Naruto: In Konoha Village, I awakened Wood Release at the start.

Leaf.

Inside the hotel room.

"He wants to unify the ninja world!"

Onoki narrowed his eyes and said in a serious tone.

This statement came out.

The room fell into a deathly silence.

Although everyone harbored this concern, no one dared to voice it directly.

Unify the ninja world!

This is something even the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, couldn't do!

"Is he crazy?"

"How many people would die if a full-scale war broke out?"

"Isn't he afraid that Konoha will get bogged down in a quagmire from which it can't extricate itself?"

Terumi Mei gasped in shock.

"Lord Mizukage, you are too naive."

"Given the strength Konoha has displayed, this is not a war at all."

"This is a one-sided crushing defeat!"

"That brat Chiba alone is enough to rival the combined forces of all four of our ninja villages!"

Onoki shook his head, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

"So what should we do?"

"Are we just going to stand by and watch him hold a knife to our necks?"

Raikage grabbed a handful of hair in frustration.

Although he was unwilling, he could not refute it.

"This is why I've summoned you all here tonight."

"Konoha is strong, but if the four ninja villages here unite..."

Onoki glanced around, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.

But he hadn't finished speaking.

Rasa suddenly coughed, interrupting Onoki's speech.

"Lord Fengying."

"What brilliant idea do you have?"

Onoki looked at Rasa with displeasure.

Luo Sha slowly picked up his water glass and took a sip.

"Lord Tsuchikage's suggestion is excellent."

"But please forgive me, Sunagakure Village cannot participate."

Onoki was stunned.

Raikage and Mei Terumi also looked at Rasa with astonishment.

"Wind Shadow!"

"What do you mean by that?"

"Do you intend to surrender to Konoha?!"

Luo Sha put down the water glass without changing his expression.

"Lord Raikage, you flatter me."

"Where does this talk of surrender come from?"

"Sunagakure and Konoha were originally allies."

"Since we are allies, we should naturally help each other."

"Lord Chiba is wise and powerful, leading Konoha to prosperity."

"Our Sunagakure village greatly admires and is willing to learn more from Konoha's advanced experience."

The other three shadows were dumbfounded.

They had never seen such a shameless person!

The Kazekage, a man of such high standing, has actually abandoned all shame and only wants to curry favor with Konoha!

Onoki was so angry that he was trembling all over.

"Rasa!"

"You coward!"

"You've completely disgraced the spirit of Sunagakure!"

Luo Sha shrugged indifferently.

Can backbone be eaten?

Sunagakure was so poor that even their kunai were rusting.

By following Konoha, at least the villagers can have a full meal.

Besides, who wants to go head-to-head with Chiba, who can pilot a Gundam?

Anyway, Luo Sha would absolutely not do it!

"Everyone."

"It's late, and we have to watch the third exam tomorrow."

"I'm going back to rest now."

Luo Sha stood up and straightened his Wind Shadow Robe.

Done.

Luo Sha got up and left without hesitation.

Only the other three figures remained, all with extremely unpleasant expressions.

This alliance proposal collapsed before it even began.

At the same time.

Inside the Hokage's office.

Chiba leaned back in his chair, casually flipping through the documents in his hands.

A gentle breeze blew by.

A figure appeared on the windowsill.

"Lord Godaime."

Kakashi knelt on one knee, his voice respectful.

"speak."

Chiba didn't even look up.

"The target has made unusual movements."

The four shadows met in a hotel room.

"However, the party lasted for less than half an hour."

"Kazekage Rasa left first, and judging from his expression, he seemed to be in a good mood."

"The other three then left, looking extremely unwell."

"..."

After listening to Kakashi's report.

Chiba paused for a moment.

He put down his brush and let out a soft laugh.

"Should we stick together for warmth?"

"What a pity."

"Among this group of elderly, weak, sick and disabled people, there is a smart person."

Kakashi's lips twitched slightly beneath his mask.

The only person in the entire ninja world who would dare to call the Kage of the four great ninja villages old, weak, sick, or disabled is probably the one right in front of me.

"Should we increase surveillance?"

next moment.

Kakashi asked for instructions.

"Need not."

"Just a bunch of ants who can't make a ripple."

"Tomorrow's third exam will be the last straw that breaks their mental defenses."

"..."

……

The next morning.

Sunlight streamed into the examination hall of Konoha.

The audience's enthusiasm was even higher than yesterday.

According to past practice.

The third test will be a one-on-one practical arena competition.

This is the part that best showcases an individual's abilities.

The fifty genin who had advanced had already lined up in the center of the examination hall.

The thirty-seven Konoha genin stood together, their imposing presence overwhelming.

In contrast, the lower-ranking ninjas from other villages were like lambs surrounded by wolves, trembling with fear.

In the stands.

The four figures took their seats in turn.

Luo Sha felt refreshed and invigorated.

Onoki, Raikage, and Mei Terumi all had dark circles under their eyes, clearly indicating they hadn't slept well the night before.

"The Hokage has arrived!"

Accompanied by a loud announcement.

The entire room fell silent instantly.

Chiba walked to the very front of the main grandstand.

His gaze swept over the fifty genin below.

"today."

"This is the third round of the Joint Chunin Exams."

"I hereby announce a decision."

"Fifty genin standing in the center of this examination hall."

"All passed the test!"

"From this moment forward, you are all promoted to Chunin!"

"..."

Chiba's voice, transmitted through chakra, reached every corner.

boom!

The entire venue erupted in chaos.

"What?"

"All promoted?"

"How can this be? Are we not going to have practical assessments?"

The villagers of Konoha were completely taken aback.

The Jonin leading the team from the other village were utterly astonished.

Even the genin in the center of the examination hall were stunned.

"what?"

"So this is a Chunin?"

"I haven't even beaten Sasuke down yet!"

Naruto scratched his golden hair.

"Last-place finisher, yet so arrogant."

Sasuke snorted coldly.

In the VIP section.

Onoki plucked off a hair from his beard.

Raikage crushed the newly replaced wooden handrail.

Mei Terumi stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

All promoted to Chunin?

What's wrong with Chiba Senju?

In the past, the Chunin Exams were extremely rigorous in order to control the number of Chunin.

Fifty people all promoted—this is blatant disregard for the rules of the ninja world!

Chiba raised his hand and pressed it down.

The noise in the venue miraculously subsided.

"There's no need for you to be surprised."

"To be able to occupy the high ground in that chaotic battle."

"This is enough to prove that they possess Chunin-level strength and judgment."

"Konoha has always valued talent above all else and does not adhere to rigid rules."

That sounds good.

But the higher-ups in the surrounding villages found it extremely jarring.

The subtext is clearly: You genin from other villages are too weak, you don't even qualify to be eliminated, so let's just let you all win.

"but."

Just then.

Chiba then changed the subject.

"Since it's an exam, it's natural to determine who's better."

"The third game that follows."

"It's no longer about elimination, it's about ranking!"

"Fifty newly promoted Chunin will engage in one-on-one arena battles to determine the final rankings."

"Based on your rankings."

"Each of you will receive rewards of varying degrees!"

"First place winner: 100,000 Konoha Merit Points!"

"Second place: 50,000 points!"

"Third place, reward 30,000 points!"

"Third to tenth place: 10,000 points each!"

"The remaining rankings will all receive varying amounts of merit points!"

This statement came out.

The eyes of the Konoha genin immediately turned red.

100,000 merit points!

That could be exchanged for two A-rank ninjutsu, or a whole bunch of B-rank ninjutsu and a massive amount of wealth!

Even if you're last in the rankings, you can still accumulate a lot of merit points.

This is like a windfall!

"Awooooo!"

"100,000 merit points!"

"I'm taking it!"

Naruto jumped three feet high in excitement.

A fierce fire also ignited in Sasuke's eyes.

The second young master of the Uchiha clan.

Although he has no shortage of high-level ninjutsu, he also values ​​merit points.

As long as you have enough merit points.

He can exchange for the resources he wants, and even special ninja tools.

however.

The four figures in the VIP seats felt as if they had fallen into an ice cave.

"To kill someone is to destroy their spirit..."

Onoki felt ice-cold all over, and his fingertips were trembling.

"What a ruthless method!"

"He's blatantly trying to poach our employees!"

Terumi Mei's face was pale, and her voice trembled.

"Shameless!"

"That's outrageous!"

The Raikage was so angry he was about to vomit blood.

Konoha's merit points can only be exchanged for ninjutsu and supplies within Konoha Village!

Chiba not only gave merit points to the Konoha genin, but also to the thirteen genin from other villages!

The Cloud Village ninja used their merit points to exchange for Konoha ninjutsu.

Do those ninjas from Kumogakure still have their hearts set on Kumogakure?

He who takes a bribe is bound to do his bidding; he who eats another's food is obligated to do his bidding.

Once this merit point system is implemented among these ninjas from other villages...

They will be completely assimilated into Konoha's system!

I used my merit points to exchange for ninjutsu today.

Tomorrow you'll realize how great the benefits are in Konoha Village.

He might defect to Konoha the day after tomorrow!

Chiba isn't giving out rewards at all.

This is clearly a blatant attempt to poach talented ninjas from other villages.

the most important is.

Chiba used an open strategy.

Even if they now issue an order prohibiting the village's ninjas from accepting merit points.

Those ninjas may outwardly obey, but they will definitely harbor resentment in their hearts.

Why should Konoha ninjas get to exchange for powerful ninjutsu while they can only watch?