Chunin Exam

Dan Kato took Nichigetsu on missions, and the two of them once again transformed into mission-crazed fanatics. Nichigetsu began taking on C-rank missions; after all, the prize money for C-rank missions was significantly higher.

Sometimes even Dan Kato felt they were taking on too many missions. Whenever Dan Kato wanted to take a break, Nichigetsu would shake his head helplessly and mutter, "Sigh, is this really how someone who wants to become Hokage acts? Lady Tsunade wouldn't like someone who lacks drive."

Dan Kato would immediately be revitalized and continue with the missions.

They caught fugitives, fought mountain bandits, resettled refugees, and sometimes pursued wicked rogue ninjas. Nichigetsu quickly accumulated a sum of money. Of course, Nichigetsu wouldn't engage in bloodbaths at bandit strongholds, slaughtering dens of thieves, or killing displaced people; Nichigetsu would never do such cruel and meaningless things. He would simply knock out the bandits and fugitives, tie them all up, and hand them over to the Land of Fire's authorities for imprisonment. Putting these criminals to work building roads or reservoirs was the best way to make use of their talents and resources.

Dan Kato often sparred with Nichigetsu, and Nichigetsu's endless array of methods benefited Dan Kato quite a bit. In turn, Dan Kato imparted all his combat techniques and experience to him. Based on his own knowledge, Nichigetsu created several unique Gentle Fist moves, such as the [Gentle Fist Art: Five-Finger Heart-Piercing Break], a technique that required medical anatomical knowledge to execute. These few moves were Nichigetsu's trump cards. Using them suddenly could achieve a victory through surprise.

Nichigetsu was very interested in the ninjas' methods of stealth. Consequently, Dan Kato taught him how to control his presence, regulate chakra fluctuations, and move silently—this was the [Stealth Technique]. Nichigetsu quickly mastered the tricks; this way, when he was hiding, if he didn't want to be found, the other party would basically be unable to detect his existence.

Dan Kato had to leave for a period of time to go on a mission. To strengthen his survival skills and practical combat experience, Nichigetsu moved his "bedroom" to the Forest of Death. Yes, the very same Forest of Death from the second stage of the Chunin Exams, filled with giant beasts and poisonous insects.

Nichigetsu explored the forest during the day and slept inside it alone at night. Every day, he fought continuously against wild beasts, used his Stealth Technique to hunt, and kept collecting poisonous insects.

For example, giant centipedes—in medicine, centipedes are excellent remedies for clearing collaterals and dissipating nodules. Especially with centipedes this large, even their toxins were good things; it was worth taking them to study. Or giant leeches—leeches had high medicinal value and could also suck out blood toxins.

At first, the giant beasts in the Forest of Death were furious to find a child trespassing in their territory. They would roar and charge over, intending to eat this ignorant child, only to come running back shortly after, screaming in agony with Nichigetsu in hot pursuit. The giant beasts felt they had been deceived; it turned out this kid was a wolf in sheep's clothing, and their hearts were surely filled with cold despair.

Nichigetsu would hold a kunai and shout while chasing them, "Hey! Don't run! I'm not killing you! I'm just collecting medicinal herbs!"

The giant beast would run even faster upon hearing this, but how could it outrun Nichigetsu, who was using Ninja Footwork? "Awoo! Oof!" Then, the heart-wrenching screams of a beast would echo through the woods.

After Nichigetsu gave these giant beasts a sound beating, he truly wouldn't kill them, but he wouldn't let them off easily either. For instance, if a giant bear dared to attack him, Nichigetsu would cut off one of its paws after the beating; dinner would be roasted bear paw. If it was a giant tiger, its tail would be gone; lunch would be stewed tiger tail soup. A large wild ox would lose its two beautiful horns, which he kept for medicinal use.

The most miserable were the poisonous insects—centipedes, scorpions, spiders, and poisonous bees were all dried by Nichigetsu for medicinal use. He didn't even spare the giant black ant nests; they were high in protein and could treat rheumatism—it would be a waste not to take them. Consequently, the giant beasts and poisonous insects eventually avoided Nichigetsu like the plague. Nichigetsu couldn't even find a larger beast to spar with, so after staying for a month and a half, he felt bored and left.

Later on, when ninjas came to the Forest of Death for the Chunin Exams, they discovered that the largest beasts inside were either missing limbs or broken-legged. Even more strangely, these beasts weren't afraid of adults, but would turn and flee upon seeing children, and the number of poisonous insects had also decreased significantly.

The danger level of the Forest of Death was greatly reduced as a result, leading to a large number of genin passing the exam. The Third Hokage had no choice but to announce a retake of the second stage of the Chunin Exams, and the Forest of Death was eventually stripped of its qualification as an exam site, taking several years to recover.

After a month and a half of training, Dan Kato determined that Nichigetsu already possessed the qualifications to become a chunin. Nichigetsu also didn't want to be just a errand boy when he went to the battlefield.

Therefore, Dan Kato suggested to the Third Hokage that Nichigetsu undergo a chunin assessment. The Third Hokage hadn't expected Nichigetsu's progress to be so rapid—to be taking the chunin exam after only a few months. When Dan Kato recounted the process of Nichigetsu grabbing the bells, the Third Hokage nodded repeatedly; Nichigetsu was indeed capable of becoming a chunin. The Third Hokage naturally hoped that Nichigetsu would reveal his strength later, but looking at Nichigetsu's firm gaze, he made up his mind and agreed to the chunin exam. After all, gold must be brought into the sunlight to shine.

It was wartime, so the chunin assessment was naturally not as complex as it would be in Naruto's time. It didn't involve competition between ninja villages; it only needed to confirm that Nichigetsu possessed chunin-level strength. The Hokage's office notified the relevant personnel about Nichigetsu's upcoming exam; after all, it was impossible to keep everyone in the dark about someone becoming a chunin.

The news spread quickly: a 5-year-old child named Hyuga Nichigetsu, who had only just graduated, was going to take the chunin assessment. The impact of this news was much greater than the news of Nichigetsu graduating at 5 years old a few months prior. For a time, most of the ninjas remaining in Konoha knew about this. In many places, ninjas were discussing the matter.

"Hey, did you hear? A 5-year-old kid is going to take the chunin assessment."

"What? Can he pass?"

"I don't know. I heard he only graduated from the academy a few months ago."

"Graduated at 5?"

"Yeah, Lady Tsunade took him as her disciple, so he graduated from the academy as an exception."

"Are you talking about that kid? Isn't he just relying on connections? Why is he taking the chunin exam now? This is just nonsense."

"Is he going to rely on connections to become a chunin, too?"

"That's impossible, right? The chunin exam is very strict. There are many people supervising it."

"Yeah, it's impossible to cheat. Besides, is there any need to cheat? If you cheat to become a chunin, you have to carry out chunin missions. Without chunin-level strength, that's just asking for death!"

"The way you put it, I'm starting to wonder if this kid really has chunin-level strength?"

"A 5-year-old genin is possible, but a 5-year-old chunin? I'm afraid that's not possible."

"Hey, stop guessing. We'll know once the exam is over. It's a pity we have missions to do, otherwise we could go and watch."

"Boring, what's there to see? Maybe the Hokage's office will come out and deny the rumors in a bit."

Dan Kato took Nichigetsu to participate in the chunin assessment. They arrived at a large building with a spacious arena inside, surrounded by two-story spectator stands. Quite a few people were already standing on the stands. The Third Hokage stood in the center of the stands, smiling as he looked at him. Nichigetsu bowed slightly to the Third Hokage and secretly scanned the stands; he was somewhat startled.

That guy on the Third's left with half his face bandaged and a sinister look must be Danzo Shimura, right? Has he already transplanted an ordinary Sharingan into his left eye? The middle-aged man with glasses and the woman with her hair in a bun on the right must be Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu. It seems Akimichi Torifu and Uchiha Kagami have already passed away.

Huh? Hizashi and Hizashi Hyuga are here too, along with the clan head and several elders? A few people from the Uchiha clan are here as well—are they elders? Have the Akimichi, Yamanaka, Nara, Aburame, and Inuzuka clans all sent people? Oh? Are those people from the Hatake and Kurama clans? Wow! I'm just taking an exam, is it necessary to alarm so many people? It seems the Third was right; the attention I've attracted is not small. Fortunately, the Third found me a master to act as my backing. Once I become a chunin and go out to train, no one will get in anyone's way.

Thoughts aside, Nichigetsu still bowed to everyone on the stands one by one.

The Third Hokage nodded and announced, "The assessment may begin!"

A jonin came to Nichigetsu and said, "I am the examiner for this assessment. Genin Hyuga Nichigetsu, because it is currently wartime, the chunin exam has been simplified into an assessment. The rules are very simple: you only need to defeat the examinee to prove you possess chunin-level strength, and you will pass the assessment. Is that clear?"

So this is just taking the third round of the chunin exams and using it as an assessment, Nichigetsu thought to himself, nodding, "I understand!"

The jonin nodded, "Very well, let's begin the assessment." The jonin pointed to a side door and shouted:

"Hyuga Nichigetsu, your opponent is him! Come out, Chunin Hyuga Hiroshi!"