In front of the Central Tower, the crowd surged like ocean tides.
For people whose daily lives were slightly dull, this Jonin Exam was undoubtedly the perfect entertainment.
Even those who normally showed no interest in battles had gathered here, excitedly discussing with their companions who was most likely to claim final victory!
Fortunately, the Central Tower was originally built from the renovated Death Forest, wide and spacious enough that even after entering the spectator zone, accommodating more than one hundred thousand people didn't feel congested.
"Is the third round of exams held in the real world? I thought it would take place in the Dream World, just like the previous round!"
"Virtual is still virtual. No matter how realistic it feels, it can't match the excitement of a real-life fight! Besides, this time ten elders are watching. Even if things get too intense, they can intervene in time!"
"What if Deidara goes all out with Self-Destruction right from the start?"
"Ah... you're making me nervous now!"
Amid the noisy voices, Naruto and his group entered the tower.
"Wow, it's so lively! So many people!" Boruto marveled at his surroundings. A stadium capable of holding over one hundred thousand spectators was something unimaginable in his world!
Naruto spoke proudly, "Hmph! Ever since Leader-sama (the supreme leader) proposed the slogan "Bringing Chakra to the Countryside, Reviving the Nation Through Ninjutsu," mountains and deserts have been transformed into farmland, greatly satisfying the people's material needs!"
"Therefore, Leader-sama also emphasized that spiritual pursuits shouldn't lag behind. This grand arena was specially constructed to allow official or privately formed battle teams from each Hidden Village to compete in leagues, even broadcasting the events through the Dream World so everyone can watch!"
"Nowadays, the most popular figures in the Alliance—aside from Leader-sama—are the ones who steal the spotlight in the league matches. Last month, even Tsuchikage and Raikage couldn't resist the temptation and had a battle themselves!"
Middle-aged Sasuke exclaimed, "No wonder the martial spirit in the Alliance remains so strong even five years after the war ended!"
Boruto asked curiously, "But won't there be broken limbs or even deaths?"
Naruto waved it off, "With Leader-sama around, broken limbs can be reattached. Even if someone dies..."
Suddenly, middle-aged Sasuke's expression changed, "Hidan?! Why is *he* here of all people?"
Although Hidan wasn't especially powerful, his [Jashin Blood] ability was too strange and unpredictable. In a crowd like this, he couldn't help but feel anxious.
Naruto looked in the direction where his attention was focused and laughed, "Oh, you mean Immortal Hidan!"
Middle-aged Sasuke twitched his lips, "You said what kind of king again?"
"Immortal Hidan!" Naruto clicked his tongue in amazement. "When I was born, the old senior was already at the Academy, and he's still there now! They say he was brainwashed by a cult when he was young and filled with extreme ideologies. Even after re-education, he improved quite a bit, but he's never scored double digits in either 'Will of Fire' [the ideological course before the Alliance] or 'Leader's Ideology' after the Alliance was established. That's why he's been held back until now!"
Middle-aged Sasuke looked totally confused as he watched Hidan sitting in the audience, still buried in a book like he was suffering through it. Life was just plain weird, he couldn't help thinking.
When time came, the former Third Hokage and current Dean of the Ninja University, Hiruzen Sarutobi, finally began the competition after delivering a long, winding speech.
"The first match: Chojuro vs. Kankuro. Fighters, are you ready?"
"Thank goodness Chojuro-san's opponent isn't a Genin!" Boruto muttered quietly.
"Huh? What'd you say?" Naruto didn't catch it.
"Heh heh, it was nothing! Just watch the match!"
After eight matches...
"The ninth match: Naruto Uzumaki vs. Sasuke Uchiha! Fighters, are you ready?"
"What? Me and Sasuke!" Naruto perked up, instantly locking eyes with Sasuke from across the stands.
"Dad and Uncle Sasuke..." Boruto mumbled, thinking to himself, "This battle setup is so ridiculous! Dad and Uncle are clearly among the strongest examinees, yet they're already facing off in the first round!"
Soon after, Sasuke and Naruto leaped down from the audience stands onto the arena.
"Didn't expect us to meet this soon!" Naruto said excitedly. "But even if it's you, I won't hold back!"
"Hold back?" Sasuke let out a sharp laugh, as if he'd just heard something hilarious. "You won't even have time to draw out Sage Chakra in this fight—how do you think you stand a chance against me?"
Naruto scratched his nose awkwardly. "But I've got a cheat!"
Sasuke's laughter stopped abruptly. He stared at Naruto in shock. "You mean using the Nine-Tails?"
Naruto chuckled. "The Bijuu is naturally part of a Jinchuriki. Just think of Kurama as my summoned beast!"
Sasuke's face twisted in frustration—he may be arrogant, but even he couldn't claim to be stronger than Naruto and Kurama combined.
Like they're really ganging up on him for not having the Mangekyou!
Recalling the nightmare-inducing eye-opening technique his teacher told him about, he felt a brief temptation.
Seeing this, Naruto grinned. "Okay okay, I'm not fooling around anymore. I'm not going full Tailed Beast—I'm just letting Kurama help me draw out Sage Chakra!"
"You're messing with me?" Sasuke's face darkened even further.
"Sorry about that! But even Kurama needs a bit of time to extract Sage Chakra, so I had to stall a little!" Naruto said, clapping his hands together. [Sage Mode!]
A powerful aura erupted from Naruto's body. With Kurama's help, he could maintain Sage Mode for a long time—no wonder he was so confident.
"Ha! You always seem so honest and kind, but turns out you're quite the actor when it comes to trickery!" Sasuke thought angrily. What hurt the most was realizing he'd actually been played by Naruto!
With that, electricity crackled around Sasuke, lightning snakes dancing across his body—he'd clearly entered Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
But that wasn't all. He pulled a large handful of needles from the pouch on his waist and shot them outward, and then, two tomoe appeared in each of his pupils!
Although he hadn't experienced any particularly painful emotional trials, Seiki had continuously used Wood Release and Sage Chakra to nourish his eyes, gradually and gently elevating his Sharingan to the Second Tomoe stage.
"Lightning Release Chakra Mode enhances physical abilities, the Flying Thunder God Technique enables space-time travel, and the Sharingan provides superior dynamic vision. This trio truly forms a perfect combination!" Middle-aged Sasuke thought in surprise from the spectator seats. Such a setup made for the perfect assassin build!
If he had this build back then, even if Itachi hadn't gone easy on him, he still would have been confident to defeat Itachi in their battle!
"What the hell? Why are twelve- or thirteen-year-olds already so strong?" Urashiki, lurking in the shadows, eyes wide open in shock, thought he'd somehow entered hell mode. "Hang in there a bit longer. Once they've worn each other down, I'll step in and take them both out!"
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