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Chapter 48: The Big Chance to Strike It Rich!
Chapter 48: The Big Chance to Strike It Rich!
Before the official competition began, there were speeches from the Fire Country Minister and the Three Sages. However, Tang Ping was completely uninterested, finding it more entertaining to observe the three sages who seemed to be on the verge of a cockfight.
In reality, most of the contestants in the stands were also secretly observing the three sages. The drama was far more interesting than the speeches.
Fortunately, the order was maintained by shinobi from the three major villages stationed in the corners of the stands. No one would dare start a fight here.
The contestants from each village stuck together, not because they were friends, but because they all hoped their rivals would die. This was evident in the ruthless actions during the Forest of Death exam. Only a few managed to send a distress signal and be rescued. While many were killed by the hunters, a significant number were eliminated by their fellow examinees.
In times of war, the exam was a legal killing ground. Only during times of peace would it truly be an exam. But that wasn't the case now.
Now, you understand why the shinobi from the three major villages were stationed in the corners. Without them, there might not be many alive by the time the competition started.
This was the true shinobi world—cruel and bloody. The idea of peaceful coexistence among the examinees in the future was nothing but a fantasy.
A total of 24 candidates made it to the third round of the exam. While more than this number survived the Forest of Death, the weaker villages often voluntarily let the stronger ones pass. The three major villages took up half of the slots.
Konoha Village had the worst luck. Only Tang Ping and Kakashi made it through. This was likely because Konoha, being the leading village among the Five Great Shinobi Nations, was targeted by an unspoken agreement.
"The first match is about to begin. Please have Uchiha Tang Ping and Temari step forward!"
A proctor in the corner suddenly announced. The 1-on-1 match-ups had already been drawn by the proctors in the main stands.
None of the three top-ranked candidates were paired against each other. This was a problem, Tang Ping thought to himself. The audience wanted to see the best matches, and if the top candidates faced each other in the first round, there wouldn't be much excitement left.
However, when Tang Ping heard his match-up, he felt like killing someone. He had no issue with the behind-the-scenes manipulation, but it shouldn't come at his expense.
His opponent was Temari, a Sand Village shinobi skilled in binding seals and a member of Matsuri's team. Despite being a girl, she was ruthless. In a wide-open battlefield, it might have been different, but on this restricted arena, it was her home turf.
Damn! If he had to rank the toughest opponents, Temari would easily be in the top ten.
Tang Ping glanced at the girl walking briskly toward the contestant's tunnel and headed in the opposite direction. The dark and long tunnel allowed him to gather his thoughts.
This time, Tang Ping couldn't afford to lose. Not only did he need to walk away from the arena in one piece, but the bets he had placed made losing impossible.
This was his best chance to make money. With a competition, there were always bets. Gambling was legal in the shinobi world, and the joint Chunin Exam, held every few years, was the perfect platform. It was more exciting than football.
The bookies were naturally the nobles and wealthy merchants. Shinobi couldn't be bookies because the nobles and merchants wouldn't trust them. The fear was that if they lost too much, the shinobi might resort to "dying to clear debts."
This had happened before, so the system evolved to what it was now.
When Tang Ping learned that his family's fortune had been wiped out and their home mortgaged, he saw an opportunity. He bet on himself to win. His strength was severely underestimated, and if he could win, he could strike it rich.
Of course, he couldn't keep it all to himself. He involved the main branch of the Uchiha clan and some ordinary Uchiha members to share in the spoils. This way, the big nobles and wealthy merchants couldn't renege on their debts.
Because if he were to default, he would have to face the wrath of the Uchiha clan.
At the same time, Uchiha Mei could use this opportunity to win over the support of the main branch and secure the position of head of the household. After her recent eye injury, many had defected to Uchiha Hideo, and she needed to win them back.
So, Touhei couldn't afford to lose.
As these thoughts swirled in his mind, a glimmer of light appeared ahead.
It was the exit of the tunnel!
From there, he could enter the arena and fight under the watchful eyes of the crowd.
The Joint Chunin Exam was a stage for gaining fame, and it was all about these one-on-one battles.
The first stage was to eliminate those who were just trying to get by.
The second stage was to select the geniuses.
The third stage was the platform for those geniuses to shine.
If one could make it to the third stage, they were almost guaranteed to pass the Chunin Exam.
So, the third stage was no longer about passing the exam, but about fighting for the honor of their village and themselves.
As Touhei stepped through the exit, a deafening roar of voices flooded his ears.
"Go for it!"
"Konoha will win!"
"Sand Village will win!"
...
These voices stirred a sense of excitement and fervor.
From the opposite contestant tunnel, a girl emerged, wearing a sand-protecting headband and carrying a bundle of white cloth.
Kankuro!
She was also considered a sealing prodigy among the Sand shinobi.
When Touhei's gaze fell on the examiners standing to the side, his eyes narrowed slightly.
"It's them?"
There were three examiners, not just one as in the anime.
From Konoha, it was Minato Namikaze.
The other two examiners were a man and a woman.
The man was muscular, wearing a red ninja cap, with a distinctive large nose and a mustache, dressed in a red combat suit, and his left arm was covered in a red sleeve while his right arm was bare.
He seemed as solid and unyielding as a mountain.
Dust!
He was also the son of the Tsuchikage Onoki and considered the strongest of the new generation in Iwagakure.
The remaining female examiner wore a tight, backless outfit, with her long hair, a mix of birch and green, tied up, and her presence was like a blazing flame.
Leaf Storehouse!
She was also a rising star among the new generation in Sunagakure.
The examiners were at least elite Jonin, and possibly even Kage-level, to showcase the village's strength, give them a chance to make a name for themselves, and protect the future of the village.
Of course, although there were three examiners, the one in charge was naturally the Konoha examiner.
The home-field advantage had to be there.
"The first match is between Konoha's Uchiha Touhei and Sunagakure's Kankuro!"
Minato Namikaze stood in the center of the arena and announced loudly.
In the stands, Uchiha Shizuka, who had just arrived, whispered to Uchiha Mei, who had removed her bandages and revealed her fully healed eyes.
"It's all set!"
Timing was crucial.
If it was done too early, it might give the bookmakers a chance to investigate and respond.
Uchiha Shizuka was responsible for this task, so she only returned just as the match was about to begin.
"Good!"
Uchiha Mei nodded imperceptibly, as if she hadn't just bet everything on the table.
After experiencing the utter darkness of despair, nothing could make her worry anymore.
In fact, this had even caused her Sharingan to evolve.
The Uchiha in Despair!
It wasn't a joke, especially not with her strong talent; it would be strange if it hadn't changed.
In the crowd nearby, Hyuga Aizuki's eyes were fixed on Touhei in the arena below, her gaze filled with gratitude, admiration, and other emotions, clenching her fists in silent support.
"Go, Touhei!!"
A sudden cheer erupted from Honda Takashi in the stands, with a pale and frail Yamaguchi Koji standing beside him.
His two best friends had come to cheer him on.
As the tension reached its peak, the match officially began.
(End of Chapter)
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