True Strength!

To Takizawa Dan, the entire duel was mundane, even agonizingly sluggish.

If he were in Naoki Senmaru's shoes, he would have had at least seven or eight opportunities to end the fight in a single strike, yet Naoki Senmaru missed every one of them, choosing only to circle around like a fool—the inefficiency was staggering!

It was only because Inokai Peng was even more incompetent that the outcome of this match remained uncertain.

Of course, while Takizawa Dan saw this duel as nothing more than two amateurs pecking at each other, to the many other examinees watching from the sidelines, it was a thrilling display, wave after wave of excitement.

In their eyes, Naoki Senmaru had perfectly embodied the assassin's trait of appearing and disappearing without a trace, finishing the fight with clean, crisp movements—he was cool to the extreme!

There were even a few girls shouting Naoki Senmaru's name, declaring that he was so handsome they simply had to marry him!

It was truly beyond belief!

The referee loudly announced Naoki Senmaru as the winner.

Afterward, the matches proceeded one by one.

To Takizawa Dan, most of these battles were like children playing house—dry, dull, and devoid of any substance.

But that was to be expected; the current state of this ninja world was still stuck in the early stages of the anime, long before the start of Shippuden, so naturally, all the techniques and taijutsu were of a very low tier.

Compared to the later battles featuring the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and Susanoo, where "Gundams" filled the sky, this was like comparing clouds to mud!

During this time, Neji took the stage once, utilizing his Byakugan and Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists to knock his opponent out of the ring in less than two moves, which actually earned him cheers from the entire crowd!

Finally—

"Thirteenth match, Nochi Yoshino, versus... Takizawa Dan!??"

The chunin responsible for announcing the matchups was so surprised that his voice pitched upward when he read Takizawa Dan's name!

What was going on? How could Takizawa Dan's name possibly be among the candidates participating in the Chunin Exams?!

The Konoha high-ranking officials in the stands frowned upon hearing this, exchanging bewildered glances.

Soon, one official stepped forward and said, "There must be a mistake. Let's grant a bye for this round and move on to the next..."

"Wait, I'm right here! I'm here to participate in the Chunin Exams, too!"

Takizawa Dan walked to the front of the crowd and confronted the Konoha official directly!

For a moment, the entire arena fell into a deathly silence!

Every gaze was fixed upon him!

"Takizawa Dan! What on earth are you playing at? You're someone without a shred of chakra—what business do you have crashing the Chunin Exams!" the official pointed at Takizawa Dan and barked, "Besides, the prerequisite for entering the Chunin Exams is to be a genin! Do you have the qualifications? Do you even have a forehead protector!!!"

As these words fell, everyone in the arena looked at Takizawa Dan with a mocking, half-smiling expression.

Indeed.

Even if you are truly strong, and even if you did defeat Hyuga Niuer and Hyuga Niuda, so what?

You aren't even a genin; how could you possibly participate in the Chunin Exams?

"I have a forehead protector."

Under the gaze of the entire crowd, Takizawa Dan slowly reached into his pocket and pulled out a forehead protector bearing the Konoha emblem!

Then, he slowly placed it on his forehead and tied the straps!

It must be said, with the forehead protector on, Takizawa Dan's aura elevated once more; he stood in the arena as straight as a bamboo stalk, causing more than a few girls in the crowd to blush and their hearts to race!

"You... where did you steal that forehead protector from? You're just a piece of trash who can't even condense chakra..."

The Konoha official's chest heaved with rage; even now, he refused to believe that Takizawa Dan had actually obtained genin status!

"If you don't believe me, call Instructor Danda Hiroshi over!" Takizawa Dan said calmly. "He was the one who granted me my genin status. Whether or not I am a genin, you'll know as soon as you ask him!"

Takizawa Dan's calm demeanor only made the Konoha official feel less certain.

Could it be that this brat really had obtained genin status?

But with so many people watching, he certainly couldn't back down now, so he snorted coldly and said, "Fine. Since you're so stubborn, I'll call Danda Hiroshi over and have him explain whether or not this is true!"

Soon, Danda Hiroshi was summoned.

He arrived looking quite nervous, for as a mere ordinary chunin—a small fry—being summoned by the high-ranking officials of Konoha was undoubtedly a source of great anxiety and unease.

"Danda Hiroshi, explain the situation from that day in detail. Did Takizawa Dan really obtain genin status from you?"

The Konoha official stared intensely at Danda Hiroshi, demanding an answer!

Faced with such an interrogation, Danda Hiroshi dared not hide anything, especially with Tsunade, the Hokage herself, watching him.

He knelt on one knee and replied respectfully, "Reporting to you, my Lord, yes. Takizawa Dan is indeed a genin; I personally bestowed the forehead protector upon him!"

BOOM!!!

As the words fell, the entire arena was stunned!

Logically speaking, a single genin spot was nothing to be surprised about; in fact, it was a very basic matter!

As long as one could graduate from the Ninja Academy and learn the most fundamental ninjutsu, every ninja was a genin!

Therefore, it didn't even require any special certification; as long as a ninja instructor bestowed the forehead protector, it was official!

But the person who had been bestowed the title was Takizawa Dan!

It was like handing a university diploma to a kindergartner; who could possibly believe or accept that?

For a moment, the crowd below was in an uproar, and the expressions on everyone's faces were incredibly vivid.

"Why? Could you explain the reason?"

Before the Konoha high-ranking official could speak, a clear voice suddenly rang out from the stage.

The person speaking was none other than Tsunade!

"Your Hokage, it is because Takizawa Dan successively defeated Hyuga Niuer and Hyuga Niuda, who is a Chunin! I believe his strength has long reached the level of a Genin, so I granted him the forehead protector directly!"

BOOM!!!

The Chunin instructor of the Ninja Academy had stated, right in front of the Hokage, that Takizawa Dan had defeated Hyuga Niuer and Hyuga Niuda.

It could be said that this matter was now completely confirmed!

Not to mention, Rock Lee and Neji had both personally testified for him earlier!

The expressions of everyone looking at Takizawa Dan changed in that instant.

"Very well, I understand. Since Instructor Danda has already acknowledged the legitimacy of the Genin forehead protector, then Takizawa Dan is indeed a Genin of Konoha, and according to the regulations, he is eligible to participate in this Chunin Exam."

Tsunade nodded, then looked toward the high-ranking official who had questioned Takizawa Dan.

"What do you think, Mr. Saga?"

Mr. Saga's face turned awkward; his lips moved a few times, but he was left speechless. Facing Tsunade's question, he could only nod silently.

"Fine, since Your Hokage has said so, this old man has no objections."

"However, being able to successively defeat the Genin-level Hyuga Niuer and Hyuga Niuda, whose strength rivals a Chunin, has made me curious about Takizawa-kun's abilities. I hope Takizawa Dan can give me a surprise later on."

After saying this, he sat back down in his chair.

"Good luck, Takizawa Dan."

Tsunade also said with a smile, though the expression in her eyes as she looked at Takizawa Dan carried a hint of inexplicable meaning...