The sun was sinking in the west, and it would soon set.
The lingering glow of the setting sun bathed the entire Forest of Death. It was already dusk.
Yet the Forest of Death, where the second round of the Chunin Exams was underway, was unusually quiet.
At that moment, two Chunin on duty finally entered the Finish Line Tower in the Forest of Death.
"Isn't this a little early?"
"It's only been half a day... Those Genin are probably still fighting over scrolls in the Forest of Death."
One of the Chunin said with a yawn.
"Not necessarily..."
"Every Chunin Exam has some exceptional Genin. Maybe someone has already reached the finish line by now."
As the other Chunin entered the tower, he spoke while pushing open its doors.
"Ahhh!!!"
But the moment the doors opened, the two Chunin were utterly stunned by the sight before them!
"Someone finally came... I've been waiting forever!"
When the two Chunin pushed open the doors, they saw two mountains piled up at the entrance to the tower—one was a small mountain of scrolls, while the other was a mountain of ninjas.
A handsome white-haired boy with amber eyes sat atop the pile of ninjas. Only after seeing them open the door did he speak.
"Y-you... you..."
The Chunin who had opened the door was too frightened to speak.
"Thirty-one scrolls. Every single one is here."
"...I suppose that means I've passed this exam?"
Hane spoke casually as he stepped through the tower doors, completely ignoring the two Chunin who had long since been frightened senseless.
"However..."
"I don't think anyone besides me can participate in the third round anymore..."
As Hane entered the tower, an inexplicable smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
Konoha, Hokage's Office.
"Lord Hokage! This is