Chunin Exams

Holding the mission list, Uchiha Kun walked directly up the wide corridor. Looking at the Anbu Ninjas gathered there, he smiled slightly and said respectfully:

"I'm here to see the Fifth Hokage. I'm Uchiha Kun, and I just returned from the Land of Waves. Could you please announce my arrival?"

Raimon, the vice-commander of the Anbu, looked at Uchiha Kun, who had just returned, and nodded slightly, his face serious.

"Since you're the Third Elder, why don't you go in? The Fifth Hokage is having a meeting there, why don't you go listen in and see what a real meeting is like?"

Upon hearing these words, Uchiha Kun knew that this Anbu Ninja was alluding to the Uchiha Clan's gathering. In an instant, his face turned awkward, he sighed, and frowned.

"We apologize for the trouble caused by the Uchiha Clan, but our meeting was to study the Fifth Hokage's Will of Fire, and had no other purpose."

Raimon shook his head directly and said very seriously:

"That's not what I meant. I just wanted to tell you that a real meeting must be simple and easy to understand, not just shouting slogans. The Fifth Hokage only took a few minutes to review all the work done over the past six months, and even Elder Hokage Mitokado Homura got criticized."

"Ah! "Uchiha Kun exclaimed in surprise, asking with a puzzled look, "Why was Elder Homura criticized?"

Raimon looked at Uchiha Kun, who was asking a question with a surprised expression, his brows furrowing slightly, and then shook his head.

"Elder Homura is preparing to donate 10 billion Silver Coin to build a massive pure gold statue of the Fifth Hokage, which will be hung directly at the main entrance of the Hokage Building..."

Uchiha Kun nodded upon hearing this. "That's a good thing! It's only right to build a large golden statue for the Hokage's achievements!"

Raimon shook his head awkwardly. "If a giant golden statue is hung in front of the Hokage Building, people will come to steal it every night. In a few days, the golden statue might turn into gold foil. In the future, if the Hokage Building becomes a popular tourist attraction, we'll have to guard the golden statue all night long."

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Kun immediately understood: building a golden statue was simply too wasteful; it would require sending laborers to guard it, wasting Konoha's ninja resources. It was better not to build one at all.

Uchiha Kun then spoke to Raimon, "Then I'll go in. Thank you for reminding me; I'll be more careful in the future."

After saying that, Uchiha Kun turned around and walked to the office door. Hearing the voices inside, he knocked on the door.

"Fifth Hokage, your subordinate Uchiha Kun has returned from the Land of Waves,"

Inside the Hokage's Office, Qingcheng sat in the Hokage's seat. Hearing the voice at the door, he smiled slightly and immediately spoke:

"Brother Ji is back. Open the door for him; it's a good opportunity to discuss the Chunin Ninja Exams with him."

Several Anbu Ninjas creaked open the door to the Hokage's Office, letting Uchiha Kun into the room.

Qingcheng looked at Uchiha Kun, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, and stood up from his seat with a big smile, his eyebrows even starting to rise:

"How did the mission to the Land of Waves go? Any special gains?"

Kakashi stood beside Qingcheng, watching Uchiha Kun enter, and nodded slightly, his face serious.

"This time, our Konoha will be holding the Chunin Ninja Exams together with the Hidden Sand Village. Your Team 7 is an elite team, so you should be able to participate in the Chunin Ninja Exams. Remember to have Naruto memorize more questions, Chunin Ninja Exams include academic subjects."

Uchiha Kun was taken aback by Kakashi's words and said in surprise, "Assistant Hokage, Naruto's intelligence isn't high. You might be disappointed."

Seeing Uchiha Kun's desperate expression, Qingcheng laughed and said, "And Senju Nawaki too, tell him to read more books. That guy's intelligence is about equal to Naruto's."

Mitokado Homura stood to Qingcheng's left, observing Qingcheng's pleased expression, and thought to himself:

"The Hokage is in a good mood, it seems he has forgiven me. Next time, I'll use granite to build a statue for Hokage, to make him happy too."

Mitokado Homura lowered his head slightly, looking extremely obsequious, his head drooping:

"Hokage, I'm going to greet the Fourth Kazekage Chunin Ninja Exams. Also, some ninjas from the Otogakure are planning to join the Chunin Ninja Exams Konoha; they've applied to us several times already."

Upon hearing the words "Otogakure," Qingcheng nodded slightly, silently thinking to himself:

"Isn't the Otogakure Orochimaru's village? I haven't even gone to find him yet, and he's already delivered himself to my doorstep. Isn't this giving me the opportunity to launch an attack on the Land of Rice Fields? This is perfect, Einstein Snake!"

Qingcheng waved to Mitokado Homura with a smile on his face:

"They from the Otogakure want to join the Konoha entrance exam, so let them come! Remember to tell them to bring plenty of people, and we'll bring plenty of people too. We must treat them well; this is a rare opportunity, extremely rare."

Upon hearing Qingcheng's words, Mitokado Homura immediately nodded, his face full of respect. "Your subordinate understands. I will go and inform them right away, and ask them to bring more people from the Otogakure."

Qingcheng then looked at Kakashi, his face serious, and raised an eyebrow:

"Call Shouhon Yihan, Hayakumo Sōma, Senju Taoyuan, the Flying Thunder God Squad, and Dahe back to Konoha. We can prepare for the next step: to increase the area of Land of Fire."

Kakashi nodded immediately, his face serious.

"Understood, Hokage -sama. I will immediately inform them to return to Konoha and cease all their current missions."

Qingcheng glanced at Uchiha Kun, waved his hand, and said seriously, "Brother Ji, come with me to the Technology Department. They've already cloned the Mangekyō Sharingan, and they can match it to yours right now, raising your eye power to another level."

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Kun immediately beamed with joy and shouted excitedly, "Thank you, Hokage- sama! Thank you, Hokage- sama! I will serve you with all my might until my dying breath!"

Qingcheng nodded to Kakashi again and said seriously:

"I'm leaving this to you. I'm taking Brother Ji to the Technology Department building. You need to get hard; you carry the hopes of millions of people in the Land of Fire."

Upon hearing these words, Kakashi immediately shrank back in fright, his face filled with astonishment, revealing a dead fish-like expression:

"Lord Hokage, how could I dare to shoulder such a heavy responsibility? The people of the Land of Fire need you; you are the true Blaze Emperor of the Land of Fire."

Qingcheng looked at Kakashi, who was shirking responsibility, and said with a righteous and stern expression, "You are the Cosmic War God of the Land of Fire, the Great General King!"

Kakashi nodded immediately, his dead fish eyes widening:

"Yes, yes, I understand."