Registering for the Chunin Ninja Exams

"Sensei, I can't wait another year! Please, hurry up and register me! I have to become the youngest Jōnin in the Hyuga Clan! I'm already so far behind someone like Itachi, who graduated early from the Ninja Academy!"

When he heard that Kazuhiko wanted him to wait another year, Hayato naturally refused. He launched into a relentless campaign of pestering his teacher. After he kept it up for an entire month, Kazuhiko was finally moved by his persistence and agreed to his request.

"Sensei Kazuhiko!! You've given me a new lease on life!"

As a helpless-looking Kazuhiko handed the registration forms for the chunin ninja exams to Madara Uchiha and his two teammates, he had no idea whether he was doing the right thing. Then again, even if he registered them, they might not pass. If they did pass, that would only prove they had the ability, and as their teacher, Kazuhiko should not stifle his students' talents.

Having convinced himself with that reasoning, Kazuhiko began explaining the basics to the three Genin who were about to take the chunin ninja exams.

"You have one day to consider whether you want to take the chunin ninja exams. Before you confirm your participation, there are some basics I need to explain. The chunin ninja exams are held by the various ninja villages to select Chunin. They test candidates' abilities in ninjutsu, Taijutsu, genjutsu, intelligence, mental resilience, and other areas. Only candidates who pass can advance to Chunin and take on more numerous and important missions. The exams also give the ninja villages a chance to interact and demonstrate their strength, so you'll face opponents from the other major villages. You should also know that the location changes each time. This time, you'll be competing in Sunagakure, in the Land of Wind. Once you're in another village, do not act arrogantly. Although Sunagakure and Konoha are still officially allies, that doesn't mean we're completely safe within their territory. Do you understand?"

As their supervising teacher, Kazuhiko Sarutobi earnestly explained the background of the chunin ninja exams and the precautions they needed to take outside the exams themselves. His students, however, clearly did not take his words seriously.

"What? We're actually taking the exams in another village? Sunagakure—I've never been there! And we get to compete against Genin from other Ninja Villages? That's amazing! Hahaha! As long as I steal the spotlight during the exams, Lord Hiashi is bound to see how talented I am!"

Rather than the precautions, Hayato Hyuga was more interested in the unfamiliar journey he was about to experience. Madara Uchiha and Sōsuke Aburame, naturally, showed no reaction.

"Take this seriously! People can die in the chunin ninja exams!"

Hayato's cheerful disposition could lift the team's spirits in most situations, but the chunin ninja exams were far more than a simple test.

"Taking the chunin ninja exams means accepting the risk of death. During the exams, your opponents will not be punished for killing you. If you don't take this seriously, Hayato, your eagerness for quick success will get you killed. You'll get Uchiha Itachi and Sōsuke Aburame killed as well. Do you understand?"

When Kazuhiko dropped his smile and turned serious, he was genuinely intimidating. Under his stern reprimand, Hayato Hyuga finally understood that the chunin ninja exams were not as simple as he had imagined.

Hayato Hyuga looked down at the unsigned registration form in his hand, his mood growing heavy.

The other participants were elite Genin with years of mission experience, while the three of them had not even been a team for a year. To Hayato, entering all three of them really was an act of selfishness on his part. If he died in the exams, so be it. He was only a member of the Hyuga Branch Family anyway, and his life was worth little. But Sosuke and Madara were both young prodigies of their clans. If they lost their lives prematurely in the chunin ninja exams because of him, Hayato would regret it for the rest of his life.

Just as Hayato began to hesitate, Madara Uchiha handed Kazuhiko his form with his name already filled in.

"Scared?"

Madara Uchiha said just that one simple word, and Hayato Hyuga, whose resolve had begun to waver, immediately felt a rush of blood to his head. He quickly wrote his name on the registration form and handed it to Kazuhiko. Then he gave Madara Uchiha a challenging look.

Meanwhile, seeing that both his teammates had signed and submitted their forms, Sōsuke Aburame resigned himself to his fate, signed his own name, and handed his form to Kazuhiko Sarutobi.

"Wait, you're signing them just like that?"

Normally, people would carefully consider a matter of life and death, which was why Kazuhiko had given the three children a day to think. During that day, Konoha would also send Chunin to assess the abilities of the Genin who wanted to take the chunin ninja exams. Only those who passed would be eligible to sign the registration forms. What Kazuhiko had not expected was for the three little brats under his command to sign their names the moment they received the forms.

"Itachi, shouldn't you discuss something this important with your family first?"

Madara Uchiha was to blame for how quickly the three children had signed. He had signed first, then deliberately provoked Hayato into signing. In the end, Sosuke had reluctantly followed suit. Understanding how it had happened, Kazuhiko Sarutobi made Madara Uchiha his first target for persuasion.

"There's no need. My family has always supported every decision I make."

"Itachi, you jerk! Don't go trying to look cool all by yourself!"

After answering Kazuhiko Sarutobi, Madara Uchiha waved and left, leaving them with nothing but a dashing view of his retreating back. Seeing him leave, Hayato Hyuga followed, grumbling as he went. Sōsuke Aburame silently bowed to Kazuhiko before departing as well.

"Lord Kazuhiko, should we still test those three?"

After Madara Uchiha and the others left, three Chunin wearing Konoha forehead protectors appeared behind Kazuhiko Sarutobi. They were the examiners assigned to determine whether Madara Uchiha and his teammates were qualified to participate in the chunin ninja exams. Having seen how quickly the three Genin signed their names, the Chunin inwardly lamented their youth and recklessness.

"Ah, you can try testing the other two. Leave Uchiha Itachi out of it."

Looking at the registration forms he had collected, Kazuhiko Sarutobi could not help sighing. He glanced at Madara Uchiha's handwriting again. The boy was not even an adult yet, so how was his writing already so extraordinarily commanding?