Chapter fifteen: The Chunin Exams Begin
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura walked side-by-side toward the academy, the intensity of their upcoming challenge heavy in the air. Each of them felt a mix of excitement and nerves—after all, the Chunin Exams were famous for being difficult and unpredictable. As they arrived at the academy, they noticed an unusually large crowd of genin gathered around two chunin guards blocking a door labeled "Room 301."
Naruto squinted. "Why is everyone crowding around here?"
Sakura noticed something off about the setup and whispered to Sasuke, "That's not the real Room 301. It's a genjutsu."
Sasuke nodded, catching on quickly. He stepped forward, brushing past the other genin. "Let's keep moving. The third floor is ahead."
Naruto's eyes widened in understanding. "Oh, right! A trick to weed out the weak!" He grinned as he followed Sasuke and Sakura up the stairs, a little more confident in his awareness of the situation.
They reached the real third floor only to be stopped by an unfamiliar voice. "Sasuke Uchiha," it called.
They turned to see a boy in green spandex with thick eyebrows blocking their path. Rock Lee stepped forward, his hands clasped together. "I would like to challenge you to a match, Sasuke Uchiha. I have heard of your abilities and wish to test myself against you before the exams."
Sasuke glanced at him, unimpressed. "Now's not the time."
Lee shook his head with a determined look. "Please, a quick spar is all I ask." His gaze sharpened with pure resolve. "This is my only way to test my strength against you."
Intrigued by Lee's intense focus, Sasuke finally agreed, and the two squared off in the middle of the hallway as other genin watched with curiosity. The fight began, and Lee's speed and agility caught Sasuke off guard. His strikes were precise and powerful, leaving Sasuke struggling to keep up. Within moments, Lee landed a spinning kick, sending Sasuke back.
Just when Lee was about to press his advantage, a voice interrupted. "That's enough, Lee!"
A large turtle suddenly appeared between them, bringing the spar to an abrupt halt. Moments later, Might Guy himself appeared, his trademark enthusiasm radiating as he scolded Lee for starting a fight before the exams.
Lee bowed respectfully to Sasuke. "Thank you for the match. You are strong, but I hope to surpass you one day."
With that, Lee and Guy departed, and Team 7 made their way to the exam hall, still digesting Lee's surprising abilities. The three found a spot at the back of the room, observing the teams from other villages. Naruto's gaze drifted around, taking in the atmosphere. He knew this would be the ultimate test of his skills.
It was then that a silver-haired genin with glasses approached them, giving a friendly smile. "Hello there! You must be the new genin from Konoha," he greeted, pushing his glasses up. "Name's Kabuto Yakushi. This your first time taking the exams?"
Naruto nodded, still a bit suspicious. "Yeah, what's it to you?"
Kabuto chuckled. "No need to be defensive. I just thought I'd give you a heads-up. I've taken the exams a few times myself. You could say I've learned a few things."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed with interest. "You know about our competition?"
Kabuto nodded, pulling out a set of cards. "I've got information on most of the participants. Just let me know who you're curious about."
Sasuke immediately spoke up, "Gaara of the Sand and Rock Lee."
Kabuto held his hand over the cards, infusing them with chakra, and a detailed profile appeared for each. Gaara was noted as extremely dangerous with unknown techniques and an undefeated record. Rock Lee, on the other hand, was exceptional at taijutsu but lacked any ninjutsu or genjutsu abilities.
"Interesting," Sasuke muttered. "Show me Naruto Uzumaki."
Kabuto raised an eyebrow but complied. The card displayed Naruto's training improvements, recent developments with wind techniques, and a mention of his summoning abilities.
Naruto smirked at Sasuke. "Trying to see what you're up against?"
Sasuke just shrugged, though he glanced back at the card thoughtfully.
Before Kabuto could continue, a hush fell over the room. The door swung open, and a tall, scarred man with an intimidating presence entered, followed by several proctors. "Everyone, take your seats and listen up!" he commanded, his voice booming. "My name is Ibiki Morino, and I'll be overseeing the first phase of your exam."
The genin quickly settled into their seats, falling silent as Ibiki explained the written test's rules. The test consisted of impossibly complex questions that only a chunin-level ninja could hope to answer. Naruto stared at his paper, brows furrowing at the unfamiliar terms and concepts. But as he listened to the whispering around him and watched his fellow examinees, he realized something.
Ibiki was trying to make them nervous on purpose. The exam wasn't about getting the answers; it was a psychological test, designed to see who could stay calm and adapt under pressure. Naruto leaned back in his seat, resisting the urge to shout in frustration. He didn't have to solve the questions—he just had to endure until the end.
As the test continued, he noticed Sakura diligently working through the questions, while Sasuke kept a sharp eye on the movements around him, quietly gathering information.
Finally, the tenth question was announced with an added twist: anyone who failed it would be banned from taking the Chunin Exams ever again. Around him, Naruto could feel the tension in the room rising as some genin panicked, deciding it was better to quit now than risk permanent failure.
But Naruto sat still, keeping his composure. He knew this was just another layer of the test. If he could survive the pressure and not give in, he would pass. One by one, genin began to leave the room. Finally, Ibiki announced that those who had stayed were officially through to the next round.
Ibiki smiled, his tone approving as he explained that the test wasn't about intelligence but endurance and composure. Those who stayed showed they had the inner strength required to be a chunin.
Naruto grinned, feeling proud of himself for figuring it out. For the first time, he hadn't needed to shout or make a scene. He was growing—and he could feel it.