Chunin Ninja Exams

Hokage's Office

"Now..." The Third Hokage looked at the crowd of ninja before him and spoke slowly. "Those responsible for guiding newly graduated Genin, step forward..."

Yuun stepped out from the crowd at his words and looked around, only to find Kakashi and a bearded Jonin standing beside him.

"So it's Kakashi, Yuun, and Asuma... Well?" The Third Hokage raised his head. "Among the rookies under your charge, are there any suitable candidates?"

Without pausing, the Third Hokage continued, "I assume you all understand... The basic requirement is... at least eight completed missions... As for the rest, it depends on your recommendations..." He glanced at the three of them. "Kakashi, you go first..."

Kakashi, who had been listless all along, reluctantly perked up and formed a hand seal in front of his chest. "I, Kakashi, recommend Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto Uzumaki, and Sakura Haruno of Team 7... to participate in the Chunin Ninja Exams under my name..."

As soon as Kakashi finished, Asuma followed. "I, Asuma, recommend Ino Yamanaka, Shikamaru Nara, and Choji Akimichi of Team 10 to participate in the Chunin Ninja Exams under my name."

After the two had finished, Yuun curled his lip and added, "I, Yuun, recommend Hinata Hyuga, Kiba Inuzuka, and Shino Aburame of Team 8 to participate in the Chunin Ninja Exams under my name."

"Hmm, this decision really is somewhat unexpected..." The Third Hokage hesitated slightly, but before he could decide, someone interrupted him.

"Please wait!" Iruka, standing near the back, could not help speaking up.

Seeing that it was Iruka, the Third Hokage asked, "What is it, Iruka?"

"Lord Hokage! Please allow me to say something!" Though he knew it was somewhat discourteous, Iruka spoke out of responsibility toward his students. "This may be presumptuous... but those nine Genin just recommended were all my students at the Academy! Although they are all outstanding... it is still too early for them to take the exams! They should accumulate more experience... I cannot agree with the Jonin's recommendations!"

"I became a Chunin when I was six years younger than Naruto," Kakashi said faintly.

"You can't compare them like that!" Iruka shouted. "You'll ruin them! Everyone knows the Chunin Ninja Exams are also called..."

"On important missions, all they do is talk. Letting them see it for themselves might be good..." Kakashi sneered impatiently. "It might even be interesting if they get ruined..."

"What..." Iruka looked utterly shocked.

"I'm kidding, Iruka-sensei!" Kakashi returned to his earlier blank expression. "I know what you want to say... and I know you'll be angry... But stop treating them as your students. They're my subordinates now!"

The atmosphere instantly turned cold. Kakashi kept calling it a joke, but neither his tone nor expression allowed anyone to associate his words with humor.

Fortunately, the Third Hokage stepped in at once to smooth things over. "If no one has any objections, then it's settled. Meeting adjourned."

"So, that's roughly the situation..." Yuun took out three application forms. "Well? I don't think you'll refuse, right?"

"Of course not!" Kiba immediately snatched one of the forms and excitedly looked it over again and again. "Can we really become Chunin now?"

"That's not quite how it works." Yuun handed the last form to Hinata and smiled. "You still have to compete against many Genin from our village and other villages for those few promotion slots. Submitting an application doesn't make you a Chunin."

"What?" Kiba confidently pounded his chest. "Those idiots think they can compete with me? I'll beat them until they're crawling on the ground."

"Heh heh, you'd better pray you don't run into those people." Yuun smiled rather strangely. "Otherwise, you won't even know how you lost."

Shino's eyes lit up as he stared fixedly at Yuun. "Sensei, have you already obtained information on the candidates?" Though it was phrased as a question, Shino's tone made it clear that he was already certain.

"Oh dear, I let that slip." Yuun smiled, but he did not look the least bit regretful.

"Tch, how could you possibly know the information on so many candidates?" Kiba said disdainfully. If not for the way he kept sneaking glances at Yuun from the corner of his eye, Yuun might actually have been fooled.

"Kiba, that provocation won't work on me." Yuun smiled craftily. "How about this? I won't ask for much. For every candidate's information I tell you, you treat me to one meal. I pick the place. Deal?"

"Hmph, no way!" Kiba shouted. "Don't think you can blackmail me!"

"Haha, then you've got it wrong." Yuun spoke seriously. "Gathering intelligence by every possible means is a ninja's required course. You should be grateful to have a mobile information station like me, one you can buy with just a meal."

"I don't believe I can't pass the Chunin Ninja Exams without your information!" Kiba said angrily, though the fleeting regret on his face betrayed him.

"What a pity. I went out of my way to gather so much information." Yuun feigned regret.

"Damn it." Seeing Yuun put on that act, Kiba gritted his teeth but still could not bring himself to give in.

"Yuun..." Hinata gently tugged at Yuun's sleeve. Before she could plead for Kiba, Yuun smiled and patted her head.

"There are many people worth noting in these Chunin Ninja Exams, so I won't list them all one by one. But there are a few people you'd better pray not to encounter. If you do encounter them, try your best to avoid fighting." Yuun spoke seriously. "First, Gaara of Hidden Sand. He carries a huge gourd on his back. If you see him, run as far away as you can. Even I'd find him troublesome in a real fight."

Hearing Yuun's description, all three of them frowned involuntarily. After spending more than half a year with him, they had some understanding of Yuun's strength. They did not know exactly how strong he was, but an enemy Yuun himself found troublesome was definitely not someone they could withstand.

"The second and third are two people from the Taijutsu Team one year above yours: Neji Hyuga and Rock Lee. Neither of them is much weaker than an ordinary Chunin anymore. Rock Lee especially—when he goes all out, even a Jonin could suffer if caught off guard." Yuun continued, "There's also Kabuto Yakushi. Don't go near him. Finally, the Hidden Grass participants this year. No matter what, stay away from them. If you see Hidden Grass ninja, don't hesitate—run immediately. That's my advice to you."

"All right, that's enough for now. If you decide to participate, sign your names on the application forms." Yuun patted Hinata's head, as she had grown worried from his words. "Submit them to Room 301 at the Academy before four tomorrow afternoon."