It's evident that ninjas don't feel much grief over the deaths of enemies.
This is something they are trained for from their ninja school days.
Kiyoshi had also undergone this training, which essentially consisted of brainwashing-style dedication education.
Children whose values haven't matured are easily influenced.
"Let's go, we'll head to the tower."
Kiyoshi glanced at the sky, it was already afternoon.
He estimated that they would arrive at the tower in the evening.
About half the time had already passed.
Many ninjas who had their scrolls stolen would be lingering there.
Kiyoshi could take this opportunity to sell the scrolls.
As the end approached, Kiyoshi opened the trait panel and confirmed the flashing Upgrade route below.
[Burning Heart (Green)]
[Requirements: Meet the minimum physical fitness conditions.]
[Progress: Completed]
[Effect: Your heart is like a raging fire, granting you a deeper understanding and sensitivity to fire. The efficiency of developing Fire Release ninjutsu is increased by 20% compared to the original.]
[Note: Can be upgraded.]
Kiyoshi suddenly felt warm, his heart pounding a few times before returning to calm.
Kiyoshi and his team traveled together, separating from the Hyuga team.
Natsu watched Kiyoshi's departing figure, composed herself, and followed.
Homura sighed, envying Kiyoshi's strength.
If he were that strong, would he have to be shamed in front of others?
Tetsu ran to Natsu's side, asking if she had been frightened.
Meanwhile, Mei and the others began to figure out how to collect new scrolls.
Everyone's actions had changed and all of this was because of Kiyoshi.
Two and a half days later, the final deadline arrived.
Kiyoshi stood at the entrance with large bags of items.
"Alright, who wants to buy back these scrolls? 5,000 Ryo apiece."
Kiyoshi stated a price.
The surrounding ninjas looked at him in astonishment.
Wait, this stuff can be sold?
Any ninja who obtained these would destroy them.
No one would want more competitors.
The fewer people who pass the second round, the greater the hope for the third round.
"I, I'll buy!"
"I... I want one too!"
"I'll buy five, here's the money..."
A crowd of ninjas gathered around Kiyoshi, buying the scrolls from him.
Some ninjas even thought about buying more of these scrolls, which would reduce the number of people who would pass.
Kiyoshi remained noncommittal, as long as he could make money.
Kurenai and Asuma waited for Kiyoshi on the side.
Asuma was speechless.
This situation was truly unprecedented, a first.
"Alright, let's go in."
After selling all the scrolls, Kiyoshi counted the money and put it all into a tattered bag to carry out.
The result didn't disappoint him. He earned a total of 120,000 Ryo.
He sold 24 scrolls.
This was equivalent to the money earned from performing several C-rank missions, enough for Kiyoshi to buy a large batch of explosive tags.
Soon, the proctor came over and announced who had passed.
He also talked about some precautions and arrangements for the third round.
...
Noon
Hokage Building
The results of the second exam had been fully submitted to Sarutobi Hiruzen and other Konoha high-rank officials.
"Why are there so many examinees passing this year?" Koharu asked in surprise.
The passing list submitted in this report was simply absurd.
A total of eighty-one ninjas participated in the Chunin Exams this time.
Divided into teams, that's twenty-seven teams.
According to the number of scrolls, only half the teams can pass.
However, according to past examples, the maximum number of people who can actually pass is only a dozen or so.
But this time, more than thirty people had passed.
"The reason for this is Kiyoshi."
Minato, as one of the head proctors, was also in this meeting.
"Kiyoshi?"
Homura was puzzled by what Minato had said.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, sitting in the Hokage seat, put down the report in his hand.
He raised his eyes to look at Minato, and waited for his explanation.
"Homura-sama, Kiyoshi collected a large number of scrolls and sold them all."
Minato told the Konoha high-rank officials about what he had seen and heard that day.
That day, he and Jiraiya hadn't expected Kiyoshi to be so strong, that he could actually intimidate that large group of ninjas alone.
He even snatched their scrolls, and successfully reduced the number of competitors.
On the last day, which was this morning, Minato had planned to come down from the tower to inform the ninjas without scrolls that they had lost their qualifications for promotion.
But then, he saw Kiyoshi selling these scrolls from the window.
Based on the thickness of the banknotes, Minato estimated that one was sold for 5,000 Ryo.
This kid probably made a total of hundreds of thousands of Ryo.
"Hahaha, such a thing happened." Jiraiya said.
This kid's actions are very un-Uchiha.
Kiyoshi feels more like a Senju clansman, who generally have good personalities and are mostly bright.
"Heh heh, what he does is always so unexpected."
Orochimaru said in his unique hoarse voice.
"Hmph, a money-grubber, as expected of what an Uchiha would do."
Danzo sang the opposite tune as always.
This shows the Uchiha's greed for money, completely desecrating the exam.
"Alright Danzo, isn't Kiyoshi reducing casualties and allowing more people to have the qualifications for promotion?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen exhaled a puff of smoke and shook the ashes off his pipe.
One must learn to look at things from another perspective.
Sarutobi Hiruzen realized that perhaps his arrangement of putting Kiyoshi and Asuma in the same team was a good move.
"Hiruzen, your weakness will one day harm you." Danzo snorted.
He picked up the report on the table and looked at it.
Many ninjas had performed well this time and were seeds for the future.
"Send these people to Root, I will teach them."
Danzo pointed to several Konoha ninjas and said.
"Okay."
Sarutobi Hiruzen did not refuse his old friend's proposal.
Originally, Danzo had wanted Kiyoshi to join Root, but Sarutobi Hiruzen had refused him.
Now, giving Danzo a few ordinary ninjas was insignificant.
"Thank you for your hard work, Minato, you can rest for a month." Sarutobi Hiruzen said.
There will be no preliminary round this time.
The third round of the exam will commence directly.
The time is set for a month later.
A lot of people will come by then, and the daimyo of the Land of Fire had also said that he would come to watch the ceremony this time.
This is a good opportunity to show Konoha's strength.
Strong countries will receive more commissioned missions, while corresponding weak countries will receive fewer.
It is also a warning to neighboring countries that Konoha's new generation is very strong.
This will make it easier to exert pressure in diplomacy and politics.
"Yes, Lord Third."
Minato nodded.
He can just take this time to perfect that technique.
He already has some ideas about how this ninjutsu will work.