How do you compete with cheats?

"Yes!"

Mu Feng admitted it outright.

"Can you tell me roughly what level your strength has reached now?" Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned and continued questioning him.

At this, Mu Feng paused briefly.

"Chunin. That man underestimated me yesterday, and I found an opening!" Mu Feng deliberately concealed his strength. In truth, when he fought Hozuki Mangetsu, the average combat strength displayed by the system had already been at elite Chunin level.

"Only Chunin?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked somewhat dissatisfied with Mu Feng's answer.

In Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes, someone with only Chunin-level strength had no chance of killing a Jonin. Moreover, his opponent had been no ordinary Jonin, but one of Kirigakure's Seven Ninja Swordsmen and a genius of the Oniyue Clan.

"Still, that should be enough!"

With that, Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at Danzo beside him, then turned back to Mu Feng and continued.

"Mu Feng, I have a mission for you!"

At the mention of a mission, Mu Feng's expression shifted slightly, turning serious.

Across from him, Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly took out a document and handed it to Mu Feng.

"Take a look!"

After reading the document for a minute, a sharp gleam flashed in Mu Feng's eyes.

"The Chunin Ninja Exams?" Mu Feng asked in surprise.

"That's right!" Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded and continued, "This year's Chunin Ninja Exams will be somewhat different from previous ones. Tensions between the major ninja villages are running high, and ninja from other villages may well come to disrupt the exams!"

"Originally, the village planned to have several Chunin disguise themselves as candidates and infiltrate the exams to prevent any unforeseen incidents."

"You're still a Genin, aren't you?"

Mu Feng nodded instinctively at this, but concern began stirring within him.

Hozuki Mangetsu's appearance near Konoha had definitely been no coincidence. Coupled with the mission Hiruzen Sarutobi was assigning him now, there was most likely something suspicious about these Chunin Ninja Exams!

Yet these particular Chunin Ninja Exams had never been mentioned in the original story. Mu Feng knew little about them.

Deep down, Mu Feng did not really want to participate in these Chunin Ninja Exams.

"So, since your strength is already sufficient, I've decided to let you take this examination ahead of schedule!"

"During the examination, you'll need to keep an eye on the ninja from other villages and ensure that the exams proceed smoothly!"

"The village will also station Anbu at the examination sites to supervise. With your current strength, you shouldn't face any danger!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi continued speaking as he smoked.

Mu Feng also began quietly weighing things up.

After his last battle, Mu Feng had already tasted the enormous rewards combat could bring. He had even begun entertaining the idea of going onto the battlefield.

But for Mu Feng as he was now, the battlefield still posed a certain degree of danger!

The Chunin Ninja Exams, however, were somewhat different.

Although the Chunin Ninja Exams could also result in casualties and were much like a battlefield themselves.

They were, after all, supervised by Konoha, making them somewhat milder than a real battlefield. At least Mu Feng would not have to worry about encountering any of the ridiculously powerful heavy hitters from the original story.

All in all, the Chunin Ninja Exams were like a warm-up for the battlefield. That was exactly the kind of preparation Mu Feng currently needed.

Having read the original story, Mu Feng knew that war would come to the Shinobi World sooner or later! Eventually, he too would have to face ninja from other villages in direct combat.

The sooner he adapted to fighting, the better his chances of survival would become.

In truth, Mu Feng had taken something of a gamble in his fight with Hozuki Mangetsu the previous night. If he had possessed more combat experience, he might have found a better way to handle it.

And just as Mu Feng was considering this.

[Ding!]

[Special plot event triggered by the host detected. System mission issued.]

[Mission name: Chunin Ninja Exams]

Mission description: Participate in the Chunin Ninja Exams as a Genin of Konoha and qualify as a Chunin.

Mission reward: 1,000 Blackening Points.

Mission penalty: Deduct 2,000 Blackening Points; proficiency in all ninjutsu -5.

The system notification suddenly rang out, and Mu Feng hesitated no longer.

"Yes, Lord Hokage! I certainly won't disappoint you!" Mu Feng answered.

"Good. Go home and prepare! The Chunin Ninja Exams will begin in seven days. When the time comes, I'll arrange for you to participate individually."

Seeing that Mu Feng had agreed, Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke.

With that, Mu Feng left the Hokage Building.

Throughout the entire exchange, Danzo had remained silent at the side, giving Mu Feng a vague sense of unease.

Those two old men aren't plotting something against me, are they?

"What? Mu Feng is taking the Chunin Ninja Exams?"

"Huh, the Chunin Ninja Exams! No way!"

Soon, news that Mu Feng would be participating in the Chunin Ninja Exams spread throughout the village.

At the Ninja Academy, Mu Feng's former classmates also heard the news and were stunned.

"How long has it even been? Mu Feng only graduated about a month ago!"

"Kakashi didn't take the Chunin Ninja Exams until his second year!"

"That's Mu Feng for you! Now that's the kind of passionate youth you'll never forget!"

"You idiot, Guy! What do you know? Those are the Chunin Ninja Exams! One mistake could get you killed!"

"I believe in Mu Feng!" Guy declared with complete confidence, only to be met with a round of eye rolls.

"Mu Feng, that guy! He hasn't finished his duel with me yet!"

At that moment, Obito jumped in as well.

Hearing this, Asuma gave a dismissive snort from the side, then clenched his fist.

"Hmph. Mu Feng earned my recognition. That guy's strong!"

"The Chunin Ninja Exams won't stop him!"

"But one day, I'll catch up to him and beat him!"

Asuma Sarutobi clenched his fist.

Hearing his words, the other students cast surprised looks his way, seemingly not having expected Asuma and Mu Feng to have any connection.

But despite what Asuma said.

Some of their classmates remained just as anxious, especially Kurenai Yuhi, whose eyes were filled with worry.

No, I have to go ask Mu Feng!

With that thought, Kurenai Yuhi waited for classes to end.

That afternoon.

Mu Feng did not go out to train that day. Instead, he stayed home and read through some information about the Chunin Ninja Exams.

Just like the Chunin Ninja Exams in the original story, these exams were divided into three rounds.

The first was a written test, the second a free-for-all battle, and the third a series of one-on-one duels.

The mission Mu Feng had received this time had two objectives: protect Konoha's ninja and find ways to eliminate ninja from the other villages.

But the other ninja villages shared Konoha's thinking. They would likewise use this opportunity to send in some particularly strong ninja to carry out the same tactics.

For the participating villages, this was like a small war, merely kept within certain limits.

"With my current strength, I should already be more than capable of handling ordinary ninja!"

"With the Eight Gates Released Formation and the Sharingan boosting me, I can handle even Jonin from other villages disguised as exam candidates!"

After defeating Hozuki Mangetsu, Mu Feng had gained a measure of confidence.

After another glance at the information concerning the Chunin Ninja Exams, Mu Feng put it away.

Knock, knock, knock...

Just then, a knock sounded at the door.

When he opened it, he found Kakashi standing outside, wrapped in bandages.

"Kakashi?"