Preparation for the Exams

 I found myself standing in the clearing where I had spent the past week training Ayumi. The girl had impressed me more than I cared to admit. She was determined, resourceful, and had a spark that reminded me of my younger self.

The week had been grueling, filled with intense training sessions and relentless drills. Ayumi handled it all with a resilience that was rare to see in kids her age. She had a natural talent, but more importantly, She was hard-working. It was that drive that made her stand out from the other students I had once taught and failed.

I leaned against a tree, munching on a dango stick as I reflected on our training sessions. I had put her adaptability and quick thinking to the test, and she had proven herself time and again. Her techniques were solid, and I wouldn't expect much else given her old teacher was Izumi, her strategies sound.

However, there was one area where Ayumi had yet to be tested summoning. When she approached me about learning the technique, I was skeptical. Summoning was no easy feat, and the snakes I summoned required a deep bond and a significant amount of chakra. Some of the larger ones even demanded human sacrifices. I didn't want to see Ayumi get hurt or worse if she attempted something beyond her capabilities she could be killed.

But Ayumi was insistent. She had a fire in her eyes when she spoke about the Chunin Exams and how summoning could give her the edge she needed. I couldn't help but admire her resolve. And so, I agreed to teach her, though with a fair amount of caution.

I would have to bring out my summoning scroll tomorrow, preparing it for our training that day. This scroll was the one I had used as well as a kid. It was a gamble, but It was the only one I had.

I finished my dango and threw the stick as it stuck into a tree and added the final touch to create the hidden leaf symbol. Summoning required not only a deep well of chakra but also a mental connection with the summoned creature. I wasn't sure if Ayumi had the necessary chakra reserves and was Something I would need to get checked at some point, but I was willing to give her the chance to prove herself. Maybe I should check her Chakra nature's as well.

As the last light of the day faded, I couldn't shake the feeling of apprehension. What if Ayumi wasn't ready? What if the snakes rejected her? The risks were high, but Ayumi had faced every challenge I had thrown at her with unwavering determination. She deserved this opportunity. Besides at worst Id have to kill it, well if it was a small one. Anything large and I would need help.

I pushed off from the tree and began making my way back to the village. Tomorrow would be a pivotal day in Ayumi's training. Whether she succeeded or failed, it would be a valuable learning experience for her. And for me, it would be a chance to see just how far she could go.

As I walked through the quiet streets, I had been against the idea of getting a new student after having failed this year's team that had been assigned to me. But it was an order from lord third and I wasn't going to go against it. I also had to get her checked out with a medic-nin, just to make sure there were no underlying problems.

With that thought, I arrived at my quarters and prepared for the night. She had already proven herself in so many ways. Now it was time for her to prove it once more.

The next morning, I stood in the clearing once again, the summoning scroll spread out before me. Ayumi arrived right on time, her eyes filled with excitement.

"Ready to get started?" I asked, a smirk playing on my lips as I had a toothpick clenched between my teeth.

"Ready," she replied, her voice steady.

"Alright then," I said, gesturing to the scroll. "This is the summoning scroll for the snakes. To summon, you need to sign your name in blood and then offer a significant amount of chakra. The larger the snake, the more chakra you'll need. So, let's start off with 10 percent of your chakra for now"

Ayumi nodded, her eyes locked on the scroll. "I understand."

"Good," I replied. "Start with a basic summoning attempt. Focus your chakra, visualize, and channel your energy into the summoning."

Ayumi took a deep breath and bit her thumb and I noticed her rather long sharp fangs, letting the blood well up before signing her name on the scroll. Then, with a determined look, she formed the necessary hand signs and slammed her palm onto the ground.

For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the ground began to tremble, and a plume of smoke erupted. As the smoke cleared, I held my breath, waiting to see if Ayumi had succeeded.

There, coiled on the ground, was a black snake with golden scales around its head. The snake lifted its head, regarding Ayumi with curiosity. It was around twice the size of me, did she use all of her Chakra?

"Well done, Ayumi," I said, genuinely impressed. "You've managed to summon a snake."

Ayumi's face lit up with a mixture of relief and pride. "Thank you, Anko-sensei."

"Don't thank me yet," I replied with a grin. "The hard part is getting the summon to acknowledge you."

Pov Ayumi

As I looked at the massive black snake with golden scales around its head as it looked down at me, I couldn't help but feel a mixture of awe and excitement. The snake was beautiful and intimidating, its eyes gleaming with curiosity as it regarded me. I knew this was only the beginning; summoning the snake was one thing, but forming a bond with it was another challenge altogether. Truthfully, I had used around 50 percent of my chakra. 

"Who dares to summon me?" the snake hissed, its voice echoing in my mind more than my ears.

"Hello," I said, keeping my voice steady. "My name is Ayumi."

The snake's eyes narrowed slightly, and it hissed softly. "you?" she replied, its voice a low, resonant sound that seemed to vibrate through the air. "Why have you summoned me?"

I swallowed, feeling the weight of the moment. "I seek your assistance and partnership," I said, trying to convey my respect. "I want to form a bond with you."

The snake's head tilted slightly as if considering my words. "Partnership, you say?" it replied, a hint of amusement in its voice. "Many have summoned me seeking power, but few speak of partnership."

I nodded, feeling a bit more confident. "I believe in mutual respect and cooperation. I want to learn and grow stronger, and I hope you can help me do that."

The snake's tongue flicked out, tasting the air around me. "You speak well for one so young," it said. "But words alone are not enough. You must prove your worth."

"How?" I asked, eager to meet whatever challenge the snake might present.

The snake's eyes glowed faintly, and suddenly, the world around me shifted. I felt a strange pressure in my mind, a creeping sensation that made my skin crawl. The clearing seemed to darken, the edges of my vision blurring. I couldn't understand what was happening. Panic started to set in as the ground beneath me felt like it was slipping away.

Images and sounds assaulted my senses nightmarish visions that twisted and turned, trying to overwhelm me. I couldn't tell if it was real or some trick of my mind. My heart pounded in my chest, and I could feel my chakra being drained, my energy sapped by this strange phenomenon.

I tried to focus, to anchor myself to something real, but the illusions were relentless. They tightened their grip on me, making it hard to think, to breathe. I felt as if I was being pulled into a dark abyss, the shadows closing in around me.

Just when I thought I couldn't take any more, the images shifted. I found myself standing in a vast, dark expanse. The air was heavy and oppressive, and I could feel an immense presence watching me. My heart raced as I looked around, trying to find the source of the presence.

In the distance, a pair of glowing white eyes appeared, cutting through the darkness. They were enormous, far larger than any creature I had ever seen. The eyes moved closer, and with each step, the ground trembled beneath me.

A sense of dread filled me as the creature came into view. It was a massive dragon, its white scales shimmering with a dark, and its one golden horn pulsed with power. Its presence was overwhelming. The dragon's eyes locked onto mine, and I felt a strange connection form between us. I noticed that my Sharingan was in its eyes spun white. It spread its arm wings.

The dragon opened its mouth, and a deafening roar echoed through the darkness. The sound was so powerful that it seemed to shake the very fabric of whatever I was in. The illusions around me shattered, and I found myself back in the clearing, gasping for breath.

The snake before me recoiled, its eyes wide with surprise. "What... what is this power?" it hissed, its voice trembling. "I have never felt such strength."

I struggled to catch my breath, my mind reeling from the experience. "I... I don't know," I Lied there was no way I would trust her with that information just yet.

The snake regarded me for a long moment, its gaze intense. "You possess a strength unlike any other," it said finally. "I saw the dragon within you. perhaps you will be the one to help me ascend. Very well, Ayumi Kura. I will form a contract with you."

I couldn't believe what I had just experienced, but relief flooded through me as I fell back onto the ground as I was covered in sweat. "Thank you," I said sincerely. "What is your name?" Looking up at her.

"Kurokane," the snake replied. "You have proven yourself worthy, Ayumi. Know that if you become unworthy I will devour you. So don't fail me"

"I wont," I promised, feeling a deep sense of accomplishment. Kurokane coiled around me, her presence oddly comforting.

Anko-sensei stepped forward, her expression one of approval. "You've done well, Ayumi," she said. "the bond you share must be nurtured and respected."

"I understand," I replied, meeting Kurokane's gaze As it was shrinking down its size and wrapped itself around my neck loosely. "I'll do my best to honor our partnership."

As I left the training grounds, Kurokane coiled loosely around my neck, I couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of purpose. The encounter had been intense, but I had succeeded. Now, I needed to focus on preparing for the Chunin Exams. The thought of the upcoming challenges made my heart race with anticipation.

The sun was beginning to set as I made my way through the village, the warm glow casting long shadows across the streets. I decided to head towards the marketplace to grab something to eat. The past week had been grueling, and I needed to refuel before the exams.

As I walked, I noticed a commotion up ahead. A crowd had gathered, and I could hear raised voices. Curiosity getting the better of me, I quickened my pace and pushed through the throng of people.

In the center of the crowd, I saw Naruto arguing with a boy who had distinctive face paint and a large, wrapped object on his back. Another young girl with four pigtails was there as well, her eyes darting between Naruto and the boy with the face paint.

"Hey, what's going on here?" I called out as I approached, trying to get a handle on the situation.

Naruto turned to me, his face red with anger. "Ayumi! These jerks are picking on Konohamaru!"

The boy with the face paint smirked. "Stay out of this. It's none of your business."

I glanced past him and saw a Konohamaru on the floor bruised. The boy with the face paint, clearly Gaara's brother, was reaching out to grab the child. Instinctively, I moved, faster than he could react. I pinned him to the ground, my kunai at his throat.

"Touch that kid, and you'll regret it," I hissed, my eyes locking onto his with a fierce intensity.

For a moment, he looked genuinely surprised. But before I could process his reaction, I felt something as I was blasted off of him by some type of air attack. As I turned to look at the girl with the fan, I was slammed into the fence. Getting up I watched as she was getting ready to swing her fan again but A rock slammed into her hand causing her to stop.

 "What are you Bastards doing in our village?" It was Sasuke.

"You're an embarrassment to our village!" A boy's voice called out from near Sasuke who was in the tree.

"Ga... Gaara" the boy with paint on his face said nervously.

"Losing yourself in a fight, how Pathetic" he sounded bored as he spoke. "why do you think we came to the leaf village?"

"listen Gaara they started it and.." before he could continue Gaara looked at him. "Shut up... or I'll kill you" At those words he became silent and was even shaking. He vanished and reappeared near his team. "we didn't come here to play around. Lets go"

Just as the others were about to protest I raised my hand cutting them off and allowed Gaara and his team to leave. " This year's Chunnin exams are going to be tough," I said while eyeing Gaara who didn't even look back.