Today is the start of the Chuunin Exams, and I'm glad that it's being in Konoha.
From what I remember from the manga and a few anime fillers, the exams in the Leaf Village always followed the same pattern: three stages, each testing a different aspect of a shinobi's life. Intelligence and deception in the written exam, endurance and survival instincts in the Forest of Death, and finally, the tournament that turns ninja battles into entertainment for the Daimyo and other rich folks.
Also, it is a way for the villages to show off and spy on each other's up-and-coming talent. You know, the usual ninja diplomacy. I mean, it would've been way cooler if there is a cash prize or something, but I guess the chance to become a Chuunin was enough. Barely.
Anyway, knowing all this, I spent the last six months slowly buying gear and prepping three storage scrolls full of survival supplies and whatever else might help me not die in the second phase. I packed up, left home, and headed toward the academy.
I had arranged to meet Jimei and Natsu in front of the Academy building, so I left a little early to avoid being That Guy who shows up last.
I walked through the village at a relaxed pace just enjoying the calm vibe from the morning and my mood lifted when I passed by Ichiraku.
I spotted a ball of blonde energy staring eagerly at the entrance.
"Yo, Naruto!" I greeted him with a smile as I approached.
Naruto turned quickly, his eyes lighting up with excitement when he saw me.
"Kenshin-nii!" he shouted, but then crossed his arms and stared back at the shop. "I'm waiting for the old man Teuchi to open up... He's soooo slow!"
I glanced up at the sky, noticing the sun was still rising.
"You came this early? Ichiraku's not even open yet."
Naruto puffed out his cheeks and kicked a rock. "I know! But I had the BEST dream about ramen last night, so I came here as soon as I woke up!"
"You dreamed about ramen?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah! It was a bowl the size of the Hokage Mountain! And I just kept eating and eating, but it never ran out! Best dream of my life!" he said, eyes filled with nostalgia, like he could still taste that dream-ramen.
"That... actually makes sense…" I said, shaking my head with a laugh.
"If I wanna be Hokage, I gotta start the day with some good ramen! Believe it!" Naruto declared, thumping his chest.
I chuckled. "Not sure ramen is the secret to becoming Hokage, but good luck with that."
Naruto furrowed his brows and asked, "So, where are you going?"
"To the Academy."
"The Academy?" He blinked a few times, confused. "But you already graduated, didn't you?"
"No, today's the start of the Chuunin Exams. My team's in."
Naruto's eyes almost popped out of his head.
"WHAAAT?! THE CHUUNIN EXAMS?! THAT'S THE THING WHERE NINJAS FIGHT AND SHOW HOW AWESOME THEY ARE?!"
"Uh… kinda of."
He rushed up to me in an instant, eyes sparkling like I'd just told him Teuchi was about to make a ramen bowl the size of his dream.
"So you're gonna fight a bunch of strong ninjas?!" He was practically bouncing.
"Eventually, yeah. If I pass the first and second phases."
Naruto's excited face faltered a little, and he bit his lip before giving me a weird look.
"That guy… Is Itoso gonna be there?" he asked quietly.
Itoso? Who the hell was—ohhh! Itachi! I nearly burst out laughing at how Naruto butchered the Uchiha genius's name.
"No, no. Itachi's not in it this time. He already got promoted last time, remember?" I replied, ruffling his blonde hair affectionately.
"Dang it! I really wanted to see you wipe the floor with that guy!" Naruto huffed, crossing his arms. "If I were a ninja, I'd beat everyone up and become a Chuunin in no time!"
"Well… I'm sure you'll get to see me fighting some strong guys soon enough. But before you can join the exams, you gotta get into the Academy first..." I said, amused by how fired up he was.
Naruto beamed, practically glowing with excitement. "Old man Hokage already said he's gonna let me join next year! Then I'm gonna crush it, graduate super fast, become a Chuunin, and then… bam! Hokage!"
I stayed quiet for a moment. Naruto really believed that with all his heart. And honestly, it was kind of contagious. The kid still had a long road ahead... but knowing what I knew about the future, I couldn't help but feel a little proud of him.
"Well then, I'll be waiting to see you in the exams someday."
"Believe it!" Naruto shouted, pointing at me with a big grin. "But until then, you can't lose! I mean, you can lose a little, I guess... but you better not be a total weakling! When I'm a Chuunin, I wanna fight strong ninjas!"
I shrugged. "I'll do my best."
Naruto crossed his arms again and gave an approving "Hmph! You better!"
I glanced up at the sky and noticed the time. It was almost time to meet Jimei and Natori.
"Well, I gotta go. Time to try and survive the exam." I reached into my pocket, pulled out my wallet, and handed him four crisp 100-ryo notes. "Here. This should be enough for a few bowls of ramen to cure your dream cravings."
Naruto's eyes went wide like he'd just been handed a sacred treasure. He looked at the money, then at me, then back at the money, as if confirming this wasn't a genjutsu.
"F-for real?!" he stammered, hands trembling as he took the bills. "This is amazing! Kenshin-nii, you're the BEST! I'm gonna eat so much ramen I won't be able to walk afterward!"
"Don't overdo it. I don't want to hear you passed out in the street from a food coma." I crossed my arms, trying to sound stern, but I couldn't help the little smile that crept in.
"Got it!" he said, tucking the money into his pocket like he'd just won the lottery. "Oh, wait! One more thing! Will you teach me an awesome jutsu before I join the academy?!"
That little rascal... It was nice seeing how much more energetic Naruto had become since I first met him, but he was definitely becoming more of a sneaky one too.
"Naruto, I'm in a hurry…"
"Just one! One super cool one! Maybe like a top-secret move only you know!" He whispered, covering his mouth like we were plotting a major heist.
"I don't have anything like that." I said, locking eyes with his bright blue ones.
"Ugh, don't be boring! What about an ultra-ninja punch that sends people flying?"
"That's just taijutsu training, Naruto."
"Okay, okay. How about…" His face twisted into a thoughtful expression. "The Spinning Thunder Dragon Kick of Cosmic Doom?!"
"Now you're just making things up."
...Not that I was about to tell him I did actually know a move with a name kinda like that.
He let out a dramatic sigh of defeat. "Fiiine… But when I do get into the Academy, you have to teach me something cool!"
"I'll think about it!" I said, giving him a little nod before turning away. "Anyway, I gotta go. See you around, Naruto."
"Go kick some butt, Kenshin-nii! And try not to get beat up too bad!" Naruto called out behind me as I walked away.
I shook my head, laughing to myself. That kid's energy really was something else.
When I got to the academy a few minutes later, Natsu was already there, waiting. No surprise.
She stood straight as ever, looking around with that calm, collected vibe she always had. When her eyes landed on me, she smiled softly, the kind of smile that felt like it meant something.
"Kenshin-kun, I'm glad you made it!" she said, her voice gentle and comforting in a natural way.
"Wouldn't miss it for anything!" I replied, stepping up beside her. "You're early. Nervous?"
She glanced away for a moment before shaking her head softly. "Not exactly. I was just reflecting. This exam is a big step for all of us. I thought I should get here early… to prepare myself mentally."
I smirked. "Classic Natsu. Always the responsible one."
Honestly, it was nice that things between us had been better lately. A couple of weeks ago, talking like this would've felt weird.
"I just believe in doing things right. My clan expects that from me." she said, then hesitated a second before pulling something out of her weapons bag and handing it to me. "I made this for you. Thought you might want a little something before the exam."
I took the package and opened it to find some homemade onigiris.
"You made these?"
She nodded, looking slightly unsure. "Yeah. Nothing fancy, but… I figured it might help. This exam's a big moment."
I took a bite. They are actually good. Like, really good.
"These are awesome. Seriously. Thanks."
Her eyes lit up for just a second, though her expression stayed composed. "I'm glad you like them."
For a while, we just stood there in silence. The wind passed gently between us, stirring a loose strand of her hair. She looked out toward the horizon, calm as ever, but there was something in her eyes — a quiet determination, as if she carried more than she let on.
"Kenshin…" she began, her voice a touch softer. "Whatever happens in this exam, just know that I believe in you. You have a rare kind of strength… and I know you can go far."
I was caught off guard by how sincere she sounded.
"That was… pretty direct."
"I'm just telling the truth." She gave me a gentle smile.
Before I could say anything else, we heard a loud commotion.
"Sorry! I'm so sorry! I swear I didn't mean to—!" Jimei came running full speed like he was being chased by death itself. He skidded to a stop in front of us, gasping for air. "I overslept, okay? But I'm here now, so nobody complain!"
I exchanged a look with Natsu and let out a sigh.
"You're never gonna change, are you?" I asked.
"Nope!" Jimei grinned, slapping his chest. "If there's one thing I've mastered, it's being consistently late!"
"Consistently a disaster…" I muttered.
Natsu chuckled under her breath but didn't say anything.
"Yeah, yeah, keep talking, Ken-kun." Jimei rolled his eyes. "Let's get this over with. And may the gods have mercy on my soul."
"You're definitely gonna need it!" I said, already walking toward the entrance.
Natsu fell into step beside me. Just before we went in, she glanced over at me one last time.
"Kenshin-kun… whatever happens, I'll be with you."
For some reason, those words stayed with me longer than I expected. I gave her a simple nod… and stepped inside the academy, ready to face the Chuunin Exams.