Naruto: Flash Reborn — Minato’s Second Life

Chapter 60: Nineteen (Please collect, Please recommend!!!)

Sakumo Hatake let out a soft chuckle as he stood on a tree branch before the five. Minato and the others stepped forward right away.

Minato alone wore an expression of surprise. Sakumo had appeared suddenly—how could he instantly pinpoint their exact positions?

Even someone with overwhelming strength would normally need at least some time to observe and sense things out, wouldn't they?

"Does this mean we've passed the test?" Satoshi Miyazaki couldn't help but ask, his voice tinged with excitement. He hadn't imagined himself passing when the test began.

His abilities weren't among the top students at the Ninja Academy, let alone competing against dozens of Genin.

Hearing this, Sakumo smiled faintly. "I only said that the Chakra Aptitude Test has ended, but I haven't said you passed yet."

"Now, follow me to the central tower in the Forest of Death. Whether you've passed will be revealed there."

After saying this, Sakumo dashed forward. Minato and the others exchanged glances before following him.

During the journey, Satoshi and the other two remained gloomy while Kushina kept staring intently at Minato.

Minato, however, kept observing Sakumo ahead.

Because he absolutely couldn't believe that this man had simply found him and Kushina by chance.

"Could it be…" Then Minato started forming a hypothesis.

From the moment he and Kushina entered the Forest of Death, that Anbu who usually never left his side hadn't followed in.

Initially, he thought this was The Third testing his capabilities. But considering he was just a student from the Ninja Academy, even if he didn't know Kushina's exact identity, she still shouldn't have been put in such a situation.

So the only remaining explanation was...

It wasn't that Kushina no longer had protection—it was that her guardian's presence had become beyond his ability to detect…

And that person was probably the Sakumo Hatake standing ahead, explaining how he had suddenly appeared before them.

But this was merely Minato's speculation. Meanwhile, Sakumo also kept observing Minato, who seemed deep in thought.

"It seems like what The Third said was true—this kid's senses really are extremely sharp..."

When Sakumo accepted the role as chief examiner for the Chakra Aptitude Test, he'd also received another mission—to protect the red-haired girl named Kushina during the test.

However, judging from now, The Third's order seemed somewhat redundant. Kushina herself was already strong enough, and besides her stood an even more formidable and perceptive young man.

On the way toward the tower, Minato also noticed that the vast Forest of Death was now completely devoid of people.

"Were they all brought there as well?" Looking at the increasingly approaching tower, Minato gradually gave up trying to figure things out.

...

Surprisingly, upon entering the tower, Minato found it still empty inside.

"This place serves as the gathering point for the Chunin Exams. Don't wander around," Sakumo left these words behind before disappearing from in front of the five.

None of the five people could make sense of how he appeared and vanished.

After a while, a Chunin-like figure led three others into the room.

"Shikaku, Choza, Inoichi!" Satoshi Miyazaki waved at them when he saw the trio.

"Heh, it's you, Satochi. Never thought you hadn't been eliminated yet," Akimichi Choza stepped forward to talk to him, though he seemed somewhat awkward with words...

Satoshi Miyazaki suddenly felt rather embarrassed. Indeed, with his abilities, he should have been eliminated on day one if not for meeting Minato and Kushina.

"You dummy," Nara Shikaku gave a faint smile before their eyes met Minato's gaze.

He seemed a little surprised since Minato, Kushina, and their group looked much younger than him and Satoshi.

Just then, another Chunin entered leading a girl with long black hair.

As soon as she saw the girl, Kushina rushed over directly and took her hand, saying, "Mikoto, finally found you! Are you okay?"

Mikoto clearly showed some excitement too. After acknowledging Kushina, she greeted Minato as well.

Mikoto wasn't surprised that Kushina and Minato had made it this far.

What surprised her was seeing Yu Akasaka and Rina Takeuchi from her class here as well...

Swish!

Shortly after Mikoto arrived, a black figure quickly darted in, followed by a somewhat angry-looking Chunin.

Yan Uchiha!

He still wore that indifferent expression, but those black eyes focused on Minato, filled with fighting spirit.

For three days in the Forest of Death, he had been actively searching for Minato, never expecting to meet him here instead.

The words he spoke a year ago weren't empty talk.

"There are already ten of us. This time's qualifiers can't possibly be all students from the Ninja Academy?" Satoshi looked excited watching the exact number of people gathered.

Beside him, Minato smiled and shook his head, saying, "Looks like not."

From outside the main gate, three more figures entered. The person in the middle waved at him immediately upon entering.

"Minato, you got here first," Nawaki said, followed by his two teammates behind.

Later, they saw Hiashi Hyuga—whom they'd met the night before—come in with his twin brother Hizashi Hyuga and another Genin team. At this point, there were already eighteen people gathered who hadn't been eliminated.

But there was still someone missing. A student wearing black sunglasses and a hooded jacket was escorted in by a Chunin.

He was the nineteenth participant whose Chakra Mark remained intact.

And when he arrived, Sakumo Hatake stood among them once again.

"You've all survived until now," he began, evaluating the group.

"So... does this mean we passed?"

Shikaku Nara asked.

Sakumo gave a slight smile. "Although your performances were quite good, the rules can't be altered. In the end, only ten candidates can pass this test, and now there are still nineteen chakra marks here, so an additional examination is necessary."

"You might as well call it not a rule, but their loophole. Why wasn't the possibility of too many candidates remaining taken into account?" Shikaku instantly exposed some flaws in this Chakra Aptitude Test, leaving Sakumo Hatake with no choice but to smile awkwardly.

"How will this additional test proceed?" Yan Uchiha wore a carefree expression—some might even say he looked excited, because this meant he would have another chance to face off against Minato...

At this moment, Sakumo suddenly pulled out a wooden box from within his robe. There was a hole in the center of this box, about ten centimeters in diameter.

He set the box down in front of everyone and said, "The additional test for the Chakra Aptitude Test will be a duel. The order and matchups will be decided purely by fair draw."

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