The Chunin Exams Begin

As the joint Chunin Exams approached, Konoha became livelier than ever before. Ninjas and merchants from all corners of the world flooded into this sacred land of shinobi, transforming the once-tranquil village into a bustling hub filled with a fusion of diverse languages and cultures.

Colorful banners fluttered in the wind along the streets, and stalls were packed with a dazzling array of goods. Merchants shouted enthusiastically, showcasing their wares—from exquisite ninja tools to practical gear, and from rare herbs to various local snacks, everything was available. Ninjas and tourists wove through the crowds, picking out items that caught their interest; the sounds of bargaining and laughter intertwined, creating a festive atmosphere.

The residents of Konoha also threw themselves into the preparations for this grand event. They cleaned the streets, decorated their homes, and hung colorful lanterns and banners to ensure every visitor received the warmest hospitality. The children were particularly excited, running through the streets, discussing the Chunin Exams, and dreaming of their own futures as powerful ninjas.

As the exam date drew near, ninjas from other villages arrived in Konoha one after another, led by the elites of their respective lands. Their arrival brought not only more vitality but also an undercurrent of tension and competition. Minor frictions and conflicts between ninjas began to increase, forcing the Konoha Military Police Force to work overtime to ensure order and safety in the village.

However, amidst all this bustle and tension, Liuxia and Nawaki remained calm and composed. They focused on their daily training and did not involve themselves too much in the village's clamor. In their spare time, they enjoyed taking Kushina and their other friends out to hunt for delicacies, savoring the delicious food Konoha had to offer.

It was then that the legendary Otsutsuki Ichiraku family arrived in Konoha and decided to settle down. Although this Otsutsuki Ichiraku was still just a youth, he had already begun working at his family's ramen shop. Upon hearing the news, Liuxia immediately took Kushina and their other friends to Ichiraku Ramen. They tasted the ramen; while it was decent, Liuxia felt it hadn't reached the level of top-tier deliciousness he had in mind. By contrast, Tsunade and their other friends seemed to favor the shop more, frequently visiting to enjoy the food and the atmosphere.

With the Chunin Exams drawing near, every corner of Konoha was filled with anticipation and tension. Ninjas, merchants, and residents alike were all participating in this grand exam in their own way. Meanwhile, Liuxia and his friends enjoyed their own peace and happiness amidst the excitement. This was a festival belonging to the ninjas, and a moment for Konoha to showcase its charm to the world.

Although Nawaki, Liuxia, and the others had arrived at the Chunin Exam entrance area quite early, there were already a great number of genin at the entrance for the first exam. These young ninjas gathered in small groups, chatting and exchanging their pre-exam nerves and expectations. They naturally divided themselves into several areas based on their respective villages, each group displaying its own unique style and insignia. If not for the fact that this was the Chunin Exams, they might have already started fighting.

Seeing Liuxia and his group arrive, the crowd cast curious and scrutinizing gazes their way. As Konoha ninjas, their arrival undoubtedly caused a small stir. The other villages were merely curious because this team looked younger than the average genin, but the Konoha genin knew Liuxia and his group better; they were the genius squads selected by the village for this large-scale joint Chunin Exam. Liuxia, in particular, had been specially approved to form a one-man team, which spoke volumes about how highly the Third Hokage regarded his strength.

"They're all geniuses from ninja clans. When will geniuses like that ever appear among us civilian ninjas..."

"Did you hear? That round-faced one is the grandson of the First Hokage!"

"Hmph, that Uchiha brat looks so arrogant! I've always hated the Uchiha clan, throwing their weight around the village just because they're in the Military Police Force! If I run into him, I'll definitely teach him a lesson."

"That girl from the Hyuga clan is really pretty, but it's a pity she's a Hyuga; they don't marry outside the clan."

"Didn't you see the Caged Bird Seal on her forehead? She's from the branch family. Being that beautiful and still just a plaything for those in the main house!"

As the Konoha genin whispered among themselves, the other villages also used various means to gather information. It seemed these were all young geniuses from Konoha; if they could defeat or even kill them during these Chunin Exams, wouldn't their own futures in their villages be secured?

"Quiet down, you bunch of losers!"

At some point, the proctoring team had appeared on the podium.

"We will now draw lots to arrange seating. Line up yourselves; anyone causing trouble will be disqualified immediately."

The crowd below slowly moved up in order to draw their lots.

Liuxia and his group were scattered, but they quickly found their seats.

The chief proctor scanned the room, and seeing that everyone was seated, began to introduce the exam rules: "I am the proctor for this exam, Gekko Kuroshiro. I will only state the rules once."

"Rule one: the exam lasts sixty minutes, and there are ten questions in total. Each of you starts with ten points. The exam uses a point-deduction system; failing to answer or answering incorrectly results in a one-point deduction. Missing three questions leaves you with seven points, while answering all correctly earns you a perfect score."

The examinees in the hall began to calculate silently how to achieve the best results in this exam.

"Rule two: whether you pass or not is determined by the average score of your squad."

This point caused many examinees to rethink their strategies. They knew that team performance was crucial in this exam, and those who might drag their team down began to face the soul-crushing glares of their teammates.

"Rule three: if you are caught cheating once, two points will be deducted. If you are caught five times, you and your teammates can get out immediately!"

The examinees felt a chill in their hearts. They knew the proctors were experienced chunin, and no small trick would escape their eyes.

"Don't think you can use your clumsy cheating techniques to get past us. The proctoring team consists of chunin carefully selected by Konoha, and we won't give you any chances! Now, if you want to pass the Chunin Exams, do so by the standards of an excellent ninja!"

"The final rule: once someone in a team receives a score of zero, the entire squad is disqualified!"

This news made the atmosphere in the exam hall even more tense. The examinees knew they were not only responsible for themselves but also for their teammates.

The exam began. The hall fell into a dead silence, with only the sound of pen tips sliding across paper. The examinees focused intently on answering every question, knowing that every point was vital.

Time ticked away, and the atmosphere in the hall grew increasingly strained. The examinees began to feel the pressure; they had to complete all the questions within the allotted time while avoiding mistakes.

Throughout the process, people were constantly being caught cheating and having their entire teams disqualified. Of course, there were all sorts of bizarre cheating methods—using sound to judge answers, puppet techniques, the Byakugan for direct x-ray vision, and so on.

"The exam is over! Hand in your papers!"

As time ran out, everyone stopped their pens and waited for the proctors to collect the papers.

"The list of passing squads will be posted on the bulletin board this afternoon. Please go and check it yourselves!"