Messages passed back and forth in the shadows, like threads slowly weaving into beast-trapping nets, quietly awaiting their prey!
Time slipped by in this eerie atmosphere.
A few days later, Hidden Leaf Village finally announced that the Chunin Exams would officially begin in three days. Upon hearing the news, all the shinobi participating in the exams rubbed their hands in anticipation, suppressing their thoughts as they awaited this unprecedented—and perhaps never-to-be-repeated—Chunin Exam!
For the next three days, Hidden Leaf Village grew quiet.
Shinobi from various villages no longer roamed the streets but returned to their bases, adjusting their condition and preparing their ninja tools.
Three days passed in a flash.
This highly anticipated Chunin Exam officially began on a clear, sunny morning.
The opening ceremony was held in the grand assembly hall within Hidden Leaf Village. Early in the morning, shinobi from each village, along with Hidden Leaf villagers there to watch the ceremony, filled the streets, converging into several streams of people flowing toward the assembly hall from all directions.
Standing on his apartment balcony, Shinji gazed at the bustling crowds on the nearby streets and sighed, "The villagers of Hidden Leaf sure are enthusiastic about these big events!"
At that moment, Haku and Karin arrived downstairs, waving up at Shinji on the balcony. "Shinji-kun!"
"Hm!"
Shinji nodded, then flickered from the balcony, landing below in an instant.
Haku said, "We're all ready!"
Shinji replied, "Then let's move out!"
Since Haku and Karin were Shinji's teammates, when Shinji signed up for the Chunin Exams, they followed suit and registered as well.
As shinobi, the three of them naturally wouldn't squeeze through the streets with the villagers.
Instead, they leaped onto the rooftops, darting along the ridges toward the assembly hall.
Along the way, they encountered Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura's three-man team, as well as Yakumo, Shion, and Tenten, who had been invited to temporarily join Yakumo's squad.
Soon, the captains of the three teams gathered together, advancing side by side toward the assembly hall.
Looking at the lively streets around them and hearing the roaring waves of noise, the participants of the Chunin Exams grew increasingly excited.
Such a grand spectacle was a first for everyone.
Even Naruto, who loved to clown around for attention, was thrilled, and Sasuke, despite maintaining his cool facade, couldn't help but feel his heart race a little faster.
Yakumo, too, grew excited and said, "Shinji, Sasuke, this time's opponents won't be simple. We'd better team up!"
Sasuke gave a slight nod. "Once we deal with the others, we can settle things between us!"
"I don't mind," Shinji said, not refusing.
After all, his true purpose for participating in the Chunin Exams was to prevent any mishaps with Naruto or Sasuke that might hinder his pursuit of the Rinnegan or prematurely draw out the Sage of the Six Paths or other unexpected events.
Before long, their three teams arrived at the already bustling assembly hall.
As exam participants, they faced no obstacles along the way and entered the underground rest area within the hall.
The rest area was semi-open.
Each village was assigned a rest zone based on the number of participants, so Shinji and his group headed to Hidden Leaf's rest area.
As Shinji, Yakumo, and Sasuke appeared together, the previously noisy rest area fell silent in an instant.
Feeling the gazes from all directions, Shinji scanned the room.
In the nearby Hidden Mist rest area, Ringo Ameyuri, Suigetsu Hozuki, and Chojuro stood fully armed, staring at him solemnly.
A bit farther off, in the Hidden Cloud and Hidden Stone rest areas, Darui, Kurotsuchi, and others were also staring at him in unison.
Then, from the other side, the rest areas of Hidden Sand, Hidden Waterfall, Hidden Grass, and Hidden Sound also paused their activities, casting their gazes toward him.
Feeling the immense pressure, Sakura whispered, "Why are they all staring at us?"
Shion replied, "What else? They're scared of us!"
Tenten smiled. "More like they're scared of Shinji!"
Yakumo whispered to Shinji and Sasuke, "If they all team up to suppress us, things could get tricky!"
Sasuke nodded. "Yeah, there are some tough opponents among them!"
As he spoke, his gaze drifted toward the Hidden Grass rest area, landing on Shinji Koshi and Chino.
Ignoring the wary gazes from all around, Shinji calmly sat on a bench in the rest area, closing his eyes to rest.
His pursuit of the Rinnegan was at a critical stage.
Soon, a Hidden Leaf staff member arrived at the rest area, notifying the shinobi from each village to enter the main hall.
At that moment, all the Hidden Leaf shinobi participating in the exam turned to Shinji, waiting for the command of their First Chair.
Opening his eyes from his rest on the bench, Shinji said, "Let's move out!"
Team by team, organized by village, they swiftly entered the circular assembly hall through the passages on either side.
Cheers erupted from all directions, and as each village's team appeared, the entire hall boiled with excitement.
The shinobi from each village grew restless as well.
Most participants in this Chunin Exam were young, full of vigor, and the heated atmosphere of the hall quickly got to their heads. Shinji could hear the breathing around him grow heavier.
On the main platform, the Third Hokage led the Five Kage, seated prominently.
Behind them sat representatives from smaller villages like Hidden Waterfall, Hidden Grass, Hidden Sound, Hidden Star, and Hidden Snow.
As the cheers in the hall quieted slightly, the Third Hokage stepped forward to the front of the platform. "I declare the Chunin Exams officially open!"
"It's finally starting!"
In that instant, the thought flashed through the minds of every shinobi participating in the exams.
Some aimed to make a name for themselves, others sought to revive their clans, and some just wanted to fight to their heart's content!
But at that moment, Shinji furrowed his brow slightly.
Through the powerful insight of his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, he noticed that, aside from the Third Hokage, the other four Kage on the platform seemed to be various types of clones, not their real selves.
This discovery sparked further thoughts.
He suddenly had a feeling that this Chunin Exam wouldn't be peaceful.
Still, he wasn't too worried. After all, he was no longer the shinobi he once was. Even without counting himself, the forces at his command included Haku, Karin, Yakumo, Shion, Sasuke, Neji, Kimimaro, Ryuzetsu, and Chino.
No matter what unexpected situation arose, they were more than enough to handle it!