The Kirigakure invasion incident was declared over. Although Konoha had failed to capture Kisame Hoshigaki, they had killed Kirigakure's ANBU captain. No matter how one looked at it, that was an impressive record.
Yet the two people who had contributed the most were both Uchiha. Even though Shimura Danzō knew they belonged to the moderate faction promoted by Hiruzen Sarutobi, he could not help but grit his teeth.
At the age of eleven, Uchiha Shisui had surpassed Kakashi's record and become Konoha's youngest jonin.
Year's end.
The Chunin Exams jointly organized by Konoha and Kusagakure finally had no choice but to begin. Iwagakure, which had originally planned to participate, had withdrawn for unknown reasons.
Uchiha Itachi became the only genin taking part in the Chunin Exams as an individual. Under Konoha's current examination format, he was at a considerable disadvantage.
That was because the individual combat round used team battles, or rather, arena matches. It meant he had to defeat three opponents by himself to win.
The chief examiner of the Chunin Exams was someone familiar.
Standing on the podium was a white-haired man: Kakashi Hatake.
What the hell?! Why would the Third Hokage send him to oversee the Chunin Exams? Wearing that mask with those dead-fish eyes... he doesn't look like a proper host at all!
Everyone had thought the first joint examination would be overseen by someone steady and dependable. While people like Hiruzen Sarutobi naturally could not preside over it themselves, at the very least, it should have been someone respected and mature!
"I'm the chief examiner for this Chunin Exam. Those who know me need no introduction, and those who don't know me have no need for one. In any case, I have no interest in getting acquainted with any of you..."
As expected of Kakashi