CH_64

"The Chūnin Exams… I'd actually forgotten about that." Neru, much like Tōji, had been so consumed by the battlefield that everything else had slipped her mind.

"Right! With our skills, how could we miss out!" Natchi perked up at the mention, shoving the last piece of dry bread into his mouth as if preparing to launch into a full speech.

[The Chūnin Exams in this era should be relatively easy to pass… but the Third War isn't completely over yet!]

[If we do get sent back to Konoha this time… we probably won't be deployed against Kiri again.]

[Then, Kumogakure's forces will also use the opportunity to temporarily withdraw before long…]

[After that comes the Nine-Tails Incident. From what I remember, it was the jōnin who took the brunt of it—chūnin weren't directly used as cannon fodder, so that's not too bad…]

[But that incident will wipe out a huge number of Konoha's jōnin! Chūnin might not be sent to die directly, but there'll still be plenty of casualties…]

[All the major villages will want to take advantage of Konoha's weakness, especially Kumo—they'll definitely restart the war… And the main fighting force will be Konoha's chūnin and the few remaining jōnin!]

[And that's just a "probing" attack—once Kumo realizes Konoha can't hold them off, they'll launch a full-scale invasion war.]

[In other words, after the Nine-Tails Incident, the smaller war against Kumo will actually be even more brutal…]

[Maybe… I should stay a genin for another year?] Tōji was already having second thoughts.

[But in this era, I'm not sure if the Chūnin Exams still require all three members of a squad to apply together…]

[Unless Neru also decides not to take the exam. But Neru doesn't know how the plot unfolds—with the war ending, would she really pass up a chance at promotion?]

[In this era where Danzo's influence is rising, I can't just spoil the future for anyone…]

[Maybe I'll sign up and then get "eliminated" halfway through?] Tōji thought that plan might actually work.

While Tōji was still mulling over the Chūnin Exams, Neru had already walked off, leaving only Natchi still rambling on at him.

"Tōji, are you even listening to me!" Natchi finally noticed that Tōji hadn't said a word and was staring blankly at the tent ceiling…

"Huh? Oh—sorry, I zoned out. What were you saying?" Tōji showed no sign of embarrassment.

"Forget it. Just rest up. I'll come back after the medical team finishes treating you." With that, Natchi got up and left the tent.

With Natchi's chatter gone, Tōji lay quietly and turned his thoughts to something else—Namikaze Minato was about to become the Fourth Hokage.

[Minato should be the most reliable Hokage in history—at least he's smart and relatively kind. Even if he found out I could "see the future," he probably wouldn't dissect me for research. He might even offer me protection.]

[Should I reveal my secret?] Tōji was actually a little tempted.

[If Minato could protect me—keep Danzo, Orochimaru, and those types at bay… but that's probably not realistic…]

He really was tempted.

[If Minato knew the full truth about the Nine-Tails Incident in advance, how would the entire shinobi world change?]

[As a member of Konoha, I'd probably live a better life… as long as no one else got wind of my so-called "future sight"…]

"Tōji—look who's here." Natchi's voice arrived just before he stepped back into the tent.

Behind Natchi was Lady Haruka—the only pure medical-nin whose name Tōji remembered from his time as a temp in the medical corps, and the one he'd had a bit of contact with.

A genuine smile spread across Tōji's face. "Lady Haruka—I didn't expect to see you out here."