The tension in the exam hall was growing thicker by the second, with numerous teams sizing each other up. Naruto, Hyuk, Sasuke, and Sakura stood together, scanning the room as other teams glared at them, some whispering to each other about the rookies from Konoha.
Suddenly, a voice cut through the air, calm and confident.
"Hey, you guys look like you're new to this. You need a bit of advice?"
A young man with silver hair, glasses, and a laid-back expression stepped forward, his headband indicating he was from Konoha. He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, smiling as he approached Team 7.
Naruto, ever the skeptic, immediately frowned. "Who are you?"
The man gave a nonchalant wave. "Name's Kabuto Yakushi. This isn't my first time taking the Chuunin Exams." He gestured around the room. "This place can get pretty intense, especially for first-timers like yourselves."
Naruto's eyes widened slightly. "Wait, you've taken the exam before?"
Kabuto chuckled. "Yeah, this is my seventh time."
Sasuke, who had been silently observing, raised an eyebrow. "Seventh time? If you've taken the exam that many times, why haven't you passed?"
Kabuto gave a small shrug. "Well, this exam isn't exactly easy. It's more than just skill—it's about survival, strategy, and a bit of luck. A lot of luck, actually."
Naruto crossed his arms, clearly unimpressed. "Sounds like excuses to me. We're gonna pass on our first try!"
Kabuto simply smiled in response. "That confidence is good, but don't underestimate your opponents. Here, let me show you something that might help."
He reached into his pouch and pulled out a stack of cards, each one seemingly blank. He held them up, giving a small smirk. "These are my information cards. I've gathered intel on most of the participants in this year's exams. Want to see who you're up against?"
Naruto's curiosity got the better of him, and he leaned in. "What kind of intel?"
Kabuto tapped one of the cards, and suddenly it flickered with information. "These cards hold detailed data on teams, individual shinobi, their abilities, and their backgrounds. For instance..." He tapped another card, and the face of Gaara appeared. "Here's a participant from the Sand Village—Gaara of the Desert. His mission record is impressive, but what's more concerning is that he hasn't taken a single injury in any of his missions. Not one scratch."
Sasuke narrowed his eyes at the card. "He sounds dangerous."
Kabuto nodded. "He is. But he's not the only one to watch out for." He tapped another card, and the face of Neji Hyuga appeared. "Neji Hyuga, from the Leaf Village. Known for his prodigious talent with the Byakugan and Gentle Fist Taijutsu. He's part of the Hyuga Clan's branch family but is widely considered a genius."
Sasuke stared at the card for a moment before glancing at Neji, who was standing not far from them. Neji, sensing the attention, turned slightly and met Sasuke's gaze, a small, knowing smirk on his face.
Kabuto continued, flipping through more cards. "There are others you'll want to be careful around too. Teams from the Mist, Cloud, and of course, the Sound Village… who are a bit of an unknown this year. But from what I've gathered, they're not to be underestimated."
Sasuke was focused, absorbing the information. Hyuk, however, stood to the side, his arms crossed, looking unimpressed. He had little interest in Kabuto's intel, feeling confident that whatever the exam threw at him, he could handle.
Kabuto glanced at Hyuk as if sensing his indifference. "You should be careful, too. No matter how strong you think you are, there's always someone stronger, or more clever. It pays to be prepared."
Hyuk gave a faint nod but remained silent, his mind elsewhere.
Sakura, looking a bit more anxious after hearing about the competition, leaned over to Sasuke and whispered, "This exam is going to be a lot tougher than we thought, huh?"
Sasuke just nodded, his gaze still on Kabuto's cards. "We'll manage."
Naruto, however, was grinning. "I don't care how strong they are! We're going to pass and become Chuunin for sure!"
Kabuto chuckled softly. "That's the spirit. Just don't let your guard down. The first exam will be starting soon, and you'll need more than just raw power to get through it."
As Kabuto turned to walk away, Team 7 exchanged glances, each of them feeling the weight of what was coming.
The Chuunin Exams were about to begin.