The three changed their clothes and walked along Konoha's streets.
There were noticeably more outsiders in Konoha, wearing forehead protectors from various ninja villages, though Sunagakure was the only major ninja village represented among those they saw.
"Big Sis Hashihime, I remember you're already a chunin, right?" Shinsei had chatted with Hashihime before. Apart from Shinsei, everyone in Wood Kite's squad was at least a chunin.
"That's right. Getting promoted to chunin in the Anbu is pretty quick, but jonin is a different story."
That was true. Relatively speaking, the Anbu received more dangerous missions and grew faster. Once they were strong enough, they did get promoted to chunin a little faster than ordinary mission-taking ninja. But jonin were different. Beyond strength, jonin also held political power, so the requirements were comparatively higher.
Konoha, classroom 301.
Two male ninja stood at the entrance like a pair of door guardians, blocking everyone outside.
"If you can't get past us, don't bother taking the Chunin Ninja Exams," said the ninja with the small mustache. "Chunin are squad leaders. If you're not strong enough, you'll only get your teammates hurt."
A boy in a green bodysuit was kicked backward. He had thick eyebrows and a dense bowl cut.
Isn't that Rock Lee? Shinsei recognized him. Rock Lee often trained by running around Konoha, so he wasn't hard to spot, and he certainly wasn't this weak. Besides, although so much time had passed that Shinsei had forgotten much of the original story, the Eight Gates Released Formation had left a deep impression on him. Rock Lee was one of only two people who had mastered it.
"This isn't room 301." Sasuke looked into the man's eyes. "Could you dispel the genjutsu barrier now?"
"Huh? This isn't room 301?"
"Have we been stuck outside the wrong place all this time?"
Everyone began clamoring.
The number 301 on the door plaque on the wall also changed to 201.
"I don't believe Shinsei and Sakura didn't notice." Sasuke turned to look at Shinsei. "You two had the best grades in our class."
Shinsei shrugged. He had noticed long ago, but he hadn't come to actually take the exam this time. He was here on a mission, so he wasn't about to meddle.
"Shinsei!" Naruto waved. "You're all better now?"
Ino threw herself at him and nestled against his chest.
Shinsei stood stiffly, looking very awkward. Fortunately, Ino still knew some restraint and quickly let go.
"Please go out with me!" Rock Lee stood before Sakura and bowed solemnly.
"Absolutely not! I don't like bushy eyebrows!" Sakura froze for a moment. She liked Sasuke and Sasuke alone. She glanced at him, and he seemed completely unconcerned, so she breathed a sigh of relief.
Rock Lee hung his head, deeply crushed.
Two youngsters, a boy and a girl, stood behind Rock Lee. The boy's eyes were like Hinata's-the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan.
The boy with the Byakugan was probably Neji Hyuga, who had graduated the previous year, while the other cute girl was Tenten. She really did have a very Chinese style.
"Shinsei, the undisputed top graduate of this year's class despite being a commoner!" Neji walked over. "I hope I get to fight you."
Shinsei raised his eyebrows and waved for everyone to leave. He had no interest in fighting Neji. His sights were already set higher now, but if Neji chose to challenge him, he wouldn't mind teaching this bastard who beat up his little sister a lesson.
"Hey!" a voice called from behind them.
Everyone stopped and looked back.
A green figure jumped down from the second floor and landed in the lobby.
"My name is Rock Lee!" Rock Lee pointed his thumb at himself, then his index finger at Shinsei. "I challenge you! Top graduate Shinsei!"
Team 7 gave Shinsei odd looks. Having gone on the Land of Waves mission with him, they had personally watched Shinsei force Zabuza to surrender. In their minds, Shinsei was a ninja even stronger than Kakashi.
Of course, had Shinsei known what they were thinking, he would never have agreed. A ninja's strength couldn't simply be calculated from chakra reserves and ninjutsu power. With intelligence and tactics, the weak could defeat the strong. In this Shinobi World of high offense and low defense, any carelessness could let an opponent turn the tables. Besides, Shinsei had held an absolute terrain advantage in the Land of Waves.
The other three also wanted to see how much Shinsei had grown, and Ino even urged him to teach Rock Lee a lesson.
"Make it quick." Hashihime folded her arms and nudged Shinsei forward.
"All right, all right." Shinsei spread his hands. "Then I'll be counting on your guidance, Rock Lee."
Rock Lee moved first, sweeping in with a fast horizontal kick.
Shinsei turned slightly aside to evade it, then pushed his leg along with its momentum, throwing him off balance.
Rock Lee flipped in midair, steadied himself, and charged again with a low sweeping kick.
Shinsei lifted one leg out of the way. Rock Lee forcibly redirected his sweep, kicking up from the ground toward Shinsei's chin.
This move? Is it the Reverse Lotus? Unfortunately, even the best move depended on who used it. Shinsei caught the incoming right foot with his right hand, blocked the left foot that followed with his left, and lifted him up.
Holding one of Rock Lee's feet in each hand, he swung him around in the air and flung him away. He even twisted his right hand as he threw him, adding a spinning force to his body.
Rock Lee went flying in a spin and slammed into a corner with a bang. He got up dazed, his body swaying unsteadily.
"Guy-sensei, I'm sorry. I'll have to use a forbidden move!" Rock Lee undid the weights around his legs and tossed them to the floor, where they landed with a tremendous crash.
"Whoa, whoa, Lee!" An adult ninja in a green bodysuit suddenly appeared in the lobby. "Forbidden moves aren't for using against your comrades!"
Smack!
The newcomer struck Rock Lee on the head, raising a large lump. Rock Lee crouched on the floor, clutching his head.
"I'm sorry, Guy-sensei! I've let you down!"
The two held each other and sobbed.
"Why is there another weird guy with bushy eyebrows?!" Naruto jumped up and down.
"Be polite, Naruto!" Shinsei had nothing but respect for Might Guy. This was the man who had nearly sent an Uchiha to his death with a single kick. "
He's your Kakashi-sensei's comrade, and his lifelong rival-Jonin Might Guy!"
"Huh? Is this weird guy really that strong?"
"That's right! I'm Kakashi's lifelong rival!" Might Guy stood up, raised his thumb, and flashed his pearly white teeth. "The Blue Beast of the Hidden Leaf! Might Guy!"
Uh...
Everyone stared at Might Guy, somewhat speechless.
"You're Kakashi's students, aren't you?" Might Guy instantly appeared behind Naruto and the other two. "I'm your Kakashi's eternal rival. Incidentally, my current record is fifty wins and forty-nine losses. I'm the stronger one!"
So fast!
Shinsei could only match that speed by activating Lightning Release. As expected of the pinnacle of taijutsu in the Shinobi World.
"How could a weird bushy-brows like you be Kakashi-sensei's rival?!"
"Don't disrespect Might Guy-sensei!" Rock Lee pointed at Naruto.
"Lee!" With a flash, Might Guy instantly appeared before Rock Lee and looked down at the boy. "You made a mistake today!"
"I'm sorry, Might Guy-sensei!" Rock Lee stood straight.
"Then run five hundred laps with the roar of youth! The Chunin Ninja Exams are about to begin, so we'll save your punishment for later!"
"Yes, Might Guy-sensei!"
"Lee!"
"Sensei!"
The two embraced and sobbed again.
Uh...
Everyone exchanged looks, truly at a loss for words.