Chapter 9:The Chunin Exams Begins Now!

It was the day of the Chunin Exams, and the building where the first round would take place was abuzz with activity. Genin teams from various villages filled the hallways, discussing strategies in hushed tones or sizing up the competition. Outside, in the grounds around the building, others huddled in groups, their eyes scanning the crowds for potential threats.

Among them, Yuto walked in silence, trailing behind his teammates Naruko and Hitomi. His head was down, a rare look of unease etched onto his usually composed face. The reason for his subdued demeanor was clear—the two girls in front of him hadn't spoken a word to him all morning.

'I get why they're angry,' Yuto thought with a resigned sigh. 'Naruko and Hitomi are both tsunderes through and through. Even if I explained it a thousand times, they'll just say I'm making excuses.'

Being a reincarnator had its perks, but Yuto also understood the delicate nuances of the people around him. He knew both Naruko and Hitomi had feelings for him, even if they'd never admit it outright. Hinata and Ino seemed to harbor similar feelings, though to a lesser extent. Yet, after yesterday's "incident" with Yugito—a kiss that wasn't even his fault—Naruko and Hitomi were furious.

'The worst part is that I didn't even get to enjoy it!' Yuto grumbled internally. 'It was an accident! Dynamic Entry was the real culprit here.' He shot a glance at the girls walking ahead. Naruko's blonde pigtails swayed angrily as she stomped forward, while Hitomi's black hair glinted under the sunlight, her shoulders tense with irritation.

Yuto winced. He could feel the storm clouds gathering around them.

'I swear, this luck stat of mine is double-edged,' Yuto mused grimly. 'I got my first kiss by a sexy blonde Kunoichi, I'm alive because Yugito decided not to kill me after giving me a "light beating," but now I've got these two ready to finish the job.'

As they entered the building, the oppressive atmosphere only intensified. The halls were packed with genin from every corner of the shinobi world. Each group radiated a mix of confidence, nervous energy, and anticipation.

While Naruko and Hitomi avoided looking at him, Yuto silently scanned their surroundings. His eyes caught glimpses of familiar figures, but he kept his thoughts to himself.

'This is going to be a long day,' he sighed internally, steeling himself for whatever the Chunin Exams had in store.

The large hall buzzed with energy as all the Genin teams gathered, their murmurs filling the space. Yuto sat in his seat, glancing sideways at Naruko and Hitomi. Despite the tense air in the room, his teammates' continued cold shoulder toward him was what weighed on his mind the most.

'Tsundere teammates are more troublesome than any exam,' Yuto thought, stifling a sigh. He couldn't help but wish they'd just yell at him already instead of keeping this icy silence.

The chatter of the hall suddenly quieted as heavy footsteps echoed through the room. A man with sharp features and an authoritative aura strode in, his eyes scanning the crowd of Genin with a calculating gaze. He stopped at the front of the hall, his presence alone silencing even the rowdiest teams.

"I am Taichi," the man announced, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. "I will be your examiner for the first test of the Chunin Exams."

Yuto straightened in his seat, along with the rest of the Genin, as Taichi's eyes swept across the room. The man's gaze seemed to weigh each and every one of them, as if gauging their worth.

'He's no joke,' Yuto thought, narrowing his eyes slightly. 'I can feel his killing intent simmering beneath the surface. He's letting us know this isn't going to be easy.'

Taichi's lips curved into a thin smile, as if he'd sensed the tension. "I see we have a full house," he remarked, his tone laced with a hint of amusement. "One hundred teams—three hundred Genin. Let me assure you, by the end of this test, more than half of you will be gone."

A few Genin shifted uncomfortably in their seats, while others smirked confidently.

"Now," Taichi continued, his tone turning serious, "the first exam is called Scroll Hunting."

Murmurs spread throughout the room, but Taichi raised a hand, silencing them immediately.

"Here's how it works," he explained. "Each team will be given a unique riddle. This riddle will lead you to a specific location. At that location, you'll find another riddle. As you solve each riddle, you'll move closer to the secret scroll vault."

Yuto leaned forward slightly, his interest piqued. 'This sounds more like a strategy game than a straightforward brawl,' he thought.

Taichi's eyes gleamed as he added, "At the scroll vault, you'll find fifty scrolls. Your task is to retrieve one and bring it back to this hall. Only the teams with scrolls will pass the first exam. That means only fifty teams—one hundred and fifty Genin—will move on to the next round."

Naruko frowned, her arms crossed. "So they're cutting half of us right off the bat," she whispered to Hitomi.

"Typical Chunin Exam stakes," Hitomi replied quietly, her eyes fixed on Taichi.

Taichi's expression darkened slightly as he continued, "There are a few rules you must follow. Fighting is allowed—"

Several Genin perked up at that, excitement flashing in their eyes.

"And killing is also allowed," Taichi added coldly, causing the atmosphere in the room to shift.

Gasps and whispers rippled through the hall, but Taichi silenced them with a glare.

"However," he emphasized, "there are conditions. Fighting and killing are only permitted if one of the teams involved possesses a scroll. Unnecessary violence without a scroll in play is strictly forbidden."

Yuto's eyes narrowed. 'So they're forcing us to think carefully before engaging in battles. This isn't just about strength—it's about strategy.'

Taichi smirked, as if pleased by the tension he'd created. "The riddles you'll solve will not only test your intelligence but also your teamwork and perseverance. Some locations will be harder to reach than others, and the scroll vault itself will not be unguarded. Choose your battles wisely, and remember—only fifty teams will survive this round."

"You have two days to complete this exam," he announced. "Additionally, samurai patrols and summoned beasts will be watching over all of you at all times. Any form of cheating will be dealt with severely—consider it an automatic disqualification, or worse."

The tension in the room thickened as the weight of the announcement settled in. Taichi's eyes scanned the crowd, ensuring everyone understood the gravity of his words.

"Now," he said, his voice suddenly booming, "the first exam begins—now!"

Chaos erupted instantly as Genin scrambled to leave the room. Some bolted toward the doors, while others paused to discuss hurried strategies while some jumped out of the windows.

Yuto's expression shifted in an instant, the casual demeanor he'd worn earlier vanishing as he adopted what his teammates teasingly referred to as his "mission personality." For the readers, it was eerily similar to Kakashi's cold and efficient demeanor during his time in the Anbu.

His green eyes sharpened as he turned to Naruko and Hitomi. Without waiting for their input or caring about their current mood, he issued his command in a clipped tone. "Head back to the inn. Stay there until I return with the riddle scroll."

Naruko and Hitomi blinked, momentarily caught off guard by his no-nonsense attitude, but before either could say anything, Yuto vanished in a blur, his body flicker technique leaving only a faint ripple of chakra in the air.

Naruko stared at the spot Yuto had occupied just moments ago, her thoughts swirling. 'He didn't even wait for us…'

Hitomi glanced at Naruko before turning to head toward the inn. "Let's go," she said quietly.

Naruko followed, her movements almost automatic as she leaped onto the rooftops. The two girls moved in silence, the snowy landscape of the Land of Iron blurring beneath them.

After a few minutes, Naruko couldn't hold it in any longer. "Hitomi," she began hesitantly, her voice barely audible over the sound of their footsteps.

Hitomi didn't look at her but slowed her pace slightly, signaling that she was listening.

"Do you think it's okay for us to ignore Yuto like this?" Naruko asked, guilt lacing her words. Her blue eyes softened as memories of her childhood surfaced. She remembered the loneliness, the cold stares from the villagers, and the way people had treated her like she didn't exist. The only light during those dark times had been Yuto—the boy who had treated her with kindness and warmth when no one else did.

Naruko's chest tightened as she continued, her voice trembling. "I know how it feels to be ignored… and yet, I'm doing the same to him. All because of some stupid jealousy."

Her mind replayed the accidental kiss between Yuto and Yugito, and she winced at how irrationally she'd reacted. 'It wasn't even his fault…' she thought, her face darkening with shame. 'I let my jealousy get the better of me, and now I'm pushing him away—the one person who's always been there for me.'

Hitomi remained silent, but the flicker of emotion in her eyes spoke volumes. The stoic Uchiha rarely voiced her feelings, but she wasn't immune to guilt. She, too, recalled how Yuto had supported her when her clan's expectations became overwhelming or how he consoled her when she cried even though he was in the hospital bed after the Uchiha massacre. He had been the one constant in her life, always there to reassure her when the weight of her revenge plan and the pain felt unbearable.

'I'm no better,' Hitomi thought, clenching her fists. 'I let my pride and jealousy cloud my judgment, and now I'm just as much at fault as Naruko.'

The two girls continued toward the inn, their guilt hanging heavy in the air between them. Neither spoke again, but the unspoken understanding in their shared glances was enough. Both knew they had to make things right with Yuto—before their bond suffered irreparable damage.

(Pls give me some power stones!)

(Find out next time on Naruto:Eye system)