The Chunin Exam preliminaries had officially concluded in Konoha. Among the candidates, twelve had emerged victorious:
From Konoha: Uchiha Sasuke, Nara Shikamaru, Uzumaki Naruto, and Hyuga Neji. From Sunagakure: Gaara and Temari. From Otogakure: Dosu Kinuta, Zaku Abumi, and Kin Tsuchi. Others: Satoru from Sweet Ninja Village, Hozuki Hanare from Kirigakure, and Shiro.
As the dust settled, the Third Hokage stepped forward, his red robe glinting in the sunlight. His calm demeanor commanded attention.
"The official matches will begin in one month," the Third Hokage announced. "This will give you time to prepare and hone your skills. During the finals, you'll represent your respective villages before an audience of daimyos, leaders, and other dignitaries."
The candidates listened intently, but Satoru's pale blue eyes reflected quiet amusement. What a skilled salesman, he thought, his lips curving into a slight smirk.
Suddenly, Satoru raised his hand and asked, "So, is this a knockout tournament? Does that mean only one person can actually become a Chunin?"
The question stirred murmurs among the candidates.
"Only one person?"
"That's so harsh!"
The Third Hokage's expression shifted slightly as he glanced at Satoru. There was something oddly familiar about this eccentric ninja. After a moment of contemplation, he replied, "No, that's not how it works. This exam isn't just about who wins. Myself, the Kazekage, and other leaders will observe and evaluate your performance. Even if you lose in the first round, you can still be promoted based on merit."
Satoru nodded thoughtfully. Ah, so it's like a ninja reality show, he mused. Impress the judges, win the promotion card.
Shortly after the preliminaries, Sasuke and Naruto dragged Satoru away.
"You're coming with us!" Naruto insisted.
"Special training," Sasuke added firmly.
Satoru tilted his head in mock confusion. "You want me to train you?"
"Yes!" they said in unison.
Satoru sighed, realizing resistance was futile. "Fine, but don't regret it later," he warned, a mischievous smile tugging at his lips.
The training began with a surprise.
"Run," Satoru ordered, pulling an ice cream cone seemingly out of nowhere. "Don't let me catch you before this melts. Loser gets tied to the entrance of the women's hot springs. Sound sweet?"
Naruto and Sasuke froze, horror dawning on their faces.
"You're kidding!" Naruto shouted, taking a step back.
Sasuke's lips pressed into a thin line. "You're serious, aren't you?"
Satoru simply grinned, his shadow falling ominously over them. "One hundred counts. Ready? Go."
Naruto and Sasuke sprinted off, weaving through the streets of Konoha. Sasuke led the way, his strategic mind working overtime.
"We'll hide in a crowded area," he said, darting into a busy marketplace. "He won't expect us here."
Naruto, however, hesitated. "Uh, Sasuke... isn't the women's hot spring nearby?"
Sasuke paused, brushing off the dust on his uniform. "Exactly. The most dangerous place is the safest place. He won't think to look for us here."
Naruto looked skeptical but followed Sasuke's lead.
Meanwhile, Satoru finished his countdown. "A hundred. Time to hunt," he said with a smirk, leaping onto the rooftops. His pale blue eyes scanned the village below.
"They're pretty good at hiding," he mused aloud. But his confident tone suggested otherwise.
Naruto and Sasuke crouched in the bustling market, attempting to blend in. Naruto still seemed uneasy. "This doesn't feel right," he muttered.
Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded behind them. "And what's this?"
They stiffened, cold sweat dripping down their backs. Turning slowly, they found Satoru standing right behind them, his grin as mischievous as ever.
"Hi," he greeted casually.
Naruto and Sasuke exchanged panicked glances. Without a word, they bolted.
"Multiple Shadow Clones!" Naruto shouted, filling the market with identical copies of himself and Sasuke.
For a moment, it seemed like they had succeeded in losing Satoru. Naruto smirked, confident in his strategy. "He'll never figure out where we are now," he whispered.
Sasuke nodded in approval. Not bad, Naruto.
But Satoru's pale eyes gleamed knowingly. "So that's how you want to play it?" he murmured. With a flick of his wrist, he unleashed a barrage of shuriken, dispelling the clones in an instant.
Naruto and Sasuke watched in horror as Satoru closed the distance between them.
Sasuke clenched his fists. "Looks like we've got no choice," he said grimly. "Time for the last resort."
"What's the plan?" Naruto asked, eyes wide.
Without answering, Sasuke hurled a three-colored dango skewer into the air. Instantly, Satoru's focus shifted.
"Dango?" he said, his gaze locked on the treat as it sailed through the air.
Naruto gaped. "Wait... that actually worked?"
Sasuke smirked. "Sometimes, you just need to know your opponent's weakness. Let's go!"
The two fled as Satoru, momentarily distracted, caught the skewer mid-air and took a bite.
"Sweet," Satoru said with a satisfied grin, his pursuit temporarily forgotten.
Naruto, still running alongside Sasuke, was in shock. "Your second brother is terrifying," he muttered.
Sasuke sighed. "Tell me about it."
>>>>>
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