Chapter 60: Nineteen People

Sakumo Hatake stood on a tree branch in front of the five people, lightly laughing. Minato and the others also came out. 

Only Minato was surprised. He had suddenly appeared here, so why could he instantly determine their five positions? Even with overwhelming strength, wouldn't he need to briefly observe and sense them?

"Do you mean we passed the trial?" Miyazaki Satoshi's voice was inevitably excited, after all, he never thought he could qualify when the trial began.

His strength was not considered top-tier among the ninja academy students, let alone the dozens of genin.

Sakumo smiled slightly upon hearing this and said, "I only said the ninja ability trial has ended, but I didn't say you qualified."

"Now, follow me to the central tower in the Forest of Death. Whether you qualify or not will be revealed there." After speaking, Sakumo dashed forward, and Minato and the others looked at each other before following.

During the journey, the expressions of Miyazaki, Akasaka, and Okamoto Sa were always worried. Kushina, however, kept staring at Minato intently.

As for Minato, he kept observing Sakumo in the front. Because he didn't feel that this person had suddenly found himself, Kushina, and the others.

"Could it be..." Minato speculated in his heart.

Since he and Kushina entered the Forest of Death, the ANBU who was usually by their side did not follow them in. Initially, he thought this was the Third Hokage's way to test his abilities. Although he didn't know Kushina's exact identity, it was absolutely unacceptable for her to make any mistakes.

So the remaining answer was the only one left - it wasn't that there was no one to protect Kushina by her side, but rather that with his current abilities, he couldn't detect the existence of this guardian.

And that person was most likely Sakumo Hatake in front of him, which could also explain how he could suddenly appear in front of them.

However, this was only Minato's speculation. Sakumo Hatake, on the other hand, had been observing Minato, who seemed preoccupied.

"It seems the Third was right; this kid's senses are indeed exceptionally sharp."

When Sakumo accepted the role as the primary examiner for the Ninja Ability Trial, he also received another mission - to protect the red-haired girl named Kushina Uzumaki during the trial period.

However, it now seemed that the Third's mission was somewhat redundant. Kushina was strong enough herself, let alone the fact that she had an even stronger and thoughtful kid by her side.

On the way to the tower, Minato also discovered that there was not a single person in the vast Forest of Death.

"Were they all brought there as well?" As the tower gradually came into view, Minato also gradually let go of his inner speculation.

However, contrary to Minato's expectations, there was no one inside the tower after they entered.

"This is the gathering place for the Chunin Exams. Do not move around at will," Sakumo left these words before disappearing in front of the five of them.

His appearance and disappearance were both beyond the comprehension of the current five individuals.

After a while, a chunin-like person led three people inside.

"Shikaku, Choza, Inoichi!" Miyazaki waved and greeted them when he saw the three.

"Yo, it's Satoshi. I didn't expect you to not be eliminated yet," Choza Akimichi also came up and talked to him, but he seemed a bit tactless.

Miyazaki suddenly became a bit embarrassed. Indeed, with his ability, if he hadn't encountered Minato and Kushina, he would have been eliminated on the first day.

"You idiot," Shikaku Nara laughed lightly, then met Minato's gaze.

His expression showed some surprise because Minato, Kushina, and the other two looked younger than Shikaku, Choza, Inoichi, and Miyazaki.

At this time, another chunin led a girl with long black hair inside.

When Kushina saw the girl, she immediately ran over, held her hand, and said, "Mikoto, I finally met you. Are you okay?"

Mikoto's expression was also somewhat excited. After responding to Kushina, she also greeted Minato.

Kushina was not surprised that Minato and herself were still there. What surprised her was that their classmates Akasaka and Takenouchi Rin were here too.

Swish!

Shortly after Mikoto entered, a black figure also rushed in quickly. After him, a chunin with a slightly angry expression followed inside.

Uchiha Homura!

He still had that indifferent expression, but the gaze in his black eyes was focused on Minato, with a hint of combat intent.

During the three days in the Forest of Death, he had been searching for Minato with all his might, but he didn't expect to see him here.

The words he said a year ago were not false.

"There are already ten people. Will all those who qualify be ninja academy students this time?" Miyazaki's expression was inevitably excited upon seeing the current number.

Beside him, however, Minato smiled and shook his head, "It doesn't seem so."

Outside the door, three more figures walked in. The one in the middle waved at Minato upon entering.

"Minato, you got here before me." Following Nawaki were his two teammates.

Afterwards, Hiashi Hyuga and his twin brother Hizashi Hyuga, whom they had seen on the first night, as well as another genin squad, were also brought in. By now, the gathered participants who had not been eliminated numbered eighteen.

However, this did not seem to be all the participants. Under the guidance of a chunin, a student wearing a black visor and a hooded robe was also brought in.

He was the nineteenth participant whose chakra mark had not been removed.

When he arrived, Sakumo Hatake's figure reappeared before everyone.

"During the three days in the Forest of Death, you all performed exceptionally well and managed to endure until now," he first evaluated them.

"Does this mean we qualify?" Shikaku Nara asked.

Sakumo smiled slightly and said, "Although your performance was good, the rules cannot be changed. In the end, only ten can qualify, but now there are still nineteen participants with their chakra marks remaining, so an additional trial must be held."

"Rather than calling it rules, it's more accurate to say it's a loophole. Why didn't you consider the possibility of too many participants remaining from the start?" Shikaku instantly pointed out this flaw in the Ninja Ability Trial, and Sakumo could only laugh embarrassedly.

"Then how will the additional trial be conducted?" Uchiha Homura had an indifferent expression, or rather, he seemed a bit excited because this meant he still had a chance to face Minato.

At this moment, Sakumo held a wooden box with a 10-centimeter diameter hole in it. He placed the box in the middle of the group and said, "The additional trial for the Ninja Ability Trial will be a fighting tournament. The order and opponents will be decided by the fairest method - drawing lots."

(End of chapter)