Chapter 38: Chunin Exam Start

"Amazing. The two of you have improved by leaps and bounds," said Inoichi, slightly out of breath. "You're both ready for the Chunin Exams. There's a very good chance that both of you will pass on your first try."

"Thank you, sensei," said Hana, smiling happily as she watched their teacher use a Water Jutsu to extinguish a burning fire behind them, saving the trees from destruction. Meanwhile, Tekku was busy sealing his belongings away, marking the end of their final fight with their teacher before the exam.

"I must say, the two of you make an excellent team. If you work together, you can even take on most of the Jonin I know. Some of your combinations are extremely dangerous for any opponent," summarized their proud teacher. They had worked diligently over the past few months in preparation for the exams. "I don't think there's much more we can do in this last week before the exam. However, there are a few details I need to share with you, particularly with you, Tekku."

"Hmm, what is it, sensei?" Tekku asked, curious about the additional information he needed to know apart from the meeting point.

"Iwagakure has sent some teams," Inoichi replied with a serious tone.

"WHAT? They have never sent a team to the Konoha Chunin Exams. Why would they change that now?" Hana exclaimed, displaying her pure confusion.

Before Inoichi could answer, Tekku chimed in, "They probably sent a strong team. I don't think their goal is to participate in the exams but rather to eliminate me. I'm one of the upcoming geniuses of Konoha, and they likely anticipated that I would take part in the next possible exams." Tekku analyzed the situation calmly, without being perturbed. He had already anticipated that he might become a target for Iwagakure.

To be honest, he had expected them to attempt an assassination during one of his missions outside the village. However, that had not happened in the last few months. Since they had been venturing out of the village more frequently, taking on fewer D-rank missions and more C-rank ones, the chances for an ambush were there.

"Exactly. That's what Hokage-sama also believes. He has decided that it's your choice whether you want to participate. However, it would raise the village's prestige and could even have a positive impact on the stability of our political situation. The aftermath of the Uchiha massacre is not yet over," explained Inoichi.

"You should think carefully, Tekku. The team they sent is likely not ordinary," cautioned Hana, her voice tinged with worry. Her Ninken also appeared concerned, sensing their master's emotions.

"We have worked so hard. It would be pathetic to back out now. I believe we are more than ready to face them. Even if they are strong, they are still only a genin team like us, not a fully-fledged Chunin-level or higher team," replied Tekku with a cold but excited grin. "So let's do it. We will defeat them."

Hana could only nod in excitement as Inoichi handed them their registration forms and instructed them on where to meet. The rendezvous point was on the third floor of the academy building in the morning, one week from now, just like in canon.

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For Tekku, the written exam was easy. He had noticed at the start that the purpose of the first exam, like in Naruto, was to utilize ninja techniques and cheat without getting caught by the examiner.

The examiner was not Ibiki Morino but a Jōnin he was unfamiliar with. Perhaps he was already deceased by the time the manga started, as Tekku had no recollection of him, not even as a background character.

He had unwavering confidence in the strength of his memory. Since awakening in this world, he had devoted himself to rigorous training and extensive reading of numerous books. This habit persisted throughout his time at the academy and even after attaining the rank of genin. Consequently, Tekku had accumulated a vast array of knowledge within his mind. It encompassed the extensive history of ninjas, tracing back to the Sage of Six Paths, as well as intricate details about alliances, treaties, and the laws governing different lands. He had delved into the fundamentals and advanced techniques of ninja combat, familiarizing himself with practical battle strategies. His understanding extended to the theoretical aspects of physical ninja arts and kekkei genkai, along with an introduction to the concept of chakra. Furthermore, he had absorbed information about tailed beasts, ninja beasts, sage barriers, natural energy fundamentals, and a variety of documents, books, theses. Additionally, he had acquired insights into science, technology, and combat from other worlds, expanding his knowledge with his own research into chakra and the shinobi arts.

Therefore, there was no need for him to cheat. He believed in maintaining a balance between intellect and physical prowess, considering it the fundamental essence of his vision of an exemplary ninja. This belief was reinforced by the chakra theory, which revolved around the interplay of yin and yang energies.

When the mind was clear, superior physical abilities could be effectively demonstrated. However, no matter how skilled one was in the ninja arts, if they couldn't make appropriate decisions, failure was almost inevitable. In the world of ninjas, failure was directly linked to death.

After completing his own test, Tekku chose to observe his competition. One by one, competitors were disqualified for cheating. He paid attention to who was cheating and how.

Keeping his expression impassive, he extended his chakra in all four directions, utilizing his sensory abilities. For example, he noticed that Hana used her ability to communicate with her Ninken to obtain answers from one of the planted Chunin. Some entrants delved into the minds of their targets, while others observed hand movements or deduced answers from the sound of pencils rubbing against paper. They all cheated using the techniques they were best at. Tekku calmly identified which contestants employed which cheating methods.

Everyone in the room, except Hana, was his opponent. The more he studied them, the greater advantage he gained. The Iwa team, in particular, intrigued him.

As he and Hana entered the room before the exam began, they were met with a feeble sense of hostility from a group of genin. He used this opportunity to examine the faces of his opponents and was quite shocked when he saw who Iwagakure had sent.

The first member was Akatsuchi, one of the most loyal followers of the Tsuchikage, known as his "Shield" in the future. But the second member of the team shocked him even more. It was the blond-haired Deidara, one of the future members of Akatsuki. The last member was an unfamiliar face he didn't recognize.

Realizing that he faced such formidable opponents, and being at a disadvantage with only two members on his team compared to the three of the others, Tekku knew he had to carefully observe his adversaries. But most importantly, he wondered how Deidara fought. He could sense that there were no mouths on his hands, and he had only acquired the forbidden jutsu after fleeing the village. So, what kind of techniques was the mad bomber using?

- Shinobi - Shinobi - Shinobi - Shinobi -

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