194.I Want To Stand At The Top!

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"?!" Tsunade's eyes widened, as though she had witnessed a medical miracle. She sensed a turbulent flow of Chakra emanating from Yuki's body, compelling her to confirm her suspicions. She reached out, grabbed his hand, and used her medical ninjutsu to examine his Chakra meridians, finding them to be 100% intact.

"How can this be?" Tsunade exclaimed, shocked by the revelation. This seemed more miraculous than someone paralyzed for years suddenly regaining their health. In the realm of medical ninjutsu, she was unmatched, yet her previous examinations had confirmed Yuki's Chakra meridians as irreversibly necrotic, a condition deemed medically incurable.

"Could it be an illusion?" she pondered but quickly dismissed the idea, knowing no illusion could be so flawless.

"Your observation was correct," Yuki explained with a smile. Despite possessing Complete Hypnosis with the power to manipulate the five senses, he admitted it was impossible to perfectly simulate the true state of every meridian and cell.

Tsunade, renowned as the world's foremost medical ninja, had always detected something amiss in him, confirming that the "injury" and the necrosis of 98% of his Chakra meridians were indeed real.

"However, this doesn't mean your judgment was correct!" Yuki's eyes sparkled as he spoke, challenging the notion of using conventional wisdom to assess him.

Tsunade was left speechless, pondering deeply before finally asking, "Yuki, why have you chosen to conceal your true self?"

It was hard to believe that Yuki, once a dominant force in the ninja world, had feigned retirement.

"Concealed? No, I've never hidden myself. It's just that no one truly understands me," Yuki replied casually.

Tsunade was taken aback. Upon reflection, she realized that the belief in Yuki's loss of Chakra and subsequent fall from grace was based solely on external assessments, not his own admissions. Even the Fourth Hokage had thoughtfully arranged a teaching position for him at Konoha School, considering him incapacitated.

"What are your intentions, Yuki?" Tsunade asked, her expression turning grave as she recalled the initial rumors of Orochimaru's conspiracy against him, which now seemed unfounded.

"I aim to reach the sky," Yuki responded succinctly, his words striking Tsunade with the force of a revelation.

"The window period for the Throne of Heaven is nearing its end," Yuki left behind these enigmatic words before departing, leaving Tsunade alone with her thoughts.

After more than a month of diligent preparation, Konoha was finally ready to host the joint Chūnin exam, an event that filled the village with a palpable sense of excitement and anticipation

The entire village was filled with joy, as the people spontaneously organized and crowded the streets early in the morning to warmly welcome guests from abroad. This excitement stemmed from Konoha's long-standing isolation, making the arrival of outsiders a rare and celebrated event.

The Fourth Hokage personally greeted the arrivals at the gates of Konoha, showcasing the village's sincerity and grandeur. "Oh, the Hokage, renowned as the 'Yellow Flash,' truly lives up to his reputation!" exclaimed the first arrivals from Sunagakure.

Rasa, with a friendly smile, greeted him back, "Hokage, I'm Rasa of Sunagakure, I have long admired your name!"

The Fourth Hokage politely responded, his gaze quickly assessing the Sunagakure team. Notable figures such as Rasa and Chiyo were present, signifying Sunagakure's strong intent to excel in the Chūnin exam with their nearly twenty Genin participants.

Next to arrive was the team from Kirigakure. "Is that the legendary Fourth Mizukage, Yagura?" the Fourth Hokage mused, surprised by the young leader's presence. Kirigakure's policy of isolation had kept them enigmatic, and their participation in the Chūnin exam sparked both surprise and speculation among Konoha's leadership.

Yagura maintained an expressionless demeanor, to which the Fourth Hokage, unfazed, warmly welcomed the Mist Shinobi. Scanning the team, he recognized several figures known from Konoha's archives, such as Terumi Mei, Chojuro, and Ao, who brought a contingent of Genin.

Then came a loud greeting from the Cloud Shinobi Village's delegation, led by the Fourth Raikage. "Yellow Flash! We meet again!" he announced.

"Do you remember what I said?" the Fourth Hokage greeted him with a smile, recalling their encounters during the Third Ninja World War and their promise to compete as equals next time they met.

"Haha! You are indeed a respectable opponent!" the Fourth Raikage laughed, reciprocating the gesture with enthusiasm. The Cloud delegation, including Killer Bee, A, and Darui, boasted nearly 30 Genin participants, showcasing their significant representation.

Lastly, a distinctive arrival caught everyone's attention as a short, unassuming old man, the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki, disembarked from his companion's back. His attempt to land smoothly resulted in a humorous stumble, yet the Fourth Hokage greeted him with respect, "Tsuchikage-senpai, known as the 'Ōnoki of Both Scales,' welcome to Konoha!"