Konoha's enormous Dome Stadium was packed with people. Students from the Ninja Academy, both older and younger, had gathered there, along with some who had already graduated but still hadn't become Genin. Almost everyone had converged on the stadium at the same time.
Today was the Genin Exam. Everything began here.
It was still dark when Yuhi Kurenai arrived at Sato Hideaka's house early in the morning. Wearing a red-and-white jacket, her cheeks rosy from the night's cold air, she waited until Hideaka opened the door and let her in. Then she sat prettily in the living room while he changed and washed up...
As the sky began to lighten, the two of them headed to the stadium together. The moment they entered, Hideaka saw that it was crammed with people. Voices clamored, crowds surged, and nearly every inch of the hall was filled. People had gathered in clusters, each forming its own group.
Most of all, the noisy, chaotic environment made Hideaka extremely uncomfortable!
"Kurenai, Hideaka, over here! Our class is gathered over here..."
A familiar female voice reached Hideaka and Kurenai faintly. They looked in the direction it came from and saw a girl waving at them from amid the crowd. Her short brown hair framed her cheeks, and two purple markings adorned them. When she smiled, her eyes curved like crescent moons. She had a healing quality about her...
Behind her were familiar faces: Uchiha Obito, Anko, Ibiki, Shiranui Genma, Might Guy, Uchiha Obito, Sarutobi Asuma, Hyuga Xiangning... Basically, they were all students from Yano Koji's class.
Kurenai pulled Hideaka through the bustling crowd. At last, they reached the spot where Koji's Class had gathered. She patted her chest and said, "It feels like there are so many people taking the Genin Exam this year. The stadium's almost too small to hold us all..."
Sarutobi Asuma watched Kurenai and Hideaka approaching hand in hand. He stepped forward and said sourly, "Kurenai, why did you come with this transfer student today?"
"Because Hideaka's never taken the Genin Exam before. I was worried he wouldn't know how to get to Konoha's stadium, so I brought him along!" Kurenai replied matter-of-factly.
"Ah, how did I not think of that..."
Among the girls, Hyuga Ningxiang covered her mouth and exclaimed. Her pale eyes held a look of envy, prompting the others around her to tease her. Her face flushed with embarrassment.
Seeing this, the boys in the crowd grew even more displeased. Sarutobi Asuma gave Hideaka a harsh sideways glare and mocked him. "You're already five years old. If you can't even find your way here, why bother taking the Genin Exam?"
"Hideaka has a real talent for being a ninja. Even Teacher Yano says so. He'll definitely become a Genin!" Hyuga Ningxiang shouted back, ignoring the teasing from the other girls.
Hideaka was at a loss for words. They were all under ten—where had they learned to be so precocious? Hyuga Hinata had fallen in love with Naruto Uzumaki after he once saved her, and Yamanaka Ino and Haruno Sakura had broken off their friendship over a boy when they were only a few years old.
Now Sarutobi Asuma was constantly provoking him over his relationship with Kurenai, and this Hyuga girl seemed to have feelings for him too. Poor me—I was nineteen in my previous life and had never even dated. The difference was unbelievable.
"Good morning, everyone. I'm Dan Katō, the chief examiner for this Genin Exam. I'll be in charge of the entire examination, so I ask for your cooperation. The rules for this year's Genin Exam have changed..."
A blue-haired man wearing a Forehead Protector and a Jonin uniform suddenly appeared on the platform in the stadium. His features were somewhat delicate, and he announced the rules loudly. His voice, however, was gentle and rather feminine, lacking authority.
Even so, the stadium fell quiet. Everyone listened closely to the exam rules. Clearly, they took this Genin Exam very seriously!
"This Genin Exam will take place in the Forest of Death. It contains all kinds of terrifying, man-eating beasts, as well as many deadly snakes and spiders. This exam could cost you your lives, so you must be prepared to die!"
"We'll randomly assign you to teams based on the applications you submitted five days ago. Each team will consist of three people. Every team will receive either a Yin Scroll or a Yang Scroll. Half an hour after the exam begins, you'll have to get the other one by taking it for yourselves. Once you have both scrolls, take them to the Tower of Death at the center of the Forest of Death to qualify..."
After Dan Katō finished explaining, he paused. Then his expression darkened as he continued, "This exam will be stricter than any previous one. As you travel through the Forest of Death, a Chunin recently returned from the front lines may suddenly emerge from the trees. They may try to take your scrolls, or injure you and force your entire team out of the exam..."
"What? Chunin from the battlefield are joining in to take our scrolls? That's way too strict! Are we supposed to just hand over our scrolls and surrender?"
"Exactly! Chunin are much better than us at reconnaissance. We can't hide from them, and we can't beat them. How are we supposed to get the scrolls?"
"We'll have to fight to take scrolls from other teams. If we can't quickly cover our tracks, the Chunin will notice and pursue us. We have to avoid the Chunin and take scrolls at the same time. This mission is way too difficult!"
Everyone began to complain. In previous years, the Genin Exam had only involved one of these challenges: either evading the Chunin or taking scrolls from other teams. This time, both challenges were combined, more than doubling the difficulty.
"Quiet, everyone. I haven't finished explaining the rules. To make this exam easier, we've abandoned the old team-based qualification system. If anyone on your team obtains both the Yin and Yang Scrolls and brings them to the Tower of Death, that person will qualify.
"But take note: the person carrying the scrolls can qualify, but any teammate who doesn't reach the Tower of Death with them in time—or who gets there before them—will be eliminated!"
Dan Katō's words set off an even greater commotion. What kind of rule was this? How was this supposed to make things easier? On top of guarding against the unpredictable Chunin and members of other teams, did they now have to watch out for their own teammates too?
The teams would be randomly assigned, which meant their members might be complete strangers. During the exam, they might even become rivals. How could anyone expect people with no ties and no trust between them to form a team and trust each other completely?
If one member of a three-person team took the scrolls to the Tower of Death alone, the other two would be eliminated. One fewer person meant one more chance. This rule, designed to sow discord, practically guaranteed infighting!
The Genin candidates in the stadium began deliberately distancing themselves from the people around them. Under these rules, it was hard to trust the teammates they were about to be assigned. Everyone closed themselves off, warily watching those nearby and guarding against possible threats as they began to plan how to qualify...
The exam hadn't even started, yet everyone there had already lost the most basic trust in their teammates!
Untrustworthy teammates, elusive Chunin instructors, and unpredictable competitors—once all the rules of this Genin Exam were laid out, it was clear that this would be the most chaotic exam in history. No one knew who their real opponents would be in the end.
Feeling the subtle shift in the atmosphere, Kurenai nervously swallowed. She clutched the corner of Hideaka's sleeve and asked timidly, "W-what should we do, Hideaka? Will I be on your team? Why is this Genin Exam so difficult?"
"Visible rules can't be changed, but invisible ones can. Kurenai, don't worry. I'll help you!"