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"When there was plenty of time."
Team 7 launched a thorough search for enemies in the surrounding area. With Menma's deliberate guidance, they quickly encountered a fellow Leaf Village team—an older, more experienced group. Despite their seniority, the team was swiftly defeated, and fortune smiled upon them: the defeated team carried the exact scroll they needed—the "Scroll of Earth."
With the mission-critical item secured, Menma, Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura immediately headed for the central tower. In less than an hour, they reached their destination. The tower, the only structure in the Forest of Death, stood tall amidst the dense trees, a beacon of Konoha's influence.
"Konoha's infrastructure never ceases to amaze," Menma thought to himself as he marveled at the towering structure. "It truly is the strongest ninja village."
His thoughts drifted to a certain individual. "That guy didn't show up... was it because I encountered Orochimaru?" Menma mused, Kabuto Yakushi's image flashing in his mind. "It's a shame... I was hoping for a closer look at him."
Menma knew Kabuto was a remarkable figure—whether in combat, medical skills, or his experiments, Kabuto stood among the best. It was no wonder Orochimaru placed such immense trust in him.
"I suppose I'll have to wait for the future," Menma concluded with a hint of disappointment as they entered the tower.
"So, this is the end of the second stage of the exam?" Sakura asked, glancing around the vast, empty space inside the building. "Where are the examiners? Shouldn't they be waiting for us?"
"Hmm, if they're not here, it might have something to do with the scrolls," Menma remarked, feigning contemplation as he reached into his pouch and pulled out two scrolls.
"Ohhh, I get it now!" Naruto exclaimed, fishing out his own set of scrolls. They placed the scrolls together, and with a "puff!" of smoke, a figure emerged.
"!"
"Huh? Iruka-sensei?!" Naruto yelled in surprise, his eyes widening.
"Haha! Surprised, Naruto?" Iruka said with a warm smile as he looked over the group. They appeared worn out from the exam, but Iruka's expression softened with pride.
"I didn't think you were ready for the Chunin Exams. I thought you lacked the experience," Iruka admitted, his voice carrying a hint of nostalgia. "But you've proven me wrong."
"Wait, what are you doing here?" Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura asked, their curiosity piqued.
"I'm here to deliver a message," Iruka explained as he stepped aside, revealing a large scroll on the wall behind him. It was a Chunin guide written by none other than the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
As Iruka began to explain the significance of the scrolls and the test, Menma's mind wandered. "In the original story, I didn't pay much attention to this part," he reflected. "But now that I'm hearing it, I can't deny that Hiruzen Sarutobi always had a thorough approach to things. No wonder he commanded so much respect in the Hidden Leaf."
But Menma's thoughts darkened slightly. "The young Hiruzen and the old Hiruzen... they feel like two different people."
"So, if you want to become a proper chunin, there's still much for you to learn," Iruka continued, his tone turning serious. "Don't get too comfortable or arrogant!"
"Iruka-sensei..." Naruto muttered, clearly touched by his words.
"We understand, Iruka-sensei," Sakura said.
"Alright," Iruka said, softening once again. "You all look exhausted. Head to the lounge and get some rest. The final results won't be announced until tomorrow afternoon."
"Yes, Iruka-sensei!" they responded enthusiastically.
Unlike in the original timeline, where Team 7 barely scraped by in the second round, this time, thanks to Menma's guidance, they were the first to complete the trial. This gave them ample time to rest before the next stage. Menma knew that following the second round, there would typically be preliminary rounds to reduce the number of competitors. The finals were an important event, with dignitaries from multiple nations attending, and Konoha needed to ensure both the quality and the number of matches. Keeping the finalists under ten was standard practice.
"If I end up facing Gaara or Lee in the preliminaries, I'll need to be ready," Menma thought. He mentally reviewed potential strategies against both formidable opponents. Gaara, a jinchuriki, and Lee, with his ability to open the Eight Gates, were both major threats. Menma knew he couldn't afford to reveal too much of the Nine-Tails' chakra or suffer serious injuries.
However, Menma's preparations soon proved unnecessary. There would be no preliminary rounds in this version of events.
"What? Time's up already? Are we drawing lots for the finals now?" Menma asked in surprise when a Konoha chunin arrived to explain the next steps.
To his shock, instead of announcing preliminary matches, the examiner confirmed that the contestants would proceed directly to drawing lots for the finals.
Menma blinked in disbelief, but the reasoning soon became clear.
"Yes, the second stage of the exam has just ended. So far, only four participants from three teams have passed. As mentioned, the finals will be a single-elimination tournament held in one month. Now, we will proceed with determining the matchups," the examiner declared formally.
Three teams?
If Menma remembered correctly, weren't there five or six teams that passed this stage in the original timeline? How could it have been reduced to only three now?
"Only three teams left? Really?" Naruto's eyes widened in surprise.
"There were 21 teams in the second round, but in the end, only three made it through," Sakura explained, her voice carrying a hint of disappointment.
Sasuke, as usual, remained unfazed, showing no concern over the dwindling numbers.
"If my guess is right, the other two teams should be them," Menma mused silently as they made their way to the hall where they had originally gathered.
As expected, upon entering the lobby, they saw six familiar faces—Team Gaara from Sunagakure and Team Neji from Konoha. Both were among the strongest teams in this year's Chunin Exams.
In the original timeline, Asuma's Team 10, Kurenai's Team 8, the Sound Four, and Kabuto's team had all advanced to the final stage. This time, however, things had drastically changed.
As Menma and his teammates entered, they drew the attention of Gaara and Neji. The intensity in their gazes spoke volumes about how serious the competition had become.
Three teams from Konoha and one from Sunagakure—just as Menma had predicted at the start of the exams. The Chunin Exams always served as a stage for showcasing the strength of the five great ninja villages.
With no preliminary rounds, fewer jonin had shown up. Even the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was absent. Only the lead examiner, Hayate Gekko, stood before the three teams, accompanied by a few assistants.
"Ahem, first of all, congratulations... ahem... to the three teams that passed the second round... ahem... I am your proctor for the third round... ahem..." Hayate Gekko's raspy voice and frequent coughing gave the impression that his lungs might give out at any moment.
"If anyone has... ahem... any objections to the rules... ahem... speak now... ahem," he continued, looking around at the participants.
After a brief pause, with no objections raised, Hayate nodded and gestured for his assistant to bring out a cardboard box for the lot-drawing.
"Then... ahem... let's begin the draw," Hayate announced.
Each of the ten participants stepped forward to draw a slip of paper, with each one corresponding to a match in the finals. Menma couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation as the matchups were revealed.
The second match read: Gaara vs. Naruto Uzumaki!
The first match was Sasuke Uchiha vs. Neji Hyuga, a direct clash between two of Konoha's most talented genin.
While the others reacted with varying degrees of interest, Menma felt a twinge of curiosity.
"Is this fate at work?" Menma thought with mild amusement.
He himself had drawn the fifth match, which placed him up against Rock Lee. Menma had mixed feelings about the match. Facing Lee without using the Nine-Tails' chakra would be difficult.
Lee's strength, especially when he opened the Eight Gates, had been formidable even in the original timeline. At this point, Lee was capable of opening the fourth gate, making him a serious threat.
"His speed alone is more than I can handle right now," Menma thought to himself. Still, he felt somewhat reassured, knowing that their match might not happen. If Sunagakure's plan unfolded as he expected, Gaara would unleash his Tailed Beast form during his fight, triggering the Konoha Crush.
In that scenario, the finals would be cut short, and the other matches—Tenten vs. Temari in the third match and Sakura vs. Kankuro in the fourth—would likely never take place.
Menma understood that the second match, Gaara vs. Naruto, would be the pivotal moment when everything would begin.
"These are the matchups for the finals... ahem... You have one month... ahem... to prepare. I hope you all... ahem... deliver exciting matches..." Hayate said, his weak voice barely masking his genuine anticipation.
As soon as the matchups were announced, tension filled the room. The young shinobi exchanged glances with their upcoming opponents. Gaara's menacing gaze locked onto Naruto, a dangerous glint in his eyes, as if he were already eager to fight.
Naruto, however, seemed more excited than nervous. The prospect of facing a strong opponent from another village thrilled him. After their prior encounters, he knew Gaara was a powerful adversary, and he was eager to test his strength.
Rock Lee, on the other hand, looked at Menma with an intensity that seemed almost tangible. Lee's initial goal had been to surpass Neji, but now Menma had become a rival in his eyes. Menma, who had stood out during the Forest of Death, was seen as a worthy opponent, even among the other prodigies.
"My flames of youth are burning!" Lee thought, his passion for competition practically radiating from him.
Menma could only shake his head, amused by Lee's enthusiasm.
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