Replacing eyes for Orochimaru, who possessed Six Paths Yang Release power, was as simple as eating and drinking.
Not to mention that the Rinnegan, evolved from the Sharingan, inherently possessed plug-and-play functionality.
As soon as Orochimaru removed the Rinnegan from Nagato's sockets, he used his Yang Release power to create a new pair of eyes for him that perfectly matched Nagato's bloodline.
On the other side, Uchiha Madara impatiently thrust his fingers into his own eye sockets.
With a poke and a pull, a pair of blood-red Three-Tomoe Sharingan, still attached with flesh and veins, were gouged out.
Taking the Rinnegan from Orochimaru, he pressed it into his own eye sockets.
As the two eyeballs rolled around, they were activated under Uchiha Madara's seemingly superb yet crude method (the self-repair of Hashirama Senju's Sage Cells).
Blinking a couple of times, the pale purple, wave-patterned Rinnegan once again lit up with brilliance.
"Hmm..."
"Powerful pupil power!"
"This feeling, it's truly nostalgic!"
"Orochimaru, fight me again!"
"Now, I should have the qualification to fight you, right?"
Orochimaru forced a smile.
"Heh heh..."
"There will be plenty of opportunities to fight in the future. If you want to fight, wait until you've thoroughly mastered the basic Six Paths power!" Kanzhenla
"Tch, how boring!"
Uchiha Madara snorted in displeasure and casually tossed the two bloody eyeballs to Orochimaru.
"The eyes I've used, I don't want to leave them to those useless scum in the clan."
"They're yours!"
Orochimaru didn't refuse and casually summoned a small snake to stuff into its eye sockets.
...
The next day.
At the Chunin selection exam venue located at the east gate of Konoha, the spectator stands were filled with people.
The Daimyo and nobles of the Five Great Countries, and the Kage of the Five Great Shinobi Villages sat in the best viewing positions, taking in the lively scene below.
Compared to Hiruzen Sarutobi, who sat in the main seat with a smile that could rival a blooming chrysanthemum, the Raikage, Tsuchikage, and Kazekage sitting beside him, as well as the Daimyo of the Five Great Countries further away, their moods were as evident as their expressions.
Barely...
No one was willing to be a mere foil.
Especially the Five Great Daimyo who held high positions and the Kage who were the coercive forces of the ninja world.
But there was no choice, the heavens of the ninja world had changed.
Even though the man who now only held the title of the Fourth Hokage's successor was not yet Hokage, everyone knew that the era of Konoha's supremacy in the ninja world had arrived.
As for how long this era would last...
It was likely that none of them would see an end to it.
...
Unlike the 'great figures' seated on the high platform, the young ninjas standing in the contestant area below were all excited, rubbing their hands together, wishing this grand event of the entire ninja world would begin immediately.
This excitement even infected the young ninjas who had already passed the Chunin exams.
One reason was the desire to participate in such a grand event that might only be seen once in a lifetime.
Another reason, one could understand by looking at the group of young and beautiful kunoichi from the Nadeshiko Village standing behind the Konoha genin.
"Damn it!"
Hikari cursed indignantly. He was one of the genin from Iwagakure who had accompanied Onoki to participate in the Chunin selection exam.
Hikari was no longer young. With his talent and strength, he should have become a qualified Chunin long ago.
In fact, his position in Iwagakure was already that of a Chunin.
Not only him, but also Daishi, Maji, and others who came to participate in the competition had, at the behest of Onoki, disguised themselves as rookie genin with Chunin or even Jonin-level strength to participate in the selection in Konoha.
This was to take advantage of the other villages' unfamiliarity with the new generation of Iwagakure experts, to achieve a victory through strength, and to use this opportunity of Konoha's 'clever' joint Chunin selection exam to showcase the powerful momentum of Iwagakure.
Therefore, these individuals with considerable strength looked down upon those Konoha genin who were surrounded by a bevy of beauties.
Why bring so many young female ninjas to a competition?
Are they bullying us Iwagakure girls by saying they aren't as pretty as your Konoha girls?
Truly 'indulgence leads to downfall'!
"Daishi, see those two brats over there?"
Hikari nudged his companion with his arm and pointed in the direction of the two Konoha genin who were being cheered on by a group of female ninjas.
"You mean the blonde one and the brown-haired one? I've always disliked them!"
Daishi looked at the two with disdain in his eyes.
"I don't know how the rules for the joint selection will be set. If it's a draw, then it's all up to luck."
"But if it's a series of matches or free selection of opponents..."
As Daishi spoke, he exchanged glances with Hikari and Maji beside him, and all three revealed malicious smiles.
"Then let's start with those two, hehe..."
...
Kushina frowned, like a mother hen protecting her chicks, standing in front of Minato Namikaze, pushing away the 'bad women' who wanted to get close to Minato.
"Vixen, trying to seduce Minato with your body?"
"Annoy Captain Kushina, and I'll scratch your faces to shreds!"
Kushina, relying on her brute strength, carved out a clear space around Minato, glaring angrily at the coquettish women who still wanted to crowd around.
"Hmm?"
Just as she was about to declare herself Minato's rightful girlfriend and make these shameless vixen retreat, Kushina suddenly felt a naked malice.
"Which blind fool dares to show murderous intent towards a Konoha ninja here?"
"Are they tired of living?"
She sneered inwardly and followed the direction indicated by Kurama's warning.
"Iwagakure?"
"To participate in the Chunin exams at this age, what idiots!"
Kushina scoffed and returned a 'you are all fools' look to the Iwagakure trio.
Hikari, Daishi, and Maji, who were looking at their opponents with malicious eyes, were stunned and exchanged glances. After confirming from each other's eyes that they had not misunderstood the meaning of Kushina's gaze, they became utterly enraged.
"She... she's mocking us?"
Hikari's voice trembled with anger, even wanting to jump in front of Kushina and stab the ignorant red-haired woman to death with the short blades on his arms.
"Don't be rash!"
Daishi was calmer and gently placed a hand on Hikari's shoulder, slowly shaking his head.
"The Daimyo of the Five Great Countries and the Kage of each village are all here. We cannot break the rules."
"When the selection begins..."
"The strength of Konoha ninjas is formidable. If we are forced to fight with our full strength and accidentally lose control, causing some casualties, it won't bring any negative influence to the village, right?"
"Perhaps... the Tsuchikage-sama might even reward us!"
Hearing this, Hikari and Maji, their expressions excited, exchanged glances and grinned sinisterly.
"Friends from Iwagakure, hello!"
"Are you discussing how to deal with Konoha's strong enemies later? Want to join us?"