"The first round of the Chūnin Exam begins."
"Aburame Shiken VS Nara Shikaku."
"Rock, paper, scissors."
"Rock, paper, scissors."
"This round of the exam is void. The evaluation method will be changed. Candidates will now directly battle an active Chūnin. Last for thirty minutes, and you win."
One second later...
"Uchiha Kamito wins."
As expected of the Uchiha clan. Konoha's number one noble clan truly lives up to its reputation.
One minute later...
"Hyūga Hizashi wins."
The Hyūga clan might be slightly inferior to the Uchiha clan, but they still deserve their fame.
One second later...
"Hyūga Hiyasu wins."
Since the Hyūga clan is usually mentioned alongside the Uchiha clan, their performance should be similar. This one must be the real Hyūga genius. The one before must've just been a supporting act. No wonder the gap was so big—one second versus one minute.
Hyūga Hizashi: ??? Come down here and see if I don't beat you to death. You're just a host running the procedures—who gave you the confidence to say that? The most important thing for a man is endurance, alright? I lasted sixty times longer than him. That's amazing!
Three minutes later...
"Nara Shikaku wins."
Three minutes later...
"Yamanaka Inoichi wins."
Three minutes later...
"Akimichi Chōza wins."
Hyūga Hizashi: Can I say you guys lasted three times longer than me? Of course not. This is a battle—speed determines everything. The shorter the time, the stronger the strength. So that means I'm stronger than all three of you from the Ino–Shika–Chō trio.
Hyūga Hiyasu: As expected of my cousin. You've grasped the logic perfectly.
One second later...
"Aburame Shiken wins."
The Aburame clan's insects are terrifying. They hide so well.
Aburame clan: Another day of being misunderstood. So annoying. Wait… Shiken used ordinary kikaichū? Hahaha, our Aburame clan's long-inherited Secret Technique really is that powerful.
One second later...
"Aburame Shibi wins."
Same impression as above.
Aburame Shibi: ...
One second later...
"Namikaze Minato wins."
The Namikaze clan? Never heard of them. A hidden noble clan?
Less than a minute later...
"Inuzuka Rinko wins."
A little girl from the Inuzuka clan… so violent.
One second later...
"Inuzuka Ryoha wins."
Alright, this is what real violence looks like.
One second later...
"Senju Hideki wins."
As expected of a hero from the Senju clan—truly powerful.
Other examinees: Isn't the gap a little too big? Can you not be this strong?
Jiraiya: Wait, he's called a hero—then what am I supposed to be?
Senju Hashirama, Senju Tobirama: The transcendent status of the Senju clan was given by us. Got a problem with that?
In short...
The Chūnin Exam officially ended.
Namikaze Minato joined under Jiraiya and was formally accepted as his disciple, beginning a new stage of training.
Uchiha Kamito joined the Military Police Force.
Hyūga Hiyasu began taking over matters of the branch family.
Hyūga Hizashi assisted him.
Aburame Shiken, Aburame Shibi, and Aburame Shikuro began cultivating new insects.
Senju Hideki returned to the Senju clan compound and began activities of "respecting the elderly and caring for the young."
Inuzuka Ryoha and Rinko returned to their clan and took over work at the kennel.
Meanwhile, Nara Shikaku comfortably lay at home.
"This is great. As a Konoha genin, you just do whatever missions your squad leader accepts. As a Konoha Chūnin, once you complete eight B-rank mission quotas in a year, you can freely arrange your time unless there's a major war. As for Konoha jōnin, the eight A-rank missions each year are all assigned by the Hokage. Sure enough, only Chūnin are truly free. That year I spent as a genin—if I convert those missions into Chūnin quotas, I could probably lie around for the rest of my life. Ahh, so comfortable. Retiring at eleven isn't too early, not too early. Now I just have to think about whether I should wake up tomorrow at eight in the evening… or ten at night. Ah, what a blissful dilemma."
That also explains why the Nara clan is so lazy.
How else could Sakumo's team have a mission pace similar to other teams?
Their plans are enormous, and their vision stretches far ahead. As expected of the Nara clan.
...
The next day.
Five in the morning.
"Shikaku, wake up."
A groggy Shikaku struggled to get up.
When he saw his father, he said,
"Dad, what's going on? I'm already a Chūnin, and I completed my mission quota long ago. According to the rules, I don't even have to leave the house."
"As an ordinary Konoha Chūnin, your obligations are finished. But as a member of Konoha's Strategic Advisory Department, you still have plenty of work."
"The advisory department? I never joined."
"I'm the director. I gave you a special approval."
"That's shady corruption. I'm going to report you."
"Go ahead. The Hokage already agreed."
Nara Shikaku suddenly realized that merely studying the rules was useless.
Because the rules were in the hands of people with authority.
For example—his unscrupulous father.
At that moment, the Nara clan head was secretly overjoyed.
Wonderful! The Nara clan has finally produced a young prodigy. Grow quickly, Shikaku. Your old man will soon break the Nara clan's retirement record. When that happens… should I play shogi? Or play shogi? Ah, what a blissful dilemma.
Shikaku helplessly got dressed and thought of his two good friends.
Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Chōza: At this moment, we could choose not to be friends.
"What about Inoichi and Chōza?"
"Inoichi went to the Intelligence Department. Chōza is taking over the Akimichi clan's barbecue restaurant while training the clan's Secret Technique."
Yamanaka Inoichi, Akimichi Chōza: Waaaah, why are you thinking about us right now?!
Becoming famous at a young age... might make your future life smoother.
But it might also fill your life with endless responsibilities.
However, one thing is certain—it will make your father absolutely ecstatic.
...
The day the Chūnin Exam ended.
At the Akimichi barbecue restaurant.
The heads of the Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi clans raised their cups.
"Cheers."
The Yamanaka clan head said, "Nara, your plan was brilliant. These kids should start working as soon as possible. Eleven years old isn't young anymore—they should shoulder the family responsibilities."
The Nara clan head replied, "Exactly. Every department in Konoha has limited positions. If we elders don't step down for these kids, what future will they have?"
The Akimichi clan head raised his cup.
"Cheers."
Yamanaka clan head: "Cheers."
Nara clan head: "Cheers."
According to an anonymous employee at the Akimichi barbecue restaurant... that day was the happiest she had ever seen the leaders of the Ino–Shika–Chō clans. Every one of them radiated pure joy.
Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Inoichi, Akimichi Chōza: Fine. In the future, we'll do the same thing.
The not-yet-born Nara Shikamaru, Yamanaka Ino, and Akimichi Chōji: Dad, no!!!