Before the exit of the Demon Desert, a massive crater a kilometer in diameter lay eerily.
The crater floor held cooled magma, scorch marks from lightning strikes, and not-yet-evaporated water streams… all indicating a terrifying battle had occurred here recently.
The Iwagakure's team leader's voice was strained. "What happened here? A war?"
"Could these traces also be the work of those assassins?" Many Jonin felt a belated fear. Thankfully, they hadn't encountered such formidable enemies.
Rasa couldn't help but speculate, 'Could it be Kazekage-sama fighting an enemy?'
"Everyone, it's time we became alert. We must no longer recklessly use assassination organizations to suppress opposing forces. They have grown to a point worthy of serious attention," Minato reminded.
Everyone nodded in deep agreement. If not for this Chunin Exams, they wouldn't have known the assassination organizations' influence had grown to such an extent.
These were no ordinary assassination organizations. A heavy-handed approach was necessary.
"Let's set aside the matter here for now," Rasa said. "First, send the rescued individuals out, then consider a second rescue operation."
…
By the third day, this accident-prone Chunin Exam was directly concluded.
Sitting in his office, Rasa felt mentally exhausted. "Report. What are the results of this Chunin Exam?"
The proctor in charge of the second exam reported, "Thirty-six teams entered the Demon Desert. In the end, nineteen teams emerged..."
At this point, the proctor still felt lingering fear. "If not for two teams protecting the majority, probably no more than five teams would have emerged from the desert."
Although he had spoken coldly before the exam, hoping more examinees would die, too many deaths would also cause trouble, especially with the Hokage's son among the examinees. A diplomatic incident would be troublesome.
"Then, among these nineteen teams that emerged from the Demon Desert, only three obtained both Heaven and Earth scrolls. They are the Hiruko Team, the Chiaki Setsuna Team, and the Pain Team. However..."
"However what?"
"Some members from these three qualifying teams forfeited. In the end, only four individuals remain to participate in the final tournament. These four are Hiruko, Chiaki Setsuna, Might Guy, and Pain."
"Only four people." Rasa found it hard to believe. A final tournament with only four participants... this must be a record in Chunin Exam history.
However, it also reflected the danger of the second exam, which made so many teams give up the idea of competing for scrolls.
"Chiaki Setsuna, Might Guy, Pain..." Rasa muttered these names. Hiruko was Sasori's alias, so he didn't need to pay it mind.
That meant at least one among these three was the powerhouse who defeated those assassins.
"Did you inquire with the teams that interacted with them during the second exam?" Rasa asked.
"Yes, but their responses were strange, as if they were on drugs," the proctor's eyes were blank, "Some talked about a summon a kilometer long, others about a summon that could split continuously. What kind of summons are those?"
"Ah? Summons?" Rasa was also bewildered.
…
"A kilometer-long giant serpent? That's your reason for forfeiting?" The Iwagakure's team leader looked coldly at the individuals before him. To avoid the exam, they would even tell such stupid lies.
"Mhmm." The Iwagakure's Genin who had followed Setsuna nodded repeatedly. "We are definitely no match for Setsuna-sama. It's better if we all forfeit."
"Nonsense!" The leader slammed the table. "As Iwagakure's Ninjas, how can you retreat without fighting? Where is your Will of Stone?"
The Genin who suggested forfeiting was startled and muttered quietly, "Will can't be used as Chakra... Setsuna-sama is too strong. A kilometer-long giant serpent... I could stab it with a kunai for a month without making a dent."
"What kilometer-long giant serpent? Even the snake summon of one of the Sannin, Orochimaru, isn't even a hundred meters long," The Iwagakure's leader snorted coldly. "Either you were under a Genjutsu, or your math is terrible, leading to such a misjudgment."
"My math is definitely fine," Gantetsu first affirmed this belief, then muttered, "Could what I saw really be an illusion?"
"Use your pig brain and think carefully. A kilometer-long serpent… how much food would it need to eat daily? Could a mere Genin afford that? Enough, I don't want to hear anything like this from you again," The leader said decisively, "Don't let your foolish words affect Pain. He is our hope."
Hearing this, Gantetsu had no choice but to suppress the information about Setsuna's fight with the assassin, thinking, "Forget it, he won't believe me even if I tell him."
…
Meanwhile, at the inn where the Konoha's group was staying.
"Eh? You all forfeited?" Guy stood before Obito and Asuma, asking at an inopportune moment.
"Do you think everyone is as lucky as you, able to ride Setsuna-san's coattails for a guaranteed promotion?" Obito lay slumped on the table, looking frustrated.
'Not even making it to the final tournament... I'd be mocked by Kakashi again when we returned.'
"The opponent we encountered was too strong. His summon was practically unsolvable," Asuma shook his head with a sigh. "Aside from Senpai, I estimate no one in this Chunin Exam is his match."
Guy asked, "Who was the person you encountered?"
Obito said, "His name is Pain. He's the red-haired big brother we met on the street last time. He also saved us this time."
Shiranui Genma walked over. "So you weren't defeated by that monster from Sunagakure?"
Obito was curious. "Sunagakure has a very strong contestant too?"
Genma nodded, his face still showing traces of fear, "That person killed eleven seemingly powerful Ninja in just a few seconds. If we weren't far away, he might have killed us casually too."
"There are actually so many powerful monsters? The difficulty of the joint Chunin Exam is indeed too high. I'll just wait for the Chunin Exam held separately by the village," Obito sighed, "That kind of exam... Kakashi passed it at age six. I'll definitely pass it easily too."
Asuma and the others were speechless, 'Where did you get the idea that you're definitely stronger than Kakashi was at six?'
Completely unaware, Obito adjusted his mindset and then, winking and nudging, patted Guy's shoulder. "Guy, why don't you forfeit too? Taking the exam with those monsters... the pressure must be huge."
"How can I forfeit?" Guy clenched his fists, his enthusiasm soaring. "This is the time to uphold my Youthful Ninja Way! The fire in my heart is burning fiercely!"