Nara Yūji stared wide-eyed and analyzed, "Genjutsu?!"
The ringleader just now thought the same, charging forward like an antelope and shouting loudly,
"Everyone, don't believe it—this is a group Genjutsu, it's an illusion!"
The young genin threw a punch at Susanoo's lower leg.
With that punch, it felt as if he had struck steel—his hand instantly swelled.
"This—"
The young genin stared at his reddened hand in confusion. Why was it different from what he imagined?
Kairen looked down, gazing at the genin below.
He admired the courage—but courting death is not a virtue.
The Fourth Raikage punching Susanoo is understandable; after all, his output is basically just that one hand.
But you—a mere genin—punched my Susanoo once.
You've got bragging rights for this lifetime. When you're old, every old man will look at you with respect.
Kairen controlled Susanoo to lightly kick once, directly sending the young genin flying out of the forest, instantly proving that his energy giant was not an illusion.
Susanoo's merciless eyes looked down at the people below. They stood in stunned silence, all trembling, as if accompanying a tiger.
Kairen manifested a huge trident-like fork in his hand and drew a circle around the outer perimeter of these people.
"You people… are all eliminated!"
Everyone swallowed hard, not even daring to feel angry.
The only ones left were Asuma's team and Shisui's team.
Kairen also didn't like Asuma. Holding the fork, he drew a circle around Asuma's team as well.
"You're eliminated too!"
Asuma clenched his fists. He didn't dare glare at Kairen in anger and could only curse him in his heart.
Shisui's team was somewhat happy—picking up a qualification for nothing.
Susanoo clapped its hands.
"Alright, the second round is over. Let's start the next one! What do you think?"
Kairen pointed the huge fork at the chief examiner hiding in the shadows.
The chief examiner jumped out and forced a stiff smile.
"Since the exam is over, that couldn't be better. Rest for a bit, then we'll proceed to the third test!"
Kairen dispelled Susanoo and jumped down from the air.
Obito and the others crowded around him.
"Kairen, Kairen, what kind of Nin is that? Teach me!"
...
The third test was held in the coliseum at the village center—a large circular building, like a Spanish bullfighting arena.
Many spectators gradually filed into the stands—around a thousand people—among whom were quite a few from Kairen's water army, ready to stir the atmosphere.
There were about twenty minutes left. Obito, Guy, and the others kept pestering Kairen, extremely interested in that fiery red giant from earlier.
Kairen looked up at the sky. A patch of dark clouds covered the sun.
The time had come!
...
The Sarutobi residence.
The Third Hokage donned light armor, covering the battle gear beneath with a Hokage robe.
He slowly stepped outside. A group of people in ANBU attire knelt on one knee.
"Set up the ambush. Don't let Kairen discover it!"
As Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice fell, many figures vanished on the spot.
His clouded eyes glanced at the sky, growing sharper.
"The wind is rising!"
"Gah! I've waited so many days—I can't wait anymore."
...
The Uchiha clan.
A group of red-eyed ninjas listened as Fugaku delivered a speech of rebellion.
"Since the village was founded, our Uchiha clan has been marginalized. Either we erupt in silence or perish in silence. It's time we used our gunbai to extinguish the flames!"
"Set out—raise arms against Konoha!"
In different places, ninjas were being mobilized.
Beneath the calm surface of Konoha Village, a surging undercurrent was forming, ready to swallow all who watched.
...
The Death Forest.
A vast army stood in formation, fully armed.
Tanks, aircraft, cannons—too many to count—enough to support a modern war.
Tsunade, clad in battle armor, looked down at the assembled Kairen faction and said,
"My Senju clan founded Konoha back in the Warring States era, diligently nurturing this young tree of Konoha."
"Yet without realizing it, it was swallowed by those dark roots."
"I once thought Konoha was a peaceful village, but when I saw those roots—filthy, reeking of the stench of power."
"Within those dark roots, you can never know how much darkness there is, nor see how many hidden whirlpools lie within!"
"Raising arms today is not for my personal ambition. I want the peaceful village of the past."
"That village once full of hope, that village that would not send children to the battlefield, that would not discard the remains of meritorious heroes in the wilderness."
"Everyone—are you willing to help me?"
At Tsunade's words, a great wave surged up at once.
"We are willing to aid Princess Tsunade!!"
"Then—raise arms and surround the city!!"
...
The draw for the Chūnin Exams came out quickly.
Kairen was in the second match. His opponent was… Guy!
Guy was full of excitement, not at all frightened by Kairen's giant from earlier.
Youth fears no bulls, ghosts, or monsters.
Guy strode before Kairen brimming with fighting spirit, as if surrounded by the BGM of youth.
It almost resonated with Kairen's youth buff, making him want to shout about youth.
"Kairen, you'd better use your full strength later, or I'll be unhappy!"
Kairen nodded repeatedly. "Don't worry! I'll go all the way with you in youth!"
"That's more like it!"
But Kairen didn't take it seriously. If he really used his full power—
One opening move, straight to Tengai Shinsei, and the entire Konoha Village would be destroyed.
The first match of the third test was already a heavyweight.
Uchiha's genius Shisui versus Hatake Kakashi.
Both were famous to everyone.
One was the genius Shisui; the other was Kakashi, who broke the record for fastest promotion to chūnin at age six.
The crowd's emotions were stirred.
Kairen's water army also began to set the tone.
Shisui and Kakashi standing in the arena were puzzled.
Kakashi looked at a large horizontal banner: "Hatake, go! Thousand Years of Death to serve Shisui."
Masked Kakashi was full of confusion.
At the examiner's command for the third test: "Begin! Fight nicely."
Generally speaking, the first two tests had already basically determined the chūnin slots.
The third was merely a show, to please the noble lords and get them to obediently open their wallets to commission ninjas.
Kakashi and Shisui began their fight.
Kakashi was of course stronger than Shisui. After all, he'd been a chūnin for many years.
With rich combat experience, he could manage an eight-three split.
But what's most frightening are accidents.
Ninjas are a group of assassins—focused on ambush and Assassination, not like those dull samurai who clash blades head-on.
Ninja warfare is full of uncertainty—like Kaguya developing a fondness for the Harem Technique.
All matters under heaven… are full of accidents.
The facts proved Shisui wasn't weak either.
Most importantly, Shisui opened the Sharingan, which surprised many people, who secretly thought it worthy of the genius-rich Uchiha.
Both used blade techniques, clashing in the arena with sparks and lightning.
Kairen guest-starred as a storyteller, constantly shouting into Anko's ear,
"Just as it was said—then in a flash! Kakashi comes in with a left front kick, then a right roundhouse—"
"Shisui's hit—hey! The moment I say it, he pops right back up. So fast…"
Anko cursed at Kairen, "I can see it myself—I don't need your commentary!"
"Alright then!"