Chapter 58: Chapter 58 Chūnin Exams (1)
As the tension from the sand siblings' departure began to settle, a familiar voice cut through the air, tinged with curiosity and a hint of irritation.
"What happened here?"
The trio turned to see a boy around their age with raven-black hair and onyx eyes walking toward them, his hands casually in his pockets. His Konoha forehead protector gleamed in the sunlight, and his sharp gaze shifted between the trio and Naruto's group.
"Sasuke!" Sakura exclaimed, her earlier nervousness replaced by a more eager tone.
Naruto huffed, crossing his arms. "Tch. Nothing much, just some jerks causing trouble."
"Jerks?" Sasuke repeated, arching an eyebrow. He glanced toward the direction the sand siblings had gone. "You mean them?"
"Yeah," Naruto said, still fuming. "They were picking on Konohamaru, but these guys showed up and scared them off."
Sasuke's eyes flicked over to Riku, Fū, and Daisuke, assessing them silently. His gaze lingered on Riku for a moment, narrowing slightly.
Riku met his gaze evenly, his white eyes calm and unreadable. "They didn't seem like the friendly type," he said simply.
Sasuke tilted his head slightly, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "And you think you scared them off?"
Fū crossed her arms, her orange eyes narrowing. "We didn't think. We did."
Daisuke said nothing, but his imposing frame and steady gaze seemed to add weight to Fū's statement.
Sasuke's smirk grew, but he didn't push further. Instead, he turned his attention back to Naruto and Sakura. "We're heading to the Chūnin Exams soon. Don't fall behind."
"We're not falling behind, you bastard!" Naruto snapped, stomping his foot.
"Sure," Sasuke said with a dismissive shrug before glancing back at the trio. "I'll see you there."
With that, he walked off toward the exam building, leaving an air of confidence in his wake.
Sakura sighed. "I guess we should get going too."
"Yeah," Naruto said, his earlier irritation replaced with excitement. "Time to show everyone what I've got!"
"Good luck," Riku said, giving them a small nod as the Konoha team started heading toward the exam venue.
Once they were out of earshot, Fū glanced at Riku. "That guy seems like a handful."
"You have no idea," Riku muttered under his breath, memories of Sasuke's role in his first life flashing briefly through his mind.
"Come on," Daisuke said, gesturing toward the path ahead. "We should go too."
…
The trio walked in relative silence, weaving through the bustling streets of Konoha toward the exam building. The energy in the air was palpable, with shinobi from various villages gathering for the prestigious event.
As they approached the massive building, Riku couldn't help but feel a mix of anticipation and unease. He glanced at his teammates, noting Fū's determined expression and Daisuke's calm focus.
The three of them stepped into the building, the chatter of competitors filling the air. Their journey had led them to this moment, and there was no turning back now.
The air inside the Chūnin Exam venue was thick with tension and buzzing with energy. Shinobi from all over the world filled the expansive hall, their village symbols glinting in the light as quiet conversations and subtle rivalries played out. Riku, Fū, and Daisuke walked through the crowd, each of them scanning their surroundings with keen eyes.
"This place feels... competitive," Fū muttered, her orange eyes narrowing. She tugged her green sleeves, her usual playful demeanor giving way to something more serious.
"It is," Riku replied, his voice calm but sharp. "This isn't just a test. It's a battlefield in disguise."
Daisuke nodded in agreement, his large frame giving off an intimidating presence. "Stay sharp. It looks like everyone's already sizing each other up."
Riku's eyes darted around the room, noting familiar faces. Teams from Konoha, Suna, and other villages were scattered throughout the hall. He caught sight of Naruto and Sakura standing with Sasuke, their loud conversation contrasting sharply with the other teams' quiet intensity.
Before anyone could say more, a sharp voice cut through the noise.
"Attention, everyone!"
The crowd of genin hushed as a tall man with a prominent scar across his face stepped forward. His Leaf Village flak jacket and headband marked him as one of the proctors.
"I am Morino Ibiki, the proctor for the first phase of the Chūnin Exams," he announced, his deep voice echoing in the room. His stern gaze swept over the crowd, lingering briefly on each team. "Follow me to the exam room. This phase will test your intelligence and teamwork."
Riku exchanged a glance with Fū and Daisuke before following the crowd into a large examination hall. Rows of desks were neatly arranged, each with a small stack of papers and a pencil.
"Written exam?" Fū whispered, leaning slightly toward Riku.
"Looks like it," Riku replied, his tone cautious. He had a vague recollection of how this test played out from his past life, but specifics eluded him.
Ibiki stood at the front of the room as the genin settled into their seats. Once everyone was seated, he began explaining the rules.
"This is not just a test of knowledge," Ibiki said, his voice carrying a weight that silenced any murmurs. "It's also a test of strategy, stealth, and observation. Each wrong answer will cost your team points. If your team loses too many points, you're out."
He paused, his sharp gaze scanning the room.
"And one more thing. Cheating will not be tolerated and if you are caught points will be deducted. My proctors are watching."
Riku's lips curled into a small smirk. 'Obviously it's the same as the original, this will be easy.' He glanced at Fū and Daisuke, who both nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
The test began.
Riku scanned the questions, his sharp intellect quickly deducing that they were far beyond the level of most genin. As expected, the true purpose of the test wasn't simply answering the questions but figuring out how to gather the answers without being caught.
Across the room, various methods of "cheating" unfolded. Some used mirrors or reflective surfaces to catch glimpses of other papers, while others used jutsu to subtly gather information.
Riku's white eyes glinted slightly as he activated his Ryūgan, the dojutsu allowing him to see the chakra signatures of those writing confidently. He copied their movements subtly, his hand mimicking the strokes of the pencil without a single mistake.
Fū, seated nearby, used her enhanced senses as a Jinchūriki to pick up on faint whispers and heartbeats, determining which answers were most likely correct. Meanwhile, Daisuke relied on his impressive observational skills, watching the movements of nearby proctors and other genin to gather hints.
The proctors, stationed around the room, walked slowly among the desks, their gazes sharp and unrelenting.
Ibiki watched the room from the front, his expression unreadable.
As time passed, the tension in the room grew thicker. Several teams were caught and escorted out, their dreams of becoming chūnin ending before they truly began.
Eventually, Ibiki's voice rang out again.
"Stop writing. Pencils down."
The collective sound of pencils dropping echoed through the hall as Ibiki stepped forward.
"Now, for the final question," he said, his tone heavy with significance.
Gasps and murmurs spread through the room.
Ibiki held up a hand to silence the room. "This question is different. If you choose to answer it and get it wrong, you and your team will be barred from ever taking the Chūnin Exams again. But if you refuse to answer, you can walk away now without penalty."
The room erupted into chaos as genin whispered and debated.
Riku remained calm, his gaze steady. He'd anticipated this moment. Fū looked at him, her orange eyes wide but determined.
"We're not backing down," she said firmly.
Daisuke grunted in agreement. "We've come this far. We're not quitting."
Riku nodded, his voice quiet but resolute. "We answer."
Ibiki scanned the room, taking note of those who chose to leave. When the final few genin walked out, he smirked.
"Congratulations," he said, his voice cutting through the silence. "You've all passed the first phase of the Chūnin Exams."
The room erupted into confusion and a few shouts of disbelief.
Ibiki raised a hand. "The final question was a test of resolve. A ninja must face challenges and risks without fear of failure. Those who refused to answer weren't ready for this responsibility."
Riku leaned back in his chair, a faint smile playing on his lips.
'One phase down,' he thought, glancing at Fū and Daisuke. 'Two more to go.'
The first phase of the Chūnin Exams had just concluded, and the air was thick with murmurs as genin speculated about what lay ahead. Before any questions could linger too long, the sound of glass shattering echoed through the room.
A whirl of motion and chaos followed as shards of glass rained down, and a figure somersaulted into the center of the hall with theatrical flair. The genin recoiled in shock as the dust settled, revealing a woman with short, wild hair and piercing amber eyes. She wore a tan trench coat over mesh armor, her presence immediately commanding attention.
"Alright, you little runts!" she barked, her smirk dripping with menace. "Congratulations on surviving the first phase of the Chūnin Exams. But don't get too comfortable, because now we're about to weed out the weaklings!"
The room fell silent as all eyes turned toward her.
"I'm Mitarashi Anko," she announced, spinning a kunai between her fingers, "your proctor for the second phase. And let me tell you, this next part isn't for the faint of heart."
As if to punctuate her words, she suddenly flung the kunai, embedding it in the wall just inches away from one trembling genin. A collective gasp rippled through the crowd, but Anko's grin only widened.
Without missing a beat, she gestured dramatically toward the large, grim-looking gates visible through the broken window. "The second phase of the exams will take place in Training Ground 44. Better known as... the Forest of Death."
The genin exchanged uneasy glances. Even the name of the place was enough to send chills down their spines.
Anko clapped her hands together, snapping everyone's attention back to her. "Follow me. Now."
No one dared to argue. The group of nervous but determined participants filed out of the hall, trailing Anko as she led them to the ominous expanse of the Forest of Death.
---
The towering gates of Training Ground 44 loomed before them, casting long shadows over the gathered genin. Behind the gates, the dense forest stretched as far as the eye could see, its dark canopy hiding whatever dangers lurked within.
Anko turned to face the crowd, her grin as sharp as her kunai. "Here's the deal," she began, pacing in front of them. "You're all about to participate in a survival exercise. Each team will receive one of two scrolls: either a Heaven Scroll or an Earth Scroll." She held up both scrolls for emphasis before tucking them away.
"The goal is simple. Survive in the forest for five days and make it to the tower in the center with one of each scroll. You can get the scroll you're missing by stealing it from another team." Her voice dropped into a gleefully sinister tone. "Oh, and try not to die. This place is crawling with things that would just love to make you a snack."
She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in. "Now, there are a few rules. One: don't open your scrolls until you're in the tower. If you do, you're disqualified. Two: no outside help. And three: if any member of your team can't continue, you're out. So you'd better keep an eye on each other."
Riku stood with Fū and Daisuke, his mind racing. He knew from his past life just how dangerous this part of the exam could be. The Forest of Death wasn't just a name—it was a promise.
"Any questions?" Anko asked, her tone daring anyone to speak up.
When no one did, she grinned and handed out the scrolls. Each team received one, the tension mounting as they clutched the sealed objects that could mean the difference between success and failure.
"Good," Anko said. "You've got five minutes to prepare before the gates open. Use them wisely."
As the genin scrambled to make their final preparations, Riku glanced at his team. "Stick close," he said quietly, a heaven scroll in his pouch. "We'll get through this if we play it smart."
Fū nodded, her mint-green hair catching the fading sunlight. "I trust you," she said with a small smile.
Daisuke adjusted his gear, his expression calm but determined. "Let's do this."
The five-minute countdown seemed to stretch on forever, but finally, the gates creaked open with an eerie groan.
"Good luck!" Anko called after them, her grin never faltering. "You're gonna need it!"
And with that, the teams surged forward into the Forest of Death, disappearing into the shadows of the trees.