PS: Webnovel is now very strict about lewd covers. It's a pain in the ass to change them every time, so I will settle for a normal cover from now on. xD
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The Chunin Exam Venue.
As the Konoha ninjas gathered, they began chatting among themselves.
"Hey, Sasuke, is Kimimaro really that strong?"
Kiba asked with a confused expression. Although they were all Konoha ninjas, they weren't from the same generation, so naturally, they didn't know much about each other.
When Sasuke heard this, his expression stiffened. Not strong? How was he supposed to respond to that?
Nearby, Naruto also twitched his mouth awkwardly and shook his head at Kiba, saying:
"It's not about whether Kimimaro is strong or not. It depends on who you're comparing him to!"
At this point, Naruto couldn't help but glance at Kimimaro's cold and silent figure. His mind flashed back to something his father once said:
"Kaguya Kimimaro is probably the strongest of your generation. At least, at this age, I might not have been a match for him."
Minato had said this seriously, looking intently at his son.
And Minato wasn't exaggerating. Back then, before mastering the Flying Thunder God technique, he was merely a genius. Kimimaro, on the other hand, could already be considered a monster at this age thanks to his Shikotsumyaku.
"Is he really that strong?"
The other Konoha genin were amazed, staring at the cold and indifferent white-haired Kimimaro. Was he really that strong?
Facing the stares of the group, Kimimaro's indifferent green eyes shifted to Naruto and Sasuke. His cold voice broke the silence:
"As Lord Shirou's disciple, the two of you are too weak. Don't disgrace Lord Shirou's name during the Chunin Exams."
Hearing Kimimaro's words, the two most prominent geniuses of their generation—Sasuke and Naruto—were left awkward and speechless.
Even Kiba couldn't help but widen his eyes. Oh boy, just one sentence and it exposed a harsh truth:
Kimimaro's strength and talent were so overwhelming that even Sasuke and Naruto couldn't refute him.
Under everyone's scrutinizing gazes, Naruto scratched his head awkwardly. But his competitive nature soon surfaced, and he laughed confidently:
"Kimimaro, don't worry! I've been training hard all this time!"
Sasuke, on the other hand, let out a rare frustrated scoff. Though he didn't admit defeat, his competitive spirit forced him to lower his voice and mutter:
"I've already awakened my Sharingan."
"Oh? You've merely awakened it?"
Kimimaro's disdainful tone and look of indifference made Sasuke feel even more stifled and speechless.
"I remember your brother, Uchiha Itachi, was already at jonin-level strength at your age."
Kimimaro's gaze bore into Sasuke, a hint of disappointment in his green eyes.
Sasuke clenched his fists in frustration. He couldn't argue with the truth. His brother, Uchiha Itachi, had not only become an Anbu captain at the age of thirteen but had also secretly awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Sasuke, on the other hand, had only graduated from the ninja academy last year and awakened his Sharingan this year. By most standards, his talent was exceptional. But when compared to Itachi—or Kimimaro—he fell short.
Kimimaro felt a wave of disappointment wash over him. He only wished for Lord Shirou's disciples to be overwhelmingly strong so they could help achieve his ambitions.
As Kimimaro's gaze swept across the group, even the usually boastful Kiba couldn't help but laugh nervously. If even Sasuke and Naruto were being scolded like this, what could he possibly say?
"Hey, Kimimaro, not everyone is a monster like you!"
The only one bold enough to speak up was Temari, the outspoken princess of the Sand Village. Holding her iron fan, she gave a straightforward smile rather than Kimimaro's cold demeanor.
"Kimimaro, you may be strong, but don't forget what Lord Shirou said—some ninjas have great potential that just needs to be developed."
Among the group, Shikamaru Nara—the most perceptive—quietly observed. He noticed that Temari, despite Kimimaro's imposing presence, didn't back down when meeting his gaze. This suggested her strength wasn't ordinary.
Additionally, nearby, Tayuya, Kidomaru, Sakon & Ukon, and Jirobo were all looking at Kimimaro with respect. They were familiar with him.
In just a few seconds, Shikamaru's mind processed countless possibilities.
"We won't let Lord Shirou down," said Haku, his gentle demeanor and warm smile drawing everyone's attention. Kimimaro nodded in acknowledgment, which only made Shikamaru's scalp tingle.
This group is full of monsters.
Even if Kimimaro was the strongest, the others couldn't be far behind.
"You're… very strong."
Kimimaro's gaze now shifted to another young genin, causing everyone to freeze. Even Shikamaru was stunned as he followed Kimimaro's line of sight.
Hinata Hyuga.
Her pure white eyes glanced at everyone briefly before she snorted in disdain. Despite her gentle appearance, there was a wild and untamed aura about her.
"Hinata!"
Many were shocked, their eyes widening. Those who knew more whispered among themselves. Ino said quietly:
"I heard that Lady Tsunade took Hinata as her disciple."
Even among allies, everyone was trying to gauge one another.
Hinata, however, seemed irritated by the commotion.
"Hey, Sasuke! I don't mind you calling me 'Hinata' in public, but in private—especially you—remember to call me either 'Stepmom' or 'Lady Hokage's Wi—'"
Her words caused an awkward silence to fall over the group. Sasuke's face turned bright red as he glared at Hinata, flustered by her suggestion. Was she implying that he was…?
The others looked at Sasuke with strange expressions as well.
Meanwhile, Hinata was deep in thought. During her training with Tsunade, she learned to channel great strength. Her body had also undergone significant development, and this Chunin Exam was the perfect opportunity to prove herself in front of Lord Shirou.
Kimimaro silently nodded. For Lord Shirou's ambitions to succeed, he needed a strong entourage.
Tayuya, on the other hand, was determined. She had to secure at least a top-three position this time.
Temari's gaze wandered to the Sand Village ninja in the distance. She clenched her fists. If given the chance, she would make them regret abandoning her.
Neji watched his cousin with a mix of surprise and unease. His father had hinted that Neji should support her in making a name for herself.
Suigetsu grinned as he ran his hand along the blade of his Executioner's Sword. This was his chance to make a name for himself in the ninja world.
Meanwhile, Kidomaru, Sakon & Ukon, and Jirobo remained calm, focused only on their mission to pass and become chunin.
Shikamaru sighed as he looked at the group. Everyone seemed to have their motives.
While the Konoha shinobi were gathered and chatting, the other ninjas in the exam venue were already secretly forming alliances.
"Such arrogant little brats. They're so noisy, I just want to kill them…"
"Heh, Konoha ninjas are so cocky. They've only sent about twenty people—do they think so little of the rest of us?"
"A bunch of kids. I refuse to believe they're really that strong."
As time passed, the foreign ninjas began to conspire, and with some secretly inciting provocation, many had already started forming alliances in the shadows.
It was clear that they were preparing to cooperate against Konoha during the upcoming exam, should the opportunity arise.
"Gaara! Temari is here too!"
On the Sand Village side, Kankuro, spotting his elder sister Temari in the distance, leaned in and whispered to Gaara.
"Shut up! Never underestimate the ninjas of Konoha."
Gaara's sudden rebuke stunned Kankuro, leaving him visibly shocked. He noticed the seriousness in Gaara's eyes, which were fixed on Kimimaro.
Moments earlier, Kankuro had seen Temari confronting Kimimaro, proving her strength. Yet, seeing the usually cold and indifferent Gaara appear so solemn was something completely unprecedented.
Gaara's gaze remained locked onto the white-haired Kimimaro and Jugo—these two individuals were the only ones in the entire exam hall who radiated an unmistakable aura of danger.
Suddenly, a loud bang echoed throughout the venue, followed by a puff of white smoke. As the smoke cleared, a group of Konoha ninjas appeared.
"Sorry to keep you all waiting. I am Pakura, the proctor of the first round of the Chunin Selection Exams. Assisting me today are Senju Yamato and Kabuto Yakushi."
With the appearance of the proctors, the crowd of ninjas was taken aback, especially when they recognized Pakura.
Pakura's reputation in the ninja world was far from insignificant. Over the years, her involvement in the war between Sand and Konoha had made her widely known. Naturally, her defection to Konoha had become common knowledge as well.
Behind the three proctors stood a dense group of ninjas, some of whom flashed mischievous smiles while holding thick stacks of paper.
When the examinees noticed the test papers, their eyes widened in disbelief.
"A written exam?!"
"Listen up!" Pakura's cold, commanding voice silenced the room. "Anyone who dares to cause trouble before the exam begins will be disqualified immediately."
Her words, coupled with a terrifying aura that seemed to emanate from her very being, caused even the boldest of genin to shudder. It was only a fraction of her power, yet it was enough to terrify them.
Standing beside her, Kabuto maintained a warm, gentle smile as he gestured toward the test papers behind them. "Don't worry. As you can see, the first round is a written exam. Do your best."
In stark contrast to Pakura's cold demeanor, Kabuto's friendly smile made him seem like an approachable older brother. But no one here was naive; becoming a jonin at such a young age was no small feat. To think he was harmless? Only a fool would believe that.
Kabuto began patiently explaining the rules of the exam. "Now that the time has come, let me make one thing clear: anyone who arrives late is automatically disqualified. During the exam, you are not allowed to act without permission from the proctors. Violators will also be disqualified."
As he spoke, someone raised their hand, an expression of confusion on their face.
"Proctor, are we taking the exam here? There aren't even desks or chairs. What are we supposed to do, take the test lying on the ground?"
The crowd murmured in agreement, sharing the same doubts.
From the center of the trio, Pakura glanced at the group indifferently before saying softly, "Yamato, I'll leave it to you."
Under the confused gazes of the examinees, Yamato, one of the three proctors, stepped forward. His wooden expression and stiff movements made him seem almost like a puppet.
With a forced smile, he addressed the group. "Don't worry. I'll prepare the exam hall for you now."
Forming a series of hand seals, Yamato suddenly declared:
"Wood Release: Serial Pillar Houses Technique!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The ground trembled as wooden structures erupted from beneath it. In an instant, neat rows of desks and chairs appeared, transforming the barren exam hall into a perfectly arranged testing venue.
"Wood Release!"
"That's... Wood Release!"
"A proctor with the surname Senju... Could it be?!"
The astonished whispers swept through the crowd.
In the blink of an eye, Yamato had created a functional exam hall, leaving the ninjas from other villages utterly stunned.
Yamato, however, remained expressionless, though inwardly he sighed. Using Wood Release for something like this... how did it come to this?
Unbeknownst to him, his casual display of power had left the other ninjas in shock. Unlike in the original timeline, where Wood Release had faded into obscurity, the current ninja world was very different.
Ever since Uchiha Shirou became the fourth Hokage thirteen years ago and revealed the existence of a Wood Release user in Konoha, the major villages have been frantic to uncover more information. This brought Wood Release back into the spotlight as one of the most coveted abilities in the ninja world.
Now, seeing Konoha openly reveal a Wood Release user as a proctor left the other villages reeling.
"All examinees, take your seats. The exam begins now!" Pakura's commanding voice echoed through the hall, snapping everyone to attention.
As the ninjas scrambled to find their seats, someone raised their hand again.
"Proctor! How are we supposed to take the exam without pens?"
Kabuto adjusted his glasses, his warm smile suddenly tinged with menace.
"As ninjas, gathering intelligence is a basic skill. Do you expect your enemies to provide you with kunai or tools on the battlefield?"
His words struck fear into the hearts of the examinees.
"The exam has already begun. I don't care how you do it, but you must find a way to write your answers. Leaving your seat for any reason will be considered forfeiting the exam. You have two hours. Start now!"
"Wait, does that mean we can't even go to the bathroom?!"
"Disqualified," Kabuto replied coldly, his smile never faltering.
Before the protesting ninja could argue, a massive snake suddenly coiled around him, silencing him instantly.
The room fell into an eerie silence. Every ninja understood—on the battlefield, you couldn't even afford to blink, let alone complain about trivial matters.
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@Extra Chapter Goal: 1000 PS ; 3 chapters