Fire Radio-June 2nd
Nee Oname: This is Fire Radio, the voice of the republic and the hottest station is the countries. Excitement is heating up for the beginning of the Chunnin Exams, hosted in Fire for the first time in four years exams and scheduled to start in mere weeks. Here with us tonight is Hayate Gekko, the coordinator of the Chunnin Exams. It's good to have you here Mr Gekko.
Gekko: (coughing sounds) Good to be here Mr. Oname.
Oname: Now then, Mr. Gekko, what can you tell us about the Chunnin Exams?
Gekko: (more coughing) The Chunnin Exams are exams allowing genin, or rookie ninja, to advance in rank. They are the main way of determining promotion during peacetime. The chunnin exams consist of a series of team and single events measuring various skills needed to be a ninja.
Oname: Some people object to these games as to violent? Claiming they are a degenerate form of entertainment and a modern gladiator combat.
Gekko: (laughs) I would point out that most promotions are earned as a result of battlefield mission, and the exams are a lot let violent than that. Furthermore the majority of events are not particularly violent. While some are, we would be remiss if we did not include them. Imagine promoting genin who couldn't fight.
Oname: (Laughs) So what about the new Hanabi Shrine movie coming out? Do you think that will hurt attendance?
Gekko: I think (coughs) I think that the fact that the movie is having its debut showing in the stadium itself should show how we feel about it. The movie and the exams are largely two different demographics, and I don't think they will hurt each other. In fact we think that the two can work together. During the exams we've set up a number of camera's to capture the events, and we are planning to allow movies to use them as pre-movie shorts. For the first time ever people unable to personally attend should be able to experience the true drama of the events.
Oname: Having gone myself, I assure folks it's not to be missed. Heck it's probably worth the price of admission just for the short. Moving on, you mentioned the stadium, several senators have criticized the new stadium, calling it a pork barrel project. What do you have to say to that?
Gekko: Well first I'd point out how many of those same senators are also receiving public works within their own districts. (Laughter) Furthermore the larger stadium is more than just a stadium, it's a matter of security. The old stadium was located too close to Konoha proper, and afforded to many security risks. The new stadium alleviates those problem. Furthermore the stadium will help pay for itself with ticket sales, something that can't be said for a lot of other projects.
Oname: Well glad to hear that. So any speculation on what teams are hot? A lot of people betting on the hero's of wave, what's your opinion?
Gekko: (coughs) Sorry that's something I really can't speculate on. I work with the Jonin instructors and I don't think it would be fun back at the office if I started speculating.
Oname: (Laughs) Well I understand that. How about the foreign teams?
Gekko: Now that I can. Smart money this year is on Konoha. (coughs) And I'm not just saying because I come from there. Last year's exams were held in Earth, and they sent most of their best teams to that one. Similarly lightning will be holding it's exams next year, so they're holding most of their strong contenders back until then. And finally with, Water civil war over, they are planning to once again host the exams and I likely holding back their strong teams until they're redebut.
Oname: What about Suna and smaller villages? I understand the kazekage's son is participating and a new village is competing this year.
Gekko: That's right, the village of Sound is making their first appearance. Honestly though the smaller villages are unlikely to do well, they simply lack the training, resources and talent pool of larger villages. If they were good enough to consistently do well, they wouldn't be a small village. I'm even less optimistic about Sound. First generation village are notoriously weak, especially one founded without the help of another village. They simply don't have anyone to properly instruct them. Now it is possible that either might do well, but it's a very long shot.
Now Sand, by contrast is the foreign team to beat. The kage is sending his heir into the exam. Given that this will be the world's first major look at the next kazekage, he wouldn't do so unless he was sure he can win. In every tournament involving one of the kage's heirs they have made it to the finals, and the majority have won.
Oname: Thank you for your time Mr. Gekko. One last question, a lot of complaints have arisen about the Marathon event, claiming it favors the larger villages. What do you have to say about this.
Gekko: Utterly ridiculous (coughs). Anyone claiming so is either badly misinformed our outright lying. While the larger villages do have more Jonin, this is a disadvantage if anything. Given the heavy diplomatic problems of killing another village's genin within the exams, most prefer to go after their own villages. Furthermore given the number of times I've heard the Jonin grousing about the genin they are settled with, I suspect that the biggest danger will come from the teams own instructor.
Oname: Well that's all the time we have for now. That was Hayate Gekko, coordinator for the chunnin exams. And remember, Fire Radio will be covering the entire thing, so be sure to tune in on the 20th for the beginning of the exams.
Written by clockworkchaos.