues a signal to stop, you must immediately cease and retreat, or you will be disqualified. That is all. Does anyone have any questions?"

This was the second time Kanna had heard the rule "the use of the Seven Ninja Swords is prohibited." To be honest, he really wanted to laugh.

However, it was indeed fair. Take Kanna himself, for instance: if he were ruthless enough to use his father's name to borrow weapons from the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, it wouldn't be impossible. With so many people supervising, he wouldn't have to worry about the weapons flying off.

Among the Seven Ninja Swords, the Kubikiribōchō had no special abilities other than regenerating its blade, and the Nuibari was a rare needle-type weapon that most people couldn't use well. Using those two in the Chunin Exam might not be a big deal, but the others were different—they either absorbed chakra, ignored defense, or came with innate Lightning or Explosion Release. In short, once in hand, one's combat power would skyrocket.

Kanna felt that in a few years, once the Jinchuriki of Kirigakure grew up, they should add a clause to the rules stating, "Jinchuriki may not enter Tailed Beast Mode," to keep things fair.

Naturally, no one had any objections to the rules. After the proctor offered a few words of encouragement, Kanna and the others returned to the waiting room prepared by the organizers to wait for the staff to finish their final inspection of the arena.

In Room 0, Kanna sat quietly for a moment. After confirming that his ninjutsu and tools were in order, he grew restless and decided to go next door to chat with Yuli.

As he pushed the door open, Fuyuki happened to be hurrying down the corridor. His expression was sour, but when he caught sight of Kanna, he forced a smile, nodded, and walked away.

"What the hell?" Kanna was baffled.

His impression of Fuyuki Sanzenryo was that of a refined gentleman who adhered strictly to his own ninja way—never offending others unless offended. Why would such a "good guy" be throwing a tantrum for no reason?

"Haha, surely it's because I'm too strong, and he's feeling the pressure?" Kanna joked to himself. Just as he was about to step out, his peripheral vision caught several ninjas turning the corner of the corridor.

Leading them was a young ninja in casual attire who walked with a confident stride until he reached Yuli's door and knocked.

Down the hall, Fuyuki stopped and glanced back at the young man with a complex expression.

The young ninja seemed to sense it, turned, and offered a polite smile.

Kanna frowned, gently closed his door, and immediately used the Mayfly Technique to submerge into the wall between rooms two and three. He poked his head out from the ceiling of Yuli's room, wanting to see what was going on.

Next door, Yuli had already welcomed the ninjas inside, and the two sides began to converse.

"Who are you?" Yuli asked coldly.

"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Hayashinaka Jubei," the young ninja said calmly.

"The Hayashinaka Clan?" Yuli's eyebrows arched. She stared at Jubei and said icily, "Are you here to cause trouble!"

Hayashinaka Jubei sat down uninvited, while the other ninjas dispersed throughout the room.

"I had a younger brother," Jubei said, his eyes hollow and his tone ethereal. "His name was Hayashinaka Shigure. Everyone said he was a good child."

Yuli did not interrupt, merely sneering in silence.

"It's a pity that my good brother was killed by you," Jubei sighed at length, then shifted his tone, saying something neither Yuli nor Kanna had expected.

"Our Hayashinaka Clan originally intended to pursue the matter, but your business with Shigure was, after all, a private affair. Now, as a representative of the Hayashinaka Clan, I declare that our private grievance can be set aside for the time being. As for how it will be resolved in the future, that is a matter for another day."

Yuli spoke up, her tone indifferent: "What does that have to do with me? Do as you please."

Jubei was not annoyed. He said slowly, "I came to see you today because there is a more important matter. You are likely aware that the Third Mizukage advocates for an election system like that of Konoha. What is your take on this?"

Yuli repeated her previous line: "What does that have to do with me!"

"Of course it has to do with you!" Jubei said heavily, his expression turning serious. "How could different villages possibly use the same method to solve every problem! Perhaps the Mizukage has his own views, but as members of Kirigakure, we must make our voices heard at certain times!"

Yuli's lips moved, but she said nothing.

"Perhaps in your eyes, we clans are selfish, retaliating by any means necessary the moment a member is attacked." Jubei laughed at himself, his tone melancholy. "But when it comes to matters concerning the fate of the village, we are not so foolish as to ignore the big picture for the sake of personal vendettas. In our view, while a village led by a single person may be efficient, it inevitably suffers from the limitations of that individual's perspective. Just as your attitude toward the Hayashinaka Clan differs entirely from others, personal preferences, moral views, and values will always lead an individual to make choices that favor themselves."

"Although Kirigakure is not as prosperous as Konoha, it is still one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, an organization standing at the pinnacle of the ninja world. Such a village cannot be fully controlled by any single person. The establishment of the Council of Elders and the Mizukage's selection of aides were for this very reason. Now, the Third Mizukage is completely disregarding our opinions and forcing the implementation of a new system. What is your opinion on this?"

"If you want to discuss whether the Mizukage is right or wrong, I'm afraid I'm not the one to ask." Yuli pointed to the door. "Leave!"

Jubei fell silent for a moment, then stood up.

"The Third Mizukage intends to cancel your and Kanna's applications for promotion to Chunin because of the massacre you two committed during the exam. Do you realize this? You two have become the village's test case. Everyone is watching to see how the Mizukage handles you, waiting to see if the old system will continue or if the new system will shatter the status quo."

"Regardless of how you view us clan members, you should be able to feel it by now, shouldn't you? When an individual possesses absolute authority, the terrifying consequences that can erupt? Are you truly willing to see the fairness of the exam destroyed just for a system that hasn't even been proven beneficial or harmful yet?"

Amayuri closed her eyes, remaining completely unmoved.

Jubei's hand was already on the doorknob as he said his final words: "I hope that no matter who wins between you and Fuyuki Sanzenryo, you can both lose to Kanna in the final round. When that time comes, our various clans will initiate a Jonin conference and cast our votes for you and Kanna, striving to ensure you both become Chunin."

Seeing that Amayuri offered no response, Jubei shook his head helplessly and led his subordinates away.

Over here, Kanna saw that the conversation had ended, so he retracted his ninjutsu and sat on the sofa to ponder.

Had the conflict between the Mizukage and the high-ranking clans truly reached such a point? The clans actually dared to interfere with the Chunin Exams, attempting to forcibly push him and Amayuri—two candidates already slated for elimination—into the position of Chunin?

Jubei had made his point very clear. Perhaps their vision was not broad enough to see whether the future of the new system would be good or bad, but by the same token, could the Third Mizukage truly guarantee that his own foresight was accurate?

It was truly impossible to refute; he had presented both sides of the argument, so what was there left for him to say?

His own father was a die-hard loyalist to the Mizukage, so he himself should belong to the reformist faction represented by the Mizukage. Naturally, conservatives like Jubei, who wanted to maintain the old system, were his enemies. According to experience, shouldn't enemies be those kinds of maniacs who are completely deranged and blindly believe they are always right?

But now, here was Jubei saying: That's right, perhaps we are wrong, but the Third Mizukage could also be mistaken, couldn't he? Why won't you listen to our opinions? If something goes wrong, who will take responsibility?

Would the Mizukage take responsibility? How would he do it? By stepping down? Even if he stepped down and a new Mizukage replaced him, the damage to the village would already be done. How could that be undone?

Kanna felt very troubled. Jubei's next target might be him. When the time came and the other party brought out that same line of reasoning, how was he supposed to refute it?

If the Third Mizukage were the type to be forced into promoting him and Amayuri to Chunin due to pressure from the clans, he wouldn't be the Mizukage with the great resolve to pioneer a new system. Kanna was firmly convinced of this. But the problem was, Kanna truly felt that Jubei's words made a lot of sense.

Kanna recalled the words once spoken to him by the director of the Juvenile Correction Center, Gotō Shinnosuke. He had warned him never to look at things solely from his own perspective, but to seek common ground while reserving differences. Even his own father, Tokiomi, did not want him to intervene in the village's power struggles too early, because Tokiomi also understood that no matter who it was or what the matter was, there was a right side and a wrong side to everything. How could a ninja who hadn't yet fully understood his own heart make a choice so rashly?

Neither coming nor going, neither death nor life, only in the center. Only those who have truly seen through their own original heart and touched the "God of the Center" can assert the path they wish to take.

What did Kanna want? To be honest, he had no idea. Right now, he only felt happy that he could live freely and study ninjutsu with peace of mind, but he still didn't understand what he truly wanted or what ninja way he truly wished to pursue.

Time passed bit by bit. Jubei never came knocking, and while Kanna was puzzled, he also felt a sense of relief. The other man's "Talk no Jutsu" was simply too powerful; he really couldn't handle it. It was better that he didn't come; he would just deal with things as they came.

Elsewhere, Zabuza and Fuyuki Sanzenryo also encountered people capable of suppressing them.

In Room Four, Zabuza stood to the side, facing a man with a bulky, tall physique, an orange topknot, and a massive sword wrapped in bandages strapped to his back.

"It's just an exam. When the time comes, just forfeit," the tall man said indifferently.

Zabuza replied coldly: "Since I have sufficient strength, why should I give up? Are you trying to destroy the fairness of the Chunin Exams, Lord Suikazan Fuguki?"

Suikazan Fuguki—this guy was a top-tier ninja among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist who wielded the great sword Samehada, and one of the heads of the intelligence department. His power in Kirigakure was immense. Even if Zabuza was dissatisfied with him, he dared not act out; after all, they were simply not on the same level.

"This exam never had any so-called fairness to begin with," Fuguki said calmly. "Ninja Creed, Chapter One, Article Two—what is it? Recite it!"

Zabuza frowned and said: "Absolute obedience to the orders of superiors."

"That's right, obedience to superiors." Fuguki walked past Zabuza toward the door. "Your file has been temporarily transferred to the intelligence department by me. From now on, you are a subordinate of mine, Suikazan Fuguki. Once the Chunin Exams conclude, the Anbu will be responsible for taking you back. So, obey my order and forfeit. Do you understand?"

Zabuza's expression stiffened. He clenched his fists and lowered his head deeply.

Just how chaotic had the interior of Kirigakure become? He was clearly a subordinate of the Mizukage, yet Suikazan Fuguki could forcibly requisition his file?

It was true that Anbu personnel were often transferred to other departments after a period of time, but how long had he even been in the Anbu?

With just these few sentences, Zabuza could sense that the waters here were deep—extremely deep—and at the very least, not something he could involve himself in.

Helplessly, Zabuza replied with suppressed frustration: "Yes."

Fuguki nodded, said nothing more, and left the room.

Inside Room One, Fuyuki Sanzenryo looked at Yagura in disbelief and blurted out: "Why? Lord Yagura, why are you also..."

Yagura smiled slightly and said softly: "The power of Kirigakure belongs to the collective. Therefore, when the collective has a disagreement on a certain matter, it should be set aside for the time being and discussed thoroughly until a result that satisfies everyone is reached."

Fuyuki said sullenly: "But I feel that the Third Mizukage's new policies aren't wrong."

"The Third Mizukage is old," Yagura said indifferently. "Old men are always stubborn. We aren't trying to oppose him, but rather hoping that he will listen to everyone's opinions a bit more."

Fuyuki was still hesitant: "Does everyone think the Third Mizukage is wrong this time?"

Yagura did not answer, instead saying: "The Third Mizukage once followed the First Mizukage to attend the first Five Kage Summit, so the First Hokage, Hashirama, had a great influence on him. The Third Mizukage has always hoped to develop Kirigakure into a village like Konohagakure."

Fuyuki muttered: "Isn't that a good thing? I heard that in Konohagakure, the people there are all..."

"It's different!"

Yagura's expression suddenly turned serious, cutting him off: "It's different! Geographical reasons, cultural customs, and various differences lead to different philosophies, which is why different villages follow different ninja ways! How can different ninja ways implement the same policy?"

Fuyuki's expression shifted, and he finally sighed.

The other party was, after all, the mentor who had taught him ninjutsu. He was only a Genin, so naturally, he wouldn't see things as clearly as his mentor. Therefore, it was better to follow Yagura's orders.

"I... I understand. I will forfeit."

In the exam arena, on the main platform.

An Anbu member approached Tokiomi and whispered something in his ear.

Tokiomi's expression flickered. He signaled for the Anbu to step back, then said softly to the Third Mizukage: "Those people are attempting to manipulate the exam."

"I know," the Third Mizukage replied, his face expressionless.

"Shouldn't we do something about it?" Tokiomi took a deep breath and said hoarsely, "If my guess is correct, they intend to make Kanna and Amayuri become Chunin. I can go talk to him and have him forfeit."

The Third Mizukage smiled silently and shook his head.

"There is no need. No matter how one restricts a person's body, and no matter how one constrains a person's actions, it is impossible to change their heart."

"Since there are those who oppose me, there will inevitably be those who support me. If the obstacles given to me by those who oppose me are one, then the help given to me by those who support me is one hundred. Every reform is bound to be accompanied by growing pains; these minor difficulties are not enough to defeat me, so rest assured."

"Kanna is a good child; do not let him get involved in this matter. We are all old now, and the new generation will be the pillars of the village's future. As for my decision to revoke their eligibility for the Chunin exam, I hope they can understand."

"I hope so," Tokiomi sighed, empathizing. "Whoever becomes a Chunin in this exam will inevitably be plunged into the village's power struggles. Forcing them to choose a side right now is indeed asking too much of them."

"As ninjas of the same village, there shouldn't be such glaring conflicts. The infighting within this village has gone on for far too long. I truly hope that I can be like the First Hokage, Hashirama, and win everyone over not through force, but through the charisma of my character, letting go of mutual grudges. Let us consider this the obsession of an old man in the final moments of his life."

Mizukage spoke his true feelings, carrying a sense of detachment.

Clang! The bell rang, all staff members exited the arena, and the exam was about to begin.