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!"

"Yeah. I nearly died in that forest."

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

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

"Heh. You big-village types really do look down on everyone. I'd love to taste your blood."

Some ninja from the smaller Shinobi Villages refused to back down.

They fixed their eyes on the teams from the Five Great Shinobi Villages.

Mitarashi Moriaki ignored the arguing. They would soon have a chance to settle their differences.

"There are still this many?"

Shinku Yuhi walked in just then.

He was the chief examiner for the final round.

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

"Is that so? But only sixteen can advance to the final test. 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 rules for deciding a winner are simple. First, I judge that one of you can no longer fight. Second, one of you forfeits. Third, one of you dies in battle!"

At those final words, a chill fell over the room.

This was the Chunin Ninja Exams.

Apart from the first round, survival in the remaining two was never guaranteed.

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

The drawing was soon finished.

At Shinku Yuhi's command, the matches began.

The contestants held nothing back. Each fight turned deadly from the start.

Fierce battles broke out across the Training Ground inside the Forest of Death's Central Building.

One match between Sand Shinobi and Cloud Shinobi was especially brutal, like a gladiatorial contest.

Neither side would surrender. They would fight until they died or could no longer move.

The matches went quickly.

Most pairs had already decided a winner. Tsume Inuzuka and Shibi Aburame advanced without trouble.

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

The Grass Ninja whose name had been called entered 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, so he did not care who his opponent was.

Kazan still had not appeared.

"What's wrong? Is the mighty Konoha Ninja afraid?"

He scanned the room. No one answered, though the Konoha Ninja glared at him.

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

That was when it happened.

A figure sped toward them over the Forest of Death. The air shifted beneath his feet, carrying him forward with every step.

Then...

Boom!

He reached the Central Building, punched through its roof, and dropped straight into the Training Ground.

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

Kazan's voice, unheard for days, rang out through the dust-filled Training Ground.

"Kazan!"

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

They had been afraid he would not make it.

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

That little demon still knew how to make an entrance... in his own peculiar way!

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

"Both sides, ready."

"Begin!"

With everyone in place, Shinku Yuhi declared the match underway without another word.

He had no concerns about Kazan. He knew exactly what the boy could do.

But the Grass Ninja across from him saw things differently.

Kazan looked young, as if 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 stock of Ninjutsu, physical development, combat experience—he had the advantage in all of them.

Even so, he would not be careless.

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

The instant Shinku Yuhi spoke, Morodoi activated his technique.

But as he completed the hand signs, a tremendous bang shook the Training Ground.

Bang!

He looked up. The Konoha kid took one step, and the dust around him burst outward as though swept away by a hurricane.

An instant later, Kazan flashed in front of him. His right hand clenched into a fist that came straight at Morodoi.

In that instant, the Grass Ninja remembered his childhood.

Whenever he had slacked off in training or made a mistake, his father had taught him a lesson with his fists.

He could still remember the pain.

He also remembered how delicious his mother's cooking had been.

Especially her roast chicken. Whenever he did well on an exam, she made it as a reward.

That had been what drove him to work 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 the Chunin Ninja Exams this time, maybe I should tell her how I feel?

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

It's just a shame Grandma won't get to see it. Huh? Grandma, why are you here?

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

A wave of astonished cries swept through the room. Even the haughty Kumogakure ninja turned to look.

With one punch, Kazan had sent his opponent's life flashing before his eyes. He might not have seen his great-grandmother, but he had seen his grandmother.

Kazan drew back his fist.

His opponent was embedded in the wall, the pupils gone from his eyes. Only the whites showed.

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

People began guessing who Kazan was.

At his age, he naturally brought to mind Kakashi Hatake, Konoha's genius of this 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 examiner? His name is True Kazan."

"True... Kazan..."

Yugito Nii studied Kazan closely.

The person Matatabi had warned her about was formidable indeed.

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

"I know, Matatabi!"

If she had not 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.