The highly anticipated third stage of the Chunin Exams has finally arrived.
In order not to miss this grand spectacle, Ge Liang also closed his internet cafe for the day and headed toward the competition venue with Haku, Zabuza, and Karin.
"Boss, how many people do you think will pass the exam and be promoted to Chunin this time?"
On the way, Haku, feeling slightly bored, brought up the topic of becoming a Chunin with Ge Liang.
"In terms of strength, all eight of these people could become Chunin. However, as you know, becoming a Chunin doesn't rely entirely on strength; it also requires brains. So, I don't think many people will pass the exam and become Chunin this time."
There are eight candidates. Five are from Konoha: Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke, Sakura Haruno, Hyuga Hinata, and Nara Shikamaru.
The three from Sunagakure are: Gaara, Kankuro, and Temari. (Note 1)
Just as Ge Liang said, the strength of these eight people is already sufficient to be Chunin.
However, a Chunin must not only surpass the average Genin in strength but also possess good tactical intelligence.
After all, the rank of Chunin allows one to lead a squad and become a team captain. If they aren't smart, they could implicate the entire squad.
In Ge Liang's opinion, among the eight, only Temari, Shikamaru, and Sakura have the brains required to be Chunin.
As for the other five, it's not that they lack intelligence, but rather that they still have character flaws.
Kankuro is reckless, Gaara is volatile, Hyuga Hinata is shy and naive, and then there is Uzumaki Naruto's 'foolishness' and Uchiha Sasuke's 'arrogance.'
As time goes on, these five will certainly overcome their character flaws. Even if they don't, reaching a critical threshold of strength would also suffice.
Just look at Guy; the reason he was able to become a Chunin back then was because, even as a Genin, his Taijutsu had no rivals among the Chunin ranks, which is why he was made a Chunin exceptionally.
Otherwise, given his brain and personality, there's no way he would have become a Chunin.
"So Boss, do you have anyone in particular you favor?"
"Hmm, I favor Shikamaru the most, followed by Sakura and Temari."
"Shikamaru?"
As an internet cafe attendant, Haku naturally knew Shikamaru. However, he was a little confused about why Ge Liang valued this seemingly lazy and sluggish Guy.
"Huh? Don't you know this Guy has an IQ over 200?"
⊙▽⊙!
Haku was surprised. He really didn't know Shikamaru's mind was that sharp. An IQ over 200... that's practically inhuman.
"So, Boss, are you saying that Naruto and Sasuke are both idiots?"
Hearing that Naruto was not among Ge Liang's preferred candidates, Karin immediately complained.
"In a certain sense, those two really are idiots."
Karin had expected Ge Liang to be more diplomatic, but she didn't expect him to admit it so directly.
"How are they idi..."
She wanted to ask Ge Liang why he called them idiots—Sasuke was one thing, but Naruto was definitely not an idiot.
But Ge Liang didn't give her a chance to finish, interrupting her directly: "Alright, the matches are about to start. Let's go inside."
Interrupted by Ge Liang, Karin didn't press the issue further.
After taking out the tickets Jiraiya had given him yesterday, the group smoothly entered the venue.
Ge Liang found a random spot and sat down, glancing around but not seeing any acquaintances.
This was good; it meant he wouldn't have to look after people if a fight broke out later... Not long after Ge Liang and his group of four sat down, Shiranui Genma, the proctor in charge of this exam, announced the contestants for the first match.
The first match: Uzumaki Naruto VS Kankuro.
"Proctor, I forfeit!"
Just as Naruto confidently stepped onto the field, Kankuro, for reasons unknown, chose to forfeit directly from the contestant waiting area.
This decision not only baffled Shiranui Genma but also surprised the audience.
This was the final round of the Chunin Exams; if you didn't want to become a Chunin, why participate? If you did want to become a Chunin, why forfeit?
It was incomprehensible.
"First match: Uzumaki Naruto wins!"
Naruto, having won by default, didn't make a fuss. He simply shrugged and returned to the contestant waiting area.
"Second match: Nara Shikamaru VS Temari."
This time, Temari, representing Sunagakure, did not forfeit. Instead, she appeared on the field with a heroic and spirited demeanor.
"What a drag."
Mutting about the trouble, Shikamaru still appeared on the competition grounds.
If he dared to copy Kankuro and forfeit, he would probably be subjected to a mixed double beating by his parents when he got home.
"Begin the match!"
Once both contestants were on the field, Shiranui Genma confirmed they were ready and announced the start of the match.
"Ding~"
"One Star~"
The moment the match began, Temari opened her fan slightly, revealing one of the three stars, and started using a Wind Release Ninjutsu.
"Deng~"
This kind of Wind Release Ninjutsu couldn't hit Shikamaru, let alone the enhanced Shikamaru, but even the Shikamaru from the original work.
Relying on the Cloud-Treading Vertical Leap, Shikamaru leaped high into the air and unleashed a volley of "BIUBIUBIU~" attacks toward Temari.
Temari had already witnessed Shikamaru's Six Meridian Divine Sword during the tie-breaker match that started the second round.
Facing it this time, she chose to avoid it as much as possible, just like Ino did previously.
But evasion was useless. The reason Shikamaru didn't dare approach Ino during their match was his fear that Ino would preemptively control him using the Mind Transfer Jutsu.
Temari didn't know the Mind Transfer Jutsu, so Shikamaru boldly closed in.
"Two Stars~"
Temari naturally knew that Shikamaru's Cloud-Treading Vertical Leap allowed him to gain leverage once in the air. Seeing Shikamaru aggressively closing in, she quickly opened her fan a bit more, revealing the two stars inside, and used a slightly stronger Wind Release technique than before.
Facing Temari's Wind Release attack, Shikamaru, still airborne, could only use his left foot to step on his right for leverage to dodge, while simultaneously using the Six Meridian Divine Sword again to prevent Temari from launching continuous attacks.
"What a drag."
Landing, Shikamaru looked at Temari, who had widened the distance between them, and couldn't help but complain about the trouble again.
After speaking, he took off his jacket and threw it toward the sky on Temari's side.
At the same time, Shikamaru quickly pulled out a Kunai and threw it directly toward Temari.
"Again?"
Ino had her attention drawn away by Shikamaru's jacket toss at the beginning of their match, and Temari was determined not to repeat that mistake.
She jumped left, dodging the incoming Kunai, and then forcefully swung the fan in her hand toward the jacket in the sky, blowing the jacket away.
"Now let's see how you use a jacket to distract me."
Lowering her fan, Temari looked at Shikamaru with a smug expression.
At that moment, Shikamaru smiled slightly and said, "Shadow Imitation Jutsu, success!"