Reborn in Konoha; I Think I’m Cultivating Immortality

In the first round of the Chūnin Exams, under Nawaki's design, more than half of the 300 to 400 candidates were eliminated, leaving just over 100 to advance to the next stage.

Among these hundred or so candidates, 70% belonged to the Five Great Ninja Villages.

Of these, only about a dozen were from Konoha, but then again, Konoha had only sent about that many candidates.

None of Konoha's Genin were eliminated in the first round.

Since the first exam was a comprehensive assessment, Nawaki set the second round as a test of strength.

It was a one-on-one combat round, where the victor advanced to the next bracket and earned points.

Only those whose combined points from both exams reached a specific threshold were eligible to proceed to the third round.

The third round, as set by Nawaki, was a test of the heart, an assessment of choices between comrades and mission priorities, and the reasoning behind those choices.

There was no standard answer for this round, as every choice could potentially be the correct one.

After all, whether someone became a Chūnin was ultimately decided by their respective villages.

Although Konoha was hosting the Chūnin Exams, its role was only to observe and record each candidate's performance in detail and provide the results to their respective villages.

The only candidates Konoha had the authority to promote were its own.

This time, Konoha's young participants performed exceptionally well.

Their strength and abilities met, and in many cases exceeded, the standards for Chūnin set by the other villages.

However, it still wasn't enough.

Konoha was different from the other ninja villages, promotions within Konoha were much more rigorous.

Advancing from Genin to Chūnin, and from Chūnin to Jōnin, involved significant thresholds at every level.

Although these Konoha Genin would already qualify as Chūnin in other villages, within Konoha, only three of them met the criteria to become Chūnin by the end of the exam.

And just like that, the Chūnin Exams came to an end.

There were no grand, earth-shattering events.

Perhaps some interesting stories unfolded here and there, but overall, the Chūnin Exams concluded smoothly.

To be honest, aside from Konoha's own candidates, most of the other participants seemed distracted and absent-minded.

They had come with high ambitions, determined to prove themselves in the Chūnin Exams and showcase their skills.

But unfortunately, those ambitions had completely evaporated after seeing the current state of Konoha.

Instead, they were left feeling lost.

Even as mere Genin, they understood the dynamics between their villages and Konoha.

They knew that conflict might break out between the two sides.

A war could erupt in just two years.

A war where the entire ninja world would unite against a single village, Konoha.

Many of them had initially been optimistic.

No matter how strong Konoha was, surely it couldn't stand against the entire ninja world, right?

However, after spending time in Konoha, they were shocked and horrified to realize that Konoha truly possessed the strength to stand against the entire ninja world.

In fact, Konoha might even have the power to unify the entire ninja world.

Faced with such overwhelming power, they couldn't help but wonder, what did their villages have to fight back with?

What did their futures hold?

This uncertainty about the future left them feeling disoriented and anxious.

Their hearts weren't in the exam anymore.

It wasn't just the examinees who felt this way, the leaders and escorts from the various villages were equally unsettled.

Their primary purpose in coming to Konoha had been to assess Konoha's current strength and gauge Hui's level of power.

They had gathered plenty of information.

But now, they wished they hadn't.

Because what they had learned was too devastating.

They could already envision their villages being crushed by Konoha.

They could see the ninja world united under one banner.

If their villages were destroyed, who would they even be anymore?

This thought left them utterly lost.

The Third Mizukage, Chiyo, Kitsuchi, the Fourth Raikage A...

All of them were trapped in the same abyss of confusion during the Chūnin Exams.

After the exam ended, a farewell banquet was held.

Following that, Hui personally escorted them out of the village.

Outside the gates of Konoha, a large group of people stood together.

"We're glad you all came to participate in Konoha's Chūnin Exams and brought so many brilliant performances." Hui's voice was calm yet powerful.

"Well then... see you in two years."

"I hope that each of you will live to witness the arrival of the new era."

Hui's words pierced the air, making everyone's hearts tighten.

"Two years from now…"

This was not just a vague hint, it was as clear as day.

His words meant that two years from now, he would launch a war against the ninja world and usher in a new era.

Silence.

A suffocating silence enveloped the group.

Faced with such an explicit declaration from Hui, what could they do?

What options did they have?

Nothing.

There was nothing they could do but endure the agony of waiting for those two years to pass.

And then, they would either resist and fight in a desperate struggle—

Or surrender and bow before Konoha.

In the midst of this heavy silence, Hui suddenly spoke again.

"I know why you're all here."

His voice was calm, yet every word hit like a hammer.

"You came to assess Konoha's situation and to gauge my strength, didn't you?

"By now, I believe you've gained a general understanding of Konoha's current state.

"But as for my strength... you haven't seen it yet, have you?"

He looked at them steadily, his gaze sharp.

"It would be a shame for you to have come all this way and leave without completing your mission.

"So, let me show you my strength—

"So that you have something to report when you return."

Hui's statement sent chills down their spines.

Everyone stiffened, cold sweat dripping down their backs.

They feared he was about to attack them.

However, Hui had no intention of attacking them.

His gaze swept across the surrounding area, calmly observing.

After a while, he seemed to find what he was looking for.

"Konoha will inevitably continue to expand outward.

"According to my plans, this area will eventually become a large park.

"And within this park, there should be a lake.

"Since it's going to be built sooner or later, why not just make it today?"

As he spoke, Hui rose into the sky, soaring into the air.

From above, he looked down at the area he had designated, a collection of small hills.

He extended his hand, and two orbs of natural energy formed in his palms, glowing with radiant light.

The two orbs began to rotate, chasing each other in a mesmerizing spiral.

The speed of their rotation increased, causing the wind to stir violently, making Hui's robes billow wildly.

When the orbs reached a blinding speed, Hui released his control over them.

The twin orbs of light hurtled downward.

As they descended, their rotation became so fast that the naked eye could no longer track their movements.

Yet, the orbs never collided, they remained in a delicate balance.

The balance lasted until they touched the ground—

And then, the balance shattered.

A brilliant explosion of light erupted, dazzling like a miniature sun appearing on the earth's surface.

A shockwave blasted outward, uprooting countless trees.

Fortunately, this was an uninhabited area, the furthest corner of Hui's planned expansion zone.

There were no buildings or civilians nearby.

Even so, the shockwave traveled all the way to Konoha's main gate before being stopped by the village's towering walls.

The people at the gate felt the powerful tremor as it passed through.

The shockwave subsided after a long while.

Everyone stared at each other in confusion, unsure of what had just happened.

Then they saw Hui descend gracefully from the sky.

"The demonstration is over." His voice was calm, yet it carried a weight that silenced all who heard it.

"The proof you seek lies ahead. See it for yourselves and share what you've witnessed with the ninja world.

"And make sure to tell them this—

"On the day the two-year truce ends, the new era will begin.

"Tell them to be prepared."

With that, Hui turned and walked back toward Konoha, his figure resolute and unyielding.

The ninja from the other villages quickly rushed toward the site where the "sun" had descended.

When they arrived, they were rendered speechless.

Before them lay an enormous crater.

The crater spanned nearly ten kilometers in diameter and had an average depth of eight to nine meters.

At the center of the crater, water was steadily gushing out.

It appeared that the explosion had connected to an underground river.

Although the water was surging upward, the crater was so vast that it would take a long time to fill completely.

But one day, it would be full.

In their minds, they could already see the future of this place—

A colossal lake.

A massive, man-made lake.

None of them could speak.

They could only stand in awe, staring at the vast artificial wonder Hui had created in an instant.

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