radicalducati Chapter 29 Meeting
Chapter 29 Meeting
Kakashi nodded in agreement with Sasuke's idea: "Since you insist, I have nothing more to say, but don't push yourself too hard, and train in moderation."
Sasuke nodded slightly and replied, "I know what I'm doing."
Kakashi's tone carried a hint of apology as he explained, "While I don't want to dampen your enthusiasm at this time, I do have an important meeting to prepare for tomorrow, so I need to spend some time today getting ready for it."
Kakashi smiled mysteriously and said, "Don't worry, Sasuke, you'll soon have the chance to use Chidori."
Sasuke: "......"
The following morning, in a meeting room in Konoha Village, a group of elite ninjas, including Kakashi Hatake, Asuma Sarutobi, and Kurenai Yuhi, gathered together.
They stood before the Third Hokage, preparing to attend an important meeting. The atmosphere in the meeting room was very serious, and everyone appeared focused.
Seated in the main seat, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, surveyed the ninjas present and then began to speak: "As the Chunin Selection Exams are about to begin, first, please have the ninjas in charge of instructing the new genin step forward." His voice was filled with the authority of a leader.
Kakashi, Kurenai Yuhi, and Asuma Sarutobi, the three mentors of the new genin, stepped forward at the Third Hokage's call and stood before him, ready to receive his instructions and mission.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, a pipe dangling from his mouth, slowly exhaled smoke as he glanced at the three who had stepped forward and asked, "So? Do any of your assigned ninjas have any genin recommended for the exam?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi continued to explain, "As long as the genin have formally completed more than eight missions, they are eligible to be recommended to participate in the Chunin Selection Exams. Although normally only genin who have completed double the number of missions are eligible to participate, we have relaxed the requirements this time to encourage more promising ninjas to participate."
Among the crowd, Iruka Umino nodded silently to himself, thinking: It goes without saying that the Chunin Exams are too early for them.
After all, the three instructor ninjas who stepped forward were basically his students, and he knew them better than anyone.
Hiruzen Sarutobi announced, "Then let's begin."
Kurenai Yuhi: "In my name, I recommend the three members of Team 8, led by Kurenai Yuhi, Hinata Hyuga, Kiba Inuzuka, and Shino Yuujou, to participate in the Chunin Selection Exams."
Sarutobi Asuma: "Asuma's Team 10, Yamanaka Ino, Nara Shikamaru, and Akimichi Choji, these three, in my name Asuma, are recommended to participate in the Chunin Selection Exams, just like Sasuke."
Kakashi Hatake: "Team 7, led by Kakashi, consisting of Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, and Boruto Namikaze, I, Kakashi, recommend them, along with Sasuke, to participate in the Chunin Selection Exams."
Upon hearing Kakashi's words, Iruka Umino's face showed surprise. He muttered to himself incredulously, "What!?" Clearly, he was quite surprised by Kakashi and the others' recommendation.
Kakashi and his two companions' recommendation caused quite a stir, and the other ninjas present began to whisper among themselves.
They whispered among themselves, "All three recommended them! A rookie genin actually participating in the Chunin Exams, it's been five years since we've seen anything like this."
Hiruzen Sarutobi showed no emotional fluctuation, simply nodding expressionlessly.
"Please wait a moment!" an untimely voice rang out.
As everyone turned their attention to the source of the voice, they discovered that it was Umino Iruka who had made it.
Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed to have anticipated this situation and was not surprised by Iruka's sudden statement. He asked in a calm tone, "What's wrong? Iruka, is there something you want to say?"
Iruka raised his voice urgently and said to the Hokage, "Hokage-sama! Please hear me out. Although it may be a bit nosy, please allow me to express my opinion. Of the ten ninjas mentioned earlier, nine were once my students, and they have indeed shown extraordinary talent and potential."
“However! I think it’s too early for them to participate in the Chunin Selection Exams right now.” Iruka Umino’s expression was serious, trying to persuade the Hokage to change his mind.
"Although I don't fully understand Boruto's situation, what I want to say is that they need more time to accumulate experience through actual combat. Only by constantly honing their skills in actual combat can they truly grow into qualified Chunin. I think that having them participate in the Chunin Selection Exams now might put them under pressure too early, which is not conducive to their long-term development."
When Kakashi heard Iruka's concerns, he dismissed them, saying, "Iruka, you don't need to worry too much. Although they are still young, when I became a Chunin, I was six years younger than Naruto is now. In the ninja world, age is not the only measure."
Iruka Umino became agitated, unable to contain his worry and anger, and retorted loudly, "Naruto is not like you! Do you want to ruin that child!?" His voice echoed in the conference room, filled with strong opposition to Kakashi's decision.
Kakashi replied to Iruka with a hint of mockery in his tone, "Naruto and the others always complain that the missions are too easy. It's quite interesting to me to make them suffer a little. Perhaps destroying them is also an interesting thing in itself."
Iruka's face showed disbelief. His eyes widened in shock as he exclaimed, "You! What did you just say?!"
Iruka simply couldn't believe his ears; Kakashi was treating the future of these young ninjas with such an attitude.
Seeing the tense atmosphere, Kurenai gently reminded Kakashi, "Alright, Kakashi, say less."
Kakashi calmly said, "Alright, this was just a joke, Iruka-sensei. There's no point in saying more. You're no longer their instructor. You know nothing about their development. I'm their current Jonin instructor, and I'll be responsible for their training and growth."
Iruka Umino took a step back, but still tried to argue, "But... but Kakashi's Team 7 has four people, which is one more than the other teams. Isn't that a bit inappropriate? Shouldn't we consider this difference in numbers?"
Upon hearing Iruka Umino's words, the ninjas began to whisper among themselves, exchanging opinions: "Indeed, Kakashi's Team 7 has one more person than the other teams. Although they are all rookie genin, this situation is indeed somewhat inappropriate..."
After the ninjas discussed it in hushed tones, they realized they had no clear solution. So they all turned their attention to Kakashi, hoping he could provide a reasonable explanation.
Kakashi gave a deadpan look, shrugged, and thought to himself, "This is the Third Hokage's order. I'm just following orders. What does it have to do with me...?"
He directly posed this thorny issue to the highest decision-maker present—the Third Hokage.
After Kakashi posed the question to Hiruzen Sarutobi, all the ninjas turned their attention to the Hokage, hoping he would give a clear decision.
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep drag on his pipe, slowly exhaled the smoke, and calmly announced, "I have already considered the situation regarding Kakashi's team. In order to ensure the fairness of the selection, I have decided to appropriately raise their target requirements."
Iruka wanted to say something more: "But, Hokage-sama..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi said to Iruka in a gentle yet firm tone, "Iruka, I do understand your concerns. To ensure that all genin can compete on a level playing field, I have decided to prepare a special preparatory exam for the new genin this year."
Iruka asked in confusion, "Pre-...preparatory exam?"
......