Chapter 36: Drawing the Names
The atmosphere inside the arena was heavy with tension as the remaining genin teams gathered in a large, circular room. The walls loomed high above them, adorned with the village's symbol. The buzz of whispers filled the air as everyone waited anxiously for the announcement of their opponents. For the genin who had made it this far, the moment was both exciting and nerve-wracking.
Team 7 stood together near the back, quietly observing the others. The tension between Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura was palpable as they tried to keep their nerves in check. They knew this wasn't just about being strong enough to win—it was about being smart, strategic, and proving themselves as shinobi.
Kakashi stood nearby, leaning casually against the wall, his eyes ever-watchful under the guise of calm indifference. But his mind was on his students. He knew what they were feeling right now—he'd been in their shoes once. That nervous anticipation, the unspoken pressure to live up to expectations, the determination to not let their comrades down. He also knew that this moment, drawing their opponents for the one-on-one battles, was the first real taste of what was to come.
Across the room, other sensei stood by their teams: Kurenai with Team 8, Asuma with Team 10, and Gai with Team Guy. The genin were all trying to maintain their composure, but the air of competition was thick. Every one of them was sizing up the others, wondering who their next opponent might be.
Naruto was fidgeting, bouncing on his toes with restless energy. "I hope I get someone strong," he muttered, trying to pump himself up.
Sakura glanced at him, one eyebrow raised. "Naruto, you're always saying that, but then you freak out when things get tough."
He grinned nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Yeah, but this time's different. I'm ready. Believe it!"
Sasuke said nothing, his eyes focused straight ahead. He wasn't concerned about who his opponent would be. It didn't matter. He would fight, and he would win. That was the only option. But beneath that calm, cool exterior, there was something gnawing at him—a small flicker of doubt. The curse mark. He hadn't had time to fully understand it, or its impact on him, but it was there, lurking just beneath the surface. And that uncertainty irritated him.
The doors to the room swung open, and in walked the Third Hokage, followed by the proctors of the exam. Anko was there, her usual smirk firmly in place, and beside her, a tall, silent man who had been monitoring the second phase of the exam. The room fell silent as the Hokage stepped forward.
"Congratulations to all of you for making it this far," the Hokage began, his deep, authoritative voice echoing around the room. "You have proven yourselves worthy to continue in the Chunin Exams. But the trials ahead will be even more challenging. You will face your peers in one-on-one combat, and the results of these battles will determine if you are fit to become chunin."
Naruto gulped audibly, his excitement temporarily replaced with a nervous lump in his throat. He glanced at Sasuke, who stood motionless, and Sakura, who was focused and calm. They had come a long way since their first mission, and he didn't want to let his team down.
The Hokage gestured to the board behind him. It was blank for now, but soon, it would display the matchups. "We will now randomly draw the names of those who will face each other in the first round of the final phase."
A murmur rippled through the room, as the genin exchanged glances. This was it. They would finally see who they were up against. The proctors stepped forward, each holding a container filled with small scrolls, each one bearing a genin's name. One by one, they drew the scrolls, and the names began to appear on the board.
Naruto craned his neck to see as the first name appeared.
Sasuke Uchiha vs. Yoroi Akado
Sasuke's eyes narrowed slightly. He didn't recognize the name, but that didn't matter. His opponent was just another obstacle, another challenge. And after everything that had happened in the Forest of Death, he had no intention of holding back. He needed to prove himself—not just to everyone else, but to himself. He could feel the curse mark's presence, like a shadow on his mind, and he would not let it control him.
The next name appeared on the board.
Zaku Abumi vs. Shino Aburame
Naruto watched with a grin. "Man, I wouldn't want to face that creepy bug guy," he muttered under his breath, leaning toward Sasuke. "Shino's always so... quiet."
Sasuke ignored him, still focused on the screen. He wasn't interested in idle chatter.
The next name came up.
Misumi Tsurugi vs. Kankuro
The puppeteer from the Sand Village. Naruto didn't know much about him, but he looked confident. Still, Misumi was a Leaf shinobi, so Naruto couldn't help but root for his fellow village mate, even if he'd never seen him in action before.
And then, finally, the next name appeared.
Sakura Haruno vs. Ino Yamanaka
Sakura's heart skipped a beat. Of course, it had to be Ino. Her old friend, her rival, and the girl who had made her life complicated for years. A mix of emotions flooded her—relief, because she knew Ino better than anyone here, and trepidation, because she also knew how strong Ino could be. This wasn't just about becoming a chunin. This was personal.
Naruto leaned in, grinning mischievously. "Hey, Sakura, looks like you get to fight your bestie. Bet that's gonna be fun, huh?"
Sakura shot him a glare. "This isn't a joke, Naruto. Ino and I… we've got history."
Sasuke, ever silent, glanced at her but said nothing. He knew how serious Sakura could be when it came to her rivalry with Ino. He had never really cared much about it before, but now, he understood there was more at stake than just a simple competition.
The next pairings continued to pop up on the screen, and the tension grew thicker with each new name.
Tenten vs. Temari
Both girls from rival villages. The Sand Village had proven their strength in the earlier phases of the exam, and Tenten, though strong, would have her work cut out for her.
Shikamaru Nara vs. Kin Tsuchi
Shikamaru sighed loudly, muttering under his breath, "Troublesome…" as he eyed his opponent with a bored look.
Kiba Inuzuka vs. Naruto Uzumaki
Naruto's eyes widened as he saw his own name flash on the board. "Kiba?!" he yelped, turning to look at his teammate from the academy, who was standing with his dog Akamaru not far away. "I can totally take him!"
Kiba, hearing this, smirked back at Naruto. "You wish, Naruto. Akamaru and I are gonna wipe the floor with you."
Naruto puffed up his chest. "Oh yeah? We'll see about that!"
The names continued to appear, the room now abuzz with whispers as the matchups became more real.
Hinata Hyuga vs. Neji Hyuga
There was a heavy silence as the room absorbed that particular pairing. The two Hyuga cousins would be forced to face each other in what promised to be a deeply emotional match.
Gaara vs. Rock Lee
Naruto whistled low under his breath. "That's gonna be one crazy fight…"
Finally, the last name appeared.
Dosu Kinuta vs. Choji Akimichi
With all the matchups now visible, the room grew quiet again. The Hokage stepped forward once more, his voice clear and steady. "These battles will take place in a few days. Use the time wisely to prepare yourselves. Remember, this is not just about individual strength. Show the village your growth, your resolve, and your ability to think and adapt under pressure. Dismissed."
With that, the proctors turned and began to leave, the doors to the arena room swinging open. The genin, still processing the matchups, slowly began to file out, talking quietly among themselves.
Naruto was still buzzing with energy. "Man, I can't wait for this! I'm gonna show everyone what I'm made of! Kiba won't know what hit him!"
Sasuke remained silent, already lost in thought about his upcoming fight. Whoever this Yoroi person was, it didn't matter. He would win. He had to win. There was no room for failure.
Sakura, meanwhile, was quieter than usual. Her mind was swirling with thoughts about Ino, about the years of rivalry and friendship that had led to this moment. She knew she had to give it her all. She couldn't lose—not to Ino.
Kakashi, who had remained silent through the entire process, finally stepped forward as the team prepared to leave. He placed a hand on Naruto's head, ruffling his hair slightly. "Don't get ahead of yourself, Naruto. Kiba's not going to be an easy opponent. Make sure you're ready."
Naruto grinned up at him. "Don't worry, Sensei! I'm always ready!"
Kakashi smiled beneath his mask, his visible eye crinkling. "We'll see."
Then, with a more serious tone, he added, "These fights are important. But remember what I said before. This is about more than just winning. Show everyone what Team 7 is made of. You've grown a lot, all of you. Now it's time to show it."
Sasuke glanced at him but didn't respond, his focus already on the battle ahead. Sakura nodded, her jaw set in determination. Naruto, of course, was already bouncing with excitement.
As they left the arena, walking into the sunlight, there was a strange sense of unity among them. Despite their differences, despite the rivalries and the personal struggles, they had come a long way. And now, as they headed into the final phase of the Chunin Exams, they would prove not just to the village, but to themselves, how far they had come.
They were ready for whatever came next.