bookpower Chapter 271: Ranking
Chapter 271: Ranking
Kaida and the team kept waiting for another hour. When only ten minutes remained, Kumogakure's team entered the hall and submitted their answer sheet. Darui’s eyes briefly scanned the Konoha group before he returned to his seat.
'We have to be wary of them. If not for constantly disrupting my chakra and releasing sparks in my hand, we would’ve fallen for their genjutsu. Luckily, we were warned about the Uchiha. Otherwise, we might’ve been eliminated in the first round,' Darui thought. It wasn’t just his chakra control, but also his awareness that helped him escape the genjutsu.
The genjutsu Kaida and Itachi were using in this round was fairly light. If it were to be classified as ninjutsu, it would be ranked B. Kaida, who was capable of using A-rank genjutsu with his Sharingan, could have made them fall into a deeper illusion had he wanted. And Itachi could easily cast an S-rank genjutsu. But since they didn’t plan on eliminating Kumogakure, they simply let them be and continued
The Lightning Valley is a treacherous, high-altitude region deep within the mountains of the Land of Lightning, far from the bustling streets of Kumogakure. Known for its wild, untamed nature, the valley is constantly shrouded in thunderstorms, with jagged cliffs, craggy peaks, and narrow paths winding through the mountains.
The air is thick with the smell of ozone, and the sound of thunder echoes through the valley as lightning frequently strikes the rocky ground.
The terrain is varied, with dangerous cliffs, deep ravines, and hidden caves scattered throughout the landscape. Torrential rain floods the lower regions, turning the paths into muddy, slippery trails. In some places, the valley is covered in dense foliage, while in others, the ground is cracked and barren, scorched by the frequent lightning strikes.
Despite the dangers, the valley is home to a variety of wildlife, some highly aggressive due to the constant exposure to the volatile weather. Raptors, large boars, and even chakra-infused wildcats roam the valley, making it even more perilous for shinobi navigating its depths.
"Be careful. Even a chunin-level ninja can fall to the beasts in that valley, especially the wildcats. Aside from being ridiculously fast, they use lightning in their attacks and are proficient in ambushing their prey," Jiraiya's warning still echoed in Kaida’s mind.
After traveling continuously for 45 minutes, they finally arrived in front of the large valley. The view from their vantage point was both breathtakingly beautiful and deadly—a vast valley surrounded by barren mountains, shrouded in dark thunderclouds with lightning cracking through the sky. The three of them stood there for a minute, just taking it in.
“You’ll have plenty of time to explore the valley during the second stage. For now, head to that building, or you’ll be disqualified,” the instructor from the first stage appeared beside them and said.
“Yes, sir,” Itachi responded, and the three of them ran toward the location of the second exam.
A single building stood at the entrance of Lightning Valley, and after some time, the other teams began to arrive one by one.
“I’ll be in charge of the second stage of the exam. Before we begin, you’ll need to sign these papers,” a muscular giant with a large sword on his back said. His overwhelming presence made it clear that he was an elite jonin.