The Chunin Exams

After resting for the night, they set off for Konoha early the next morning. By the time they arrived, it was nearly noon.

"I didn't expect our first mission to be over so quickly."

Karot remarked. The whole trip, from departure to their return, had taken two days.

"Enough marveling. You'll have plenty to keep you busy in the future—so busy you won't have time to come back to the village and rest."

Matsushita said from beside him.

"First, we'll report the mission's completion. Then you can each head home and rest while you wait for me to call you."

"Yes, Teacher Matsushita."

When they reported the details of the mission, Matsushita especially praised Karot's performance. The Third Hokage commended him highly and encouraged him to keep up the good work and continue contributing to Konoha.

When Karot got home, he found his father waiting at the door, eagerly awaiting his son's return.

"You're back. Did the mission go well?"

Hatake Sakumo checked whether Karot had been injured before asking. He believed in Karot's abilities, but blades were merciless. As a father, he hoped his son would soar, yet feared he might be hurt in the process—a deeply conflicting feeling.

"Yeah, it went very well."

Hearing Karot's answer, Hatake Sakumo finally relaxed.

Then the two of them went to sit in the living room, and Kakashi came in from the backyard.

"Welcome home, big brother."

Time flew by, and before they knew it, a year had passed. In that year, Karot's strength had skyrocketed. His Ki-sensing range could now cover all of Konoha. He still wasn't a match for Hatake Sakumo, but when he went all out, he could reach seventy percent of his father's strength—more than enough to make him an elite Jonin. And Karot was only six! At this point in the timeline, Kakashi might still be chopping wood.

Over the past year, Karot's team had completed twenty A-rank missions, thirty-five B-rank missions, and sixty C-rank missions under Teacher Matsushita's leadership.

Karot had spent the entire year busy, either training or carrying out missions. He barely had a moment to stop.

Because of Karot's strength, Matsushita had deliberately cut down on low-rank missions. As a result, Karot's team had become quite famous in Konoha. After all, a team that had never taken a D-rank mission was unheard of in the village.

Their busy life had its hardships, too. On missions, they sometimes faced attacks from shinobi of other villages. Fortunately, with a monster like Karot on the team, they had managed to turn danger aside every time. Karot had also started wearing an orange-red Turtle Kanji Martial Arts Uniform.

Meanwhile, after spending half a year studying the Hatake Clan's sword style, Kakashi had joined another team to carry out missions. He performed exceptionally well, and the Hatake brothers' reputation quickly spread throughout Konoha.

In the past, the title "Konoha Twin Stars" had only been known at the Ninja Academy. But as the brothers began to make a name for themselves, Konoha's shinobi came to embrace the title as well.

While Karot was training at the practice ground at home, an eagle suddenly circled overhead.

"Another mission?"

Karot quickly tidied up and headed for their usual meeting place.

"Teacher Matsushita, what's the mission this time?"

By the time Karot arrived, the other three were already waiting for him.

"No. This time, it isn't a mission."

Matsushita Hokuto shook his head.

"If it isn't a mission, why did you call us here?"

Karot was puzzled.

"Because this concerns you, and we're a team. Those two are here to show their support."

Seeing the three of them smiling, Karot grew even more confused.

"I won't keep you guessing. It's the Chunin Exams."

"Oh."

Karot looked enlightened. So that was what this was about! Now that he thought about it, he was the only Genin on the team.

"I called you here to ask if you're willing to take part."

"Teacher Matsushita, aren't the Chunin Exams meant to be taken as a team?"

"Teams can take part, but individuals can too. The final battles are all individual matches, so either way is allowed."

"Fine, then. I'll take part."

When Karot agreed, Hyuga said, "You'd better be careful. Since you're entering alone, people will definitely target you."

After a year together, the team had grown very close.

"Here's some information I managed to get. Take a look."

Hyuga was from one of Konoha's great clans and had their own ways of gathering information.

Just as Karot took the information from Hyuga, Miwako handed him a big bundle of medicine for treating injuries.

"I can't help you with anything else. I hope you won't need these."

Since Karot often asked Miwako for help, the two of them had a relationship a bit like that of a brother and sister.

Matsushita looked at his students showing such affection for each other, and his heart swelled with happiness.

When Karot got home, he saw Kakashi, the mission maniac. Because of Karot, Kakashi had been working hard to catch up to his brother, hoping not to fall too far behind.

The fact that Kakashi was home this time made Karot understand: it was because of the Chunin Exams.

Kakashi watched Karot carrying a pile of bags. Karot had gone shopping.

"These are medicines for the Chunin Exams participants, and these are for treating injuries."

Without hesitation, Karot shared everything he had gotten with Kakashi.

"Where did you get all this?"

Kakashi asked.

"Your big brother here has a great personality. My teammates gave them to me. Didn't your teammates give you any?"

Karot said smugly, not forgetting to tease Kakashi.

"Hmph. I don't need them."

"Oh, you don't need these? Then should I go easy on you and let you become Konoha's youngest Chunin?"

Karot ruffled Kakashi's hair. For some reason, he really liked seeing Kakashi get riled up. He found it hilarious. Maybe that was just how things worked in the Naruto world: big brothers doted on their little brothers.

"I don't need that."

Kakashi brushed Karot's hand away and replied in an even tone.

"I'll beat you in the exams and become the youngest Chunin through my own strength."

Maybe a year of experience had gone to Kakashi's head. He thought he had surpassed his own big brother.

"Is that so? I hope you don't run into me during the matches. Otherwise, your Chunin career will be over in a day."

As his big brother, Karot had a responsibility to make Kakashi face reality.

"Whatever."

Karot's words weighed on Kakashi's mind. If it was Karot, Kakashi felt that after a year of studying the Hatake Sword Style, he could put up a fight. What he didn't understand was that the Hatake Sword Style was completely different in Hatake Sakumo's hands than it was in Hatake Kakashi's.

Early the next morning, the brothers arrived at the exam venue. The Chunin Exams were just as Karot remembered: they started with a written test.

The only difference was that there were no participants from other villages; everyone was from Konoha. Perhaps, with the Ninja World War in mind, they were afraid someone might hit too hard and leave a shinobi crippled or disabled. After all, the shinobi taking the Chunin Exams were the village's precious assets, and losing even one would break anyone's heart.