The Hidden Rule

From a distance, the Tower of Death appeared remarkably small within the vast forest. However, when Sato Hideaka finally stood at its base, he was struck by the sheer scale and magnificence of the structure.

The Tower of Death consisted of seven levels, tapering from a wide, square base. The exterior was carved with various animals—dogs, cats, monkeys, pythons, giant bears, lions, and more. The square foundation alone stood six meters high and spanned an area equivalent to four football fields.

There were eight circular arched gates around the tower. The four on the north side were sealed, leaving only the four on the south side open. Each gate was guarded by two Konoha shinobi wearing forehead protectors. In front of one gate, a three-man team was currently handing two scrolls to the guards.

Sato Hideaka, Hyuga Ningxiang, and Yuhi Kurenai approached one of the gates and presented six scrolls to the two middle-aged guards. The guards took the scrolls with surprise, opened them, and carefully cross-referenced the contents. With a strange expression, one guard asked, "You three children, do you belong to three different teams?"

"Yes, yes, that's right. We formed a temporary team inside the Forest of Death!" Yuhi Kurenai nodded like a pecking chicken.

"Haha, well, a temporary team... six scrolls, you kids are really something!"

The guard took the three Yin Scroll and three Yang Scroll—six in total—and let out a dry laugh. After observing them for a moment and recording their names, he allowed Sato Hideaka and his companions to enter the Tower of Death.

Once their backs disappeared from view, the guard sighed and said, "Even though there's a girl from the Hyuga clan in that temporary group, I still can't believe that a team with an average age of under seven years old managed to complete such a high-difficulty mission perfectly."

"Indeed. You have to realize that this Genin Exam included not only our Konoha candidates but also many from ninja clans in other villages. Many of them even exceeded the level of ordinary Genin. Obtaining six scrolls isn't just a matter of luck; it's a testament to their strength."

The other guard shook his head, a sense of bitterness rising within him. He felt as though the waves behind were pushing the waves ahead, and the former were dying on the shore. For mere seven-year-old brats to collect six scrolls in such a mission was simply inconceivable.

In truth, this was the result of Sato Hideaka trying to save time by having Hyuga Ningbo and the others take different gates. Because the guards had to verify the authenticity of the scrolls—checking the material, handwriting, and the hidden codes within the characters—it was far too time-consuming.

To save time, the two teams had split up to approach different gates. Otherwise, these guards would surely have assumed that the three of them had only passed the test because of special treatment from Hyuga Ningbo's group, given how young their team was on average.

After entering the Tower of Death, they were led to rooms prepared by the staff. Though small, the rooms were equipped with hot water, a desk, and a bed. Outside the window lay a lush green forest, flocks of birds, and vibrant grass; the environment was quite pleasant.

Sato Hideaka pulled off his sticky, gray combat suit in disgust and tossed it to the floor. After a bath, he lay on the bed, gazing out the window while researching the Crystal Release ninjutsu he intended to use to counter the Uchiha Sharingan's genjutsu.

The deadline for the exam was the seventh day. Sato Hideaka had completed his mission on the afternoon of the fifth day. For the remaining two days, aside from researching ninjutsu, he spent his time with Yuhi Kurenai and Hyuga Ningxiang in the designated rest area, watching the grass, listening to the birds, and smelling the flowers.

Compared to the noisy environment from before, this quiet, peaceful, and natural setting was much more to his liking.

Over the next two days, the other candidates—whether they had collected the two required scrolls or not—arrived at the Tower of Death one after another. Once it was clear everyone had arrived, the staff announced on the afternoon of the seventh day that all candidates were to assemble on the first floor of the Tower of Death.

All the candidates gathered on the vast first floor, quickly forming lines and standing neatly as they waited for the proctor to announce the results. Standing on the high platform was none other than Dan Katō. He spoke to the candidates below in a soft, refined tone: "This Genin Exam involved not only competition between teams but also pursuit by experienced Chunin. The difficulty far exceeded previous years. Everyone who managed to reach the Tower of Death deserves to be commended."

"Of course, during these trials, we experienced Chunin did not truly go all out. Otherwise, not even twenty of you would have passed."

"As you all know, being a ninja is a dangerous profession. Every ninja must hide their tracks when facing high-difficulty missions. If a candidate cannot even manage the most basic stealth in the forest, it is our job as Chunin to weed them out."

"In this Forest of Death stage of the Genin Exam, a total of fifty-six people passed. Through the secret observations of our elite Chunin and Jonin, we have identified a group who performed exceptionally well: Uchiha Kaoru, Hyuga Ningbo, Aburame Hakushou, Uchiha Kenichi, Sato Hideaka, Akimichi Shinichi, Yamanaka Sanae, Nara Kinji, Inuzuka Jin, and others!"

Upon hearing Dan Katō list the outstanding individuals, Yuhi Kurenai felt a mix of disappointment and joy. She was disappointed that her name was not among the elite, but happy that Sato Hideaka was.

Hyuga Ningxiang tugged on Sato Hideaka's sleeve and whispered, "Wow, Hideaka, you're amazing. You're the only one under ten years old to be named outstanding!"

Hyuga Ningbo, standing in the front row, seemed to hear Hyuga Ningxiang whispering to Sato Hideaka. He turned his head and glared at her, scaring her into shrinking her head and quickly shutting her mouth.

"These outstanding individuals who passed the competition will participate in a tournament between elites at the Konoha Stadium in one month. The spectators will include the Third Hokage, the Konoha advisory council, the heads of the major clans, and even special envoys from the Daimyo of the Land of Fire. I hope you will seize this opportunity..."

The candidates erupted in a clamor. The outstanding members would have another tournament in a month, and it was important enough to draw the attention of the Land of Fire's Daimyo and the core leadership of Konoha! The level of importance was staggering.

Sato Hideaka was stunned by Dan Katō's words, surprised by how much Konoha valued this Genin Exam. However, when he looked at Hyuga Ningbo in front, he noticed that he didn't show a hint of shock or surprise, remaining expressionless as he stared at the platform.

He looked further at Uchiha Kaoru, Uchiha Kenichi, Shimura Masao, and Inuzuka Jin. None of them were whispering like the ordinary candidates, nor did they look shocked or excited; their faces were calm, as if they had anticipated this all along.

It seemed this exam was not simple. Sato Hideaka rubbed his chin with his right hand. He didn't know if being labeled "outstanding" was a blessing or a curse, but if he had to participate in such a large-scale tournament in a month, his exposure would undoubtedly increase.

Dan Katō pressed his hands down to signal for silence and continued, "As for those who passed the test but are not on the elite list, you will take a written exam in fifteen days. The content will cover the daily curriculum of the Ninja Academy. Once you pass, you will become Genin."

"Of course, this exam was quite difficult. Those who did not pass need not be discouraged. In five days, a make-up exam will be held. This will provide thirty additional Genin spots and will be a competition for you to showcase your individual abilities!"

After hearing Dan Katō finish explaining the follow-up, Sato Hideaka realized the meticulous planning behind the event. The Forest of Death stage served to categorize candidates into elites, mission-oriented types, and those with strong individual prowess.

Elite candidates, as the name suggests, were those who completed the mission and were the strongest among them—possessing comprehensive strength and high potential. Mission-oriented candidates were those who could cooperate to complete the task but had average individual strength.

As for the make-up exam Dan Katō mentioned for those who failed, it was clearly intended to identify and cultivate those who had failed the mission but still possessed significant strength.

It was like hyenas scavenging; they really didn't leave a single scrap behind.