Chapter 57: Rules
Seeing Jiraiya and Namikaze Minato
approaching, the ninjas lined up consciously. Kiba glanced at Hyuga Yutaka.
There were twenty-two people, lined up in seven rows, with the last person
standing alone at the end of the last row.
Another teammate of Hyuga Yutaka
seemed to have been eliminated, and the ones behind him were all unfamiliar
ninjas to Kiba.
As if feeling Kiba's gaze, Hyuga
Yutaka's eyes also glanced over, their gazes meeting in the air, almost
sparking with intensity.
Namikaze Minato noticed the
interaction and frowned slightly.
No way, Kushina refuses to give up
no matter what, so I had to ask Jiraiya-sensei to let me become the test
officer for this exam. This way, I can intervene if anything happens. Yutaka's
gaze at Kiba is wrong; it's definitely filled with killing intent.
Namikaze Minato thought to
himself.
Jiraiya glanced at Namikaze
Minato.
What's on your mind, Minato? Since
becoming my disciple, this is the first time you've asked me for a favor. I
thought it was a big deal, but you just wanted to be a test officer. It's rare
for an elite Jonin to request to be a Chunin Exam proctor.
"Cough!" Jiraiya cleared
his throat and announced, "The Chunin Exam's second trial has officially
begun!"
Jiraiya's voice was loud and
clear, instantly silencing the noise and shouting.
"Now, I'll announce the
content of the exam," Jiraiya continued.
"This test still uses the
competition method, but with slight differences. Listen carefully."
"Each of you will have three
matches, each against a random opponent."
Kiba glanced at the screen hanging
on the high wall and understood.
The most eye-catching difference
between this arena and Naruto's Chunin exam is the big screen.
He had already guessed it would be
random opponents, but having three matches each was clearly the chief
examiner's preference.
Is Jiraiya someone who loves
competitions?
Kiba wondered.
"Everyone, if you win a
match, you will get one point. If you lose, you will lose one point,"
Jiraiya explained.
Points system?
Kiba frowned.
"When the test is over,
anyone with negative points will be disqualified."
In other words, you must win two
out of three matches to pass the test. If you lose two matches, you will have a
negative point and be disqualified.
Kiba quickly processed the
information.
Winning two out of three matches,
with random strong opponents and physical exhaustion after each match... This
is much more difficult than a one-on-one test.
"As for points, there are
other ways to use them. With one point, you can designate an opponent. If you
win against the designated opponent, you gain one point. If you lose, you lose
one point. Even if the designated person has finished their three matches, it's
still valid. Everyone has one chance to designate and be designated. Remember,
designation can only be used in your own three matches."
In other words, designation only
applies within one's own three matches, but there is no limit to being
designated. Each person might have to fight up to four matches. This is a
protracted battle. The point designation system adds complexity, testing judgment,
calculation ability, and physical strength.
Kiba's face showed slight
surprise.
Is this the kind of competition
system I could think of? Impressive!
"At the final settlement, for
every three points, a teammate eliminated in the first or second test can be
revived!"
Three points? Revive a teammate
from the previous or current test? What kind of rule is this?
Kiba was startled.
In a sense, this is still a team
competition! Why add the option to revive...?
No way!
Isn't the Chunin Exam meant to
select excellent ninjas? Those eliminated have been proven not good enough and
are not qualified to become Chunin.
Why introduce the means of
resurrection?
I can understand the previous
rules, but this last one...
Kiba frowned.
What a joke!
There must be a deeper meaning to
this. After all, Jiraiya is a Sannin who has experienced war; he wouldn't be so
trivial.
Interesting... so interesting!
Kiba's eyes sparkled. This unknown
meaning aroused his curiosity.
In this test, there are more
things to evaluate!
He deeply understood this point.
After Jiraiya announced the rules,
he glanced at Minato intentionally or unintentionally.
I've fulfilled your second
request. Unexpectedly, Tsunade and Orochimaru agreed to such a rule. No matter
how you look at it, the third rule seems too childish. What are you thinking,
Minato? You even came up with such a complicated competition. I'd prefer
Tsunade's method—win and pass, lose and eliminate—much simpler and clearer.
This is what you have the heart to think about.
Namikaze Minato looked at Kiba,
then turned his gaze to Hyuga Yutaka, and finally glanced at all the ninjas.
Everyone except Kiba seemed confused by these rules, with several whispering
questions.
In this way, a victory is not
absolute. Kiba is not a fool. If he knows the difference in strength, he can
choose to avoid a match with Yutaka. After all, victory isn't just about
winning matches.
For others, this test method
evaluates various aspects. This is the best method I can think of.
Namikaze Minato thought.
The auditorium buzzed with
confusion.
"What does this rule mean? I
don't understand, what is one point, three points?" Some viewers were
clearly perplexed.
"So complicated."
"Yeah, did Jiraiya-sama come
up with this? That Jiraiya-sama?"
Some older viewers expressed
doubts about the origin of this rule.
Kushina Uzumaki, mingled with the
crowd, looked at Jiraiya and then turned her gaze to Namikaze Minato.
This is definitely not
Jiraiya-sensei's idea; it must be Minato's.
Understanding Minato's intentions
instantly, Kushina Uzumaki's heart felt warm, and she blushed. She knew it was
all for her.
Thank you, Minato. Because of you,
I feel so warm. Watching you, I want to be a gentle person like you. I want
Kiba and the others to feel this warmth too.
But this time, I have to say, you
are wrong.
You underestimate Kiba too much!
This child still has a lot of undeveloped potential. I have a hunch that in the
future, this child will definitely shake the whole Konoha—no, the entire ninja
world!
He will not lose to Hyuga Yutaka!
Tsunade and Orochimaru, hidden
outside the arena, listened to the audience's reactions with subtle
expressions.
Sure enough, the audience wouldn't
believe Jiraiya came up with this rule.
At that moment, Jiraiya announced,
"Then, the second test begins!"
Following Jiraiya's words, the big
screen flickered to life.
Kiba looked at it, slightly
astonished, then smiled.
So fast…
The first row of names stopped.
Taki Kiba!