Chapter 41. Minato, Your Student's Gone Crazy!
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Soon, nearly all the ninja villages sent their Genin for the Chunin Exams, with only Sunagakure missing for various reasons. Even small villages like Hoshigakure and Kusagakure sent representatives.
As a result, with so many people around, passing by the milk tea shop and barbecue restaurant… people got hungry. Yuto took this opportunity to earn quite a bit and even boosted his reputation. He figured that one day, he'd be able to expand his business into other nations during this underdeveloped commercial era.
With his sales just a bit shy of the next level, the business boomed thanks to the barbecue joint, though he still didn't know what the next stage of development would be.
Today, as the joint Chunin Exams began, the intelligence (cheating) test in the morning had already ended, and now, the remaining Genin were led by Konoha examiners to the legendary Forest of Death!
After some explanation...
Obito finally understood. That night, it was only about having ramen, and Rin hadn't invited him for milk tea simply because he'd seemed overly eager for it.
So, it was all a misunderstanding!
He hadn't told Rin clearly enough—what he wanted was to be with her, not the drink itself.
If not for Rin… he wouldn't want that despicable Yuto guy making a single coin from him, Uchiha Obito!
Just then…
Clap! Clap! Clap!
A clapping sound filled the air, attracting the attention of those who'd been bragging about how easy the exam was, claiming they could pass it with their eyes closed.
"I am the examiner for the second exam, Orochimaru."
As the words fell, all the Genin were stunned, looking at the eerie man with feminine features.
A ninja legend!
One of the Legendary Sannin!
Lord Orochimaru!
Even Asuma and Obito, who had been walking around confidently, were taken aback. "Lord Orochimaru?"
What was he doing here? Wasn't he supposed to be on an assignment outside the village?
But Orochimaru didn't bother explaining his sudden return to these Genin. Instead, he licked his lips and, with a feminine yet sinister smile, said, "This exam is very simple. All you have to do is survive in this forest for three days."
Everyone was dumbfounded. It sounded way too easy! However—
"However, someone complained that this was too simple. So… you all probably know that I have a summoning beast called Manda…"
"?!"
The name Manda sent a chill down everyone's spine. It was one of the legendary powerful summoning beasts of the three Sage Regions—a beast that would gulp down any kid in a single bite!
"Don't be nervous. I'm not asking you to defeat Manda. Although if you could, I'd be very impressed!" Orochimaru smiled and, seeing that his audience had fallen silent, continued, "I placed 22 stone tablets near Manda. That's right, as you may have guessed, to pass, you must retrieve a tablet from Manda and bring it out of the forest. So…" he licked his lips, "there are 44 teams, but only 22 will pass~"
Then, ignoring the panicked faces around him, he cheerfully added, "Now, if you agree to participate, come sign this death waiver. If you're afraid, it's not too late to quit!"
A heavy silence settled over the area. Hearing the name Manda had made some ninjas hesitate.
After all, people could actually die in there!
Just then, a black-haired boy wearing the Uchiha clan symbol stepped forward.
"Don't be ridiculous! I'm going to be Hokage! How can I give up my ninja way here!" Obito declared, his fist raised in determination. "If you're scared of this, then why become a ninja? Where do I sign? I will never die before I become the Hokage!"
His foolish courage seemed to resonate with the other ninjas.
"That's right! If you're not even brave enough to take the exam, then what's the point of being a ninja?"
"Only the weak would choose to run away!"
"That guy looks a bit stupid, but unexpectedly what he said makes a lot of sense!"
"Hey, who said that? Come forward and meet Lord Obito!"
"Idiot!"
"Damn it, Kakashi, fight me if you dare!"
"… Get lost!"
The enthusiasm among the participants soared, except for the Kumo ninjas… who noticed Obito seemed very different from a few days ago and felt a chill in their hearts. "Sure enough… we were all fooled by him!"
They exchanged glances, nodding subtly, seeming to reach a decision.
No one else hesitated; they all signed the death waiver and, under the guidance of the Konoha ninja, resolutely entered the Forest of Death.
Obito's team also separated from Asuma's team.
"I will definitely pass it!" Obito, who now believed in love again, returned to his usual silly self, giving Kakashi a confident grin. "You might as well take it easy, Kakashi!"
"Idiot!" Kakashi rolled his eyes. Just don't use that trick… Do you believe I can do it with one hand?
But suddenly, Kakashi's expression changed as he scanned their surroundings.
"What's wrong, Kakashi?" Obito walked over curiously. "Are you scared?"
"Shut up!" Kakashi ignored him, his gaze fixed on their surroundings as he whispered, "We're surrounded!"
As he finished speaking…
Boom!
A loud explosion echoed. Kakashi and Obito's expressions shifted as they turned to the source. It was just three meters away from Rin!
"Rin!" they shouted in unison as she was sent flying through the air.
"Not bad; looks like the medical ninja has been dealt with! You really are the famous Hatake Kakashi! I've heard of your reputation." A mocking voice came from above, in a tree. "Compared to that idiot, I think you're the real genius!"
Kakashi and Obito immediately looked up, spotting the figure standing in the tree.
A Kumo ninja!
And…
"It's you!" Obito's eyes turned red, his face contorted with rage as he glared at the man. "You bastard! What have you done! I'm going to kill you!"
Seeing the enemy made his eyes blaze red. This was the same Kumo ninja who had ambushed him at the barbecue joint, kicking him when he wasn't paying attention.
And Rin... she was injured!
Although she hadn't died!
She'd been hurt, even though she had managed to treat it!
"Obito, I'm fine! Calm down!" Rin, pale-faced, clutched her right arm and said, "Just a minor injury. I've already taken care of it!"
However…
"Uchiha Obito! Everyone says you're a genius," Omoi sneered, taunting Obito. "But I, Omoi, don't believe it! I originally wanted to face you, but there's no time, so I won't play with you anymore! Today, Konoha's so-called genius will die right here!"
As he finished speaking…
"Swish~"
Several figures appeared, more than a dozen people surrounding the three of them. Among them were even ninjas from Kirigakure!
"Stop wasting time; let's get started!"
Suddenly, Obito's expression grew serious, and he and Kakashi stood back-to-back, protecting the injured Rin. "Damn it! Kumo ninjas, Kiri ninjas—I'm gonna beat you all to a pulp!"
"Haha, still talking big?" Omoi sneered. "Could it be that hidden ninjutsu? I heard you have a very powerful hidden technique. Use it!"
At these words, Kakashi and Rin's expressions changed.
"Obito, you…"
Before he could say anything else, they saw Obito's eyes grow even redder as he glared at the Kumo ninja with fierce determination.
In a low voice, Obito muttered, "Sensei, I'm sorry!"
…
"Achoo!"
"Minato, did you catch a cold?" Yuto looked at Minato across the table, taking the 30,000 ryo Minato had just lost. "You're off your game today! You can't even beat the Nine-Tails!"
Although the Nine-Tails hadn't appeared directly, it was working together with Kushina, disrupting the game. Its constant interference was driving Kushina up the wall.
The Nine-Tails was just too loud.
If Kushina didn't play the way it wanted, it would pester her incessantly. Such an annoying beast with a massive attitude!
"No, I just suddenly felt a bit uneasy! Maybe I've been playing too long." Minato chuckled, stretching his arms and looking at his tiles, a sly smile on his face. "Yuto, looks like this round is mine to win~"
With that, he drew his tile, his eyes lighting up as he prepared to win the game.
Suddenly, a ninja burst in, looking frantic.
"Minato! You're here!" The Konoha Jonin spotted Minato and, gripping his arm excitedly, said, "Come on, come on, come with me to the Forest of Death!"
"What's going on? Today's my day off!" Minato looked at the Jonin, confused. "Did someone call in, and you need me to cover because of some trouble?"
"No, no, no, no one is in trouble. It's you who's in trouble! Minato, you are in trouble!"
"???"
What's going on with me?
Did I lose too much money?
As Minato looked on in bewilderment, the ninja spoke in an exaggerated, excited tone, "He's gone crazy! Minato, your student's gone crazy!"
"Huh?"