Kaida and the team kept waiting for another hour. When only ten minutes remained, Kumogakure's team entered the hall and submitted their answer sheet. Darui's eyes briefly scanned the Konoha group before he returned to his seat.
'We have to be wary of them. If not for constantly disrupting my chakra and releasing sparks in my hand, we would've fallen for their genjutsu. Luckily, we were warned about the Uchiha. Otherwise, we might've been eliminated in the first round,' Darui thought. It wasn't just his chakra control, but also his awareness that helped him escape the genjutsu.
The genjutsu Kaida and Itachi were using in this round was fairly light. If it were to be classified as ninjutsu, it would be ranked B. Kaida, who was capable of using A-rank genjutsu with his Sharingan, could have made them fall into a deeper illusion had he wanted. And Itachi could easily cast an S-rank genjutsu. But since they didn't plan on eliminating Kumogakure, they simply let them be and continued searching for codes.
After Kumogakure, Amegakure's team also returned. Known for their stealth techniques, they had managed to find all the codes without any confrontations. A highly efficient team.
Next, Sunagakure's team arrived. However, they had to battle both Konoha and a team from a smaller village that was desperate for codes due to time constraints, so they could only gather nine codes.
Many teams returned before time ran out, including Iwagakure's team, which managed to collect six codes within the hour. However, they weren't pleased.
Once the last team submitted their answer sheets, the instructor spoke.
"With this, the first stage is completed. The winner of this round is Team 3 from Konoha, who managed to retrieve all 10 codes within one hour. In second place is Team 8 from Kumogakure, collecting 10 codes in two hours and forty minutes.
Third is Team 10 from Amegakure, with the same 10 codes, but in two hours and fifty minutes. The rest of the teams who passed will be listed on the board. If your name isn't there, you're disqualified, either because your code was incorrect or you failed to gather at least three codes.
We're doing your villages a favor by not allowing you to become chunin. Those who passed, meet in front of Lightning Valley in one hour," the instructor finished and left the hall.
The teams rushed out to check their names on the list, but the teams from the major villages already knew their results. While their ranks shifted, all of them had passed.
Deidara walked straight toward Kaida and his group, his eyes burning with anger. Seeing him approach, both Kaida and Itachi activated their Sharingan. The once noisy hall went completely silent as two pairs of dark red eyes scanned every detail in the room. Everyone present felt exposed, as if those eyes could see through them.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to do anything… for now. But you better pray we don't meet in the next round. Otherwise, not even your remains will return to Konoha," Deidara said in a cheerful tone.
"I hope you'll be able to entertain us a little," Kaida replied as Deidara turned to leave. Hearing that, Deidara paused for a moment but left without another word.
"Was it necessary to provoke him that much?" Kabuto asked, this time not using their mental link.
"He thought he could just come and threaten us? No chance," Kaida said as he stood up, followed by Itachi and Kabuto, who shook his head in disbelief.
---
*Teams that Passed the First Stage:*
- Team 3 – Konoha
- Team 8 – Kumogakure
- Team 10 – Amegakure
- Team 13 – Sunagakure
- Team 11 – Kirigakure
- Team 6 – Iwagakure
- Team 9 – Kusagakure
- Team 15 – Takigakure
- Team 28 – Shimogakure
- Team 22 – Yugakure
These were the teams that passed the first stage of the Chunin Exam out of 30 teams, listed with the same rankings. After checking their results, the teams either returned to their rooms to pack their belongings or made their way toward Lightning Valley using the map.
---
Kaida recalled Jiraiya's warning about Lightning Valley before the exam.
The Lightning Valley is a treacherous, high-altitude region deep within the mountains of the Land of Lightning, far from the bustling streets of Kumogakure. Known for its wild, untamed nature, the valley is constantly shrouded in thunderstorms, with jagged cliffs, craggy peaks, and narrow paths winding through the mountains.
The air is thick with the smell of ozone, and the sound of thunder echoes through the valley as lightning frequently strikes the rocky ground.
The terrain is varied, with dangerous cliffs, deep ravines, and hidden caves scattered throughout the landscape. Torrential rain floods the lower regions, turning the paths into muddy, slippery trails. In some places, the valley is covered in dense foliage, while in others, the ground is cracked and barren, scorched by the frequent lightning strikes.
Despite the dangers, the valley is home to a variety of wildlife, some highly aggressive due to the constant exposure to the volatile weather. Raptors, large boars, and even chakra-infused wildcats roam the valley, making it even more perilous for shinobi navigating its depths.
"Be careful. Even a chunin-level ninja can fall to the beasts in that valley, especially the wildcats. Aside from being ridiculously fast, they use lightning in their attacks and are proficient in ambushing their prey," Jiraiya's warning still echoed in Kaida's mind.
After traveling continuously for 45 minutes, they finally arrived in front of the large valley. The view from their vantage point was both breathtakingly beautiful and deadly—a vast valley surrounded by barren mountains, shrouded in dark thunderclouds with lightning cracking through the sky. The three of them stood there for a minute, just taking it in.
"You'll have plenty of time to explore the valley during the second stage. For now, head to that building, or you'll be disqualified," the instructor from the first stage appeared beside them and said.
"Yes, sir," Itachi responded, and the three of them ran toward the location of the second exam.
A single building stood at the entrance of Lightning Valley, and after some time, the other teams began to arrive one by one.
"I'll be in charge of the second stage of the exam. Before we begin, you'll need to sign these papers," a muscular giant with a large sword on his back said. His overwhelming presence made it clear that he was an elite jonin.