Chapter 48
"Alright, I think that'll be all for today."
Kakashi watched in silent amusement as his Genin all fell back onto the ground, gasping for air as if he was cruel enough to deprive them of it.
Their training was coming along nicely. As surprising and unpractical as it is, Sakura had gotten accustomed to her new weapon. Hinata had gotten more proficient with her style of the Gentle Fist, while Sasuke was...well, it was hard to discern his status when he rarely showed anything against his teammates if Naruto wasn't around. Well, at least he had a goal other than vengeance.
A year ago, put these three before him, and they wouldn't have even made it past introduction. It was a testament to their willingness to improve from their previous selves that lit a spark within him to see just how far they could go.
"Alright kids, that'll be all for today." At once, activity in the training grounds ceased. All three Genin found their way to the Jonin, each dutifully awaiting his orders—a trait nailed into them before they were even his. He really owed Naruto Ramen for being so diligent. "Before you head home, I have an important announcement for you."
"Are you teaching us a new Jutsu, Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura eagerly asked.
"Nope, but I argue it's just as special." Reaching into his pouch, he pulled out a scroll. Unfurling it revealed a separate piece of paper inside—three to be exact. "As you may already know, next week's Chunin Exams will be taking place in Konoha, and I have already recommended you all for the promotion."
The statement was met with grins that slowly crept onto their faces, even on that of the silent Uchiha.
"Now now, before you get too excited, I must first get you all to sign this form. It essentially confirms that you are ready and willing to take the exams. If even one of you doesn't sign, then the whole team won't go."
"Then sign us up," the pinkette said, her voice as confident and firm as he had ever heard. "I won't let my team down, not when we've all come so far. We've been trained by the best, so I know we'll kick ass!"
The sentiment was shared amongst the others, their eyes alight with determination.
"Your belief in us will not be misplaced, Kakashi-san." Hinata bowed.
"...Hn." Sasuke gave his own, though quieter, response.
Kakashi regarded the three Genin, each one standing tall and firm under his gaze. He would never admit it, but he felt a small twinge of pride in his chest as he looked upon them, feeling like a parent watching their child's first steps into an admittedly cruel world.
He smiled underneath his mask. "Alright then. Just one more thing before you sign. This particular exam won't be like the others. It is the first exam where four of the major villages will be in attendance, as well as three minor ones. In essence, it will be the biggest Chunin Exam known to the Elemental Nations. Talent from all over the world will be in attendance, some of whom are more bloodthirsty than any Shinobi you have faced in recent months. Knowing this, do you still wish to enter?"
A moment of silence passed. It was perfectly understandable to hesitate, even for a moment, after hearing what lay ahead. The stakes weren't just high—they were daunting. The Chunin Exams weren't a simple display of skill, they were a trial by fire. With all major villages in attendance, the stakes were higher than they ever had been before.
But his Genin had grown, and Kakashi believed they were ready. Now, it was up to them to prove it to themselves.
To his surprise, it was Sasuke who broke the tension. "Just give us the papers already. If the best from every village are going to be there, then that's where we belong. They are only stepping stones compared to...our convictions."
His words were backed with strong nods from his teammates.
Kakashi envisioned himself wiping away a stray tear. Truly, they had grown.
Upon finishing their signatures, Kakashi took the papers and gave them one final eye-smile.
"Alright then, kids, that concludes our training for the day. We will take things easy in the following days. As a show of good faith, I'll teach you all a cool new technique before the exams. Until then~."
Without further ado, Team 7 dispersed, leaving Kakashi alone with his thoughts.
He had done his part, and he had full faith in his students. Now, it was up to them to make a name for themselves.
"Boss!"
Sasuke's eye twitched at the voice. Sakura and Hinata looked at their teammate as if expecting him to react. When nothing was done, they turned to the voice behind them before returning to the Uchiha.
"Uh, I think that kid is talking to you, Sasuke-kun." Sakura annoyingly pointed out instead of ignoring him like he had been doing.
He decided to ignore her too and let his mouth continue consuming his ramen. He could say what he wanted about their unfairly gifted sensei, but at least he had good taste in food.
"Boss! BOSS! Come on, boss! Stop ignoring me!" Much to his annoyance, the voice continued, and with each passing second, the volume grew louder and the voice more shrill.
"I believe you have company, Sasuke-kun." Hinata, ever the polite one, added her two ryo.
So he ignored her too.
"BOSS! BOOOOOOSS! Why are you ignoring me? BOSS!"
"KAMI, ANSWER HIM BEFORE I BREAK YOUR LEGS!" Another voice, sitting just a few feet to his right, yelled in response to the noise. Taking a glance at the girl who had been here before them, he once again took notice of her unnatural mint-green hair and pupilless eyes, much like his teammate's. The red scroll on her back and the headband around her neck indicated she was a Shinobi, likely Genin, from a village he couldn't identify.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on the point of view, the kid's voice met the mint-haired girl's threat with equal intensity.
"WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE TALKING TO THE BOSS LIKE THAT?"
"I'LL TALK TO WHOEVER I WANT HOWEVER WHEN THEY ARE INTERRUPTING MY MEAL, SHRIMP!"
"I-I'm not a shrimp! I just haven't reached my growth spurt yet! And you can't talk to ME like that! I'm the grandson of the Hokage you flat-chested pig!"
The old Sasuke wouldn't have even seen her move. In the blink of an eye, the greenette had her arm wrapped around the kid's helmet, hoisting him up until the grandson of the Hokage was eye to eye with the foreign Shinobi.
"You wanna say that again, shrimp? Go ahead, I dare you."
The boy gulped audibly. Sasuke could practically feel the boy's eyes on his back, expecting him to intervene at any moment. Unfortunately for the kid, Sasuke had no intention of interfering.
"Now now, there's no need for violence." Hinata was the one who stepped in, putting a hand on the mocha-skinned girl and giving her that smile that Sasuke couldn't tell was her being genuine or threatening. "Please forgive him, Shinobi-san. He's just a kid who doesn't know any better."
As if emboldened by someone coming to his defense, Konohamaru grinned smugly before opening his mouth once more, "Th-that's right, you better listen! You're lucky we're in the middle of a civilized place. Otherwise, I would've-"
"Konohamaru-kun," the calm Hyuga's voice cut through his words, silencing the boy immediately. "You should apologize to the young lady for interrupting her meal. It is only polite, no?"
The boy paled, and for good reason too. As politely spoken as Hinata is, there was something about her tone that could make even the bravest hearts falter. It wasn't loud, it wasn't harsh—it was simply final.
The boy visibly slackened, muttering an 'I'm sorry' that was barely audible.
The mint-haired girl narrowed her eyes but ultimately dropped the boy back on his feet before moving back to her corner of Ramen shop and eagerly shouting, "Hey chief! Four more bowls on the double! Put it on my boy friend's tab!"
"Four more rounds coming right up!"
It wasn't normal for Sasuke to feel pity for someone, but he definitely felt sorry for whoever it was that decided to court this girl.
Turns out the mint-haired girl from the other day wasn't the only foreign Shinobi Sasuke would have an unfortunate run-in with. In fact, their encounter was tame compared to the current.
"I said that we were here first, blondie! If ya want it so bad, you can take it after I've shoved my foot up yer ass you overcompensating desert bitch!"
"I have a better idea. How about I shove some dirt in your mouth? I'm sure the roaches and worms will feel right at home, mountain rat."
"Big talk comin' from a weakling!"
"Well, at least I'm not some brain-dead hick who can't tell the difference between a kunai and a chopstick!"
"You wanna say that again, bitch?! My fist couldn't hear ya!"
From the sidelines, Sasuke quietly observed the scene alongside three others. The Sunagakire guy in a onesie with makeup was likely the blonde's teammate, while the tall blonde girl with massive...assets and the male, dark-skinned albino next to her were both likely the fiery redhead's. At the very least, they weren't lacking in character.
"Uh, shouldn't we stop this?" The albino spoke up, his voice a mix between worry and discomfort.
"Nah, let 'em hash things out themselves. I'm sure they'll come to an understanding." The make-up-wearing teen dismissed, his lackadaisical disposition, along with his smirk, indicating he was more than happy to let the verbal spat escalate into something more entertaining.
"Understanding? It looks like they're about two seconds away from ripping each other's throats out." A look of despair suddenly appeared on the albino's face. "And if that happens, it-it'll be a diplomatic incident! We'll be kicked out of the Chunin Exams and forever be Genin working at a desk! Our pay will be minimal, we won't be able to get a decent apartment, we'll eventually end up working odd jobs to keep the bills paid, and by the time I'm thirty, I'll end up marrying some girl who's just using me for money!"
Three pairs of eyes stared blankly at the albino. Not even Sasuke could hide his incredulousness at the over-the-top display.
"Dude, chill," the Sunagakure teen said. "They're both shinobi. They understand that they're on foreign soil, so I doubt they're stupid enough to risk damaging the reputation of their village over something as minor as-"
*BOOM*
Three heads returned to the scene just in time to see a crater appear and a red-headed female Shinobi fly back into a tree. The three foreign Shinobi stared with slack jaws, almost mirroring that of the redhead currently looking at the blonde who had sent her flying with a simple wave of two smaller fans she had suddenly pulled out of nowhere before her well-timed uppercut could crack her jaw. The smirk on the desert dweller's face was all the fuel she needed to erupt.
"YOU'RE DEAD, BITCH!"
With speeds that belied their status as Genin, both sides' teammates appeared before their respective comrade, one holding back a thrashing redhead, the other simply standing by less things escalate further.
And Sasuke?
He turned and began walking away. There is more than one training ground after all, and he didn't have time to continue witnessing the childish antics of foreign shinobi. The Chunin Exams were fast approaching, and he needed to be prepared.
"Welcome home, Duckhead."
Sasuke did his damnedest to keep his expression neutral, but he was learning that doing so was only increasing his irritation.
"What are you doing in my house?" He questioned the green-haired demon woman (because what else could she be with such absurd strength).
"I'm teaching the kids how to play Spades. It's a popular game back home." Byleth's answer did not satisfy Sasuke's curiosity. In fact, it only added fuel to his growing annoyance as he glanced at the three others sitting in a circle on his living room floor.
He only recognized 3 of them. Hinata, the girl smiling in that way that wasn't fake but wasn't entirely genuine, Sakura, the only one who looked guilty as she waved, and the mint-haired girl from the Ramen stand a few days back.
The last was yet another foreigner, yet unlike her female counterparts, she looked almost painfully ordinary. Short red hair, red eyes, and red glasses, an open beige shirt with a grey skirt and fishnet armor and stockings. She looked meek, pathetically so. If it weren't for the headband wrapped around her forehead, he would have easily mistaken her as a civilian.
That didn't take away the fact that she, along with the other four, were all under his roof.
"That doesn't answer my question. Why are you in my house?" He pressed, seemingly the only one seeing the potential danger of having foreign Shinobi where you sleep.
"Because, Naruto has been busy for the past few days, Sakura's house is too small, and the Hyuga are a bunch of stuck up pricks with sticks too far up their asses... No offense, Hinata."
"None taken." The former heiress responded calmly, though her faint smile suggested she agreed to some extent.
"...There are plenty of empty houses around here." Sasuke pointed out, not wishing to argue further, especially with the woman who was as insufferable as his former sensei. Nevertheless, he had to point out the obvious, and as always, she didn't disappoint in her ability to get under his skin.
"Your house is the only one with a working fridge." The statement was emphasized by her lifting up a carbonated drink, one that was present next to each 'guest' in his home.
He had nothing to say after that. He just...had nothing.
"S-sorry to intrude, I-I'll leave immediately," the meek redhead suddenly spoke, beginning to stand to her feet. Byleth's hand shot out to wrap around her wrist, visibly startling the girl.
"It's fine, Karin. I invited you, so you're welcome." She turned to Sasuke. "Right?" Her tone was cordial, polite even. However, unlike the foreigners, Sasuke knew what she was capable of, and knew she wasn't asking. He would never admit to fearing this woman, but his lack of fear didn't mean he was stupid. There were more diplomatic ways to deal with the situation than simply invoking his authority over his property, ways that didn't have to end with either his house damaged or his face broken. It was logical, not fear.
Deciding to listen to the small voice in his head, he sighed and headed towards the stairs. This was a headache he'd deal with tomorrow.
"Sweet dreams, princess!" He ignored the mint-haired one's comment and headed straight for his room. A good night's rest would hopefully be enough for the Exams tomorrow...if that woman didn't inadvertently get him killed before the morning.
Next Day
Academy Grounds
"Uchiha Sasuke, I challenge you."
He couldn't be this unlucky.
There was simply no way his luck could be this bad.
Once is chance, twice is a coincidence, and three times is a pattern.
He was past at least twenty by now.
There was the ramen stand, the training grounds, the invasion of his home, his team getting stood up by Naruto nearly a week ago now, Wave, and two more that were minor but adding to the growing list of misfortune that had befallen him and his team in recent months. He wouldn't be caught dead admitting to the superstitious belief that Naruto was somehow the cause of their recent stream of bad luck, but the more days went by, the more the blonde seemed like the perfect scapegoat.
Now?
Now, a spandex-wearing, bowl haircut-sporting, ninja-wannabe was standing before him, challenging him. Him. What made it so much worse was the fact he was a Konoha Shinobi, meaning win or lose, he would have to see the weirdly dressed boy again sometime in his immediate future.
"I see you are confused!" the spandex-wearing teen said with a blinding smile and a thumb raised. "Allow me to introduce myself! I am Rock Lee, a proud taijutsu specialist and the beautiful green beast of Konoha! I have come to prove my strength against the famed Uchiha prodigy and humbly ask that you accept my challenge!"
Sasuke could do little else but stare at the guy's exuberance. The guy was serious. Dead serious.
"Oh my, it seems even men aren't immune to the Uchiha charm." As always, Hinata's veiled teasing was not too far behind. Sasuke shot her a sharp glare, but she merely smiled, unbothered by his annoyance. Sakura, on the other hand, seemed to have shifted to standing behind the Hyuga as if to hide. Strange, but irrelevant.
"We don't have time to entertain fools. Besides, there is no need to prove myself against someone weaker than me." He brushed off the challenge, yet surprisingly, his words had no effect on the guy.
Instead of being deterred, Rock Lee's smile only seemed to grow brighter, as if Sasuke's dismissive response had fueled his determination rather than diminished it.
"Ah, but Uchiha-san," Lee began, his tone earnest, "one cannot measure strength without testing it against another's! How can we truly grow if we do not challenge ourselves? I may not possess natural talent, but as a genius of hard work, I am confident in proving whatever misconceptions you may have of me can and will be disproven!"
He was met with a long, drawn-out silence. Sasuke felt no guilt for being unable to comprehend Lee's reasoning. His speech was as ridiculous as it was corny. The guy's eyes were alight with the fires of passion (quite literally), the conviction within his words admirable, and his will unbreakable. It was...just...
"Well, Sasuke? Are you really going to refuse such a strapping young man's passionate confession? Once again, Hinata's unwelcome goading was met with a glare. "What's wrong? Don't tell me you're afraid of a little friendly competition."
He would not fall for her taunt. He would not fall for her taunt. He would not fall for her taunt. He would not...
"...Fine." He caved.
The way the green-clad teen lit up was nauseating. "WONDERFUL! Then please, attack whenever you are ready!"
Instead of taking insult to the statement, Sasuke did just that. Charging forward, he aimed a kick right at Lee's head. With lightning speed, the green-clad teen moved, dodging the attack effortlessly and countering with his own kick.
Much to Lee's shock, it connected. Sasuke's head snapped back, his eyes wide and body stiff from the blow before his body hit the floor.
The lull that passed was loud as the Uchiha struggled to push himself back to his feet. When he did, he glared at Lee, ready to continue fighting despite the blood dripping from his mouth. Nevertheless, Lee remained prepared and allowed Sasuke to charge once more.
This time, Lee started with a jab to the stomach, one the Uchiha expertly dodged, only to be hit by a roundhouse kick to the temple that sent him tumbling down. Once again, Lee waited for the games Uchiha to shakily stand and try again, and again, and again, and again.
The more he got knocked down, the less Lee wished to fight. In fact, at this point, it felt more like he was kicking around a kid who had never learned how to properly throw a punch than a clan member famed for talent.
It felt...wrong. It was a feeling he never thought to associate with fighting someone said to be as talented as Hyuga Neji.
It didn't feel as if it was purely his skill either. That desperation in Uchiha's eyes, the drive, the frustration. It reminded him of...
A hand shot out to catch his opponent's latest blow, stopping the Uchiha in his tracks. As expected, Sasuke threw the other hand. That too was caught with minimal ease, the fist practically shaking in Lee's grip as he tried to break free.
"That is enough, Uchiha-san."
Lee's words were calm yet firm, as if addressing a younger sibling rather than an opponent. Sasuke gritted his teeth, pulling against Lee's iron grip to no avail. His Sharingan flared, red eyes boring into Lee's, but it wasn't enough to change the outcome.
"You have great potential," Lee continued, his voice devoid of mockery. "But right now, your body cannot keep up with your spirit. It would not be honorable to continue this fight when your determination exceeds your current strength."
"Let go of me," Sasuke hissed, Lee able to see the pride over the pain. Those eyes, the desperation in them, he knew them all too well.
"It is OK, Uchiha-san. I understand."
"You don't understand anything!"
"I do," Lee answered without pause. "It hurts, does it not? The expectations, the mockery, knowing that no matter how hard you work, it seems to never be enough. The frustration, the anger, the self-loathing—I know it well."
"Y...you don't," Sasuke weakly refuted.
Lee's grip softened, but he did not let go. His dark eyes held Sasuke's crimson Sharingan with unwavering resolve. "I do," he said again, his voice calm yet weighted with sincerity. "I know what it's like to feel that you're always chasing something, someone, and no matter how fast you run, they always seem just out of reach."
Sasuke's hands stopped struggling, though his fists remained clenched. His gaze wavered, a flicker of doubt crossing his face.
"You are not weak," Lee continued. "You are strong, Uchiha-san. But strength is not just in talent or bloodlines. It is in how you rise after every fall, how you endure when everything in you screams to give up. And you... you have already proven you have that strength. So don't give up. Never give up."
Youthful tears streamed down the Uchiha's face, bringing an honest smile to Lee as tears of his own eyes.
As if there was an unspoken signal between them, they both clasped hands. It was a manly gesture, one that conveyed respect and admiration between men. It was a moment Lee never thought in a million years he would share with Uchiha Sasuke of all people, but it was a treasure he wouldn't
"Thank you, Uchiha-san. I will never forget this day." Lee said, smiling at his newest comrade.
"I won't either. Not until I'm as strong as you." Hearing Sasuke's words caused Lee's smile to grow even more. Truly, this is one of the best days of his life.
...
"...So, what do you think he's seeing?"
"Don't know, don't care." Sasuke responded to Sakura's inquiry dismissively, not caring for the 'moment' Lee was having with himself downstairs. Skilled or not, they didn't have time to waste on potential injury, be it bodily or pride, and if the guy couldn't defend against a Genjutsu that simple, then he wasn't worth wasting time on. They were here for one thing and one thing only, and that was to become Chunin.
Finding the correct room, Sasuke led the charge and opened the double doors. He was met with a crowd of Genin from all over the Elemental Nations. The room was a mix of tension and excitement, the air electric with anticipation.
Sasuke's sharp gaze swept across the gathering, his Sharingan deactivated but his mind already analyzing every individual he deemed noteworthy.
He spotted the Kumo redhead and her team from a few days ago, as well as the Suna team just a few rows forward—thankfully, not within speaking distance of each other. Everyone else was practically faceless to his eyes.
"Are all of these guys really here for the exams?" Sakura muttered, folding her arms as her gaze settled on an overly rowdy group of Genin arguing near the far wall. "I don't recognize half these headbands. And some of these guys look way too old to be Genin."
"They're likely repeats. Not everyone passes on the first, or even second try." Hinata gave context to her teammate's thoughts, Sasuke nodding in silent acknowledgment while remaining detached from the chaos around him. This was his chance to rise beyond his current limitations, and nothing—no matter how chaotic or irritating—was going to interfere with that goal.
"SASUKE-KUUUUUUUN!"
...so why does fate continue to toy with him so?
He did nothing to stop the incoming missile that crashed into his side to wrap around his neck. A cheek was now pressed into his as a loud, obnoxious voice echoed in his ears, causing the corner of his eye to twitch in growing frustration.
"It's been ages, Sasuke-kun! Seriously, you're so mean not stopping by or even sending a letter. How do you expect me to go on if you don't give a girl proper attention?"
Sasuke did nothing to hide his annoyance, turning his head so his gaze could settle on the annoying blonde latched onto his neck.
"Get off." He roughly pried the blonde from him, shoving her back towards her approaching teammates.
"You're so cold, Sasuke-kun~. I can't help it if you're such a cutie." the blonde, Yamanaka Ino, whined, batting her eyelashes in a vain attempt to gain favor.
"As piggy as always." Sakura muttered just loud enough for the right ears to hear.
Ino's blue eyes turned into daggers, her lips twisting into a sneer as she returned the pinkette's stare with venom. "And I see you brought roaches."
Sakura's fists clenched, her temper rising at Ino's insult. "Roaches? At least I don't latch onto people like some desperate flea!"
Ino crossed her arms, smirking with confidence. "Better a flea than a roach feeding off the talent of others."
"H-how dare you-"
"Are you guys really gonna start here?" Shikamaru stepped in, having no desire to have attention drawn to them for something as childish as catfighting.
"Yeah chill, guys. *Munch munch* We're all on the same side here." Chōji added, the Akimichi stuffing his face with chips.
"This group is as loud as ever," entered the voice of Inuzuka Kiba. Behind him, Aburame Shino and a long-haired brunette girl, Sasuke vaguely remember seeing in class, followed. Kiba's attention suddenly glued to Hinata, specifically to her open jacket. "Damn! I'm diggin' the new look, Hinata." The Inuzuka boy said, flashing what he probably thought was a charming grin. Hinata, however, responded with a polite but dismissive smile, clearly uninterested in the attention.
"Kiba-kun, please focus. We're here to compete, not flirt," the brunette girl whose name Sasuke couldn't recall chided, crossing her arms.
"Yeah, yeah," Kiba waved her off with a scoff. "Still, doesn't mean I can't say hi to an old friend, right?" He grinned, flashing his signature sharp-toothed smile as he directed his attention back to Hinata. Akamaru barked in agreement, perched on his head.
Hinata, ever composed, simply nodded with a polite smile. "Thank you, Kiba-kun. I hope your training has been going well."
"Better than ever! Akamaru and I got techniques guaranteed to crush anyone in this exam. Right, buddy?"
The little white dog yipped in excitement, earning a few amused glances from nearby Genin.
"Focus, Kiba," Shino interjected, his voice calm and quiet as always. "The Chunin Exams are not a stage for boasting. Arrogance does nothing but garner unwanted attention."
"Tch. What's up with you guys? We're in the top rookie team of our year, and we're the ones who got chosen for the exams. Why wouldn't we be confident? You gotta show these bastards that we ain't just a buncha kids who got lucky!" Kiba loudly protested, the exact opposite of the Aburame's advice.
As was to be expected, more eyes turned to the rookies, glares and looks of disdain from the older and more experienced Genin now on them.
"Troublesome. You just had to be the center of attention." Shikamaru remarked.
Giving credit where credit is due, Kiba did not back down from the attention. In fact, it emboldened him. Stepping forward, his ganged grin spread, and the rookie 9 knew he was about to say something that would likely paint targets on their backs.
They were saved by the door behind them suddenly slamming open. All eyes turned to see another group of Genin in the doorway, one with her leg outstretched. Slowly, it came down, revealing mint-green hair and a cocky expression.
Sasuke recognized her immediately. Hard not to when she was literally in his house not 24 hours ago. He could only guess the dumbfounded two behind her were her teammates, both of whom Sasuke could almost see the word 'canon-fodder' written above their heads.
Walking forward, arms crossed with long, exaggerated steps, she passed the rookie 9 completely and stopped just in front of the entire congregation. Scanning the crowd briefly, she took in a deep breath. A moment later, she pointed out towards the crowd. Sasuke couldn't see her face, but there was no doubt in his mind that she was grinning like the idiot she was.
"MY NAME IS FŪ, AND I'M GONNA KICK EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOUR ASSES!"
You could hear a pen drop in the silence that followed the girl's declaration. All eyes were glued to the bold girl who had practically declared war on every single competitor in the room. A mix of shock, amusement, and disbelief passed through the crowd like a ripple, affecting even the most seasoned Genin.
Sasuke was waiting for someone, anyone, to be bold enough to retaliate. If he was lucky, they both would get disqualified. At the very least, there would be one less nuisance in the exam.
Unfortunately, no one seemed to be willing or stupid enough to bite the bait. Fortunate for them, because yet another disturbance had everyone's attention turned back to the front of the classroom. Three men now stood before the podium, all decked out in formal Jonin uniforms with trench coats. The man in the center was easily the tallest and broadest, his head covered by a black bandana with the Leaf hitai-ate imbedded in the fabric, and two large scars adorning the same face currently devoid of any emotion.
"Everyone, take a seat and shut up. The first phase of the Chunin Exams is about to begin."
...
Sasuke quitly observed the questions on the piece of paper meant to be their first obstacle in these exams. Just looking at the first question already had him furrowing his brow in contemplation.
'Explain the importance of the Daimyo's economic and political role in relation to the village.'
What the hell kind of question was that? Forget about whether or not they had even learned that in the academy, what exactly did it even have to do with being Chunin? Such a question sounded more like something ANBU or even the Hokage would need to know, not a Genin.
The Uchiha knew he wasn't alone in his confusion. All around him, many of the other examinees were giving their own tests a confused or uncertain look. Some were already starting to panic, realizing just how unprepared they were.
Looking to his left, his eyes caught a patch of red, along with a pencil that hadn't stopped since he'd put a fist to his eye. Further down, he saw Kiba, his dog still on his head and barking softly as the boy smirked and filled out his paper. Just past him, Ino was slumped on her desk, while just in front of her, Sakura was scanning her paper with a smirk he didn't think was hers.
Looking to his left, he saw a similar scene. A few rows down, Hinata's Byakugan was activated, Shikamaru seemed to be moving in sync with Chōji, two stone Shinobi were tapping on the desk every few seconds, a clear sign of Morse code.
"Number 217, fail."
Everyone turned to the sudden call, the Shinobi in question paling as the proctor, an older woman with a stern glare, stood next to him.
"You've been caught cheating. Hand over your test and exit the room."
A wave of silence washed over the room as the accused Genin did as he was told and quietly made his way towards the back along with his clearly pissed-off teammates.
'If we catch you cheating 5 times, you fail.' The words of the proctor repeated in his head. Seeing as they were given 5 chances to get the right answers, it was clear from the beginning what they were supposed to do.
They were meant to cheat.
That fact couldn't be any clearer as the mint-haired loudmouth from earlier stood from her chair, walked over to another tester who had finished, whispered something in his ear that turned the poor bastard white, traded papers, and casually returned to her seat with a smile practically splitting her face.
Absurdly idiotic as the action was, it actually worked! As odd as it may sound, she didn't break any rules. It was brazen enough to be passable and not get kicked out. More than likely, she only lost one point, which was a lot better than failing outright. Be it cleverness or balls of steel, she wouldn't be the reason her team went home today.
"Number 137, fail."
Yet another examinee was called out, this time, it was a boy who looked as if he would faint. His teammates were no better, each looking more scared and desperate than the last.
"Number 381, fail."
"Number 228, fail."
"Number 7, fail."
"Number 262, fail."
"Number 72, fail."
"Number 125, fail."
The room was now filled with nervous energy, and for good reason too. They had been in the room for half an hour, and 30 percent of the competition had already failed. The tension was mounting, the stakes were rising, and the pressure was beginning to take a toll.
Not sharing in their nervousness, the Uchiha closed his eyes. A moment later, they opened, and his Sharingan spun. Searching the room, he sought out a target, anyone he deemed smart.
Luckily for him, just a few rows down to his left, he spotted an Iwa Kunoichi halfway done with her paper. Observing her closely, he noticed her hand under her desk, tapping in that rhythm he heard earlier. Seems she was the one giving answers to the rest, which was perfect for him.
Smirking to himself, he began to write.
...
"You all...pass."
A breath of relief swept throughout the room.
It had been two hours. Two long, stressful hours of witnessing nearly half of the competition being eliminated one after the other due to their own incompetence or arrogance. One even attempted to mimic Fū's earlier boldness and was promptly knocked unconscious for it. At the very least, everyone learned that if they were going to be so brazen, then they would have to be smart enough to not pick the one Iwa shinobi that was twice their size.
Over 45% of the room sat in waiting for their next challenge, those who passed both the test and mind games of the final question where they threatened to forever hold back their team if they couldn't answer. Thankfully, no one in Team 7, nor the rookie 9, fell victim to their bluffs. Not one of them. They were prepared for the next round, and he could see it in their eyes.
"We will now be moving to the second part of these exams. File out into the hall. Proctor Mitarashi Anko will lead you to the next location."
The proctor in question, a woman with purple hair and wearing a brown trench coat with nothing but fishnet underneath, stepped forward, her smirk wide. "Alright kiddies! Single file, and don't you dare break formation, capiche? Step so much as a toe out of line, and I promise to remove it."
No one questioned her authority, the room clearing out in minutes.
It took almost 30 minutes to get to the next location. A field deep within the forest, far beyond the village gates. Surrounding the forest were dozens upon dozens of Shinobi, many of whom were Jonin. Behind them were trees that stood taller than even the village gates, creating a shadowy canopy that gave the place an eerie atmosphere. Blocking off the entrance to the trees were wired fences, a single sign standing atop them.
'Forest of Death'
If the sight wasn't ominous enough, the sign definitely nailed in the point.
"Allllright, kiddies!" All attention went back to the scantily clad Jonin. "Would love to share with you the joyful wonders of this beautiful forest, but fortunately for you, I'm not the proctor this year." Saying that, her hand left her pockets to reveal multiple round, colorful object they each recognized immediately. "Good luuuuck~."
With that, they were dropped, and multiple colorful smoke clouds covered the Jonin, forcing everyone in close vicinity to shield their eyes. When the smoke cleared, the there was no more Mitarashi Anko, but there was someone in her place. Someone I'm much...shorter.
Blonde, spikey hair with matching green bangs and eyes, barely visible whisker marks, and a neutral, expressionless face that was difficult to read...wait.
Multiple eyes widened in recognition.
"My name is Uzumaki Naruto, and I will be the proctor for the second phase of this year's Chunin Exams."
A/N: My thoughts and prayers goes out to those currently suffering from the California fires. I know my words are very little help to what you need, but I do pray that the tragedy that has befallen you isn't the end of your story. Stay safe and stay strong.
Nothing much to say this chapter. Pretty sure halfway through, you all knew the ending, so won't really say it was much of a surprise. Just know there are reasons for it that will be explained in the next chapter.
As always, thanks for the follows, favs, reviews, and have a DAMN good day!