Chapter 90: Naruto, Peak Human, Ch 45.1
After finishing bowls of ramen as tall as a person at Ichiraku, my cousin Rock Lee, Naruto, and I all patted our bellies and headed home.
The next day, after gathering with the ninja team, Li Zhenwu spoke up to say goodbye.
Or rather, it was a brief farewell.
"I'm just going to participate in the Chunin Exam. Who knows, I might come back after it," Li Zhenwu said with a bright smile.
"The Chunin Exam?"
Inuzuka Hana and Shiranui Gensui were taken aback. They had just graduated from the ninja academy not long ago, and now Li Zhenwu, their teammate, was already headed for the Chunin Exam!
In comparison, Inuzuka Hana was relatively unfazed; she didn't have much enthusiasm for this kind of thing.
However, Shiranui Gensui felt that his life suddenly seemed so mundane!
Then again, thinking about it, Li Zhenwu was considered a prodigy from Konoha; he was not someone you could easily compare yourself with!
With this thought, Shiranui Gensui eased up a bit.
After the shock wore off, both of them cheered for Li Zhenwu.
"Young man, embrace your ninja way in the exam, and fully unleash your youth!" Might Guy raised his right hand and gave a thumbs up.
"Heh heh, my strength makes it a piece of cake," Li Zhenwu humbly smiled, though his words were anything but modest.
"I just hope to encounter a worthy opponent in the Chunin Exam..."
Upon reflection, Li Zhenwu's words were not exaggerated; given his strength, it was indeed a convincing statement.
However… Shiranui Gensui looked at Li Zhenwu, who was significantly shorter and younger than him, and felt like he had wasted all these years of his life.
Or perhaps it seemed that Li Zhenwu appeared in this world just to overshadow others.
...
After leisurely bidding farewell to his two teammates and Might Guy, Li Zhenwu arrived at the Chunin Exam venue.
One couldn't help but say that it was quite fortunate for Li Zhenwu to return at this time. If he had come back just a day later, he might have missed the chance to participate in the Chunin Exam, but he timed his return perfectly and was able to join this exam.
In the exam venue, ninja from various countries had gathered, all waiting to take the Chunin Exam.
In a sense, the Chunin Exam was also an invisible contest between nations, a way to gauge each other's strength.
After all, the number and quality of ninjas from each village participating in the Chunin Exam could reveal the village's future strength.
For instance, in this Chunin Exam, there were twenty ninjas from Sunagakure (Sand Village) in the Land of Wind, showcasing their formidable strength and robust backup of ninjas.
Meanwhile, Amegakure (Rain Village), located between the Land of Earth, Wind, and Fire, had thirteen genin participating.
Smaller ninja villages, such as Kusagakure (Grass Village) and Takigakure (Waterfall Village), only sent three each.
Hoshigakure (Star Village) sent two ninjas.