(T/N: There is now a p.atreon for this work, and any new work I add will be dropped there first. check it out for an early release of up to 30 chapters edited smoothly. https://www.p.atreon.com/INeedRest)
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"Gaara, it's been a while," Colt greeted.
Today's Gaara looked far more mature than he had looked two years ago.
Wearing the Kazekage's cloak, he already exuded the aura of a future leader of the Shinobi Alliance.
"Indeed it has, Colt," Gaara replied with a smile.
Colt was one of his few friends, and it was thanks to him that Gaara had realized how much Temari and Kankuro cared for him.
He certainly appreciated the friendships and relationships he had at this moment.
The two shook hands, and Colt noticed a few onlookers' expressions change slightly.
He paid them no mind. His purpose here was to support Gaara, and the more obvious that support, the better.
Konoha was growing stronger by the day, which naturally made Sunagakure cautious in their dealings.
Tsunade believed that having Gaara as the Kazekage would be preferable to someone else who coveted Konoha's power and land.
The group went to a high platform overlooking the Demon's Desert.
The rules for the second round were simple, similar to the scroll-collecting challenge in the Forest of Death.
The Demon's Desert was no less dangerous than the Forest of Death.
Its quicksand was treacherous, capable of swallowing the unwary in an instant.
Strange monsters lurked beneath the sands, causing most travelers to detour through the more distant roads to reach the Land of Wind.
By the time Colt, Temari, and the others arrived, the second round had been underway for nearly a day.
Their current position marked the finish line.
After clearing this level, the remaining candidates would engage in combat to determine their promotion to a Chunin based on their performance.
So far, no candidates had appeared.
Colt chatted with Gaara to pass the time, learning that Gaara had actually been the Kazekage for some time already. Internal village issues had delayed the public announcement, which this exam provided an opportunity to rectify.
Colt finally understood the inner workings of the matter.
"Don't worry," Colt assured him, speaking on behalf of Tsunade.
"Tsunade-sama believes you'll make an excellent Kazekage, and I also share that belief. You are perfect for the role"
His words caused a stir among the observers.
Those who opposed Gaara's appointment began to reconsider their stance, while others who harbored ulterior motives abandoned their plans in light of Colt's apparent support.
It might sound strange, but Colt simply commanded that respect and fear due to his renown.
But the most affected was Gara, who touched his forehead tattoo, and smiled as he heard Colt.
"I'll do my best!"
In the end, only five teams passed the test:
Neji's team and Shino's team from Konoha.
The puppet team from the Hidden Sand.
Fu's team from the Hidden Waterfall,
Finally, it was the genin squad from the Hidden Rain.
The final battle would be held in the Hidden Sand Village seven days later.
Entering the Land of Wind, Colt realized just how unique and blessed the environment of the Land of Fire truly was.
True to its name, the Land of Wind was battered by strong winds daily.
Combined with the widespread deserts, sandstorms were a common occurrence.
Such harsh conditions necessitated the import of many resources.
'I can understand their need for resources now…'
The architecture of the Hidden Sand Village stood in stark contrast to Konoha's style.
It was Colt's first time visiting another hidden village, and he enjoyed exploring it with Temari as his guide.
Seven days later, Colt witnessed the growth of the young ninjas firsthand.
Everyone performed admirably against their opponents, especially Rock Lee.
Without the severe injury he'd suffered in the original timeline, his strength had steadily increased.
He was now fully qualified to be a Special Jonin, and if he opened the last few Gates, even Jonins would struggle against him.
Neji, under Hiashi Hyuga's careful tutelage, had also reached Jonin-level strength.
Choji, Kiba, and the others had also made significant progress, becoming more proficient in their family's secret techniques.
In the end, Gaara declared that all participants in the final round would be promoted to Chunin.
This made Colt feel a pang of sympathy for Naruto.
Had he been here, he would undoubtedly have become a Chunin as well.
Colt returned to Konoha with the six new Chunins. Team Neij and team Choji.
Ino and Hinata were delighted to hear that everyone had been promoted.
The young ninjas who had remained in the village threw another celebration party, even calling over Sakura from her duties at the hospital.
The current Sakura, without the benefit of being Tsunade's disciple, seemed a bit unremarkable.
However, her excellent chakra control still allowed her talents in medical ninjutsu to shine through.
She had also been promoted to Chunin not long ago.
In fact, the Chunin exam wasn't the only path to promotion.
Those who passed it were considered the elite of their villages.
Most shinobis were promoted through accumulated merit and village recognition.
Just like that, time continued to pass…
Half a year later.
Colt lounged in the courtyard, enjoying a leisurely massage from Yakumo.
The young maid's technique had become increasingly skilled, and the warm sunlight made him drowsy.
Nearby, Hinata and Ino discussed the medical ninjutsu Tsunade had taught them that day.
Everything felt harmonious.
Not long ago, Colt, Ino, and Hinata had all turned 16.
Witnessed by the Yamanaka clan and the Hyuga clan, the three had formalized their engagement.
The news had caused quite a stir.
Given Colt's personal strength, his Senju background, and the support of both the Hyuga and Ino–Shika–Chō families, many wondered who else could compete with him for the position of the next Hokage.
Colt's strength had also grown immensely.
His Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan had reached its limit, and the chakra fusion of the nine-tailed beasts within him was nearing completion.
His chakra reserves were undoubtedly the most impressive in the ninja world.
Under the influence of the tailed beasts' power, he could now use various Kekkei Genkai smoothly, such as the One-Tail's [Magnet Release], the Four-Tails' [Lava Release], and the Five-Tails' [Boil Release].
Colt had also begun studying the unique jutsu of the Kurama family he had previously learned, but due to time constraints, he had yet to master it.
After all, this was an advanced technique beyond even a Kekkei Genkai, so its difficulty was understandable.