Chapter 313: The Fire Escape That Shocked the Students
Mugetsu did not know exactly what Hiruzen and the Mist Elder discussed in the end, but the result was roughly as he had expected.
The Hidden Mist examinees continued the exam as usual, and the captured Mist ninja were released as if nothing had happened.
Five days later, Mugetsu checked the time and officially declared the end of the second exam. All teams that had failed to collect the required scrolls and reach the Central Tower were eliminated.
"It is finally over. Can we go outside now?" Obito grumbled.
They had needed only a few hours to clear the exam, yet they had been stuck inside the Central Tower until now. Practicing here felt awkward to him. There was only a single wide hall where he could move his body freely, so his training had been limited.
"Everyone, quiet down," Mugetsu said with a smile. "The chief examiner for the third exam, Hiruko, will now explain the details of the next stage."
Mugetsu also had a role in the third exam, but explaining the rules was the chief examiner's job.
A ninja wearing a gray yellow high collared coat with long white hair stepped up beside Mugetsu.
"I will leave it to you, Hiruko senpai," Mugetsu said with an easy smile.
Hiruko was close friends with Tsunade and Jiraiya. Through them, he and Mugetsu could be considered acquaintances, and they had gotten along reasonably well during the Chunin Exams.
Hiruko gave Mugetsu a small smile in return. "Yes, leave it to me."
When Mugetsu moved aside, Hiruko turned to face the gathered examinees.
"First of all," he said with a smile, "congratulations on successfully passing the second exam."
"However, I am afraid you cannot leave the Central Tower just yet. Before the third exam begins, there will be a preliminary round. Only those who pass this preliminary will be allowed to participate in the third exam."
"Why go through all that trouble? Why add a preliminary?" Obito complained.
"Yeah, we just barely got through the second exam and we are already worn out," another ninja muttered, clearly feeling the arrangement was unreasonable.
"Because many high ranking officials and nobles will come to watch the third exam," Hiruko explained calmly. "They are the source of many high quality missions. The length of the event is a serious concern, so the number of slots for the third exam is limited."
The reason they had kept everyone inside the Central Tower was precisely to make this preliminary round easy to run. If it were only to explain the rules for the third stage, there would have been no need to confine them here.
Hiruko's ideal number of finalists was around eighteen. This time, there had been forty four participating teams. Even after most were eliminated, eleven teams still completed the exam, with three members per team. That total far exceeded Hiruko's target, so an extra culling test was necessary.
"The preliminary battles will no longer be team based," Hiruko continued. "They will be one on one. There will be only a single round. Any examinee who feels unwell or lacks confidence in their strength may forfeit in advance."
To ensure the third exam was exciting enough, the preliminaries were structured just like the main event, testing individual combat ability.
"Individual combat…" Rin's face tightened slightly. She did not feel very confident about fighting alone.
"Rin, you will be fine," Obito said, trying to cheer her up. "Just remember to hold back if you run into someone from our own village, so you do not accidentally knock them out with a single punch."
"My strength is not that high," Rin puffed her cheeks in mild annoyance.
"Obito is actually right this time," Kakashi said, nodding. "You are stronger than many of the examinees here. As long as you do not run into the really strong Mist ninja, qualifying for the third exam will not be a problem."
Rin's presence among them was usually very low, but Kakashi had been a ninja since the age of five and had rich experience. In his eyes, Rin's level was already very high among genin. She simply lacked long range techniques, but that was true of most genin.
"Alright," Rin said, nodding. "No matter who my opponent is, I will do my best. Let us all reach the third exam together."
Kakashi's words soothed her anxiety. In matters like this, Kakashi really was far more reliable than her own imagination.
"It is actually one on one. I feel like I am finished," Genma muttered, looking around at the other genin.
He recognized the genin near his age on the field. Every single one of them was a monster. Obito's team members were all monsters, those Mist ninja were powerful, and even Asuma's team was older than them by a year. Most of the other genin were several years older.
He felt like a husky that had wandered into a pack of wolves.
"There is nothing we can do if we lose. Our strength is what it is," Ebisu said calmly.
By now, he understood his own level very clearly. The only reason he had been able to participate was because of Might Guy. Becoming a Chunin would be a welcome surprise. If not, he would simply gain experience.
"Exactly. It is thanks to Guy that we have made it this far," Genma said with a smile, clapping a hand on Guy's back.
"Everyone has worked hard," Guy replied, raising his thumb. "Now we just have to fight with all we have and leave no regrets."
Genma and Ebisu nodded together.
"If we meet Kakashi and Obito, we will definitely give them a big surprise," Asuma said, sounding confident.
Under Mugetsu's guidance, he had learned a lot about Wind Release chakra nature transformation. His best techniques were no longer Fire Release, but Wind Release.
"Uh, I think you should take Kakashi out of that list," Raido advised quietly. "He already passed the Chunin Exams a few years ago."
"I forfeit," a Mist ninja wrapped completely in bandages, standing beside Mei, raised his hand.
He was the Hidden Mist genin that Guy had badly injured. Although he had survived, five days were far from enough to recover. He chose to withdraw decisively.
Mei's expression did not change. At this point, she did not care what choice her teammates made. It was already time for individual performances.
In her mind, she silently listed the main competitors for the championship: the green clad taijutsu boy, the cool white haired ninja in the mask, and Kisame. She intended to pay special attention to their matches later.
Since Obito specialized in Fire Release and she had already beaten him once head on, Mei did not put him in that group.
Hiruko nodded, accepting the bandaged Mist ninja's forfeit.
"Does anyone else wish to withdraw?" he asked. "If not, the preliminaries will begin."
No one answered. After coming this far, no one was willing to give up unless they truly had no options left.
"Very good," Hiruko said. "Now, turn your attention to the big screen. Once the drawing is complete, your preliminary opponents and match order will be displayed."
He gestured to the huge display behind him.
About five minutes later, the dark screen lit up, and pairs of names began to appear.
Mugetsu glanced through the list and then stopped paying attention. Kakashi, Obito, and the rest of his disciples were guaranteed to advance.
It was not that they could beat anyone without fail, but the prelim draw was not completely random. The one arranging it would never let the strongest contenders face each other too early. They needed to keep the third exam as exciting as possible.
"First match, Uchiha Obito versus Kono Hideyoshi," Hiruko announced one minute later. "Examinees, please prepare to fight."
"I am up first, huh? Watch me become the first to win," Obito said confidently.
They had captured a pile of data cards from a Konoha team in the Forest of Death, including Kono Hideyoshi's.
Hideyoshi had graduated at ten, taken the Chunin Exams at twelve, reached the third stage, but failed to be promoted.
In Obito's eyes, anyone who was thirteen and still not a Chunin could not be that strong. Even Kakashi, who had become a Chunin at six, had already lost to him.
"Go for it!" Rin called, smiling as she cheered him on.
"Be careful. Do not lose to someone weaker than you," Kakashi added in his usual flat tone.
With his teammates' support, Obito walked out to the center of the arena. Kono Hideyoshi said a few words to his own teammates, then stepped forward as well. The other examinees, guided by proctors, moved up to the second floor to observe, so they would not interfere with the fight.
"He looks really young," Hideyoshi thought, watching Obito, who was clearly much smaller than him. "But since he passed the Forest of Death, I cannot underestimate him."
"Begin!" Hiruko shouted when both were ready, then quickly retreated to the edge.
"Flame Breathing, Total Concentration!" Obito immediately entered Total Concentration Breathing. His physical capabilities and his Fire Release surged at the same time.
"Fire Release, Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"
Maintaining Total Concentration, he formed a rapid string of hand seals and gathered chakra in his throat, then spewed out a massive wave of fire.
The flames spread like a flock of rampaging fire dragons, surging toward Hideyoshi. In an instant, the ground within ten meters became a blazing sea, engulfing him completely.
Hideyoshi froze, staring at the wall of fire rushing him. This was a genin? He had been a genin for years and had never seen anyone at their rank fire off such a powerful high level Fire Release.
Even Hiruko, watching from nearby, could not hide his surprise. That Fire Release was rare even among Chunin.
"Is he a genius on the level of Orochimaru or Jiraiya?" Hiruko could not help feeling a twinge of envy.
Realizing there was no way he could handle this, Hideyoshi simply dropped the kunai in his hand and raised his arm in surrender.
"I forfeit," he said, bowing.
He knew he could not fight at all. It was better to lose early and take less punishment.
"Uchiha Obito wins," Hiruko declared without hesitation. The difference between the two was far too obvious.
"Uchiha Obito? I remember that name. Wasn't he the famous dead last?" Some of the Konoha ninja who had graduated before Obito's rise stared in confusion.
"Dead last? That guy is a real monster," Nara Shiosui could not help exclaiming. He had personally watched Obito fight a Hidden Mist jonin alone.
Obito's Fire Dragon Flame Bullet immediately became the hot topic of the prelims.
Although Obito had shaken off the dead last title in the fourth year's practical exam, only Guy and a few others present were from his cohort. Most of the Konoha candidates were several grades older.
Those who had graduated long ago no longer paid attention to academy gossip, so in their minds Obito was still the useless Uchiha at the bottom of the class.
"No matter how strong your Fire Release is, it will not beat mine," Mei said faintly.
"How did Obito's Fire Release get so strong? What kind of training did he do?" Asuma muttered, baffled.
He vaguely remembered that back when they had trained together, Obito's Fire Release was only slightly stronger than his own. In just over half a year, it was as if Obito had become a completely different person.
Asuma's confidence in defeating Obito vanished on the spot. That Fire Release looked way too brutal.
"While we were working hard, maybe they were working even harder," Raido said quietly.
He still felt unwilling about losing to Obito's team previously. He had wanted to get his pride back during the Chunin Exams, but after seeing Obito's Fire Release, he no longer wished to fight him at all.
Obito returned to the second floor with a wide grin.
"How was that?" he laughed. "Fast enough, right? I finished in under a minute."
"Mm, very impressive," Rin said, smiling.
"It was barely passable," Kakashi said. "Opening with such a chakra devouring ninjutsu is not exactly wise."
"Kakashi, you are just jealous," Obito snorted, uninterested in Kakashi's critique now that Rin had praised him. "But I am very generous. If you fail to reach the third stage, I will definitely comfort you."
Of course, if Kakashi really lost, Obito would laugh at him for a year. A Chunin entering the Chunin Exams again and then failing to reach the third stage would be too funny.
"Second match, Shiranui Genma versus Mei Terumi," Hiruko announced.
"How unlucky," Genma sighed.
The good news was that he knew the opponent's data. The bad news was that she was far too strong, and knowing her data only meant he knew how badly he would be beaten.
"It is fine. The last guy surrendered instantly, so it is not that embarrassing if you surrender too," Ebisu said, adjusting his sunglasses.
"Get lost," Genma said, punching him lightly in the chest. "I am at least going to trade a few blows with her."
He knew he could not beat Mei, but he still did not want to end up like Hideyoshi, who had lost without even touching his opponent.
Genma did get his wish. He spat out a senbon, then tried to follow with a close range punch and kick. But after only a few exchanges, Mei trapped him in a Water Prison. Unable to break free, he had no choice but to concede.
Even though he had mentally prepared himself, losing that easily still stung. Back at the academy, he had at least been one of the top students in his class. The gulf in level was simply too wide.
He made up his mind on the spot. When he got back, he would proactively ask Teacher Chen for special training. As long as it did not kill him, he was willing to train to death. He did not want to experience this kind of humiliation again.
The next two matches ended quickly as well. Both Kisame and Zabuza crushed their opponents and advanced.
"Fifth match, Kakashi Hatake versus Mizumoto Koji," Hiruko called.
"Go, go!" Rin waved her little fists, cheering loudly.
"Do not lose," Obito added, giving him Kakashi style encouragement.
Kakashi nodded calmly and dropped straight down from the second floor.
Because Mizumoto Koji was a Mist ninja, Kakashi had not encountered him in the Forest of Death and did not know his information. So in their first exchange, Kakashi chose to probe.
When he confirmed that Koji's strength was far below his own, Kakashi immediately activated Thunder Breathing. His speed exploded, and in the next instant the White Fang short blade was pressed lightly against Koji's neck, ending the match.
"Sixth match, Rin Nohara versus Nakane Toda," Hiruko announced.
"Have confidence. You will be fine," Kakashi said when he returned to the viewing area.
They had Nakane Toda's data. He was from Konoha and on the same team as Kono Hideyoshi, who had just been blown away by Obito.
"Rin, you can definitely win," Obito said, giving her a thumbs up.
Rin smiled and nodded, then walked down the stairs toward the arena.
Nakane Toda studied her carefully. Although she looked delicate and frail, both of her teammates had just won with overwhelming force. That alone made him wary.
"She is so slim. Her taijutsu probably is not that strong," Nakane thought, examining her build.
He guessed that, like Obito, her strength lay in ninjutsu.
He quickly formed a plan. He would start by harassing her with tools, then close in. Close quarters fighting was his specialty.
"Begin!"
The instant Hiruko's voice fell, Nakane drew shuriken and sent them flying at Rin.
"Basic Breathing, Total Concentration," Rin whispered.
She immediately entered Basic Breathing, boosting her physical abilities.
Then something happened that Rin herself had not expected. While she was still thinking about how to approach, Nakane suddenly charged straight at her.
Since he had come all this way of his own accord, Rin did not hold back. She gathered a large amount of chakra into her arm and activated the Strength of a Hundred Seals technique.
Bang.
With a thunderous crack, Nakane, who had just thrown a punch at her, shot backward like a fired cannonball, slammed into the ground, and skidded to a stop, stone tiles beneath him fracturing in a spiderweb pattern.
Silence swallowed the Central Tower. The examinees stared slack jawed at Rin, who was still frozen in her punching posture.
It was simply too bizarre. A thin, seemingly fragile nine year old girl had sent a sturdy, muscular Nakane flying with one punch.
Asuma sucked in a breath. "When did Rin become so terrifying? No, when did her taijutsu get that strong?"
In his memory, Rin had been a normal student who excelled at written exams and was average in everything else. That punch had shattered that image.
"I am going to talk to her after the exams," Yuhi said quietly, obviously shaken. She had never seen anything like it.
Raido was already numb. He suddenly felt that Rin was not someone he wanted to fight. If that punch had hit him, he would probably have been begging her not to let him die.
"Rin Nohara wins," Hiruko announced after confirming that Nakane had lost the ability to continue.
Having cleared the prelims, Rin smiled. It had been much easier than she had imagined. She had thought that, even if she won, she would have to fight bitterly for it.
After all, compared to the outstanding Obito and Kakashi, she had always felt she was far too lacking.
"I told you, Rin. You could definitely do it," Obito said, greeting her the moment she came back up.
"Thank you for believing in me. Now our whole team has passed," Rin said happily, clasping her hands.
Kakashi simply nodded. He understood Rin's level among genin better than she did herself. Her lack of confidence came purely from the fact that she was always surrounded by monsters, which warped her perception.
As the prelims continued, more and more qualifiers emerged, many of them familiar faces to Kakashi and Obito.
Asuma, Nara Shiosui, and Inuzuka Midori all advanced. Some were friends from the academy, and others were comrades who had fought alongside them in the Forest of Death.
Kakashi also noted that, besides his own team, Kisame's Mist team had all made it to the third exam. From Mei's team, everyone except the one who had forfeited also advanced.
There were also some losses. Aburame Nao from Shiosui's team was knocked out. In Asuma's team, only Asuma qualified. Raido and Yuhi both lost, with Raido suffering the worst luck, since his opponent had been Might Guy.
From Guy's team, only Guy himself passed. Ebisu was eliminated by Aoba Yamashiro.
"The preliminaries are over," Hiruko announced at last. "A total of sixteen examinees have advanced to the third exam. They are Uchiha Obito, Mei Terumi…"
He read the full list of names one by one.
Once he finished, he immediately began explaining the third exam's structure.
"The rules are basically the same as what you have just gone through," Hiruko said. "Matches will be one on one according to the lottery. Winners advance. Losers are eliminated. This will continue until the final victor is decided."
"In the third exam, you must fight with all your strength. There will be special judges scoring you. If your performance is excellent, you may still be promoted to Chunin even if you lose. On the other hand, if your performance is poor, you may not be promoted even if you win to the end."
The rules were the same as the practical exam at the academy. Every match had its own scorers, and what they evaluated was the contestant's full range of qualities.
"Next, I will call your names. Come forward one by one to draw lots. The battle order for the third exam will be determined by these numbers," Hiruko said, lifting a box.
The order of the draw followed the order of the most recent matches. Obito was the first to be called.
He did not hesitate. He stuck his hand in, grabbed a tag, and handed it over.
"Uchiha Obito, number nine," Hiruko read.
The others came up in turn and drew their numbers. After everyone had finished, the giant screen lit up again. This time it showed the pairings for the third exam: number one versus number two, number three versus number four, and so on.
Obito was not in a rush to look for his own opponent. Instead, he searched for number four, because Rin was number three.
"So it is Nara Shiosui," he said, frowning slightly. "He is not someone easy to deal with."
He had seen what Shiosui could do in the Forest of Death. The guy was as crafty and cunning as Kakashi.
"Mm. He seems very calm and sharp," Rin agreed. The fact that Shiosui had almost helped Obito kill a jonin even when he himself could not move had left a deep impression on her.
"But I will still fight with everything I have. The examiner said it himself. Even if you lose, you might still become a Chunin."
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