The Second Round Ends

"The second round is over. Congratulations on surviving these five days."

Mitarashi Moriaki's expression barely changed.

Passing the second round only proved they were qualified to become Chunin.

Whether they would actually be promoted depended on the final round.

If luck had played a part in the first two rounds, the last would be a contest of raw strength.

"Yes! We made it out alive!"

"Yeah. I nearly died in that forest."

"Lucky you, Sand Ninja. The Forest of Death didn't bury you."

"You should be glad you didn't run into us from Kumogakure."

"Heh. Just what I'd expect from one of the great shinobi villages. So arrogant. I'd love to taste your blood."

Ninja from other villages refused to back down.

They turned their attention to the teams from the Five Great Shinobi Villages.

Mitarashi Moriaki ignored the bickering. They would soon have a chance to settle their disputes.

"There are still this many left?"

Shinku Yuhi walked in just then.

He was the proctor for the final round.

"Yes. More people entered this Chunin Ninja Exams than usual."

"Is that so? But only sixteen can advance to the final round. In that case... let's hold a preliminary round."

"We'll draw lots to form pairs. Ninja drawn together will fight one-on-one."

"The ways to decide a winner are simple. First, I rule that one fighter can no longer continue. Second, one fighter forfeits. Third, one fighter dies!"

His final words sent a chill through the room.

This was the Chunin Ninja Exams.

Apart from the first round, the remaining rounds placed no restrictions on life-or-death combat.

Fortunately, those who had survived the Forest of Death were mentally prepared.

The drawing was soon complete.

At Shinku Yuhi's command, the matches began at once.

The contestants held nothing back. Every fight was life-or-death from the start.

Fierce battles erupted in the Training Ground inside the central building of the Forest of Death.

One match between a Sand Ninja and a Kumogakure ninja was especially brutal, like a fight between gladiators.

Neither would surrender. They would fight until one died or could no longer continue.

The matches moved quickly.

Most pairs had already settled their fights, and Tsume Inuzuka and Shibi Aburame both advanced without trouble.

"Next match: Konoha's True Kazan versus Kusagakure's Morodoi!"

The Grass Ninja entered the arena first.

He was about seventeen and had taken the Chunin Ninja Exams twice before. This was his third attempt.

He believed he was fully prepared and certain to pass this time. He didn't care who his opponent was.

Kazan still hadn't appeared.

"What's wrong? Is a mighty Konoha ninja afraid?"

He swept his gaze around the arena. No one answered, though the Konoha ninja glared at him.

Morodoi ignored them and turned to ask Shinku Yuhi to announce the result.

Right then, something changed.

A figure raced through the air above the Forest of Death. The air shifted beneath his feet, carrying him forward with every step.

Then...

Boom!

He reached the central building, punched straight through its roof, and dropped into the Training Ground.

"I'm not late, am I? Let's get started!"

Kazan's voice, unheard for some time, rang out through the dust-filled arena.

"Kazan!"

His teammates, Tsume Inuzuka and Shibi Aburame, breathed sighs of relief.

They had been afraid he wouldn't make it.

Shinku Yuhi stared at the gaping hole in the roof. His stern expression nearly cracked.

That little menace's entrances were as... distinctive as ever!

He remembered Kazan smashing through a window at the Hokage Building. The little brat was a born wrecking ball.

"Both fighters, get ready."

"Begin!"

Shinku Yuhi wasted no words. With both fighters present, he started the match.

He wasn't worried about Kazan. He knew exactly what the boy could do.

However...

The Grass Ninja facing him saw things differently.

Kazan looked young, as though he had only recently graduated from the Ninja Academy.

How strong could a rookie like that be?

Morodoi was a Genin taking the Chunin Ninja Exams for the third time.

His accumulated Ninjutsu, physical development, combat experience... he had the advantage in every respect.

Of course...

That was precisely why he wouldn't let his guard down.

Even a lion used its full strength to catch a rabbit.

The instant Shinku Yuhi spoke, Morodoi activated his technique.

But just as he finished forming the hand signs, a deafening noise erupted.

Bang!

He looked up. The Konoha brat had taken a single step, and the dust around him burst outward as if scattered by a hurricane.

In the next instant, Kazan flashed in front of him, clenched his right fist, and drove it forward with unstoppable force.

For an instant...

The Grass Ninja remembered his childhood.

Back then, whenever he slacked off in training or made a mistake, his father punished him with his fists.

He still remembered that pain.

He also remembered how good his mother's cooking was.

Especially her roast chicken. Whenever he did well on a test, she made it for him as a reward.

It had been the reason he worked so hard as a child.

And then there was Inari. Even now, he thought she was the most beautiful woman in the world.

I hope I can marry her when I grow up.

If I pass this Chunin Ninja Exams, should I try telling her how I feel?

Oh, I should ask Father for advice first. He's the smartest man in the world.

But Grandma can't see anymore. Huh? Grandma, what are you doing here?

"The match is decided. Konoha's True Kazan wins!"

The arena erupted in uproar. Even the haughty Kumogakure ninja turned to look.

With a single punch, Kazan had sent his opponent's life flashing before his eyes. He hadn't seen his great-grandmother, but he had seen his grandmother.

Kazan drew back his fist.

His opponent was embedded in the wall. His pupils had vanished, leaving only the whites of his eyes.

"Who is he? That Konoha prodigy, Kakashi Hatake?"

Some began guessing Kazan's identity.

At his age, it was easy to think of Kakashi Hatake, the prodigy of Konoha's generation.

Kakashi came from a renowned family. His father was the famous White Fang of Konoha.

"He's not Kakashi Hatake. Kakashi passed the Chunin Ninja Exams ages ago. Besides, didn't you hear the proctor? His name is True Kazan."

"True... Kazan..."

Yugito Nii studied Kazan closely.

The person Matatabi had warned her about really was formidable.

"If you face him later, don't let your guard down, Yugito. He'll be your greatest opponent in this Chunin Ninja Exams."

"I know, Matatabi!"

If she hadn't seen it herself, she might have underestimated him.

Now?

Not a chance!

She had no desire to be punched so hard she saw her great-grandmother.