Inside the hospital ward.
Under the curious, gossip-loving gaze of another genin patient, Bai Xing harshly scolded the two girls for why they hadn't stopped Might Dai. When he heard that Dai had acted to save them, Bai Xing couldn't help rubbing his temples—
It's just a Chūnin Exam. Why are you taking it this seriously? What, you really want to become a Little Lee with a cheat and get banned?
If Bai Xing hadn't strictly forbidden Dai from using the still-incomplete Fourth and Fifth Gates, Dai really would've gotten himself "account-banned."
"Anyway, you just rest properly."
"As for Miss Rin, I'll go to her place tomorrow and help prepare her mentally…"
"Thank you so much, Bai Xing," Might Dai said from the bed, his face full of gratitude.
Bai Xing nodded, then gestured for the other two to follow him. The three left the ward together, passing many injured, mobility-impaired ninja along the way. Under the curious looks of Uchiha Mikoto and Yakushi Nono, they hurried up the stairs and arrived at the rooftop—
The hospital rooftop, the place destined to witness the future Naruto–Sasuke fallout.
At night, a cool breeze swept across the roof. The air was refreshing and mild, a stark contrast to the scorching intensity of the daytime.
Many freshly washed blankets were hung along the rooftop railings, splashes of color everywhere—though white, damp quilts were still the most common.
Passing through this sea of hanging linens, the air shifted from humid and heavy to dry and crisp near the guardrail.
Bai Xing said nothing at first, standing in silence for quite some time.
Behind him, Mikoto and Nono grew increasingly nervous, worried that their teacher was about to scold them again.
"About Dai…"
"You've both worked hard."
"Eh?!" ×2
The girls looked genuinely surprised.
Bai Xing turned around, smiling faintly at the tense pair.
"What? You thought I brought you up here just to scold you again?"
"No, no, no—" Yakushi Nono hurriedly waved her hands.
"I just thought you might have something important to tell us, Sensei."
"Tch. Say it then. Who's afraid of who?"
Uchiha Mikoto clasped her hands behind her back, fingers nervously twisted together. She lowered her head and kicked a small pebble at her feet, pretending to look unconcerned—
At the end of the day, Bai Xing was still a very imposing figure in their hearts.
"You did well this time."
Bai Xing spoke calmly.
"On my way back, I ran into that uncle Hirata Shinichi. He praised me for having found such good disciples."
His gaze swept over Mikoto, then shifted to Nono.
"Whether it's a steadily performing, naturally gifted Uchiha girl—"
"Or a blonde girl skilled in Earth Release and tactical coordination—both of you are first-rate genin."
"And even…"
Might Dai's figure flashed through Bai Xing's mind.
"Even someone with only genin-level strength, who never gave up on himself, and developed a nin-taijutsu forbidden technique powerful enough to shock the world."
"I truly want to thank you all."
At that moment, Bai Xing bent deeply at the waist, bowing to the two stunned girls.
"Thank you—for giving your teacher this honor."
"And for easing my knot in the heart… no, to be precise—my regret."
"Thank you."
Instantly, the two girls panicked and waved their hands frantically. Whether it was the tsundere Uchiha heiress or the gentle blonde girl, both hurried forward to help him up.
"Sensei, what are you doing? Everything we are—it's all because of you!"
"That's right, Bai Xing-sensei!"
As they supported him, a faint smile rose on Bai Xing's lowered face.
My acting really is flawless, he thought.
After this Chūnin Exam, that old man probably won't drag me into another long-winded lecture, right?
—
Inside the Hokage's Office, Sarutobi Hiruzen had still taken time to inquire about the results. Upon learning that Might Dai had been injured using a self-developed nin-taijutsu forbidden art, he had decided to check Bai Xing's reaction through the Crystal Ball.
And thus, this very scene was clearly reflected in his view.
"What a good child…"
"What a pity…"
"If only back then… sigh!"
Hiruzen dispelled the Telescope Technique. He decided to work overtime tonight and finish his paperwork, so that tomorrow he'd have the energy to personally preside over the third stage of the Chūnin Exams.
Early the next morning, the third stage of the Chūnin Exams arrived as scheduled.
Despite his fatigue, Sarutobi Hiruzen appeared at the arena, reading through the annual speech—explaining what one must shoulder to become a qualified chūnin, and ending, as always, with the Will of Fire.
"The Hokage-sama is as long-winded as ever,"
Shiranui Kumo muttered on the second-floor spectator railing beside Bai Xing.
Below them, it was Yūhi Liuyun's match.
Her opponent was Mitomon Hayate, from one of the clan genin teams.
The last time Bai Xing had reached the third stage, he vaguely remembered it being in his first two years. Back then, his chakra control, reserves, and Fire Release development were all insufficient—learning something like the Shadow Clone Technique in one go had been extremely difficult.
"Eh~"
Mitomon Hayate, a clan genin with Water Release affinity, scratched his cheek.
"If I remember correctly, you're from the Yūhi clan, right? Famous for genjutsu?"
The black, long-curly-haired girl facing him nodded.
"Mm. My name is Yūhi Liuyun. Please—"
"No need."
Hayate waved his hand.
"I'm not interested in making friends with a defeated opponent."
That instantly ticked Liuyun off.
How can this guy be so smug?!
At that moment, the proctor of the third stage stepped forward—
Hirata Shinichi.
Seeing him, Yūhi Liuyun's heart skipped a beat.
"Long time no see… Senior Shinichi."
"It has been a while."
Hirata Shinichi nodded slightly.
"I'm curious to see whether your genjutsu has improved."
He stepped between the two contestants. As his right hand rose and then fell sharply—
"The second bout of the third stage of the Chūnin Exams—begin!"
With a Body Flicker, Hirata Shinichi vanished from the center of the arena.
Barely a second had passed when Yūhi Liuyun decisively began setting up her genjutsu.
Her hands flew through seals.
"Clone Technique!"
Two illusionary clones nearly identical to her appeared on either side.
"A clone strategy?"
Before Mitomon Hayate could fully react, a kunai flew straight at his face. He tilted his head slightly—and suddenly noticed a small white sphere behind the kunai.
A smoke bomb?!
Bang!
White, non-toxic smoke exploded outward, instantly blocking Hayate's vision.
"So that's it…"
Bai Xing immediately understood Liuyun's intent—
Smoke to block vision, preventing Hayate from judging which clone was real and which was fake.
But that wasn't her true objective.
Once the smoke spread, Liuyun threw three shuriken toward Hayate's previous position.
Thunk! Thunk! Clang!
One shuriken was knocked aside by a kunai. Liuyun instantly pinpointed Hayate's location. She split off another illusionary clone, sending all three forward, while her real body rushed straight into the smoke.
Moments later, Hayate burst out of the smoke.
Turning his head, he saw three Yūhi Liuyuns charging at him—
"Perfect!"
His hands flew through seals:
Tiger–Snake–Tiger–Snake–Tiger–Snake.
"Water Release: Wild Water Wave!"
A C-rank Water Release technique. It could generate enough water to form a pond for impact—or be used to extinguish flames.
Compared to Bai Xing's lone E-rank Water Ball, it was leagues better.
"I see. So that's the hand seal sequence for this Water Release."
Bai Xing nodded thoughtfully.
"I should take notes."
He'd never bothered learning Water or Earth Release properly before—without the corresponding chakra affinity, even if he used them, the results were inferior to specialists. So he hadn't memorized them.
—And Fire Release was extremely chakra-hungry. Back then, his chakra reserves were barely enough for four Shadow Clones.
The power of Water Release depended heavily on chakra control.
And Mitomon Hayate clearly wasn't lacking in chakra.
A thick water stream erupted from his mouth, surging toward the three figures.
The spectators said nothing. The rules were clear: as third-party observers, they were absolutely forbidden from giving warnings.
Unlike the later-era Chūnin Exams—sometimes easy, sometimes hard, designed for inter-village diplomacy—this generation was meant for the battlefield.
Beside Bai Xing, the cool-looking Shimura Yūko crossed her arms and muttered in a low voice:
"Hook, line, and sinker. What an idiot."
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