Chapter 19
"Here you are! It's good to see you too are doing well." Iruka said as he walked inside the Ichiraku ramen shop. Where both Naruto and Hinata were eating ramen. "Huh! Both of you are here!"
"Good evening, Iruka sensei. It seems like you are here for Naruto. Is there something important? Should I give some privacy? " Hinata asked putting her chopsticks down. Naruto swallowed his ramen to talk.
"It's not that important... Though we can talk about it." Iruka said as he sat next to Naruto. "Teuchi-san give me a bowl, too."
"It should be important enough for you to come to find us. Not that we mind... Does this have anything to do with the chunin exam?" Naruto asked as it was less than a week before the chunin exams. Even Kakashi had told Team 7 that day.
"You guessed it. It's about chunin exam." Iruka took a deep breath. "Today Hokage sama asked the Jonin senseis to nominate teams for the chunin exam... And the results are not something I expected."
Teuchi put a bowl of ramen in front of Iruka and went back, not eavesdropping on their conversation.
While Hinata gave attention to the conversation Naruto cut in. "Let me guess new rookie genins like we also were nominated. As for how I know Kakashi sensei said it to us in the morning, as well as gaslighting the team to join the chunin exam." Naruto paused as he looked into Iruka's eyes. "You don't have to worry we will be careful and take it lightly."
Truth be told the chunin exam was not that dangerous for someone like Naruto. Yes, he was not strong enough to defeat S ranks like Orochimaru. But he wouldn't have to. He had already made enough preparation for the chunin exam.
The only regret he had would be not learning any Fuinjutsu.
Iruka gave a small chuckle. "I know what you are capable of... But I don't know about your fellow genins. It's just you all are rookies and it feels too early... Or maybe I am just worrying too much."
"I don't think you are worrying too much. It's just like you. Though is it really that uncommon for rookie genins to participate in the chunin exam?" Naruto asked that but he was thinking of something else.
'Team Asuma is pretty much the same as canon. The only reason Team Kurenai is stronger than canon is because of Hinata..'
"Yes, it's very rare for rookie genins to participate in the chunin exam. The last time it happened was almost a decade ago. Even genius... Forget it. Just be careful." Iruka didn't continue. Though he wanted to say even genius like Itachi stayed as genin for a year before entering the chunin exam." Teuchi san put their bills on my tab. "
" I still have a lot of things to do. Just make sure you stay safe. " Iruka said as he stood up.
"You don't have to worry Iruka sensei. We will do our best to stay safe." Hinata said as Naruto gave a thumbs up to Iruka.
Even though their conversation was brief Naruto understood there was not going to be a test like in canon. 'Or it was a test all alone...' As Naruto thought about that a shadow clone of his transformed into a bird followed Iruka.
'Let's see what you are up to.'
*
While the test for Naruto and Hinata was different. It was nothing more than an evening chat, where Iruka talked with them as their academy teacher and told them to be careful.
The same couldn't be said about the other Rookies.
' I am not foolish enough to ignore Yamato san's warning... And I already know I am no match for Naruto. At that time trying to test Hinata was not possible. ' Iruka entered an alley, and what came out was like a typical rogue nin from rain village.
' Besides just activating her eyes will give away the entire thing. ' Iruka's next target was none other than Kiba Inuzuka. He even knew where Kiba was training at the time.
'I will have to hurry before Shino comes to the training ground.' he vanished from his spot with shunshin.
A few minutes later Iruka was at the training ground, hiding in one of the trees.
'The wind could stay in my favor for sometimes longer. But I need to test how much you rely on your sense of smell.' he took out small modified smoke bombs from his pocket. He already knew how to use wind direction to his advantage, as well as his good enough stealth skill.
While Iruka was observing Kiba. The Inuzuka himself was busy doing laps of the training ground, his trusty partner Akamaru following him.
"Come on, Akamaru we only have to do 4 more laps. We will definitely show them Team 8 is the best. The winner will get extra meat tonight. " Kiba shouted encouraging himself, because Akamaru was doing far better than him.
"Woff woff." Akamaru barked happily running faster than Kiba and leaving him behind. Just after that Akamaru stopped as dozens of small marble-sized things exploded in front of him and Kiba, creating a huge amount of smoke.
"AKAKMARU!. Kiba shouted in worry as he used one hand to cover his mouth and nose. He was ready for attack as he gripped kunai in the other hand. Much to his growing anger the smoke bombs were not normal smoke bombs as he felt like vomiting. It was such a disgusting smell!
Kiba had to stop himself from vomiting and used his chakra to suppress his sense of smell. Even while in that situation Kiba was far more worried about Akamaru. He gritted his teeth and continued to try and find Akamaru.
'Sorry, both of you, but I have to be this decisive to see what have you achieved till now.' Iruka said sorry to both as he moved fast. In just a few moments he was in front of Akamaru his chakra-sensing ability making it easy for him to find Akamaru.
He grasped Akamaru's neck and pressed on a pressure point to make Akamaru limp. Taking his distance Iruka stood at 30 meters away from Kiba. A kunai under Akamaru's neck made his warning clear.
As the smoke cleared the entire surrounding fell quiet. Kiba gritted his teeth even harder as he looked more like an enraged animal than a human.
"What do you want?" Kiba said anger evident in his voice, but even then he didn't jump to attack him right away.
Iruka was happy to see Kiba having that much restraint. It was a far cry from what Kiba was like in the Shinobi Academy.
"Tch, Leaf brat. First stop glaring at me like a wild animal." Iruka pressed the kunai nearer to Akamaru's neck. "Or else."
It was clear to Kiba, and he took several breaths to try and calm down.
"A weakling like this only can hold back people like us. No wonder you leaf shinobis are so weak. And no wonder Inuzuka clan is just a so-so clan." Iruka was testing as well as passing time. He had already decided to let Kiba pass. Why? Because Kiba had already informed his other teammate. He was alert enough to see a bug fly away.
And before Shino's arrival, he would provoke Kiba. 'Still, I feel bad doing this.'
"SHUT UP. Let go off, Akamaru. If you harm him I will tear you apart. Don't fucking forget you are inside leaf village, you will not be able to run away." Kiba shouted trying to intimidate his unknown attacker.
Iruka was happy to see Kiba using his brain and see the obvious.'Now for the last test.' He threw Akamaru to the side.
Iruka moved faster than the average genin but much slower than his actual speed, as he went for an attack. Four shurikens flew from him, as they went toward Kiba. Who deflected them keeping his eyes on his attacker. Kiba was ready as chakra flooded his body making him even more beast-like. But with that came an all-around boost.
The only downside was the increased aggression.
"DIE YOU, BASTARD," Kiba said as his kunai narrow flew past Iruka. But it was enough for Kiba to pounce on him. Iruka ready to play with Kiba was ready to dodge by small margins. But to Iruka's pleasant surprise, it was a faint attack, as Kiba ran past him toward Akamaru's laying from.
Picking Akamaru up with one hand Kiba made a mad dash. Soon out of Iruka's sensing range. Iruka stood there not intending to follow.
"Aren't you going to come out?" Iruka asked looking at the direction of the training ground.
"It seems you are a sensor, unknown rain Shinobi... Or I say Iruka sensei." Shino Aburame came out of his hiding, his apathetic mask in place as he looked at Iruka. Even his usual manner of talking was not there.
"Huh, I knew it would happen. This is also the reason I am not trying to test you." Iruka said with a smile as he canceled his transformation jutsu, turning back to his real self.
"So, did he pass whatever test you were taking? Because from what I see it was more like a test than anything. " Shino asked a hint of curiosity in his voice. He might not be able to show much expression but he cared deeply about his team.
"With flying colors at that! You don't have to worry about it... Just be careful for the upcoming chunin exam, Okay?" Iruka said with a forced smile.
"You don't have to worry we are working hard for it." To that Iruka had nothing else but to nod and accept.
On the other hand away from the conversation between former teacher and student a bird puffed into smoke. In Naruto's apartment, Naruto didn't even pause to process the new information. But his small smile turned into a grin.
*
-Sasuke Uchiha-
Sasuke walked past people as he felt the changes around him. Shinobis of different villages were far more common as they all were walking toward the same destination.
The Shinobi Academy. Or should be called the chunin exam venue.
He had no idea about how the chunin exam happens. But one thing he was sure about, that was there would be Shinobis of other villages as well as the leaf. He would make them his stepping stones to improve himself.
He was like a completely new person with a whole new level of strength from the person he was at the Shinobi Academy.
'One step at a time.' He said to himself as the image of Naruto came to his mind.
"Hey there, slowpoke. We are here." His mysterious... no weird teammate shouted at him. Ignoring his hand waving he started to walk towards the academy. As he did that both of his teammates joined him.
"Can't even joke a little." Naruto teased him with a smile. On that note, his blonde teammate was something else. If he had to say Naruto was the one who changed the most among the three of them. His sunny disarming smile would make most people have a good impression of him, and trust him easily.
Even though it hurt his pride he knew who was the stronger of the two.
"Naruto, be a little serious," Sakura said. Not that it was any scolding. It was the role given to her. The mediator. Why did he have to be the bad guy on the team...
He put all that thought in the back of his head as he saw people crowding on the second floor. He felt one of his eyebrows rise looking at the genjutsu. Then he noticed a familiar team.
"What are they doing?" He felt confused at the act of Team Gai. Hiding one's capability was one thing getting humiliated to show that, he felt it was unnecessary.
"What else they are having fun. At the same time polishing their acting skills. Though I will give Neji 0 out of 10, he is not even trying." Naruto said beside him with the same smile, like he didn't insult Neji. Though he agreed with Naruto at that.
'I am supposed to be the bad guy, right?' Naruto could do far better job at being the bad guy than him. Smiling while stabbing in the back.
" We should get going. We will have to meet Kakashi sensei." Sakura said making him look away from the drama.
To that he agreed. As all three of them left the floor he looked back seeing the two guards looking at them.
Author's Note: Thanks for reading.
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