Chereads / Naruto: Drinking Makes Me Stronger / Chapter 16 - Chapter 16

Chapter 16 - Chapter 16

Rin watched eagerly as Youyu stepped out of the Hokage Building, his new Konoha forehead protector glinting in the sun.

"Yu-kun!" she called, eyes sparkling with excitement. "I heard from my father that this Chunin Exam has shinobi from other villages coming to compete."

Next to her, Kurenai bit her lip, a hint of worry crossing her face. "Be careful, Yu-kun. Some of them are really strong."

Youyu just grinned, slapping his chest. "Don't worry! I'll cut them all down!" To him, every ninja from another village was like a bottle of fine wine, just waiting to be cracked open and enjoyed.

Inside the Hokage's Office

Sarutobi Hiruzen watched from his office window as Youyu left, a faint look of relief crossing his face.

"You handed over everything as instructed?" Hiruzen asked, glancing back.

"Yes, Lord Hokage," Tanaka Hideichi replied, nodding firmly. "I gave him the answers personally."

Hiruzen exhaled, feeling a weight lift. He'd bent every rule in the book by handing Youyu the answers to the written portion of the Chunin Exam. Never before had a Hokage helped a candidate cheat, but he couldn't see any other way.

Turning his attention to the replies from other hidden villages, Hiruzen mused aloud. "I expected Iwagakure not to come. Ohnoki is as cautious as ever… but Sunagakure? What could be going on there?"

After a moment's thought, Hiruzen shrugged it off. "No matter. As long as Youyu shows his strength to the Mist and Cloud villages, word will spread."

In the Streets of Konoha

Konoha's streets were buzzing with foreign shinobi, and the local villagers had noticed.

"That's a Cloud Village headband!" one villager muttered, glaring at a group of sturdy ninjas walking by.

Another nodded, his face tense. "They were in the Second Shinobi War too. What are they doing here now?"

Nearby, a Cloud Village ninja sneered. "So this is Konoha? A soft place, filled with weaklings."

"Don't underestimate them," warned the Cloud Village team leader, casting a sidelong glance. "Konoha's produced some formidable shinobi."

The first ninja shrugged dismissively. "You mean Kakashi, the White Fang's son? Heard he's washed up. Beyond him, there's nothing."

Meanwhile, the Mist Village team made their arrival. A towering, shark-faced ninja with sharp teeth glanced around, a grin spreading across his face. "Konoha looks so… tame," he muttered, voice dripping with disdain.

His leader, the massive Watermelon Mountain Fugu Ghost, one of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, growled, "Don't slack off, Kisame. Show these Leaf shinobi why they should fear the Bloody Mist."

Kisame nodded, eyes glinting. "Yes, sensei."

Hokage's Office

Hiruzen stood surrounded by Konoha's elite ninja, a small cloud of smoke drifting from his pipe.

"Everyone," he said, glancing over the room, "the Chunin Exams are about to begin."

The First Exam - Ninja Academy

Today, the academy had been transformed to host the first portion of the Chunin Exam. In one of the classrooms, candidates from various villages gathered, eyeing each other warily.

Kisame glanced around, sharp teeth flashing as he smirked. "Konoha's academy… so friendly. Looks weak."

Next to him, a teammate from the Mist whispered, "Careful. That's a Hyuga. Those eyes…"

Across the room, other candidates whispered too. "Where's the Uchiha clan? Aren't they supposed to be here?"

Just then, the door creaked open, and the room fell silent.

"Is that the Uchiha?"

All eyes turned, expecting to see the famous clan walk in. Instead, Youyu stumbled through the doorway, bottle in hand, letting out a loud, satisfied burp.

"Huh? Did I go to the wrong room?" Youyu muttered, squinting around at the stunned crowd.

The candidates exchanged confused glances.

"Did this guy just… come in drunk?"

"Who the hell does he think he is?"

Youyu scowled, gripping his bottle. "What are you all staring at? Think I'll miss the exam? Be careful, or I'll cut you all down!"

Outrage spread through the room as the foreign ninjas processed his words. The idea of some random Leaf ninja drunkenly threatening them before the test even started was beyond comprehension.

Watching from the Hokage's Office through a crystal ball, Hiruzen groaned. "This boy is hopeless."

Beside him, Orochimaru looked intrigued, a smirk forming. "So that's Youyu, the genius who defeated Kakashi."

Jiraiya scoffed. "Oh, I know this kid. See him at the bar all the time, mouthing off."

"Enough!" Hiruzen cut in, glaring at Jiraiya. "Just observe."

Jiraiya closed his mouth, though he couldn't quite hide his grin.

Back in the Exam Room

"QUIET DOWN!" a voice boomed as a team of Konoha proctors appeared in a cloud of smoke.

"Everyone, return to your seats!" commanded the lead examiner, Yuhi Shinku, a middle-aged man radiating authority.

The candidates scrambled to comply, recognizing the examiner's strength. Youyu, looking slightly tipsy, was gently guided to his seat by one of the proctors.

Shinku gave Youyu a long, appraising look, sighing. So, this is the kid my daughter's always talking about. That explains why the wine's been disappearing at home.

Taking a deep breath, Shinku addressed the room. "I am Yuhi Shinku, your chief examiner for the first test. Let's begin."

The Rules of the Exam

As Shinku explained, it became clear that this first test would assess information-gathering skills, with each candidate allowed four chances to "cheat" without consequence. The sharpest minds in the room quickly recognized the implications, and soon, whispers spread as shinobi from each village began quietly strategizing.

Watching through the crystal ball, Hiruzen allowed himself a faint smile. "With the Inuzuka clan's ninja dogs, the Hyuga clan's Byakugan, the Aburame clan's insects… this exam should be no challenge for our Konoha shinobi."

This polished rewrite keeps the energy and humor of the scene, while making it easier to follow. Let me know if there's more you'd like to tweak!