"Sensei Hayato, is this meeting to carry out a mission or for some kind of training?" Momo asked with a mischievous smile.
Not all team meetings were to inform them about mission acceptances; sometimes, they also trained together. After all, besides being the team captain, Hayato was also their teacher.
Hayato waved his hand. "Neither. This time, I have something to tell you."
"What is it about?" Azora arched an eyebrow with curiosity.
"...It's about the Chūnin Exams," Hayato replied seriously after looking at them attentively.
!
"Chūnin Exams?" Azora and Momo repeated, still stunned.
Even Gen looked surprised.
"Captain, something doesn't add up... I was under the impression that the upcoming Chūnin Exams are still scheduled for three months from now. Have they been moved up?" Gen voiced his doubt.
"Yes! Was the exam moved up?" Momo and Azora nodded repeatedly, seeking confirmation.
The reason both of them were surprised was the same as Gen's: they knew the exact date of the Chūnin Exams.
It was such an important event that it was held twice a year on fixed dates. According to official information, the next exam would take place in three months.
That was why mentioning the topic so far in advance didn't seem to make sense, and Hayato's words left them puzzled.
"No, it hasn't been moved up," Hayato clarified. "What happened is that another ninja village has decided to organize the Chūnin Exams and has sent us an invitation. Because of this, it was decided to send our best Genin."
However, his words did not completely dispel the trio's doubts.
A Chūnin Exam involving other villages was not unusual, but in past experiences, it had always been Konoha that invited other villages to participate in its own exam.
Being invited to a Chūnin Exam organized by another village was something new.
At that moment, Hayato continued, "The village organizing the exam is Kumogakure, from the Land of Lightning. They have not only invited Konoha but also the other three great villages. From what I know, the exam will be on a larger scale than before: besides many smaller villages, Genin from all five great nations will participate, so it will be a huge competition."
"You three meet the minimum age requirement to take part, and the village acknowledges your strength, so you are on the list of selected candidates."
"Of course, the decision to participate is up to you. If you choose to do so and pass, in addition to the Chūnin rank, the village will grant you generous rewards."
To make a horse run faster, you must first feed it well.
Although it had not yet been mentioned whether the Chūnin Exam would include covert missions to eliminate ninjas from other villages, it was clear that an incentive was needed to motivate the participants. That was why offering rewards was essential.
Even so, when Momo and Azora heard Hayato's explanation, it wasn't the rewards that caught their attention, but rather the idea that Genin from the five great villages would converge in the same Chūnin Exam.
The two tried to control their breathing, but the surprise and doubts were evident on their faces.
In a "normal" Chūnin Exam, they would have been delighted to participate; after all, for a ninja, every opportunity for promotion is vital. However, this situation was very different.
The fact that the five major villages, along with several smaller ones, would gather in a single exam implied not only much fiercer competition but also a far greater risk.
Even in a "normal" Chūnin Exam, the mortality rate was not low, and now, with the participation of the five great villages, the danger would increase.
Momo and Azora, coming from famous clans, had a sharp instinct for detecting unusual circumstances. That was why they couldn't help but envision the numerous problems that could arise.
Gen was also deep in thought.
The Chūnin Exams were not only an opportunity for Genin to be promoted but also a crucial event in which each village assessed the military strength of the others.
If the five great villages participated, it would no longer be a simple exam where the powerful observed the weaker ones; it would become a mutual evaluation between major forces, greatly increasing its scale and significance.
And as far as he could recall, the only time all five great villages had participated together in a Chūnin Exam was after the Fourth Great Ninja War when the Shinobi world was going through an era of peace.
Before that, there had only been one precedent where two great villages, Konoha and Sunagakure, had conducted a joint Chūnin Exam during the so-called "Konoha Crush Plan."
And obviously, that particular exam had been plagued with conspiracies and hidden schemes.
Since the current state of the world was far from the peace that followed the Fourth Great Ninja War, Gen clearly sensed the danger in this invitation to the Chūnin Exams.
"Gen, on my way here, the Hokage asked me to tell you, after explaining all this, to go to the Hokage Mansion."
!
"The Hokage himself wants to see Gen?!"
Azora and Momo, who were still undecided about whether to participate in the exam, were shocked upon hearing this.
The two turned toward Hayato and then to Gen, trying to grasp the situation.
Gen, for his part, felt a slight shiver in his chest but quickly reacted, showing an expression of surprise. "Captain, are you saying that the Hokage is looking for me?"
"Yes…" Hayato nodded while looking at him with a deep expression.
Although he had not received specific details, upon carrying out the order, he had formed an idea of what it was about.
After receiving confirmation, Gen's mind started working.
He had barely heard the news about the Chūnin Exams, and Hiruzen was already summoning him. It was almost certain that it was related to the exam.
Since the request came directly from the Hokage, refusing was not an option. After thinking briefly, Gen decided to go immediately.
________
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