Chunin Exam Finals

///// Anko POV /////

I had found the bodies of the grass genin about an hour ago. My heart dropped into my stomach when I recognized it as my old sensei's work. I immediately reported to the Hokage about my findings since I knew that I wouldn't be able to kill Orochimaru myself.

He gave me a squad of his best anbu to track down the snake, which is what I was currently doing. One of the sensors in the group discovered two huge chakra signals in the forest, which surprised me.

Who is the other one? Are there more infiltrators in my exam?

But I didn't have time to think more because we burst into a smoldering clearing, witnessing Orochimaru standing over the body of… A kid?

Just as we got there, Orochimaru hissed something at the kid and slipped into the ground, completely hiding from our sensor. I rushed over to the kid to check if he had a chance of survival.

"It's… About time… You guys showed up," he said, coughing.

Then he fell unconscious. The medic-nin in our team went over and started healing his wounds while I finally took a look at my surroundings.

It was pure destruction.

I was standing in the middle of a smoldering crater, some of the trees still on fire. I looked over and saw a burning trench that had to be a quarter-mile long, with multiple fallen trees covering the ground.

I looked back at the kid that was lying in the middle of it all.

There's no way he did this, right? He's just a genin…

///// Two hours later, Hiruzen POV /////

"Anko, report," I said.

"Yes, Lord Hokage. We traveled through the forest and came upon the scene of a fight, where we found Orochimaru standing over the body of a genin. Before we could apprehend him, he escaped into the ground. The genin we found, Tsurugi Kaen, had a grievous cut across his chest and a well-made chakra sword laying next to him. We assume he was the one who drove Orochimaru off."

I looked at her disbelievingly, "You expect me to believe that a mere genin, no matter how talented, drove off my old student?"

Anko looked me dead in the eye, "Yes, Lord Hokage. It's the only reasonable explanation."

I sighed and lit my pipe for a smoke, "Very well. Inform me when Tsurugi awakens. I want to talk to him."

Anko gave an affirmative before bringing up another issue.

"Lord Hokage, about his team… Will they be disqualified from the exam?"

I pondered for a minute before answering, "No, they will be allowed to compete. Orochimaru couldn't have been accounted for."

"What about Tsurugi?" She inquired.

I barked out a sarcastic laugh, "Someone who can drive off one of the Three Sannin has no place in a chunin exam. Once I verify the truth, I will most likely promote him to chunin for the services provided.

Now, you are dismissed."

"Yes, Lord Hokage." And she disappeared.

I leaned back in my seat and took another puff on my pipe.

A 13-year-old that can fend off one of my students could be a great asset in the future. It's good that he has family in the village, making it less likely for him to defect. I'll have to add more protections around him to keep him out of Danzo's grasp.

///// 2 weeks later, Kaen POV /////

I slowly opened my eyes.

Ugh… What hit me? I tried to sit up but felt a sharp pain in my chest.

Oh, yeah. Orochimaru. Man, if we got disqualified Isamu's going to be pissed.

I didn't have much time to reminisce, as a nurse walked into the room.

"Oh, you're awake! How are you feeling?" She asked.

I answered that I was fine and she kept asking me questions until someone cleared their throat.

"Ahem," I looked over towards the sound and saw the Hokage standing in the doorway.

"Lord Hokage!" The nurse said, "I'm so sorry for not noticing you, I just…" She kept rambling on nervously.

"It's alright," said the Sandaime, putting a kind smile on his face, "If you could give me a moment with young Tsurugi here; I need to ask him some questions."

"Of course! I'll just be a call away if you need anything!" The nurse shuffled out the door.

Hiruzen's smile disappeared once she left.

"Did you fend off Orochimaru by yourself?" He asked the question in a way that sounded like he already knew the answer, and was just waiting for me to confirm it.

I sighed, "Yes. It was me, Lord Hokage."

There was no point in hiding it. I knew this day would come at some point.

He pulled out his pipe and lit it.

After inhaling deeply, he expelled the smoke through his nose. "I thought as much," he said.

"For how long were you planning to hide your true strength?"

I gave him the most bullshit answer ever.

"I thought it would be cool to suddenly reveal my strength in the finals," I said with a straight face.

He deadpanned at me but didn't push the subject. It looks like I won some brownie points by fending off that snake bastard.

"You are hereby promoted to chunin. Come to the tower next week to pick up your new identification and vest."

Wow, more brownie points than I thought.

"Thank you, Lord Hokage," I tried to bow but grimaced when my chest flared up.

He chuckled slightly, "No need for so much formality, brat. Just focus on resting for now. I'll need your strength soon." He said, ending on a more serious note.

I just nodded and laid back down.

"Oh, you are also not allowed to mention your promotion to anyone, including your teammates."

Without even waiting for me to agree, he walked out the door.

Well, that was anti-climactic. At least I don't have to fight a bunch of weak-ass genins.

But now came the most important part; my status.

[Taijutsu

Skills: [Flash Step, lvl 28], [Academy Taijutsu, lvl 5 (max)] [Hakuda, lvl 25] [Ikkotsu, lvl 3].

Progress: 56%]

[Kenjutsu

Skills: [Tanto-wielding, lvl 15 (max)] [Katana-wielding, lvl 50 (max)] [Onibi, lvl 10 (max)]

Progress: 65%]

[Fire Release

Skills: [Shikai, lvl 10] [Haien, lvl 1] [Soren Sokatsui, lvl 15 (max)] [Ennetsu Jigoku, lvl 10 (max)] [Sokatsui, lvl 10 (max)] [Jokaku Enjo, lvl 5 (max)] [Taimatsu, lvl 5 (max)] [ Fire Release: Two, lvl 5 (max)] [Fire Release: Ember Clone Technique, lvl 15 (max)] [Fire Release: Mythical Fire Flower Technique, lvl 15 (max)] [Fushibi, lvl 10 (max)] [Fire Release: Flame Spread Technique, lvl 5 (max)] [Shakkaho, lvl 10 (max)] [Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique, lvl 20 (max)] [Fire Release: Heat Detector, lvl 5 (max)]

Progress: 52%]

[Chakra

Skills: [Leaf-sticking, lvl 5 (max)] [Tree-walking, lvl 10 (max)] [Water-walking, lvl 15 (max)]

[Clone jutsu, lvl 15 (max)] [Transformation jutsu, lvl 15 (max)] [Substitution jutsu, lvl 20 (max)]

Progress: 76%]

Wow. The 2% chakra increase was expected since it's so high already. But 5% in Taijutsu, 5% in kenjutsu, and 4% in fire release? And I unlocked a new hado, Haien, just from one fight?

System, I take back everything I ever said about you being shitty. I should've just been fighting for my life this whole time.

This kind of progress makes me anticipate going on B and A-rank missions even more than I already was. Not that I'll stop training; it still helps me stay in shape and get stronger, it just doesn't progress the system as much as life-and-death battles.

I would've kept basking in my gloriousness, but two people rushed into my room.

"Kaen! You absolute dumbass!" Ayame and Isamu shouted in unison.

"Guys, I can explai-"

But I was interrupted again, this time by them hugging me.

"*Sniff* When you didn't show up for three hours, *Sniff* I thought you had died!" Isamu said, holding back tears.

Ayame was less emotional but still conveyed that she was worried.

I smiled gently, "It's alright, guys. I'm going to be fine."

"I know that!" Isamu said, suddenly turning away from me, "And I'm definitely not crying! Who even cares if you died?" He sounded like he was trying to convince himself instead of me.

I then looked over at him and muttered, "Pussy."

A tick mark formed on his head.

"I've been worried about you this whole time and even got emotional, and that's all you have to say?! You bastard, give me back my feelings!"

I laughed at him and even Ayame giggled. We spent the next hour chatting until my mom showed up and crushed me with a hug. I think she reopened my wound, but it's the thought that counts.

///// 2 weeks later /////

I got out of the hospital last week with my wound fully healed. It did leave a pretty awesome scar across my chest, though. I walked through the streets of Konoha and took in the hustle and bustle that was caused by the chunin exams. It turns out, Ayame made it into the finals by defeating Shino, so the matchups looked like this.

1st match: Naruto vs. Neji.

2nd match: Sasuke vs. Gaara.

3rd match: Ayame vs. Kankuro.

4th match: Temari vs. Shikamaru.

But I knew that the rest of the matches wouldn't matter because Sasuke's fight would get moved up to the fifth match. And after their match starts, the invasion also starts.

I was really only there to support Ayame and make sure my mom stayed safe, as she was also there to support Ayame. I mean, the invading shinobi probably wouldn't go after a civilian, but I'm not taking any chances.

There's also the fact that Hiruzen dies, which means I'll be free pickings for Danzo until Tsunade is inaugurated. Because there's no way in hell Danzo hasn't heard of me driving off Orochimaru. There's also another thing I'm concerned about; the Uchiha brats. I've grown fond of them, and I wouldn't put it past Danzo to try something during the chaos of the invasion.

But enough of those depressing thoughts. It's time for the chunin exam finals.

I arrived at the stadium and headed up to the seats where I saw my mom and Isamu waving at me. Ayame was down with the rest of the genin that had made it into the finals. I waved at her before sitting down next to Isamu.

"Do you think Ayame's going to win?" He asked me.

"I bet her opponent forfeits," I said, inwardly smirking.

"Heh, you're on!"

We continued chatting for another 15 minutes before the first fight was announced. Naruto and Neji headed down to the stage and the fight started. It was somewhat interesting, I guess. I was mostly interested in Naruto's resolve to win, which was something I can respect. The actual fight was dull to my eyes.

Naruto, just like in canon, got the shit beaten out of him before beating the shit out of his opponent and winning somehow.

Sasuke and Gaara's fight got postponed, so Ayame and Kankuro entered the arena. And Kankuro immediately forfeited like a little bitch. I mean, I know he was trying to 'hide' his abilities, but everyone knows you use a fucking puppet, dude.

Isamu just gaped down at the stage.

"How did you know?! How?!"

I grinned, "I'm just built different." No way was I gonna tell him I saw the future. Like he'd believe that anyway.

He groaned and ignored me.

The next fight was super boring, as they both just sat there trying to play 4D chess with each other. I mean, strategy is useful, but there's only so much it can do in front of true power. The kind of power I've been striving for.

Shikamaru forfeited and, finally, it was Gaara vs. Sasuke.

Sasuke and Kakashi made their edgy dramatic entrance at the last second, and the fight commence. I was now sitting at the edge of my seat, fully alert.

The fight started, and Gaara made a good impression of a sand turtle while Sasuke repeatedly attacked until he finally pierced his sand dome.

"Blood!" Gaara howled, "My blood!"

His sand dome melted.

A smoke bomb went off at the Hokage's booth.

And a genjutsu fell across the stadium.

The Konoha Crush had begun.

////// A/N //////

Hello everyone. Sorry that there was no action in this chapter. I wanted to set up the invasion as quickly as possible and give Kaen a little power boost. You better believe shit's going down next chapter though. Also, I hit 1000 views on ff(dot)net, so thanks a bunch guys! Leave a review.