[Prelude to the great genin war!!]

'What are they reading...'

I arrive back in the clearing and Ino-chan and Hinata-chan were still sitting under the tree going through some scrolls...there was a pile of scrolls in front of them and it took me a second to recognize that they were the medical scrolls that I had given to Ino-chan…

I walk over to them and peeked over their shoulders at the pictures and diagrams of various parts of the human body…

"So you are really interested in Iryo Ninjutsu, Ino-chan, Hinata-chan?"

I sat in front of them as they both looked up in front of them and nodded… Seeing their positive response I smiled at them and said, "So Iryo-Ninjutsu is not something you can master in a couple of months, it took me 1 year to get to a level where I was confident in using the basic Healing technique on myself… you need to know that if you don't have the dedication to try and improve then it will be a waste of time and even after years of hard work you would only be able to advance to a basic medic-nin… Just so you know I want you guys to be absolutely sure you wanna pursue this?"

They both took a moment to go over my statement before Hinata-chan was the first to make up her mind, "I'll do it Tobi-kun!"

Seeing Hinata agree Ino-chan quickly gave her agreement as well… "Alright then..." I divided the stack of piles into different categories as I continue saying, "...so these are the basic things you need to know about the human body and healing jutsu in general...along with that you need to have better control of your chakra, has anyone of you had started practicing water walking?"

Both of them shook their heads so I began to explain, "well it's like tree climbing but instead of a steady stream of chakra, this time you need to vary the amount of chakra pushed out according to the disturbance in the water...as water is everchanging the amount of chakra that is required to stay afloat changes every second...the basic requirement to start using the medical technique is to stand at the base of a waterfall without falling into the water for 10 minutes..."

I started listing out several requirements and started to draw out a timetable in which they had to finish their assigned scrolls and start training their chakra control…

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'These were a fruitful 10 days of training...the journey back was a drag though, but seeing the number of questions Ino-chan and Hinata-chan had for me later, at least they are taking their studies seriously...'

The gates of Konoha loomed in front of me as we and the Takashi-family started to get out of their carriage, almost everyone had a homesick expression on their face as we look at the gates of Konoha looming in front of me…

We passed the gates and Kurenai-sensei said, "We will handle the mission repost as it was a routine mission, you guys are dismissed for the day, we will meet again tomorrow at training ground 8..."

Asuma-Sensei gave around the same instruction to team 10 so and then they turned away and walked together to the Hokage residence…

"See you later then Hinata-chan, Shino-san!" I wave my goodbye as I walked through the familiar routes of the Konoha market.

"Why are you following me again Ino-chan" I keep walking as I see a familiar mop of blond ponytail hopping beside me…

"Awww, Tobi-kun don't you want me here..." She hugged my right hand as we were walking down the marketplace… I panicked a little bit and my face blushed as I subtly pushed tried to push her away…

"Ino-chan what are you doing!!!" I grit my teeth as I speak that sentence and looking at the amusing expression on Ino's face that was what she was going for…

"Humph" I turn away and kept walking while looking at the various wares present in the store, after a little walking I arrive at a familiar shop to which I hadn't gone in over 4 years when I first bought my first shuriken set…

'Stupid Zoey, for not telling me about the shop...'

I grumble before moving on and change my direction to the Yamanaka clan compound. Ino noticed my change in direction and didn't say anything...Her grip slowly loosened on my arm and rather than looking like she was trying to catch me it now looked like we were holding hands while walking through the marketplace…

The blush on my face never went away though by the time we arrived at the Yamanaka clan compound gate it had been a long time so I wasn't as awkward as I was at the marketplace...The area was quiet and remote so we didn't bump into anyone, we arrived at her house and I quickly said bye to her and walked away…

I felt a chill down my back as I sense a High-jounin level chakra signature looking at me from her house…

*gulp*

After turning the corner I jumped upon the nearby rooftop and dashed away as fast as I could…

'I made it out alive, I made it out alive...'

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And just like that life went peacefully for some time…

---------------Timeskip 1 1/2 months----------------

"I have nominated you all for the Chunin exams..." Kurenai-sensei said while we were having lunch one afternoon…

'Huh! I thought she skipped us since we are just 6 months out of the academy...'

"You think we are ready Sensei?" I stop eating my curry rice and turn to face Kurenai-sensei.

"Why do you say so Tobi-kun?"

"Ummm because we are just 6 months out of the academy and I thought you would have told us sooner because I keep seeing genin's and Jounin's of different villages arrive... so I thought you didn't want us to participate this time around..."

"Hmmm, no as the exams this time around are held in Konoha the meeting to decide who is going to participate happened yesterday and I nominated you guys..."

"Ummm is this why Iruka-sensei tried to attack us last night, in order to test us?" Hinata-chan asked sensei and I turn a surprised look towards her…

"Wait what do you mean by Iruka-sensei attacked you...when did this happen?" I fire my questions and before she could answer Kurenai-sensei explained…

"Iruka-sensei thought you guys are not ready so he was permitted to test you guys by Hokage-sama. And Tobi-kun you weren't tested because even Iruka-sensei thought you were ready after looking at your records..."

'Wait really...yay thank you Iruka-sensei'

"Wait so when is the exact date for this?"

"Tomorrow"

"TOMORROW!! Kurenai-sensei couldn't you have told us sooner...I need to go and prepare...umm is there anything else for today, Sensei?"

"No, you are free to go..." under her amused stare at my outburst I dashed away…

'I wonder if someone with the magnet release will show up...what about Uzumaki...maybe I should buy some Kekkie Genkai to reinforce my body or something...'

'...'