Chapter 044: Want to Pass the Chūnin Exams? Easy—Then Become a Jōnin! (Please Support with Data)
Sasuke and Naruto getting stronger isn't actually hard.
Or rather, it's because it's those two that becoming stronger is the easiest.
After all... they're the two cheat-code protagonists from the original story.
As for Naruto, he has two development paths.
He can either take the Nine Tails route or walk his own path.
If he takes the Nine Tails route, then he'd have to rely on the Nine Tails' power. But since he just gave Kurama a beating, the grumbling fox probably won't cooperate any time soon.
So, the alternative is for him to follow his own path?
Naruto is the Fourth Hokage's son. Without being affected by the Nine Tails' chakra, it's not like he's incapable of amazing feats.
So it's worth testing.
And speaking of Naruto...
"Getting stronger is simple for you, Naruto."
"You're pretty good at the Clone and Transformation Techniques, right?" Kitahara Kaede said.
"Yeah... Sasuke can only make one clone, but I can make ten."
"Then let me tell you—your limit is a thousand," Kaede said. "Roughly equivalent to a hundred Kakashi-level clones."
"..." Kakashi.
At that moment, Kakashi was still in the group chat and saw Kaede's evaluation of him on the live broadcast, sinking even deeper into self-doubt.
So in Kaede's mind, he—Kakashi—was just a unit of measurement?
"A thousand Kakashis, huh..."
"Kakashi's that weak?" Sasuke said bluntly.
"..." Kakashi mentally collapsed even more.
Sasuke's older brother, Uchiha Itachi, seemed humble and refined... but why was Sasuke this rebellious and disrespectful?
"Kakashi's still not bad," Kaede commented.
"The Chūnin Exams are meant to select chūnin."
"But because the Five Great Shinobi Villages take turns hosting, any of them can hold the exams."
"However, due to disparities in strength among the villages, only exams held by Konoha, Iwagakure, Sunagakure, and Kumogakure are generally recognized nowadays," Kaede explained.
"Why not Kirigakure?" Naruto asked curiously.
"Kirigakure hasn't hosted the exams in years."
"And according to Zabuza, their version of the Chūnin Exams is basically a deathmatch."
"Different methods of training shinobi. If you go to Kirigakure, chances are you won't come back."
"That's how the other villages see it," Kaede said.
[Future Mizukage - Mei Terumi]: Uh...
Having been called out by name and analyzed by Kaede himself, Mei Terumi also felt a little self-conscious.
"Among the Five Great Villages, Konoha's Chūnin Exam is widely praised for its quality and difficulty."
"Sunagakure does hold its own exams, but their standards are low. People earn chūnin ranks without matching the actual ability."
"Then they're assigned chūnin-level missions, and they die easily."
"That's why many avoid taking the exams in Sunagakure," Kaede explained.
"I see." Sasuke nodded. "So this upcoming Chūnin Exam is crucial."
"Because if we miss Konoha's turn, it'll be years before the next one."
"If you're willing to wait, you can stay a genin."
"No! I'm not staying a genin!" Sasuke said immediately.
"Me neither!" Naruto chimed in.
"..."
These two really are monsters.
The two cheat-code boys of Konoha don't want to be genin anymore. Do they not know genin get a hidden power buff? They're stronger than Kage-level opponents sometimes.
If they really become chūnin or jōnin, it might actually make things boring.
"Alright, then."
"There's still one week left before the Chūnin Exams."
"In that week, if your strength surpasses that of a jōnin, then you'll definitely pass the exams," Kaede declared.
?????
?????
Sasuke and Naruto blinked in confusion.
"We're just taking the Chūnin Exams," Sasuke said, stunned.
"I said train until you have jōnin-level strength," Kaede replied, looking at him strangely.
"You think someone without jōnin power can just breeze through the Chūnin Exams?"
"You want to pass instantly, don't you?"
"Y-Yeah, that's right." Sasuke nodded.
"Then there you go. If you have jōnin-level power, why wouldn't you pass the Chūnin Exams?" Kaede shrugged.
"…Makes sense," Sasuke said.
"Then that settles it." Kaede shrugged again.
But…
Sasuke still felt something was off.
"Wait a second!" Sasuke suddenly caught on. "You... you've always been like this, haven't you?"
Kitahara Kaede… has always been like this?
Is this just how he is?
Whenever faced with a test, he trains himself to the point where passing is guaranteed.
And maybe... that's why he collapsed and ended up in this world.
So now Sasuke and Naruto were going to follow in his footsteps?
No—they won't.
Because—
This is the world of ninjas. Dying of overwork is fine. You can just use a resurrection token.
For example, there's Mount Myōboku's Sage talismans, the Uchiha clan's resurrection coins, Chiyo-baa's life-for-a-life jutsu...
If all else fails, summon the Ten Tails with the Rinnegan and regrow the God Tree. There's always a way.
That's why this ninja world is so great.
As long as you have the will to grind, you can get whatever you want.
Although—
There's one more thing.
Kitahara Kaede isn't even sure anymore.
Now that he has Wood Release, the Rinnegan, and a mysterious little white rabbit who can outpower even most Tailed Beasts—
Can he even die?
Or rather—is it even possible for him to die?
If it's not just his imagination...
Then maybe he's on the path to becoming one of the undying Ōtsutsuki.