In truth, once Uchiha Sasuke defeated Uzumaki Naruto, the outcome of that battle had already been decided. Sasuke was, from the very beginning, the strongest combatant among the two teams. The moment he freed his hands and was able to intervene in the remaining skirmishes, the result became inevitable, leaving no room for suspense.
Even so, Uchiha Sasuke did not immediately act. Instead, he stood aside and calmly observed the ongoing fights. Haruno Sakura required little commentary,she was virtually helpless, completely suppressed by Kōzuki Shigure's Jiton (Magnet Release), unable to put up any meaningful resistance. The real point of contention lay on the other side of the battlefield.
Chōjūrō wielded the Blastsword: Hiramekarei, clashing head-on with Sai's Super Beast Imitating Drawing Technique. Both were rising stars within their respective villages, outstanding figures among the younger generation. Chōjūrō's Water Release ninjutsu, combined with his skilled use of the Blastsword, was sharp and refined, while Sai, raised from childhood within the Root organization, had been molded by Shimura Danzō into a tool that existed solely for missions and combat. Coupled with his unique ink-based techniques, his overall strength was equally formidable. For a time, the two fought to a standstill, neither able to gain a decisive edge.
But at that very moment, Kōzuki Shigure had already knocked Haruno Sakura to the ground. Her red hair was in complete disarray, and her body lay sprawled where she had fallen, her condition unmistakably miserable. Sai glanced back at his teammates and saw that both Uzumaki Naruto and Haruno Sakura had already been defeated. Letting out a quiet sigh, he understood that victory was no longer possible.
"This fight… we've lost," Sai said calmly. "Here are our scrolls."
Knowing when to yield was also part of carrying out a mission.
Chōjūrō hesitated, then spoke with a hint of reluctance. "But you and I haven't decided a winner yet."
Sai shook his head lightly. "If we both pass this exam, there will surely be another chance to meet in the later rounds. We can settle it then."
After a brief pause, Chōjūrō sheathed the Blastsword: Hiramekarei and smiled. "Alright."
Uchiha Sasuke stepped forward and accepted the scroll Sai handed over. Unfortunately, it turned out to be the same Heaven Scroll his own team already possessed. Even so, Sasuke made no move to return it. This was, after all, a competitive battle, and he felt not the slightest trace of sympathy for his opponents.
With the fight concluded, Kirigakure's Team Three parted ways with Konoha's Team Seven. This clash had fully demonstrated Kirigakure's overwhelming strength. Uchiha Sasuke, Kōzuki Shigure, and Chōjūrō were all unquestionably among the top-tier genin. By contrast, while Sai was indeed outstanding and Uzumaki Naruto at least displayed his immense chakra reserves, Haruno Sakura contributed almost nothing to the fight.
Watching from above, Chiba smiled faintly, clearly satisfied with Team Three's performance.
Meanwhile, throughout the Forest of Death, encounters were erupting everywhere. As time passed, most teams inevitably crossed paths. To pass the exam, one had to seize scrolls from others,chance encounters aside, active reconnaissance and deliberate attacks were unavoidable. This was a test designed from the outset to force every team into conflict.
Just as in the original timeline, the three siblings from Sunagakure,Gaara, Temari, and Kankurō,ran into a team from Amegakure, shinobi who wielded umbrellas as weapons and relied on senbon for offense. Their fate was grim. They were utterly crushed beneath Gaara's Sand Coffin, his ruthless and blood-soaked methods once again shocking everyone in the spectator stands.
Elsewhere, Kirigakure's Team Two,Hōzuki Suigetsu, Jūgo, and Uzumaki Karin,encountered Konoha's Team Eight: Hyūga Hinata, Inuzuka Kiba, and Aburame Shino. However, no conflict broke out between them. Discovering that their scrolls were the same, both sides chose to disengage and move on.
Kirigakure's Team Four,Kaguya Kimimaro, Jizō, and Uchiha Kei,faced a team from Otogakure. Yet Kimimaro alone was enough. With a single decisive intervention, he eliminated the enemy team and claimed a scroll different from his own.
Elsewhere, Kurotsuchi's team from Iwagakure, Atsui's team from Kumogakure, Might Guy's team, the Ino–Shika–Chō formation, Orochimaru's undercover agents in Konoha,Yakushi Kabuto, Akado Yoroi, and Tsurugi Misumi,as well as Otogakure's Zaku Abumi, Dosu Kinuta, and Kin Tsuchi, all managed to secure the scrolls they needed.
Based on the order in which each team completed the task, the final rankings for the second stage of the Chūnin Exams were determined as follows:
First place: Kirigakure Team Four , Kaguya Kimimaro, Jizō, and Uchiha Kei.
Second place: Sunagakure , Gaara, Temari, and Kankurō.
Third place: Konoha , Hyūga Neji, Rock Lee, and Tenten.
Fourth place: Kirigakure Team Three , Uchiha Sasuke, Chōjūrō, and Kōzuki Shigure.
Fifth place: Kumogakure , Atsui, Karui, and Omoi.
Sixth place: Iwagakure , Akatsuchi and Kurotsuchi.
Seventh place: Kirigakure Team Two , Hōzuki Suigetsu, Jūgo, and Uzumaki Karin.
Eighth place: Kirigakure Team One , Haku, Tsuchigumo Hotaru, and Sagiri.
In addition, Konoha's Team Seven, Team Eight, Team Ten, Otogakure's Zaku Abumi and his teammates, as well as Konoha's undercover operative Yakushi Kabuto, all passed the second stage successfully.
Thus, the second stage of the Chūnin Exams officially came to an end. A total of thirteen teams,thirty-nine genin,advanced. Compared to the original timeline, where only seven teams made it through, the numbers had nearly doubled.
Of those thirteen teams, Kirigakure alone claimed four slots, a victory in every conceivable sense. It was enough to make every major power in the ninja world recognize the terrifying strength Kirigakure now possessed. Even though this was merely the Chūnin Exams, it offered a clear glimpse into the shifting balance of power among the great nations.
Konoha also advanced four teams. Yakushi Kabuto's group, however, was an undercover unit and did not truly count as Konoha's strength,it was more accurate to attribute them to Otogakure. Aside from that, Iwagakure, Sunagakure, Kumogakure, and Otogakure each had one team advance. As for the remaining minor villages, they were completely wiped out.
What followed was the preliminary round before the final showdown,the true one-on-one arena battles. With this, the team-based evaluation ended, and the exams shifted into a direct display of individual strength. For the spectators, this was the most straightforward and exhilarating portion of the Chūnin Exams. After all, who didn't want to witness blood-pumping battles, especially when the most outstanding members of the next generation from across the ninja world had all gathered here?
These young shinobi represented the future of their villages. One day, they might become the pillars that held their nations upright,perhaps even reaching the level of the Five Kage themselves. Moreover, these matches would more clearly reveal the relative strength of the Five Great Villages.
Because so many participants passed the second stage, the preliminaries effectively became an early decisive round. From thirty-nine genin, only the top ten would remain. Due to the odd number of participants, one person would receive a bye in the first round. That lucky individual was Haku, who advanced directly to the second round.
Tsuchigumo Hotaru faced Haruno Sakura, and the outcome was self-evident. Using her puppet techniques, Hotaru defeated Sakura with ease and advanced. Sagiri, in turn, overcame Yamanaka Ino and also moved on to the second round.
In the end, the twenty genin who advanced to the second round were:
From Kirigakure: Haku, Tsuchigumo Hotaru, Hōzuki Suigetsu, Jūgo, Uchiha Sasuke, Chōjūrō, Kōzuki Shigure, Kaguya Kimimaro, and Jizō,nine in total, nearly half of the entire roster.
This alone spoke volumes about the terrifying strength of Kirigakure's younger generation.
From Konoha: Sai, Hyūga Neji, Rock Lee, Aburame Shino, and Nara Shikamaru,five in total.
From Sunagakure: Gaara, Temari, and Kankurō,all three advanced.
From Iwagakure: Akatsuchi and Kurotsuchi.
From Kumogakure: Atsui.
Those who were eliminated were not necessarily weak; many had simply run into opponents far stronger than themselves. Sagiri, for example, lost to Aburame Shino, while Uchiha Kei had the misfortune of facing Uchiha Sasuke. There were also cases like Yakushi Kabuto, whose strength was exceptional but who deliberately threw his match to avoid exposing himself.
The second round of preliminaries followed immediately, ultimately determining the top ten of this All-Ninja World Chūnin Exam.
They were:
From Kirigakure: Haku, Hōzuki Suigetsu, Uchiha Sasuke, and Kaguya Kimimaro.
From Konoha: Sai, Hyūga Neji, and Aburame Shino.
From Sunagakure: Gaara.
From Iwagakure: Kurotsuchi.
From Kumogakure: Atsui.
While there was an element of chance in these results, they still revealed many truths. First and foremost was Kirigakure's overwhelming dominance, clearly demonstrating both its current power and its even greater future potential. Konoha, meanwhile, still possessed deep foundations, while the other three great nations each managed to secure at least one place among the top ten. As for Otogakure, Kusagakure, Takigakure, and Amegakure, they had all been eliminated early.
At last, the top ten finalists of the Chūnin Exams were decided.
However, the final battles would not begin immediately. The genin had endured continuous combat and grueling trials, and all of them were exhausted. Konoha, too, had no intention of cramming every match into a single day. Otherwise, there would have been little point in inviting the Five Kage and so many distinguished guests from afar.
The finals were scheduled for ten days later. During this period, delegations from every major nation remained in Konoha as honored guests. Because of Chiba's involvement, this Chūnin Exam had diverged dramatically from the original timeline,first in scale and participants, and then in outcomes. Many who would have reached the finals before were eliminated early. Uzumaki Naruto, once the central protagonist, fell early at the hands of Kaguya Kimimaro, while Nara Shikamaru,the only one originally promoted to Chūnin,was defeated by Hyūga Neji.
Regardless, the decisive battles would begin in ten days' time. In the meantime, Chiba, as the Mizukage, received warm and courteous hospitality in Konoha. Despite the long-standing tensions between Konoha and Kirigakure, this was an event for the entire ninja world. Much like the Olympics, Konoha still had to maintain its dignity and grace as host.
With the preliminaries concluded, many of the defeated contestants gradually shed the weight of failure. Rather than dwell on regret, they chose to wander through Konoha as visitors, tasting its food, observing its streets, and quietly accepting that their journey had ended here. In contrast, those who had advanced into the top ten felt no such ease. For them, every passing moment carried pressure, each breath a reminder that the final confrontation was drawing closer.
…
That same day, Chiba walked side by side with Mei Terumi through Konoha's bustling streets. The pace was unhurried, almost leisurely,an intentional pause amidst the undercurrents of conflict that surrounded them. Mei Terumi sampled the village's famous tri-color dango, her expression softening slightly as the sweetness lingered on her tongue, while Chiba, more curious than hungry, made his way to Ichiraku Ramen to see for himself why it held such legendary status.
There, he met Ichiraku himself,no myth, no exaggeration, just a middle-aged man with a warm smile and steady hands. For Ichiraku, the Godaime Mizukage personally visiting his humble shop was an honor beyond words. Together with his daughter Ayame, he treated the pair with sincere hospitality, unaware that this simple encounter would one day become a memory worth retelling.
Afterward, Chiba was about to accompany Mei Terumi to experience one of Konoha's renowned hot springs when his steps slowed. His gaze settled ahead, drawn to two figures standing out amid the crowd.
One was unmistakably Uzumaki Naruto.
The other,tall, broad-shouldered, with long white hair and wooden sandals,carried an air that could not be mistaken.
Jiraiya.
At that moment, Naruto was clinging stubbornly to the man, his voice full of impatience and urgency as he begged for guidance. Jiraiya, though he had already intended to train him, deliberately played the part of the reluctant teacher, testing the boy's resolve with teasing refusal after refusal. Only when Naruto resorted to the Sexy Jutsu did Jiraiya finally relent, laughter ringing out as he gave in.
As Jiraiya looked at Naruto, a flicker of something deeper passed through his eyes. Standing before him was the son of Namikaze Minato,his student, his pride,and also the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki of Konoha. Fate weighed heavily on the boy's shoulders, whether he understood it or not.
"Why do you suddenly want to become stronger so badly, Naruto?" Jiraiya asked, his tone lighter than his thoughts.
Naruto answered while chewing on a popsicle, his voice casual but his eyes firm. "Because I've got a new goal."
"Oh?" Jiraiya tilted his head. "Becoming Hokage?"
"That too," Naruto said without hesitation. "But there's someone else I have to beat."
Jiraiya's smile faded slightly. "Who?"
"Uchiha Sasuke."
Something stirred in Jiraiya's chest.
"Uchiha Sasuke…" he murmured. "A survivor of the Uchiha clan. A true prodigy." He sighed softly. "You know, wanting to defeat someone like that isn't something you can accomplish just by shouting louder."
"That's exactly why I need you!" Naruto shot back. "Didn't you say you were amazing? Some kind of Mount Myōboku sage?!"
Jiraiya laughed loudly, as if trying to brush aside the weight of his own words. "You've got a point! With my training, beating an Uchiha Sasuke won't be a problem at all! Hahaha!"
Naruto squinted at him. "…You really just sound like a perverted sage."
Jiraiya: "..."
At that moment, Chiba and Mei Terumi stepped forward, their paths intersecting naturally with the master and disciple.
"Defeating Sasuke isn't something you can say so lightly," Chiba said, his voice calm, almost reflective.
Jiraiya's eyes sharpened as he turned. He recognized Chiba instantly,the man whose rise had disrupted the balance of the ninja world, whose existence alone seemed to bend destiny's flow.
The Godaime Mizukage of Kirigakure.
Chiba.
For a brief instant, Jiraiya's expression shifted before he burst into laughter. "So it's the Mizukage-sama! What a rare encounter!"
Chiba returned the smile, measured and composed. "It seems the Hokage succeeded in calling you back to Konoha after all. One of the legendary Sannin,Jiraiya."
Mei Terumi blinked in surprise. "This man… he's Jiraiya? One of the Sannin? The one spoken of in the same breath as Princess Tsunade?"
Jiraiya straightened proudly. "That's right!"
"I am the man who roams freely without regard for direction, unrivaled under heaven,the legendary Sannin, the Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku, the White-Haired Boy… Jiraiya-sama!!!"
Mei Terumi fell silent.
Naruto stared blankly.
Chiba chuckled softly. "You really haven't changed, Jiraiya."
Jiraiya paused. "You say that like we've met before, but I don't recall crossing paths with you, Mizukage-sama."
Chiba's smile remained. "That isn't important. What matters is this,you believe Naruto can defeat Sasuke with your guidance. I don't think the outcome is that straightforward."
Jiraiya's grin returned, sharper this time. "Oh? Sounds like you want to make things interesting."
"It's a shame Tsunade isn't here," he added. "She's always loved a good wager."
"Then let's make one," Chiba said evenly. "We'll bet on the future result between Naruto and Sasuke."
Jiraiya nodded without hesitation. "Fine."
"One year," Jiraiya continued. "After one year, they'll face each other at the Valley of the End, the place where the Shodaime Hokage and Uchiha Madara once fought."
At those words, Chiba felt a quiet ripple in his heart.
The Valley of the End. Naruto. Sasuke.
A stage shaped by history… and by fate.
"Agreed," Chiba said.
Their palms met in a firm clap, sealing the wager. Beside them, Uzumaki Naruto felt his blood surge, excitement and determination igniting all at once, as if the path ahead had finally come into focus.