Luckily, Tanakamura was a capable jonin and quickly spotted the only weakness in the group.
That's right—it was our adorable Kushina.
She was thoroughly unremarkable, so ordinary that she'd drifted out of the battle altogether, standing stiffly and afraid to disrupt the other four's seamless teamwork.
Tsunade folded her arms, her red lips pursed. "It's such a shame about Kushina. Without her as a weakness, this team would have no weaknesses at all."
Jiraiya watched with keen interest, rubbing his hands together. "Hahaha! That blond kid is interesting! He reminds me a little of myself back in the day! His timing is impeccable, and he's incredibly skilled with the Three Body Technique. I want him as my student."
Orochimaru's golden, slit-pupiled eyes narrowed slightly as his gaze swept across the field. "As expected of the Ino-Shika-Cho formation. Their teamwork is truly astonishing."
Ten minutes later, Shikaku Nara's tactical plan finally faltered, bringing the fight to an early end.
The reason was that Kushina could no longer suppress her urge to join the battle. When she saw Tanakamura caught by Shikaku's Shadow Possession Technique, she ignored their plan and rushed forward, intent on attacking him directly.
But Tanakamura suddenly unleashed his jonin-level strength and broke free of the restraint. Kushina was immediately taken hostage.
The field fell into a stalemate. Their once-flawless teamwork was thoroughly disrupted.
"That's cheating! You're using me as a human shield!" Kushina struggled, her red hair bristling with anger, but her eyes were faintly red. She knew her recklessness had ruined everyone's efforts.
Tanakamura released her and spoke calmly. "There's no such thing as 'cheating' in a ninja battle. Exploiting your opponent's weakness is the key to victory. Your teamwork was excellent, but you have little Chakra left. You couldn't have defeated me before you ran out."
"However, I used my jonin-level strength, so the exam ends here."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, his voice carrying across the field. "I agree. The teachers will notify the students who passed. Now, we move on to the final exam."
"There's more?"
"Wasn't it over?"
"Who's left?"
The students in the crowd didn't leave. Even after their own exams were over, they continued watching the remaining students, hoping to see how they measured up to everyone else.
After seeing Minato Namikaze and the others fight, they all looked stunned. Were these really students who'd applied for early graduation at the same time as them?
How could the gap between them be so huge?
Hiruzen Sarutobi raised a hand, quieting the murmurs on the field.
"The final candidate is Bai Lin. I'm sure most of you have heard his name, one way or another." Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was steady and strong.
Bai Lin had waited long enough. At last, it was his turn to step forward. Smiling with his eyes narrowed, he walked onto the field.
"So this is Bai Lin? The kid known in the village as Little Brother Phosphorus. I hear he's the true heir to the Will of Fire?" Orochimaru licked his lips, sounding rather surprised.
Most of Konoha's villagers had seen Bai Lin, since he often wandered around the village in his spare time, chatting with everyone.
Some of the high-ranking officials had met Bai Lin and thought highly of him.
Others had never met him. They belonged to a different class, after all. However famous he was, he was still just an ordinary person, and not much of an interest to Konoha's elite fighters.
Jiraiya stepped forward and studied Bai Lin closely, scratching his head. "So this is Bai Lin! I've heard about him from people—when I happened to pass by the women's bathhouse, I mean, not that I was peeking! I never expected him to be so young!"
Tsunade folded her arms, her red lips pursed as she regarded him with a hint of scrutiny. "The heir to the Will of Fire?"
Bai Lin walked to the center of the field. With black hair and eyes, dressed in a white kimono and sandals, he wore a faint smile. He looked casual, yet carried a steady presence.
Facing Konoha's high-ranking officials and hundreds of watchful eyes, he wasn't nervous at all. Instead, he looked as relaxed as if he were strolling through his own yard.
"Bai Lin, your exam will be different from the others'," Hiruzen Sarutobi announced. "My student Tsunade will examine you. If you earn her approval, you'll become her student directly."
Tsunade: ??? When did I agree to this? I wasn't even thinking of taking a student.
Jiraiya: ???
"Sensei, why don't you let me examine him? I'm quite taken with the boy." Orochimaru licked his lips, displeasure flashing in his golden, slit-pupiled eyes. He was very unhappy with Hiruzen Sarutobi's decision.
This child! This child! His subconscious was telling him that he wanted the boy for himself!
"I've already considered it. Tsunade is the most suitable person to teach him," Hiruzen Sarutobi said firmly, giving Tsunade a meaningful look.
"Sensei, I object." Orochimaru's cool voice broke the silence. "Everyone knows what Tsunade is like. She isn't the best person to teach a student. How can she teach someone else? If Bai Lin is as talented as you say, he needs the most exacting guidance. I can give him the best training."
"Hahaha! I knew it. Tsunade's not the type to patiently teach a student. Orochimaru, for once, we're finally on the same side."
A vein bulged at Tsunade's temple, and anger flashed in her eyes.
All of you, acting like you know everything. Just die!
"Thud! Thud!"
Orochimaru and Jiraiya fell to the ground.
"Sensei, I'm not in the mood to take a student right now," Tsunade said bluntly to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
There wasn't much Tsunade could teach. She knew that herself.
Besides medical ninjutsu, all she had was Super Strength. Both required tremendous talent. Without the aptitude for either, it would be a waste of time.
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Jiraiya and Orochimaru sprawled on the ground, then at the furious Tsunade, and shook his head helplessly.
He had his reasons for choosing Tsunade. Bai Lin seemed to have a clear understanding of the Ninja World's power structure, and Hiruzen worried he might take an extreme path.
Of the three, Orochimaru was too calculating, and Jiraiya was too carefree and unpredictable. Only Tsunade, granddaughter of Senju Hashirama, truly regarded Konoha as her home. She would never allow anyone to harm her family.
Without a doubt, she was the most suitable choice.
"Tsunade, I understand your concerns," Hiruzen Sarutobi said gently, his voice tinged with earnestness. "Just teach him as you normally would. I'll tell you why after the exam."
Tsunade fell silent. She hadn't expected Hiruzen Sarutobi to think so highly of Bai Lin.
"Fine." After a long pause, Tsunade finally spoke, her red lips pursed. "But if he does too poorly, don't blame me."
Tsunade planned to finish Bai Lin's exam as quickly as possible. Then she'd have an excuse to pass him off to someone else to teach.
Orochimaru lay on the ground, frustration and malice flashing in his golden, slit-pupiled eyes.
He hadn't expected Tsunade to agree after all. That meant his plan to take Bai Lin as his student had fallen through completely.
Jiraiya got up from the ground, rubbing his swollen forehead as he grinned. "Since you've taken him on, Tsunade, surely I can give him a few pointers now and then? I'm pretty amazing!"
"Get lost!" Tsunade glared at him, then turned to Bai Lin, her tone softening. "Bai Lin, my exam is simple. Entertain me with your life."
Bai Lin frowned. He hadn't expected Hiruzen Sarutobi to entrust him to Tsunade.
He'd thought that, given his conversations with Hiruzen Sarutobi, he'd be guided toward Orochimaru.
It seemed Hiruzen Sarutobi was as calculating as ever. He wanted Tsunade to set him on the right path, so he could serve the village.
Oh, well. I suppose she'll have to do. Bai Lin kept his faint smile and bowed slightly to Tsunade. "Lady Tsunade, I haven't learned any ninjutsu yet. Could you give me some time to prepare?"
"Hm?" Tsunade was thoroughly confused. So what if he hadn't learned ninjutsu? Did he think a little preparation would make him learn it?