From within the Hyuga branch residence emerged a girl with long, fiery red hair, flowing all the way down her back.
It was Hyuga Hongdie.
But unlike her usual simple attire, today she wore a silk kimono, her noble bearing undeniable. She looked refined—like a lady born and raised within the elegance of the main house.
"I can't believe my eyes," Kusuo muttered, blinking in surprise. "I've never seen Hongdie dressed like this before."
Even Lucien raised his brows. "There's a saying... Buddha relies on gold, people rely on clothes. Hongdie looks... especially quiet and elegant like this."
At that, Hongdie's face flushed slightly. "So... are you implying I'm usually not quiet or elegant enough?"
Lucien froze, caught in her words, his silence breaking the group into stifled chuckles. Hizashi and Hiashi both smiled knowingly.
Hongdie cleared her throat softly, regaining composure. "Uncle Hiashi, Teacher Hizashi, really, you don't have to be so polite. I'm a student now, not a heiress." Her voice was sincere—ever since her growth in the duel with Suzuki's class, Hongdie had longed to shed the perception of a pampered noble.
Hiashi inclined his head, amused, but stepped back. Hatake Saku too waved, unceremonious as ever. "Alright then... parents aren't needed anymore. I'm done here." With a flicker, he vanished. Hiashi gave a respectful gesture to Hongdie before returning to the main house, leaving only Hizashi's squad in the courtyard.
Now it was only the four of them.
Hizashi clapped his hands, expression turning serious. "Alright. I've already registered you for the upcoming Chunin Selection Exam. Guardians have given their consent. Shigure—you must tell your sister about this later." His pale eyes grew stern.
"This Chunin Exam... is different. It's the largest since the Second Great Ninja War. Over three hundred candidates this time!"
"Three hundred...?!" Hongdie gasped.
"Yes. Because it's a team-based assessment, those three hundred form one hundred groups. And mind you—it's not only teams of recent graduates. There will be senior Genin, veterans, even participants with battlefield experience from the war. And here's the other twist... this year, the Advisory Council has allowed already-selected Chunin to enter as participants."
"What?!" Hongdie trembled. "But... the whole point is to become Chunin! Why are actual Chunin in the exam?"
Hizashi explained gravely, "Because a Konoha squad is three-man cell by tradition. The exam assumes one role may already be that of a Chunin. Thus, if that team passes, the other two are eligible for promotion. But rest assured—the rule states there can be no more than one Chunin per squad. It is to balance the system."
Lucien's gaze hardened. Danzo... this reeks of his manipulations. Along with those two other old advisors, this can't be coincidence. They always have a hidden agenda.
But aloud, he said nothing.
Kusuo muttered instead, "Doesn't matter. We don't need to worry about their tricks. We should just think about how to win."
"Don't underestimate it," Hizashi said calmly. "Let me explain the structure."
He took a deep breath, then began. "This exam has three main stages. The first— a written test. Ninja rules, history, knowledge... expect it to be tough. Around 40% of candidates are usually eliminated here, leaving only about 60 groups."
"Forty percent?!" Kusuo grimaced visibly. "Almost half will fail? And you're telling me this is on rules and theory?!"
Lucien cast him a side glance. "Relax. Those kinds of tests rarely measure answers alone. They test things like deduction, information gathering, resourcefulness. With my Sharingan... even intel-based trials won't stump us."
Kusuo still groaned, head dropping. Written exams were his nightmare.
Hongdie, however, perked with confidence. "Written test... I'll do well there." Then her voice fell quieter. "But... the practicals... I might hold you back."
"The second stage," Hizashi continued, ignoring her doubts, "is the preliminaries. I know little of its exact format—the details are always kept confidential. But it will most certainly involve combat or field scenarios. Only those who pass the prelims advance."
"And after?" Hongdie asked nervously.
"The semi-finals," Hizashi explained. "From there, the strongest eight are chosen for the finals, which will be held three months later before all of Konoha. The champion's chance of promotion is extremely high. But remember—anyone who passes the preliminaries officially has a chance to be promoted, depending on their performance, judgment, and consistency."
Lucien exhaled. Three stages, rules, secrecy... With Danzo pulling strings, it's never simple. But no matter. I'll crush everything they throw at me.
"Any more questions?" Hizashi asked, glancing at the three.
Lucien shook his head. "None. Simple—just do it."
Kusuo groaned about the written test under his breath, while Hongdie clutched her sleeves nervously about the fights ahead.
Lucien offered her a rare small smile. "Relax, Hongdie. Focus on the written test first. The rest... I'll handle."
His crimson eyes sharpened with steel resolve.
The Chunin Exams loomed. And this time, the entire shinobi world would watch.
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