"Well then, we're heading out. Mom, just relax and watch me take first place in the first two rounds through the broadcast."
Naruto Uzumaki gave a confident thumbs-up to Kushina, promising he'd win first place.
Kushina only chuckled, then struck him on the head with a hand chop, giving him a sharp look. "Just don't cause trouble for your teammates in the first two rounds. Listen to Mie's instructions. If you get eliminated, I won't forgive you."
Kamigawa No and Yamai Mie both nodded in agreement. Naruto's biggest flaw was his impulsiveness—always full of surprises. While it sometimes worked out, more often it brought trouble.
"Ah, Mie, No, you underestimate me. I'll definitely follow orders this time!"
Brimming with confidence from his training, Naruto looked around after saying that. Kushina noticed immediately, tapped his head lightly, and said,
"Don't bother looking. Mirai-kun has been training hard lately—barely leaves the house."
Naruto looked surprised. "Uncle Mirai is already that strong, and he's still training? That's amazing!"
"The principal, huh?"
Kamigawa No and Yamai Mie exchanged curious glances upon hearing Naruto's words. They knew he was close with the principal, and both decided to ask him for gossip later.
At the gates of the Sand Federation's city, crowds of people gathered to see the participants off. Uchiha Mikoto had come to send Sasuke off as well, accompanied by Inoka and another Uchiha clansman who had been helping train Sasuke these past weeks.
Inoka's face was calm, but his eyes were filled with hope as he said to Sasuke, "Sasuke, make sure you bring honor to the Uchiha name."
"Do your best," the other clansman added. During their training, one had helped Sasuke refine his fundamentals while the other focused on improving his Sharingan.
They hadn't held back during sparring either. Sasuke still bore half-healed wounds, his arms wrapped in bandages covering scars from relentless training.
But it was precisely that intensity that pushed Sasuke's strength to new heights. His Sharingan had evolved to three tomoe, and he had mastered several Uchiha-style Taijutsu and shuriken techniques, along with two Sharingan-based Genjutsu.
Kankuro and Temari were also seeing Gaara off. Temari, now part of the security force, had no plans to take the exam herself—she only hoped her younger brother would make her proud. Kankuro, however, was dissatisfied. He'd wanted to participate, but puppeteers were banned from entering, shattering his dream of showing off his puppets during the joint Chunin Exams.
That order came directly from the Fifth Kazekage.
The mechanical puppets' abilities were too overwhelming. For Genin, they were simply unbeatable. If puppet users were allowed to compete, the other four villages would accuse Pakura of sabotaging the fairness of the exams.
"All team leaders and participating Genin, gather here. We're departing."
The commander for this mission, Maki, called out. With others occupied—Yashamaru handling administrative duties—Maki was the only Jonin available to lead the team.
Still, he didn't mind. At least this way, he'd finally get to pilot the anti-gravity airship himself. Ever since he'd first seen it, he'd wanted to try it, and thanks to the Chunin Exams, he finally had the chance to give the Genin a relaxing ride before the trials began.
The Sand Federation was sending twelve squads—thirty-six Genin in total. Including the Jonin leaders and Chunin proctors, their full group numbered eighty.
Once everyone boarded, Maki activated the anti-gravity system. The airship rose steadily into the sky and headed for the Land of Hot Water. At its speed, they'd arrive in just over a day.
"Alright, everyone, let's move out."
Tsunade personally came to the Konoha village gates to see off her participants. Konoha was sending twenty squads—its largest contingent. The oldest participant was seventeen, while only two newly graduated teams were taking part this year. Their captains were also the designated commander and vice-commander for the journey to the Land of Hot Water.
Genjutsu Master Kurenai Yuhi and the Byakugan Princess herself.
Sending so many teams was necessary. Each round of the exams would be tougher than the last, so the more Genin they fielded, the better their chances. During the second stage especially, having more ninja from the same village would increase their odds of eliminating competitors from others.
Among the sixty participating Genin, six were fresh graduates. Yet their confidence outshone even those who had been Genin for years.
"Sakura, this time let's see which of us lasts longer and becomes a Chunin first!"
Ino leaned close to Sakura Haruno with a confident grin. Only the three of them had managed to endure Kurenai-sensei's training for so long. Ino's recent efforts—especially her final spar with Kurenai's shadow clone—had greatly boosted her confidence.
"Ino, my role in the team is as a medical ninja…" Sakura sighed lightly before smiling. "But since you want a contest, fine. Let's see who passes the exams and becomes a Chunin."
Their conversation drew curious glances from nearby Genin. The veterans among them knew the truth—this Chunin Exam, involving all five nations, would be the hardest in history. Only these newly graduated Genin could still speak with such innocence.
Nara Shikamaru, on the other hand, wasn't nearly as upbeat. Having heard inside information from his father, he found the whole situation troublesome. He had no intention of becoming a Chunin—his goal was simply to survive the second round.
But he knew once they returned, that deceptively kind yet terrifyingly strict teacher Kurenai would train them half to death again.
After greeting Tsunade, Kiyo Hyuga turned to address the assembled Genin, Jonin, and Chunin. "Let's move. We regroup at the border within one day."
"One day…"
At that, everyone's expressions stiffened.
By that pace, they'd barely have time to rest—and even then, they'd have to rely on soldier pills to restore chakra and stamina.
Sakura and Kiba both smacked their foreheads. They knew their teacher wouldn't let them relax even before the exams. One day of nonstop travel would be a brutal challenge.
Tsunade sighed and waved them off. Since Kiyo was in charge, she wouldn't interfere.
"Move out!"
At Kiyo's command, the squads dispersed, keeping close but maintaining formation as they began their march.
"Let's go too, Kiyo."
Kurenai smiled, and the two of them used Body Flicker to advance quickly. For Taijutsu-oriented ninja like them, combining high-speed movement with Body Flicker was second nature. While the others would need a full day to reach the border, they would arrive in half the time.
Around the same time, Iwagakure and Kirigakure also dispatched their leaders and Genin for the exams.
Even small villages participated. Amegakure sent three squads as usual. Nagato didn't care about the exams themselves—their real goal was to capture Jinchūriki during the event. They didn't even bother sending a Jonin leader, only a single Chunin.
Their plan was simple: capture the Four-Tails, Five-Tails, and Six-Tails during the first round, then the Two-Tails, Seven-Tails, and Eight-Tails in the second. Finally, they'd have White Zetsu frame the Sand Federation, inciting war across the ninja world. Once chaos erupted, the Akatsuki would move in to capture the One-Tail and Nine-Tails.
This strategy had been discussed at length between Nagato and Tobi. Only the Three-Tails remained missing, much to both their frustration—so much that Black Zetsu had taken his anger out on White Zetsu.
It was a rare opportunity. Both Tobi and Nagato had witnessed the strength of Hyuga Mirai and Tsunade firsthand. Attempting to capture tailed beasts under their watch without a war as distraction would be nearly impossible.
If they failed to seize this moment, it could take years before the Akatsuki could complete the collection of all nine tailed beasts.
With four great nations preparing to attack the Sand Federation, the Akatsuki could finally operate in the shadows. Black Zetsu was both pleased and enraged—pleased at the chance to gather the beasts, furious that White Zetsu still couldn't locate the Three-Tails.
Many within the Akatsuki were growing dissatisfied with White Zetsu. Black Zetsu and Tobi often forced him to scour for information. Nagato himself had already reprimanded him twice—boasting of his unmatched intelligence network, yet failing to locate Sasori or the Three-Tails had crippled their plans.
Black Zetsu was even considering reviving Uchiha Madara early if the war began and the collection still failed. Without Madara, Nagato and Tobi alone might not be enough. Both had already struggled to handle a single Wood Release user like Tsunade. If their plans were exposed, the Akatsuki would be crushed by the five great nations.
In the Land of Fields—
Orochimaru's Hidden Sound Village also received the Chunin Exam invitation. The village served mainly as his cover, filled with talented youths. Thanks to Hyuga Mirai's financial support, they rarely took outside missions.
Their survival between two great nations depended on their discretion.
For this exam, Orochimaru decided to send Guren as the leader, and formed a team consisting of Neji Hyuga, Hinata Hyuga, and another Sound ninja who had adapted to the Cursed Seal.
"Neji-kun, show your strength freely during the Chunin Exams. As for the Byakugan enhancement experiments, we'll continue after you return… heh heh."
Orochimaru's voice rasped as he spoke to Neji. Among the three Hyuga brought by Kabuto, Neji's talent and determination stood out the most.
But for experimentation, Hinata was the better subject.
Having survived the fusion of two Sage energies, Hinata's body greatly satisfied Orochimaru. She was slowly adapting to both powers. If possible, he even wanted to see her bear the fusion of three Sage energies.
"Hinata-kun, I have high expectations for you as well."
Hinata lifted her head slightly, her white pupils faintly reflecting a golden serpent's gaze. Her tone was calm but subtly strange. "Understood. Please rest assured, Orochimaru-sama."
(End of Chapter)