Anna Karenina

FIRE

Hmm…

How's it going? Have you come to a decision?

Hey, do you think this is something I can decide easily?

The Chunin Exams were suspended because of the Otsutsuki.

Consequently, we've put off promoting anyone to chunin.

I'm getting pestered by so many departments

to hurry up and decide!

I know that.

But it's really hard,

working under the rule that we can promote only one person.

All right, who do we choose to promote to chunin?

HOKAGE'S OFFICE

HOKAGE'S OFFICE The Chunin Selection Conference

This is pretty hard, isn't it?

A chunin is the leader of a team.

This isn't about individual fighting skills,

but the ability to lead a team,

discern battle situations and make decisions.

We have to match up those qualities with the participants

and choose carefully, right?

Part one of the exams was Sai's True-False quiz.

…is a true or false quiz.

Huh!?

A-A quiz?!

EXPLODE

The correct answer is—!

Quite a few were eliminated in that round.

We started out with 32 teams, and only eight teams made it.

It's ink! We started out with 32 teams, and only eight teams made it.

A pool of ink!

We definitely can't promote anyone who failed in the first round.

Boruto!

Four Hidden Leaf teams made it through.

…the instant you realize you were backed From the other villages, there were two from the Mist

…the instant you realize you were backed and one each from the Sand and Cloud.

into a difficult situation.

Did you give up, or did you refuse to give up?

Which means, we have to choose from among these guys.

In a team battle, the leader of the team

influences if they win or lose.

It's the ideal test to look for chunin qualities.

Of course, that leaves out anyone

who disregards team coordination and rushes out on their own.

Yeah, that reminds me…

Shinki of the Sand rushed out on his own, didn't he?

Uh yeah, you're right.

But he was way ahead of the others in skill.

He took on Iwabe, Denki and Metal all by himself and won.

Just what you'd expect from Gaara's son.

You lost when you got caught up in my provocation,

and forgot about the rules.

Shikadai and his team's coordination was perfect, huh?

No, Shikadai's strategy just happened to work out, that's all.

Inojin and Cho-Cho just followed along.

That's how it's been since your Ino-Shika-Cho days!

I think, when you or Shikadai are in the lead,

there's no choice but to follow your strategy.

I got it! Think so?

Sumire's team failed in Round Two.

They had a strong team, but back then,

they lacked balance in their abilities.

Sumire's joining the Scientific Ninja Tools team, right?

Yeah, but that doesn't change the fact that she's a shinobi.

Sumire qualifies as a candidate. What do you think?

Let's look at Team 5.

Just kidding. Let's look at Team 5.

I was surprised by Iwabe and Metal's improvement.

Yeah.

But they're the type to succeed on the front lines of battle.

We did terribly. But they're the type to succeed on the front lines of battle.

We got our butts kicked. Rather than putting them in charge as team captains,

I didn't get nervous! it's better for them to gain more experience in actual combat.

Me too… I held back everyone. Also, with Wasabi and Namida,

What's done is done. Don't sweat it! they've gotten stronger,

We probably weren't ready for this. but I get the feeling that they haven't progressed enough to be team captains.

For sure, there were jutsu we never saw before… progressed enough to be team captains.

And we knew nothing about our enemies. Does that mean we keep Denki and Sumire on the list?

Maybe we were… Does that mean we keep Denki and Sumire on the list?

You think so? Sumire was strong to begin with.

Don't lose, you guys! She's sharp and has the qualities to be a chunin.

That is right! She's sharp and has the qualities to be a chunin.

Yup. We'll be rooting for you. As for Denki…

I think he's shown the most growth as a shinobi.

I see.

Originally, he had no desire to become a shinobi.

But now, he's a genin along with Boruto and the others.

Also, the way he analyzes situations from the back

makes him suited to be a team captain.

As you can see, it's five against three.

So, you know who has the edge, right?! Okay, next up is Team 7…

It seems Boruto thought

Ah… Nine on five isn't gonna work. he could use his Shadow Clones and do more than he could.

He failed miserably, huh?

And as a result of that…

Okay, reverse!

I'm not gonna…let you!

We learned afterwards

Water Style Bullet: Orca! that he was using a Scientific Ninja Tool during the test.

that he was using a Scientific Ninja Tool during the test.

By rights, he should be disqualified.

Well, setting Boruto aside…

Regarding Mitsuki and Sarada,

I can't think of a reason to drop them.

He used a Scientific Ninja Tool

because he wanted me to acknowledge him.

Still, there's no way I can promote him.

Sadly, Boruto won't make the cut this time.

If we went strictly by ability, Boruto has grown as well.

I have high hopes for him going forward.

Round Three consists of individual matches!

The individual battles in Round 3 was fun

because everyone had unique personalities.

Yeah. Nowadays, we keep hearing that

fewer people want to become shinobi.

So, it's amazing how people with real ability show up each time.

Shikadai struggled quite a bit.

Damn it. You have such a bad attitude. Shikadai struggled quite a bit.

If anything, he's the type of shinobi who supports from the rear,

Fine. It's gonna be a drag, but I'll attack first. If anything, he's the type of shinobi who supports from the rear,

whereas Yodo's skills are in actual combat,

so it was a poor match-up.

However, leave it to Shikadai.

He came up with the right tactic and won, didn't he?

According to him, it was just sheer luck.

When you took your hood off, your earphones were gone,

so it crossed my mind… Shikadai said he accidently stepped on a piece of gum

but who would've imagined that you could hear the slight sound that was left from the previous match and

of me shifting my weight as I turned to control my shadow! he was able to figure out that his opponent had the ability to discern sound.

That explains why your reaction was a beat delayed Seriously?! To be able to figure out Yodo's ability

when I stepped on the gum earlier. just from that demonstrates amazing perception, right?

Being modest is just like Shikadai.

Your hearing is frighteningly good.

There was no other way to muffle the sound of my shoes…

Shall we call it a match?

Sarada won her match easily.

The winner…Sarada Uchiha!

Ninja Art! Super Beast Scroll!

And in the following match-up, Inojin…

Lost.

How's that?!

Araya was using a puppet to battle.

Inojin lost because he wasn't able

to see through his opponent's abilities.

He lost that match, but I understand

No reaction to the explosions? he's been using the Mind Transfer Jutsu recently.

he's been using the Mind Transfer Jutsu recently.

His future looks promising.

No way!

Snakes?!

Then Mitsuki won easily.

And the next match was…

I…give…up! Cho-Cho versus Shinki.

Well, seeing Cho-Cho so motivated was very unusual!

But of all the luck, she got Shinki for an opponent.

Partial Expansion Jutsu!

Empty…

Crash!

Had it been anyone else, she might have won.

I kinda feel sorry for her.

I wish she had displayed that determination a bit sooner.

And, the next match…

Hey, hold on!

We have to narrow down the list or we'll be here all night.

Human Boulder! I get what you're saying, but…

It's like they're all so close and it's such a waste…

Roll, roll, roll, roll, roll!

You need to be strict here!

The team captain is entrusted with the lives of their subordinates.

It's a huge responsibility.

We have to be stringent and

drop anyone who doesn't have the right qualities.

Yes, sir.

Inojin isn't ready to lead people.

Cho-Cho is… Well, it goes without saying, right?

Next up, the match between Shikadai and Boruto.

Boruto used a Scientific Ninja Tool in that match too.

Under normal circumstances, Shikadai would have won.

No.

Hmm?

Even though Boruto used a Scientific Ninja Tool,

he only called one Shadow Clone out.

Shadow Clone Jutsu!

Boruto could've managed something like from training alone.

But deciding that four was Boruto's limit,

only highlights Shikadai's inadequacy.

Hey, c'mon! Isn't that a bit harsh?

Gotcha!

Misinterpreting things like that causes death in battle.

Damn it!

I'll retrain Ino-Shika-Cho from scratch.

Wow… Are you serious?

Sarada's match against Araya was a surprise, huh?

Lightning Style: Lightning Ball!

Who would've imagined that the real Araya

was manipulating a puppet from a distance?