Chapter 24: The Solo Chunin Exams

"The Chunin Exams?"

"Yes. The Hokage wants both of you to participate in this year’s Chunin Exams."

Uchiha Fugaku looked at Reiji and Itachi standing before him.

"He said he wants to use this opportunity to boost Konoha’s prestige."

Pfft!

If he hadn’t mentioned that, it would have been fine.

But the moment Reiji heard those words, he immediately let out a disdainful laugh.

"Does Konoha even have any prestige left?"

Uchiha Fugaku closed his eyes and said nothing.

Uchiha Itachi frowned slightly, seemingly wanting to argue.

They both knew exactly what Reiji was referring to.

Several months ago, Kumogakure’s delegation had come to Konoha to sign a peace treaty.

However, the leader of the delegation had secretly attempted to kidnap Hinata Hyuga, only to be killed on the spot by her father, Hiashi Hyuga.

Afterward, Kumogakure naturally turned around and accused Konoha of murdering their envoy, demanding that Konoha hand over the killer.

In the end, under arrangements made by Konoha’s higher-ups and the Hyuga main family, Hizashi Hyuga committed suicide in place of his elder brother, and his body was handed over to Kumogakure as an explanation.

And just like that, the matter came to an end.

But there was no such thing as an airtight secret.

Even though Konoha had gone to great lengths to cover up the incident, the truth still spread.

Naturally, Konoha’s prestige plummeted afterward.

Someone had bullied their way right into Konoha’s territory, yet Konoha had actually killed one of its own people to appease them?

Anyone would look down on Konoha after hearing something like that.

"Regardless, the Hokage’s intention is for the two of you to participate in the Chunin Exams individually and perform to the best of your abilities."

"There will be many nobles and important figures attending the event. It will be an opportunity to restore Konoha’s reputation."

Uchiha Fugaku spoke in a matter-of-fact tone, without expressing any personal opinion.

Reiji nodded.

"Understood."

He then turned around and prepared to leave Fugaku’s house.

"Uchiha Reiji!"

Suddenly, Itachi called out from behind him.

"The Hokage has his reasons. If he hadn’t done that, war would have broken out, and even more people would have died."

"Compared to a war, the sacrifice of one person is worthwhile."

Buzz!

Reiji immediately activated his Sharingan and turned around to stare at Itachi.

"...I was just wondering whether Hizashi Hyuga’s death actually conforms to the Will of Fire."

With that, Reiji closed his eyes, deactivated his Sharingan, calmed his turbulent emotions, and left without another word.

"...His ocular power has grown stronger again."

Itachi couldn’t help but marvel at Reiji’s increasing Sharingan power.

As for Reiji’s words, however, he didn’t take them to heart.

To Itachi, war was the most tragic thing in the world.

If war could be prevented, then Hizashi Hyuga’s sacrifice was worthwhile.

That was the true meaning of the Will of Fire!

After returning home, Reiji checked his system panel.

[Host: Uchiha Reiji]

[Age: 10]

[Overall Strength: Strong Chunin]

[Sharingan Prowess: LV2 (480/500)]

[Chakra: LV2 (450/500)]

[Chakra Nature: Fire]

[Talents: Sharingan, Taijutsu]

[...]

"My ocular power increased again."

Reiji gently touched the area around his eyes.

The last time he’d checked, his ocular power had been at 470.

Because Itachi’s words had disgusted him so much, it had directly increased by another ten points!

Uchiha Itachi was becoming more and more twisted.

The fact that he could say something like that made it no wonder he would eventually kill his own parents.

And then there was Sarutobi Hiruzen and the Will of Fire.

There was only one word to describe all of it—

Disgusting!

"Phew. I’m finally not far from reaching Jonin level."

Reiji shook his head and dispelled those thoughts.

He hadn’t expected it to take so long to progress from Chunin strength to Jonin strength.

But thinking about it, it made sense.

Kakashi had become a Genin at five and a Chunin at six, yet another six years passed before he became a Jonin at twelve.

Physical development had held him back.

"With my current strength, which is already infinitely close to Jonin level, I should probably be able to break through after the Chunin Exams."

Reiji couldn’t help but look forward to it.

What new talent would the system analyze then?

Hyuga Clan.

"This time, the Hyuga must send someone to participate!"

A Hyuga main-family elder spoke with absolute determination.

He had already heard that Konoha’s Third Hokage had personally selected the Uchiha clan’s Twin Stars, Uchiha Reiji and Uchiha Itachi, to participate in the Chunin Exams.

If the Hyuga couldn’t even produce someone capable of competing with those two, how could they possibly compete with the Uchiha clan?

"Who are you planning to send?"

Hiashi Hyuga asked expressionlessly, seemingly indifferent to everything.

His younger brother had died for him not long ago.

At present, he simply didn’t want to concern himself with any of these meaningless affairs.

"Genzo, come in."

The main-family elder called toward the doorway.

A young Hyuga shinobi who looked around thirteen or fourteen years old walked inside.

His Konoha forehead protector was properly tied across his forehead, concealing the Caged Bird seal beneath it.

The young shinobi named Hyuga Genzo expressionlessly bowed to the clan head and the main-family elder.

"Genzo has been known as a genius since childhood. This time, participate in the Chunin Exams and try to suppress the Uchiha."

The main-family elder paused, as though making an extremely difficult decision.

"For the sake of the Chunin Exams, we can teach you the Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven, a technique normally restricted to the main family."

"This is an immense honor. I hope you will always remember your place as a member of the branch family."

A flicker of excitement suddenly appeared in Genzo’s eyes.

But the moment he heard the latter words, it disappeared just as quickly.

He merely nodded mechanically and answered like a puppet.

"Yes."

Kumogakure.

"Darui, even though you’re the only one participating in this Chunin Exam, you must come back with first place!"

The Fourth Raikage spoke to the thirteen-year-old boy standing before him.

Darui was the young-generation shinobi he valued the most.

He might even entrust him with the position of Fifth Raikage in the future!

"Understood, Lord Raikage."

Darui answered lazily.

His strength was already approaching the Jonin level, and he also possessed the Storm Release kekkei genkai.

Participating in a mere Chunin Exam would be effortless.

How boring.

He wondered whether Konoha had anyone capable of actually catching his interest.

"Yes. Give it your all. Ideally, take first place with overwhelming strength."

The Raikage had complete confidence in Darui’s abilities.

They had already used the Hyuga incident to humiliate Konoha considerably.

But that wasn’t enough!

Through this Chunin Exam, they would let the entire shinobi world see that when it came to the new generation of shinobi—

Kumogakure was still stronger than Konoha!

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