Chunin Exams (1)

"Third Hokage, please listen to me. Although it might be meddlesome, the nine people just listed were my students at the Ninja Academy. They are certainly all very talented, but it is still too early for them!" Iruka said anxiously.

"They should accumulate more experience through actual combat before letting them take the exam."

"When I became a Chunin, I was six years younger than Naruto is now." Kakashi's words were an effortless flex.

"Naruto is different from you!" Iruka shouted at Kakashi. "Are you trying to ruin that child?" Iruka only stood up at this moment because he cared so deeply for his students.

"When carrying out important missions, those guys are always complaining. Making them suffer a little bit actually interests me; ruining them seems quite fun as well," Kakashi said, his tone remaining indifferent.

"Y-you... what did you say..." Cold sweat dripped down Iruka's forehead.

"Alright, I'm just joking," Kakashi said. "Iruka-sensei, I understand what you want to say, and it's inevitable that you'd be angry, but..."

"Kakashi, say no more." Seeming to guess that whatever Kakashi said next wouldn't be pleasant, Kurenai spoke up from the side.

"Further talk is useless. Those guys are no longer your students; they are now my subordinates."

Good grief, they are all such troublesome brats, Asuma thought to himself while chewing on his cigarette butt. Kurenai sighed silently; he had said it after all.

"B-but the Chunin Exams are also known as..." Iruka's words were cut off before he could finish.

"Iruka, it's not that I don't understand what you want to say." The Third Hokage spoke up.

"Third Hokage..." Iruka looked toward the Third Hokage.

"Therefore, let us prepare a special preliminary exam for these new Genin," the Third Hokage said.

"Yin Xiang, when did you get back?" Yin Xiang was walking down the street with Naruto.

"I just got back yesterday from a long-term mission. Let's go, I'll treat you to ramen." Yin Xiang had been studying the Third Hokage's scrolls from morning until afternoon and hadn't even had a chance to eat yet.

The Third Hokage was truly worthy of being called a Professor of Ninjutsu. After reading the Third Hokage's notes, Yin Xiang suddenly had a breakthrough, mastering the Sealing Jutsu that had troubled him for a decade.

"Awesome!" Hearing that Yin Xiang was treating him to ramen, Naruto was overjoyed, and the two headed to Ichiraku Ramen together.

"Naruto, the Chunin Exams are dangerous and not a game. You must keep yourself safe when the time comes," Yin Xiang said to Naruto while they ate. The guy's table manners were as atrocious as ever.

"Oh! Don't worry about it," Naruto said while eating, his words slurred. Yin Xiang could barely understand him, but he shook his head helplessly and smiled.

Naruto, you just need to know that no matter what happens, I will always be on your side, Yin Xiang thought as he watched Naruto. They finished their meal and left.

"Alright, head back now. Remember to train hard," Yin Xiang told Naruto.

"Got it, see ya!" Naruto nodded, waved his hand, and left.

Yin Xiang didn't go straight home but instead went to see the Third Hokage. "Teacher, what about my missions from now on?" Yin Xiang asked, sitting on the sofa in the Third Hokage's office.

"You won't need to go on missions anymore. Stay by my side and listen to my orders," the Third Hokage said while processing files.

"...What about my money? I won't get paid if I don't do missions," Yin Xiang pouted.

"..." The Third Hokage was quite helpless regarding Yin Xiang's obsession with money. "I'll issue you a monthly salary."

"Good idea." Yin Xiang nodded, though he sighed inwardly, You won't even be able to pay me the first month's salary.

"This is 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 out.

"Alright, go back now. I'll find time over these seven days to teach you some ninjutsu," the Third Hokage said. Yin Xiang looked outside; it was already dark.

"You should head back early too, Teacher." Yin Xiang nodded and said to the Third Hokage. The Third Hokage nodded back, and Yin Xiang departed.

In the following days, Yin Xiang spent his time training. The Third Hokage would occasionally send a Shadow Clone to teach Yin Xiang some Wind and Lightning Ninjutsu. Yin Xiang learned the techniques instantly, needing only to practice them to perfection. He also learned several Sealing and Barrier Jutsus, and his strength grew rapidly over those few days.

As for the other nine newcomers, after being tested by Iruka, it was discovered that they had truly grown a lot and had all passed the special test.

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

However, the hallway outside the classroom was packed with people. Yin Xiang stood in the crowd, keeping a low profile. He saw Rock Lee and Tenten being shoved to the ground by two ninjas at the classroom door, still begging them to let them in. Yet, the classroom was clearly an illusion, and they were only on the second floor.

With Neji's Byakugan, they couldn't possibly fail to see through the illusion, so they were merely acting to make everyone present think they were weak, ensuring that others would underestimate them when the exam started.

"That's too mean," someone in the crowd said.

"What did you say? Listen well, this is our kindness. The Chunin Exams are a major hurdle," one of the ninjas at the door said.

"We've seen plenty of people give up on being ninjas or fall into depression just because they took this exam," the other added.

"Besides, a Chunin is at the level of a squad leader. If a mission fails and subordinates die, it is entirely the leader's responsibility. Can brats like you handle that?"

"Is there a problem with turning away those who aren't qualified?"

"That may be true, but I'm still going through," Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura walked over from the side. Sasuke spoke, while Sakura looked quite dejected.

"And you should hurry up and dispel this barrier made of illusion. I'm going to the third floor," Sasuke said, taking two steps forward.

Naruto's team is really drawing attention to themselves, Yin Xiang thought. Now, people would definitely be keeping an eye on their team.

"Oh? You noticed, did you?" the ninja at the door said.