The first stage of the Chūnin Exams ended quickly without much fanfare.
Apart from a few participants who quit under the immense pressure, nearly two-thirds of the ninja passed.
The second stage, as usual, took place in the Forest of Death.
Because too many participants had cleared the first round, Uchiha Mirai reduced the time limit for the second stage to three days.
Teams that failed to gather both Heaven and Earth scrolls or did not reach the central tower within the time frame were disqualified.
To everyone's surprise, after the grueling battles of the second stage, Konoha had the fewest survivors among the five major villages—apart from the small villages that were clearly just making up the numbers.
Only a few, such as Uzuki Yugao and Mitarashi Anko, managed to pass.
This result left the other Kage baffled.
In their view, Konoha had initiated the joint Chūnin Exams to showcase their strength to the entire ninja world.
Thus, the other villages had deliberately sent their strongest genin, particularly Kumogakure, which fielded several towering, bearded men claiming to be genin...
But seeing the outcome, even A and Ōnoki couldn't help but wonder if they'd overdone it.
Could Konoha really have proposed the joint exam with pure intentions?
The Raikage and the others mulled over the thought as the days passed.
With the second stage concluded, the third stage of the Chūnin Exams officially began.
...
Morning.
The golden sunlight painted the earth, chasing away the darkness.
The sky was bright and cloudless, offering an unbroken view of the landscape below.
For deep winter, such a clear morning without fog was a rare sight.
The streets bustled with people hurrying along, their breaths forming white puffs in the cold air. They buried their necks in scarves, excitement and anticipation lighting their faces.
"Finally! The last stage of the Chūnin Exams is about to begin!"
"Yeah, I was so excited I couldn't sleep last night. It's finally morning."
"This is the first large-scale joint exam since the founding of the villages. I can't wait!"
"I wonder which village's ninja will claim victory…"
The crowd chatted as they streamed eastward toward Konoha's central arena.
Despite its name, the central arena was actually located near Tanzaku Street in the eastern part of Konoha.
Tanzaku Street, known for its vibrant entertainment industry, was home to gambling halls, teahouses, mixed-gender hot springs, and more, making it one of Konoha's iconic landmarks.
Now, with the influx of people, the once spacious streets became packed.
Long queues, divided into five lines, stretched nearly two hundred meters from the arena's four entrances.
...
Inside the Arena.
The massive venue, capable of holding tens of thousands, was already half full.
Two viewing platforms offered panoramic views of the arena—one on the north side and the other on the south.
On the northern platform, several daimyō dressed in luxurious robes fanned themselves leisurely, chatting with amusement.
These were the five most powerful individuals in the ninja world.
The daimyō of the Land of Wind spoke first.
"I never imagined a ninja village could build something so grand. Truly an eye-opener."
The daimyō of the Land of Earth sneered.
"They're nothing more than tools. To waste resources like this... Where's the respect for hierarchy?"
The daimyō of the Land of Lightning agreed.
"Fire Daimyō, you're far too lenient with your subordinates. If this continues, how can they respect you?"
"Ninja should not have status!"
The daimyō of the Land of Water said nothing, merely snorting to show his disdain.
The Fire Daimyō nodded. "You're right. It seems I'll need to put these ninja in their place."
He chuckled. "Squandering my funds on frivolities like this… I'll deal with it later!"
Then, with a smile, he added, "Let's not rush off tonight. I'll host a banquet. Shall we gamble a bit?"
The others exchanged looks, unimpressed.
"What delicacies could a ninja village possibly offer?"
The Fire Daimyō laughed. "It's been a while since we last gathered. Indulge me."
Reluctantly, the other daimyō agreed.
Uchiha Mirai, standing on the far side of the arena, withdrew his gaze.
Ninja fought and bled, while these men laughed and schemed.
Weak and powerless, yet arrogant enough to treat ninja as mere tools…
Mirai scoffed. Once the Chūnin Exams ended, he would personally visit the Fire Daimyō.
He'd like to see how the man planned to "put him in his place."
As the sun climbed higher, the arena filled to capacity.
Finally, the five Kage appeared on the southern platform, prompting thunderous applause from the crowd.
Even the normally grim Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but smile at the adoration.
This was what he lived for—absolute authority and widespread reverence.
Naturally, this scene irked the daimyō.
When had tools ever received such acclaim?
Standing center stage, Hiruzen cleared his throat and began the opening speech for the final round.
The crowd's cheers grew deafening.
For a moment, Hiruzen felt a surge of temptation.
What if he declared Uchiha Mirai a rogue ninja right now?
Just as the thought crossed his mind, he felt a chilling gaze on him.
Looking across the arena, he saw Mirai, arms crossed, staring coldly.
Hiruzen immediately dismissed the idea.
If he antagonized Mirai now, the Sarutobi clan might not survive the fallout.
Under the crowd's eager eyes, the third stage of the Chūnin Exams began.
The ninja selected for this stage were the best of their generation, and the battles did not disappoint.
Cheers erupted continuously from the stands.
"This is amazing! Every village's ninja seems so strong!"
"Yeah, the quality of the genin this time is leagues above previous exams!"
"This is the strength of the Five Great Nations. It's like a showcase for their new generation!"
"Water Release, Fire Release, Earth Release, Lightning Release… I wish I could wield such power!"
As the battles reached their climax, Kazekage Rasa suddenly grabbed Hiruzen Sarutobi by the shoulder, pulling him onto the rooftop above the southern platform.
Rasa's four guards followed, each moving to a corner of the roof.
"Ninja Art: Four Violet Flames Formation!"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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