Two days quickly passed with Sasuke getting beaten up.
Because he was beaten so badly, he now wanted to punch Naruto whenever he saw him.
Sasuke truly dreamed of his face every night. But he didn't know if it was Naruto himself or Kitazawa disguised as him.
However, by Wednesday, he finally managed to steal some free time.
Because it was December 1st—the day the Chunin Exams began.
Kitazawa arrived at the Hokage Office early in the morning.
"Why did you suddenly decide to become a Team Leader?" Sarutobi Hiruzen asked, somewhat confused, upon hearing his request.
"Just helping Yakushi Nono-senpai out," Kitazawa explained. "As you know, her adopted son, Kabuto, has not yet become a Chunin."
"I see." Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately understood the situation.
Kabuto was a Ninja from Root, and although his strength had long surpassed that of a Chunin, he hadn't had the opportunity to participate in the Chunin Exams.
"Then who are your other two teammates?" Sarutobi Hiruzen asked casually.
In fact, Kitazawa coming to see him on the day of registration was not entirely in line with the rules. Normally, he should have applied in advance.
However, considering Tsunade's influence, this small issue could be overlooked.
"It's Aburame Torune and Uchiha Izumi," Kitazawa replied.
"Oh?" Sarutobi Hiruzen was surprised for a moment, then chuckled. "All three of your students are quite extraordinary."
He had the same thought as Kabuto at this moment.
The reason Tsunade forcibly entered the Root base to rescue Aburame Torune was probably not just at the request of the Aburame Clan, but also because Kitazawa was involved.
No wonder Tsunade brought Kitazawa with her at that time. But on another note, it also showed that Kitazawa held a crucial position in Tsunade's heart.
"No wonder Fugaku came to see me a few days ago," Sarutobi Hiruzen changed the subject, hinting. "He mentioned one thing, which was to disband Uchiha Izumi's Ninja squad."
The formation and dissolution of all Ninja squads required the Hokage's approval.
Uchiha Izumi had her own Squad Leader and teammates; to join Kitazawa's Ninja squad, she would first have to disband her original Ninja squad.
Kitazawa was instantly surprised by this. He couldn't help but once again marvel at the change in status Tsunade had brought him.
For Uchiha Izumi to become his student, Uchiha Fugaku would go to such lengths, which truly exceeded his expectations.
It seemed that Uchiha Mikoto's agreement to his proposal on behalf of Uchiha Izumi at that time was also for this reason.
"The Uchiha Clan has always been somewhat unstable," Sarutobi Hiruzen said bluntly. "You have a good relationship with them, so you can communicate with them more."
Kitazawa was stunned for a moment, not expecting that. Would he really be allowed to associate with the Uchiha Clan?
But upon closer thought, it made sense. In the original work, Sarutobi Hiruzen had actually always tried to prevent the Uchiha Clan's Downfall.
Even when the Uchiha Clan had declared their intention to revolt, he didn't directly use force but instead sent Uchiha Itachi to persuade them.
However, Danzo interfered, changing persuasion into slaughter.
How to put it? The aging Sarutobi Hiruzen was a bit like Uchiha Fugaku, hesitant and indecisive in his actions.
This was especially evident regarding the Uchiha Clan, where he seemed to be fighting himself. On one hand, he tried to win over Uchiha Itachi, while on the other, he didn't stop Danzo.
"I understand, Hokage-sama," Kitazawa regained his composure and said.
His current backer was Tsunade, so he wasn't afraid to interact with the Uchiha Clan.
"Go participate in the Chunin Exams," Sarutobi Hiruzen waved his hand and said.
"Yes, Hokage-sama." Kitazawa bowed slightly and turned to leave.
He led Kabuto and the other two, who were waiting at the entrance, towards the Anbu base.
This time, the Chunin Exams examination hall was at the Anbu base.
In the original work, the joint Chunin Exams examination hall was at the Ninja Academy. But that was because the number of Genin participating in the exam was too large.
When Kitazawa arrived at the Anbu base, he found a signpost.
They followed the signpost and arrived in front of a building.
"Kitazawa-senpai?" Kotetsu Hagane at the entrance looked surprised when he saw Kitazawa.
"Why are you here?"
"Isn't this the Chunin Exams? Izumo and I applied to be the proctors for this written exam." Kotetsu Hagane glanced at Kabuto and the other two, then asked, "Kitazawa-senpai, when did you become a Squad Leader?"
"Just today." Kitazawa smiled and said. "It's temporary."
"I understand." Kotetsu Hagane immediately understood.
It was common for teams to be formed at the last minute for the Chunin Exams.
"Then can we go in?" Because the exam time was approaching, Kitazawa didn't continue to chat.
"They can go in, but you can't." Kotetsu Hagane blinked and gestured with his eyes.
"I see." Kitazawa realized something and said. "You three go ahead."
"Yes, Kitazawa-sensei." The three responded and walked in.
"After entering, there's a small challenge before the Chunin Exams written exam."
After Kabuto and the other two left, Kotetsu Hagane told the truth. "They have to pass this challenge to be able to take the written exam."
"Is it Demonic Illusion: False Surroundings Technique?" Kitazawa asked calmly.
"You can tell from that far away?" Kotetsu Hagane asked in surprise.
Kitazawa thought to himself, 'Sure enough.'
Because in the original work, there was also such a setup before the written exam of the joint Chunin Exams.
"It's a Genjutsu," Kabuto said as soon as he entered the door.
In front of the classroom on the first floor, six Genin were gathered together. But a signpost not far away indicated that the examination hall was on the third floor.
"It's Demonic Illusion: False Surrounding Technique," Uchiha Izumi glanced at it and commented. "A very low-level Genjutsu."
"Indeed," Kabuto turned and went upstairs. Uchiha Izumi and Aburame Torune followed closely behind.
"As expected of Kitazawa-senpai's students."
Kotetsu Hagane, who had witnessed everything, exclaimed, "Your three students are the ninja squad that figured out the problem the fastest."
"Their strength is indeed quite good," Kitazawa said modestly.
If it weren't for the system's mission, he wouldn't have even bothered to come—because the outcome was never in doubt.
The ninja squad of Kabuto, Aburame Torune, and Uchiha Izumi would still be among the top contenders even in the joint Chunin Exams of the original work—provided they didn't encounter those two Jinchuriki.
"Do you know the content of the second stage of the Chunin Exams?" Kitazawa, having nothing else to do, started chatting with Kotetsu Hagane.
"I know," Kotetsu Hagane said without hesitation. "It's a race."
The second stage was a team battle, and the competition venue was the Death Forest. The participating squads had to reach the finish line as quickly as possible, and only the top five teams would enter the third stage.
Various traps and interferences from other participants would be scattered throughout the Death Forest.
Kitazawa nodded slightly after hearing this. It sounded more difficult than the second stage of the joint Chunin Exams. But still, as the saying goes, strength is everything.
He continued chatting with Kotetsu about other ninja squads. But after a while, he realized he didn't recognize any of them.
Kitazawa suddenly felt that assembling a lineup like Kabuto, Aburame Torune, and Uchiha Izumi was making a mountain out of a molehill. Still, for the sake of the mission, being overly cautious wasn't a bad thing.
The time soon reached ten o'clock in the morning.
The Genin who passed the written exam were led by Izumo Kamizuki toward the Death Forest. Kitazawa followed along, acting as a spectator.
The second stage began—a team battle.
In summary, it came down to two words: a sweep.
Kabuto, Aburame Torune, and Uchiha Izumi easily secured first place.
"You all did well," Kitazawa said with a nod. "Go back and rest. Be ready to participate in the third stage tomorrow."
In the original work, the joint Chunin Exams also included a preliminary round between the second and third stages, and the final battles were scheduled a month later.
But this was a Chunin Exams limited to Konoha Village. With fewer participants, there was no need to make things overly complicated. The entire process would be completed within two days.
The next day, Thursday.
At nine o'clock sharp, Kitazawa arrived at the training ground in front of the Anbu base. Kabuto, Aburame Torune, and Uchiha Izumi were already waiting, having arrived ahead of him.
Under the arrangements of Chief Examiner Shiranui Genma, the remaining Genin gathered together.
Kitazawa glanced around. Only nine Genin had made it to the third stage, forming exactly three teams.
If nothing unexpected happened, they would all become Chunin—unless their strength proved particularly lacking.
Such was the difficulty level of a normal Chunin Exam.
Shiranui Genma noticed Kitazawa but didn't approach him; the matches were about to begin.
However, Kitazawa's attention was soon drawn to a familiar figure—Kakashi Hatake.
"Kakashi," Kitazawa greeted as he approached. "Do you have students in here?"
He remembered that Kakashi had led several squads before becoming the Jonin leader of Team 7. But all of them had failed his assessments and were sent back to the Academy for retraining.
Moreover, Kakashi was still in his Anbu uniform—hardly the look of a full-time squad leader yet.
"No," Kakashi replied, shaking his head.
"Then are you just here to watch the Chunin Exams because you have nothing better to do?" Kitazawa chuckled. "That doesn't sound like you."
"Hokage-sama asked me to inform you," Kakashi said, his trademark dead fish eyes as calm as ever. "He wants to see you after the Chunin Exams."
"So that's it," Kitazawa said with a nod of understanding. "How does it feel to be a Team leader?"
Kakashi hesitated for a moment before asking, "I think it's quite interesting to watch students grow. Are you going to be a squad leader?"
"Yes," Kakashi replied, not bothering to hide it. "It's Hokage-sama's intention."
"If you're not in a hurry, you could wait for my students to graduate," Kitazawa said casually.
"Your students still have five years until graduation," Kakashi thought aloud. "Before then, I should be leading a team."
Kitazawa thought to himself, Your idea is good, but your standards are too high.
"Is Kabuto the first to appear?" Kitazawa asked as he noticed Kabuto stepping into the arena.
His opponent was a young ninja wielding a blade.
Kabuto's response was swift and decisive—he used a Chakra Scalpel to cut the blade cleanly, securing victory in a single motion.
"Chakra Scalpel?" Shiranui Genma, acting as examiner, stared in disbelief. Are Genin nowadays this terrifying?
Kakashi, however, remained calm. He had been there when Kitazawa recruited Kabuto and knew his strength well. Participating in the Chunin Exams was practically an unfair fight for him.
The same applied to Aburame Torune, who hadn't even used his poisonous insects. He was concerned that infecting these ordinary Genin might prove lethal.
Everyone here was from the same village. There was no need to fight to the death—only to the point of proving strength.
What surprised Kakashi was Kabuto's Wind Release.
He hadn't used it when fighting the Iwagakure ninja before, which meant he had learned it only recently.
Undoubtedly, Kabuto's Wind Release talent was remarkable. As for who taught him, Kakashi could easily guess. Most likely, Kitazawa.
This led Kakashi to think of Asuma Sarutobi. Who was stronger in Wind Release—Asuma or Kitazawa?
"The first round is over. Take a fifteen-minute break," Shiranui Genma announced.
Nine Genin.
Two-on-two matches.
One lucky participant with a bye.
By the second round, only five Genin remained.
These included Kabuto, Aburame Torune, and Uchiha Izumi.
"I estimate they will face each other." After the break, Kitazawa looked at the five Genin drawing lots and spoke.
Kakashi didn't answer. He simply nodded.
"Second round, first match—Kabuto versus Aburame Torune!" Shiranui Genma shouted loudly, signaling the start.
Kitazawa raised an eyebrow, clearly interested.
Kakashi also perked up. The previous Genin battles had nearly put him to sleep, but Kabuto and Aburame Torune were different. They were talented Genin from Root—dangerous and highly skilled.
Poison Cloud Technique!
Aburame Torune didn't hesitate. He extended both hands, and a large number of poisonous insects gathered between them. Then he blew hard.
The poisonous insects flew out like dust, scattering toward Kabuto.
Facing Kabuto, he didn't dare hold back. He knew exactly how formidable his teammate was.
Furthermore, Kabuto was a Medical Ninja, and Kitazawa was also a Medical Ninja. If Kabuto was infected by poisonous insects, he could quickly detoxify himself—an advantage Torune couldn't afford to ignore.
Wind Release: Gale Palm!
Kabuto clapped his hands, and a gust of wind surged outward, sweeping away the poisonous insects in an instant.
When the poisonous dust dispersed, Aburame Torune was gone.
Kabuto calmly formed hand signs once again. He flicked his wrist, sending a Shuriken spinning into the sky.
There was no place to hide or take cover in the training ground. The only way to attempt a surprise attack was from above.
But Kabuto understood Torune.
After using Wind Release: Rotating Shuriken, he immediately used the Body Flicker Technique to leave his original position.
The poisonous insects surging from the ground lost their target.
Aburame Torune, suspended in mid-air, was startled. Not only had his sneak attack failed, but now he was in danger himself.
He temporarily abandoned his plan to attack Kabuto. Raising both hands, he released another swarm of poisonous insects to envelop the spinning Shuriken.
The sharp Wind Release cut through the insects, but their sheer numbers slowed its momentum.
Torune used the opportunity to control his body and descend, as it was difficult to maneuver mid-air. But Kabuto would not let such an opening go to waste.
While Torune's poisonous insects corroded the Shuriken, Kabuto formed hand signs again.
Wind Release: Great Breakthrough! He tilted his head back and exhaled, unleashing a fierce gale.
Parasitic Destruction Insect Technique!
Aburame Torune gathered poisonous insects to cover his body, but the defense proved ineffective. He was blown backward by the raging wind.
"I surrender." Torune raised his hand in defeat. He had already understood the problem.
Although his poisonous insects were powerful, Kabuto's strategy was flawless, denying him any chance to close the distance. From start to finish, Kabuto had kited him relentlessly.
"Kakashi, what do you think?" Kitazawa asked with a smile.
He could only say Kabuto was truly Kabuto.
"They will definitely all become excellent Jonin in the future," Kakashi Hatake commented.
In his opinion, their combat level already surpassed that of most Chunin. And they were still so young—a promising future indeed.
Kakashi's thoughts drifted. He wondered if he would ever meet such talented students when he became a squad leader.
Uchiha Izumi's battle was quick and decisive.
After activating her Sharingan, she defeated her opponent with Genjutsu: Unknown Fire.
Because one Genin had received a bye, Shiranui Genma arranged a rematch where Aburame Torune fought that Genin—and won—securing his place in the third round.
"Congratulations," Kakashi said in a calm tone. "All the Genin who entered the third round are your students."
"Thank you," Kitazawa replied with a smile.
"Third round, first match—Kabuto versus Uchiha Izumi!" Shiranui Genma announced after glancing at the lot results.
"Kabuto, please guide me," Uchiha Izumi said seriously, entering a state of high alert.
Before this, she had worried about her teammates' strength. But now she realized both were stronger than her.
Aburame Torune's nanoscale poisonous insects could kill her with a single touch. And Kabuto was even more outrageous—a Medical Ninja with extraordinary combat talent.
Izumi immediately activated her Sharingan. Her taijutsu was no match for Kabuto's, and her only chance of victory lay in genjutsu.
Just as she was about to form hand signs, she saw Kabuto activate a Chakra Scalpel—and charge forward with his eyes closed.
Kabuto had undergone various Root training, including exercises on how to counter or hunt Uchiha.
After all, Danzo Shimura's dream had always been the destruction of the Uchiha Clan, and Root—his direct subordinates—were his chosen instruments to make it happen.
Uchiha Izumi struggled bitterly. She couldn't use genjutsu, and Kabuto's precise movements with the Chakra Scalpel kept her completely restrained.
She quickly lost.
By the third round, second match, Izumi faced Torune instead of Kabuto.
The result was the same—another loss.
Fortunately, she wasn't a typical Uchiha. She remained calm despite losing two matches in a row.
[Current Mission: Lead Kabuto to pass the Chunin Exams.
Mission Reward: Hydrification Technique.]
[The Host has completed the mission. Reward issued.]
After the Chunin Exams ended, the system promptly appeared.
Kitazawa nodded with satisfaction.
The Hydrification Technique—an excellent life-saving skill, one that could play a crucial role in critical moments.
"Let's go. Come with me to see Hokage-sama," Kakashi said, retracting his gaze.
For him, only Kitazawa's three students had made this Chunin Exam truly worth watching.
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P@atreon/Arvinstorm (45+ Advanced Chapters)