{Welcome, Please remember to Support me on my patreon and read upto 50+ advanced chapters and 5 advanced chapters in every two days.
https://patreon.com/Oreski }
Kitahara Hitoshi looked at the distributed test questions.
He could confirm that this one-time exam wasn't about calculating a written score—it was abnormally difficult.
It included ninja-related knowledge, but also mathematics and biophysics. Could people even pass?
From Konoha's perspective, failure across the board wasn't an option. If everyone failed, no one would participate next time.
The Chūnin Exam drives village economics and solidifies the power balance among Great Ninja Villages. It cannot be mishandled.
Due to the prolonged peace and a lack of reliable villages hosting exams, an unusually high number of candidates had joined this time.
Rain Shinobi Village sent 12 people, Sand Shinobi Village 3, Kusanagi Village 46, Iwagakure 33, Cloud Shinobi Village 52, Konoha 34, Xiaopai Ninja Village 18, and Kirigakure 0.
The total was 198 participants.
Among them, Kirigakure stood out for not participating at all.
It wasn't that Terumi Mei didn't want to send anyone. Rather, Kirigakure lacked available personnel.
Zabuza had once said in his introduction that Kirigakure's old Blood Mist Chūnin Exam required teams of three to kill each other for advancement.
When he took the exam, he directly killed all other candidates.
Because of that, Kirigakure ninjas developed severe mistrust. No one wanted to risk being murdered by a teammate. In such a case, it was better not to participate at all.
---
Children and Grandchildren Chat Group
Big Zhuzi Hanhan: Good grief, these questions are insane.
Senju Tobirama: Difficult, yes, but we were pulled into the illusion space. We studied alongside Naruto, Sasuke, and the others. We should be okay.
Big Zhuzi Hanhan: But I still can't do them.
Senju Tobirama: Huh? Big brother, didn't you study in that illusion space for sixty years?
Big Zhuzi Hanhan: Oh no, Tobirama, I'm not very good at that word stuff.
Senju Tobirama: So the snoring in the illusion space was yours.
Ohnoki: Hmm…
Ohnoki: Still, this is the hardest written exam in Chūnin Exam history, isn't it?
Senju Tobirama: What do you think, Ohnoki?
Ohnoki: Iwagakure's exams have never been this extreme.
Ohnoki: Has Konoha's education quality improved this much? We can't keep up.
Ohnoki: Our candidates could never handle a test like this.
Namikaze Minato: I don't think so.
Senju Tobirama: What do you mean?
Namikaze Minato: I've taken this test before.
Senju Tobirama: What?
Namikaze Minato: Before Orochimaru betrayed the village, he served as chief examiner of a Chūnin Exam and designed this test for me as practice.
Namikaze Minato: This is that exact paper.
Big Zhuzi Hanhan: So what does that mean?
Namikaze Minato: I think the Third Hokage suspects Orochimaru is among the candidates and is using this test to lure him out.
Senju Tobirama: Since it's his own paper, he'd show interest?
Senju Tobirama: If it weren't for his rebellion, Orochimaru's talent in research would've been remarkable.
Kakashi: True. Orochimaru oversaw the experiment that produced Yamato's Wood Style.
Senju Tobirama: But a traitor, no matter how talented, can't be used.
Senju Tobirama: Kitahara Hitoshi immediately exposed Orochimaru's identity.
Senju Tobirama: Sarutobi and the others must be taking action now.
Ohnoki: Agreed.
---
Third Hokage's Office
"How should we handle this?"
The crystal ball showed that in Room 302, the female Kusanagi candidate had left with the Anbu squad.
"Orochimaru disguised as a woman."
Sarutobi Hiruzen remained silent, but deep down he knew—Orochimaru never appreciated the kindness extended to him. He never valued what he had learned.
Becoming a woman suggested he had mastered Living Corpse Reincarnation, and continued walking a forbidden path.
"We're not fully sure," Sarutobi said. "This may not be Orochimaru himself."
"He's never been obedient."
"That may be, but where is the real Orochimaru?" Koharu asked.
"Lord Third!"
An Anbu member entered.
"Come in!"
The Anbu handed an envelope from Kitahara Hitoshi to the Third Hokage.
Hiruzen opened it and read.
'Orochimaru is impersonating the Fourth Kazekage.'
Sarutobi's expression darkened.
"What!" Koharu and Homura stood up in shock. "How dare he!"
"If this isn't handled correctly, a new Ninja World War will break out!"
"He impersonated another village's Kage…" Their faces turned grave.
The Third Ninja War had begun with the disappearance of the Third Kazekage.
Now Orochimaru was impersonating the Fourth—did that mean he killed him too?
"Orochimaru is coming for me," Sarutobi sighed.
As Konoha's Hokage, he had to act now.
Danzo stood nearby, indifferent.
It didn't matter to him whether Sarutobi died or stepped down. If Sarutobi was no longer Hokage, it would finally be his era.
As for Kitahara Hitoshi, Danzo wasn't worried. As long as the boy was from Konoha, he could be manipulated.
That was how the Root operated. Danzo had plenty of experience.
Besides, though eleven Sharingan had been exposed, he still possessed the Mangekyō he took from Uchiha Shisui.
---
Kitahara Hitoshi and the others quietly continued their exams, while the Third Hokage prepared to act.
Candidates focused on the test. It was their duty, not a calling.
---
Children and Grandchildren Chat Group
Shouhe: These problems are too hard.
Shizuru: Huh?
Shouhe made a noise.
Sorizuru: Good grief, Kitahara Hitoshi is incredible.
Everyone turned to look. The test had been handed out, but Kitahara Hitoshi didn't answer it himself.
Instead, he removed the cap of his fountain pen and handed the pen to his white-haired red-clawed ninja rabbit.
He placed the little rabbit on the desk. But that wasn't all—was he expecting the rabbit to answer the exam?
Shizuru: He thinks anyone can solve this?
Shouhe: No way. The rabbit is actually writing!
Shoukaku: Where do you buy such an intelligent Summoning Beast?
Kurama: Did you really confuse it with a civet cat?
Kurama: Oh. Stupid civet cats don't know anything. You weren't around.
Kurama: When Kitahara Hitoshi trained Naruto and Sasuke, he kept his white ninja rabbit in the illusion space with them.
Kurama: Naruto and Sasuke read books, while Hitoshi taught ninja literacy. That's why the rabbit can solve these questions easily.
Kurama: Look at Naruto and Sasuke—they're writing directly too.
Shizuru: A Summoning Beast that defies heaven.
Kurama: I can't tell if you're truly clueless or just pretending.
Nine Tails flicked his long ears wrapped in fiery red fur. He felt like there was no hope of communicating with the idiotic civet cat.
Shizuru: What do…
IMPORTANT UPDATE –
I WILL BE POSTING 1 CHAPTER HERE ON WEBNOVEL EVERY DAY...
I WILL BE POSTING 5 ADVANCE CHAPTERS EVERY TWO DAYS ON PATREON, JOIN MY PATREON FOR EXCLUSIVE EARLY ACCESS.
🔗 JOIN NOW: patreon.com/Oreski
PS: I HAVE UPLOADED 50+ ADVANCED CHAPTERS ON PATREON ALREADY—DON'T MISS OUT ON THE ADVENTURE.