Kisame

He seemed a little younger than Hanyue, but his appearance was too unique and distinctive.

He was taller than most and much more robust. He had a distinctive shark-like appearance, with pale skin that made anyone feel uncomfortable in his presence.

That's right, this ninja from Kirigakure was none other than Kisame Hoshigaki, who was also one of those sent by Kirigakure to participate in this exam.

According to the information, Kisame Hoshigaki was described as a prodigy ninja, only ten years old and apparently possessing a level of strength comparable to that of a Chūnin.

Of course, if that were all, there would be nothing extraordinary about him.

The teenagers present in this place, at least those from the Five Great Villages, were undoubtedly the elite among the elite.

Even with the age restriction, with all participants being under 15 years old, having the level of a Chūnin was merely the minimum standard.

Therefore, based on the available information, Kisame's strength could only be considered average among the representatives of the Five Great Villages.

However, just as Gen had paid special attention to him, there was a reason.

As a future Akatsuki member and a "Kage"-level ninja, he did not believe that Kisame's strength was as simple as the information suggested.

Kisame could not have reached the level of a "Kage"-class ninja just by possessing Samehada, one of the Demon Swords, but because he himself had incredible talent and skills.

Just as he hid his true strength, others did as well.

Although Kisame was only ten years old at this moment, within the danger assessment that Gen conducted on the members of Kirigakure, Kisame ranked among the most dangerous.

"...It is allowed, but attacking will only be permitted using physical strength, without weapons or other aids," Buziyi responded after staring at Hanyue.

"Really?! Is that actually allowed?"

"If that's the case, we'll have to be careful. Only a hundred people will pass this exam, so there will surely be conflicts."

"Would someone attack? Climbing this cliff is already difficult enough. If a fight breaks out, a mistake could make someone fall."

Buziyi's confirmation provoked various reactions among the participants.

"Captain, when the test begins, Reiko and I will block everyone for you," Kuu said in a low voice after approaching Gen's ear.

"..." Gen looked at him silently for a moment and then replied.

"There's no need for that. Just focus on making it into the top hundred. I'll take care of the rest."

He didn't need anyone's help to pass this exam.

"We can't do that! Our mission is to make sure you pass the exam safely," Reiko said as she also stepped closer.

She and Kuu were not just there to participate in the Chūnin exam—they had been sent by the clan as protection for Gen.

She had no problem accepting this protection mission. In fact, she saw it as a great opportunity.

Gen was not only much stronger than her and Kuu, but his talent was incomparable.

His destiny was practically assured, and he would become one of the most important figures in Uchiha history.

And being his bodyguard was not only an honor but an invaluable experience for her own growth.

That's why she was not willing to take this task lightly.

"Exactly, Captain, we—"

Before Kuu could finish speaking, Gen raised a hand to silence him.

"Don't worry. I know what you're thinking, but this test still isn't difficult enough to need your help. Besides, if you pass this test, you'll be able to help me better in the next phase, don't you think?"

!

Those words made Kuu choke.

It was true—this was only the first test. If he and Reiko didn't pass it, they wouldn't be able to participate in the next stages, which meant they also wouldn't be able to help Gen.

"Mmm... Alright, but please, be careful, Captain. Kuu and I will stay alert for any danger," Reiko sighed after a moment of hesitation.

Kuu also nodded, thinking about staying close to Gen as he climbed, ready to intervene immediately if anything happened to him.

…

Once the rules of the test were clarified, the Genin from each village were positioned by the Cloud ninjas.

From below, the summit seemed incredibly far away.

The two red lines were separated by a hundred meters, and the number of participants exceeded three hundred.

Due to the sheer number of people, competition for a better position led to shoving and tension.

If fighting hadn't been forbidden before the official start of the test, some would have already begun to battle.

While the others rushed to secure the best positions, Gen remained at the back, showing no apparent interest in the test.

Meanwhile, Kuu and Reiko split their attention between Gen and securing a better spot for climbing.

When the struggle for positions reached its peak, Buziyi hesitated no more.

"As the examiner of this test, I announce that the first exam begins… NOW!"

His powerful voice echoed throughout the area, reverberating like a spark igniting a barrel of gunpowder.

"Charge!"

"Everyone, get out of the way!!!"

"GOOOOO!"

As soon as it began, chaos erupted immediately.

Some rushed to climb, using all their strength to gain height, while others chose to attack those nearby, eliminating competition right from the start.

The cliff was not only incredibly high but also extremely steep, nearly at a 180-degree incline.

But the worst part was that there were very few footholds to grab onto or step on.

Not only were the victims of attacks sent flying through the air, screaming in pain, but many of those trying to climb also found themselves caught in intense fights over the scarce footholds.

As a result, most lost the struggle and fell to the ground, groaning in pain.

________

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