Sparring with the girls became a regular routine. Every day, we trained in various combinations. Sometimes I faced Ayamane or Shiko one-on-one, and other times, I teamed up with Shiko against Ayamane, or the other way around. Often, the girls joined forces to fight me together. Once every three days, we fought as a full team against our captain.
My first sparring session, like all the others afterward, followed a similar pattern. I won in every configuration except when our opponent was sensei. I still lacked experience and strength, but these would come with time and depended only on me—not on any divine intervention.
As the captain had promised, he took charge of my training in Water Style and Earth Style techniques. However, the first technique he made me learn was the Shadow Clones jutsu. It was a risky technique because it evenly distributed chakra among all the clones, which meant my chakra pool would decrease proportionally. At most, I could create two clones, though technically, I could create more. When my chakra is almost depleted, my limit is fifty clones, which is quite impressive for a genin.
Two clones, however, were enough to avoid burning out during training. I alternated between Water and Earth styles with one clone. If I trained in Water Style one day, the clone trained in Earth, and vice versa. The third clone always focused on Fire Style. Since I have a natural talent for jutsu, mastering Fire Style didn't pose much of a challenge.
My biggest issue was that, despite learning several techniques, only a few matched my fighting style. At the moment, I'm not yet skilled enough to seamlessly integrate different techniques into combat, but I'm working on it, and natural energy significantly aids me in such situations.
"Phew," Shiko exhaled after I once again defeated her and Ayamane's combination. This time, sensei didn't interfere, though he sometimes liked to spice things up by tossing a kunai or shuriken—or even casting a random, weak technique.
"Don't sigh," Ayamane said. "Help me out."
Ayamane was trapped in the ground up to her chin—a result of one of the techniques I had recently learned. It's quite effective when you manage to catch an opponent off guard. Combined with some Water Style jutsu, it becomes an excellent method for restraining any shinobi. With enough control, it's a deadly technique—one that could cost someone their life in an instant.
"Yes, yes, I'm coming," Shiko replied as she slowly got up. She had taken a few of my heavier hits, which had left her needing a brief rest. Of course, she loses to me, but that doesn't mean she's weak compared to other genin. Quite the opposite—Ayamane and Shiko have both grown considerably lately. Sure, someone might call them a burden for me, but I wouldn't dare. We've had our differences, but I'm not going to dwell on them.
Shiko walked over, extended a hand, and pulled Ayamane out of the ground. Ayamane was covered in dirt, which clung to her from head to toe. Let's just say... she looked interesting. Very attractive. I stared at her for a moment.
"Hmph," Shiko snorted, sounding a bit irritated. "Don't stare."
I simply shook my head and looked away. It wasn't difficult if it made her more comfortable. The girls stepped aside to clean up while I sat down to meditate. After some time, they returned, with Ayamane now dressed in clean clothes.
"Well then," Captain Kiochi said, "you've worked hard."
We lined up in front of him, waiting for what he had to say.
"In three days, as you should remember, we're heading out," sensei said. "I'm giving you this time to rest and mentally prepare. We'll meet at the South Gate at nine in the morning."
"Understood," we responded in unison.
"You're dismissed," he said, waving his hand. In that instant, he disappeared. For a moment, I caught a glimpse of his shadow. That's probably my greatest achievement so far—I've reached a level where I can detect the movements of our captain. Excellent!
"Shiko, Ayamane, what do you think? How about we go somewhere together?" I asked.
"Sorry, Suzuki," Shiko quickly replied. "I can't. I have some things to take care of."
"Me too," Ayamane added with an apologetic smile. "I have some clan matters to attend to."
"Alright," I shrugged. "See you in three days, then?"
"Definitely!" Shiko nodded.
Ayamane waved, and they left together, leaving me feeling a little lonely. I stood there for a moment longer before jumping up to the rooftops, heading toward the village for a solo stroll. Honestly, I was a bit bothered by their same old attitude. I thought we had resolved all these issues during the last mission... but here we are again. Oh well, what can you do?
Landing on the road, I calmly entered the village. A cold wind blew, rustling the leaves. Somewhere high in the sky, a bird squawked and vanished with the same call. It definitely wasn't a signal for an emergency gathering. That call sounds different, and none of the shinobi I saw were in a hurry.
I was heading to Ichiraku Ramen. I really like it there because it has a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. The fact that it's just a simple place serving only ramen makes it even more appealing. You won't find the local elite youth there. Among shinobi, there's a group often called the "golden youth"—those with talents or connections that give them a higher status than regular citizens or even some shinobi. I'm not part of that group. I don't have their overconfidence, personal guards, or widespread recognition of my abilities. The golden youth would never go to Ichiraku Ramen; it would be beneath them.
"Yo!" I called out loudly, drawing attention.
"Suzuki," Teuchi said, turning toward me briefly, distracted from his cooking. His daughter had just come from the back, carrying some ingredients.
"Hello," she said as she placed the items on the counter. "Take a seat, and I'll bring you a menu in a moment."
"Hello to you too, Ayame," I replied. "I see you're getting more beautiful every day."
She blushed and looked away. For a second, I thought I saw Teuchi's ear twitch in my direction.
"Hehe," she laughed awkwardly. "Don't say that. I'm just plain Ayame."
"Don't talk down on yourself," I said calmly, taking the menu in my hands. It seemed they had updated it a bit. The design was slightly different, and the materials felt new. "You're a beautiful young woman."
"Hehehe," she laughed again, turning as red as a tomato.
"Don't embarrass my daughter," Teuchi said with a smile. "She still has work to do today."
"Yes, yes, I apologize," I nodded. "But still... I'm not lying."
"Just order already," she said, recovering from her embarrassment. "So, what will you have, Suzuki?"
"Just ramen... with pork," I said, glancing briefly at the menu. The prices hadn't changed, which was great.
"Perfect," she replied. "Two minutes!"
And sure enough, in just two minutes, a steaming bowl of ramen was placed in front of me. The dish was beautifully presented, with perfectly cooked noodles floating in a rich, flavorful broth, topped with thin slices of pork and neatly cut boiled eggs with soft yolks. The aroma wafting from the bowl was so inviting and comforting that it immediately stirred my appetite. I began eating slowly, savoring each sip of the broth and every bite of the ingredients, letting the flavors fully unfold in my mouth.
"Ah, thank you," I said when I finished, feeling completely satisfied. "As always, it was incredibly delicious."
"I'm glad you liked it," Ayame responded, her eyes lighting up with joy.
She told me the price, which I paid without any trouble. She also handed me a coupon for a discount on my next ramen purchase. I gratefully accepted it—who knows when I might need it.
"Well, I'll be off," I said, standing up from the chair. "I'll be heading to the exam soon."
"Oh, what kind of exam?" she asked, curious.
"The chunin exam," I replied calmly. "I think I'll be a chunin when I get back."
"Then I wish you good luck," Ayame said with a smile. "Show them what you've got."
"Definitely!" I replied with a grin.
After that, I headed home. No one was there, so I grabbed a book on one of the shinobi arts and collapsed onto my bed. I needed to review some theoretical material that might come up during the written part of the exam. Afterward, I went through my notes, setting aside anything that seemed important or interesting to me. I figured I'd review some material and go over it with the girls on our way to the Land of Rivers. We'll pass the chunin exam, get our ranks, and then our paths will diverge.
In the evening, my parents returned, and we spent a pleasant evening together. It was one of those rare times when I wasn't particularly tired, and they didn't stay late at work. We talked about the future and what would happen once I became a chunin. No one even considered the possibility that I wouldn't get promoted. Sure, there's a chance of failure, but it feels very slim.
"What are you going to do after becoming a chunin?" my father asked. "You'll need to find a girl. Your mother and I definitely want to see grandkids."
"I'm not really thinking about that yet," I replied. "I want to become a jonin as quickly as possible."
"Do you think you can?" my mother asked. "It's a hard path to becoming a jonin."
"Don't doubt me," I answered calmly. "I'll definitely reach that rank."
"Alright," she nodded, accepting my response. "We believe in you."
"Thanks," I said. That kind of support really meant a lot to me.
The next day, I went to see Mebuki, who was happy to see me. Naturally, things ended up with us in her bed, which I was quite pleased about. Letting off some steam after a few weeks of intense training was exactly what I needed.
"So, you're going to become a chunin?" Mebuki Haruno asked.
"Exactly," I replied, lying back in bed, relaxed.
"Good," she nodded. "Then I wish you luck. After that, you'll get a nice reward."
"I like that kind of offer," I said, giving her a playful smack on the behind. It still felt incredibly pleasant to the touch. Ah, bliss.
The next two days were spent in relative rest—catching up on sleep, eating well, reviewing theoretical material, and meditating. This way, I was able to rest and prepare for the next big milestone in my life.
The morning of our departure for the exam came peacefully. All the necessary items were packed—scrolls and notebooks organized and tucked away. In short, I was ready for action and defense. My pouches were filled with weapons and supplies that might be needed in battle. The medical kit and other essential items had been checked and updated as necessary. Explosive tags, flash bombs, and a few other tools that could prove useful were stored in separate pouches. Overall, I felt prepared for whatever scenarios might arise.
I arrived at the South Gate and waited for the other members of our mission to arrive. It wasn't long before genin started showing up one by one. Among them was a mix of familiar faces from training and others I had never seen before. Only one person seemed vaguely familiar to me.
"Hey, Kabuto," I waved at the boy with gray hair and round glasses.
He squinted for a second before recognizing me.
"Ah, it's you... Suzuki, right?" Kabuto asked. "Looks like your team is taking the chunin exam."
"That's right," I nodded. "Yours too?"
"Of course," he nodded toward two guys standing beside him. "These are my teammates: Yoroi Akado and Misumi Tsurugi."
"Nice to meet you," I said, nodding to them.
The two were dressed almost identically—dark blue outfits, light shirts, and glasses. One wore black glasses that covered his eyes, while the other's were transparent. Both had their faces and noses covered. They wore caps with the village symbol on their heads. Kabuto's attire was in similar tones, though his gray hair was uncovered.
"Likewise," replied the taller of the two.
Just then, my team arrived. Ayamane and Shiko looked pleased, smiling and grinning. Soon after, other shinobi and the jonin captains began to arrive as well. I noticed Team 12 and their captain among the crowd. A few minutes later, Captain Kiochi appeared and immediately called our team over.
"So, ready?" he asked.
"Yes, Captain," we replied in unison.
"Excellent," he nodded. "Now we wait for the signal to move from the leader of our group."
"And who's the leader?" I asked. "I haven't heard anything about that."
"The leader of our group will be a shinobi named Hatake Kakashi," the captain replied. "Quite a famous figure."
"Right," Ayamane said. "He failed a team from our class."
"Kakashi is known for that," Captain Kiochi shrugged. "But don't worry about it, he's not a bad person—just has a complicated past."
"By the way, Kiochi-sensei," Shiko asked, "where's Team 11?"
"Might Guy thinks they're not ready yet," the captain replied calmly. "They'll participate in the next exam."
"I see," Shiko said thoughtfully. "So we'll become chunin before them."
"Yeah," the captain nodded. "No problem with that. You'll be able to pursue something interesting to you or a particular shinobi art faster."
You couldn't argue with that. Once a genin becomes a chunin, their team is disbanded. After that, they can either join a new team, form their own, or go solo. Most shinobi choose to join a team. A smaller number go on to form their own, and only a few become solo operators. Each path has its pros and cons. The most conservative option is to join a team, as it requires the least effort—you just follow orders. You don't even need to worry about finding missions; the team leader handles that for you.
There's another path—taking on missions with teams formed by the village itself. But that's considered the most dangerous route. Whether I'll join a team, create my own, or work solo is something I'll have to decide after the exam and after receiving my promotion.
Some time later, and completely unexpectedly, Hatake Kakashi appeared. He landed right in the center of the group, surveying us with a calm gaze. It almost seemed like he didn't want to be here at all, like he'd rather be lying somewhere reading a book. One of his eyes was covered.
He examined us for a while longer, then glanced at a few other jonin who had joined but weren't team captains. They nodded at him, silently answering his unspoken question.
"Teams, split up," Kakashi said in a neutral, quiet voice.
Teams began announcing their numbers or names as Kakashi made notes in his scroll. Once all the teams had called out, he nodded, put the scroll away in his pouch, and looked at us again. A brief silence followed, as no one dared to make a sound. He took a deep breath and exhaled.
"Alright, no more standing around. Let's move out."
We moved as one large group, not stopping at the gates. The guards watched us with indifferent gazes as we quickly left the village's boundaries and leaped onto the upper paths. I figured this would allow us to reach our destination much faster than walking on foot. It made sense.
Moving in such a group is both simple and complicated. Simple, because you definitely won't get lost, and complicated, because you might accidentally endanger a teammate by breaking or damaging a branch. So, you have to stay alert and keep looking ahead.