I founded the "Bragging Cult" in Naruto.

Chapter 138 Those who cannot overcome their inability to control their own destiny can only watch regrets and tragedies continue to unfold.

"Phew~ Finally, the exam is over. The guy in front of me was from the Aburame clan. I saw bugs crawling all over his scalp with my own eyes. Do you know how terrifying that is?"

Two hours later, Tatsuma took a deep breath after leaving the exam hall and said to Minato, who originally wanted to say a few words of comfort, but suddenly thought of his recent food, which was crawling on people's heads.

Although he knew that the insects at Aburame's house were not the same species as the insects he had been eating recently, Minato still felt his stomach churning. He swallowed twice to suppress the urge to vomit, and then said weakly:

"Stop talking, the exams are all over, it's all in the past."

Tatsuma nodded. Today's written test went fairly smoothly. In wartime, there weren't as many tricks as when Naruto took the Chunin Exams, and the test paper was a proper one.

However, the test still focuses on intelligence gathering ability, because the later high-scoring questions are written in ciphertext, and the genin have no access to the dictionary containing the ciphertext used in the test.

Ciphers are also classified into different levels. Schools teach general basic ciphers, and when you become a ninja, you have to learn new versions of ciphers. Above that, there are ciphers with even higher security levels.

The exam papers used coded messages that most Chunin could only access, and some even used coded messages that only Jonin had the authority to view. In such cases, one could only rely on intelligence capabilities to find the answers in the exam room.

However, this applies to most of the other genin who participated in the Chunin Exams. Tatsuma didn't know how Minato completed the exam; he simply solved it himself.

Tatsuma can already recite the coded dictionaries used by Jonin directly, since his teacher is Tsunade. He has to act as Tsunade's translator. Minato is probably in a similar situation, otherwise he wouldn't have discovered Jiraiya's error in interpreting the coded text like he did.

As for the cipher used by Chunin, the latest version of Tatsuma does not have it, but there is an older version in Tobirama's study. Most of them are the same, and the remaining few can be deduced directly.

Tatsuma guessed that Minato must have solved it by brute force, since the two of them were the first to stop writing in the exam room, faster than the ninjas who were lurking in the exam room and "distributing" answers to other candidates.

Just as the two were about to leave the school, Sarutobi Akiura reappeared, smiling with satisfaction, and said, "You two did very well. I just heard that you both passed with full marks."

"This time the questions were relatively simple, and the question types were also relatively simple, making them one level easier than the past exam questions we've done before."

Minato greeted Sarutobi Awaura and then said modestly. Upon hearing this, some examinees passing by showed surprised expressions. After recognizing Minato and Tatsuma, their expressions became indescribable.

A sense of relief mingled with envy, jealousy, and a touch of reverence, like a pie chart.

When Minato said the question was easy, Tatsuma nodded in agreement. Sarutobi Akiura's lips twitched. Goodness, had he not participated in real ninja work for too long?

He couldn't even understand some of the questions, yet the two students thought they were easy. They even compared them to past exam questions—what does that mean? Could they have solved past exam questions too?

Shaking his head to shake off the thought that "I'm useless," Sarutobi Akiura said to the two of them, "Tomorrow is the team combat assessment. You two are participating alone, which is a disadvantage against the other teams in terms of numbers."

It would be best to prepare plenty of ninja tools, as well as smoke bombs, soldier pills, and the like. Do you have enough money? I have some here, teacher.

As he spoke, Sarutobi Akiura pulled out his small purse, revealing some crumpled coins inside. Tatsuma shook his head, then glanced at Sarutobi Akiura and said, "Akiura-sensei, are the salaries of ninja academy teachers very low?"

"Um... It's all for the future of the village, so it's worth it."

Sarutobi Akira indirectly admitted it, and Tatsuma smiled and said, "Teacher, you don't need to worry about ninja tools for us. Our inventory is enough to last us a whole year on the battlefield, and we'll probably have a surplus."

Tatsuma had no shortage of these things. He had received a lot of gifts when he became an apprentice, and later when he followed Fugaku Uchiha on a mission, Fugaku Uchiha gave them a lot of Uchiha-made ninja tools and explosive tags as if money was no object.

In addition, the two also captured and picked up some items on the battlefield. Because the village also determined the number of missions completed and the mission level based on the quantity of ninja tools collected, they withdrew from the front line before they could collect the tools for the village.

Therefore, what Tatsuma said was not just a nice remark to prevent Sarutobi Akiura from spending money, but the truth. Minato nodded in agreement, confirming Tatsuma's statement.

Sarutobi Akiura's hand holding the wallet froze. Looking at the wallet he had already taken out, he suddenly felt that perhaps his decision to become a teacher was not the right one.

However, seeing that these two outstanding students were able to enter the best class, receive the best education, and graduate early because of his recommendation, thus achieving their current success, Sarutobi Kazuura felt relieved.

Everything is for the future of the village, and it's worth it.

"Since you don't need ninja tools, then I'll treat you to ramen."

Ramen is much cheaper than ninja tools. Upon hearing this, Minato's face showed some interest, after all, he really wanted to eat normal food. Tatsuma did not refuse Sarutobi Akiura's kindness, nodded and said, "Then thank you very much, Akiura-sensei."

Let's go!

Inside a ramen stall, Sarutobi Akiura looked at his two students with satisfaction. Although he hadn't taught them for long, he had a feeling that they would be the "masterpieces" of his teaching career.

Not only were they highly talented, but they were also hardworking, ambitious, and had great personalities. They were exactly what he imagined a student should be like. Unfortunately, he only encountered two students like them.

"OEC~"

"I'm stuffed!"

Tatsuma finished slurping his noodles and soup a second early, picked up his reward, and looked at Sarutobi Akiura, who hadn't touched his bowl yet, somewhat puzzled. Sarutobi Akiura seemed to have misunderstood, pushing his bowl towards Tatsuma and saying:

"Aren't you full? Here, have this bowl too."

"No, I'm full. But why aren't you eating, teacher?"

Chenma shook his head. His appetite had returned to normal recently, and he didn't need to eat more. Although his stomach had grown quite a bit, Chenma still felt that eating until he was only 70% full was best, considering his blood sugar levels.

Sarutobi Akiura, who had been lost in thought and had forgotten to eat ramen, scratched his head and said, "Haha~ I was thinking about other things and forgot to eat. Besides, the teacher is used to eating cold ramen, so freshly cooked ramen doesn't suit him."

After saying that, Sarutobi Awaura's expression turned serious. He looked at the two of them and said, "Tatsuma, Minato, I know that after you pass the Chunin Exams, you will be heading to the battlefield. I'm not talking nonsense, but..."

Your own safety must be guaranteed, even if it means abandoning the mission.

Sarutobi Akaura spoke in a very low voice, then sighed and said, "I am a terrible ninja, a coward who doesn't even dare to go to the battlefield."

I shouldn't have taught you all this, but I hope to see you again in the future, and ideally, to see you become pillars of the village, or even Hokage.

Hearing Sarutobi Awaura's words, Tatsuma was somewhat moved, because there was a consensus in the village and even the entire ninja world that a ninja's first priority was to complete the mission.

Even if some ninjas—no, even if most ninjas know this concept is distorted—they still have to abide by it and say it to the outside world, because that's the political correctness of the ninja world.

But the fact that Sarutobi Awaura would say such a thing, especially as a teacher to a student, made Tatsuma realize that, at least for this moment, the teacher who had taught him for a short time and imparted only a small amount of knowledge was concerned about him.

Tatsuma smiled, glanced at Minato, then turned back to Sarutobi Akiura and said, "Akiura-sensei, no matter what mission we undertake in the future, I will survive, and I will complete the mission beautifully."

Seeing that the two students did not object to his "wrong" idea, Sarutobi Akiura was somewhat relieved. He turned to face his bowl of noodles and said, "You have an exam tomorrow, so go back and prepare early. I need to eat noodles too."

Tatsuma could hear the sob in Sarutobi Awaura's voice at the end. He didn't know what his teacher had gone through to have such feelings today, but in the ninja world, especially as a ninja, there were too many things beyond one's control when one was weak.

"Minato, let's go train. Let me see if, with your extraordinary talent, after nearly a month of hard work, you can actually defeat me!"

"good!"

Minato didn't say much or ask any questions, and left with Tatsuma. After the two left, Sarutobi Akiura sat on a chair at the stall, eating the increasingly salty ramen.

The next day, the two arrived at an indoor training ground, which had been divided into equal-sized arenas. After verifying their identities, they both received their admission tickets.

"I'm in exam room A9, what about you?"

"B11, looks like I'll have to go over there."

The two realized they weren't assigned to the same exam room this round. After saying a word, they headed towards their respective exam rooms. A while later, a Chunin arrived and explained the exam rules to the students waiting in their exam rooms.

They fight in small teams and can use ninjutsu, taijutsu, genjutsu, as well as bloodline limits, secret techniques, sealing techniques, or cursed seal techniques. The list of available ninja tools is also very long, and it contains many unconventional ninja tools, and even some poisons.

Besides the poisons on the list, no other poisons may be used. Victory is achieved by knocking the opponent out of the examination room, rendering the opponent unable to fight, the opponent surrendering, or by the referee ninja's ruling. Killing or intentionally severely injuring the opponent is not allowed.

After the rules were finalized and the candidates signed, the exams were scheduled to begin. Although there were many exam rooms, they could not be held simultaneously. Chenma waited for two rounds before it was his turn.

He stepped onto the arena and began to examine the three people in front of him. Their bodies and clothing did not have any characteristics of ninja clans, nor did any ninjas bring ninja cats or dogs. He guessed that they were all commoner ninjas.

After a quick assessment, he looked at the referee ninja and said, "I'm ready."

The referee ninja was clearly aware of Tatsuma's situation and simply nodded. However, one of the opposing genin hesitated and asked, "Where are your teammates?"

"I am fighting alone."

"Individual participation. You're that Sakamoto Ryoma, the one who won the Jade Dance?!"

Suddenly, one of the team members guessed Tatsuma's identity. Tatsuma's face stiffened, and he looked at the referee ninja, who was also trying to suppress a laugh. He then asked the team in a deep voice, "Are you ready?"

"I'm ready."

"Let's begin!"

After saying that, the referee ninja stepped aside, and Tatsuma glanced at the three who seemed not to have reacted and did not move, and reminded them, "It has already started."

"Okay, sure."

They hurriedly formed a battle formation, kunai appearing in their hands. They looked at Tatsuma with a mixture of wariness and curiosity. Tatsuma sighed inwardly; he couldn't find a reason to praise these three for their performance.

So he gave up, after all, he didn't lack those extra ten or eight points of talent. He took out his kunai and said to the three of them, "Correction: my name is Sakamoto Tatsuma. Are you ready for an explosion?"

After making his boastful remarks, Tatsuma was about to move when one of the ninjas in the team exclaimed in surprise, "Explosion? You...you're planning to use explosive tags?!"

Tatsuma's lips twitched again. These three people were just Tatsuma's other hand, which also quietly took out an explosive tag.

(End of this chapter)