Chapter 12: Let the Child Participate in Chunin Exam


    Hokage''s office.


    The most central dome building in the entire Konoha Vige.


    A member of the Anbu kneels on one knee on the ground, speaking mechanically, reporting thetest news to the old man sitting at the desk, "Lord Hokage, there is news from the second alert area, intense vibrations were detected near Training Ground Nine..."


    "Hmm."


    The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, wears his hat nonchntly puffing on his pipe, looking down at a stack of papers in his hand, seemingly unconcerned about the Anbu''s report, casually remarks, "I remember Training Ground Nine is allocated to the Anbu Training ss..."


    Anbu training ss.


    Officially under the Anbu.


    However, most Anbu members are well aware that the training ss is really the Root, Danzo''s organization, and in fact, the Root has far exceeded the size of a single ss.


    "Yes."


    The Anbu ninja responded and continued reporting, "From a distance, a forest appeared in a short time at Training Ground Nine..."


    "Oh?"


    The Third Hokage still has his pipe, still carefully flipping through the papers, "This situation, why does it sound familiar..."


    "Yes."


    The Anbu ninja quickly bowed his head to exin to his superior: "Tenzo, who was recently transferred to the Anbu by the Lord Hokage, released a Wood Release Jutsu called ''Deep Forest Emergence'' in the Anbu training ground, creating a sea of trees in a short time. It is initially suspected that someone used the same Wood Release Jutsu at Training Ground Nine."


    "Hmm, no need to look into it further."


    The Third Hokage nodded, still unconcerned, still reading his stack of papers, "I''ve known about this, the matter of a Wood Release Kekkei Genkai ninja in the Anbu training ss, Danzo has already informed me."


    Obviously.


    The Third Hokage lied to his subordinate.


    After all, not long ago, he rallied the Anbu to surround the Root, ready to suppress it at any moment, and snatched a Wood Release Kekkei Genkai ninja from under Danzo...


    Now that he knows there is another Wood Release Kekkei Genkai ninja under Danzo, is he going to mobilize the Anbu to surround the Root again and snatch the second one?


    Such things...


    Can be done once but not repeatedly.


    Especially since thest time was recent, doing the same thing to Danzo again in a short time would inevitably cause dissatisfaction and resentment.


    If the talent of the other Wood Release Kekkei Genkai ninja is good, he can find an opportunity to transfer him to the Anbuter, there is no need to provoke Danzo now.


    Konoha needs Danzo to handle some dirty work.


    The ninja world is still not peaceful, with major ninja viges still engaging in open and covert struggles, espionage, infiltration, assassination, and theft; these covert operations have never ceased.


    Inside the Konoha, there is unrest. The most powerful and ambitious n, the Uchiha, is increasingly at odds with the vige, and conflict could break out at any time.


    These matters...


    All require Danzo''s help to handle.


    But now...


    It''s necessary to give Danzo a warning.


    Let him know that his every move is being watched.


    He must put away any improper thoughts now; he can''t get emboldened by having another Wood Release ninja under hismand to attempt another assassination incident like the one years ago.


    That old friend...


    Narrow-minded yet timid as a mouse...


    Once a w is caught, he would be scared enough to scurry into the sewer.


    "Enough."


    "No need to speak of this further."


    "What''s most important now is the vige''s Chunin Exam in thetter half of the year."


    The Third Hokage is still looking through the stack of papers in his hand, which are the registration forms for the Konoha Vige''s Chunin Examter in the year, the most important assessment in the entire vige.


    The Chunin Exam is significant for selecting talents.


    The Konoha Vige has arge number of Genin who maintain the vige by taking on low-level ninja missions. They are an important support to the vige''s prosperity, yet they can only rely on C and D rank ninja missions to sustain their lives.


    However, Chunins are different.


    If a Genin performs excellently in the Chunin Exam and is promoted by the vige, it''s akin to having a fixed job.


    Chunins can undertake lucrative B-rankbat missions, work in certain departments within the vige, and even have the chance to enter the Anbu.


    The Chunin Exam is the highest level of standardized testing in Konoha.


    The Konoha holds two Chunin Exams each year, sometimes in coboration with other small ninja viges. Without exception, the passing rate for each Chunin Exam is very low.


    Since the end of the Third Great Ninja War, the ninja world has entered an era of peace, and the Chunin Exam has gained new significance, bing an important asion to unt the power of the Konoha.


    The financial revenue of the Konoha Vige mainlyes from the Daimyo of the Land of Fire and ninja missions.


    The Daimyo of the Land of Fire often watches the Chunin Exam to decide whether to increase or decrease financial support; other small vige Daimyos or nobles alsoe to determine whether to give high-level missions to the Konoha.


    Besides...


    Of course, the most important thing is to deter and attract allies of the Konoha.


    Generally, small ninja viges are allies that the Five Great Ninja Viges seek to win over. These viges oftenpare the power of the big vige to choose a stronger one to ally with.


    The Chunin Exam, undoubtedly, is the asion where small ninja viges can most directly observe the power of the Konoha in peacetime, making it even more crucial for the Konoha to value the Chunin Exam.


    "Are all the registration forms for the Chunin Exam here?"


    The Third Hokage slowly put down the pipe in his mouth and suddenly asked, "Did Uchiha Itachi apply to take the Chunin Exam alone?"


    "Yes."


    An Anbu ninja nodded and exined, "ording to the information we gathered, two years ago, all of Itachi''s teammates died in a mission..."


    "Since then, Uchiha Itachi has not formed a team again, and has hardly taken on anymissioned missions, naturally, he has no teammates to take the Chunin Exam with..."


    "However..."


    "During these two years, Uchiha Itachi has been training with Uchiha Shisui and even assisted Shisui inpleting cooperation assessment tasks..."


    "Even though that assessment task was interrupted, we can still determine that he is an excellent ninja capable ofpleting the Chunin Exam alone."


    "The only unfair part is the three-person cooperativebat assessment."


    "There have been many precedents in the vige."


    "For instance, when Team Kakashi''s teammates, Uchiha Obito and Nohara Rin, took the Chunin Exam,cking a third for the cooperativebat assessment, Kakashi, who was already a Chunin, was allowed to assist the two teammates in the final part of the exam..."


    "However..."


    "Uchiha Itachi''s only teammate is Uchiha Shisui, involving the famously Body Flicker Shisui, a Jonin, in the Chunin Exam is a bit..."


    "Hahaha..."


    The Third Hokageughed heartily, interrupting his subordinate and waving his hand, "That would be too much bullying of these kids and turn the exam into a joke."


    "Yes."


    The Anbu ninja nodded, then looked up at the elder and continued, "However, Uchiha Itachi is indeed capable of passing all the exams alone, as mentioned by Uchiha Shisui, all of Itachi''s training scores are excellent..."


    "Alright, let it be this way this time!"


    The Third Hokage nodded and seemed to say casually, "Kakashi, Tenzo, go to the Anbu training ss and submit an application form..."


    "Yes, Lord Hokage!"


    Two masked figures quickly stood up!


    The Third Hokage looked at one of them, his eyes bing somewhat sharp, "Go tell Danzo to also let the child with the Wood Release participate in the Chunin Exam!"