Naruto Sound ITP OOC 1

[Lord Raziere]

I personally want to prioritize Kimiko's story over Jirou's and its possible that the club scene isn't done yet there, while the Team 3 scene doesn't seem to have a lot going on to my perspective.

So yes, I would love to have that private talk with Kimiko and Senko. we can skip whatever D-rank they do and pick up the conversation at what location? where would be private enough to have this?

[Rater202]

Senko would probably suggest her own apartment since that's where most of her stuff regarding her more... Personal theories is.

And she doesn't know that Usagi broke in yet. Or that Shinpi was there.

[igordragonian]

Again. Sorry.
Excuses.
And it's fair, you don't have to wait for me for so long.
I'll try to read and reply today.

[Lord Raziere]

Wait.

are Usagi and Odayama in Senko's apartment and listening to this, or are they in a different situation at a different time?

cause the Kimiko-Senko conversation is private between them. just want to clarification to be clear.

[Rater202]

I assumed that Igor was responding to the previous scene at the training ground and the scene at the apartment is taking place later.

This isn't the first time we've played out two scenes that take place at different times simultaneously.

[Lord Raziere]

I assumed that Igor was responding to the previous scene at the training ground and the scene at the apartment is taking place later.

This isn't the first time we've played out two scenes that take place at different times simultaneously.

Sorry, I'll just assume that as well.

[igordragonian]

I understood the new interaction is a new scene solely between Kimiko and Senko..

[Rater202]

Using water to channel a bolt of lightning is how Storm Release: Laser circus works.

This means that, while exaggerated, the technique is theoretically possible.

Neat, yes?

[igordragonian]

I do like it.
And in anime science it sound great

[igordragonian]

not sure which of Kimiko's posts in the aprtament and which is in the present?

[Lord Raziere]

all of them are in the apartment. She is conversing all this to Senko, I guess I haven't been clear enough. sorry.

[igordragonian]

Ok
So tell me when it ok to reply

[Lord Raziere]

Ok
So tell me when it ok to reply

to my latest post, I specifically made a separate Kimiko thing for that towards Usagi, with a label differentiating the times. but in general? Always. Right now. you never have to ask, it was my fault I didn't label them. No, your not at fault, no not even then, you should never need to ask this, so don't, your only making me sad when you ask that, just do it.

Edit: on an Unrelated notes, I'm thinking Iwagakure/Land of Stone would be the type of nation to ban things media and fiction from other nations to preserve its own culture, there is probably strong Anti-Yagurism sentiments throughout the nations, Kumo and Konoha are probably waging a propaganda/cold war/culture war against each other and trying to get rid of sympathizers and influence of the other, Kirigakure is probably portraying the rest of the nations as slaves to bloodline nobility or something while carrying out piracy on minor nations to gain resources it can't from bad economic situation its in, and so on. just a bunch of things I didn't think about before that I need to work on.

[igordragonian]

Ah. Right. I still got lore to write. Somehow the time never seems right...

And yeah. I imagine them to be shuttered religouse/tradional group.


Also random theoritical idea came to me from Kimiko's last post.
Maybe Usagi can have legs with one soluation or another.
Maybe she will even have them for a while-but she will CHOOSE to go back being legless.
Sound like nice shunen drama thing.

[Rater202]

For the record, Kimiko is slightly off.

Senko would not mind a quiet life, but there are problems in the world that she woulnd't mind fixing, and those problems being fixed would be of direct benefit to Kimiko's plans.

Senko is also an atheist: She believes that fantastical beings exist, but rejects the concept of literal divinity. Which is honestly pretty accurate considering that the only confirmed deities are the Shinigami, who is classified as a summoned creature, and the Otsusukis whose divinity comes from parasitizing entire planets to death.

At most, "divinity" is a different state of being relating to having a more pure chakra.

[Lord Raziere]

....but I thought....nevermind. I mean at least, the culture around you thinks the whole existence of Kaguya and Hagoromo as a religious thing so.....there is bound be inaccuracies in peoples perception of you. they're not viewing you from an omniscient perspective like me, they're viewing you from their filtered perception.

its good for me to know of course.

[Rater202]

I've mentioned it before but it was a while ago.

Also, if the scene at the apartment is winding down and the scene at the Broken Record Club seems to be done, Shinpi approaching Jirou to get a read on him might be something we can do next?

[Lord Raziere]

Sure, why not.

still working on my Chuunin Exams worldbuilding write up, you have any ideas for any particular tests that would make sense for them to have for the first and second? y'know, just in case you have any ideas.

[igordragonian]

I have ideas for pre exam test...
As for exam itself...
I have vague idea of "mafia' game?

[Lord Raziere]

I have ideas for pre exam test...
As for exam itself...
I have vague idea of "mafia' game?

Cool, tell the details to me and we can add it the possible exams that might happen, both pre-exam and the mafia one, though the mafia one is probably best as a second exam as long as we can adapt it to a larger number of people, as first exam is too many and third exam is always fighting in an arena.

(like I you just me the idea that second exam is the only time for mafia, because I can adapt it into being a teamwork and loyalty thing, you might get assigned roles for the mafia game that don't match up with your actual team when your team is supposed to pass and you have to work across mafia factions for your actual team that you came to the Exams with to pass, not the mafia faction you were assigned, which would fit with the ninja's role as a spy and the teamwork theme of narutoverse and thus you get this interesting situation where one of the team members might be mafia, another might be town, and the mafia has to keep their town team mate from being killed while the town teammate has to keep the rest of the town from kicking out their mafia teammate as when one of the team loses, the entire team fails)

[Rater202]

I don't have a suggestion for the chunin exam but I do have a question.

After his meeting at the Broken Record Club, would Jirou have gone home, or back to his office?

[Lord Raziere]

He is at home. I have a post informing him of Ameoku's revealing she knows that the Kaguya and Ishikawa clans are up to something through Mitsuko, and what he plans to do about that remember?

[Rater202]

Oh yeah, that's right. I'll need to reread that part.

I think we're waiting on you Ic, and if it's not too much trouble I'll have Shinpi approach Jirou in my nxt post.

[igordragonian]

Ah. Your idea for mafia is better then mine.
Tbh, one of the rules in the game is not to peak-so it's like the first exam in the way?

As I see the chunin exams, first is basic espinage.
Second is a complex test that symolize an actual mission.
The third was a straight up fight


So first is the basic use of a ninja- spying.

Teamwork is how genins usually operate and it important to master it.

The last test test how it's like to be Chunin, because it's very likely for them to work alone.

I think that such framing can help us.

[Lord Raziere]

Well I've seen both chuunin exams, both Naruto and Boruto, and they have repeated themes....to summarize, the First Test is about Courage, the second is about Teamwork and the Third is about rationality. with the first testing your ability to go into danger no matter what, second testing your ability to work together and the third being making the best choices in life or death situation.

though I can see your logic for those, I just would add there is another layer to it

but more than that and I think I need to bust out my full Chuunin Exams write up. careful! This is gonna be long, because I wanted to make this particular part very detailed and thought out, due to the complexity:

Spoiler: On the Chuunin Exams

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Spoiler: Overview

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The Chuunin Exams, its an important arc in Naruto, and its an important event in its world. Not just for the Genin participants, but for the villages and their leaders. While for the Genin is their chance to move up in the world, for the kages and sensei's it is an altogether different time. The second reason for the Chunin Exams is a replacement for war, acting as a Ninja Olympics in a way: the Exam is used to assess the power of other villages through their up and coming genin, while not giving away too much of the villages own abilities. While not perfect it is therefore a vital form of reconnaissance on the villages enemies for everyone, as when else are you going to see people just showing off their shinobi skills like this for all to see? Its also a way to make money off of the rich who fund the ninjas by giving them an important event to come to, as well as a way for the the daimyos and lords to see how their village is doing compared to others to convince such lords to continue funding them well.

Thus this multi-purpose event which is held twice a year, is not something to be taken lightly by anyone. Aside from political concerns, this is probably the first time a young genin ever sees a ninja outside their own village in their life. For many this is the first time ever seeing another nation's hidden village because of the need to travel to it from their own. The canonical Chunin Exam we see didn't go into it because it was an Exam set in their own village, but for ninjas visiting another village to take it they have to travel to it and thus there needs to be some preparation and planning going into the travel times to get to the Exams in time and thus for Exams outside the village the ninja sensei has to recommend their team ahead of schedule instead of when it comes up, as well as arrange the time so as to be available when the Chuunin Exams are about to start so they and their genin team are not on a mission. For ninjas of minor villages, this kind of consideration is unavoidable as they cannot hold the exams themselves.

Next concern is getting there. The team to get to the Chuunin Exams has to either go through treacherous mountains, trek across hot desert, charter a ship to sail or go through dense forests to get to their destination. During this journey the ninjas are vulnerable and walking into another nation's land with the knowledge that other ninja are expecting them. An unspoken fear is the Exam being used by the village they're going to as a trap to kill the ninjas while in transit before they can get there so as to cut off their competitors and rivals before they even begin to be a threat. The Chuunin Exam is a thing of tenuous trust between the villages, and it being used as something to attack others while their vulnerable is always a possibility, though one that has never come to pass. Generally the village itself is too busy organizing themselves to receive the visitors and keep themselves secure from them to engage in that kind of under-handed elimination.

The idea of a village attacking a village holding the exams while its being held is actually kind of a stupid idea, as there are actually more ninja in the village than usual and often ones from different nations that could take offense to be caught up in the crossfire and thus side with the defenders both in the immediate sense and later down the line while diminishing the villages own position by proving untrustworthy. A less stupid idea is a village attacking a different one than where the Exam is held so as to take advantage of less ninja around in that village, but the benefits are marginal: after all most ninja in a village are Chunin or above during this time, and thus make up the bulk of their forces. Generally a bunch of absent genin and some Jonin aren't going to make much of a difference in that kind of battle unless one of those Jonin are really special and talented- we're talking S-Rank Jonin here.

Now there is the problem of the villages KAGE being absent so they can visit another village, thats always a concern because the kage could be assassinated in a foreign village, and because the Kage is often the villages greatest defense, a near-unbeatable being of unmatched power, the kage not being there can make a village pretty vulnerable to attack. A kage only sending out the jonin sensei to do go while they stay at home is understandable, especially for the minor village leaders which almost never attend the exams themselves. Kages from major villages are more likely to show up to assess the exams in person, confident that they can hold their own in a foreign land and often having trained a successor to hold down the fort while they go see what their competitor is training up these days.

Thus the Chunin Exams can also be a kind of impromptu, informal meeting of Kages. While the setting is less serious, and is a time for the kages to meet each other without some business to discuss, that does not stop them from discussing anything they want, politicking and posturing, bragging about their genin, and generally doing everything short of whipping out their privates and measuring them. Nor does it really stop them from treating the meeting as if its a kage summit anyways and discussing issues while behind closed doors without the need for arranging a less convenient and more suspicious time.
While Jonin of other villages can try for a similar rapport, it can be a little harder due to them not being entirely equals and the kage are less likely to view a jonin acting like a kage as acceptable unless its clear they are the chosen successor to the current kage. But while it can get the conversation going, it can also make the current kage more guarded in other ways, seeing them as more of a threat to take note of for the future.

Between the Jonins the situation is a lot more guarded and distrustful, as their job is often to make sure their Genins are safe and probably also their kage. Conversation isn't generally what they are there for, and more for watching the other joinin and various parts of the village for any threats to make sure no one tries anything, and are generally the ones in charge of arranging all the finer details of security.

The ninja who are already Chunin have different tasks: which is generally just setting up and running the event itself, along with certain Jonin for certain tasks. For them the Chuunin Exams is a busy time filing paperwork, setting up the tests, figuring out what tests to use, making sure there is enough seats, that everything is clean, figuring out where foreign ninja are going to stay for the duration of the exams, just a thousand different little tasks to do to make sure this event is the best it can be. For the third round, many Chuunin don't even spectate as they are busy guarding someplace else in case someone uses the third round as a distraction.

The Genin themselves are expected to do nothing but fill out the proper paperwork to get in, wait and enjoy themselves then take the Exam. While the native ninjas are wary of genin as they are of any ninja, the visiting genin are allowed to enjoy the local culture and speak with their foreign peers as however they want as long as they don't start a fight or a political incident. A more childish posturing between genin occurs here over their individual strength and smack talking about each others villages, and both rivalries and friendships across national lines can be formed as a result. At the same time one can meet many enemies who hate the ninja they meet for the things people of the past have done.

It is an event that involves ninja of all ranks and walks of life and not lightly ignored. Many things can occur during this time that have only tangential connection to the Exams actual purpose between ninjas that would otherwise only meet as enemies or temporarily allies on a mission. Friendships and rivalries are formed, kages posture against each other and so on. It serves as a check or social gathering for how strong every village is and where each ninja is going.

Spoiler: Location, Location, Location

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One of the first things to consider is where the exams are being held. It doesn't seem like much but it actually influences a lot. First of all, it chooses which village your going to be staying during its duration. Sometimes you get a home field advantage with your own village. But most of the time your going somewhere foreign, to a village that will regard you as a potential threat and diplomatic incident in the making, to try and become a ninja Chuunin by someone elses rules. For ninja of minor nations, they have no choice in the matter.

And of course, the location might determine if some ninja show up at all. Kirigakure ninja are unlikely to show up to an Iwa held chuunin exams for example given the distance and terrain involved, but Konohagakure's central location make it available to everyone. Furthermore you have to endure the environmental hazards of the land, and thus many dread going to Suna's Chuunin Exams as a result.

Of course, the location also determines the culture and thus also what your going to be tested on. Which will determine what you need to do to pass, and obviously ninjas of their home village will be better at the tests given that they will be the most prepped for what the village thinks are good Chuunin qualities. However its not as subjective as it seems, there is some bias to it, but the villages over the generations have generally figured what qualities works as a Chuunin and what doesn't.

Spoiler: Accomodations and Security

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Before any thing else happens, visiting foreign shinobi must be accounted for and accommodated in temporary housing facilities such as hotels. They will have had a long journey to get here and they cannot be expected to fairly take the Exams at full strength and energy. Thus the arrival date is often at least day or even a couple days before the Exams actually start to make sure everyone has had a chance to get their bearings, for all the paperwork to be filled out and for any last minute organization to be done. Among this organization is preparing the security and defenses so that no one tries anything stupid.

Often the village the Exams are taking place in prepares hotels for visiting shinobi ahead of time and assigns those who come to separate ones depending on which village they are from, making sure to keep each village's shinobi separate from one another in living arrangements so that no spying or backroom dealings can take place in them. The last thing anyone needs is an international incident breaking out because two genin teams from enemy villages were given rooms next to each other. It also means they can take note of any shinobi from other villages that take the effort to investigate or meet others during this time in case anything suspicious or criminal comes up, with Chuunin guards gate keeping each hotel without going in themselves.

Furthermore all available Chuunin are out in extra force on patrol across rooftops and manning every security checkpoint as a show of force during this time to further deter any funny business during this time. Jounin that aren't away on a mission, helping with the exams themselves or one of the teams sensei are handling more delicate matters of security. Jinchuuriki of their own village often have a hidden team of Anbu watching them in disguise just to be extra careful. The Kage's offices are locked up tight and not allowed entry to anyone who isn't supposed to be there.

Clan houses are off limits to foreign shinobi and getting permission to enter requires going to the Jounin assigned to give said permission, which is often only granted if an actual clan member accompanies them to back them up. This also often the Jounin who gives out permission to go into hotels with shinobi of another village. If approved the shinobi is given a paper pass enter the specified clan home or hotel for a limited amount of time and must present it to make sure they aren't attacked for intruding. This makes sure all the shinobi meeting foreign ones are recorded and accounted for in case any funny business occurs. Shinobi native to the village don't need such permission to enter clan houses of course, but they are still stopped and their time of arrival is still recorded on the assumption that they might be a foreign ninja in disguise jutsu, then their appearance there at that time is compared with other sightings of them. If they find two of the same shinobi in different places at the same time they know something is up because either someone is disguise, or that ninja decided to make a clone to do that while they do something else. Thus they will investigate further into such suspicious activity. The same applies to any foreign shinobi entering their own hotel.

Public places and civilian homes don't have such security measures. The easiest way to meet a foreign shinobi during this time is at places like restaurants, parks, cafes, that sort of thing. Such places are good neutral grounds and places to hang out and get to know other shinobi in a friendly setting. While clanless shinobi have the dubiously valuable ability to invite foreign shinobi into their home without bureaucratic hassle or being concerned that they are just being fooled so the shinobi can get clan secrets.

Of course there is another reason why they have this period of waiting: often they don't actually tell you where the First Exam is and say that there will be a Chuunin sent to escort you there when ready. This is a lie. Genin are expected to find out where the Chuunin Exams are as a form of minor reconnaissance mission before the Exams even starts and those that follow the Chuunin sent to lead them during the Pre-test phase will instead be led around in circles and fail. This holds true for both foreign and native shinobi and the location of where the Exams takes place is changed every time it comes around to the village doing it. This ensures repeat takers don't know where to go based on prior knowledge and that Chuunin can't pass on the knowledge to other Genin based on past experiences.

Spoiler: The Exams Themselves

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The Exams generally has only three tests, and at least in Konoha generally they test on three virtues: Courage, Teamwork and Rationality. These seem simple at first but actually have many layers to how they work as you being tested on many things at the same time. Generally they take these forms:

Pre-Tests:
It is possible that the testing begins even before you get to the first exam, with obstacles placed to trick and mislead you to filter out any genin that are unprepared and unaware. Basically they are obstacles that if you can't get around, you don't deserve to be Chuunin.

First Test: Courage
Seems to be some form of quiz or written test to try and measure intelligence, but the first layer beneath is that they're actually test your info-gathering skills or think laterally when confronted with a situation deliberately designed to be beyond your abilities or trick you. But the true test is of your courage and will to survive, and those that get scared or back out fail because a shinobi must face danger and live through it no matter how horrible it gets.

Possible First Tests:
Tenth Question:
The classic test with nine questions and a tenth that isn't, it is a test in two parts: the first part tests to see how good one is at information gathering as the answers aren't supposed to be ones that Genin should know and thus need to cheat off others, with planted Chuunin to make sure the cheating works. The second part is the proctor of the Exam testing to see if they will answer the “Tenth Question” and thus threaten them with incredibly dire consequences if they don't answer it correctly while assuring them they can try next time if they give up, to test if they are willing to take risks despite not knowing any information.

The Pit of Death:
This test is also one in two parts: first the Genin must run to another location through a forest of traps before time runs out while the proctor is still explaining the rules, then they must try to answer a question but the answer doesn't matter- both pads break into a pit where the person must act fast to save themselves from falling to the bottom, and if they do so they past, as it tests their will to live.

The Unwinnable Scenario:
The proctor poses an unwinnable scenario to the Genin, making sure it is a situation where there are only bad choices no matter what they decide to do, testing their ability to prioritize and take action even when things are grim, as well as their creativity when dealing with a situation, passing anyone who decides to act with courage in the face of such danger and failing any who give up.


Second Test: Teamwork
The second test is more physical and often involves some kind of teamwork with your squad to accomplish an objective and often in some outdoor environment so as to simulate the wilderness and uncontrolled conditions that one can exploit to win. These tests fail or pass entire teams as they are meant to put the team in a situation where they only have each other to rely on. They are also often competitive pitting teams against one another. This means that the First Test must also pass in terms of teams for this to function. If there is ever a situation where only one person from a team passes the first test and gets to the Second, they automatically fail the Second Exam for not having a team.

Possible Second Tests:
Scroll Transport:
The classic forest of death set up where you must transport a scroll while taking a second scroll from a different team to progress while going through a dangerous environment. Other environments might include a great desert, a steep mountain one has to run up, going through the snow, or through a ruined abandoned city.

Capture the Flag:
This test has teams try to defend their own flag while capturing another teams flag. This can be in many locations, not just a ruined city, such as a forest, two sides of a river, or other place

Fortress Defense:
This test splits the teams into two small armies. One plays defense of a run down fortress, the other plays offense. The fortress is designed with multiple ways in. However as an added twist two teams are designated infiltrator teams one for offense, the other for defense, that are saboteurs for the other side and thus work from within to take down the army they are “infiltrating”. The army that wins moves on to the next test if they beat the other within the time limit, if they don't whoever is eliminated during the test doesn't pass and whoever isn't eliminated passes, however if no fights take place when the time is up, the defensive side automatically wins.

Hide and Seek:
In this test, the teams are divided into hiders and seekers. Furthermore each hider team is assigned a number for themselves and seekers an enemy number they must defeat. The hiders job is to hide and keep their number safe and the seekers job is to figure out which team is their enemy number and defeat them within the time limit.

Third Test: Rationality
The final test is much more consistent: duels in a stadium in a tournament bracket to show off a ninja's ability to think, plan and figure out their opponent. This test is generally given a month to prepare for it to simulate a shinobi preparing to take on a foe rather than by surprise. While shinobi can win multiple rounds in this tournament, that doesn't guarantee they pass. What is evaluated is whether they demonstrated the right assessment abilities and kept a cool head while analyzing their foe, as well as how well they prepared in that time.

Given the Third Test's focus on individual ability over teamwork, its likely for team members to fight each other during this final exam. Genin are expected to fight their team mates just as hard as any other shinobi and going soft on them is considered disappointing by both the audience and the judges. Another thing to keep in mind is the fact that its a show just as much as its an Exam. The crowd loves flashy ninja powers and cool fights with lots of explosions and excitement, and while going stylish and cool may hurt your chances at promotion a little, adding a bit of spectacle to grow your legend among those who show up may rake in fame, as well as more clients for your village who may even ask for your help specifically.

Though it may be possible that people decide on a Genin Battle Royale style kind of battle. While ostensibly Genin versus all genin, or team vs. team, the teams often form alliances beforehand and genin on the same team don't fight each other until they're the only ones left if its every genin for themselves, giving order to what would seemingly be a chaotic battle.

Spoiler: Third Elimination Round?

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Sometimes an elimination round is done to cut down the genin to a manageable number for the third and final exam. Generally the manageable number is considered eight. While in canon this is to simply cut it down to four first matches with one person getting a bye to judge for the real Exam, it may be a good idea to say the eliminated shinobi may still get the promotion if they demonstrate enough skills and rationality with the limited time they have, though they don't get the opportunity to show off for a wider audience. Such eliminated ninja may also get tested in their home village at some later date in private to be assessed as to whether their elimination was due to their own fault or to luck and be promoted based on how they do there.

Due to rising population, standards of shinobi education and the current age of peace these elimination rounds have been growing more and more frequent. Where once they were a rare contingency, now they are becoming more and more a normal part of the Exam. This has prompted shinobi higher ups to start discussing how to deal with this. The larger number of genin getting to the Third Exam are indeed qualified, but the way the Third Exam is organized assumes a three-round tournament set up. Some want to dispense with the elimination round entirely and expand it to four rounds and allow in 32 genin.

Others however want to reform the Elimination Round into a Sorting Round where all the losers instead go to compete in a Consolation Tournament of similar length that will be held after the first so that all of them have a chance to earn the position of Chuunin. The winners of the first and second tournaments then fight in an exhibition match. Other however feel that a tournament structure should be ditched entirely to instead emphasize whats really important for the Third Exam: evaluating a Genin on their own merits without their team to bail them out. All of them have their upsides and downsides.

Of course if its a Genin Battle Royale third test, all of this is irrelevant. They just go to third exam, no matter how many genin fight.

Spoiler: Becoming Chuunin

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Now in canon the only people who get promoted on screen are Naras one at a time. While this makes sense and one might say its possible that the Chuunin Exams is all for show, that doesn't really hold water, not in universe and only promoting one guy per Exam isn't real fun for roleplaying. There were very exceptional circumstances surrounding both canon Chuunin Exams and their promotion that screwed up the judging process. One would imagine its harder to make good judgments about some Genin when there is a big attack out of nowhere each time.

Therefore we're assuming that more genin get promoted in the Exams off screen than is shown. Now there may be alternative methods of becoming Chuunin such as a field promotion, or some other test that is less about ceremony, but we're assuming that there is legitimacy to the Chuunin Exam proceedings and that more than one person gets promoted most of the time, or no Shinobi would take it seriously and thus not bother to show up. Information can be gathered through spying and if promotions can be gained from the field the Exams would be no use and there are other ways to raise money.

Furthermore field promotions most often occur during war time. During peace time they don't come nearly as much and are only done when the higher ups feel its truly warranted. Being a Chuunin is a serious responsibility, both freeing you from a set team of Genin while expected you to potentially lead any squad your given under your command, meaning your more free in some ways but need to be more responsible in others.

Spoiler: Hidden Dangers:

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Of course there hidden dangers and rules to the Chuunin Exams that people don't tell the Genin. For one, becoming a Chuunin has this unspoken rule that by doing so you have some respect for authority and the rule of law. If you can't demonstrate or at least fake it well enough, it will hurt your chances for being promoted. Furthermore while witnessing genin drama is apart of the draw this event, so is seeing them nearly kill each other in cool shinobi battles. Any genin that uses the arena as a soapbox for their own personal issues for too long will get thrown out as they demonstrate they are too focused on their own issues to be concerned with the matters of state as a Chuunin should.

Indeed, some level of professionalism is expected of a passing Genin going forwards. The Exams can be seen partly as a bi-annual assessment system of the Genin of all villages. While it is a form of entertainment and way to keep the money flowing to the villages, the Exams are used as a method of evaluating how a Genin is doing to some extent, as their team leaders must consider whether they go at all and thus whether they are ready for promotion or to impress people with their abilities and thus whether they can be trusted in Chuunin level matters. A Genin who consistently fails to meet the standards try after try or worse consistently is passed over by their team captain and stays genin, realistically speaking starts looking expendable to the higher ups. Genin is a transitional rank, and your expected to at least become Chuunin at some point in your teenage years or your just a liability and a waste of time. Thus failing to live up to Chuunin standards can be seen as a great way to earn yourself a mission that leads to your death.

Spoiler: Reasons to Spectate

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Of course many come to spectate the third round matches, from nobles to wealthy CEOs, to jounin, and so on. Common citizens also can be seen in the stands watching. Its such an event, some movie-makers want to film so that they are recorded, but the shinobi do not allow it as they do not want to leak secrets by allowing the techniques shown to be repeatedly analyzed in slow motion.

Entertainment:
An obvious reason is entertainment. Many civilians have never seen a real shinobi fight, as during wartime the majority of their efforts are irregular warfare in the wilderness while even the ashigaru who know of their strength, tend to fight in more regular settings. The plays and counterplays are seen as exciting and full of unexpected twists to most. Some people are surprised at how many of the rumors about ninja are actually true when viewing them. Since they only see the Genin fighting, most come away with skewed perceptions of what ninja like, the fights often being colored by the drama and passion of teenagers, and the innocence of youth making ninjas seem more heroic in their eyes. The romantic notions planted by these fights perpetuate a rosier view of ninja life than it really is and thus perpetuates the system and myths that upholds it. Thus the Chuunin Exams can be considered a form of propaganda, not by any intentional design but by flaws inherent in its premise that not everyone will pick up upon by statistical probability and just being an entertaining show. The best kind of propaganda, for it means no one can be said to be actively spinning it that way.

Older Shinobi are entertained for a different reason: Genin being genin, bring in their personal issues into things because they probably aren't very professional yet and thus older ninja get a laugh out of seeing them do ridiculous behaviors and mistakes that more professional ones wouldn't do.

Betting:
Another reason to view the third round is betting purposes. Shinobi fights due to their wide tactical variance and unexpectedness, can be hard to predict a clear outcome for, therefore there is always room for doubt and always a reason to bet. This is more of a thing jounin, the wealthy, and samurai do, people with money to spare. Proctors and judges for the exam are of course not allowed to bet on anyone, nor are the kages, as they are the people determining whether the Genin pass or fail.

This doesn't stop some foolish civilian or the rare foolish Chuunin from taking part sometimes to bet some on long shot genin so they can win big. Nor does it stop scammers who convince these people they can predict the outcome from taking these peoples money. Rain man scams are common. Its possible one might try to sabotage one match or another to win a bet, but its risky given the unpredictable nature of these fights and the high security of any given Chuunin exams; unless one has detailed knowledge of the two genins capabilities involved, it might easily go wrong or backfire entirely and expose them. If it happens, it does so rarely. If it occurs, well, see the “Crime and the Chuunin Exams”.

Assessment:
Another reason why people spectate these exams are to assess the Genin themselves. After all, they are the future of the shinobi world. Jounin want to see if there is anyone worth teaching or keeping any eye on. Samurai look to see who they might be fighting or working alongside when the next war comes. The rich and noble look to see who to hire next for a job, who might be someone worth their time and money. Hidden missing nin might assess these genin for their own purposes, whether to kill or to tempt into defecting. And who knows what the kages plan when they look down the generation to succeed them? The other Genin of course want to see how strong their fellow is, and make sure they aren't falling behind, as they want to make sure they can pull their own weight.

All that is known, is that Genin are being evaluated, not just by the judges, but by their peers, their elders, their betters, strangers and so on. The competitive, entertaining atmosphere doesn't make it any less true. Even if one does not earn a Chuunin vest, one could earn many peoples respect and favor- or lose it. And not just in their own nation- for those seeking peace, good relations and reputations in foreign countries may be the door towards true prosperity for all.

Spoiler: Crime and the Chuunin Exams

Show

Given that all or at least many nations will be taking part in any given Chuunin Exam, crime is treated real seriously when it happens during or near them. The village ninja and police are made sure to be alert and wary as well as briefed on the proper protocols for if it happens. Any rash action or mishandling could result in a worsening of relations between the nations and no one wants that. A worsening of relations could lead to accelerating the next War after all, and no one wants that happen, whether out of a desire for peace or just because they cynically want to prepare as long as possible for it.

For minor crimes like misdemeanors this isn't as much of a problem, such things can be taken care of without needing to go the higher ups after all. Its when things like when someone breaks into a lab and steals valuable information, or when a murder happens during this time, is when they stop everything to to track the perpetrator down: if a serious crime like this occurs at any point, the entire village is put on lock down with no one getting in or out and a full investigation is launched. The Exams are suspended for its duration and every ninja in the village is investigated and questioned. They will not resume until the villages ninja finds the most logical possible suspect to punish. This is simpler when its the First or Second Exams when there is only one Kage in the village: it is generally agreed that the ninja is bound the laws of the land they are in and will be tried according to those laws.

During the Third Exam when there is more than one kage however, it gets more complicated. While they are still bound by the laws, crime among ninja becomes just as much a matter of politics as it is a matter of law. Each kage will try to make sure they come out for the best in this scenario and will disavow any knowledge of their ninja planning to commit a crime whether they are being truthful or not, and throwing any subordinate caught or suspected of wrongdoing to the wolves so as to prevent a war from breaking out. A kage will never try to cover for their subordinates crimes, as doing is too risky and if one got found out about it they'd be implicated in it to and risk even greater loss or war. Either that or they will accuse other kage of having their shinobi using disguise jutsu to frame their own ninja. Of course disguise jutsu is a problematic thing to prove, given the lack of evidence it leaves behind, and thus requires other kinds of evidence to prove guilt or innocence.

In some cases someone may be tried by a temporary Kage Tribunal instead of the usual court, if delicate political matters are an especially major concern so as to make sure every kage has a say in the outcome of determining how justice is done. That and shinobi villages are a military and military courts are a thing.

[Rater202]

So I only just now ot around to reading the Chunin exam write up, sorry, I can't say why I put it off, but...

Interesting. Though it does seem a bit more complicated than the canon exams.

My main takeaway is that if Senko plans to seal samples from Hashirama's body then she needs to do it very carefully.

[Lord Raziere]

Its a complicated event and I have to plan for every possibility, unlike canon which only has to consider things related to the story it wanted to tell. I had to consider what would be logical security measures for a village to have while a large amount of foreign ninja are visiting while not making anything outright impossible. of course I imagine security would lighten during something like the one month gap between the 2nd and 3rd exam, given by that point most of the foreign ninja would be gone at that point, so it becomes more efficient to keep an eye on the few that remain than continue having near lockdown measures in place.

the whole lockdown thing I conceived of when I considered the fact that all ninja can do disguise jutsu so someone committing a crime can just become some random civilian and blend in, so they have to make sure no one gets in or out as soon as possible, that and the whole lockdown proceeding basically doubles as a "settle down and wait before we all try to declare war on each other" kind of measure, as it prevents such situations from devolving any further and to focus on blaming an individual rather than an entire nation. it only happens at the Chuunin Exams because of its regularity, shinobi association and international nature, and there is no way your going to get such a security measure at any other time. basically it exists because its the most likely time for something to go wrong, so they have to have a plan for it. more unusual diplomatic efforts don't have such proceedings around them.

basically my Exams has to be designed to minimize the number of diplomatic mishaps that could occur, or they wouldn't work. because it is in a way, a diplomatic event if an unusual one. and yeah, carefulness is what I hope to emphasize, at least for those breaking the rules of the event. shinobi are all breaking rules yes, but that exactly why they have to make rules like this that make their fellow shinobi think twice about doing so. that and we're still Genin, so in theory this is all to keep it "safer" and "smaller conflict" as the whole lockdown and investigation thing is a smaller more manageable conflict if a crime gets reported than things turning into a battle like in canon which we can't do, because uuuuh, we'll be only three genin in a foreign land with no kakashi/Jiraiya-level jounin sensei to back us up, no genin or chuunin of our own village to trust, a bunch of enemy jounin that even one of would be a hard battle to beat, countless Chuunin, and one or more enemy kages who if you get into a fight with? they'll just win, easily. there would be no way Team 3 would be getting out of that alive if they're the center of that, so all the preparations are to basically make sure it doesn't break down to that point. rulebreaking can occur of course, but the idea is to keep this as a personal and small scale as possible despite all the many genin on display, so carefulness is needed.

of course there are probably ways to exploit the system, but what system doesn't?

[igordragonian]

I am bit at loss. are we in a middle of a mission?
(I'll read the chunin exam)

[Lord Raziere]

No, no mission just Senko and Kimiko going out for snow cones, like normal children. What don't your friends sneak in to peak on the snow cone maker's process out of random curiosity and end up discovering a high class jutsu then lying about it so you decide to suspect them of being controlled by a criminal?

[igordragonian]

Weren"t we on the way to a mission?
I need to find time to reread everyrhing.