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Izumo continued, his voice steady but firm. "Hayate, do you think I'd speak nonsense in a meeting like this? Inoiki singlehandedly eliminated a team consisting of one Jōnin, two Chūnin, and seven Genin. And that's not all—he's completed numerous B-rank missions with my team, and in most of them, his contributions were what carried us to success."
A skeptical Jōnin crossed his arms and countered, "There are rogue ninja who call themselves Jōnin but barely have the strength of a Chūnin. Some of them know a few ninjutsu, slap a title on themselves, and use it to intimidate weaker opponents."
Before Izumo could reply, Inoiki stepped forward, his demeanor calm and composed. "Hokage-sama knows the strength of that Jōnin better than anyone," he said, his voice measured but confident.
All eyes turned to Hiruzen, awaiting his judgment. The Third Hokage let out a weary sigh before speaking. "The Jōnin Inoiki defeated was a missing-nin from ROOT."
A stunned silence fell over the office. The air grew heavy as the weight of Hiruzen's words sank in. Every Jōnin present understood the implications. ROOT operatives, especially those of Jōnin rank, were among the most elite ninja Konoha had ever produced—ruthlessly trained and extraordinarily skilled. Even among the Jōnin assembled in the room, many would hesitate to face a ROOT Jōnin in combat.
And yet, Inoiki had not only faced such an opponent but eliminated them. While leading a team, no less.
No one dared to ask why the ROOT ninja had attacked Inoiki; they weren't fools. Questions about ROOT often led to places no one wanted to tread. Instead, the room was filled with quiet acknowledgment of the boy's abilities.
The atmosphere in the room shifted. The way the Jōnin looked at Inoiki changed, their scepticism melting into quiet respect. No one voiced further objections to his participation in the Chūnin Exams, choosing instead to leave the decision in the Hokage's hands.
Hiruzen Sarutobi leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful as he fell into deep contemplation. The room remained silent, the tension palpable, as everyone waited for the Hokage to speak.
After a long moment, Hiruzen exhaled and turned to Inoiki. "Inoiki," he asked, his voice steady, "is this what you truly want?"
Without a hint of hesitation, Inoiki met the Hokage's gaze and nodded. "Yes. I do."
Hiruzen studied the boy for a brief moment, then gave a resolute nod. "Very well. Inoiki, I grant you permission to participate in the Chūnin Exams—solo."
Inoiki bowed respectfully, his voice calm and measured. "Thank you, Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen inclined his head, a faint smile on his lips. "Make the most of this opportunity."
With that, Inoiki turned and exited the Hokage's office, leaving the discussions that would follow to the Jōnin and the Hokage. He knew his role for now was to prepare, not to linger.
Once the door closed behind him, a Jōnin finally broke the silence. "Hokage-sama," they said hesitantly, "isn't this against the rules? Allowing a single participant contradicts the structure of the exams."
Hiruzen's expression didn't waver. "You're correct. But exceptions exist for a reason. I would never have allowed this if I wasn't confident in Inoiki's abilities. He's proven himself far beyond what the rules account for."
Though he didn't voice it, Hiruzen had another reason for his decision. He wanted to grant Inoiki this opportunity, to show the boy that he was valued and trusted. The Hokage knew that one day, Inoiki would grow into one of Konoha's pillars—a force capable of shaping the future of the village. Keeping him satisfied and supported now was a small step toward ensuring that future.
Hiruzen's words left no room for doubt—he was firmly in favor of Inoiki participating in the Chūnin Exams solo. The Jōnin exchanged glances but remained silent, understanding that further argument would be futile. One by one, they filed out of the meeting room, leaving the Hokage to his thoughts.
Izumo, carrying the application form for the Chūnin Exams, made his way to where Inoiki and Kotetsu were waiting. Spotting them, he approached with a faint smile and handed the form to Inoiki.
"Inoiki," Izumo said, "three days from now, you'll need to head to the Ninja Academy building to complete your registration for the Chūnin Exams."
Inoiki accepted the form with a nod. "Understood."
Kotetsu, leaning against a nearby tree, clicked his tongue in mock annoyance. "Tsk, because of you entering the Chūnin Exams, none of us can apply to be invigilators. Do you know how much fun we're missing out on? Watching students panic and fail is hilarious—and we could've earned some extra cash while we're at it!"
Inoiki shook his head with a wry smile, unsure of how to respond. Kotetsu's humour was, as always, a mix of teasing and truth.
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Later that evening, Inoiki was deep in training, his focus sharp as he perfected his techniques under the fading sunlight. The rhythmic sounds of his movements filled the air until they were interrupted by familiar voices.
"Brother!" called Ino, her tone bright and cheerful. She arrived with Shikamaru and Chōji in tow, all three carrying an air of excitement.
Ino grinned widely. "Guess what? We all got our application forms for the Chūnin Exams! We're going to take them together!"
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