Chapter 57 : The First Konoha Battle Royale Trial!!

Word quickly spread through Konoha about the major changes to the upcoming Chunin Exams.

When the genin heard that this year's exams would be a joint event with Sunagakure and Iwagakure and would feature entirely new content, their reaction was mostly despair.

The Chunin Exams were already notoriously difficult, with a pass rate of less than one percent. This joint format only made things worse.

"I swear, if I find out who came up with this idea, I'm going to hunt them down!" one genin exclaimed.

"I knew I should have taken the exam last year!" another groaned.

"Who would have guessed they'd change everything this year?"

Among the disheartened genin, those who graduated last year were the most vocal. If they'd known that this year's exams would be so different, they might have tried their luck the year before.

But these concerns were of little interest to Uchiha Sogetsu. His focus was on something else entirely.

"Our goal is to eliminate 99% of the candidates!" declared Shikaku Nara, his hands crossed and resting on his chin. His eyes held a hint of menace, signaling that he wouldn't tolerate failure.

"Who got on his bad side?" Sogetsu mused, though he was also curious about the reasoning behind this drastic approach. "If we eliminate so many candidates, won't it affect the following year?"

"This was Hokage-sama's intention," Shikaku Nara explained patiently. "The Chunin Exams aren't solely about the final outcome; they're about performance throughout the process. Plus, this year, we want to make an impression on Sunagkure and Iwagakure, show them Konoha's strength, and build alliances. So it's a strategic move."

Now Sogetsu understood: the high elimination rate wasn't a problem—just follow the plan.

With these instructions from leadership, everything seemed clearer.

"Sogetsu, since you're the one who proposed this plan, can you explain what comes next?" Shikaku asked with a serious tone. "If you need others to assist, I can make the arrangements."

"This is the first time I've tried illusion techniques on such a large scale," Uchiha Sogetsu replied, thinking through the details. 

"We'll also need to work with Inoichi-san. I might need guidance on possible issues that could arise during the process. I suggest bringing in some Jonin for initial testing to identify and resolve problems beforehand."

"Good point. We definitely need to test first," Shikaku agreed, nodding. "I'll handle contacting Jonin. You and Inoichi can collaborate to create the Genjutsu world."

"No problem, we'll take care of it," Yamanaka Inoichi replied cryptically, sharing a knowing look with Shikaku.

The years of tacit cooperation had given the two men a sort of unspoken communication, allowing them to understand each other's thoughts without needing to exchange words.

Uchiha Sogetsu, fully aware of this, remained composed, feigning ignorance, and turned to Yamanaka Inoichi, asking, "Mr. Inoichi, how should we proceed with the cooperation?"

"I'll use my Psycho Mind Transmission to enter your mental space," replied Yamanaka Inoichi. Not wanting to raise suspicion, he quickly added, "Don't worry, I will control my thoughts to avoid prying into your memories."

Uchiha Sogetsu's expression changed slightly, showing a hint of concern. "Mr. Inoichi, is there any other way to accomplish this? The mental world is... delicate, you know."

Even Nara Shikaku, known for his high intelligence, saw nothing suspicious in Sogetsu's hesitation. 

He assumed it was just common sense and reassured him, "Sogetsu, I can personally vouch for Inoichi. He won't delve into your memories. And if we want to create a large-scale genjutsu environment, this is the only way."

"This..."

Uchiha Sogetsu still seemed reluctant.

And that was reasonable. After all, who would willingly allow others to invade their mental space without absolute trust? 

As Shikaku and Inoichi took turns patting their chests, making promises, and swearing solemn oaths about their noble intentions—"this is all for Konoha"—Sogetsu found it hard not to scoff inwardly.

He knew full well that neither of these men had pure motives.

He could see through Shikaku's plan. It was clear he wanted Inoichi to use this opportunity to sift through Sogetsu's memories under the guise of the genjutsu setup.

But everything could be deceived. Except for the memory in one's mental world—that couldn't be falsified.

Of course, memory can't be falsified—provided it's real memory!

Uchiha Sogetsu utilized his Beyonder ability to project the perfect blend of worry and internal conflict, maintaining a subtle, controlled expression. 

However, behind that facade, his mind remained detached, watching this "drama" unfold from a third-party perspective.

"Okay, I understand," he said after a long pause, as if he had no other choice. "I trust you, Mr. Shikaku and Mr. Inoichi. What's the next step?"

Seeing that Uchiha Sogetsu finally agreed, Nara Shikaku and Yamanaka Inoichi shared a glance and let out a simultaneous sigh of relief. It's not easy to convince someone to allow an intrusion into their mental world.

Afraid that Sogetsu might change his mind, Inoichi quickly explained, "It's straightforward after this. You just need to create the Genjutsu world in your mind, and then I can use my Mind Body Transmission Technique to share your illusion with others. This way, we can establish a group illusion space."

Nara Shikaku simplified it further, "Think of Inoichi as a relay. This way, your chakra consumption is minimal, and the duration of the shared genjutsu can be extended."

Sogetsu smirked and complemented Shikaku lightly, "As expected of the future head of the Nara clan—you really think through things thoroughly." 

He then nodded and agreed, "Okay, I'm in. Once all the Jonin are here, we can start the trial."

"To be honest, I just like to double-check the details," Shikaku replied, relieved that the biggest hurdle was cleared. The rest would be minor tweaks. "I'll get the Jonin ready," he said, leaving to gather the others.

Uchiha Sogetsu and Yamanaka Inoichi continued to discuss how to refine the shared illusion while making other preparations.

It took about as long as it takes to burn a stick of incense before Shikaku returned with the Jonin, showcasing impressive efficiency.

The first group of Jonin invited to take part in the "Grand Genjutsu Dream" test included Namikaze Minato, Aburame Shibi, Nara Shikaku, Akimichi Choza, Hyuga Hiashi, Inuzuka Tsume, and Hinata Hizashi.

As Uchiha Sogetsu glanced over the selected participants, he felt a twinge of disappointment. The one person he was most excited to see in action, Uzumaki Kushina, wasn't there.

Thinking it over, he understood why. Uzumaki Kushina was Konoha's "nuclear weapon." She needed to be stable and focused at all times. 

Sending her into a potentially scary or unpredictable situation like this test could have catastrophic results. If she lost control and turned into her tailed beast form, the fallout would be disastrous.

"Alright, everyone, please prepare yourselves," Uchiha Sogetsu announced, giving the group a warm smile. "I officially declare Konoha's first battle royale test run open!"

With that, the instructors began the experiment.

"Genjutsu: Dreamscape!" 

"Ninjutsu: Mind Body Transmission Technique!"

"Ninjutsu: Psycho Mind Transmission!"

A moment later, Namikaze Minato and the other jonin felt their vision blur, and everything went dark.

What happened in the dream world of the genjutsu test was known only to those who experienced it. When it was over and Namikaze Minato exited the room, his legs were shaky, and he jokingly referred to Uchiha Sogetsu as "the devil!"

Moreover, every single jonin who had taken part in the internal test returned to their teams with a serious expression, advising their students and fellow team members to reconsider entering this year's chunin exam.

From that point on, Uchiha Sogetsu gained a new nickname in Konoha Village: "The Devil."

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