The next day, Zhou Cheng was woken by a commotion just as dawn was breaking.
He sat up and stretched.
Who was making all that noise so early? How did they have so much energy?
Weren't they tired after days of traveling?
He used a tiny bit of chakra to produce some water and wash up.
Only then did he lift the tent flap and step outside.
"Big Brother Zhou Cheng!"
Hinata, who was worried about her younger sister, had woken early and already learned what had caused the commotion.
"The Iwa Ninja have come to challenge us!"
"They're mostly Genin and Chunin. There aren't any Jonin!"
Zhou Cheng frowned. Was this Ōnoki's doing again?
At his age, he still had plenty of energy for stirring up trouble!
"Tell them to keep the brats in line!"
By "them," Zhou Cheng naturally meant the Konoha 15!
Konoha hadn't sent a single Jonin on this trip.
Zhou Cheng could only use the Konoha 15 as stand-ins for Jonin.
As for the clan shinobi, Zhou Cheng didn't expect them to intervene at all.
Their job was to protect their respective Genin.
They weren't even counted among the team's total numbers.
"Iwagakure wants our Genin injured before the exams so they can't compete!"
"Tell them to hold in their anger until the Chunin Ninja Exams, then let it all out and give those guys a good beating!"
Hinata nodded and went to find the Konoha 15!
Several hotheaded Genin had already accepted the challenges. She had to find her friends quickly and pass on Zhou Cheng's orders.
Zhou Cheng frowned slightly. It seemed arriving early wasn't entirely a good thing.
That old bastard Ōnoki had some brains. He hadn't gone senile after all!
Still, let's see what other tricks you've got up your sleeve!