Chapter 126: The Third Exam

The next day.

The Chūnin Selection Exams, third-stage examination arena.

Sound Ninja Team: Suigetsu, Jūgo, Karin.

Sand Ninja Team: Gaara, Kankurō, Temari.

Konoha Team 7: Naruto, Hinata, Sasuke.

Konoha Team 9: Neji, Rock Lee, Tenten.

Konoha Team 10: Shikamaru, Chōji, Ino.

The five teams that had successfully passed the second exam, fifteen Genin in total, stood in five rows gathered at the center of the circular arena.

Standing in front of the five teams was Genma Shiranui, a senbon clenched between his teeth.

He glanced at the teams behind him and said calmly,

"Stand up straight and show some spirit. You’re the protagonists today."

The Genin raised their heads and straightened their chests.

Thunderous cheers immediately erupted from the packed spectator stands surrounding the arena.

Directly in front of the five teams, on a spacious viewing platform above the audience seats, two comfortable chairs had been arranged.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, sat in the chair on the right, with a Konoha shinobi respectfully standing behind him.

At this moment, a figure with short brown hair, a mesh shirt underneath a white robe, and a blue hat walked onto the platform accompanied by two Sand Ninja.

The front of the hat was white, with a blue character for "Wind" on it.

Seeing him, Hiruzen turned around with a smile and stood up.

"What a rare guest, Kazekage-sama."

The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, nodded.

"It really has been many years since I’ve visited Konoha."

Hiruzen warmly gestured toward the chair on the left.

"Come, please take a seat."

Rasa nodded and walked over before sitting down.

Hiruzen sat down as well, then turned toward him with a polite smile.

"The journey must have been tiring."

"Not at all. It’s fine. Fortunately, the exam is being held in Konoha."

Rasa glanced at Hiruzen.

"Although you’re still ’young,’ if the exam were held in our Sand Village and the Hokage had to make the journey personally, that would truly be troublesome. I think you should decide on your successor as soon as possible."

His words carried an obvious insinuation.

The Third Hokage was already this old, yet he still refused to give up the Hokage position.

Hearing this, Hiruzen laughed.

"Hahaha, don’t treat me like an old man."

As he spoke, he stood up.

With his hands behind his back, he walked two or three steps forward and stopped at the railing, his back facing Rasa as he gazed out over Konoha.

"I still intend to work for another five years!"

The implication was obvious.

Don’t think I’m too old.

I can continue for another five years without a problem.

Even with his back turned, he was making it clear:

Go ahead and try something if you dare.

Rasa narrowed his eyes slightly but said nothing more.

The verbal exchange had come to an end.

Hiruzen continued wearing his polite smile as he turned around and asked,

"Kazekage-sama, I believe it’s about time we began?"

Rasa nodded slightly.

Seeing this, Hiruzen turned back toward the arena and swept his gaze across the entire venue before speaking in a booming voice.

"Distinguished guests, I sincerely thank everyone for coming to Konoha to watch the Chūnin Selection Exams.

"Next, the fifteen candidates who passed the preliminaries will compete in the official selection matches!"

The audience immediately erupted into enthusiastic cheers.

Rasa stared at the Third Hokage’s back, the corners of his mouth curling upward.

"Teacher Sarutobi still seems to have plenty of energy."

Below, in the arena.

Genma Shiranui faced the five teams.

"Before the matches begin, let me explain a few things.

"The rules are simple.

"There are no rules.

"The match continues until one side dies or surrenders. Only then is the winner decided.

"However, if I determine that the outcome is already clear, I will stop the match.

"For example, if one side loses consciousness or suffers injuries severe enough that they can no longer continue fighting.

"Once I stop the match, you are not allowed to resist.

"Understood?"

Seeing that none of the candidates had any objections, Genma took out the match roster.

"First match: Karin versus Rock Lee.

"You two stay here. Everyone else, return to the waiting room."

Hearing this, the other candidates walked up the stairs on one side of the arena toward the waiting room.

Karin and Rock Lee remained where they were, facing each other.

As Naruto walked up the stairs, he glanced at Karin.

He silently activated the Ninja Art: Mind Transmission Technique.

Karin seemed to sense something and looked over.

Naruto gave her a slight nod.

"You can use your full strength. Finish it quickly."

"Mm."

Karin silently acknowledged him.

Inside the waiting room, Hinata curiously asked Naruto,

"Naruto, who do you think will win?"

During the Forest of Death, Hinata had witnessed Karin’s Uzumaki secret techniques and the scene of her punching an enemy’s head apart.

She also knew that Karin and Naruto knew each other.

Neji had also told Hinata that if Rock Lee used his forbidden techniques and went all out, even he might not be able to defeat Lee.

That was why Hinata asked.

Before Naruto could answer, Tenten spoke from behind them.

"This Sound Ninja, Karin, looks so refined. She obviously seems like the scholarly type.

"She must either be suited for administrative work or be a medical ninja. How could she possibly be a match for Lee?

"Although, I have to admit, her intellectual aura is really nice. I’m sure Lee will go easy on her."

Refined...?

Scholarly...?

Hearing Tenten’s words, Naruto, Sasuke, Suigetsu, and Jūgo couldn’t help twitching the corners of their mouths.

Even Hinata was speechless.

Don’t be fooled by her appearance!

When it came to actual combat, judging purely by how violent the fighting looked, there probably wasn’t a single Genin present who was more brutal than her.

Noticing Hinata’s expression, Neji, being the devoted older brother he was, stirred slightly and asked,

"Hinata-sama, do you know that girl?"

Hinata immediately shook her head and said softly,

"I don’t know her. I’ve just... seen her fight."

Tenten’s eyes immediately lit up.

"Well? Well? Was I right?"

Hinata hesitated.

"One punch..."

Tenten immediately followed up.

"One punch did what?"

Seeing that Naruto wasn’t stopping her, Hinata stammered,

"One punch... blew apart a Grass Ninja’s head."

"Gasp!"

Tenten immediately sucked in a sharp breath.

Imagining the scene, her face instantly turned pale.

A trace of fear appeared in her eyes as she looked toward Karin.

The other Genin who heard this couldn’t help narrowing their eyes as well.

What did it mean to be able to blow someone’s head apart with a single punch?

Quite a few of them secretly wondered whether they could do it themselves.

No!

None of them specialized in explosive physical strength.

At most, they could crack or shatter someone’s skull.

That was completely different from blowing it apart.

The difference was enormous.

With such terrifying explosive power, who could withstand a punch from her?

"Pfft—hahaha! She’s just a violent woman!"

Suigetsu couldn’t help bursting out laughing after hearing Hinata’s description.

Behind them, Kakashi and Asuma exchanged a glance.

Their expressions were somewhat solemn.

A shocking possibility had quietly emerged in both their minds.

Might Guy, being the simple-minded man he was, looked at Kakashi and Asuma’s expressions with a head full of question marks.

Meanwhile, in the arena.

Rock Lee said,

"Miss Karin, once the match begins, if you find that you can’t continue, please surrender and I will stop immediately. So don’t worry."

Lee also believed that Karin couldn’t possibly be a particularly powerful opponent.

He thought his actions were extremely gentlemanly.

Karin couldn’t even be bothered to respond to the thick-browed idiot.

She turned her head toward Genma Shiranui and said,

"Referee, do all your Konoha shinobi fight with nothing but their mouths?"

Genma glanced at Karin and the petrified Lee.

He said nothing.

Instead, he simply announced,

"The match... begins!"

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