"Kakashi-jōnin, your Konoha…"
Baki stood beside Kakashi in the first exam venue. As the key jōnin representatives for both villages, they had witnessed the entire scene from start to finish.
For a moment, he didn't even know what to say.
"Mm?"
Kakashi finally raised his head slightly, still holding his Make-Out Violence book.
"Don't you think… this was a bit excessive?"
"Mm."
Kakashi lazily replied with a single hum.
It was pretty immoral.
Especially those last Konoha genin who rushed in through the back door Souma left—
Not only did they sneak in, they even cast an illusion to block the path behind them.
Only one or two minutes remained before the exam started.
Couldn't they give others even a sliver of hope?
Of course…
The most heartless culprit was Souma.
But—
Kakashi honestly approved of Souma's method.
Everyone wanted to be the mantis catching the cicada.
And what happened?
One clever twist from Souma and everybody's plans collapsed.
"But his modifications weren't flawless. Actually, breaking it wasn't very hard, it's just—"
"Are you talking to me?"
Kakashi looked up, eyes blank.
"…"
Baki was silent.
"Sorry, I spaced out. What did you say?"
"Nothing."
Baki's forced politeness cracked.
This guy…
Killing him really would make everything so much simpler.
And yet Orochimaru had infiltrated right under their noses, and he hadn't managed to kill either Hatake Kakashi or Souma Yagyu.
Instead, Konoha caught them red-handed and even turned the situation around.
Pathetic.
This was supposed to be one of the Three Legendary Sannin?
If Baki didn't know Orochimaru's crimes, he would have suspected the man was still secretly loyal to Konoha.
He could only grumble silently.
He would never dare say such things within Orochimaru's earshot.
Baki simmered in frustration.
Kakashi casually continued reading.
At that moment, the exam inside the classroom concluded.
"Souma-kun, what did you think of this exam?"
Tenten asked as she walked out with him.
Souma didn't hesitate.
"Simple. But it's very fun."
"Huh?"
Tenten blinked, confused.
Fun?
They were just normal written questions, weren't they?
"Kazusa, do you think he means the questions broaden our thinking?"
"Pretty much. And they should ban cheating more often. I heard that in previous Chūnin Exams, the written tests were complete chaos—basically cheating festivals."
Souma sighed.
"Ninja rely on strength, sure, but theory is still a foundation. As the most important part of the exam, the written test shouldn't be neglected."
"…I think we were talking about totally different things."
Tenten's face darkened.
Kazusa laughed softly beside them.
"As for the exam itself, similar questions have appeared in the academy graduation exam before. It was just too easy."
"…"
Temari passed by, face turning black.
She originally wanted to glean some information from him—
But after hearing that, she couldn't stop herself from reacting.
So he was saying…
Sunagakure's Chūnin Exam questions were easier than Konoha's academy graduation exam?
Would it kill him not to brag!?
"Well… they were kinda easy."
Tenten muttered.
(Not like she planned to say Souma had given them answers.)
Otherwise Suna's people would die of rage.
Thinking about Souma's methods, Tenten couldn't help feeling admiration and curiosity mixed together.
At the bottom of the stairs, she whispered:
"Souma-kun, didn't you say two days ago that—"
"Mm. I found out they're actually not hard to communicate with. Just simplify the commands a bit."
Two days was enough.
Souma didn't elaborate, but the implication was clear.
Even Tenten, used to shocks by now, froze for a moment.
Meanwhile—
In the upstairs office, Baki stared at three exam papers.
His face was so dark ink could drip from it.
"Three perfect papers? And they all came from the same Konoha team? Are you kidding me!?"
"Y-yes, Lord Baki… but they really answered everything correctly."
Yuura nodded nervously.
Baki clenched his jaw.
Souma getting full marks wasn't surprising.
But his two teammates getting full marks?
If they didn't cheat, he'd eat the test papers on the spot.
"They didn't cheat?"
"No… because the hardest questions—five, nine, and thirteen—each of them used a different solving method."
Yuura explained softly.
Baki scanned the papers.
It was true.
All three had correct answers, but their solution processes differed.
No signs of copying at all.
His blood pressure spiked.
That brat was mocking them outright.
Cheating forbidden?
Well, if you can't catch the cheating, it means there was no cheating—
And the little bastard even deliberately produced two extra answer routes.
"So… do we still announce results?"
"Give me the pass list. We'll begin the second round immediately."
Baki's tone was ice-cold.
Yuura hurriedly handed over the list.
He skimmed it—
And his blood pressure spiked again.
Only six teams passed.
Three from Konoha.
Only three from all the other villages combined.
This was—
"Add Kankurō and Temari's team back in."
"Y-yes!"
Yuura wiped sweat off her forehead and hurried away to recalculate.
After some creative adjustments, she barely managed to add two more Suna teams.
Thus—
Round One ended with only eight teams remaining.
Three from Konoha—Souma's, Neji's, and Kabuto's.
Two from Sunagakure—Temari's, Kankurō's, and a puppet master's team.
One from Amegakure.
One from Takigakure.
"These eight teams, follow me."
Baki announced the names before vanishing in a swift body flicker.
A dozen figures quickly followed.
Souma walked at a relaxed pace, but his eyes covertly observed the other teams.
Temari…
He didn't expect Suna to keep her for the second round.
Understandable, though.
A village hosting the Chūnin Exam couldn't afford to have only one team left—
Let alone the possibility of being completely wiped out by Konoha.
After all—
The Chūnin Exam wasn't just a promotion test.
It was a proxy competition of strength—
A political statement between nations.
If Sunagakure lost too many teams, they wouldn't just lose face.
They'd lose influence as one of the Five Great Hidden Villages.
Baki couldn't take that risk.
They arrived at the second test site—
The Desert of Demonic Sands.
Kakashi had already regrouped with Gai's team.
"How was it?"
Gai asked.
"Apparently that kid got three perfect scores. Baki couldn't even find a flaw."
Kakashi said.
"HAHAHAHA! That's the spirit!!"
Gai roared with laughter.
He could already imagine Suna's face turning green.
"Kakashi-senpai."
"Hm? Tenzo, you're here too?"
"Yes. And… Kakashi-senpai, I think you and Souma should maybe tone it down a little. I'm afraid Sunagakure won't be able to keep holding back if this continues."
Tenzo said quietly.
Kakashi tilted his head.
"What does this have to do with me?"
"…"
Gai opened his mouth, but couldn't find the words.
Tenzo sighed.
"White Fang killed many of their people back then. The one who holds the biggest grudge is still alive."
"Hahaha, Tenzo, you're overthinking it. I trust the Kazekage."
Kakashi said lightly.
If Chiyo wanted to kill him, she'd have done it long ago.
No need to wait until now.
"But you're also Souma's teacher."
"…"
Kakashi had no rebuttal.
Souma…
Kami, hopefully that child shows some restraint.
Borrowing techniques is one thing—but using them back on Sunagakure right to their faces… even I might not be able to save him if he keeps that up…
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