The first-ever World Ninja League Exam—today was the day!
Konoha's newly built super convention hall was packed to capacity. At exactly ten o'clock, all 150,000 seats were filled with spectators buzzing with excitement.
In the VIP section, the highest-ranking officials from various nations sat according to their status. At the center of it all was Tsunade, the Hokage, a position no one dared contest.
Sakiya sat among them, slouched in her chair with her chin resting in one hand. A placard labeled Adjudicator sat in front of her, but she was clearly uninterested. She didn't want to be here—especially not alone.
As the arena filled, the host took the stage. Behind him, a massive screen stood at the center of the platform.
"Good day, everyone!"
The audience roared in response, their cheers shaking the entire venue. Tens of thousands of voices merged into one, the excitement palpable.
The host grinned. This was exactly the kind of energy he loved.
"I can feel your enthusiasm! Everyone is ready! So, without further delay, let's welcome our leader—Hokage-sama!"
The camera shifted to Tsunade, her image projected onto the massive screen. She stood from her seat, her expression firm.
Her speech was the standard formalities—acknowledging the event, welcoming the nations, wishing everyone the best. But she kept it brief, knowing the audience wasn't here for words.
Then, she took a deep breath.
"I hereby declare—the first World Ninja League Exam begins NOW!"
At that moment, fireworks launched from the walls of the circular arena, exploding into vibrant colors that painted the sky. The crowd erupted again, their cheers nearly drowning out the explosions.
The camera cut back to the host, who practically vibrated with excitement.
"And now, let's introduce our competitors! First up—the team from Konoha!"
The arena lights focused on the entrance as the Konoha team walked in, looking strong and confident. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura led the group, their presence commanding attention. Other notable names like Ino and Shikamaru followed closely behind.
As they marched forward, Ino glanced up at the VIP section, feeling an odd sense of unease.
"This whole setup feels weird," she muttered.
Shikamaru, walking beside her, sighed. "Don't ask me. I have no idea who planned all this. Just go with it."
Naruto and Sasuke exchanged glances. Something about this event felt… off. But they followed the team without protest.
With Konoha's squad in position at the center of the arena, the camera panned over them, capturing their faces one by one.
"And now, let's welcome the team from Sunagakure!"
The crowd cheered once more as the next group entered.
"Followed by the warriors of Kumogakure!"
One by one, the teams from the different villages stepped into the spotlight, ready for the challenge ahead.
---
With ninja teams from across the world and independent fighters eager to join the Ninja League, the venue was packed.
Yes, even wandering ninjas had been given a place in this event. These unaffiliated warriors, often overlooked and dismissed, were now recognized as part of the League—assigned to independent divisions. For many, this was their chance to prove themselves.
A fair competition that had the entire world watching.
At the center of the massive arena, the teams stood in perfect formation. The sheer number of participants was staggering—at least three thousand in total.
The larger villages had smaller, more elite squads, but independent ninjas and those from smaller villages filled the ranks. Thanks to recent reforms, the League offered not just prestige but also better pay and support for even the smallest ninja settlements.
Of course, joining came with a cost—the League required funding, and membership wasn't free.
—
With all the contestants in place, the host stepped forward, brimming with excitement.
"All participants have arrived! It's clear everyone is ready to give it their all!"
"Now, let me announce the rules for the first round!"
"The first challenge is… Battle Royale Mode!"
A murmur spread through the crowd.
"The battleground will be the Forest of Death and the surrounding area!"
"The game will begin with a special technique that will launch all contestants into the air above the battlefield! From there, each participant must choose their own landing spot! The launch positions will be randomized, so if you want to land precisely, you'll need to figure it out yourself!"
The moment the rules were revealed, voices of concern rose from the participants.
"They're throwing us into the air with a technique?"
"Are they trying to kill us?!"
Seeing the ninjas break into discussion, the host quickly raised his voice.
"Quiet! Quiet!
If you can't accept the rules, you're free to withdraw! But don't stand here complaining!"
The crowd fell silent.
Some, like Naruto, grinned in excitement.
"This sounds fun."
Tsunade glanced at Sakiya, sitting alone in the VIP section. This wild idea had been hers.
Time passed.
Yet not a single participant stepped away. They had all come here to prove themselves. Backing out now would bring shame to their villages. Many had accepted that failure—even death—was a possibility.
The host nodded in approval.
"Looks like no one's backing down! Now, let's go over the rules!"
—
Rule One:
Each contestant will receive a badge.
The badge tracks physical condition and displays a light bar. When a participant takes damage—whether from attacks or environmental hazards—the bar shrinks. If it disappears completely, they are eliminated.
Scattered throughout the battlefield are supplies, including items that restore the light bar. Some also contain scrolls, explosive tags, and other useful tools.
Friendly reminder: The light bar does not directly represent physical health!
—
Rule Two:
A light barrier will enclose the entire battleground, shrinking at regular intervals. Any ninja caught outside will suffer continuous damage to their badge light bar.
Eventually, the barrier will collapse completely. Anyone still outside will be instantly eliminated.
The objective isn't just survival—contestants will be scored based on multiple factors:
Time survived
Number of opponents defeated
Strategy and tactics used
Overall intelligence in the field
Only the top 100 highest-scoring participants will advance to the finals!
—
"Top 100?!"
A wave of tension passed through the competitors. There were thousands of participants—being in the top 100 seemed nearly impossible.
Sensing their unease, the host reassured them.
"Of course, not making the finals doesn't mean you've lost your chance to advance to Chunin!
This exam isn't just about battle—it evaluates overall skill! The top 100 are the best of the best. But if your score meets a certain threshold, you can still be promoted to Chunin!"
"And that concludes the rule explanation!"
"Now, we'll have our adjudicator distribute the badges and send the contestants to the arena!"
—
The cameras cut to Sakiya, who had completely zoned out.
Across the VIP section, Mei—one of the exam's key officials—sighed and tried to keep her expression neutral.
Without turning her head, she called out to Sakiya.
"Sakiya! Sakiya! Sakiya!"
After a few moments, Sakiya finally snapped out of it, blinking at Mei in confusion.
Mei, however, didn't acknowledge her and kept her eyes forward, speaking firmly.
"Sakiya, look at the camera! It's time for you to take the stage!"
Slowly, Sakiya turned toward the massive 360-degree screen displaying her completely blank expression.
One second… two seconds… three seconds…
Then, her face turned bright red as she jumped to her feet in a panic.
"Uh—uh—yes! As the adjudicator, I—I declare—!"
She hesitated, flustered, before finally pointing at the screen.
"Let the exam… BEGIN!"