Chapter 12: Let the Child Participate in Chunin Exam
Hokage's office.
The most central dome building in the entire Konoha Village.
A member of the Anbu kneels on one knee on the ground, speaking mechanically, reporting the latest news to the old man sitting at the desk, "Lord Hokage, there is news from the second alert area, intense vibrations were detected near Training Ground Nine..."
"Hmm."
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, wears his hat nonchalantly puffing on his pipe, looking down at a stack of papers in his hand, seemingly unconcerned about the Anbu's report, casually remarks, "I remember Training Ground Nine is allocated to the Anbu Training Class..."
Anbu training class.
Officially under the Anbu.
However, most Anbu members are well aware that the training class is really the Root, Danzo's organization, and in fact, the Root has far exceeded the size of a single class.
"Yes."
The Anbu ninja responded and continued reporting, "From a distance, a forest appeared in a short time at Training Ground Nine..."Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m
"Oh?"
The Third Hokage still has his pipe, still carefully flipping through the papers, "This situation, why does it sound familiar..."
"Yes."
The Anbu ninja quickly bowed his head to explain to his superior: "Tenzo, who was recently transferred to the Anbu by the Lord Hokage, released a Wood Release Jutsu called 'Deep Forest Emergence' in the Anbu training ground, creating a sea of trees in a short time. It is initially suspected that someone used the same Wood Release Jutsu at Training Ground Nine."
"Hmm, no need to look into it further."
The Third Hokage nodded, still unconcerned, still reading his stack of papers, "I've known about this, the matter of a Wood Release Kekkei Genkai ninja in the Anbu training class, Danzo has already informed me."
Obviously.
The Third Hokage lied to his subordinate.
After all, not long ago, he rallied the Anbu to surround the Root, ready to suppress it at any moment, and snatched a Wood Release Kekkei Genkai ninja from under Danzo...
Now that he knows there is another Wood Release Kekkei Genkai ninja under Danzo, is he going to mobilize the Anbu to surround the Root again and snatch the second one?
Such things...
Can be done once but not repeatedly.
Especially since the last time was recent, doing the same thing to Danzo again in a short time would inevitably cause dissatisfaction and resentment.
If the talent of the other Wood Release Kekkei Genkai ninja is good, he can find an opportunity to transfer him to the Anbu later, there is no need to provoke Danzo now.
Konoha needs Danzo to handle some dirty work.
Of course, the most important thing is to deter and attract allies of the Konoha.
Generally, small ninja villages are allies that the Five Great Ninja Villages seek to win over. These villages often compare the power of the big village to choose a stronger one to ally with.
The Chunin Exam, undoubtedly, is the occasion where small ninja villages can most directly observe the power of the Konoha in peacetime, making it even more crucial for the Konoha to value the Chunin Exam.
"Are all the registration forms for the Chunin Exam here?"
The Third Hokage slowly put down the pipe in his mouth and suddenly asked, "Did Uchiha Itachi apply to take the Chunin Exam alone?"
"Yes."
An Anbu ninja nodded and explained, "According to the information we gathered, two years ago, all of Itachi's teammates died in a mission..."
"Since then, Uchiha Itachi has not formed a team again, and has hardly taken on any commissioned missions, naturally, he has no teammates to take the Chunin Exam with..."
"However..."
"During these two years, Uchiha Itachi has been training with Uchiha Shisui and even assisted Shisui in completing cooperation assessment tasks..."
"Even though that assessment task was interrupted, we can still determine that he is an excellent ninja capable of completing the Chunin Exam alone."
"The only unfair part is the three-person cooperative combat assessment."
"There have been many precedents in the village."
"For instance, when Team Kakashi's teammates, Uchiha Obito and Nohara Rin, took the Chunin Exam, lacking a third for the cooperative combat assessment, Kakashi, who was already a Chunin, was allowed to assist the two teammates in the final part of the exam..."
"However..."
"Uchiha Itachi's only teammate is Uchiha Shisui, involving the famously Body Flicker Shisui, a Jonin, in the Chunin Exam is a bit..."
"Hahaha..."
The Third Hokage laughed heartily, interrupting his subordinate and waving his hand, "That would be too much bullying of these kids and turn the exam into a joke."
"Yes."
The Anbu ninja nodded, then looked up at the elder and continued, "However, Uchiha Itachi is indeed capable of passing all the exams alone, as mentioned by Uchiha Shisui, all of Itachi's training scores are excellent..."
"Alright, let it be this way this time!"
The Third Hokage nodded and seemed to say casually, "Kakashi, Tenzo, go to the Anbu training class and submit an application form..."
"Yes, Lord Hokage!"
Two masked figures quickly stood up!
The Third Hokage looked at one of them, his eyes becoming somewhat sharp, "Go tell Danzo to also let the child with the Wood Release participate in the Chunin Exam!"
