Uncle Jiraiya had run a full month of intensive training, but to be honest, Hagoromo really had not seen any "reborn from the ashes" transformation in Naruto and the others.
The main reason was that these kids had already been subjected to Hagoromo's "abuse and torment" for ages. From their innate qualities as shinobi to the foundations they had built afterward, everything was already solid enough. Because of that, expecting them to make explosive progress after just one month of training was basically impossible. It went against common sense.
For people like Mirai and Naruto, there was actually a much simpler way to improve: real combat. Or more precisely, real combat against equals. This was the difference between excellent, talented shinobi and ordinary ones. Even if everyone started at roughly the same level, the former would make great strides almost every time they experienced real combat. After several battles in a row, they would be completely different from before.
That was how growth potential showed itself.
Meanwhile, Hagoromo's mission to search for Uncle Snake had not made any noticeable progress either. If he could not find him, then he simply could not find him. Uncle Snake was far too good at hiding.
In fact, later on, Hagoromo had more or less given up on that mission… If Uncle Snake had only come sightseeing and then left, that would be best. But if he really still had some movement or plan in mind, then there was no need to be too anxious. He would definitely show himself at some point.
Before they knew it, the final stage of the Chūnin Exams had finally arrived. Whether Orochimaru's presence would have any effect or not, even if nothing unexpected happened, this exam was not going to proceed peacefully. After all, Hagoromo himself had a few moves to make.
Before the exam began, the "Fourth Kazekage" and his party also arrived in Konoha according to the prior agreement and the Hokage's invitation. In short, the "stage" was now ready. All that remained was to see how each side would make its entrance.
On this day, all kinds of miscellaneous people poured into Konoha. Their purpose was nothing more than to watch the final selection of the Chūnin Exams.
These people might have fairly high status in the outside world, but Hagoromo had one unified term for them: civilians.
Or, to put it more directly, salted fish with no combat power whatsoever.
Ordinary people who got dragged into shinobi conflicts basically died as many as came. If they came to Konoha to watch the excitement, they had best be prepared to faceplant at any moment.
From a personal standpoint, Hagoromo had absolutely no fondness for such people. No matter how high or low a person's status was, there was one thing they had to understand while living: know their place, do what they ought to do, and do not go sticking their noses everywhere out of curiosity.
Even when one always stayed in one's lane, there was still something called "a disaster from nowhere" that happened from time to time. Yet now these people were crowding toward a bunch of people preparing to stir up trouble. Heh.
The venue for the final selection was a circular arena: half spectator stands, half enclosing wall. On the side where the wall connected to the stands, there was a tall pavilion. That was the Hokage's exclusive seating area, and at this moment, the Third Hokage and the Fourth Kazekage were both there.
In short, this place could be called Konoha's Colosseum.
Hagoromo also had an interesting job to do today.
"The final selection of the joint Chūnin Exams will now begin. First match: Hyūga Neji versus Uzumaki Naruto."
His voice did not carry even the slightest trace of the seriousness it ought to have had… Hagoromo had been temporarily dragged in to serve as the proctor for the Chūnin Exams. Supposedly, Hayate Gekkō's physical condition had suddenly worsened, so the exam proctor had to be replaced at the last minute. Still, one could not really call him unfortunate, since a girl had accompanied him to the hospital.
With Hayate absent, they naturally needed a shinobi with enough strength, sharp reflexes, and enough free time to step in at any moment as a replacement. There were not many such shinobi in Konoha, but there were still a few. Among them, however, a certain Hagoromo stood out the most, because he truly had no missions and often wandered around in front of the higher-ups… so it was him.
Among the examinees were people connected to Hagoromo. Generally speaking, he ought to have avoided a role like this. However, everyone still had a fair amount of faith in his integrity on this front. After all, he was the famous White Yaksha. Surely he would not show favoritism over a little matter like the Chūnin Exams.
Fine. Even Hagoromo himself did not believe in his own integrity, yet other people had granted him this trust. How bizarre. Still, after various considerations, he accepted the role. It was not a complicated matter in itself, and he also needed to get within a certain distance of his target.
After the roll call confirmed that all examinees were present, the first match began just like that.
What? Kakashi and Sasuke?
Of course they had arrived early. After all, the second match was Sasuke versus Gaara. If they had been late, just look at who the proctor was. Hagoromo would absolutely have disqualified them in minutes.
There was one rather regrettable fact: whether in the past, present, or future, this book would never give Fifty-Fifty Kakashi any chance to show off. As for Uchiha Sasuke's Pretend Release, well, as long as he did not try showing off in front of Hagoromo.
"You can start. What are you looking at me for?"
Hagoromo was puzzled. Had he not already announced the start? Why was Naruto still not moving, just staring at him?
"N-nothing."
Naruto immediately turned his gaze back to his opponent. In truth, he was still a little nervous. Not because of Neji, but because of Hagoromo.
Although Hagoromo was the exam "referee," Naruto kept feeling that the other party might suddenly come over and beat him up. There was no helping it. He had a bit of psychological trauma.
After forcibly ignoring Hagoromo, the two of them finally began fighting for real.
Hyūga versus Uzumaki, Gentle Fist versus the Number One Most Unpredictable Mess—there was still plenty worth watching. However, Hagoromo's attention was not on this match at all, even though one of the fighters was Naruto, someone he cared about greatly.
His focus was on the Third Hokage's side.
Because of Orochimaru's superb disguise, Hagoromo still did not know that the Fourth Kazekage had already been killed by him, nor that Uncle Snake was now sitting openly beside the Hokage… The reason Hagoromo was watching the Third was because he had made an agreement with him beforehand. Once something happened, Hagoromo would act according to the Third's instructions today.
Originally, Orochimaru should have dealt with the Fourth Kazekage and his guards with the help of Kimimaro, whose combat strength was close to one Kakashi. But now Kimimaro had already become Hagoromo's subordinate, so the current situation was that Uncle Snake had handled the matter alone.
Because the cards in his hand were good enough, Orochimaru was extremely satisfied with his own combat strength. Thank heaven, thank earth, and thank Ueishi Hagoromo.
By comparison, although the Fourth Kazekage's strength was not weak, he was not ridiculously overpowered either. Add to that the fact that Uncle Snake had very creepily squatted along the route the man had to take, and in this battle that no one yet knew about, Orochimaru had actually won rather easily. Without much effort, he had killed one of the shinobi world's Five Great Rogues.
Below, Naruto and Neji were fighting rather splendidly. At the very least, this time Naruto did not need to dig a hole and launch a surprise attack from underground to fight Neji evenly. Because of that, waves of exclamations rose from the stands… After all, Hyūga Neji had long been famous as a genius. So why could this blond brat fight him head-on?
From Hagoromo's position, he could not clearly see the situation on the Hokage's side. Fortunately, Mirai was over there… Today, Team Six had not come here for the sake of the exam.
Just as the two fighters reached the most exciting part of their clash, the red-haired girl forcefully inserted herself into the scene. She directly crossed the exam field and arrived beside Hagoromo.
Then the two students were dumbfounded. W-what was this… Was their duel about to become a three-way melee?
Yes. What followed really was a three-way melee.
No matter how perfect Orochimaru's disguise was, the moment he made a move, chakra would inevitably leak out. Naturally, that also meant he would be exposed.
What made Hagoromo curious, however, was that although Naruto and Neji were fighting fiercely, the exam as a whole was still only in its warm-up stage. Wasn't Orochimaru moving a little too early?
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