"Mm, nicely arranged."
Shihōin Naraku took a quick look and made his decision. "Kakashi, I'm leaving this task to you."
"Discuss the specifics with Shikaku, then get everything arranged."
"Me? All right." Kakashi Hatake nodded.
He had had an inkling when Naraku asked him and Shikaku to stay behind.
Sure enough, the task of handling the Chunin Ninja Exams had fallen to him.
Since Naraku had decided, there was probably no room for him to refuse, so Kakashi simply accepted the assignment.
"Choose the proctors from the ANBU and the Jonin Commander."
"Because these Chunin Ninja Exams will be so large, it wouldn't be appropriate to draw all the examiners from Konoha alone."
"Half, then. Konoha will supply half the Ninja serving as examiners, and the other Four Great Shinobi Villages will have to send some people to help."
"The smaller Shinobi Villages and independent factions can send representatives as observers."
"First, it'll share the burden of judging. Second, it'll give every side a sense of involvement. Third, everyone will monitor one another, so nobody can pull any tricks."
Shikaku nodded, quickly jotting down the key points on paper and adding details as he wrote.
Naraku looked at the plan he had prepared and said, "There's no problem with the first written test or the final elimination matches, but we'd better choose a different location for the second stage, the survival exercise."
"The area is still too small. If too many Genin come to participate, we may not be able to hold the exams smoothly."
"Find a larger site and reinforce the Barrier!"
"Yes!" Shikaku nodded at once.
Naraku swept his gaze over the two of them and said solemnly, "These Chunin Ninja Exams will be enormous."
"I can accept casualties during the exams, but they mustn't be too heavy."