As he thought, he unknowingly returned to the camp entrance.
"What a hardworking kid," a boisterous voice called out from the shadows to the side.
"Lord Jiraiya," Shinichi stopped and turned toward the source of the voice, greeting him calmly.
He had actually noticed it long ago—with the boost from the [Spiritual Sense] talent, his sixth sense and sensitivity to his surroundings far exceeded those of ordinary people; although he hadn't learned any systematic sensory ninjutsu, his ability to catch gazes and presences was extremely sharp.
Jiraiya hadn't intentionally hidden himself, so before Shinichi even stepped into the camp, he had noticed that observant gaze falling upon him.
"Superb talent, and more importantly, this relentless perseverance. No wonder the old man values you so much..." Jiraiya crossed his arms and stepped out from the shadows, his tone carrying a hint of emotion.
"I only did what was expected of me; it's Lord Third Hokage who is generous and kind." Shinichi bowed his head slightly, his tone humble but not overly subservient.
"Enough, enough. No need for more praise for that old man." Jiraiya waved his hand, a mysterious smile suddenly appearing on his face. He looked around and lowered his voice.
"Come here, I'll show you something good."
'Hmm?'
A question mark popped up in Shinichi's head, but he followed the instruction anyway.
Jiraiya chuckled and extended his right hand. His gaze sharpened, and the air above his palm seemed to distort slightly. Blue chakra surged, spun, and condensed rapidly. In the blink of an eye, a fist-sized, stable, and brilliant sphere of chakra had formed, spinning quietly in his palm and emitting a low hum of energy.
Rasengan!
"How's that? Impressive, right, kid!" Jiraiya shook his palm triumphantly as the chakra sphere continued to spin steadily, the light reflecting the childlike boastful expression on his face. "It only took me three days! I learned this technique of yours in just three days!"
The light of the campfire flickered in the distance, reflecting in Shinichi's slightly widened eyes on his calm face.
He was indeed a bit surprised—not because Jiraiya could learn the Rasengan, nor because he could learn it in three days.
What surprised him was that this Sannin was showing it off to him with a bit of a boast, like a child who had gotten a new toy and couldn't wait to share it.
Shinichi quickly composed himself and nodded seriously. "As expected of Lord Jiraiya, it is indeed impressive. It took me a long time to figure out this technique back then."
"Heh heh, that's because I stood on your shoulders." Jiraiya was quite frank. He closed his hand, and the Rasengan vanished silently.
He rubbed his chin, a hint of serious inquiry appearing in his eyes as he looked at Shinichi. "However, you really are something, kid. To come up with the concept for this seal-less ninjutsu and then successfully put it into practice step by step... The old man said you're a genius, and he wasn't wrong. Most importantly, you're willing to put in the hard work."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the traces of sweat and the lingering sharp aura on Shinichi after his training. "I've seen too many guys who slack off because of their talent. In this exam, perform well and let me see if you, the creator of the Rasengan, are you just as strong in other areas."
After saying that, he patted Shinichi's shoulder with considerable force, then returned to his lazy demeanor, strolling toward the firelight in the center of the camp as if the person who had just excitedly demonstrated the ninjutsu wasn't him.
'Tsk, not even giving a ninjutsu as a gesture? Just freeloading, huh?'
Shinichi stood there, grumbling in his heart as he watched Jiraiya's departing figure.
---
A few days later, at the end of an almost boundless sea of golden sand, a distinct dark silhouette finally appeared.
It was a settlement built against a massive rocky mountain. A large Sunagakure symbol was carved into the towering rock wall, looking solemn and cold under the scorching sun.
'Sunagakure, we've arrived.'
---
In the following days, the exams proceeded step by step.
After going through the written exam and the scroll-snatching battle in the Desert of Death, despite encountering obvious targeted obstruction from the Sand side, Shinichi, Maruboshi Kosuke, and Might Duy still steadily made it into the final rounds thanks to their solid strength and cooperation.
A month later, at Sunagakure's largest arena plaza.
The place was bustling with noise, and the stands were packed. The audience included not only residents of Sunagakure but also many wealthy merchants and officials from the Land of Wind who had come to witness the grand event. The clamor almost overturned the air scorched by the hot sun.
Most of the contestants who made it to the final rounds were from Konoha and Sunagakure.
The scheduling seemed intentional—pitting Konoha's participants against each other to prematurely exhaust and eliminate their own forces.
The first match was Higashino Shinichi versus Maruboshi Kosuke.
However, before the match could begin, Maruboshi Kosuke directly announced his withdrawal, citing "unfamiliarity with the environment and physical discomfort." This move immediately drew dissatisfied boos from the stands.
On the high platform's rostrum, the Third Kazekage leaned over and spoke to the composed Third Hokage. His voice wasn't loud, but it was enough for the nearby officials to hear clearly. "Lord Hokage, that ninja from your village... seems a bit off. His age and the strength he showed earlier don't seem like those of an ordinary Genin. Could it be that your village specifically arranged for a certain Jonin to disguise himself and participate?"
His tone was calm, but the suspicion in his words was sharp. He had specifically observed Maruboshi Kosuke during the previous tests. That seasoned experience and effortless strength definitely reached the level of a Jonin.
Did Konoha disregard its reputation so much just to take the top spot in this Chunin Exam?
The Third Kazekage sneered in his heart.
He had specifically arranged this battle to force Konoha to make a choice: either completely abandon their shame to keep a veteran for the rankings, or sacrifice him to protect the younger and clearly more promising Higashino Shinichi.
Hearing this, the Third Hokage still wore his usual gentle smile. He took a slow puff of his pipe before speaking unhurriedly. "Lord Kazekage must be joking. Kosuke's background and records are verifiable in Konoha; he is indeed a Genin. I can guarantee that."
His tone then shifted as his gaze seemingly drifted toward Sunagakure's waiting area. "Speaking of which, that young female ninja from your village who can manipulate sand and whose defense no one has been able to break yet is also quite impressive. I can't help but wonder if some formidable Jonin from your village changed their attire to come and guide the juniors."
The Third Kazekage's expression remained unchanged as he smiled slightly. "Lord Hokage worries too much. Karura is indeed a genuine Genin of our village. I can also guarantee that to you."
He wasn't entirely lying about this.
Since graduating from the Ninja Academy, Karura had been working in a clerical position at the Kazekage Building and was not a frontline combat ninja.
However, perhaps due to her kind nature and the experience of witnessing her parents' deaths in her childhood, she awakened a special bloodline limit ability.
She could infuse chakra into sand, controlling it for attack and defense. Especially in defense, it moved according to her will, forming a "shield of sand" known as the "absolute defense."
To ensure Sunagakure secured the best ranking on their home turf, the Third Kazekage had specifically given her a ninja status and sent out this atypical weapon.
Originally, after seeing the strength Maruboshi Kosuke displayed—especially that water release with its incredible scale and control—he still had some concerns about whether they could firmly secure the championship.
But now, with Maruboshi Kosuke's voluntary withdrawal, the weight in his heart was lifted.
The two remaining contestants from Konoha: one was Higashino Shinichi, who seemed talented but was still young and lacked experience after all;
the other was Might Duy, a specialized ninja who only knew taijutsu. Against Karura's dead-angle-free sand defense, he could hardly pose a threat.
In his view, neither of them could possibly break through Karura's defense. The championship was already in Sunagakure's pocket.
'Cunning old guy!'
The two old foxes' gazes met and parted instantly. Their smiles remained, but they both cursed each other in their hearts.