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Chapter 300: The Scroll Dispute
Chapter 300: The Scroll Dispute
"This seems pretty straightforward. We just need to defeat one team to pass the exam, right?" Obito felt that this exam was much easier compared to the previous one after hearing the rules.
"If we're lucky," Kakashi nodded in agreement.
Ten kilometers was not a long distance for ninjas, and the core of this exam was the dispute over the scrolls.
"That means at least half of the participants will be eliminated this time," Yahiko analyzed as he explained the rules.
The number of teams that cheated or failed the previous theoretical exam was only three, and the vast majority of the teams had passed the first exam.
"Not just that, but at most, only a third of the participants will remain after this exam," Kakashi shook his head slightly.
To pass the exam, all teams would proactively attack other teams, but the problem was that they might not be able to get the matching scrolls, and if they didn't, they would continue to attack.
Kakashi felt that a third was a conservative estimate, and some troublemakers might not stop even after collecting all the scrolls, further increasing the number of eliminations.
"If we're unlucky, we definitely won't be able to smoothly find the matching scroll, and with Kakashi here, something unexpected will definitely happen," Obito had already prepared himself for the possibility of winning five consecutive battles and gaining nothing.
Kakashi: ...
"Maybe it's you who's unlucky. After all, we've always been on the same team," Kakashi refuted.
"How could I be unlucky? I've always been looking forward to encountering enemies. If we do meet some, it would only prove that I'm lucky," Obito felt that Kakashi was trying to force an explanation.
"Each team sends a representative to receive the scroll," the Jonin in charge of distributing the scrolls shouted.
Kakashi looked over and saw that the scroll distribution area was a wooden house with only a front and back door and no windows.
"Yahiko, you go and get the scroll. As soon as you get it, put it away immediately and don't show it to anyone," Kakashi made a quick decision.
He realized that the second phase of the Chunin Exam had already begun, starting from the moment they received the scrolls.
If they knew in advance which team had the Heavenly Scroll and which had the Earthly Scroll, they could choose their battles accordingly.
"Obito, you stay with me and keep an eye on the people coming out of the house. If anyone doesn't hide their scroll, remember their face and the type of scroll they have. I assume you still remember how to distinguish the scrolls," Kakashi instructed.
"How could I forget, Teacher Mu Yue just explained it! The white one is the Heavenly Scroll, and the darker one is the Earthly Scroll," Obito felt slightly insulted, thinking that only a fool would forget something that was just explained to them.
However, Obito also understood the importance of the task at hand and didn't continue to argue with Kakashi. Instead, they both kept a close eye on the exit of the wooden house, each watching from a different direction.
"Heavenly Scroll, Earthly Scroll, Earthly Scroll..." Kakashi observed the first five teams and realized that the distribution of the scrolls was completely random.
Some other ninjas also noticed Kakashi's team's actions, but they didn't make a fuss. Instead, they quietly informed their teammates and kept an eye on Kakashi's team from a distance.
Ninjas with special abilities used their own capabilities to gather intelligence. A ninja from the Hyuga clan opened his Byakugan to check everyone's scrolls, while a ninja from the Aburame clan released a small flying insect that entered the wooden house.
"Water Style: Misty Hideout Technique!" When it was Mei Terumi's turn to receive the scroll, she immediately used the technique to cover the wooden house in a thick fog.
"Our scroll is the Earthly Scroll. Come and get it if you dare!" After receiving the scroll, Hei Zhi boldly held it up for everyone to see.
Hei Zhi's arrogance sparked discussions among the students.
However, no one explicitly expressed their intention to snatch Hei Zhi's scroll, as doing so would mean exposing their own team's scroll information.
Kisame Hoshigaki remained unmoved, knowing that Hei Zhi's actions were not mindless. Their mission was to create a stir during the Chunin Exam in Konoha.
Momochi Zabuza, a nine-year-old who had killed all his peers upon graduation, Hei Zhi, an eleven-year-old who had become a Chunin three years ago and was now an experienced young ninja, and Kisame, who possessed an extraordinary amount of chakra and strength for his age—the Kirigakure higher-ups naturally wouldn't let them take the exam under normal circumstances.
After Yahiko received the scroll, she immediately put it away and rejoined Obito and Kakashi.
Kakashi led the two of them to a deserted area on the edge of the exam site and began to discuss their strategy in low voices.
"We have the Heavenly Scroll," Yahiko whispered.
"Then we need the Earthly Scroll," Kakashi began to recall the teams that had the Earthly Scroll. Apart from Hei Zhi's team, who had openly displayed their scroll, he knew of five other teams that possessed the Earthly Scroll.
Kakashi looked toward those teams and committed their members to memory.
As Kakashi observed the other teams, he noticed that quite a few of them were also keeping a close eye on his team.
Most of them were ninjas from other villages, with a significant number from Kirigakure.
Kakashi was not surprised by this, as his team indeed looked like easy targets—they were all children under the age of ten.
"Tsk, it would've been great if they were near our entrance. They're probably recent graduates," remarked one of the Kirigakure ninjas.
Ninjas generally had no qualms about picking on those weaker than themselves, and most would prefer an easy target over a challenging one.
Not only Kakashi's team but Might Guy and Asuma's teams were also receiving similar attention.
In fact, there were even more teams eyeing them, including some from Konoha itself.
Kakashi was somewhat well-known in Konoha, and some of the participants in the Chunin Exam were either his seniors from the Ninja Academy or former classmates who had taken the Chunin Exam with him.
Although they didn't know why Kakashi was participating in the exam again, those who were aware of his strength would certainly not consider his team as their first choice of targets.
"This doesn't look good," Hizashi said as he pushed up his glasses with his middle finger, feeling a trickle of sweat forming on his forehead.
Although he hadn't acted as quickly as Kakashi to figure out their strategy, he had also realized the importance of keeping their scroll information secret and had taken steps to protect it.
However, from the looks of it, Hizashi could tell that those teams were going to come after them regardless of what scroll they had, simply because they saw Kakashi's team as easy prey.
Facing these seniors who had graduated three or even five years ago, Hizashi couldn't help but feel nervous.
Kaminari also lost his usual relaxed smile, feeling the pressure.
"Don't worry, believe in your youth!" Might Guy placed his hands on their shoulders, offering words of encouragement.
Seeing Might Guy's brilliant smile, Hizashi felt a little more at ease, knowing that with such a powerful ally, their chances of advancing were still good.
Fifteen minutes after the distribution of the scrolls was completed, Mu Yue began the next step of the exam, leading the participants to their respective entrances.
(End of Chapter)
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