On the morning of the Chunin exam, Chiba walked through Konoha Village, heading towards his favorite steamed bun shop. "Konoha Extra-large Steamed Buns" was probably the place Chiba visited most frequently besides his home.
The owner, a tower-like man, was one of the few people in Konoha who didn't hate Chiba. Dark-skinned, strong, and taciturn, he stood in stark contrast to the cheerful owner of Ichiraku Ramen, Chiba's other ally in the village.
"One Konoha extra-large steamed bun," Chiba said, reaching for a bun and preparing to pay. The owner silently stopped him, guiding Chiba's hand to a different, identical-looking bun.
Puzzled, Chiba looked up at the owner's fierce expression, a face he wore 365 days a year. Without a word, Chiba took the recommended bun, paid, and left with a grateful "Thank you."
As Chiba departed, a customer frowned at the boy's retreating figure. "Boss, I don't know what the Third Hokage is thinking, even letting this traitor's son take the Chunin exam," he complained. The owner remained silent, continuing his business.
The Chunin exam was held in Konoha's first indoor exercise field, reminiscent of the anime's third test location. A striking statue of a giant with raised hands dominated the room. Unlike the anime's Forest of Death setting, this exam was internal, with only 43 Konoha participants instead of the usual 87.
Chiba realized why they had initiated the Chunin exam early. Konoha needed fresh blood after the Second World War, selecting ninjas who could work independently or would soon be capable of doing so.
His heart twinged at the thought of the impending Third War. The idea of being a protected "seed" was impossible; they would be sent to the battlefield for training, experiencing the worst of the war despite not being abandoned children.
Hirohiko and Yukina spotted Chiba, waving him over. As he joined them, Hirohiko nodded approvingly at his punctuality. Yukina directed their attention to the spectator stand, where numerous ninjas, including Minato, Kushina, and the clan heads watched from above.
Kushina, upon seeing them, clenched her fist in a silent threat: fail the test at your peril.
A commanding female voice called for assembly. The 43 examinees lined up, with teams standing together and individuals forming groups of three.
Chiba, standing behind Hirohiko and Yukina, found himself face-to-face with the legendary Sannin: Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru. Overwhelmed by their presence, he instinctively took out his steamed bun and began eating.
Jiraiya noticed Chiba's casual demeanor, thinking, 'This kid... does he have any tension?' Tsunade and Orochimaru, while aware of Chiba's actions, were more impressed by his apparent calm under pressure.
The Sannin observed the candidates, noting their ages ranged from 7 to 15, with most between 11 and 13. Tsunade felt a pang of sadness at the thought of sending these children to war.
She announced the rules: a preliminary trial where each ninja would randomly choose an opponent. The rules mirrored those of the future Chunin exam, but without life-or-death situations. This reflected the Third Hokage's softer policies and focus on talent development, which had been crucial to Konoha's recovery after the Second War.
As Tsunade spoke, Chiba felt a hostile gaze from Kayami Hyuga. Distracted, he took another bite of his bun, suddenly realizing it was filled with minced pork and topped with a special sauce.
'So that's how it is... The owner knows I'm taking the test today!' Chiba thought, smiling to himself. 'It turned out that the owner wanted to cheer for me.'
Looking at the Konoha extra-large steamed bun in his hand, Chiba's smile widened, feeling a surge of support from this small act of kindness.