The white-haired man stood in front of everyone with a very kind smile on his face. However, the crowd, including Minato and a few others, could vaguely feel the sharpness from his eyes, like a knife blade, piercing people's hearts.
"It's Hatake Sakumo!" Not far from Minato and the others, Nawaki's tone was a little excited. Minato looked over and asked, "Brother Nawaki, what is the origin of our chief examiner?"
Nawaki immediately turned his head and said with a little admiration in his voice, "Hatake Sakumo, a super genius from the Hatake clan, a small family in Konoha. His swordsmanship is the best in the ninja world. His name is even known to ninjas from other countries. It is said that he became a jonin in Konoha when he was only thirteen years old."
This simple introduction made Minato shocked. Jonin was already the real core of the village, and even his teacher became a jonin at the age of fourteen.
As if knowing what Minato was thinking, Nawaki added, "My sister told me that Hatake Sakumo's strength is the most unfathomable in the village except for the Third Hokage. He is also the strongest person except for the Third Hokage. Even she, Jiraiya, and Brother Orochimaru are a little inferior to him."
Minato didn't expect that the young man in front of him was so strong that he could be the chief examiner this time. It was enough to see how much the village leaders valued this trial.
Among the crowd, some people from big families, such as the two brothers of the Hyuga clan, as well as Uchiha Yoruki and Mikoto, had obviously heard of the reputation of the man in front of them, and their expressions were also surprised.
However, most of the students still had different expressions, and most of them looked a little panicked, because the Death Forest they saw through the iron fence in front of them was too gloomy.
At this time, Hatake Sakumo said, "I will not waste any more words on the rules of the Ninja Trial. In front of you is the Death Forest, the examination venue for this time. There are 44 entrances in total. Next, your positions will be assigned and you will enter the examination venue from these entrances."
"Some of you may know that this place is often used as the examination venue for the Chunin Exam, but with the overall quality of your ability, you naturally cannot meet the requirements of that kind of examination. Therefore, this trial is actually just a simple test of strength."
"The rules are very simple. Within three days, you just need to keep defeating each other. The last ten people left can pass this trial."
After learning the rules, most of the students in the ninja school had despair on their faces. Because their opponents this time are not only students but also real ninjas. Such rules are simply unbalanced.
Hearing this, Minato suddenly admired the person who made such rules because the way to pass this trial is not just to rely on simple combat power. In other words, this rule means that even if you hide in the Death Forest for three days, it doesn't matter, as long as you are one of the last ten people, you can pass. Therefore, the test is definitely not just their combat power.
Many of the Genin were smiling. In their opinion, the students of the Ninja School were not to be considered opponents.
"Three days? What will we eat in there?" someone asked at this time.
Hatake Sakumo smiled and said, "It depends on your own ability. Find food by yourself."
This was acceptable to the Genin. After all, they had been ninjas for nearly a year. Although most of them had not performed any high-level tasks, they had some experience in surviving in the wild. But Minato and others were different. They had no experience in this area at all. Even if they found food in the wild, they might not even be able to tell whether the food was poisonous or not.
"Haha…Kushina, Minato, follow me after entering the Death Forest." Seeing the two people beside her in a dilemma, Mikoto couldn't help but smile complacently. She had received not only practical training in the clan since she was a child but also had some knowledge of all the elements of becoming an excellent ninja.
In the crowd, there were sighs one after another, and most of them did not hold the hope of passing. But the trial lasts for three days, so it's not that easy to get through it.
"Everyone, after entering the Death Forest, try to stick together. Our opponents are all experienced Genin," Minato said to the students next to him.
He just thought about the rules and wanted to ensure his own safety. For most of the students in their ninja school, sticking together is the most effective and guaranteed method. He asked each student to spread his idea. Although everyone is a competitor at this time, Minato still wants to try to ensure that every student will not be eliminated without showing their true level.
Minato's approach attracted the attention of the chief examiner, Hatake Sakumo. Before he took this position, the Third Hokage gave him a task and mentioned the name of this child to him. He could quickly find the compatibility of the rules and share the plan with the people around him.
"Jiraiya's disciple?" Hatake Sakumo narrowed his eyes, and then he said loudly to everyone: "In the Death Forest, everything depends on yourself, and the only thing the village can guarantee is that you will not die in it. So work hard!"
"Now, start the grouping!" After Sakumo said that, the ten Chunins started to group randomly, as if there was no plan in advance.
"Minato, we are opponents this time. If I meet you, I will not show mercy," Nawaki said on the side but still smiled and stretched out his arm to Minato.
"Senior Nawaki, I won't lose easily either!" Minato extended his arm and bumped fists with him, smiling.
On the side, Uchiha Yoruki's eyes never left Minato.
Afterward, the ten Chunins divided the nearly three hundred people into more than forty groups and took them to different areas. The time for the trial participants to enter the Death Forest was also different.
Minato and Kushina were assigned to one group, while Mikoto was assigned to another group. A Chunin led about thirty people, and four different groups opened different entrances for them. In front of Minato and Kushina, more than twenty people entered the trial area one after another.
Minato and Kushina were the last group. When the Chunin opened the last iron gate, Kushina was a little nervous and held Minato's hand. The former gave her a reassuring look. This must have been deliberately arranged by the Third Hokage, and Minato must protect Kushina.
The Ninja Trial officially begins!
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