Several miles outside the Village Hidden in the Mist, a high platform stood in the center of a vast, cordoned-off section of rainforest.
A group of Kirigakure's high-ranking officials and shinobi were currently gathered on this platform, their vantage point offering a clear view of the activity within the rainforest below. This was the designated examination site for Kirigakure's Chunin Exams, the platform specifically constructed for observing the proceedings.
At the head seat on the platform, the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi, sat with an expressionless face. Flanking him on both sides were nearly all of Kirigakure's key figures.
Seated in the foremost position to his left was an old man named Genshi. As an elder of Kirigakure, Genshi held immense prestige within the village. He had faithfully assisted the Third Mizukage in governing the village, and after Yagura ascended to power, Genshi's status had risen further, granting him power and influence nearly equal to that of the Mizukage himself. It was Genshi's crucial support during Yagura's initial rise that had enabled the Fourth to abolish the brutal policies long enforced in Kirigakure.
However, not long after, Yagura had reversed this decision, reinstating the infamous "Bloody Mist Policy." Consequently, the relationship between the Fourth Mizukage and Elder Genshi had gradually grown strained. Anyone perceptive could see that while Genshi still commanded respect and high status, the actual power he wielded had significantly diminished.
Below Genshi, the heads of Kirigakure's prominent clans were seated in order. Opposite them, occupying the most prominent positions on the right side, were three members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist: Suikazan Fuguki, Juzo Biwa, and Kurosuki Raiga. Below them sat the elite of the younger generation, including Terumi Mei, Momochi Zabuza, and Hoshigaki Kisame.
At this moment, the attention of everyone on the platform was focused on a corner of the rainforest below. There, seven young Kirigakure shinobi were locked in a tense standoff. All bore injuries; two were wounded so severely they could no longer stand unassisted. Yet, even in their weakened state, none had given up the fight.
Because abandoning the fight meant waiting for death.
After a brief, two-year respite, Kirigakure had returned to its old ways, perhaps even exceeding its former brutality. Taking the Chunin Exams as an example: while Kirigakure's exams had always boasted an extremely high mortality rate, historically—aside from Zabuza's generation where he was the sole survivor—most participants who failed the assessment could still expect to live.
But now, the rules had changed. In the current iteration of the exams, less than one in ten participants survived a single round. The final stage was even more merciless: only the top three survivors would be promoted to Chunin. This meant that for the young ninja who reached the final test, death was the only outcome for all but those three victors.
These appallingly cruel rules were personally instituted by the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi. This was already the second Chunin Exam conducted under this new regime. Every candidate who dared to participate and managed to reach this final stage was undoubtedly a genius.
Yet, among these geniuses, only three would survive.
And on the list of geniuses about to die, the name of ten-year-old Chojuro was included.
Clutching a short sword, his back pressed against a large tree, Chojuro watched the five remaining combat-capable participants with wary eyes. His right leg was completely broken, and his right side had suffered a grievous injury, rendering him utterly incapable of fighting further.
Still, his heart burned with unwillingness! Naturally timid, he had hoped to prove himself in these exams, yet he hadn't made it to the very end.
After a brief standoff, the five Kirigakure ninja still able to fight moved again. Two immediately clashed with each other, while the remaining three, acting in concert, charged towards the incapacitated Chojuro and the other badly injured participant. Their logic was simple: eliminate the downed shinobi first to prevent them from snatching victory while the others were occupied.
The other immobilized participant was closer to the attackers and became the first target. Just as he was about to be struck down, a stream of water surged up before him. The current coalesced in mid-air, forming a human figure wielding a symmetrical, double-bladed sword – the Hiramekarei. He swung it decisively at the oncoming attacker.
Bang!
The force of the heavy blow sent the attacker flying backward.
Seeing this, the other participant who had attacked simultaneously halted instantly and retreated rapidly.
"The Twin Swords, Hiramekarei!" he shrieked as he fell back.
His cry immediately drew everyone's attention. The shinobi attacking Chojuro and the pair locked in combat all stopped abruptly. They stared at the newcomer, utter astonishment painting their faces.
Within Kirigakure, the names of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen were legendary, known to all. Hiramekarei, one of the Seven Swords, was formed by two symmetrical blades joined together, its name derived from its resemblance to a flounder. Since its previous wielder was killed by Might Duy during the Third Shinobi World War, Hiramekarei had remained unclaimed.
Who was this person?
The newcomer had white hair styled in vertical braids and looked to be only fifteen or sixteen years old.
Thud!
Having repelled the attacker with a single move, the newcomer didn't pursue. He planted the Hiramekarei firmly into the ground, then lifted his head to look towards the observation platform above. "Lord Mizukage," he called out, "the exam has reached this stage. Is there any need for them to die here pointlessly?"
"It's Hozuki Mangetsu! How does he have Hiramekarei?!"
The young man's appearance caused a stir among several figures on the platform; some had already recognized him. Hozuki Mangetsu, the genius of Kirigakure's Hozuki clan, renowned for his skill in Water Release and swordsmanship.
For him to appear so openly at the Chunin Exam site, wielding one of the Seven Swords, and addressing the Fourth Mizukage in such a tone… This abnormal act signaled to the more perceptive individuals that something major was about to happen.
The Hozuki clan was no minor family in Kirigakure. Its members were masters of Water Release, and the clan had produced numerous powerful shinobi, the most formidable being the Second Mizukage, Hozuki Gengetsu. As the genius of the Hozuki's younger generation, did Mangetsu's current actions represent the stance of his entire clan?
On the platform, all eyes converged on Yagura Karatachi in the main seat, waiting to see how he would handle this interruption.
Yagura remained seated, perfectly still. He looked down at Hozuki Mangetsu below and spoke coldly, "Hozuki Mangetsu. Where are the other members of your clan? Are you alone?"
Hozuki Mangetsu grinned, showing his teeth. "Don't misunderstand, Lord Mizukage. My family has no control over my actions. I simply can't stand what you're doing! You're no longer fit to lead Kirigakure!"
An uproar erupted among the few remaining examinees in the rainforest at Mangetsu's words. On the high platform, however, only a handful of the dignitaries showed surprise. The rest remained seated, their expressions calm and composed.