Making a Name (Please Bookmark the New Book)

The third stage of the Chunin Ninja Exams was about to begin, and nobles, wealthy merchants, and travelers from all over the world arrived in Kumogakure one after another.

The streets were packed, and the markets bustled with life. At that moment, Kumogakure had drawn the attention of the entire Shinobi World.

On the day of the matches, the four daimyo also arrived in Kumogakure. The Third Raikage, accompanied by Hidden Cloud Village's senior officials, welcomed these dignitaries at the village gates with the highest honors.

With the Raikage accompanying them, the four daimyo took their seats at the highest point of the arena. The daimyo of the Land of Lightning sat in the center, with the daimyo of the Land of Fire and the Raikage to his left, and the daimyo of the Land of Earth and the Land of Water to his right.

The twenty examinees from the various villages made their appearance amid the cheers of the crowd.

After the examiner finished announcing the rules, the electronic screen mounted on the arena wall began cycling randomly. The competitors for the first match were quickly chosen.

None of Team 7's three members were among the first two to compete, so they entered the preparation area with the other examinees to wait.

"This match is all right. Intentional killing isn't allowed."

After learning from Kakashi that the opponents included a Jonin like Kitsuchi, Inuzuka Kawa's pressure surged. He would have been lying if he claimed he was not afraid of dying.

"After all, they're real dignitaries. It's normal for them not to like seeing corpses." While watching the battle in the arena, Kakashi gave Inuzuka Kawa a perfunctory reply.

While Konoha only had three participants, Stone Village had sent many examinees and seized seven advancing spots. They had even advanced more people than the host village, Hidden Cloud Village.

Kitsuchi deserved much of the credit for that. On the second day of the second round, he had displayed his might and beaten the Hidden Cloud Village ninja back step by step, allowing so many Stone Village ninja to advance.

The home team, Hidden Cloud Village, had six examinees advance. Of the remaining four spots, three were taken by the Land of Water. The individual combat strength of Kirigakure's ninja, who upheld the principle of elite selection, truly lived up to its reputation.

The final lucky participant was Mukung, a Takigakure ninja who had stood out among the many minor villages.

Mukung excelled at hiding. After finding a scroll during the second round, he immediately concealed himself and lay low until he advanced.

He watched calmly as a Hidden Cloud Village ninja faced a Stone Village ninja in the arena.

Their exchanges mainly consisted of taijutsu, supplemented by a few low-level ninjutsu.

To ordinary people, a ninja battle at this level was already exciting.

If two high-level ninja fought a taijutsu duel, ordinary people might not even be able to see their shadows. What excitement could there be in that...

They were both seasoned Genin, and their movements were clean and efficient. Before long, the first match ended with the Hidden Cloud Village ninja's victory.

The local audience in the stands erupted in thunderous cheers. Even the neutral visitors from elsewhere generously applauded.

The second match began immediately afterward.

"Oh, good luck, Kawa! Believe in yourself. You're not weak."

When Kakashi saw Konoha—Inuzuka Kawa vs. Takigakure—Mukung displayed on the screen, he cheered Inuzuka Kawa on.

"I really envy you, Kawa. Make sure you seize this chance."

Haruya, beside him, also encouraged his teammate.

His opponent was a ninja from a minor village, widely acknowledged to be the weakest of the twenty. Saying he was not envious would have been a lie.

Meanwhile, Mukung also relaxed slightly. Compared with the Genin from the other major villages, the Konoha ninja looked younger and seemed to have a more normal temperament.

Even if he lost, it probably would not be too terrible.

For Mukung, making it this far already counted as a success.

As long as he returned to the village unharmed, even if he failed in the first match of this round, he would definitely be promoted to Chunin.

The match began. There were a few twists and turns, but the outcome was expected.

Having formulated a strategy from the information they knew about their opponent, Inuzuka Kawa pretended to be injured and outmatched at the start. In truth, he deliberately let the opponent's weapon become stained with his blood.

He then used Dairiki's keen sense of smell to easily locate his hiding opponent in the arena.

Afterward, he launched an unbroken barrage of Beast Mimicry Ninja Technique attacks and defeated his opponent.

Mukung of Takigakure suffered a minor injury and lost, just as he had hoped.

In the high stands, the daimyo of the Land of Lightning saw the result and said with a smile to the daimyo of the Land of Fire.

"The young talents of your village truly emerge one after another. Konoha certainly deserves its title as a cradle of geniuses."

The honored daimyo of the Land of Fire gently opened his folding fan. The half of his face hidden behind it was filled with a smile.

"Your country seems to have twice as many contestants. You are the ones with real strength."

In the arena, match after match continued.

During the fifth match, Aburame Haru took the field against Chikuro, a Stone Village ninja with Explosion Release.

The two, who had been in the preparation area, exchanged a glance and walked into the arena together.

"Haru, be careful. If..." Kakashi called out worriedly from behind her.

"I know. Don't worry."

Without looking back, Aburame Haru strode forward resolutely.

At that moment, Kitsuchi, who had yet to compete, leisurely wandered over to Kakashi's side.

"My intuition was right after all. Though Sand Village's Sasori is more famous." After praising himself first, Kitsuchi continued.

"Chikuro!"

Chikuro, who had already walked halfway across the arena, turned back upon hearing his captain call him.

Seeing the smile on Kitsuchi's face and Kakashi at his side, Chikuro understood at once and nodded in response.

"In exchange, if your opponent is someone else from our village, I hope you can spare him as well. Deal?"

"Reasonable. This is only a match. It isn't worth risking one's life over." Kakashi decisively accepted Kitsuchi's goodwill.

"Hahaha, well said. I hope I get the chance to fight you. My name is Kitsuchi." Since they had not formally introduced themselves before, Kitsuchi took the opportunity to extend his right hand.

"Konoha. Hatake Kakashi."

Their hands clasped. It was recognition between the strong.

Though Aburame Haru had only recently become an official ninja, and possessed outstanding talent and formidable clan secret techniques, she was still no match for her opponent.

After resisting for less than ten minutes, she was surrounded by her enemy's alchemical bombs and forced to surrender.

The defeated Aburame Haru returned to the waiting area without a word.

"It's okay, Haru. It wasn't your fault. Your opponent was too strong. Right, Kakashi?"

"..." Knowing that no words of comfort would help at that moment, Kakashi remained silent.

Inuzuka Kawa, who was frantically trying to comfort his teammate, had not yet managed to come up with more to say when he saw Kakashi's name appear on the screen.

Konoha—Hatake Kakashi VS Stone Village—Guren!

Kakashi, preparing to take the field, paused.

"I'll definitely defeat him someday!"

Aburame Haru's low, unwilling voice came from behind him.

"I believe you." The straightforward reply put a glimmer of light back into Aburame Haru's previously dim eyes.

"Y-yeah! We all believe in you. You can definitely do it, Haru."

"All right... I'm fine. Let's cheer for Kakashi now."

Standing in the arena, Hatake Kakashi glanced sideways at Kitsuchi.

I didn't expect to repay that favor so quickly. This really is... easy.

Below the stage, Kitsuchi wore a gloomy expression as he silently cursed Hidden Cloud Village for being inhuman. His two strongest teammates had both been used to trade away Konoha's ninja.