The night grew darker.
A tall tower stood amidst the forest.
This was the endpoint of the second stage of the Chunin Exams.
In the distance from the tower,
The figures of three boys stood side by side.
It was Minato's team.
They had gathered three scrolls on them.
All they needed to do was cross this final stretch of forest, and they'd practically have half a chunin headband in hand...
"It looks... kinda dangerous, doesn't it?"
Obito Uchiha said with an odd expression.
This last patch of forest didn't seem all that different on the surface.
The trees were just as dense, with a small path leading straight to the tower.
"No need to guess—there are probably more people in there than we've already encountered..."
Kakashi Hatake quipped from the side.
With the exam time nearing its end—likely just tonight and one more day left—
They'd wasted quite a bit of time on the way, so surely some teams had already made it out of the exam grounds.
A lot of people had entered this Chunin Exam.
But thanks to the efforts of the three of them... the elimination rate had gone from two-thirds to nearly half again.
After all, the scrolls scattered among everyone weren't exactly enough to form complete sets...
So, the competition in this final stretch was bound to be the fiercest.
When most people couldn't gather enough scrolls,
There'd naturally be only one option left.
Block the exit.
That was also why they'd come here.
But unlike the other examinees, who were desperate to pass the exam, they had come with three scrolls in hand, driven by a mischievous desire to stir things up...
At that moment,
Yuto Souta, who had been silent, suddenly furrowed his brow.
Out of reflex, he raised his hands to form seals.
But when he saw who was approaching, the chakra in his body abruptly halted.
This brief motion didn't escape the notice of Obito Uchiha and Kakashi Hatake.
Curious, both of them followed Yuto Souta's gaze.
Sure enough, under the moonlight, a hunched old man emerged from the dense forest.
Strapped to his back was a massive, gleaming black wok, shining faintly in the lunar glow...
It was Kosuke Maruboshi.
"It's really that old grandpa?" Obito Uchiha's expression turned even stranger.
"This exam... it's not that hard, right? How's this old man still taking it at his age?"
It was a question worth pondering.
Logically, if someone had the perseverance to keep trying to become a chunin even with hair turned fully white,
Their strength shouldn't be anything to scoff at...
But Yuto Souta had no intention of dwelling on this contradictory puzzle.
Familiar with the original story, he naturally knew the prowess of these perennial Konoha genin...
One who could take on the Seven Ninja Swordsmen single-handedly, leaving four dead and three fleeing—an astonishing feat!
And two others who fought their way straight to the grand finale!
The Kosuke Maruboshi before him didn't have as much spotlight as those three, but his strength was undeniably real...
He just wondered how much of an instant reward he'd get from defeating Kosuke Maruboshi.
Yuto Souta felt a flicker of anticipation.
But after a moment's thought, he dismissed the idea.
He wasn't so desperate that he needed to beat up an old man to boost his strength...
"Good evening, young fellas!"
Kosuke Maruboshi greeted them warmly, as if he'd known the trio for ages.
"Good evening, Grandpa!" The three responded politely in unison.
Their coordination was almost identical to when they'd beaten up that Hyuga guy.
They could thrash villains and respect the elderly—Minato's team's moral compass was undeniably upright.
Kosuke Maruboshi nodded with a cheerful smile.
Inwardly, though, he breathed a sigh of relief.
He'd been assigned to enter the exam at the same time as the three, just at a slightly offset entrance.
He'd thought he'd find them quickly and carry out the Third Hokage's protection mission.
But to his surprise,
It had taken him a whole day...
Left with no choice, Kosuke Maruboshi had come to the endpoint to try his luck.
And as luck would have it, he spotted the three little ones right here.
"Judging by how spirited you all look, you've gathered your scrolls, huh?" Kosuke Maruboshi asked with a smile.
After asking, perhaps worried his words might spark unnecessary suspicion, he took the black wok off his back and revealed its contents.
"I picked up quite a few scrolls along the way. Not sure who did it, but a bunch were burned and unusable.
Still, there are plenty left. Take a look—if you need any, feel free to grab them."
At those words,
The trio's expressions turned odd.
Kakashi Hatake and Yuto Souta silently shifted their gazes to Obito Uchiha.
Obito Uchiha let out an awkward chuckle...
"Haha... Grandpa, you've got some great luck! Haha...
But we don't need them—keep them for yourself, Grandpa! Haha, this exam's super easy. You've gotta keep at it, Grandpa!"
Only Obito could say something like that...
If it were any other examinee, they'd probably attack outright just to live up to the ninja name!
"Is that so..." A flicker of relief passed through Kosuke Maruboshi's eyes, but when he glanced toward the tower, that relief turned entirely into worry...
He'd rarely taken part in the Chunin Exams—practically never, in fact.
But even so, he knew how dangerous this final stretch could be.
"Since it's getting so late, how about... we eat something first?"
With no better option, Kosuke Maruboshi tried to buy some time.
He just hoped a pair of examinees would show up soon, revealing the dangers lurking in this Forest of Death to the three kids in front of him.
If that didn't happen...
He'd have to step in himself!
But a single sentence from Yuto Souta completely dashed his plans...
Yuto Souta suddenly stepped behind Obito Uchiha.
"Squat down—we're combining forces. Kakashi, watch my back.
The three of us are charging straight through!"
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