Since the exam might take quite a while, I probably won't be back soon—so you might as well come along with me."
Saying this, Kitahara Kaede extended an invitation to Ninto.
The Chūnin Exams in Konoha have always been divided into three parts: a written test, a field exercise, and then one-on-one matches.
The field test phase can last a while—maybe only three or four days—but after learning about Ninto's true identity, even though Kaede felt there was little risk of the rabbit running away or being abducted...
Still—
If the final boss turns out to be Ninto, and she ends up all pitiful, needing to absorb his chakra just to recover—then even if there's less than a 1% chance of someone tricking or attacking her, Kaede felt it was still safest to keep her by his side.
[What are you planning to do?]
Ninto scribbled her question onto a piece of paper.
"Nothing major," Kaede replied. Then, almost in an instant, he disappeared and reappeared in front of Ninto, scooping her up and placing her on his shoulder.
"I'm bringing you to the Chūnin Exams."
"Come see for yourself how the ninja world has evolved over a thousand years—this is what a ninja selection exam looks like now."
With that, Kaede, Ninto, and Hinata headed out.
···
"Chūnin Exams, huh…"
"For some reason, I suddenly feel excited… yet calm."
"It's like… I've been working hard all this time, and now everything just… settled."
Outside the Ninja Academy, Naruto walked alongside Kitahara Kaede and the others, arms folded.
Kaede was carrying his rabbit.
Sasuke was off to the side, polishing his kunai.
"Quit acting innocent," Sasuke said. "If you didn't already have jōnin-level strength, you'd be just like everyone else right now."
He glanced around, and it was only then that everyone realized—they were standing in front of the Academy, but all the other examinees were staring at them.
That's because Kaede's group had completely ignored the official notice posted at the school gate, which instructed examinees to head to Room 302—and instead, they turned and walked into Room 301 next door.
Outside Room 302, a few examinees were arguing with two gatekeeping ninja.
Apparently, the two gatekeepers weren't letting anyone in. But those who had resistance to genjutsu would realize—it was just an illusion. The real Room 302 was the room next door.
So Kaede's group simply bypassed the genjutsu and went straight to the correct classroom.
"Well then…"
"Heh heh…" Naruto laughed a little.
He now had jōnin-level strength, so of course he wasn't going to fall for such a basic illusion.
"Hmph…"
"Trying genjutsu in front of an Uchiha? That's a joke," Sasuke said smugly.
"..." Kaede.
No, using genjutsu in front of Itachi Uchiha—that's the real joke.
Even if you've reached jōnin level in both skill and knowledge… sorry, Sasuke, you could still get instantly taken down by Kurenai Yuhi.
[Ding!]
Just then, the system notification chimed:
[Today's Descendant Chat Group (^_-) is now open.]
[Descendant Chat Group (^_-)]:
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: So it's finally time for the Chūnin Exams, huh?
[Tobirama's Achievement - Izuna]: Somehow, I don't feel very reassured.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Oh?
[Tobirama's Achievement - Izuna]: The moment I opened the group chat, I saw that poser Sasuke acting cool.
[Senju Tobirama]: You call him weak?
[Senju Tobirama]: He's the last remaining Uchiha—our final hope.
[Senju Tobirama]: In the future, you might even have to be summoned via Edo Tensei to lend him your eyes.
[Tobirama's Achievement - Izuna]: ?!
[Tobirama's Achievement - Izuna]: Tobirama! Don't say such horrifying things. Take that back!
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Come on now, stop fighting already.
[Senju Tobirama]: We're not like you and Madara, Big Bro.
[Tobirama's Achievement - Izuna]: Yeah, surprisingly, I agree with you on this one.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Eh? So… we're shifting the topic to me now?
[Minato Namikaze]: Ah, the Chūnin Exams… so nostalgic. Good luck, Narubaby.
[Minato Namikaze]: Kakashi, you also took the Chūnin Exams, right? What's the format again?
[Kakashi Hatake]: The format hasn't changed in over 20 years.
[Kakashi Hatake]: Three parts: a written exam to weed out those with poor basic knowledge, then a field test in the training forest simulating a real mission, and finally, one-on-one combat.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Oh, sounds pretty straightforward.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: So who came up with this format?
[Senju Tobirama]: I did!
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Haha, Tobirama, you really are amazing.
[Senju Tobirama]: …You're the last person who should say that. I submitted that proposal to you while you were still alive, and you never even read it, did you?
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Eh!
[Timid as a Mouse - Ōnoki]: …
[Timid as a Mouse - Ōnoki]: By the way, First Hokage, the Chūnin Exams are happening soon—but what about the Sand Village? Orochimaru from the Sound Village? Aren't any of you going to deal with that?
Ōnoki had arrived in Konoha and been warmly welcomed by the Third Hokage.
Though… he knew Hiruzen wouldn't hold the position much longer—but he kept quiet about that.
Still, everyone was acting like nothing was going to happen—as if everything was perfectly peaceful!???
[Senju Tobirama]: Oh, that?
[Senju Tobirama]: Hiruzen already left that to Kitahara Kaede.
[Senju Tobirama]: So what's there to worry about?
[Senju Tobirama]: Honestly, Hiruzen got lucky—he narrowly escaped my 40-meter broadsword.
[Kakashi Hatake]: Uh…
[Senju Tobirama]: Don't worry, Kakashi. Once Hiruzen steps down, he's all yours.
[Kakashi Hatake]: Um…
[Might Guy has entered the chat!]
With a burst of stylized text, Might Guy's energetic entrance lit up the screen.
[The Man Who Kicked Uchiha Madara with Eight Gates]: Damn you, Kakashi! You win again!
[Kakashi Hatake]: ? Eh?
[The Man Who Kicked Uchiha Madara with Eight Gates]: Just now, Team 7 walked past my adorable students and completely ignored the illusion cast by Izumo and Kotetsu!
[The Man Who Kicked Uchiha Madara with Eight Gates]: My team, meanwhile, figured out it was a genjutsu and deliberately fell for it to test the two chūnin's strength.
[The Man Who Kicked Uchiha Madara with Eight Gates]: In the end, poor Tenten got hit once…
[The Man Who Kicked Uchiha Madara with Eight Gates]: But your team just walked past without even looking. So cool!
[Kakashi Hatake]: …
[Kakashi Hatake]: …No, Guy, you have to believe me—I wasn't trying to compete with you.
[The Man Who Kicked Uchiha Madara with Eight Gates]: Are you saying my adorable team isn't good enough to beat yours?
[Kakashi Hatake]: …Yeah.
[The Man Who Kicked Uchiha Madara with Eight Gates]: …
[The Man Who Kicked Uchiha Madara with Eight Gates]: …
Guy seemed stunned for a moment by Kakashi's blunt honesty—then, with a blinding smile, his spirit avatar showed off his sparkling white teeth.
[The Man Who Kicked Uchiha Madara with Eight Gates]: Kakashi, as expected of my lifelong rival—you sure know how to be annoyingly honest.
[Kakashi Hatake]: …
Kakashi felt like he got shot while lying down.
[Minato Namikaze]: By the way, Mr. Black Zetsu, your era didn't have ninja, right?
[Devoted Son - Black Zetsu]: …
[Minato Namikaze]: …Mr. Black Zetsu?
[Devoted Son - Black Zetsu]: Hm?
[Minato Namikaze]: Just wondering—were there any ninja in your time?
[Devoted Son - Black Zetsu]: …
[Devoted Son - Black Zetsu]: …No.
Back then, there were no ninja. Or rather, the entire history of the ninja world was something he made up to rescue Lady Kaguya.
If not for him, Indra wouldn't have turned against his brother so easily. The Sage of Six Paths wouldn't have seen his teachings splinter into factions, and after centuries, all those clans wouldn't have formed.
And honestly…
Black Zetsu felt completely disinterested.
Because—
This was the Chūnin Exams. Just a bunch of kids taking a test. What's the big deal?
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Seems like little Kitahara Kaede's serious about this exam.
[Fifth Mizukage - Mei Terumi]: Hm?
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Look—he even brought the ninja rabbit.
[Fifth Mizukage - Mei Terumi]: Oh? He even brought the rabbit, huh!
[Devoted Son - Black Zetsu]: !!
Black Zetsu, who had been totally uninterested, suddenly perked up.
As someone who had spent a thousand years apart from his mother—everything he did was to save Lady Kaguya. Seeing her had always been his sole motivation.
And now…
Better check in on Mother's current state.
[Devoted Son - Black Zetsu]: …
The moment he looked—
He saw Kitahara Kaede holding Ninto in one arm, and Hinata's hand in the other, walking into the classroom together with Naruto and Sasuke.
"…"
Four-person party.
Peaceful and harmonious.
---
Chapter 110+ on my patreon.com/dzeref887