Well, considering how much time we've spent preparing and developing strategies and then practicing them, the students should be able to win their first two fights without any problems, but after that it'll be more difficult.
- Don't worry, sensei, we will not shame you and prove to everyone that we are worthy of the title of chunin more than the other candidates," Asani nodded, supporting her friend.
Although it was obvious that the young kunoichi was a little nervous, but I think that would be the case for all genin forced to fight in front of a crowd of thousands.
- Go ahead then, the exam will start soon," I patted them on the shoulders encouragingly, I grasped them tightly and shunshin carried them to the edge of the arena, 'I'll be cheering you on in the stands and just in case, I'll leave a clone in the first aid rooms,' I promised them, Just in case," he promised them, ignoring the many curious stares from the nearly filled stands, "the main thing is to act according to your plans and don't forget to protect your head - even iryonins of my level can't treat brain damage with the same effectiveness and without consequences as the rest of your body.
- We remember, Ryo-sensei," the students sighed almost in unison.
I realized that it was time to stop with the instructions, since I seemed to be more nervous than my students.
- Good luck then," I nodded to them, and with a shunshin I moved to the bleachers, where the earliest Nara were seated.
Having determined my seat by the ticket, I slowly began to make my way to it, answering the greetings of friends and acquaintances, both clan and non-clan, shinobi and kunoichi.
Unexpectedly, there were well over a couple hundred of them, and that was only those who were within reach - the noise of the crowd doesn't encourage normal communication beyond a couple or three meters. With the rest I just exchanged polite nods or hints of a bow, if they were especially respected people, like the heads of clans or elders of allies.
It's at events like this that you get a sense of the breadth of acquaintances available, despite the seemingly minimal social activity in that direction. I can see why Shenesu includes me in the list of possible candidates for the post of Hokage - it's not easy to earn the respect of so many fighters, hence the Hokage's moves to limit rank and influence. The old baboon senses the threat to his seat, he does!
I glanced at the box for the leaders of the great villages and found that the Kazekage, Raikage, and Hokage with their bodyguards were all in their seats, talking among themselves, while the box nearby, almost level with them, was packed with the Daimyo's entourage.
It was with some amazement that I noticed the very familiar face of a pimp at the very edge! How did he get in there?! The bastard didn't tell me anything. Of course, I'm good too - I haven't demanded a report from the perfect marionettes lately, only tossing in some yin chakra for normal existence.
Feeling my gaze, the founder of the elite brothel found me in the crowd and flashed me a dazzling smile, immediately turning away. Bastard! Okay, I'll contact him later and sort everything out. Almost all the participants were already in the arena, talking to the referee about something, and on one of the walls of the stadium the minutes were counting down on a huge clock.
Ten minutes were left and the crowd was getting more and more noisy, getting ready for the spectacle and diligently buying food and drinks from the hawkers who were walking between the rows. In the distance, the Nara led by Shenesu-ji-san and Setsura-oba-san appeared on one of the entrances to the stands, so I sighed with relief - the Nara might have been late - and looked at the standings.
Naturally, there was nothing new, and I once again thought that the number of fights in the first round had been limited to seven instead of eight, purely to eliminate uncomfortable candidates, because then the number of participants would have been in line with the tournament grid. And now...
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