Chunin Exams (1)

"Lord Hokage, please hear me out. I know this may be meddling, but the nine names just called out were all my students at the Ninja Academy. They're all very talented, but it's still too soon!" Iruka said anxiously.

"They should gain more experience through actual combat before taking the exam."

"When I became a Chunin, I was six years younger than Naruto is now." With those words, Kakashi had managed to show off without even trying.

" Naruto is different from you!" Iruka shouted at Kakashi. "Do you want to ruin that boy?" Iruka cared so much about his students that he had stepped forward at a time like this.

"When they're on important missions, those guys are always complaining. I'd find it interesting to make them suffer a little. It might even be fun to ruin them." Kakashi spoke in the same calm tone as before.

"Y-you said what...?" Cold sweat trickled down Iruka's head.

"Relax, I was only joking," Kakashi said. "Iruka-sensei, I understand what you're trying to say. It's only natural to be upset, but..."

"Kakashi, that's enough," Kurenai said from the side, as if she'd guessed that what he was about to say wouldn't be pleasant.

"Talking won't change anything. Those guys aren't your students anymore. They're my subordinates now."

"Honestly, they're all such a pain," Asuma thought, the cigarette dangling from his lips. Kurenai sighed quietly. He'd said it after all.

"B-but the selection exam is also known as..." Iruka was interrupted before he could finish.

"Iruka, it's not that I don't understand what you're trying to say," the Third Hokage said.

"Lord Third Hokage..." Iruka looked toward him.

"So, let's prepare a special preliminary test for this batch of new Genin," the Third Hokage said.

"Yin Xiang, when did you get back?" Yin Xiang and Naruto were walking down the street together.

"I got back yesterday. I was on a long-term mission. Come on, I'll treat you to ramen." Yin Xiang had been studying the Third Hokage's scrolls from morning until afternoon and still hadn't eaten.

The Third Hokage truly deserved to be called the Professor of Ninjutsu. After reading his explanations, Yin Xiang suddenly understood everything and mastered the Sealing Jutsu that had stumped him for ten years.

"Sounds great!" Naruto was overjoyed at the thought of Yin Xiang treating him to ramen, and the two headed to Ichiraku Ramen.

"Naruto, the Chunin Exams are dangerous. This isn't a game. Make sure you stay safe when the time comes." As they ate their ramen, Yin Xiang spoke to Naruto. The way the kid ate was as awful as ever.

"Yeah! Don't worry," Naruto said around a mouthful of noodles. His words were so garbled that Yin Xiang could barely understand him. Yin Xiang shook his head helplessly, then smiled.

"Naruto, just know that I'll always be on your side, no matter what." Yin Xiang looked at Naruto, then went back to eating. When they finished, the two left.

"All right, head back. Remember to keep training," Yin Xiang said to Naruto.

"Okay, see you!" Naruto nodded, waved, and left.

Yin Xiang didn't head straight home. Instead, he went to the Third Hokage's office. "Sensei, what about my missions from now on?" he asked from the sofa beside the desk.

"From now on, you won't need to take missions. Stay by my side and do as I assign," the Third Hokage said as he worked through the files.

"...Then what about my money? I won't get paid if I don't do missions," Yin Xiang said with a pout.

"..." The Third Hokage was helpless in the face of Yin Xiang's obsession with money. "I'll pay you a salary every month."

"Sounds good." Yin Xiang nodded, but sighed inwardly. You won't even live long enough to pay me my first month's salary.

"Here's the application form for the Chunin Exams. Fill it out." The Third Hokage placed a form on his desk. Yin Xiang walked over, picked up a pen, and filled it in.

"All right, head back. I'll find time to teach you some ninjutsu over the next seven days," the Third Hokage said. Yin Xiang glanced outside. It was already dark.

"You should head home early too, Sensei." Yin Xiang nodded and said goodbye. The Third Hokage nodded as well, and Yin Xiang left.

Over the next few days, Yin Xiang spent his time training. The Third Hokage occasionally sent a Shadow Clone to teach him some Wind and Lightning Ninjutsu. Yin Xiang picked it up as soon as he saw it; he only needed to practice more afterward. He also learned some Sealing Jutsu and Barrier Ninjutsu, and his strength grew rapidly over those few days.

As for the other nine rookies, after Iruka tested them, he found that they had truly grown a lot. They all passed the special test.

Seven days later, the first exam began at the Ninja Academy. It was a written test.

But the entrance to the classroom was packed with people. Yin Xiang stood inconspicuously in the crowd. He saw Rock Lee and Tenten get shoved to the ground by the two ninja guarding the door. They begged the guards to let them in, even though the classroom was obviously an illusion and they were only on the second floor.

With Neji's Byakugan, they wouldn't have mistaken the illusion for reality. They were only putting on an act, making everyone there think they were weak so that their opponents would let their guard down during the exam.

"That's awful," someone in the crowd said.

"What did you say? Listen up. This is how kind we're being. The Chunin Exams are a major hurdle," one of the guards said.

"We've seen plenty of people give up being ninja because they couldn't pass this exam, and others sink into despair and never recover," the other guard said.

"Besides, a Chunin is a unit commander. If a mission fails and subordinates die, it's all the commander's responsibility. Can brats like you shoulder that burden?"

"Is there anything wrong with turning away people who can't pass?"

"What you're saying makes sense, but I'm still going through." Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura walked over from the side. Sasuke spoke, while Sakura looked rather downcast.

"Also, you should hurry up and dispel this illusion barrier. I'm supposed to be going to the third floor." Sasuke took two steps forward.

"Naruto's team is stealing the spotlight now," Yin Xiang thought. That would draw people's attention to their team.

"Oh? You noticed?" one of the guards at the entrance said.