Chapter 51 : Chunin Exam? No, it’s a battle royale!

With just a few words, he effectively removed the advisors' right to influence the Hokage.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was in a good mood. He took a puff from his pipe, glancing at his two now-disheartened companions, and felt a smirk spread within. 

The advisory system that the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, had established was useful at first, but lately, it had become a hindrance. Now that it was finally dismantled, Hiruzen could operate without anyone holding him back.

However, his mood contrasted sharply with the two advisors beside him. They used to have some sway over the Hokage's decisions, occasionally causing a bit of trouble for Hiruzen and facilitating Danzo's schemes. They'd found ways to enjoy their role in this hidden interference.

Yet, while they were enjoying a hot pot dinner and singing, within minutes of sitting down, they found out that their influence had vanished. 

Adding to the insult, the prominent clans in Konoha had already aligned themselves with Sarutobi Hiruzen, leaving the advisors feeling utterly defeated.

Now that his path was clear, Sarutobi Hiruzen's mood was buoyant, his face wrinkling with each satisfied puff. 

He remarked, "Since this Chunin Exam will involve three different ninja villages, it can't be like before. We need to make some changes, show them what Konoha is made of."

Nara Shikaku, as insightful as ever, immediately understood the Hokage's intention. "So you're saying we need innovative content, something challenging?"

"Exactly." Hiruzen was quite pleased with Shikaku's quick understanding. Having a subordinate who could anticipate his needs made everything so much easier.

It's as if he didn't even have to say much—his trusted team could figure things out without him stressing over details. What could be better?

Uchiha Sogetsu, standing by, felt his lips twitch. This scene was all too familiar, leaving him at a loss for words.

"What's this? Sogetsu, it seems like you have an idea?" Sarutobi Hiruzen noticed Uchiha Sogetsu's peculiar expression, thinking he had something on his mind. 

Stroking his beard, he smiled and encouraged, "Don't be shy, be bold. It's fine even if you're wrong; we're just brainstorming."

Uchiha Sogetsu, whom the Hokage had just addressed, suddenly became the center of attention. 

After pausing to feign contemplation, he adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose, put on a gentle smile, and said, "Hokage-sama, I do have a suggestion, but I'm not sure if it's appropriate."

"Don't worry, let's hear it," Sarutobi Hiruzen replied, raising his hand to indicate Sogetsu should continue.

"According to your guidance, Hokage-sama, the upcoming Chunin Exams, jointly held by the three major ninja villages, will showcase Konoha's heritage and strength, and at the same time, revamp the traditional exam structure and content." Uchiha Sogetsu paused before suggesting, "I think the focus of this Chunin Exam should be on 'genjutsu'."

"Genjutsu?" Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned, seemingly not entirely pleased with this proposal.

"Hey, Sogetsu, is this the grand plan you've come up with?" Koharu, who had been quiet for a while, finally had a chance to vent. 

She glared at Sogetsu, saying, "Determining whether someone can become a Chunin requires considering many factors. It's not just about genjutsu; it also involves endurance, physical skills, and other key aspects, like leadership and organizational abilities. How can you decide if someone's fit to be a Chunin based solely on genjutsu? You're still too young."

Seizing his moment, Homura, not one to stay silent, added with a mocking tone, "I know you're skilled in genjutsu, Sogetsu, but you're underestimating the other villages' ninjas. What if they break your genjutsu? Konoha would be a laughingstock!"

The back-to-back criticisms were like jabs at Uchiha Sogetsu, putting Sarutobi Hiruzen in a tight spot. Not wanting to show weakness, he raised his hand to interrupt them, "All right, all right, Sogetsu's idea has merit, but it's a bit premature."

"Wait, Hokage-sama!" Nara Shikaku interjected. He sensed there might be more to Sogetsu's idea and said, "Let's hear him out. There might be something interesting we haven't considered."

Sarutobi Hiruzen took a moment to consider. He glanced at Uchiha Sogetsu, who stood with a calm, enigmatic smile. 

Sogetsu seemed unfazed by the anticipation surrounding his plan. Sensing the atmosphere, Hiruzen gave him the go-ahead, "All right, Sogetsu, you may continue."

"Thank you, Hokage-sama," replied Uchiha Sogetsu, bowing slightly. "I've thought about the concerns raised by the two advisors, which is why the illusion I propose requires collaboration with the Yamanaka clan. Together, we'll create a large-scale genjutsu that can hold many people simultaneously."

"A large-scale genjutsu that can encompass many people?" This idea piqued the interest of everyone present, even catching Orochimaru's attention, who'd been keeping a low profile until then.

"Go on!" Sarutobi Hiruzen urged, leaning forward with curiosity.

"I plan to create a massive genjutsu dreamland that will involve all the candidates," Uchiha Sogetsu continued with a smile. 

His voice had a soothing quality, his words seeping into the minds of everyone listening. 

"You may be familiar with the genjutsu technique I developed, Wish-Fulfilment, which can create an almost realistic dream that's challenging to detect from within."

"If we connect this genjutsu with the Yamanaka clan's abilities, we can create a 'collective dream' where many people can interact." 

Sogetsu's tone was confident, his words carefully crafted. "The significant advantage of this genjutsu is that we don't have to worry about physical harm. We can run multiple tests and challenges to evaluate the candidates' suitability for the Chunin rank without risking injury or death."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes brightened as he listened, growing increasingly impressed by the idea. He couldn't help but admire Sogetsu's ingenuity. "It's indeed a clever idea!"

Nara Shikaku nodded in agreement, "Using genjutsu eliminates the risk of casualties, giving us more flexibility in how we test the candidates."

"Won't this make the Chunin Exams too difficult?" Namikaze Minato asked hesitantly after a long pause. He'd heard that Obito was eager to take the Chunin Exams, and the mention of "casualty rate" worried him about the level of difficulty.

"As long as it's controlled properly," Nara Shikaku responded, providing some reassurance. "Besides, having a challenging Chunin Exam is a good thing. It shouldn't be too easy to become a Chunin."

Namikaze Minato sighed helplessly. He had already done everything he could. Now, all that was left was to wait and see if Obito and Rin would argue and sort things out between them.

"Advisors, do you have any more questions?" Uchiha Sogetsu asked with a pleasant smile, clearly trying to diffuse the tension.

The two advisors were visibly frustrated, and their frustration quickly turned to anger, causing them to go silent.

"Inoichi, what do you think of this idea?" Third Hokage asked.

Yamanaka Inoichi glanced at Nara Shikaku, who gave him a subtle nod, signaling that everything was under control. 

Inoichi then nodded and said: "It seems like a solid plan. If Sogetsu's genjutsu can cover all participants, then there's no issue with the Chunin Exams. This is a very feasible approach!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen stood up, visibly enthusiastic, and addressed the group, "This year's Chunin Exams conduction method is settled!" 

"Sogetsu, since you proposed the idea of using genjutsu, you probably have some thoughts on the content, right?"

Nara Shikaku, always quick to grasp the situation, chimed in with a grin, "Now that Hokage-sama is here, why don't we discuss it together? That way, everyone can give their input."

"Of course, I have a few ideas," Uchiha Sogetsu replied with a slight smile, adjusting his glasses. 

His eyes gleamed with excitement as he spoke, "My idea is to create an environment that revolves around horror, survival, and escape. Think of it as a 'Battle Royale.'"

"'Battle Royale'?"

"Escape?"

"Horror?"

"Survival?"

Everyone seemed intrigued by the concept. They began exchanging glances, hinting at their curiosity about the upcoming Chunin Exams and what Uchiha Sogetsu had in mind. 

It was clear that this Chunin Exam would be unlike any other, and the mere mention of "Battle Royale" had sparked a new level of anticipation among them.

Everyone was confused by these unfamiliar terms and didn't really get what they meant.

Uchiha Sogetsu grinned and said, "To put it simply, if they run, we hunt them down and kill them."

Devilish.

Just hearing him say that was enough to send shivers down your spine.

Namikaze Minato couldn't help but cover his face, already feeling a pang of sympathy for his disciple.

********

Support me on my patreon and read upto 15 early chapters.

https://www.patreon.com/Unique_Writer