The Chūnin Exams proceeded as scheduled, without any external interference, lasting just over half a month in total.
This was much faster than the version Saitama remembered from the storyline, which had dragged on for dozens of episodes.
Shigure, Shuwu, and Baiu didn't disappoint Saitama either, falling short specifically during the last round of battles.
Their opponents were all elite Genin from the Five Great Villages, whose techniques and abilities far surpassed those of these three ninja from smaller villages.
Saitama personally attended the final matches. Partly to cheer for his three subordinates—after all, as their Jōnin leader, he hadn't seen the need to show up before; he'd been confident enough. But for this final match, he naturally wanted to come see for himself.
On the other hand, Saitama also wanted to check if there were any familiar faces among this year's Chūnin candidates.
"There's no need to feel down. You've done great! You three are the only ones from minor villages—excluding the Five Great Villages—who made it to the finals."
"Just that alone makes you excellent!"
Saitama looked at the three standing before him, heads hanging low with dejected expressions, their bodies bruised and battered from battle. He offered them words of encouragement.
What he said wasn't wrong, but to the three of them, it still stung a bit.
"Yufei Jōnin," Shigure asked tightly, eyes determined, "is the gap between villages really this big?"
His opponent had been a ninja named Atsui from Amegakure.
Saitama still remembered Atsui somewhat—he seemed to have an older sister named Samui, a cool-headed kunoichi with short hair.
Both siblings would appear later during the Fourth Great Ninja War, though briefly; nonetheless, they left some impression on Saitama.
"Shigure, remember this: The world might look fair from the outside, but it's anything but inside. Take ninja from different villages, for instance. Despite equal effort, you still can't reach their level—not because of your own shortcomings, but due to the limitations of your village."
"If you're not willing to accept this, then work twice as hard! Train relentlessly, strive endlessly, and someday, you'll stand on the same ground as them!"
Saitama slowly spoke while scanning each of their faces.
The truth wasn't exactly as his words had described.
He exaggerated the importance of effort slightly to avoid further discouraging them.
In reality, in a world obsessed with bloodlines, lacking one meant nothing more than temporary brilliance—an ephemeral bloom.
Just like Might Guy, who staked his entire life on a single move.
Shigure and the others were ordinary shinobi. While they could be considered excellent within Amegakure, without special bloodlines or extraordinary advantages, their potential was inherently limited.
If they had moderate talent and sufficient resources behind them, the highest rank a common shinobi could reach would be someone like Hiruzen Sarutobi.
As for someone reaching Jiraiya's level—the peak even among commoners—such people could no longer be considered common shinobi at all.
After all, common shinobi simply wouldn't have access to Sage Arts training or connections to the Three Sacred Lands.
"This doesn't mean you'll always fail," Saitama continued. "After working hard, I'm sure you can definitely catch up with those ninja from the great villages. So don't feel inferior, understand?"
Saitama kept dishing out those clichéd words of encouragement because seeing these dejected figures reminded him of his younger self—the one constantly knocked down by life.
Back then, all he wanted was for someone to offer him a few encouraging words. That would've given him the motivation and strength to get back on his feet and keep fighting.
Unfortunately, he never met anyone so kind-hearted.
Therefore, seeing these three today felt deeply personal to him.
"Yeah!"
Shigure and the other two exchanged glances, their eyes once again showing determination.
These ninja from smaller villages had a kind of grit that many from the great villages lacked—a fearless spirit that drove them straight into danger.
"Pack things up—we're heading back now! We've been out nearly a month already!"
Saitama smiled slightly, giving Baiu's shoulder a pat as he spoke casually and cheerfully.
During this time, besides paying a visit to Ka Uchiha once,
he had especially gone to check on Kushina Uzumaki—the current jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails!
As expected, after such major incidents happening outside and changing everything's course, Konoha itself had undergone significant changes too.
Even within the village, there were at least three ANBU squads continuously guarding Kushina Uzumaki.
She didn't go anywhere much—mainly just back and forth between her house and the supermarket.
As for Naruto Uzumaki, having not lost his parents in this life and without the Nine-Tails bound by a Sealing Technique, he lived happier than ever before.
He grew strong under the loving care of his parents.
The information about Kushina Uzumaki that Saitama could obtain remained limited.
After observing her for two days, he stopped paying further attention.
With Kushina so heavily guarded now, it would probably take Pain himself plus several Akatsuki members to stand any chance of capturing the Nine-Tails.
Konoha currently possessed obvious military power, including top-level fighters like Minato Namikaze, The Third, and Jiraiya—all Kage or even beyond-Kage class masters.
Kushina herself belonged to the Uzumaki Clan—masters of sealing techniques—and could effectively control the Nine-Tails' power, making her a strong fighter in her own right.
"Yes!"
The three nodded and started preparing to leave and pack.
Actually, they didn't have much to gather together—but having stayed here so long, they did carry some emotional attachment toward their surroundings.
Especially appreciating the excellent environment and comfortable lifestyle, these inexperienced Genin couldn't help but feel reluctant to depart.
But their persistence also showed clearly in this aspect.
Despite countless feelings of attachment and reluctance,
they understood perfectly well that this place wasn't truly theirs.
If they genuinely loved it, they could go back and create something similar themselves.
Something created through their own hands would bring them even greater satisfaction and joy.
Everything about Konoha had deeply imprinted into their memories, becoming both their compass and driving motivation.
The gap between Amegakure Village and Konoha was right before their eyes. Yet, they were willing to keep striving to close this distance.
"Jonin Yufei, let's go!"
Soon enough, the three of them walked out from the room and stood before Saitama.
"Mm-hmm!"
Saitama put down a cup in his hand, stood up, and strode toward the outside.
The Chunin Exams had ended yesterday, signaling the slow winding down of Konoha's celebration.
On the streets, merchants from other regions and ninja from other villages were already beginning to head back home.
After handing in the Room Key-like Device and reclaiming Amegakure's Token at the village gates, Saitama set off into the sunrise with the three young Genin, whose confidence for the future had been renewed.
This journey only sharpened Saitama's resolve to see his plan through.
This world needed change—why not let it be by his own hands?
Since he possessed both ability and opportunity, Saitama couldn't see any reason to let such a golden chance slip through his fingers.
Though in his own eyes, he still lacked the power to dominate the Shinobi World, he had all the time in the world—he could take it slow!
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