Survival Exercise (1)

When Hinata woke up, Naruto was the only one beside her.

She sat up blankly for a while, then turned to look at Naruto. He was sitting on the steps nearby, seemingly lost in thought. Hinata suddenly remembered what had happened earlier, and a blush once again spread across her cheeks.

Her dream was to earn Naruto's recognition...

Her dream was to earn Naruto's recognition...

The less she wanted to remember it, the more those words echoed in her mind. Hinata felt as though her face was about to burn up, and she became too restless to sit still. Just then, Naruto noticed her movement and turned with a smile. "You're awake, Hinata?"

"Mm... Where are Teacher Kakashi and Sasuke?" Hinata asked timidly. She did not dare look up at Naruto and only lowered her head, twisting her fingers together.

Naruto thought Hinata like this was just too adorable. He took a form from his pocket and handed it to her. "They left first. This is the consent form for tomorrow's Survival Exercise."

"Survival Exercise?" Hinata felt as though she had only fainted for a little while. How had so many things happened already? She blinked twice, wanting to ask Naruto how long she had been unconscious, but the question felt far too embarrassing. She hesitated and could not bring herself to ask, finally accepting the form in silence and lowering her head to read it.

It was fine until she read it. Then she was stunned. "If we fail the exercise, we'll be sent back to the Ninja Academy? The passing rate is only thirty-three percent?"

The elimination rate was so high... If she could not become a genin, how would she face Father?

And Hanabi... What would she think of me?

Hinata was filled with worry. She felt that among the students of their year, she was still near the bottom.

Naruto stood and stretched his arms. Hearing that, he laughed. "Don't worry, Hinata! I won't let Teacher Kakashi send you back!"

Hearing him say that, Hinata sat on the steps with the form clenched in her hands, her head lowered and face flushed as her heart pounded wildly.

Sensitive little Hinata felt that Naruto seemed to be treating her a little differently... Did he have some feelings for her? But what if she was only imagining it? Naruto was nice to many people. Did he see her as a good friend, or...

Her little thoughts tangled themselves into knots.

"Then that's it, Hinata. See you at the training ground tomorrow." Naruto waved goodbye with a smile, then vanished with a whoosh.

Hinata stayed on the rooftop alone for a while before leaving for home as well.

It was night.

At the Hyuga Residence's private dojo, beneath dim yellow lights, stood a short-haired girl.

Hinata wore a tight mesh shirt. Her opened Byakugan was filled with focus as she repeatedly practiced this set of Gentle Fist forms throughout the dojo.

Squeak. Her bare little feet ground against the smooth wooden floor, leaving faint traces of sweat.

Ha! She thrust out a palm, and a Chakra-powered strike invisible to ordinary people burst from her hand.

Hinata was drenched in sweat and breathing lightly.

In the empty dojo, sweat dripped onto the floor. Everything was quiet.

Crash. The doors opened—

It was Hanabi. She stared at Hinata in the center of the dojo in surprise. "Sister, you're still practicing this late at night?"

Hinata smiled shyly, withdrew her stance, turned off the lights, and closed the doors before going to bathe with her younger sister.

At the Uchiha Residence, starlight fell across pavilions and towers now devoid of human life.

The former clan head's residence.

In the courtyard, Sasuke sat casually on the edge of the corridor, letting the cold moonlight spill over him. A kunai hooked around his fingers spun unconsciously.

There was no one around, not even the sound of insects.

Quietly watching the moon hang in the black night sky, Sasuke recalled what Naruto and the Third Hokage had said during the day.

Then he began recalling the hard training of the past six years, the cold and despairing night six years ago, and the days when his father, mother, and brother had still been there.

Where is my future?

Sasuke asked the moonlight in his heart.

At the Uzumaki Residence.

Naruto, wearing pajamas, sat at the table and carefully studied a scroll beneath the lamplight.

The scroll recorded the only ninjutsu he had copied from the Scroll of Sealing. It was also the signature technique of his father, the Fourth Hokage—

The Flying Thunder God Technique.

It was an extremely advanced and rare Space-Time Ninjutsu, and its requirements for the learner's talent were harsher than those of any other ninjutsu.

Naruto wanted to learn it partly because he wanted to become different from the person in his memories—to become stronger and more outstanding than him. On the other hand, because his father had been Konoha's second person to successfully master this technique, Naruto desperately wanted to become the third.

The night was quiet, and so was Naruto's heart.

The next day, a little after eight in the morning, Naruto arrived at the agreed training ground and found Hinata and Sasuke already there.

"Uh... I'm late..." Naruto scratched his head awkwardly. He had studied the scroll until late last night and had unexpectedly overslept this morning. He had hurriedly bitten down two slices of bread, gulped a cup of milk, and rushed over.

Sasuke wore a backpack and had a short sword strapped to the back of his waist, but he gave no reaction. As for Hinata, there was even less to say. She shook her head and said softly, "It's okay, Naruto."

Naruto looked around and smiled. "Just as expected, Teacher Kakashi couldn't possibly arrive at the agreed time..."

Hinata covered her mouth with a fist and giggled softly.

Naruto laughed too.

Sasuke glanced at the two of them. Why did they seem so irritating to him? "Hmph... Just wait. It'll probably be a long time." Sasuke walked beneath a tree, set down his backpack, sat down, and closed his eyes to rest.

Naruto and Hinata exchanged a glance, then went over and sat down to rest as well.

It was not until eleven-thirty in the afternoon that Kakashi finally arrived.

Naruto could not take it anymore. He stood up and accused him, "You're way too slow! This is just ridiculous!"

Kakashi waved a hand without caring. "Sorry, I got lost on the road of life..."

Sasuke stood up expressionlessly. Of everyone present, he was probably the most accustomed to this kind of shamelessness.

Hinata stood up somewhat nervously. This exercise would determine whether she could become a genin...

Jingle, jingle. Kakashi took two Bells from his pocket.

Seeing them, Naruto smiled. "Teacher Kakashi..."

Kakashi cut him off. "Naruto, I know you understand the purpose of this exercise, and your individual strength is considerable. I had originally planned to use a different format... But because I recently made a small breakthrough in my personal training, I decided to use this format after all."

After a pause, he continued, "Before twelve noon, anyone who takes a Bell from me will pass the exercise. Those who fail to take one... will return to the Ninja Academy!"

Kakashi took out an alarm clock and placed it on a wooden post.