Chapter 17: Trials of Strength

After receiving their Chunin Exam applications, Team 7's anticipation grew. Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura trained rigorously, each driven by their own motivations. Kaito, meanwhile, focused on perfecting his Sound Release techniques and ensuring he was ready for the challenges ahead.

One sunny afternoon, as Team 7 walked through the village, they encountered Rock Lee, a genin with distinctive thick eyebrows and a green jumpsuit. Lee's eyes lit up when he saw Sakura, and he immediately approached her with a fervent expression. "Sakura, would you do me the honor of going out with me?" he asked, his voice filled with sincerity.

Sakura recoiled slightly, clearly taken aback. "Uh, no thanks," she replied, trying to be polite but firm.

Undeterred, Lee's attention shifted to Sasuke. "Sasuke Uchiha, I challenge you to a battle!"

Sasuke raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Lee's boldness. "And why should I accept your challenge?"

Before Lee could respond, Naruto stepped forward, eager to prove himself. "Hey, what about me? I'm the strongest Genin here!"

Lee turned his gaze to Naruto, his expression serious. "Very well, I shall fight you first."

In a blur of movement, Lee attacked, and before Naruto could react, he was on the ground, knocked out by a single strike. Sasuke, now more interested, stepped forward. "Alright, I'll take you on."

The two squared off, and the fight began. Sasuke quickly realized that Lee's taijutsu skills were far beyond his own. Lee's movements were too fast to follow, and his strikes too powerful to block effectively. Sasuke's Sharingan activated, but even that seemed insufficient against Lee's sheer speed and agility.

Lee's Dancing Leaf Shadow technique left Sasuke at a severe disadvantage. Just as Lee was about to deliver the finishing blow, a large turtle, Ningame, appeared out of nowhere, stopping the fight.

Naruto, regaining consciousness, looked at Ningame in awe. "Whoa, is this your mentor?"

Before Lee could answer, a loud voice interrupted. "No, Naruto. Ningame is my summon."

Might Guy, Lee's mentor, appeared atop the turtle, exuding an intense aura of determination and enthusiasm. He quickly approached Lee, reprimanding him for fighting without permission. "Lee, what did I tell you about unnecessary battles?"

Lee hung his head. "I'm sorry, Guy-sensei. I was trying to test myself."

Guy's expression softened. "I understand, but you must focus on our training. Now, 500 laps around the village as punishment!"

Team 7 watched, a bit taken aback by Guy's tough love approach. When Guy noticed them, he greeted them with a cheerful wave. "Ah, Kakashi's students! Remember, hard work and dedication will always triumph over talent alone!"

Sasuke, still frustrated from his defeat, listened intently. Guy turned to leave, but not before revealing something that shocked Team 7. "By the way, Lee isn't the strongest Genin in our team. That title belongs to someone else."

Naruto, still reeling from being knocked out so easily, pressed Sasuke. "How are we going to beat guys like that? We need to train harder!"

Sasuke clenched his fists, determination burning in his eyes. "We will, Naruto. We just need to push ourselves further."

As Team 7 made their way to the room where the Chunin Exams were to take place, Kaito crossed paths with them. Seeing Naruto's determined but slightly dejected expression, he approached. "Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura. What's going on?"

Naruto recounted the encounter with Lee, his frustration evident. "We have to get stronger, Kaito. There are some seriously powerful Genin out there."

Kaito nodded, understanding their drive. "We'll all face tough opponents in the exams. The key is to stay focused and keep improving. We can't let setbacks discourage us."

They finally reached the exam room, joining other aspiring Genin from various villages. The atmosphere was tense, filled with anticipation and the faint buzz of conversations. Teams from different villages sized each other up, evaluating potential threats and allies.

Kaito felt a mix of excitement and nerves. The Chunin Exams were not just a test of strength, but of strategy, teamwork, and resilience. He knew that the path ahead would be challenging, but he was ready to face it head-on.

As the doors to the exam hall closed behind them, Team 7 and Kaito stood together, united by their determination to prove themselves. The first phase of the Chunin Exams was about to begin, and each of them resolved to give it their all, knowing that this was their chance to rise above and showcase their true potential.