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This was a scene Ibiki Morino had never witnessed before in any Chunin Exam.
He found himself strangely curious about the identity of the "big brother" the loud, yellow-haired boy mentioned. Naturally, Ibiki didn't yet realize that Naruto's so-called "big brother" was none other than Tian Yu.
"To push himself forward to that degree… interesting kid. Now I'm wondering—who is this 'big brother' he's trying to catch up to?"
The thought hovered in Ibiki's mind.
To inspire that kind of determination in someone like Uzumaki Naruto, this 'big brother' had to be an extraordinary individual. If the chance ever came, Ibiki decided he'd like to meet him.
Still lost in thought, Ibiki continued professionally, "I'll ask one more time. This decision could affect your entire shinobi career. If anyone wants to quit, this is your last chance."
But no one moved.
The Konoha genin had fire in their eyes—ready to fight.
And even the genin from other villages were moved by that atmosphere. One by one, they firmed their resolve and chose to stay.
Ibiki looked at the determined crowd.
"…Not bad. I was expecting fewer to remain. That speech from the brat made a bigger impact than I thought."
With a nod to the proctors standing behind him, Ibiki gave the official announcement:
"All right then. To those of you still here, I declare—you've all passed the first test!"
"Yeahhh! We passed!" Cheers erupted across the exam room.
Those who couldn't answer a single question but stayed because of Naruto's words now looked at him with grateful smiles. He had unknowingly inspired hope in many who were ready to give up.
Just as the celebration began—
CRASH!
A sudden shattering of glass from the window above.
A figure, clad in a black high-collared cloak, soared through, landing on the platform like the lead in a dramatic stage play.
Behind him, a massive curtain unfurled, shaking slightly from the breeze.
Ibiki Morino sighed, half-resigned.
"…That Tian Yu. Always with the theatrics. Even more over-the-top than Anko…"
Tian Yu stood on the platform, radiating a sharp, confident aura.
His dark Jonin uniform was immaculate, his face stern but captivating.
"Candidates," Tian Yu's cold voice cut through the room, "this isn't the time to celebrate."
With the curtain fully open behind him, his commanding presence seemed to suppress the joy in the air.
"I am Tian Yu, your chief examiner for the second phase of the Chunin Exams. The next test will begin shortly. Follow me."
The room went completely silent.
Dozens of genin stared up in awe and disbelief.
Kankuro, jaw slightly open, immediately recalled their encounter days ago. A chill ran through him.
That guy… is actually the examiner for the next phase?
He looked just like us! I nearly picked a fight with him… If he'd figured out our plan that day, we'd already be in trouble!
Whispers filled the air as other genin processed the shock.
Among them, three rain ninja from Amegakure scoffed.
"Seriously? That's the examiner? He looks barely older than we are."
"Konoha must be short on manpower. They're sending kids now?"
"No way this brat is a real Jonin…"
But before their sneers could finish—
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The three Rain shinobi were suddenly sent flying through the air as Tian Yu's silhouette blurred forward. None of them even saw him move.
They slammed into the wall in a single instant, leaving three deep cracks where they hit.
The exam room fell into stunned silence.
His speed… was terrifying.
That single move proved it: Tian Yu wasn't just qualified—he was on a different level entirely.
Even Gaara, the Jinchuriki of the One-Tail, narrowed his gaze.
His sand shifted slightly in response to the invisible pressure Tian Yu exuded.
He's strong… Gaara thought.
Tian Yu… might be worth watching.
"Daring to question an examiner," Tian Yu said coldly. "You three are eliminated."
"W-what?!" groaned one of the Amegakure genin, clutching his ribs.
"You're expelling us just for questioning you?!"
Tian Yu looked down at them, completely indifferent.
"Yes. Because I am the examiner for the next round. If you question my authority—feel free to challenge me."
He extended his hand slightly.
"All three of you can come at me again. If you can survive one full minute, I'll let you through."
The Rain ninja stood frozen.
A full minute?
They hadn't even seen his attack just now. It was suicide.
"…Tch. Let's go."
Though full of resentment, they had no intention of fighting again. They quietly retreated, humiliated.
From that moment on, no one in the room dared question Tian Yu's status.
Naruto and his friends, of course, already knew Tian Yu was the next examiner, so they weren't surprised. But the others? Their respect was instant.
"Ahem… Lord Tian Yu, if you're done putting on a show, we should get down to business…" Ibiki sighed, pulling aside the curtain.
Tian Yu scanned the room.
"Seventy-two people… That's still quite a crowd."
He turned to Ibiki.
"Still twenty-four teams? Did you go easy on them this year?"
Ibiki scratched his head. "Well… let's say the brats were more persistent than expected."
Tian Yu didn't press further.
"…Fine. I'll make sure only the elite are left after my test. Expect the number of survivors to drop to single digits."
"Single digits?!"
The words sent shockwaves through the genin.
They looked at him—he wasn't joking.
A heavy silence replaced the earlier cheerfulness. Dread settled into the pit of every stomach.
Tian Yu smirked slightly.
"I look forward to seeing something… interesting. Don't disappoint me."
He turned, cloak fluttering behind him, and strode from the room like a shadow.
The other examiner, Anko Mitarashi, wearing her beige trench coat, appeared moments later, slightly annoyed.
"Oi! You can't just drop drama bombs and leave all the explaining to me!"
Still, she sighed and addressed the crowd.
"Well then… let me tell you what you're up against."
---
The Next Day
The genin gathered at the appointed place.
The forest loomed before them—thick iron fences stretching around it like a prison wall.
The Forest of Death.
From within came rustling leaves, chirping insects… and an overwhelming, ominous pressure.
"This," Anko announced, "is Training Ground 44. Also known as… the Forest of Death."
"If you're careless… you'll die."
Tian Yu stood beside her, face calm, eyes sharp as ever.
A slow wind passed through the crowd. It wasn't cold—but it chilled them nonetheless.
Was it the wind… or Tian Yu's pressure?
The genin couldn't tell.
"Hmph. Trying too hard to scare us," muttered a genin from Takigakure.
Whizz!
A kunai flew—cleanly slicing through the air and grazing his cheek.
The blade embedded itself in the post behind him.
It had been thrown from Anko's sleeve.
The genin staggered back, face pale.
"And if you insult your examiner," she hissed suddenly behind him, "you might not even make it to the forest."
The Taki-nin nearly collapsed.
But just then—
A tongue flicked out—long, unnaturally so—catching the kunai midair.
It belonged to the tall, grass-ninja dressed in a Kusagakure headband, whose appearance was unsettling from the start.
He handed the blade back, smiling oddly.
"Here. You dropped this."
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