After carefully checking Motoi's condition and confirming that he wasn't in life-threatening danger, Shiko finally exhaled a long, trembling sigh of relief. Her shoulders, tense moments before, relaxed slightly, and for a brief moment, a hint of calm returned to her face.
But when her gaze shifted to Aosui, that initial calm vanished entirely. In its place was a mixture of shock, disbelief, and an almost palpable sense of fear. Aosui's presence radiated an intensity that could unnerve even the most seasoned kunoichi.
Although Shiko was strong—on par with Motoi in most respects—she now realized the brutal truth: Aosui's strength far exceeded what she had imagined. She had sparred countless times with Motoi, each of them winning and losing in turn, their skills closely matched.
Yet, with a single, precise kick, Aosui had knocked Motoi unconscious. He could just as easily do the same to her. Even the Chunin of the village rarely displayed such overwhelming power.
And yet… he was supposedly just a Genin?
The thought made Shiko's heart skip a beat. Even Killer B, who was locked in a ferocious battle against Kushina nearby, could hardly believe what he had seen. His brows furrowed in confusion and concern as he ducked and parried Kushina's attacks, struggling to comprehend the staggering implications.
How could someone wield such extraordinary power and still hold the rank of a mere Genin? If Aosui were truly a Genin, why hadn't he been promoted? Why hadn't the Hidden Leaf recognized his capabilities?
The answer slowly crystallized in Killer B's mind. This joint Chunin Exam was hosted by Konoha. It was a rare opportunity for the village to showcase its strength, and they would hardly let outsiders overshadow them. Aosui's extraordinary ability, it seemed, was no accident—it was a trump card, deliberately concealed to surprise the other villages. Aosui was undoubtedly not an ordinary Genin, but a hidden ace, strategically deployed to ensure Leaf dominance.
Bang!
The moment of realization was interrupted as Kushina seized a narrow opportunity. A precise strike landed on Killer B's right arm, drawing a thin line of blood. Though it wasn't fatal, it was enough to remind him of the volatility of the battlefield. The previous chaos—the massive kick that had snapped a tree clean in half—had distracted him just long enough for Kushina to capitalize.
Though injured, Killer B's strength remained formidable. He quickly recovered, throwing shuriken to force Kushina backward and creating a path to check on Motoi and Shiko. His concern for his allies weighed heavily on him, but he knew the battlefield demanded both caution and decisiveness.
Meanwhile, in the monitoring room, astonishment rippled through the ranks of jonin observers.
"How is that possible?" one Cloud Ninja muttered, his eyes wide. "How could anyone defeat Motoi with a single kick?"
Even the normally confident Cloud and Sand ninja were incredulous. Motoi was strong, though not as exceptional as Killer B, yet Aosui had dismantled him with terrifying ease. To onlookers unfamiliar with Konoha's secret, Aosui's performance defied logic.
In the ninja world, graduation from the Academy typically occurred by age twelve. Exceptional prodigies advanced quickly to Genin and often reached Chunin rank within a year or two. Average students might require more time, but by sixteen, promotion to Chunin was usually expected. Those who failed to advance beyond Chunin were often considered mediocre at best. Aosui, appearing mature yet still classified as a Genin, contradicted every expectation.
No wonder Killer B and others initially underestimated him—they had assumed he fell into the "average" category.
"Konoha… you actually disguised a Jonin as a Genin to participate in the Chunin Exams?" a Cloud Ninja exclaimed, as realization dawned. The sheer audacity of the act stunned him. Anyone capable of defeating Motoi so effortlessly had to be of Jonin caliber.
The Sand ninja present, observing the argument, leaned in with curiosity. "Are you sure about that?" one asked skeptically.
"You Cloud Ninjas are good at excuses," replied a Leaf ninja, voice edged with annoyance. "The truth is, your own ninja was simply incompetent. Aosui isn't a Jonin, but even a talented Genin could leave you grasping at straws."
Unaware of the debate in the monitoring room, Aosui continued to assess the battlefield. Killer B watched him carefully, wariness evident in his stance. Retreat seemed increasingly tempting. Kushina alone could hold him off only temporarily; with Aosui's appearance, their prospects of victory dwindled rapidly.
Before Killer B could act, a sudden gust of wind erupted at an incredible speed, tearing through the forest with devastating force. Trees were snapped like twigs, and the sharp wind slashed everything in its path. Aosui's eyes narrowed as he detected the attack instantly.
"Watch out!" Kushina shouted, sensing the imminent danger.
Aosui, however, remained calm. He raised a single hand and formed a hand sign with precise efficiency.
Water Release: Water Wall!
A towering wall of water erupted around him, materializing seemingly out of nowhere. The wind that had been tearing through the forest slammed into the barrier but was instantly dissipated, reduced to mere ripples that lapped across the surface. Aosui's control over Water Release was precise, and his ability to manifest it in an area with no preexisting water source left Killer B speechless.
He was witnessing a true prodigy in action—a ninja whose power could easily rival Jonin-level skill.
"Who's there?" Kushina demanded, scanning the horizon. From the direction of the gust, she saw three Sand Ninja approaching.
At the forefront was Maki, a skilled and disciplined warrior tasked by Rasa to eliminate Aosui and restore the Sand Village's honor. Unlike Killer B's team, who had actively sought out Aosui, Maki's team had focused on collecting the Heaven and Earth Scrolls. They had recently encountered another Konoha squad, defeating them and acquiring a matching Earth Scroll.
Following the trail of chaos created by Aosui's single devastating kick, Maki and his team quickly located their target.
Maki had already heard of Aosui's previous exploits—defeating Pakura, a Jonin with a powerful Bloodline Limit—but he remained skeptical. In Maki's eyes, Pakura's defeat could easily have been a result of carelessness. Aosui's strength, while notable, might not be consistent.
Nonetheless, Maki would not underestimate him. Rasa's repeated warnings about underestimating any enemy echoed in his mind, compelling him to act immediately. He launched a Wind Release sneak attack, confident that the power and precision of his technique would put Aosui on the defensive.
But Aosui, calm and composed, blocked the attack with ease. The jutsu had failed to faze him even slightly.
Maki's confidence faltered, replaced by a grudging respect. Aosui's reflexes were extraordinary, his Water Release abilities formidable, and his combat sense unparalleled. Even the most experienced ninja could struggle against such a foe.
Failure did not deter Maki. In his mind, the battlefield was influenced by countless variables—strategy, timing, terrain, and luck. One failed attempt did not guarantee defeat. Aosui's abilities were exceptional, yes, but every ninja had limits. Maki's determination burned brightly; he would exploit any opening, however fleeting, and press the fight to victory.
The confrontation intensified as the forest itself seemed to brace for the ensuing clash. Every gust of wind, every flash of water, every movement of the combatants left a mark on the dense wilderness. The second exam was no longer just a test—it had become a proving ground, a stage where legends were born, and the young prodigies of the Hidden Leaf and Sand Villages displayed the true depth of their potential.
Aosui's calm assessment, Killer B's strategic retreat, Kushina's agile defense, and Maki's relentless aggression all converged into a tense, electrifying standoff. Each second stretched on, heavy with anticipation, as the outcome remained uncertain. One thing was clear: the Forest of Death had witnessed feats of skill and power that would be remembered for years to come.
And in the eye of the storm, Aosui stood poised, ready to respond to any threat, his Genin rank an illusion, and his true strength a force that none could ignore.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)