Chapter 172: Chapter 172

Two days slipped by in a blur, with Sasuke spending most of them getting pummeled.

The beatings were so severe that now, whenever he laid eyes on Naruto, his fists itched to strike. Sasuke even dreamed of Naruto’s smug face every night—though he couldn’t quite tell if it was truly Naruto… or Kitazawa disguised as him.

By Wednesday, however, Sasuke finally managed to catch a breather. December 1st had arrived—the start of the Chunin Exams.

That same morning, Kitazawa reported to the Hokage’s office.

“Why the sudden decision to act as a squad leader?” Hiruzen Sarutobi asked, brow furrowed at the unexpected request.

“Just lending a hand to Nono-senpai,” Kitazawa explained calmly. “As you know, her adopted son, Kabuto, still hasn’t had the chance to become a Chunin.”

“I see…” Hiruzen nodded, immediately grasping the situation.

Kabuto had long surpassed the level of a Chunin, but as a Root operative, he’d never had the opportunity to officially take the exams.

“Then who are the other two in your squad?” Hiruzen asked.

“Aburame Torune and Uchiha Izumi,” Kitazawa replied.

“Oh?” The Hokage’s eyes widened briefly before a knowing smile curved his lips. “Quite the remarkable trio you’ve gathered.”

At that moment, Hiruzen’s thoughts mirrored Kabuto’s from earlier—Tsunade’s intrusion into Root to save Torune likely wasn’t just at the Aburame clan’s request. Kitazawa must have been involved. No wonder she had dragged him along that day. It also spoke volumes about Kitazawa’s place in Tsunade’s heart.

“No wonder Fugaku came to see me a few days ago,” Hiruzen continued, shifting topics. “He requested the dissolution of Uchiha Izumi’s squad.”

Every squad’s formation or disbandment required Hokage approval. For Izumi to join Kitazawa’s team, her original squad first had to be disbanded.

The revelation caught Kitazawa off guard. For Fugaku to move mountains just to let Izumi become his student… it exceeded his expectations. Clearly, Mikoto’s earlier agreement on Izumi’s behalf wasn’t just casual consent, but part of this very plan.

“The Uchiha clan has always been… difficult,” Hiruzen said plainly. “Since you have good rapport with them, I’d like you to keep those ties strong.”

Kitazawa blinked in surprise. He was being encouraged to associate with the Uchiha?

But after a moment’s thought, it made sense. In the original history, Hiruzen had tried to prevent the clan’s downfall. Even when rebellion loomed, he sent Itachi to negotiate rather than crushing them outright. It was Danzo who twisted persuasion into massacre.

Hiruzen was much like Fugaku in that sense—hesitant, torn between ideals and action.

“I understand, Hokage-sama,” Kitazawa said, steadying himself. With Tsunade backing him, he wasn’t afraid of political entanglements.

“Go, then. Take part in the Chunin Exams,” Hiruzen waved him off.

Bowing slightly, Kitazawa left. His team—Kabuto, Izumi, and Torune—was already waiting at the door. Together, they made their way toward the exam site: the Anbu base.

Unlike the joint exams, which had been held at the Academy due to sheer numbers, Konoha’s internal exams required less space.

At the entrance, Kotetsu Hagane looked up in shock. “Kitazawa-senpai? Why are you here?”

“Why are you here?” Kitazawa countered curiously.

“This is the Chunin Exams, right? Izumo and I signed up as proctors for the written test,” Kotetsu explained, glancing at Kitazawa’s students. “Wait—since when did you become a squad leader?”

“Today. Just temporarily,” Kitazawa said with a grin.

Kotetsu nodded in understanding. Teams thrown together at the last minute were nothing unusual.

“Then we’ll head in,” Kitazawa said, not wasting time as the exam approached.

“They can go in, but you can’t,” Kotetsu warned, blinking meaningfully.

“Got it.” Kitazawa caught on instantly. He turned to his students. “Go ahead.”

“Yes, sensei.” The three stepped inside.

“Before the actual written exam, there’s a small challenge,” Kotetsu explained once they’d gone. “They’ll need to clear it first.”

“Genjutsu—Mystical Illusion: Place Transfer, right?” Kitazawa asked smoothly.

Kotetsu’s eyes widened. “You saw through it already?”

Kitazawa only smirked. As expected, the setup was the same as the original joint exams.

Inside, Kabuto immediately identified it. “This is a Genjutsu.”

Six confused Genin clustered around a sign pointing to the third floor, even though the exam hall was clearly on the first.

“Mystical Illusion: Place Transfer,” Izumi muttered dismissively. “Such a low-level Genjutsu.”

“Let’s go,” Kabuto said, heading upstairs. Izumi and Torune followed without hesitation.

Watching from the outside, Kotetsu let out a whistle. “As expected from Kitazawa-senpai’s students. They saw through it faster than anyone else.”

Kitazawa only replied modestly, “They’re strong, yes.”

Truthfully, if not for his mission, he wouldn’t even need to be here—the outcome was obvious. Kabuto, Torune, and Izumi would dominate unless they somehow ran into a Jinchuriki.

“Do you know the second stage?” Kitazawa asked idly.

“A race,” Kotetsu revealed. “The Forest of Death. Only the top five squads that reach the finish line qualify for the third stage.”

Kitazawa nodded. Tougher than the joint exams’ survival round, perhaps—but ultimately, strength decided everything.

When the written exam ended, the remaining Genin were led to the Forest of Death. Kitazawa followed as a spectator, watching his team sweep through the second stage with ease. Kabuto, Torune, and Izumi secured first place without breaking a sweat.

“Well done,” Kitazawa told them afterward. “Get plenty of rest. The third stage begins tomorrow.”

Unlike the joint exams, which dragged out preliminary rounds and month-long gaps, Konoha’s internal exams wrapped up quickly. Two days, start to finish.

The next day—Thursday.

At exactly nine in the morning, Kitazawa arrived punctually at the training ground in front of the Anbu base.

Kabuto, Torune, and Izumi were already there, having arrived a step earlier.

By then, under the direction of the chief examiner, Shiranui Genma, the three stood together with the remaining Genin.

Kitazawa’s eyes swept over the group.

There weren’t many left—only nine Genin had made it into the third stage. That neatly formed three teams. If nothing unexpected happened, they’d all become Chunin. Unless, of course, one of them turned out to be hopelessly weak. After all, this was about the level of difficulty the Chunin Exams usually carried.

Genma noticed Kitazawa’s arrival, but since the exams were about to start, he didn’t come over to greet him.

Kitazawa, however, had already spotted another familiar face.

Kakashi Hatake.

“Kakashi.” Kitazawa walked up, smiling faintly. “You’ve got students in this batch?”

He remembered Kakashi had led several squads before, but each time he’d sent them back to the Academy after they failed his infamous test. Judging by the Anbu uniform he still wore, it didn’t look like he’d taken an official team yet.

“No,” Kakashi replied flatly.

“Then what? you came just to watch the exams out of boredom?” Kitazawa chuckled. “That doesn’t sound like you.”

“Hokage-sama asked me to inform you.” Kakashi’s dead-fish eyes blinked once. “He wants to see you after the exams.”

“Ah, I see.” Kitazawa nodded in sudden understanding.

“How’s it feel, being a squad leader?” Kakashi asked after a short pause.

“I find it… interesting,” Kitazawa said with a small smile. “Watching students grow is surprisingly fulfilling. What about you—are you planning to take a team?”

“Yes. Hokage-sama’s orders,” Kakashi admitted without hesitation.

“Well, if you’re not in a rush, you could always wait for mine to graduate.”

“Your students still have five years,” Kakashi countered with calm logic. “By then, I’ll already be leading a team.”

Kitazawa thought wryly, ’Good thought, but your standards are too damn high.’

His musings were interrupted as Kabuto stepped into the arena.

His opponent was a young shinobi wielding a blade. Kabuto’s answer was simple: a flicker of chakra scalpel, and the guy became incapacitated. Victory, effortless.

“Chakra Scalpel?” Genma stared as if he’d seen a ghost. ’Genin nowadays are terrifying…’

Kakashi wasn’t surprised. He had seen Kabuto’s strength firsthand when he and Kitazawa picked him up. For him, the Chunin Exams were child’s play. The same applied to Torune, though the boy was careful—he didn’t even use his poisonous insects, afraid they’d kill his fellow Leaf shinobi.

Still, one thing caught Kakashi’s eye: Kabuto’s Wind Release.

He hadn’t used it against the Iwa ninja before. Which meant he’d only just learned it. His talent in Wind Release was obvious. The likely teacher? Kitazawa.

That sparked another thought. Asuma was also a Wind Release specialist. Between him and Kitazawa… who was stronger?

“The first round is over. Fifteen-minute break!” Genma announced.

Out of nine, only five Genin remained by the second round. Among them: Kabuto, Torune, and Izumi.

“They’ll probably end up fighting each other,” Kitazawa murmured, watching the lot-drawing.

Kakashi only nodded.

“Second round, first match: Yakushi Kabuto versus Aburame Torune!” Genma called.

Kitazawa raised an eyebrow, intrigued. Even Kakashi straightened a little. The earlier matches had been dull, but Kabuto and Torune—both Root-trained—were different.

“Secret Technique: Dust of Poison!”

Torune didn’t hold back. He extended both hands, exhaling a swarm of nano-sized insects that spread like choking dust.

He knew Kabuto was dangerous. And if anyone could detoxify poison mid-battle, it was Kabuto, a medical ninja trained by Kitazawa and the medical director.

“Wind Release: Gale Palm!”

Kabuto clapped his hands, a gust sweeping away the cloud. When the insects dispersed, Torune had vanished.

Kabuto calmly flicked a shuriken skyward. With no cover on the grounds, the only possible ambush was from above.

Sure enough, Torune was mid-air. His sneak attack foiled, he grimaced. Controlling himself, he released another cloud of insects to intercept the spinning shuriken. Though the wind-infused blade shredded many, sheer numbers slowed it down.

Still, Kabuto wasn’t done.

“Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!”

A fierce gale blasted Torune mid-air. He tried covering himself with a dense insect swarm, but the force still sent him flying back.

“I surrender,” Torune said quickly, raising his hand. He’d realized the problem. Kabuto wasn’t letting him get close—kiting him mercilessly from start to finish.

“Kakashi, thoughts?” Kitazawa smiled.

“They’ll all be excellent Jonin someday,” Kakashi replied evenly. Their level already far surpassed the average Chunin.

Izumi’s match was simpler. A flicker of Sharingan, a quick genjutsu, and her opponent collapsed. Victory.

Thanks to a bye and a rematch, Torune also scraped into the third round.

“All three who advanced are yours,” Kakashi remarked coolly.

“Thank you.” Kitazawa smiled.

“Third round, first match: Yakushi Kabuto versus Uchiha Izumi!” Genma announced.

Izumi steeled herself. Both her teammates were far stronger than her—Torune’s poisonous insects were lethal, and Kabuto… Kabuto was on another level entirely.

She activated her Sharingan instantly. Genjutsu would be her only chance.

But Kabuto charged with Chakra Scalpel—eyes closed.

Izumi faltered. Root shinobi also trained specifically to counter Uchiha techniques. Danzo had made sure of that. Kabuto dismantled her attempt at genjutsu, pressed her with scalpel strikes, and soon she was forced to yield.

Her second match against Torune ended in defeat too. Still, she wasn’t the type of Uchiha to brood over losses. Calm acceptance was her strength.

[Current Mission: Lead Yakushi Kabuto to pass the Chunin Exams.]

[Mission Reward: Hydrification Technique.]

[Mission complete. Reward issued.]

The system’s prompt appeared, and Kitazawa nodded with satisfaction. A life-saving jutsu like that could be invaluable.

“Let’s go,” Kakashi said, drawing him back to reality. “Time to see Hokage-sama.”

For Kakashi, only Kitazawa’s three students had made this Chunin Exam worth watching.

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