Road to Ninja Part 10

Hokage's Office…

A group of jōnins had gathered in front of a desk.

Behind the desk was a pink-haired woman stacking few papers into a bundle and then placed them to the side of the table.

Haruno Sakura, the Fifth Hokage of the Hidden Leaf was in a meeting with the jōnins in the room. Behind her stood two people. They were Hatake Kakashi and Nara Shikaku, respectively. Sakura took a look at her laptop and then shifted her gaze towards the jōnins.

"Thank You all for gathering here on such short notice," Sakura said in a humble voice.

"…" The jōnins stared in complete silence.

Amongst the jōnins were a few familiar figures, Konohamaru, Moegi, Udon, Hanabi, and Sai.

"Now then, in conjunction with the Chūnin exams, let's first have those in charge of rookie Genins step forward," Sakura said upon which six figures stepped out including the five familiar ones from before.

Sakura looked at the six people in front of her.

"It goes without saying,"

"If it's a genin who has carried out eight or more formal missions, you can recommend them for exams if you wish, however, as a general rule, having carried more than twice the amount of missions is appropriate," Sakura informed.

"…" The jōnins in the room silently agreed with the explanation.

Sakura then looked at a particular figure.

"Then you first Konohamaru," Sakura glanced at Konohamaru.

Konohamaru stepped out.

"Team 7 led by Sarutobi Konohamaru,"

"Uzumaki Hanato, Uchiha Raiju, and Mitsuki,"

"I Sarutobi Konohamaru, recommend these three for Chūnin exam," Following which the person next to Konohamaru stepped out.

"Team 10 led by Kazamatsuri Moegi,"

"Yamanaka Inojin, Nara Shikadai, and Akimichi Mayumi,"

"I Kazamatsuri Moegi, recommend these three for Chūnin exam," Following which the person next to Moegi stepped out.

"Team 5 led by Ise Udon,"

"Kaminarimon Denki, Lee Metal, and Yuino Iwabe,"

"I Ise Udon, recommend these three for Chūnin exam," Following which the person next to Udom stepped out.

"Team 25 led by Yamanaka Sai,"

"Kokubō Renga, Kuroi Hako, and Taketori Hōki,"

"I Yamanaka Sai recommend these three for Chūnin exam," Following which the person next to Sai stepped out.

"Team 15 led by Hyūga Hanabi,"

"Izuno Wasabi, Kakei Sumire, and Suzumeno Namida"

"I Hyūga Hanabi recommend these three for Chūnin exam," Following which the sixth person, the one next to Hanabi stepped out.

"Team 40, led by Yamazaki Kentaro."

"Goetsu Dōshu, Itoi Tsuru, and Onikuma Enko,"

"I Yamazaki Kentaro recommend these three for Chūnin exam," Kentaro said.

"I see…" Sakura observed the six for a moment.

She then got up from her seat and stepped away from the desk.

"After a discussion with my advisor, I've decided to hold a preliminary exam for the rookie genins," Sakura said.

"A rookie exam?" The jōnins in the room wondered.

Sakura then looked towards Kakashi who stood behind.

Kakashi understood it was his turn to explain.

"Once the genins have accepted to participate as a team,"

"I Hatake Kakashi will be the examiner for this preliminaries," Kakashi said as he walked to the center of the room to stand in front of the others.

"Kakashi-sensei, eh?"

"I see…" Konohamaru smiled, knowing that the examiner was his hero's teacher.

"I'll leave them to you," The six acknowledged Kakashi's role.

The six along with Kakashi shifted to a corner of the room and discussed Kakashi's methods for examination. Of course, the discussion was done with the precondition that the examination method will not be spilled out to the genins.

With that the genin rookies arrangements were handled for the Chūnin Exams, following which Sakura then began to discuss about the previously failed genins and other ninjas who applied for the Chūnin exam.

———————————

Hidden Leaf Training field…

Three figures with their backs against perfectly cut cylindrical tree trunks stared at the entrance of the field.

"It's been over thirty minutes, and he still isn't here," A boy wearing Navy blue shirt complained.

"He should be here soon," Mitsuki said.

"…"

"Oy, Hanato,"

"You hang out with Konohamaru-sensei right?,"

"Do you know anything?" The boy asked.

"Calm down Raiju, he should be here in a moment," Hanato said.

"Hmph," Raiju snorted following which he sat down on the grass.

Uchiha Raiju was the son of Hinata and Sasuke in this timeline. He was almost an exact replica of Obito, except for the late-arriving part and the willingness to help older people. Raiju wouldn't go around to search and help older people but wouldn't shirk away when they needed his help.

Mitsuki from this timeline was also an offspring of Orochimaru. This time, however, his light would be Raiju instead of Boruto.

(Whoosh!)

"Sorry, you guys,"

"I was in a meeting just now, hope you're not angry, eh?" Konohamaru asked.

"You're late!" Raiju yelled.

"Sorry, sorry," Konohamaru tried to calm Raiju down.

"Sensei, what's that?" Mitsuki asked.

"Oh this," Konohamaru raised up the three papers he brought.

"This is for you guys," Konohamaru handed the three papers.

"This is…"

"Forms to attend Chūnin exams," Konohamaru explained.

"Oh Yeah!"

"Bring it on, I will defeat everyone, including you Hanato," Raiju shouted his intention with the exam form raised high in the air.

"…" Hanato smiled.

"Oy, Hanato, think you can defeat me?" Raiju asked.

"I've got nothing to say to an Uchiha who hasn't awakened his eyes," Hanato said.

"Damn you!" Raiju couldn't talk back at Hanato.

"…" Mitsuki stood in the background, observing Raiju with a smile.

Uchiha Raiju's eyes were a bit special, at least to the others surrounding him. However, only the Higher ups in the village were aware that Raiju possessed the Rinnegan.

Raiju's inability to use the Rinnegan even on the most basic level caused others to think his eyes were a failed mutation, however Hanato and Mitsuki thought otherwise. Even if Hanato made fun of Raiju on the surface. In his heart he knew that one day or the other Raiju might awaken a power far more what has been comprehensible to man kind so far...

"Once you have decided to sign up for the exam, meet me on the first floor of the Academy tomorrow,"

"That's all for today," Konohamaru said.

"That's all?"

"Don't we have missions?" Raiju asked.

"nope," Konohamaru shook his head.

"Sensei!"

"You Promised!"

"You promised we'll do a B-Rank mission,"

"Heck, I was even thinking A-rank mission," Raiju complained.

Bang!

Konohamaru gave a right chop to Raiju's head.

"You are not strong enough,"

"Once you become a chūnin, the Hokage will consider it," Konohamaru said.

"…" Raiju stared at Konohamaru with an intent of not giving up.

"You want to fight people and prove yourself, then do it in the Chūnin exam, eh," Konohamaru answered.

"Fine!" Raiju turned away from Konohamaru.

"I'll prove it,"

"I'm the strongest genin of the Hidden Leaf!"

"And one day, I'm gonna be Hokage!" Raiju declared.

Konohamaru thought back to his past, when he had an attitude like Raiju. The battle against Sakura that made him give up on his dream. The scene when Sakura talked to him when he barely had enough energy to get up one more time.

"I'm sorry Konohamaru,"

"But the women and other people are depending on me,"

"I cannot back out,"

"But I will promise to you,"

"I'll become the best female Hokage,"

"No, the best Hokage for generations to come," Sakura said as her Byakugou seal receded back into its passive state.

Konohamaru stared at Raiju who had his back against him.

"Beating everyone doesn't mean you are the strongest," Konohamaru said.

"Dad told me, If I am strong enough to protect people closest to me, I am the strongest," Raiju answered.

"…" Konohamaru was silent.

"I'll become the Hokage and protect the leaf village," Raiju's eyes shined with a determined look.

Even though Raiju hadn't awakened his eyes, seeing the ripple like Rinnegan staring back at him, Konohamaru felt his gaze pierce into the depth of his soul. It felt like it was digging out the old him that would have wanted to become the Hokage no matter what.

"I believe you," Konohamaru said as he walked away.

Hanato and Mitsuki smiled.

"Let's go," Raiju said, following which the three left the field.

…

(Whoosh!)

(Whoosh!) (Whoosh!)

Three figures jumped onto the top of a train.

"Hanato?"

"Raiju? Mitsuki?" Two other figures sitting at the front of the top of the train noticed the trio's arrival.

"Yo," Hanato took a seat next to Shikadai and Raiju next to Inojin.

"What's up you guys?" Inojin asked.

"Hehe," Raiju showed a form to Inojin which he had signed.

"What do you think?" Raiju asked.

"Not bad," Inojin said as he raised his form as well.

"Looks like you guys came here after meeting up with Moegi-sensei," Mitsuki said.

"Yeah," Shikadai answered.

"Where you guys goin?" Hanato asked.

"BurgerOu" Shikadai answered.

"Not Kaminari burger?" Hanato asked.

"They are giving free food for their first-day grand opening," Shikadai said.

"I see…" Hanato nodded.

"How about a game of Shōgi later?" Shikadai asked.

"Sure,"

"I might get close to your score this time," Hanato said.

"90-82, I'd say Eight straight wins is impossible," Shikadai mocked.

"Who knows, I might become lucky," Hanato answered.

"So today evening?" Shikadai asked.

"Sure,"

———————————

Hokage Office…

(Knock!)

(Knock!)

(Knock!)

"Come in," Sakura said.

The door opened to reveal two figures.

"M-Menma," Sakura was stunned.