Chapter 281: Ten Arenas

The Tower in the Center of the Forest of Death.

A majestic and enormous building stood within the ancient forest.

A ragged squad of ninjas entered, handing over the scrolls they had collected.

Besides the competing ninja squads, the forest also had a harsh environment, and it was rare for any ninja to enter unscathed.

Squad after squad of ninjas entered, but what awaited them was an even more brutal second exam.

"The second part of the Chunin Selection Exam begins now!"

Guren, with the air of a proud elder sister, looked at everyone and began to explain the rules with cold arrogance.

"There are ten combat platforms here, as you can see. There are over two hundred of you here, but only ten will qualify for the third exam."

"Of course, not only those who participate in the third exam are eligible to become Chunin. You are now entering the Chunin selection phase. Elite ninjas from various factions will be secretly scoring each of you based on your abilities. Anyone with the ability can become a Chunin."

"However, the third exam will be watched by the Five Kage and Lord Night God, along with the elites and Daimyo of the major ninja villages. The third exam is also known as the Battle of Geniuses! And I have good news for you: the top ten, regardless of which ninja village they come from, will have the chance to be rewarded with ninjutsu by the Lord Night God himself."

As Guren spoke, the ninjas who had just been through a fierce battle were all shocked. A reward of ninjutsu, and in front of so many people!

This meant that just by stepping into the third exam arena, their names would no longer be just ordinary Chunin, but would be remembered by everyone.

"Of course, those who perform well in the third exam and score exceptionally will have the chance to be promoted to special Jounin."

"Now, for the ten combat platforms in front of you, it's a draw to decide who fights whom. I think those of you who are confident in your strength will know how to choose. Rest for ten minutes on site, and then the competition will begin."

Boom! As her voice fell, a series of giant stone combat platforms appeared, sparking discussions among the Genin.

"Haha, Sasuke, let's have a duel."

"Idiot, shut up!" Sakura roared at Naruto, and Sasuke, seeing this, disdainfully called him an idiot.

"That means, if we don't want to fight our own people, we have to choose different platforms to compete on."

"Of course, if you're not confident in your abilities, you can consider teaming up on one platform. As long as one of the three wins, they can advance."

As expected, countless Genin squads started strategizing. It was most advantageous for a squad to be on one platform, as they could conserve some energy when encountering their own members.

Similarly, ninjas who were confident in their own abilities scoffed and proudly chose their own platforms.

"Naruto, you."

Under Sakura's astonished gaze, Naruto gave Sasuke a thumbs up with a smile.

"Sasuke, I, Uzumaki Naruto, will wait for you at the third exam venue!"

Naruto chose another platform, laughing heartily, while Sasuke scoffed in response.

"Idiot, so many routes."

Sasuke also chose a separate platform, leaving Sakura alone and uncertain.

As for the Sand Village team, Temari said calmly, "Preserve our strength. Kankuro, let's team up with Gaara. Remember why we came here. We're not here to show off."

"Yes."

Gaara stood in front of a platform, obviously unconcerned with the rules. He only wanted to taste blood.

Time was short, and all the ninjas had made their decisions.

However, a scene made Konoha ninjas mutter. Yamanaka Ino had a bloodthirsty smile as she followed Nara Shikamaru's Team 10, clearly targeting the Ino-Shika-Cho combination.

Seeing this, Shikamaru felt a chill down his spine and whispered to his teammates, "Be careful, Ino's got her eye on us. We should split up."

Yamanaka Ino of today is no longer the wild child she once was; she is a disciple of Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage.

Otherwise, Nara Shikamaru wouldn't be so worried.

Hyuga Hinata and Haku exchanged a gentle smile, almost simultaneously standing behind Ino.

Clearly, in this team, Ino's character is the leader, but the equally gentle two also understand the hatred in Ino's heart.

Naturally, they chose to help.

Outside the arena, people are cheering, excited about the start of the thrilling match, and even setting up betting pools.

"Yo, Kakashi, Rock Lee is my direct disciple, this time I'm definitely going to beat you."

"Hmph! Kakashi, Hozuki Suigetsu is a disciple I personally trained, this time I will definitely win!"

Might Guy and Momochi Zabuza, one on each side, one fiery and passionate, the other with a deathly stare, making Kakashi incredibly awkward.

Helplessly, he raised his dead fish eye and looked at them in confusion: "Guy, Zabuza, what's going on?"

Seeing Kakashi's puzzled look, Momochi Zabuza sneered: "Kakashi, have you forgotten last year's bet?"

"Bet?"

Seeing Kakashi's clueless look, Might Guy and Momochi Zabuza sensed something was wrong, and indeed, the next moment, Kakashi slapped his forehead, showing a sudden realization.

"Oh, so that's what it is, I forgot."

Damn!

Suddenly, Momochi Zabuza and Might Guy's eyes widened. They had prepared for a whole year for this fight.

Especially Momochi Zabuza, for this match, to deceive Hozuki Suigetsu, he made a heavy promise to let him inherit the Kubikiribōchō in the future.

For a moment, the Jonin of Konoha turned their attention, and Kakashi, faced with their gazes, showed an embarrassed smile and waved his hand: "How about, I lose this time?"

"Kakashi, you're looking down on me!"

"How about I consider Naruto and Sasuke as my disciples then?"

"Kakashi, you're cheating."

Meanwhile, the matches on the ten arenas have begun.

With the draw, a series of exciting Genin battles started, with professional Jonin assessing and scoring each fight.

After each fight, there was professional commentary, evaluating the combat abilities and overall skills of the contestants.

At the same time, the betting pools set up earned a lot of money for Uchiha Yoru.

Not only that, but outside the village of Konoha, external betting pools were opened, with many participants.

Especially the ten final winners, which motivated countless people to bet.

However, the more famous the contestant, the less money to be made, like Uchiha Sasuke, a disciple of the Night God, but the betting odds were one to one, with no profit.

Similarly, the immense daily profits from the betting pools made the envoys and Daimyos of the major ninja villages green with envy. Just this betting alone was enough to make a fortune.

Arena.

On arena number ten, following the first round, the competition began again.

Yamanaka Ino VS Akimichi Choji

Wow, this instantly drew a lot of attention, as there's always a crowd for such spectacles.

Seeing the duelists, Nara Shikamaru's face grew solemn, and he earnestly advised Akimichi Choji.

"Choji, Ino's hatred for the Ino-Shika-Cho trio is not like that of ordinary people, don't hold back when you go up there, and immediately concede if you're overpowered."

Although Akimichi Choji usually appears simple-minded, he was very serious about this life-and-death matter.

"Hey, perverted fat pig, get up here."

After the dashing and spirited Ino arrived on the scene, she raised her proud blond hair and looked at her opponent with a disdainful expression in her eyes.

Upon hearing the term "fat pig," Akimichi Choji's face turned red with frustration and he protested, "Ino, I'm not a fat pig! And I'm definitely not a pervert!"

Hearing this, Ino's face revealed a mocking smile. "Whether you're a fat pig or not, I don't know, but with boxer briefs over your head, aren't you a pervert?"

Following Ino's taunting words, there was an immediate burst of laughter.

The other lower ninjas noticed the headband on Choji's forehead. Indeed, there was a deep blue pair of underwear over his head, along with his forehead protector.

Tsk tsk, this scene undoubtedly confirmed the perversion.

"Ino! How can you be like this!"

At this moment, Akimichi Choji was truly angry, his eyes serious and showing an unprecedented fury.

"Don't! Don't try to get close to me. Although my surname is Yamanaka, I'm not a member of your Ino-Shika-Cho."

Ino, with her golden hair, looked at Akimichi Choji indifferently, her slender and pretty hands clenched tightly.

"The fat pig of the Akimichi clan, get ready to face my fist now."

Ino didn't care about the Ino-Shika-Cho's retaliation. Speaking of retaliation, they were too busy dealing with their own problems.

Because of their allegiance, Ino-Shika-Cho also faced ostracism and suppression, leading a difficult life.

"Begin!"

As the referee gave the command, Ino coldly shouted, seemingly swinging her fist to charge forward, but in the next moment, several glints of cold light flickered.

Pfft!

It was Senbon needles. Choji, unable to dodge in time, was directly hit in the arm. Just as he was about to concede in panic, his mouth went numb.

At the same time, he saw the anxious look in Nara Shikamaru's eyes below.

"People outside the ring do not make noise to disrupt the match."

A ninja with a Konoha forehead protector looked coldly at Nara Shikamaru, as a warning.

"Choji!"

Beneath the ring, Nara Shikamaru felt powerless. On the ring, Choji's face turned green from the Senbon's scrape, truly turning green this time.

With green lips and a numb tongue, and his arm turning green and starting to spread.

"Dedicated~"

With a numb tongue, it was unclear what was being said, but at this moment, Ino shouted loudly and charged, swinging her slender fists to attack.

Thud thud~

In the ring, the sound of punches landing echoed, shocking many, while some foreign ninjas secretly started analyzing the situation.

Ino, the disciple of the Fifth Hokage Tsunade, seems to be skilled in using poison.

And in the same group, Sakura, watching this scene, was filled with worry. Facing Ino, could she really win?

At this moment, a shocking scene occurred in ring five.

"Kaguya Kimimaro wins!"

With the announcement of the referee, Kimimaro, who should have rested after his victory, unexpectedly looked indifferently at all the contestants.

"Referee, there can only be one winner in a ring, right?"

Faced with Kimimaro's calm demeanor, the referee seemed to have guessed something and nervously swallowed before replying, "Yes! That's correct."

"Alright then!"

Kimimaro stood calmly on the fifth ring, looking around at all the contestants and said indifferently, "Come on up, I'm already bored."

"What!"

Everyone was shocked by the audacity of this white-haired youngster, and then a wave of angry roars erupted.

"Damn brat!"

"Don't underestimate us."

"The Kaguya clan is too arrogant, I won't hold back."

As all the contestants showed their anger, Kimimaro calmly warmed up his shoulders, "Alright, I won't hold back either."

At the same time, a burst of exclamations erupted from the seventh ring, and the referees were all shouting in shock.

"Barrier team, quick!"

Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique

To everyone's astonishment, a huge amount of seawater suddenly appeared within the giant ring barrier, shocking even the high-ranked ninjas outside who were witnessing this.

"To be able to use such a terrifying Water Release technique in a place without water."

"Wow! Such immense chakra."

"This girl has such strong chakra."

After the seawater on the seventh ring stabilized, the figure of Uzumaki Karin stood on the water. She calmly said, "I don't want to play house with you guys either. Either surrender or come at me all at once, I'll take you all down in one go."

The sight of her violent pale blue chakra taking form around her body was even more shocking to the onlookers.

Not just them, even the high-ranked ninjas were shocked by Uzumaki Karin's terrifying amount of chakra.

It's important to note that this was Karin's own chakra, without relying on any Tailed Beast.

"I surrender."

"I forfeit!"

"Me too!"

The ninjas at the seventh ring, one by one, forfeited in frustration. It wasn't that they were incapable, but the information on Uzumaki Karin was too terrifying.

A disciple of the Night God, also the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki of Konoha, known as the strongest weapon of war.

With this transparent intelligence, their leading ninjas had already advised them to forfeit.

Unlike the fifth ring, which erupted into angry roars and then a massive brawl, or rather Kimimaro rapidly knocking his opponents out of the ring like lightning.

In the end, it was Uzumaki Karin of the seventh ring who was the first to determine the winner.

With Karin's victory, her face showed an excited, intoxicated smile.

This way, Teacher Yoru would be able to see my brilliant performance.

~~~

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