The Chūnin Exams of the entire shinobi world officially began at last.
This was a grand event without precedent, convened after three full years of rare peace and steady development across the ninja world. On the surface, it appeared to be nothing more than a selection exam for Chūnin, yet in truth, it served as a comparatively peaceful means for every major nation to openly display its military strength. In essence, it was simply another form of war,one fought without banners or battlefields, but with young shinobi standing in for armies.
Because every nation understood this unspoken truth, both great powers and minor countries alike sent forth their most outstanding and most promising genin to participate. Kirigakure, Konohagakure, Kumogakure, Sunagakure, Iwagakure… along with Takigakure, Kusagakure, Amegakure, Otogakure, and many others. Once all participating factions had arrived, the Chūnin Exams officially commenced.
Compared to this unprecedented gathering that spanned the entire ninja world, the Chūnin Exams of the original era seemed almost laughably small in scale. Back then, only two great nations,Konoha and Suna,had truly participated, alongside a handful of minor villages such as Otogakure and Kusagakure. In terms of numbers alone, the difference was staggering. In the past, Konoha, which had the largest contingent, sent a total of eighty-seven participants. Suna followed with thirty, Amegakure with twenty-one, and the rest of the villages combined barely amounted to a few dozen more, for a total of just over one hundred and fifty participants.
This time, however, Kirigakure alone had sent a massive one hundred and twenty-three genin, making it the village with the highest number of participants. Konoha followed closely with over ninety, while the other three great nations each fielded more than fifty competitors. When the smaller villages were added to the count, the total number of examinees surpassed five hundred,an unprecedented scale that could truly be called unmatched in past or future alike.
More importantly, the Five Kage of the Five Great Nations had all arrived in person, along with the leaders of the smaller countries. Their presence alone was enough to send the entire village of Konoha into a state of excitement and fervor.
The first stage of the exams remained the written test, just as before, and the examiner was still Morino Ibiki. Beyond assessing the genin's theoretical foundations, the test also evaluated their ability to gather intelligence and make decisive judgments under pressure. In essence, it followed the same framework as the original exam, though the sheer number of participants meant that the ways to pass were far more diverse.
For example, Jūgo communicated with birds outside the window, using them to relay information and answers. Uzumaki Karin relied on her extraordinary sensory abilities, perceiving subtle movements in others' hands to deduce what they were writing. Haku manipulated the moisture in the air, condensing it into ice mirrors on the ceiling in order to peek at nearby test papers. Naturally, there were also shinobi like Tsuchigumo Hotaru,naturally gifted and academically excellent,who passed the test simply by writing down the correct answers themselves.
All in all, the written exam passed without major incident. Nearly every genin of note, those with both reputation and ability, successfully advanced to the next stage.
The true trial, the one that would genuinely test all participants, began with the second exam.
The Forest of Death Survival Challenge!!!
Although the format was largely the same as before, the circumstances were entirely different. The number of participants was now three to four times greater than in the past, and this included elite genin from all Five Great Nations as well as the smaller countries. Among them, there was no shortage of truly formidable talents. The overwhelming dominance once displayed by a single Gaara sweeping through the exams was no longer possible under these conditions. Of course, Gaara's strength still placed him firmly among the very top of all genin, but being the absolute strongest was no longer guaranteed.
At the signal given by the second exam's proctor, Mitarashi Anko, all participants surged into the Forest of Death from every direction. This vast forest spanned more than ten kilometers in diameter, and once inside, survival depended solely on one's own strength and judgment,life and death were matters of personal responsibility alone.
Through massive screens, the Five Kage, the leaders of the smaller nations, and countless spectators from Konoha and abroad could observe the entire forest in real time. In that very moment, Chiba saw Kirigakure's teams charging into the Forest of Death from different directions.
Team One consisted of Haku, Tsuchigumo Hotaru, and Sagiri.
Team Two was made up of Hōzuki Suigetsu, Jūgo, and Uzumaki Karin.
Team Three included Uchiha Sasuke, Chōjūrō, and Kōzuki Shigure.
Team Four brought together Kaguya Kimimaro, Uchiha Kei, and Jizō.
These four elite Kirigakure genin squads were deliberately positioned in four separate sectors, all advancing toward the central tower at the heart of the forest. To pass the exam, they would not only need to survive but also collect both the Heaven and Earth scrolls.
On Konoha's side, aside from Team Seven, there were few changes from the original lineup. Because Uchiha Sasuke's fate had been altered by Chiba, Shimura Danzō had sent Sai into the exam ahead of schedule.
Team Seven now consisted of Uzumaki Naruto, Haruno Sakura, and Sai.
Team Eight was formed by Hyūga Hinata, Aburame Shino, and Inuzuka Kiba.
Team Ten included Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Chōji, and Yamanaka Ino.
Team Three was composed of Hyūga Neji, Rock Lee, and Tenten.
Sunagakure, on the other hand, remained much the same as ever, led by Maki and centered around the three siblings,Gaara, Temari, and Kankurō. Iwagakure sent a team led by Akatsuchi and Kurotsuchi, accompanied by another young genin, while Kumogakure's lineup consisted of Omoi, Karui, and Atsui. Beyond them were the teams from the smaller villages: Kusagakure's Oboro, Kagari, and Mubi; Otogakure's Kin Tsuchi, Tsurugi Misumi, and Zaku Abumi, among others.
Naturally, within Konoha's ranks, Orochimaru's three undercover spies also participated in the exams. Yakushi Kabuto, Tsurugi Misumi, and Akado Yoroi entered the Forest of Death alongside the rest, their true intentions hidden beneath calm expressions.
Before long, Kirigakure's Team One,Haku, Tsuchigumo Hotaru, and Sagiri, three female genin,became the first to encounter enemy shinobi. Their opponents were a trio from Amegakure: Oboro, Mubi, and Kagari. This confrontation could be called the very first battle of the All-Ninja World Chūnin Exams, drawing the full attention of the Five Kage and countless spectators watching intently.
By now, Haku and her teammates had grown considerably, not only in age but in composure and strength. Their maturity was evident, and their progress in combat ability was nothing short of remarkable. Haku stepped forward calmly and asked, her voice steady, "Which scroll do you have? If it's the same as ours, there may be no need for us to fight."
Oboro, the leader of the Amegakure team, responded with a light chuckle, his smile tinged with mockery. "No need to fight? What fun would that be?" His tone sharpened as he continued, "No matter what scrolls we're holding, once we've crossed paths, battle is inevitable. That's the true essence of the Chūnin Exams!"
Tsuchigumo Hotaru let out a soft sigh. "Sounds like a lunatic…" Sagiri nodded vigorously in agreement, her expression tense.
Oboro sneered. "Just three female genin? Perfect. Let's use you to show off our strength!"
In an instant, the Amegakure trio unleashed their coordinated formation, a seamless three-in-one attack pattern. It was the same tactic that, in the past, had pushed Konoha's Team Seven into a desperate struggle. As their leader, Oboro immediately activated his secret technique.
"Ninjutsu! Oboro Clone Technique!!!"
In the blink of an eye, dozens,then hundreds,of Oboro clones filled the battlefield, completely occupying the surrounding space. Haku, Hotaru, and Sagiri found themselves surrounded on all sides, while the real Oboro, Kagari, and Mubi vanished without a trace.
Haku frowned slightly. "Shadow clones?" she murmured, then added with quiet admiration, "To create this many… that's impressive."
Without hesitation, she released her Ice Release kekkei genkai. Streams of senbon formed from crystalline ice shot forward in a blinding barrage.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Bang! Bang!
The ice needles pierced through countless clones, yet to no effect. One by one, the figures dispersed like mist, revealing themselves to be nothing more than empty illusions.
"As expected," Haku said calmly. "They're just ordinary clones without substance. This is a decoy tactic,using sheer numbers to lure us in while the real bodies hide and wait to strike."
Hotaru looked at her with open admiration. "Haku, you really are amazing…" Sagiri nodded again, eyes shining.
Haku smiled softly. "I learned this from Lord Chiba. Training in ninjutsu is important, but thinking through tactics matters just as much."
From the spectator stands, Chiba couldn't help but smile. Haku truly was exceptional. Even in the original storyline, her abilities had far surpassed those of her peers, and now, that gap had only grown wider.
Hidden in the shadows, the Amegakure trio was shaken.
"She figured out our strategy already?!"
"And that technique,Ice Release kekkei genkai!"
"Just like the Godaime Mizukage … a member of the Yuki Clan?!"
They finally realized they had underestimated their opponents, but by then, retreat was no longer simple. Oboro clenched his teeth. "Fine. We'll go on the offensive with that move!"
"Yes!" his teammates answered in unison.
From the darkness, Oboro suddenly launched his attack.
"Suiton: Kuroame no Jutsu (Water Release! Black Rain Technique)!!!"
Though classified as Water Release, the technique actually scattered flammable oil like raindrops, splashing over the battlefield and clinging to anything it touched. Combined with Fire Release, it became a vicious and lethal combination. In moments, countless drops of black rain fell from above, forcing Haku's team to leap backward to evade.
Sagiri reacted instantly, raising her hand as sand and gravel surged upward from the ground, forming layered barriers that blocked most of the falling oil.
"What?!"
"That's sand manipulation?!"
"A secret technique borrowed from Sunagakure?!"
Oboro barked an order, and Mubi immediately followed up with Fire Release.
"Katon: Karyū Endan (Fire Release! Fire Dragon Flame Bullet)!!!"
The flames erupted, igniting the still-falling black oil. With a thunderous roar, fire spread violently, threatening to engulf Haku and her teammates entirely.
At that critical moment, Haku's hands flew through seals with practiced precision.
"Hyōton: Hyōgan Dōmu (Ice Release! Ice Rock Hall Technique)!!!"
Rumble,!
Rumble,!
BOOM!!!
Moisture in the air froze instantly, surging together to form a massive wall of ice that rose like a fortress, blocking every trace of flame and oil in its path.
"What?!"
Only then did the Amegakure trio truly understand that none of the three female genin before them were easy opponents. Their expressions changed dramatically. As captain, Oboro made a snap decision, waving his hand sharply. "Retreat!"
Kagari and Mubi nodded at once. But just as they turned,
"Trying to run?"
"It won't be that easy!"
Two figures burst out from the shadows, moving like seasoned shinobi. They wore Kirigakure forehead protectors and wielded kunai, shuriken, and even blades hidden within mechanical joints. They charged straight at Oboro's team with lethal precision.
They were puppets,controlled by Tsuchigumo Hotaru,and personally crafted by Chiba: the "Kirigakure Operatives."
The Amegakure trio was utterly shocked. It was already too late to defend as the two puppets struck from left and right, their blades flashing downward.
"Mercy!!!" Oboro screamed at last, while the other two could only clutch their heads in panic.
Hotaru tugged lightly on her chakra threads, halting the puppets' movements. "Hand over your scrolls."
Oboro nodded frantically and surrendered their scroll at once. Haku and Sagiri stepped forward, opening it together,and their eyes lit up. It was the Earth Scroll, perfectly matching the Heaven Scroll their team already possessed.
"That's great!!!"
The three girls exchanged high-fives, celebrating their victory. Thus, the first battle of the Forest of Death challenge came to an end,with a complete and overwhelming victory for Kirigakure's Team One.
At the very front of the spectator stands, where the Five Kage were seated, the other four couldn't hide their surprise. The Kazekage, Rasa, looked particularly grim. Sagiri's sand manipulation and Hotaru's puppet techniques had once been Sunagakure's signature strengths, yet now they belonged to Kirigakure. To him, this was nothing short of humiliation,a mark of his own inadequacy as Kazekage.
Ōnoki, however, spoke with open admiration. "Ice Release of the Yuki Clan, combined with sand control and puppet techniques… Mizukage-sama, Kirigakure's Team One is extraordinarily powerful."
Chiba smiled lightly, showing no false modesty. "Indeed."
Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Yondaime Raikage exchanged a glance, both deeply uneasy about Kirigakure's rapidly rising power.
And just then, another encounter unfolded elsewhere in the forest.
Kirigakure's Team Three crossed paths with Konoha's Team Seven.
In other words,
Uchiha Sasuke, Chōjūrō, and Kōzuki Shigure
met Uzumaki Naruto, Haruno Sakura, and Sai!!!
This marked the reunion of Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke,the reincarnations of Asura and Indra.
Of course, in this world, due to Chiba's interference, the bond between the two was no longer as deep as it once had been.
At this point, however, they were little more than acquaintances.
As Hiruzen Sarutobi gazed at Uchiha Sasuke's figure on the screen, his expression grew increasingly grim. The night of the Uchiha clan's annihilation had become an indelible stain upon the history of Konohagakure,a humiliation the village could never truly wash away. Not only had it resulted in severe losses to Konoha's own strength, but it had also failed to completely eradicate the Uchiha clan.
Instead, Uchiha Sasuke,and many other surviving members and children of the Uchiha, had defected to Kirigakure, becoming a powerful force that could one day turn against Konoha in vengeance. The consequences of that night had not faded with time; they had merely changed form, lying in wait for the future.
Naturally, Uchiha Sasuke harbored no goodwill toward Konoha's team either. His gaze was cold as he spoke, his voice carrying no warmth at all. "Hand over your scrolls," he said flatly. "If you do, I won't attack you."
Within Team Seven, Uzumaki Naruto exploded instantly. "Huh?!" he shouted, eyes blazing. "You've got to be kidding me! Who do you think you're looking down on?!"
He clenched his fists and turned sharply toward his teammates. "Sakura! Sai! Let's show them what Team Seven is made of!!!"
In that very instant, Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke stood facing one another. Kirigakure's Team Three and Konoha's Team Seven confronted each other head-on, the air between them tightening like a drawn bowstring.
A battle born of fate was about to erupt.