Chapter 55: A Gathering of Powerhouses
"That's right," the Third said firmly.
At this point, Minato, who had been standing to the side, suddenly interjected, "Kyosuke, although you are in the Anbu, your official record still lists you as a Genin. So, it's perfectly reasonable for you to participate."
Since both of these influential figures had said so, Kyosuke could only nod in agreement. After all, he himself was quite looking forward to this Chunin Exam.
"Then, are you willing to represent the village in this Chunin Exam and achieve victory?" the Third asked, his tone grave, after the two had finished their conversation.
Hearing his question, Kyosuke's expression couldn't help but turn serious. "Yes, I am more than willing."
"Good, good," the Third said with a smile, repeating the word twice. He then picked up a file from his desk and handed it to Kyosuke.
"This is the list of participants from each village. Take a look," the Third said.
Kyosuke took the list, and with just a brief glance, he felt the urge to twitch the corner of his mouth.
Fortunately, he managed to suppress it with great willpower, thus not revealing his surprise. Otherwise, he would have had to go to the trouble of explaining to the Third why he was so surprised.
It wasn't that Kyosuke lacked composure; it was that the list of participants from each village this time was simply too astonishing.
After calming himself down, Kyosuke had a rough idea of why this five-village joint exam, which had never appeared in the original story, was happening.
The root cause was himself.
If he hadn't been so conspicuous before, the Third and the others wouldn't have had the confidence to hold such a competition.
Is this what they call 'reaping what you sow'? Kyosuke thought speechlessly. He then began to carefully examine the list.
The more he looked, the more shocked he became.
Village Hidden by the Sand
Team Leader: Rasa
Participants: Sasori of the Red Sand, Maki, Kuro.
Aside from the unknown Kuro, the other two were not to be trifled with.
Especially Sasori. If Kyosuke remembered correctly, in another three to five years, the "Third Kazekage," hailed as the strongest in history, would die at his hands, indirectly starting the Third Great Ninja War.
As for Maki, although his role in the original story was not significant, the fact that he led the Sand ninja in the "Konoha Crush" plan and eventually became a high-ranking official in the Sand Village showed that he was by no means an ordinary person.
Just these two alone, if Kakashi and Kyosuke weren't competing, there were very few in Konoha at this time who could stand against them.
The Sand's lineup was already formidable, but the even more formidable ones were yet to come.
Village Hidden by the Stone
Team Leader: Kitsuchi
Participants: Akatsuchi, Gari of the Explosion Style, Mahiru.
Similar to Maki, although Akatsuchi didn't have many appearances in the original story, his strength was not to be underestimated. After all, as the bodyguard of two Tsuchikage, he must have had some skill.
Gari of the Explosion Style, who had once been a member of the Stone's Explosion Corps with Deidara, had an unknown cause of death in the original story. He was a user of the Explosion Release Kekkei Genkai. Needless to say, a ninja who used such a special Kekkei Genkai was definitely not weak.
As for the last one, Mahiru, Kyosuke couldn't recall who he was.
But just from the strength of the first two, the Stone's team at this time was definitely no weaker than the Sand's.
Of course, the even more formidable ones were still to come.
Village Hidden by the Cloud
Team Leader: A (Fourth Raikage)
Participants: Darui, Yugito Nī, Samui.
Good grief. When Kyosuke saw this, he felt like cursing the Third Raikage's entire family.
Look at the Cloud's team this time. The Fifth Raikage, Darui, a user of the "Storm Release" Kekkei Genkai, and the only successor of the Third Raikage.
Yugito Nī, the jinchuriki of the Two-Tails. Her true strength was unknown, but Killer B had once said that her relationship with the Two-Tails was even better than his with the Eight-Tails. This piece of information alone was enough to make Kyosuke not take her lightly.
The last one, Samui. A typical blonde with a large... ahem. She was a calm and collected ninja who excelled in fighting with a short sword. Her specific strength was unknown.
The Cloud's lineup, on the surface, was a cut above the other villages. But Kyosuke couldn't be sure. After all, he didn't know the full details of each of these formidable characters. So, even with a jinchuriki, the Cloud couldn't be guaranteed to win against everyone.
For example, the upcoming Mist ninja.
Village Hidden by the Mist
Team Leader: A Jounin from the Hōzuki clan.
Participants: Mei Terumī, Ao, Kisame Hoshigaki.
Mei Terumī, the Fifth Mizukage, a user of the Lava and Boil Release Kekkei Genkai, and the hero who ended the "Bloody Mist" era of the Mist Village. As for her strength, one could get a glimpse of it from her Kekkei Genkai, which could even melt a "Susanoo" in the original story.
Ao, in the original story, was not particularly outstanding in terms of strength, especially before he obtained the "Byakugan." But Kyosuke roughly estimated that at this time, he was probably no weaker than Asuma and the others of the same generation.
The last one, and a strong contender for the title of "strongest" in this Chunin Exam, was Kisame Hoshigaki.
A member of the Akatsuki in the original story, the wielder of the second Samehada, the man known as the "Tailed Beast without a Tail."
Although he was about the same age as Kyosuke now, it was unlikely that he had already obtained the right to use Samehada. But since Konoha could send Kyosuke, an Anbu, to compete, it wouldn't be too strange for the Mist to bestow Samehada upon Kisame ahead of time.
So, a Kisame with Samehada would have a terrifying level of strength, comparable to that of a jinchuriki.
Through this personnel list, Kyosuke had a general understanding of the combat power of the other four ninja villages.
The question now was, besides himself, who were the other two candidates from Konoha?
Asuma, Obito, and the others, although they would become powerful later, were still too weak compared to these "monsters" at this age.
As for those who were slightly older, Kyosuke couldn't think of anyone.
Genma Shiranui? Don't be ridiculous. He couldn't even handle the Sound Four. Sending him would just be sending him to his death.
The Third, who had been sitting there silently, seemed to have guessed what Kyosuke was thinking.
He suddenly knocked on his desk, and two figures walked in from outside the door.
One of them looked slightly older than Kyosuke, was completely covered from head to toe, and wore a strange mask that only left his mouth exposed.
The other one was clearly a ninja from the Hyuga clan.
"Hokage-sama," the two of them greeted the Third simultaneously.
The Third nodded at them and then said in a solemn voice, "Listen to my orders."
The four in the room immediately stood up straight.
"Minato will be the team leader for this joint Chunin Exam. Uchiha Kyosuke will be the squad captain. The squad members will be Torune Aburame and Hyuga Yōmyō."
"This joint exam is of great importance. Therefore, only success is permitted, not failure."
"Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir!" x4.
"Mm." The Third smiled at the four of them and then gestured for them to leave.
And so, the group, led by their team leader, Namikaze Minato, walked out of the Hokage's office.
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