Chapter 9:Chunin Exam

Amidst the muffled sound of fists and feet intersecting, the two figures retreated separately.

They were in a remote practice field, Shinji and Haku sparring.

Seeing his attacks deflected once again, Shinji frowned slightly.

After days of sparring, he felt his skills improving, yet Haku always gave him the impression that victory was just out of reach.

"Try the breathing method!" Shinji decided, looking at Haku. "Be cautious, I'm going all out this time!"

Haku nodded seriously.

"Full concentration!"

Exhaling deeply, Shinji's figure blurred as he unleashed a straight punch towards Haku's face.

"Huh?"

A hint of surprise flickered in Haku's eyes, caught off guard by Shinji's sudden burst of speed.

Boom, boom, boom.

In a flurry, they exchanged several punches.

With every strike, mist escaped Shinji's mouth. His movements followed a rhythmic pattern, his speed and strength significantly improved from before.

This unnerved Haku, who rarely showed signs of panic.

Exhaling again, Shinji's speed surged. He darted behind Haku and swept out with a side kick!

But as his leg moved, with a swift "shua,"

Haku leapt up, dodging Shinji's kick and tapping it lightly with his toe, redirecting Shinji's own momentum against him.

"What!?" Shinji was taken aback, unable to evade and forced to block with his arms.

Boom.

A muffled impact echoed as Shinji was once again repelled, his breathing rhythm disrupted.

Feeling a slight numbness in his arm, Shinji grimaced. "Haku, you held back with that leg strike. Are you underestimating me?"

Gasping for breath, Haku replied, "Shinji, defending against your attacks is challenging enough. I didn't hold back intentionally."

Shinji massaged his arm, easing the pain. "You clearly did."

Haku said nothing more, walking to the sidelines and handing Shinji a bottle of water. "Let's take a break."

Taking the water silently, Shinji acknowledged Haku's awareness of his physical limits. Haku had subtly reduced their sparring intensity and now suggested a break to manage Shinji's exertion.

Reflecting on their bout, Shinji affirmed the effectiveness of the "breathing method" in enhancing his combat skills. Without it, his physical abilities alone couldn't threaten Haku. Yet, after just two weeks of practice, using the method caused Haku some difficulty.

"I still struggle to maintain the 'Water Breathing' rhythm and avoid disruptions," Shinji mused to himself.

Meanwhile, Haku sipped water and casually asked, "Shinji, you're already skilled. Why push yourself so hard?"

Shinji thought sarcastically, "Because I'm here to protect the ninja world, right?"

Who knew what new threats might emerge next? He couldn't afford to slack off.

Seeing Shinji's silence, Haku ventured, "Is it because of him? Why would he do such a thing?"

Shinji glanced at Haku before averting his gaze. "I don't know."

Haku was referring, of course, to Itachi Uchiha, the one who massacred his clan.

It was a question on many villagers' minds. Why would Itachi, the young clan leader, turn against his own family?

Shinji suspected Haku cared deeply about him and the Uchiha clan, though Haku concealed it well.

The next day,

"What? The Chunin Exams?"

Shinji was taken aback in class.

Mr. Iruka explained the upcoming Chunin Exams and their impact on the Ninja School schedule.

In essence, junior students like Shinji were getting a break.

The mention of the Chunin Exams reminded Shinji of those in Naruto's original storyline.

In reality, the exams occurred every three years, varying in scale from large-scale events like Naruto's to smaller ones.

Participating villages could host the exams, not just Konoha.

"Great, a vacation!" exclaimed one student.

"I heard many villages are sending participants this time."

"Sounds like it'll be quite a spectacle!"

The students were excited, treating the exams like a festival. Villagers could even buy tickets to watch the finals.

Leaving the school later, Shinji and Haku wandered the streets.

In the distance, they heard commotion.

Following the noise, they spotted a procession approaching, centered around a grand carriage.

Haku remarked, "That symbol belongs to the Land of Ghosts. Could their priestess be entering the Chunin Exams too?"

Shinji's expression stiffened. "The Ghost Kingdom's witch?"

Haku nodded. "Yes, the person in the carriage is likely their Miko."

"Why is she here in Konoha? Has my illusion been dispelled?" Shinji wondered, watching the Ghost Kingdom's team head towards the Hokage Building.

Noticing Shinji's unease, Haku asked, "Are you feeling okay?"

Shinji shook his head and left the street.

Even if Shion's presence in Konoha was unusual, acting on it here could lead to unforeseen consequences.

This was central Konoha, just streets away from the Hokage Building.

All Shinji could do now was hope Shion hadn't lifted the psychological suggestion he had placed.

Anxious, Shinji spent the day in suspense.

No ANBU came to restrain him, nor were there rumors about him or the Mangekyo Sharingan, as if the Ghost Kingdom's witch had nothing to do with him.

Later that day, teams from Hidden Sand, Grass, Waterfall, Water, and River Villages arrived in Konoha.

Puzzled, Shinji noted, "Kirigakure's relationship with Konoha is tense. They've never sent participants before."

Other villages seemed unusually eager to join the Chunin Exams.

"They must be here to confirm the rumors about the Uchiha massacre," Shinji concluded.

The Uchiha had been a prestigious clan for centuries. News of their demise was a seismic event in the ninja world.

That evening, Shinji didn't relax, instead urging Haku to practice gymnastics with him.

During a break, wiping sweat with a towel, he casually asked, "Why would the Ghost Kingdom send someone to the Chunin Exams? Do they even have a ninja village?"

Haku shook his head. "I've never heard of a ninja village in the Land of Ghosts."

"Why is their witch here then?"

"I heard she spent the day visiting shops around the village."

"Ah."

Shinji pondered this new information.

Rustling in the nearby bushes suddenly caught their attention.

Both turned to see a figure emerging.

She was small, adorned in a lavish dress, chewing something, and holding a handful of colorful balls.

"Shion!?" Shinji gasped, recognizing her instantly.

Clearly startled to find others in such a secluded spot, Shion gestured playfully at Shinji and Haku before attempting to slip away in her gown.

But after a few steps, she halted abruptly, tilting her head and approaching Shinji, locking eyes with him. "You."

End of chapter.