Chapter 295: Girl Terumi Mei (Two in One)

“That’s strange, Minato-sensei is late today. Did he oversleep?” Obito wondered aloud after rushing to the Training Ground only to find Rin Nohara and Kakashi there.

“Do you think Minato-sensei is like you?” Kakashi looked at Obito, who had arrived just as the meeting time started, with a speechless expression. Obito was almost late himself, yet he was complaining about their teacher.

“As if you, Kakashi, have never been late before.” Obito retorted, clenching his fist in defiance.

“I have been late, but far less often than you,” Kakashi replied calmly.

He would occasionally be late due to insomnia and a disrupted schedule when he wasn’t feeling well, but that was a rare occurrence for him, perhaps once a year. Obito, on the other hand, was so habitually late that it had reached the point of ‘it’s normal if it’s him.’

“How dare you slander my good name out of thin air!” Obito’s eyes widened, then he continued to argue, “What late? I was helping people! How can helping others be called being late?”

“Being late, isn’t that simply failing to arrive at the agreed-upon time?” Kakashi’s single sentence killed the debate.

“Alright, alright,” Rin Nohara said with a helpless smile, changing the subject. “Minato-sensei must have had something important come up, that’s why he’s late. Besides, he’s so fast, maybe he’ll be here any second.”

Given Minato’s reliable nature, Rin Nohara naturally didn’t think he would oversleep.

Whoosh!

As if to confirm Rin Nohara’s words, the next moment, Minato appeared before the three of them.

“My apologies, I’m a little late,” Minato said with a hint of apology on his face, but it quickly turned into a gentle smile.

“Do you want to participate in the Chunin Exams? I’ve recommended you. If you want to participate, you can fill out these application forms.” With that, Minato pulled out three forms.

Rin Nohara’s guess was correct; the reason he was a little late was because he had just been at the Hokage Building handling the Chunin Exams qualifications.

“Chunin Exams? Doesn’t that mean we can be promoted to Chunin? Yes, yes, yes!” Obito’s eyes lit up, repeating the important words three times.

Although Kakashi was already a defeated opponent, the fact that Kakashi’s Ninja rank was higher than his annoyed Obito, as it meant he would be a rank lower than Kakashi when performing missions.

“It’s just a qualification; you must pass the exam to become a Chunin.” Minato quickly clarified, worried that Obito might mistakenly think that simply participating would make him a Chunin.

However, after saying it, Minato felt that he didn’t need to say anything at all. As their teacher, he knew the strength of Obito’s three-person team, and their strength was completely sufficient to pass the Chunin Exams.

“Hehe, I’ll definitely pass.” Obito had full confidence in himself; he had defeated several Chunin from enemy Ninja Villages during missions.

Kakashi looked at the three forms in Minato’s hand with some confusion. Logically, two should be enough. So he asked, “Sensei, am I participating too?”

“Kakashi, aren’t you already a Chunin? You can still participate in the exam? Does passing the Chunin Exams three times in a row make you a Jonin or something?” Obito took a form with his photo from Minato and complained.

Kakashi: …

Even if he asked him, he wouldn’t know.

“Kakashi, you do need to participate in the exam, but passing the Chunin Exams three times in a row won’t make you a Jonin. Jonin can only be promoted by the Hokage.” Minato answered their questions seriously.

“The main reason Kakashi can participate in this Chunin Exams is because your team is quite special, special in many ways,” Minato continued to explain.

The official start date for the Chunin Exams was July 1st, and Obito and Rin Nohara only graduated in mid-March, meaning Obito and Rin Nohara were fresh Genin who had only graduated for 1.4 months.

Typically, Genin participating in the Chunin Exams would have graduated at least one year prior, with most having graduated three years prior.

Some people didn’t participate later not because they didn’t want to, but because they couldn’t. The Chunin Exams were not unconditionally open; there were requirements regarding the time spent as a Ninja and the team’s mission record.

The reason Obito and his team could participate in this Chunin Exams was closely related to the high-level missions Obito completed during his internship, after all, an S-rank Mission had a high value. Additionally, there was Minato Namikaze’s recommendation; a recommending Jonin could override the issue of a short Ninja career.

However, this Chunin Exams required team participation. Considering the short graduation time of Obito’s team, plus some other issues, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally allowed Kakashi, a Chunin, to participate in the Chunin Exams with Obito and Rin Nohara.

After hearing Minato’s words, Kakashi nodded in understanding, then took his own form.

Kakashi looked at the somewhat familiar application form with a subtle expression on his face. Participating in the Chunin Exams as a Chunin felt truly strange.

Kakashi found that ever since he left his previous official team, his encounters had become stranger and stranger. First, he formed a team with Ninja Academy students, then he encountered unexpected situations in several consecutive missions, and now he was even going to participate in the Chunin Exams as a Chunin.

“Kakashi, don’t you dare hold us back just because you’re already a Chunin!” Obito said after filling out his form.

He suddenly thought that if Kakashi slacked off in the exam, he wouldn’t suffer any losses because he was already a Chunin, but they would suffer greatly, unable to be promoted.

“Instead of worrying about me, you should worry about yourself. The first part of the Chunin Exams is a written test. Those who fail will be directly eliminated.” Kakashi looked up at Obito and said indifferently, his eyes showing undisguised disdain.

This was the confidence that a perfect score on the written test brought him; he could easily beat Obito in a written test.

“Huh? The first one is a written test?” Obito showed a look of facing a formidable enemy, no longer caring about Kakashi’s gaze. He quickly asked, “How exactly do you pass?”

He just wanted Kakashi, the old guy who had already participated in the Chunin Exams, to reveal some information.

“It depends on the specific requirements. The Chunin Exams’ requirements aren’t the same every time,” Kakashi replied, shaking his head.

The Chunin Exams are held twice a year, and even within the same year, they might not be identical, let alone his experience from several years ago.

“But the minimum requirement, if we’re talking about a percentage system, is basically sixty points or above,” Kakashi added.

Obito’s expression grew even more serious; sixty points was a huge challenge for him.

“Just go back and review well, you’ll definitely be fine,” Minato said with an encouraging smile. He had great confidence in his disciples.

“That’s because you haven’t seen me at my peak,” Obito could only grumble silently in his heart.

He wasn’t as confident as Minato. He knew that in Ninja Academy, he had even scored single digits.

His grades only improved slightly in Fourth Grade after Muzuki tutored him, but then dropped a bit after he studied less theory.

Of course, Obito had another method. Although he didn’t trust his own theory, he believed in the omnipotent Sage Muzuki. When in doubt, find Sage Muzuki.

…

Perhaps Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted to make Muzuki’s resume look better, as Muzuki held many positions in this Chunin Exams.

He was responsible for creating the written test, and he was also the chief examiner for the second round of the exam. Additionally, there were some nominal positions that didn’t require actual work.

It seemed like many positions, but in reality, there wasn’t much to do, and some parts could even be completed with Shadow Clone. Overall, it was within Muzuki’s acceptable range.

If it were too busy, Muzuki would directly refuse. Wouldn’t it be better to spend that time researching Sealing Technique and Medical Ninjutsu, instead of working for Hiruzen Sarutobi?

“This is really troublesome. At a time like this, they still have to invite other Ninja Villages. Couldn’t they just do it themselves? And why do I have to be the one to greet them?” Jiraiya complained to Muzuki beside him on the way to the Konoha Village gate.

Muzuki smiled but said nothing. It was not appropriate for him to complain about such high-level issues in public.

“Holding a Chunin Exams of this level even during wartime further proves Konoha Village’s strength to the Daimyo and our clients. Even among the Five Great Ninja Villages, we are the strongest,” Homura Mitokado explained, pausing his steps.

They, the higher-ups, had also held meetings to discuss the Chunin Exams. Due to the very smooth progress of the war, they ultimately decided to invite other Ninja Villages to participate in the exam, just like before.

This was to let the participating Ninja Villages and the clients observing the exam feel Konoha Village’s strength.

First, they decided on the list of small Ninja Villages, inviting all surrounding small Ninja Villages to ensure they stood more firmly with Konoha Village during the war.

As for the large Ninja Villages, they chose Hidden Mist Village. Although Konoha Village’s higher-ups were very confident in their Village’s strength, they were not arrogant enough to invite their opponents to their Village to participate in an exam during wartime.

Although Sunagakure was not at war with Konoha Village, their own Kage had disappeared, and they were fiercely fighting Kumogakure. Konoha Village therefore did not disturb Sunagakure and chose Hidden Mist Village, the only Village currently not participating in the war.

After all, only inviting small Ninja Villages would seem like bullying the weak, and even if they performed well, it wouldn’t prove their strength.

“Hiruzen values you by having you here. Don’t disappoint his painstaking efforts,” Utatane Koharu said to Jiraiya, turning her face sternly.

As Hiruzen Sarutobi’s old classmate, she could naturally infer from Hiruzen Sarutobi’s series of actions who Hiruzen Sarutobi most wanted to cultivate as the Hokage now.

“The wind today is quite boisterous,” Jiraiya began to speak about irrelevant topics.

He could see Hiruzen Sarutobi’s intentions, but he indeed had no desire to be Hokage, only wanting the war to end quickly so he could continue traveling the Ninja World.

Both Advisors looked at Jiraiya with expressions of disappointment, as if looking at iron that could not be forged into steel.

As they approached the gate, the two Advisors adjusted their expressions, smiling as they watched the Mist Ninja team approaching.

They naturally couldn’t greet all Ninja Villages; only Hidden Mist Village, being one of the Five Great Ninja Villages, received this treatment. Small Ninja Villages would show their own identification and enter by themselves.

Muzuki calmly remained within the group, observing the Hidden Mist team, and used Appraisal Technique on everyone.

【Name: Genshi】

【Chakra: 74000】

【Skills: Water Release Chakra Nature Transformation (Mastered), Hidden Mist Technique (Mastered), Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique (Mastered)…】

This was an old man holding a snake-shaped wooden staff, appearing to be between sixty-five and seventy years old. His stats looked quite good. Muzuki estimated this was someone of Hidden Mist Elder level.

Although his stats were good, Muzuki felt that in actual combat, this Genshi probably couldn’t beat the current Danzo. A Ninja’s strength is significantly affected at this age.

Muzuki also saw some familiar faces from the plot among the crowd, but they hadn’t grown up yet.

【Name: Mei Terumī】

【Chakra: 4000】

【Potential: S】

【Skills: Water Release Chakra Nature Transformation (Proficient: 2200/3000), Lava Release (Proficient: 1000/3000), Boil Release (Proficient)…】

The future Fifth Generation Mizukage with a good figure was still a flat-chested, red-haired child. She looked about the same age as Kakashi and his peers. However, Mei Terumī, who could block Madara’s Fire Release with Water Release, indeed had good talent, and her various stats were excellent.

【Name: Zabuza Momochi】

【Chakra: 3600】

【Skills: Water Release Chakra Nature Transformation (Proficient: 900/3000), Hidden Mist Technique (Proficient)…】

Due to his early appearance, Zabuza had an extremely impressive record, once single-handedly pushing the Sixth Hokage and the Indra Chakra reincarnation and Asura Chakra reincarnation to a desperate situation.

The current Zabuza also looked about the same age as Kakashi. Although he was a child, his expression was very similar to Jiraiya in Muzuki’s memory, with the lower half of his face wrapped in bandages and an extremely cold gaze, as if he disliked everyone.

【Name: Kisame Hoshigaki】

【Chakra: 7000】

【Skills: Water Release Chakra Nature Transformation (Proficient: 2400/3000), Water Release: Water Prison Technique (Proficient), Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique (Proficient)…】

Kisame didn’t look to be the same age as Kakashi. Muzuki conservatively estimated he was at least two or three years older, because Kisame’s facial features were quite distinct, so he was estimating on the low side.

“But these stats don’t look like a Genin at all,” Muzuki thought, looking at Kisame’s stats.

This Chakra level was already comparable to some ordinary Jonin. Although his skill proficiency was a bit lower, it wasn’t by much.

“Is Hidden Mist trying to cause trouble? Was this plot point in the original story?” Muzuki kept thinking.

There was very little plot related to the Third Shinobi World War. He only knew that Hidden Mist and Konoha Village would fight later, but he wasn’t sure if Hidden Mist participating in this Chunin Exams was part of the original story or a result of his butterfly effect.

He couldn’t figure out the plot, but Muzuki guessed their purpose based on the overall strength of the Hidden Mist team: they probably wanted to outshine Konoha Village in the Chunin Exams.

With the overall strength of this Hidden Mist team, they were not qualified to cause trouble within Konoha Village. Hiruzen Sarutobi wouldn’t even need to act personally; Jiraiya alone could wipe out this team.

Muzuki could only say it was a coincidence. In a different Chunin Exams, perhaps Hidden Mist could have suppressed Konoha Village with Mei Terumī and others who were indeed not much older, but in this Chunin Exams, his disciples also happened to participate, and he was present when the Jonin recommended their disciples.

Actually, Mei Terumī wasn’t that old; she was only thirty-one during the Fourth Shinobi World War, the same age as Kakashi.

There will be another two-in-one big chapter later, but it will be quite late.