Chapter 77

Ninja Academy, Konoha

Kazuki hadn't been here since graduation.

And because the first written test of the Chunin Examination was set here, Kazuki and the others gathered at this academy once again.

"I haven't been back since graduation. I really miss this place!" Sakura said with emotion.

Kazuki yawned.

Several memories of the academy flashed through his mind, and he couldn't help but lament the passage of time in his heart.

Speaking of which, he would die too, right?

For the first time, Kazuki felt a sense of urgency in life.

"Let's go."

Kazuki and the others came here on foot.

If they kept lingering outside the school gate, by the time the meeting arrived, the exam might have already started.

There could be no more comical way to be eliminated than being disqualified before the exam began.

After passing through the school gate and walking through the corridor of the classroom, Team 7 saw a group of candidates bustling around the stairs as soon as they reached the second floor.

Some of them were slightly familiar to Kazuki.

One was Hyuga Neji, the genius of the branch family of the Hyuga Clan, who had a cold face that resembled Sasuke's.

Another was Tenten, wearing Chinese-style clothes and a bun.

Then there was Rock Lee, who was dressed in green tights and was pretending to be weak while being bullied!

Kazuki looked at the group milling around and had no intention of engaging in drama with them. He led Sakura and Sasuke through the crowd and released his murderous intent.

Terrible pressure filled the hearts of all candidates in an instant.

Even the two Chunin who were guarding the door to bully the newcomers felt suffocating fear.

"It's really annoying."

Kazuki murmured in disgust, not even glancing at the group of people. In an instant, he broke through the blockade and walked toward the third floor.

After a while, when Kazuki and the others were completely gone, everyone took a deep breath, relieved.

"It's… so scary. Who is that guy?" Tenten said with lingering fear.

"The top graduate of this class, Gekko Kazuki!" Rock Lee said with some reluctance, "I originally wanted to compete with him in this Chunin Exam, but he forced us to feel this way with just his murderous intent… Is there really such a big gap between ordinary humans and geniuses?"

Neji said nothing, but the cold sweat on his forehead and clenched fists showed he was uneasy.

This guy is terrifyingly strong!

It was the first time Neji felt unconfident about his own strength, and it came from a guy who had only graduated less than a year ago!

"Neji, can you defeat him?" Tenten looked at Neji curiously.

Neji shook his head and said frankly, "I am not his opponent."

Unlike Sasuke and Naruto, who believed they could still defeat a stronger opponent, Neji was more realistic.

If he wasn't strong enough, then he wasn't good enough. He wouldn't waste his energy on meaningless struggles, nor would he try to save face.

If he met Kazuki in the Chunin Exam, he would admit defeat without hesitation!

"Even Neji admitted he wasn't a match for that guy. This year's top graduate is truly something!" Tenten said with a mix of surprise and sadness.

She initially thought that after a year of training, they would be the strongest Genin team, but it turned out there were even more powerful individuals!

At this time, Rock Lee, who had been hit hard, had recovered his confidence.

"Yosh! Since I can't even defeat Neji, then let me defeat him! Burn, youth!"

With that, Rock Lee rushed toward the second floor, turning so quickly that even the two Chunin guarding the door couldn't react.

Was this the same Genin who was bullied by us just now?

Seeing the passionate Rock Lee, Tenten also regained some confidence.

"Even if we can't defeat that monster, we aren't weak! Right, Neji?" Tenten said with a smile, trying to cheer herself up.

Neji didn't care much about such things;

The strong are strong, and the weak are weak. Everything was determined by fate.

"Let's go."

The next moment, the two of them showed unusual speed and disappeared.

The candidates who had not yet entered the room were left speechless, scattering in all directions a short while later.

This opponent is too monstrous; maybe it's okay to skip this exam!

"The candidates this year are really something else. The strength of Gekko Kazuki is even scarier than what Asuma Jounin told me. Don't you think so, Izumo?" Kotetsu said.

"Yeah! I heard that Uchiha Sasuke is also very powerful. If it weren't for Gekko Kazuki, the top graduate would have been Uchiha Sasuke." Izumo replied.

"Gekko Kazuki, Uchiha Sasuke, Hyuga Neji… This Chuunin Exam is a battle of dragons and tigers. It seems more exciting than any previous Chunin Exam!"

The two Chunin were sent by Morino Ibiki to eliminate weaker candidates but didn't expect to encounter such a terrifying guy.

Had they not known he was here for the exam, they might have surrendered their wills.

"Let's go. We've blocked almost all the weak ones. Those who make it later will just be lucky."

"Yeah, Ibiki must already be losing his patience."

After scaring away the Genin who couldn't even handle basic illusions, the two Chuunin completed their task and went back to report to Morino Ibiki.

At this time, Kazuki and the others were still on their way to the third floor when a boy wearing strange green tights stopped them.

"Sorry to bother you!"

Looking at Rock Lee, who hurriedly stood before him, Kazuki frowned.

There was little time left for the exam, and he didn't want to give Rock Lee and Sasuke a chance to fight like in the original story.

"What's up?"

Kazuki's cold voice made Rock Lee feel as though his heart was frozen, but his burning passion quickly broke through the chill.

"Um… I want to express my love to this lovely lady! Would you be willing…"

Boom!

Before Rock Lee could finish, he was already sent flying ten meters away, crashing into the wall and buried under a pile of debris.

Kazuki didn't even look at him and said to his two companions, "Let's go, ignore this idiot!"

As they continued on their way, they hadn't taken more than two steps when a voice called out from the wall beside them.

"Wait… wait a minute!"

Covered in scars and slightly embarrassed, Rock Lee emerged from the wall and once again stood before Kazuki and the others.

"I can see you protect her dearly, Gekko Kazuki! Are you her partner?" Rock Lee asked seriously.

If Kazuki answered yes, he would leave without another word.

But if not, then Kazuki was just his love rival. No matter how strong Kazuki was, Rock Lee would fight for his love!

Even if it meant opening the Eight Gates!

The atmosphere froze for a few seconds, and just when Kazuki was about to speak, Neji and the others arrived.

------------------

+65 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg

Unlock exclusive access to more fanfic chapters and support my work by joining me on Patreon! Your support helps bring your favorite stories to life