CH_122

In the contestants' waiting room, the five who hadn't been called felt a mix of envy, jealousy, frustration, and disappointment.

They watched as Gan Kotetsu, Kamizuki Izumo, Tatami Iwashi, Kazamatsuri Tōji, Izuno Natchi, Itoi Neru, Tobitake Tonbō, Dokurā, Mizuki, Nio Shinobu, and Seishimon received the cheers and congratulations from the entire audience.

This was Minato's first major "event" since taking office, so he'd deliberately arranged for the chūnin appointment ceremony to be held publicly on the spot.

But that wasn't all!

Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Inoichi, Yūhi Shinku, and several other top-tier jōnin—some Tōji recognized, some he didn't—also entered the arena!

According to the announcement, each of them represented a different key department in Konoha, and they were here to recruit on the spot!

『They really put a lot of effort into this political show…』 Tōji silently grumbled.

Inoichi was probably the biggest winner. He picked first, selecting Tobitake Tonbō, Dokurā, and Seishimon…

And just like that, they were in Konoha's Interrogation Division?!

Tōji couldn't help but envy them.

He even started to suspect that Yamanaka Inoichi himself had designed this Chūnin Exam.

The second batch taken were Gan Kotetsu, Kamizuki Izumo, and Nio Shinobu. They were going to Konoha's Security and Defense Department.

These were the ones assigned to stay in the village and guard it… As long as they didn't die in the Nine-Tails Incident, they'd be set for the next ten-plus years! Even if Pain killed them, they'd be revived on the spot!

Again, Tōji was incredibly envious.

『Why isn't there anyone from Konoha's Medical Department coming to pick people…』 Tōji was internally screaming. 『Is the Medical Department still not under the Fourth Hokage's control at this point?』

It was a reasonable suspicion—the Third Hokage's wife, Sarutobi Biwako, had been a powerful figure in Konoha's medical corps not long ago, and she might still be.

『Is the Third unwilling to let go of all his "cake" at once? Or is the Fourth deliberately leaving some "cake" for the Third? Or did Danzo snatch a piece of that "cake" after failing to push Orochimaru into power?』 Tōji couldn't help but think about the political factors at play.

The third round of invitations was for just one person—Mizuki.

Shinku, representing Konoha's Education Department, asked Mizuki if he'd be interested in becoming an Academy instructor.

But Mizuki was an extremely ambitious person, so he flatly refused Shinku's offer.

Among the remaining candidates, only Mizuki was fourteen. The rest were only ten or eleven—it wouldn't make sense to have such young newly promoted chūnin serve as Academy teachers.

In the end, the newly promoted chūnin still standing on the field were Tōji, Natchi, Neru, Iwashi, and Mizuki.

At that point, Minato spoke up. "The Hokage Guard Platoon still needs one more person. I may choose one from among you."

『One!』 Tōji's heart raced. He glanced at Tatami Iwashi. 『Iwashi didn't go to any of those departments—could it be fate that he's destined to join the Flying Thunder Formation trio?!』

The remaining candidates naturally stayed silent, but their expressions shifted. Mizuki in particular looked like he had "pick me" written all over his face.

Minato walked between Natchi and Neru. He placed one hand on each of their shoulders…

"!" The three of them vanished from where they stood without a sound—the 【Flying Thunder God Technique】!

"!" Minato reappeared with Natchi and Neru right back where they started.

『Round trip already?』

Minato gave them an apologetic shake of his head.

『That's how you test for aptitude?』

Minato then walked between Tōji and Mizuki, and said with a smile to Iwashi, "Come over here. Put your hand on my shoulder."

The closer Tōji got to Minato, the more he felt that this fastest man alive radiated a warmth like a spring breeze.

As Minato made direct contact with the last three candidates…

"!" Tōji felt his vision blur for an instant…