After Makoto, the Jonin Instructors successively arrived at the central tower.
Kakashi, Kurenai, Asuma… and even Orochimaru, disguised as the Otogakure's Jonin Instructor.
Because of Makoto's scheme, Guy was absent from this gathering.
But there was one extra person.
Wearing a mask, disguised as Kirigakure's Jonin Instructor… Uchiha Obito.
Kakashi would never have imagined that the person he had gone to pay respects to not long ago was now standing right in front of him, alive.
Then, as in the original work, Hiruzen appeared in person to explain the significance of the Chunin Exams to the candidates, announcing that due to the large number who passed the second exam, an additional test would be held here to further screen for elite candidates.
The candidates groaned, but it was the Hokage's order, so they had no choice but to accept.
Gekko Hayate, the proctor for the third exam standing beside Hiruzen, spoke: "I know everyone is tired after the second exam and now an additional test. Anyone who wants to withdraw can step forward now."
Everyone instinctively frowned.
Having come this far, who would give up?
But just then, Kabuto raised his hand to withdraw, as in the original work. He was afraid of exposing his strength in front of Hiruzen and so many experts.
Then—
"Sorry, I'm not taking it either."
Kakeru raised his only remaining right hand.
"Kakeru!?"
Hayato, Yumiko, and Yui beside him all looked at him in shock.
Kakeru touched the stump of his left shoulder and smiled bitterly: "I can't fight in this state, can I? I'm not even sure I can continue being a Ninja."
For a Ninja of commoner origin, the only way to fight was to form hand seals to use Ninjutsu.
Now missing one hand… not to mention taking the exam, whether he could even continue being a Ninja was an open question.
"Hokage-sama... I also withdraw."
Totsuka Saika hesitated for a moment, then also raised his hand.
"Saika!?"
Hachiman looked at his teammate in disbelief.
"Sorry, Hachiman. After the second exam, my body has reached its limit too."
Saika clenched his small fist and gave him an encouraging gesture, "You'll have to become a Chunin in my place."
Hachiman suddenly blushed deeply, then nodded with unusual determination: "Yeah, I will."
Naruto couldn't help but mutter: "Those two seem a bit off..."
Makoto glanced at him, then at Sasuke.
'You're not one to talk.'
After three consecutive withdrawals, the additional test officially began.
"Cough, cough."
Hayate cleared his throat, "Now, let's begin the draw. The two matched will enter the arena. Everyone else, please go to the second floor to observe."
On the wall, a large screen began to flash, with the names of the remaining candidates scrolling through.
Many swallowed nervously.
After a few seconds, two names stopped scrolling—
Kasumigaoka Utaha VS Yukinoshita Yukino!
Instantly, a sea of eyes fell on the two girls with long black hair.
Makoto couldn't help but raise an eyebrow with interest.
In his past life, the two works that appeared most frequently in comprehensive anime novels were Oregairu and Saekano.
And Yukino and Utaha, because they shared so many traits, were often compared—
Long black hair, sharp tongue, top students...
But if Makoto had to choose, or if the readers of this site had to choose… he believed 99% would choose the latter.
The reason was simple: she was bigger.
Ahem, so shallow.
The deeper reason was that although both had sharp tongues, there was a big difference upon closer observation.
Utaha was only sharp-tongued toward genuine scumbags… like the simps who relentlessly pursued her at school.
And toward people she was close to. In those cases, her sharp tongue was more like an intimate expression, a bit like calling a lover 'darling'.
Yukino, on the other hand... was more like indiscriminate attacks. In the early stages, even passing dogs would get scolded by her.
Especially in certain novel sites, when it came to comprehensive anime novels, the male leads were basically always scolded by her… dragged into the Service Club by the iron-fisted Shizuka, then verbally abused by Yukino.
It was a mess that had to be experienced in comprehensive anime novels on those sites.
Although Utaha's current body was only thirteen, she had already begun to show curves in all the right places. As she flicked her hair back, a faint scent of smoky vanilla drifted into Makoto's nose.
"Want to make a bet?"
Makoto teased, "If you lose, you'll wash my underwear for a month."
"Heh~"
Utaha smiled disdainfully, "Then if I win, Sensei-kun will lie down and let me stomp on your face."
Makoto said, "Sure, just remember to wear black stockings."
Utaha: "..."
Megumi: "..."
Ran: "..."
...
On the other side.
Haruno looked at her sister: "Will you win?"
Yukino descended the stairs without looking back: "I will."
She knew she couldn't win against Makoto now… so she'd start by taking down his disciple.
Seeing the two girls in the center of the arena, Hiruzen remarked, "This generation has produced quite a few excellent commoner students."
On the second floor, Anko cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted, "Yukino, don't embarrass me!"
As the two took their positions, Hayate raised his hand and announced:
"Then, the match begins."
The moment the words fell, Yukino made the first move.
She stepped back, her body still in mid-air, her hands already forming hand seals rapidly—
"Ninja Art: Water Release: Wild Water Wave!"
The moment she landed, water surged from the ground at her feet, suddenly rising like spears of water, stabbing straight at Utaha.
Makoto glanced sideways: 'Yukino's Chakra Nature was water... to be honest, with her personality, ice seemed more suitable.'
But Utaha's hand seal speed was no slower.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
The basic offensive Fire Release Ninjutsu clashed fiercely with the basic offensive Water Release Ninjutsu, instantly creating a massive burst of steam.
But the Wild Water Wave, having the elemental advantage, still broke through the Great Fireball.
Though its power was now less than thirty percent of its original, it continued toward Utaha.
Seeing the water spears coming at her, Utaha reached into her ninja tool pouch, pulled out shuriken, and flung them—
The thrown shuriken instantly split the water spears in two.
"Shuriken can actually cut through a Wild Water Wave!?"
The candidates on the second floor changed expressions.
Asuma squinted: "She's infused them with Wind Release Chakra."
This was one of his common techniques, instantly recognizable.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
Yukino quickly changed her hand seals. Waves surged from her feet again, forming a hemispherical water barrier to protect herself.
But the shuriken, which were about to hit the water wall, suddenly changed direction, circling around Yukino like floating cannons.
This startled quite a few people.
Sasuke unconsciously activated his Two-Tomoe Sharingan and muttered, "It's strings."
All those shuriken were attached to strings, controlled by Utaha… this was exactly the Uchiha Clan's favorite trick.
Sasuke recalled that after Makoto graduated early, this woman's shuriken skills at school were second only to his.
Of course, Utaha couldn't achieve the same precision as an Uchiha. But against Yukino, it was enough.
The moment the water wall dropped, she swung her hand—
Several shuriken circling Yukino suddenly shot at her from all directions!
Yukino's expression changed drastically.
At the critical moment, several pythons burst through the air, forming a barrier that blocked the shuriken.
Everyone turned to look… the snakes' tails were wrapped around Anko's left arm.
"No need to continue." Anko shrugged.
As Yukino's Jonin Instructor, she knew well that her student had no way to block that move.
Hayate promptly announced:
"Winner… Kasumigaoka Utaha."