The Chunin Exams

"I heard Uchiha Chen used to be a genius too. Back at the Ninja Academy, he was even more talented than that Uchiha Sasuke!"

"That's right. Chen really was more gifted than Sasuke. It's a shame, though. Years ago, the Uchiha tragedy dealt him a severe psychological blow, leaving him a fool who couldn't even take care of himself. He never went back to the Ninja Academy after that. He's always stayed at home, relying on Sasuke to look after him. He's basically a lost cause," the Third Hokage said regretfully.

"I see..." Kakashi felt it was a pity, but didn't think much more of it.

"Anyway, that's all I wanted to tell you. After you meet them tomorrow, you can find out more for yourself."

"Understood. But even if they're Obito's clan members and the teacher's child, I won't let them become my students if they can't pass the test." Though he said that, Kakashi still planned to give them a few hints.

"That test? I'm sure Naruto and the others won't disappoint you," the Third Hokage told Kakashi.

"I hope so. Then I'll take my leave." Kakashi bowed to the Third Hokage.

"Go ahead." The Third Hokage waved him off.

After leaving the Hokage's Office, Kakashi didn't return home. Instead, he went to the Memorial Stone in Konoha. "Obito, Teacher, Rin, I've come to see you again. Tomorrow I'll be leading a team once more. This time, my students are Obito's clan member and the teacher's child. But even so, I won't go easy on them. People who break the rules and iron laws of the ninja world are trash. But those who don't cherish their comrades are worse than trash. Obito, you're the one who taught me that. If they don't pass the test, I'll have to send them back to the Ninja Academy. After all, a ninja who can't work as part of a team will only die faster on the battlefield."

Elsewhere, Chen was lying on the tatami, lost in thought. As usual, he'd gone to train at the laboratory in the woods that day. When he returned home, he noticed something new on Sasuke's forehead.

A Headband! The symbol of a ninja.

"So Sasuke and the others graduated from the Ninja Academy today. That means the story has started!" Chen thought.

According to the Original Story, Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura would be assigned to the same team tomorrow and meet Kakashi. The day after that, Kakashi would test them. If all went as expected, they'd pass and become Team 7. Before long, they'd be sent on an escort mission.

"The story's finally begun. Soon I'll be able to leave Konoha." Chen was excited. "I can't wait!"

The next day, Sasuke went to the Academy as usual and met his team leader, Kakashi. After a brief introduction, Kakashi sent them all home, telling them he'd test them the following day. Just as in the Original Story, they took part in a Survival Exercise. At first, Sasuke and the others each fought on their own, and Kakashi thoroughly trounced them. Naruto tried to sneak a bite to eat by himself and ended up tied to a tree. Kakashi told the three of them they'd all failed, then explained the importance of teamwork. Finally, he offered them another chance, though he'd make the test harder. Only those who wanted to take the challenge could eat lunch—but Naruto was absolutely forbidden from eating, as punishment for breaking the rules and trying to hog the food. Anyone who shared with him would be disqualified on the spot.

But when Sasuke heard Naruto's stomach growling, he ignored Kakashi's warning and shared his lunch with him. He said the three of them would try to take the bells together that afternoon and that he didn't want Naruto getting in their way. Just as Sakura was about to feed the tied-up Naruto, Kakashi suddenly appeared before them. He used a jutsu to conjure a scene of howling winds and crashing thunder, pressuring Sasuke and the others as he demanded to know why they'd disobeyed his rules. They replied that the three of them were one team and had to stand together.

After seeing that they understood the importance of teamwork, Kakashi announced that they had all passed. He told them he'd given other teams the same test before, but not one had ever passed. Sasuke and the others were the first team to succeed.

Finally, Kakashi told them, "People who break the rules and iron laws of the ninja world are trash. But those who don't cherish their comrades are worse than trash." He declared the test over, said they had all passed, and announced that Team 7 would begin taking on missions the next day.

After that, Team 7 went to the Hokage's Office every day to take on jobs like chopping wood, carrying water, and picking up trash from the river. After a while, Naruto grew tired of these little tasks and said he wanted a higher-level mission. In the end, the Third Hokage gave in and assigned Team 7 a C-rank mission: escort a bridge-building expert safely to the Land of Waves. The team members then went home to prepare.

"I have a mission tomorrow, and I'll be away from the village for a few days. I've already spoken to the owner of Ichiraku Ramen. While I'm gone, he'll have someone bring you ramen every day. Just stay home and don't go outside. Got it?" Sasuke returned home, packed his things, then went to Chen's room and spoke to him where he lay on the tatami.

"Sasuke, where are you going? I want to come too!" Chen sat up and said.

"Idiot. I'm going on a mission. How could I bring a useless burden like you? Stay home and behave. You're an idiot who does nothing but hold people back." Sasuke snapped at Chen.

"Oh! I understand. I'll stay home and wait for you. I won't go anywhere." Chen put on a dejected, aggrieved expression as he spoke.

"Hmph! Good. Don't cause any trouble while I'm gone, or you'll pay for it when I get back." Sasuke warned Chen, then left his room.

"An out-of-village mission? It has to be the mission from the Original Story to escort Tazuna, the bridge builder, to the Land of Waves. After they return, the Chunin Exams will begin. With Sasuke gone, I'll have more time to train. When Orochimaru launches the Konoha Crush Plan, I can take advantage of the chaos to kill a few ninjas and earn some Points." Chen had already made up his mind.

Early the next day, Sasuke set out with his pack and met Naruto and the others at the village entrance. But Kakashi didn't show up until noon. After he presented their travel permit, they left Konoha together and headed toward the Land of Waves.

Naruto and Sasuke were both thrilled. They'd never left the village before, despite having grown up there. They'd even forgotten that Kakashi had kept them waiting for so long by arriving late.

After Sasuke left, Chen went to the old laboratory in the woods to train. Even though Sasuke was away, Chen left behind a Shadow Clone, since the owner of Ichiraku Ramen would have his daughter, Ayame, bring him ramen at mealtimes. He also summoned a Pomeranian and had it keep watch on what was happening in Konoha.

A few days later, with the Chunin Exams approaching, ninjas from several small villages began arriving in Konoha. Among them were ninjas from Sunagakure, one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages. Since Sunagakure had lost the Third Shinobi World War, the treaty between the two countries had stripped it of the right to hold its own Chunin Exams. All its Genin had to come to Konoha and pass the Chunin Exams there to become Chunin. The small-village ninjas either had no other choice or preferred Konoha's more prestigious exams, so they came to Konoha as well.

"It's really lively. Konoha's a real mix of all sorts right now. I'd better be careful. Orochimaru might already be here. That freak has his eye on Uchiha bodies. I can't let him notice me!" Chen grew wary as he looked over the information relayed by the Pomeranian.

In the Original Story, Orochimaru had lost to Uchiha Itachi and his Sharingan. Ever since, he'd been obsessed with the Sharingan. Though he'd set his sights on Sasuke in the Original Story, there was no guarantee he wouldn't take an interest in Chen, who was also an Uchiha—even if Chen was now a cripple.

Once Chen noticed that more outsiders had arrived in the village, he stopped training. He didn't want anything unexpected to happen, so he decided to stay in his room and sleep.

A few days later, Team 7 returned to Konoha from their mission. Just as in the Original Story, Naruto and the others first got into a confrontation with the three Sunagakure ninjas—Gaara, Kankuro, and Temari—and then learned about the upcoming Chunin Exams.

The team leaders of the Konoha 12—Might Guy, Kakashi, Kurenai Yuhi, and Asuma Sarutobi—all recommended their students to the Third Hokage for the Chunin Exams.

"My strength should be at the Jonin level by now. I'll earn some Points during the Konoha Crush Plan. With my current strength, it shouldn't be a problem." Chen lay on the tatami, thinking.

For the past two years, Chen had trained constantly and never dared to slack off, so his strength had grown tremendously. Drawing on memories from his previous life, he had even developed several techniques from Chidori: "Chidori Stream" and "Chidori Sharp Spear." He had also mastered Finger Gun, turning it into "Ten Finger Gun" and the Rokushiki Ogi "Rokuogan."

He'd developed all these techniques himself rather than acquiring them through the system. There was no denying that Chen was truly gifted.

"I really can't wait! Heh..."