NOVEL NEXT Chapter 26: Chapter 26
Strictly speaking, it wasn't really about Senju Seito.
It was Fuijiwara Tetsuya who had spotted a few familiar faces not far away. They were younger, more fresh-faced versions of people he knew all too well from the future, but the resemblance was undeniable.
"Third Raikage's son—Ay!"
"The magnetic jutsu genius from Sunagakure, Rasa!"
"And Third Tsuchikage's son, the absolute prodigy from Iwagakure—Kitsuchi!"
"Whoa! Tetsuya, you know them?"
"These three are insanely strong! Each one has taken down or repelled two entire squads by themselves!"
Tetsuya stood at the forefront, so Senju Seito and Uchiha Mikoto didn't notice the sudden shift in his expression—pale and tense. These people… there's no way I don't know them.
Future Fourth Raikage.
Future Fourth Kazekage.
And Kitsuchi, who, although he didn't quite make it to Tsuchikage, would still become a force comparable to one.
This year's Chunin Exams… it's like a gathering of legends in the making.
Tetsuya wasn't sure how long he stood there, his heart pounding, but when he finally regained control of himself, a new feeling had risen within him—an overwhelming battle hunger.
If only... if only I could fight these guys...
[Ah, my innocent and virtuous host, congratulations! You've finally developed the mindset of a true warrior. The system has detected your unyielding fighting spirit. Temporary mission triggered!]
[1. Reach the top five in the Chunin Exam individual battles. Reward: one B-Rank jutsu (limited to Lightning or Water styles), plus 500 kill points.]
[2. Reach the top three in the Chunin Exam individual battles. Reward: one A-Rank jutsu (limited to Lightning or Water styles), plus 1000 kill points.]
[3. Win first place in the Chunin Exam individual battles. Reward: one S-Rank jutsu (limited to Lightning or Water styles), plus 2000 kill points.]
[Ding! Bonus mission triggered! In the individual battles, defeat Ay, Rasa, and Kitsuchi. Defeating each will grant you an extra 1000 kill points!]
Hearing the voice in his head, Tetsuya froze momentarily. His gaze toward Ay, Rasa, and Kitsuchi grew deeper. Knowing the system's stingy tendencies, this was definitely a huge reward drop.
Not just thousands of kill points, but even an S-rank jutsu?
This was practically waving the first-place flag right in front of him, tempting him to sprint for it without hesitation.
"Tetsuya! Hey, Tetsuya!"
"You good, man?"
The moment Tetsuya's frozen posture was noticed, Aburame Muto walked up quickly, waving a hand in front of his face.
"I'm fine, Muto."
"Hmm?"
"Tetsuya, what's wrong?"
"Do you think... I could beat those monsters?"
Despite the uncertainty lacing Tetsuya's voice, Muto could sense the stirrings of ambition within his friend. The eyes didn't lie.
'Tetsuya! Finally, you're fired up too, huh?'
"Tetsuya, you're the most talented shinobi I've ever met. Hands down."
"If it's you, you can definitely defeat them."
"Yeah. Yeah, I can. I will."
"Thanks, Muto. I'll defeat them all and take the first place in the Chunin Exams!"
Pumping himself up with determination, Tetsuya turned and walked over to a nearby pillar, leaning against it while silently refining his chakra. Meanwhile, Muto, Uchiha Mikoto, and Senju Seito remained behind, thoroughly confused.
First place in the Chunin Exams?
Is he serious? Was it my pep talk that suddenly made him so fired up? Muto scratched his chin, falling into deep self-reflection.
'First place? What a joke, brat! The glory of first place will belong to the Uchiha clan!' Uchiha Mikoto shot a glance at Tetsuya before moving to a spot nearby, sitting down to restore her chakra.
In her mind, Tetsuya, the creator of the Chidori technique, absolutely had what it took to be in the top tier of competitors. If the third stage of the exam turned out to be individual battles, then Tetsuya would undoubtedly be a serious contender.
---
By nightfall, all the teams who had successfully obtained their scrolls had made their way into the tower, having survived a gauntlet of ambushes. Those who failed had already been swiftly cleared out by the Anbu and other ninja teams.
"New recruits, congratulations! You've passed the second stage of the exam and earned the right to participate in the preliminary rounds of the Chunin selection!"
Suddenly, Orochimaru appeared atop a central platform in the hall, flanked by several Anbu. His raspy voice slithered through the air like a swarm of snakes, causing the surrounding Genin to instinctively tense up.
"Lord Orochimaru, what's next?"
As a direct disciple of the Third Hokage and one of Konoha's elite Jonin, Orochimaru's status in the village was unquestionable. Even Senju Seito, who wasn't easily impressed, showed proper respect when addressing him.
"I'm only the proctor for the second stage. What happens next is up to the proctor of the third stage."
"Until then, you'll remain here to rest and recuperate. At dawn, the proctor for the third stage will arrive and explain the next part of the exam."
"Well then, everyone... goodnight."
"What a twisted sense of humor..." Tetsuya muttered under his breath, watching Orochimaru's figure disappear.
I wonder who the proctor for the third stage will be? Jiraiya? Or maybe Tsunade?
Either way, compared to Orochimaru, those two weren't exactly the most reliable options.
---
Meanwhile, in Konoha's Hokage office…
After leaving the 37th Training Ground, Orochimaru made his way directly to the Hokage's office.
"Ahem. Good work on the second stage, Orochimaru. I've already been informed. Though the casualties were high, we've seen some promising talents emerge."
Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, puffed on his pipe, trying to steady his nerves. He glanced down at his crystal ball, considering the students under his care. One, two, three... all three of his disciples were certainly difficult people, each with their own quirks. None of them ever seemed to bother knocking on doors.
---
"Well then, Lord Hiruzen, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
Orochimaru knew his teacher's habits all too well. Though he found them a bit distasteful, he figured Hiruzen had earned the right to indulge after dedicating so many years to leading Konoha.
"Orochimaru." Hiruzen's voice pulled him from his thoughts. "I'm afraid your break won't last long. I have another task for you."
If Tetsuya had been there to witness Sarutobi's kindly expression, he would've shuddered instinctively. That benevolent face always meant trouble.
"Oh? What's the mission?"
Orochimaru, still untouched by the harshness of reality, turned back and sat down before his teacher.
"It's like this—Tsunade has gone to visit Lady Mito for the next few days..."
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