Chuunin Exams Part 1

Minato and Kushina's first Chuunin exams. Minato just turned 12 and Kushina is almost 12.

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"I don't feel comfortable sending the two of you to Iwa. Our relationship with them is strained to say the least," The Hokage rubbed his forehead.

"Everyone who graduated with us has been promoted!" Minato protested.

"That doesn't mean you're ready to survive in the Iwa Chuunin exams. If I remember properly, the two of you were among the worst in your class."

"Hey!" Kushina exclaimed. "We're as good at sealing as you and Minato can win half the races against Jōnin!"

"Jiraiya, what do you think?"

"I'm not getting involved in this. I'm only here because I lost a bet with Minato."

"Hey!" The two Genin protested.

"Fine! I tested them myself. They'll survive the exams even if I'm not sure about a promotion. Neither have an ace up their sleeve."

"Isn't the fact that no one knows about it the very definition of an ace?" Kushina muttered to Minato.

The Hokage rubbed his temples in exasperation. "Who is going to be your third teammate?"

Minato shrugged. "I read the rules, it said the competitors had to enter in teams no larger than three. It didn't say there had to be three."

"You're going to allow this Jiraiya?"

"If the two gaki want to get themselves killed, so be it. Less people trying to trick me into things."

The Hokage threw a blank scroll at him the exact same second the two Genin threw punches at him. Throwing himself flat on his back to avoid all three, he kicked out at blinding speed and knocked the legs out from under Minato and Kushina. Minato nearly managed to jump over his leg but Jiraiya caught his toes on his shin and Minato barely managed to catch himself on the ground.

"Enough!" The Hokage snapped as they all leapt to their feet. "You can go to the exams. If you cause one spot of trouble, Jiraiya will bring you straight home. Understand?"

"Why do I have to bring them?"

"On second thought, I'll find another Jōnin to be your sensei while Jiraiya spends the two months you'll be gone doing D-ranks."

"I would love to take them to Iwa!" Jiraiya backtracked.

"Too late. All of you, out of my office!"

They all scrambled out of the room.

The second the door closed behind them, Minato and Kushina slapped each other high-fives.

"Speak for yourself," Jiraiya grumbled as he shunshined out of the tower.