At the entrance to Konoha, the spring sunshine was bright and warm.
The candidates taking part in the Chunin Ninja Exams gathered one after another.
Naruto carried an orange backpack stuffed with soldier pills, shuriken, and who knew how many packets of instant noodles.
Sasuke stood beside him, hands in his pockets, a ninja blade hanging at his waist.
Sakura was organizing her medical kit, arranging the bandages and ointments in neat rows.
Kakashi leaned against a pillar at the village entrance, holding that little orange book.
The candidates from the other teams had arrived too.
Neji Hyuga, Rock Lee, and Tenten-the three members of Team Guy-stood ramrod straight. Rock Lee's green jumpsuit was especially dazzling in the spring sunshine.
Shino Aburame stood in the shade of a tree, his presence as faint as ever, almost invisible.
Kiba Inuzuka and Akamaru were chasing a butterfly.
Hinata Hyuga stood at the edge of the group, glancing toward the village entrance from time to time as though waiting for someone.
Genya strolled out of the village.
Hashirama followed behind him, still carrying a flask of sake. Genya snatched it away and tossed it to a passing Anbu member.
"Old man, we're heading out on a mission. No more drinking."
Hashirama watched forlornly as the flask disappeared into the Anbu member's hands, then sighed.
"Do they have sake in Sunagakure?"
Genya ignored him.
His gaze swept over the assembled group.
Team 7: Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura.
Looking at those three lively faces, Genya began scheming.
If they passed the Chunin Ninja Exams and earned their promotions, Naruto and Sasuke would no longer be those eternal genin.
*That Naruto Uzumaki from the original story-the eternal dead last, always wearing his forehead protector, always shouting, "I'm going to be Hokage!" If he became a chunin