Another Show-Off (Seeking Collection, Recommendations, Monthly Votes)

I never thought I'd become a proctor one day.

Qifeng walked back along the road.

If not for the things Orochimaru had done, he might have felt a faint trace of satisfaction.

Unfortunately.

Along the way, he could clearly sense that the streets of Konoha were a bit livelier.

The Chunin Exams, as an event held periodically in the ninja world, not only brought in ninja from other villages but also boosted the village's economy.

For instance, during the preparation period for the Chunin Exams, a large number of merchant caravans would arrive in Konoha one after another.

Especially from the villages participating in the exams.

He was someone who preferred quiet—a habit possibly formed from his past life as an otaku, or from spending too much time in the quiet of the Morgue.

But he didn't mind this kind of bustle.

It added a touch of vitality to the cold ninja world.

Still, he could also clearly feel that the Anbu had tightened their control over the streets, or rather, over all of Konoha.

This was to prevent any sudden incidents during the Chunin Exams.

Of course, in this special phase where war was about to break out, Qifeng believed the Anbu were more focused on stopping those with ulterior motives from sneaking into Konoha and doing something unfriendly.

Hmm?

Just as he passed through the busiest street and entered an alley on his way back to the Morgue, he suddenly heard some unusual sounds.

The noise wasn't loud.

He wasn't particularly inclined to check it out.

But it was right on his path back.

As he drew closer, he quickly understood the reason.

In the narrow alley stood two groups of people, all young, but the atmosphere seemed tense.

One side wore Konoha Ninja headbands, while the other wore Mist Ninja headbands.

"Forget it, better to avoid trouble than to invite it. I'll leave this to the Anbu."

He could tell that both sides were Genin from their respective villages.

This kind of friction between Genin from different villages didn't surprise him—it had happened in the original story too, especially now that relations between Konoha and Kirigakure weren't friendly.

But just as he was about to take a detour, a casual glance caught a familiar figure among the Mist Ninja.

"Oh?"

If he wasn't mistaken, that was...

Kisame Hoshigaki!

One of the future Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, the wielder of Samehada, a terrifying existence known as the "Tailless Tailed Beast," a member of the Akatsuki Organization, and Itachi Uchiha's partner.

But right now, Kisame Hoshigaki looked to be only about ten years old.

Qifeng only recognized him by his strange shark-like skin and the gill-like lines on his face.

As if sensing Qifeng's gaze, Kisame Hoshigaki, leaning against the wall, turned his head and met Qifeng's eyes.

A pair of shark-like eyes gave off a chilling feeling.

Qifeng stopped.

He rubbed his head in some annoyance.

"If Kisame Hoshigaki is here, then before the Anbu arrive, these 'greenhorn' Konoha Genin are going to be in trouble."

Qifeng stared at him for a second, then looked away, muttering to himself.

His gaze swept over the Konoha side.

Well, none of them were strong. Together, they probably couldn't even match Kisame Hoshigaki alone.

Should he intervene?

That was the question.

While Qifeng was observing them, the Mist Ninja also noticed this "uninvited guest."

Following their gaze, the Konoha side also spotted Qifeng standing not far behind them.

Qifeng shrugged.

Well, it looked like he couldn't avoid it.

If they hadn't noticed him, he could have just walked away.

But now that they'd all seen him, if something unexpected happened and his superiors found out, he'd be held accountable.

After all, no matter how you looked at it, he had shed his student identity and become a teacher.

Thinking it over, he put on a stern face, stepped forward, and asked, "Ahem, what's going on here?"

Everyone exchanged glances, not immediately answering the sudden appearance of Qifeng.

The atmosphere grew rather awkward.

"Qifeng?!"

Suddenly, someone from Konoha's side called out his name.

Qifeng breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

At least it wasn't so awkward anymore.

He followed the sound.

"Qifeng, is it really you? We haven't seen each other since graduation." The speaker stepped forward, lightly patting Qifeng's shoulder, as if he knew him.

Only when the face appeared before him did Qifeng finally remember.

This guy—he'd been a classmate back then.

But he had such a low profile that Qifeng hadn't recalled him right away.

"Odasuke?"

"What are you doing here?" Odasuke asked.

"Oh, I heard a commotion and came to check. What's going on?"

An "old acquaintance," huh.

He remembered Odasuke from the Ninja Academy as one of those average students with barely any presence—not a standout like the top students, nor a memorable screw-up like the dead-last.

Qifeng had been among the dead-last, so Odasuke recognized him.

Asked about the reason.

Odasuke put on an indignant expression, pointing at the Mist Ninja across from them, grinding his teeth. "They said our Konoha Genin are a joke, and that this Chunin Exams is just us asking for humiliation."

He finished, looking at Qifeng earnestly, waiting for him to mirror the same expression.

But Qifeng's eye twitched as he struggled to keep his face neutral.

Couldn't help it.

Because he thought the guy had a point.

At this stage, none of Konoha's Genin could really stand up to Kisame Hoshigaki.

Of course, that was just a thought he'd keep to himself. No way he'd say it out loud.

"Who's that guy?"

"Plain face, plain aura, nothing special. Don't know him."

The Mist Ninja side murmured among themselves.

"Probably some no-name Konoha Genin, maybe another scrub in the Chunin Exams."

Someone let out a disdainful laugh. "Konoha's really fallen. All they produce are these invisible Genin with not a drop of bloodlust."

The Mist Genin had every right to mock Konoha's Genin like that.

Because of the "Bloody Mist Village" policy, Mist Genin had to stain their hands with a comrade's blood just to graduate.

And the way Kirigakure trained its Genin was far more brutal than Konoha's—or, compared to any hidden village in the ninja world, Kirigakure's methods were the cruelest.

Calling it a "culling rule" wasn't an exaggeration.

"Not a scrub."

Kisame Hoshigaki bared his mouth, revealing a row of shark-like sharp teeth, his gaze scrutinizing Qifeng's direction. "That guy noticed me from the start. He was about to leave earlier, but stopped when he saw me."

"Is that so?"

The Mist Ninja beside him looked a bit surprised, but then sneered. "Doesn't matter. At worst, he'll add a little difficulty to this Chunin Exams."

With that, he turned arrogantly and made a throat-slitting gesture at the Konoha group, shouting, "Konoha Genin, wash your necks and wait."

At those words, the Mist Ninja burst into arrogant laughter, while the Konoha Genin glared back, ready to throw down at any moment.

And the Mist Ninja were just waiting for them to make the first move, so they'd have a valid excuse to fight in Konoha.

Otherwise, the Anbu would invite them to the Anbu base for tea in no time.

But Qifeng wasn't about to let that happen.

He made a slightly disgusted face.

Not disgusted with the Mist Ninja, nor with Konoha's Genin—disgusted with the headband he was wearing.

It still had an effect.

He stepped forward, raising a hand to stop the Konoha Genin who were itching to rush in and get themselves killed.

Seeing him step up, the Mist Ninja readied themselves.

Their gazes fixed on him like a lamb about to be slaughtered, while they were the starving wolves drooling for it.

Clicking his tongue, Qifeng chose his words. "This Mist Genin, watch your tone, or you'll lose your eligibility for this Chunin Exams."

Hearing his words, everyone froze, then burst into laughter.

"Hahahaha. That kills me—a nobody like you, what right do you have to—"

But before he could finish, his words caught in his throat and died there.

He pointed at Qifeng, utterly incredulous.

Because he saw that Qifeng was now holding a badge, clearly inscribed with the word "Examiner."

Not only did the Mist Ninja's expressions freeze, but the Leaf side also looked like they'd seen a ghost—especially Odasuke, who knew Qifeng.

He stared at him as if he didn't recognize him at all.

They'd all assumed Qifeng was just another participant in this Chunin Exams.

Who knew he'd suddenly pull out a badge and flip from being a test-taker to a proctor?

That shift in identity.

Quite the surprise.

Qifeng rubbed his nose helplessly.

"As one of the examiners for this Chunin Exams, I think I have the authority to ban you from participating."

He hadn't wanted to.

He'd hoped to get along with them as an ordinary person, but they were so relentless. No choice—he was laying his cards on the table, done pretending. He was the examiner. Scared yet?

Anyway, even if he didn't reveal it today, they'd all know tomorrow.

Damn, he'd pulled it off again.