"Forget it."
Yagyu placed the Chunin Exam application form aside and pulled the blanket over himself.
"I will just take the exam according to my normal plan."
Passing the Chunin Exam was as easy as taking something out of his pocket for Yagyu.
Since that was the case there was nothing to worry about.
As for the issue of participating in the Chunin Exam alone, Yagyu did not care much.
After all, he was not the first person to do it.
Before him there had already been someone else, Uchiha Itachi, who also took the Chunin Exam alone.
…
The next morning.
After finishing breakfast, Yagyu casually put on a ninja tool pouch and walked out of the house.
The moment he stepped outside, he saw Team 10 waiting at his doorstep.
"Yo, you are here."
Seeing Yagyu come out, Nara Shikamaru casually greeted him.
"So you are really going to take the Chunin Exam too. I thought you would just be promoted directly to Chunin."
When Akimichi Choji saw Yagyu come out, he was eating potato chips.
He held out the snack toward Yagyu.
"Yagyu, want some?"
Yagyu casually took a chip and ate it.
"Thanks."
There was a special saying in Konoha.
If you could receive snacks from the Akimichi clan, it meant you had already become their friend.
Yagyu had already been acknowledged by Choji.
"Sousuke, are you sure it will be fine for you to take the exam alone?"
Ino walked over and hugged Yagyu's arm.
"Without teammates supporting you, and with so many participants, will you be overwhelmed?"
Yagyu reached out and pinched Ino's cheek.
He smiled confidently.
"Relax, it will be fine. The Chunin Exam is nothing. Even if I am alone, passing it will still be effortless."
After saying that,
Yagyu held Ino's hand and walked toward the Ninja Academy.
Shikamaru and Choji followed behind them.
"If you are taking the Chunin Exam, Yagyu, then can we still pass and become Chunin?"
While crunching loudly on snacks, Choji suddenly asked,
"To be honest, is there even any point for us to take the Chunin Exam?"
After hearing Choji's question,
Shikamaru's eyes moved slightly as he thought about it.
"I think the Chunin Exam is probably not that simple. Since Asuma-sensei told us to participate, there should be some special reason."
Hearing this Yagyu glanced at Shikamaru.
As expected of the "strategist clan" of Konoha.
Shikamaru's intelligence was truly impressive.
"Shikamaru is right."
Yagyu picked up Shikamaru's point and explained,
"This kind of joint Chunin Exam is not only for selecting outstanding Chunin. It also has another special meaning."
He paused briefly.
"Displaying your military strength to other nations."
After saying that, Yagyu did not go deeper into the topic.
Instead, he answered Choji's concern.
"Also, whether someone becomes a Chunin is not judged purely by combat ability. Chunin can lead ninja squads, so the exam also evaluates judgment, decision making, adaptability, and other overall qualities."
"In the end, the village decides which Genin become Chunin. So just perform normally and show your abilities."
After hearing Yagyu's explanation the three members of Team 10 nodded.
Along the way Yagyu held Ino's hand as the four of them chatted and laughed while walking toward the Ninja Academy.
…
Since they had left early there were not many Genin at the academy yet when they arrived.
After easily passing the genjutsu test set up downstairs the four of them went upstairs.
At the entrance of the exam hall, they saw three familiar figures waiting there.
The instructors of the three rookie teams.
And also Anko, who served as Yagyu's partner.
"Good morning, seniors."
Yagyu casually raised his hand to greet them.
"Are you supervising today's exam?"
After Yagyu greeted them,
Ino and the others also greeted respectfully.
"I am here waiting for you."
Anko looked at Yagyu and said,
"I came to cheer you on. You must become a Chunin this time. If my teammate is still a Genin, it will be embarrassing for me."
Although she said that,
there was no sign on Anko's face that she was worried about Yagyu failing.
Yagyu looked at Anko with slight speechlessness.
He stepped toward the exam hall and said casually,
"Relax, I am quite strong."
Watching Yagyu's back as he walked away,
the instructors present all showed expressions filled with emotion.
Yagyu Sōsuke.
Among this generation and even several previous graduating classes,
he was the most outstanding existence.
He had already become the future pillar of Konoha and the leader figure among the new generation.
Even these experienced veterans who had seen many great events had to admit,
Yagyu was so outstanding that it was impossible to feel jealous of him.
Unaware of what the instructors were thinking,
Yagyu entered the exam hall.
Meanwhile, Ino and the other two were stopped by Sarutobi Asuma.
Apparently he had something to tell them.
After entering the hall Yagyu quickly scanned everyone inside.
Quite a few had already arrived.
However, among the people he remembered, only a few were present.
After finding his seat, Yagyu sat down quietly and closed his eyes to rest.
He did not take this exam seriously at all.
…
As time passed more and more people filled the exam hall.
Many people Yagyu remembered began to appear.
The three siblings from Sunagakure he had seen earlier.
The three minor Sound ninja who would appear in the second exam.
And one person who caught Yagyu's attention the most.
Kabuto Yakushi.
An extremely talented ninja.
Not only did he survive until the end of the story, he even lived into the Boruto era and became the director of the Konoha Orphanage.
As the number of people increased the entire exam hall became noisy.
Especially after Naruto and the others arrived.
Yagyu did not join them.
He preferred quiet.
After greeting them briefly he simply sat in his seat.
Watching everything unfold calmly.
Meanwhile, the relaxed conversation between the three rookie teams of Konoha attracted attention and dissatisfaction from many others.
Pairs of eyes filled with hostility looked toward them.
However, the rookies who had reunited after a long time did not notice any of this.
They also did not care about the change in atmosphere.
Next everything proceeded exactly as Yagyu remembered.
Kabuto appeared and warned the Konoha rookies.
Then he showed off the intelligence he had gathered, stirring up a commotion.
After that he deliberately provoked the three Sound ninja and was severely beaten, bringing the small incident to an end.
After watching for a while,
Yagyu withdrew his attention.
Such small scenes did not interest him.
Instead Yagyu's heart was somewhat heavy.
Because of his teacher the Third Hokage.
There was no helping it.
Even though he had already decided not to save the Third Hokage during the Konoha Crush and allow him to die in that battle,
they had still spent many years together.
Naturally, Yagyu could not feel completely indifferent.
"There is no other way."
Looking at the Hokage Rock in the distance, specifically the statue of the Third Hokage, Yagyu thought silently,
"Old man, you are already old. And after ruling the village for so many years, your prestige has become too great. When I was still a student it was fine, but now that I have graduated and will show more abilities, you are no longer suitable to remain Hokage."
Only the future Fifth Hokage Tsunade was more suitable for the coming era.
More importantly it aligned with Yagyu's personal interests.
And for the Third Hokage ending his life as a hero who protected Konoha was also a dignified conclusion.
Perhaps it was also the best ending deep down in his own heart.
In short, for Yagyu's greatest benefit, the Third Hokage must step down.
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