The next day, Third Training Ground.
Tejima Shinichi, Kobayashi Takeshi, and Satō Yū arrived right on time.
To their surprise, Yamato was already there, back turned, waiting for them.
Hearing footsteps, Yamato turned, a gentle smile on his face.
Without wasting words he pulled three scrolls from his coat and unfurled them before the trio.
"These are the Chunin Exam application forms. I've already signed. Now you must choose —whether to press your handprint on them!"
Kobayashi Takeshi and Satō Yū were instantly riveted, their breathing quickening.
The Chunin Exams are the crucial next step for a Genin, promising both greater stage and greater risk.
Yamato looked at his two visibly tense students.
"Two and a half months ago, when I said you'd enter the Chunin Exams, you probably had your doubts. But I've watched your efforts and progress since."
"Takeshi, you can now reliably perform Fire Release: Great Fireball, and your Taijutsu and Shuriken accuracy have jumped. Yū, your Wind Release: Great Breakthrough is solid and getting smoother every day."
"More importantly, you've begun to combine your techniques. Though your current Chakra may only allow one or two 'Windfire Prairie' combos, that coordination and burst can flip a fight and make any careless Chunin pay."
"Add the Taijutsu routines I drilled into your weak spots, and you can now tangle with an average Chunin even if you can't beat them."
Yamato's words were a shot of courage; hesitation in Kobayashi and Satō's eyes gave way to resolve.
They exchanged glances and saw the same determination mirrored back.
Two months of grueling training —our sweat won't be wasted!
"We're in!" Kobayashi Takeshi declared, voice ringing.
"Yes, Yamato-sensei, we're ready." Satō Yū nodded solemnly.
Without hesitation both pressed their handprints onto the forms.
Tejima Shinichi had already stamped his, expression as calm as ever.
Yamato collected the three sheets, his gaze finally resting on Tejima Shinichi with complicated eyes.
"Shinichi, your strength needs no comment from me."
He paused, tone turning cautionary:
"But precisely because of that, you must be careful. That you're the Third Hokage's pupil is no secret. In these exams you'll be a prime target; participants from other Villages will either try to eliminate you first or make their name by defeating you."
"Mm, I understand, Yamato-sensei."
Tejima Shinichi answered simply.
He heard the warning but felt no ripple inside.
Across the entire exam, only one person posed a real threat—his disguised, scheming senior… Orochimaru.
As for the other Genin, or even Chunin, taking part?
They were mere backdrop to the drama about to unfold.
Before the absolute gap in power he now held, numbers and tactics looked pale.
He almost hoped —if only those "prodigies" would band together to hunt him down… though that was pure fantasy.
Seeing his look, Yamato knew the message had landed and said no more. He understood this student: calm and caution ran bone-deep; a reminder was enough.
"All right." Yamato tucked the forms away. "The exam starts in a few days. Adjust your condition, keep training, but don't over-exert. Dismissed."
"Yes, Yamato-sensei!"
Kobayashi Takeshi and Satō Yū answered in unison.
Tejima Shinichi nodded and left.
Yamato stood watching until the three students vanished beyond the Training Ground gate.
He knew that for Kobayashi and Satō this Chunin Exam would be valuable experience and challenge.
But for Tejima Shinichi the meaning was altogether different.
It was not merely a qualification test, but a stage —an opportunity for the name "Tejima Shinichi" to truly resound across the Ninja World.
Until now, when people spoke of him they usually prefaced it with "the Third Hokage's pupil" —an honor, yet also a veil dimming his own radiance.
Yet once the exams ended, "Tejima Shinichi" would no longer be merely "the Hokage's disciple".
His strength, his methods, the bearing he showed in the face of every challenge—all would become a brand uniquely his.
Yamato could almost see it: the moment this boy displayed that logic-defying power and mind before every eye, the shockwave it would send through the hearts of Ninja in every land.
"Konoha's new generation will grow until the entire Ninja World has to take notice!"
"Just as you said, Hokage-sama, staking the hopes of the new generation on him..." Yamato pictured Tejima Shinichi's face. "Making Konoha great—again!!!"
...On the far side of the Training Ground.
Rock Lee finished a set of weighted push-ups, sweat dripping from his chin. He stood and looked at Tenten, who was sorting her Ninja Tools.
"Did you hear?" Lee's voice rang with excitement. "From this year's grads, four whole squads are entering the Chunin Exams."
Tenten paused her Shuriken-polishing and glanced up, disbelief on her face. "Four squads? Impossible —they graduated, what, yesterday?" She shook her head. "Must be the Jonin teachers being stubborn about face again."
"Not necessarily."
A voice came from the side. Lee and Tenten turned to see Hyuga Neji seated cross-legged against a big tree, gaze distant.
"Tejima Shinichi is among them."
Hearing the name, Lee and Tenten froze.
Tenten blinked. "Neji, that Tejima Shinichi... is he really so strong you haven't beaten him once?"
Lee leaned in, curiosity all over his face. They knew Neji carried a rival in his heart —this year's top student, Tejima Shinichi —but they'd never guessed someone as powerful as Neji had never scored a win.
Neji's eyes lacked focus, his tone calm yet layered with something complex.
"Beat him?"
Neji echoed softly, a wry, humorless smile touching his lips..
"Forget winning. Since three years ago... I haven't even made him... enjoy the fight!!!"
He turned to his teammates; within those pale eyes something heavy had settled.
"Every clash, he's a mountain without a summit. You think you're getting close, but you haven't even found the foothills."
Tenten and Lee fell silent.
Watching Neji, they saw, for the first time, such clear helplessness on their genius teammate's face.
Neji looked away, gaze returning to the distant woods.
"Chunin Exams..." he murmured. "I'll be waiting for him!"
The moment Neji's words ended, the brief hush on the field was shattered by a spirited yell.
"Ooh—!!!"
Lee sprang up, fists clenched, eyes blazing; shock and silence were flung to the winds.
"If even you say that, Neji, then what an opponent he must be!"
His voice boomed with excitement.
"I've decided! In the Chunin Exams I will fight that Tejima Shinichi! With my youth and sweat I'll prove that pure Taijutsu can reach the summit —even without Ninjutsu or Genjutsu! That is my ninja way!"
Even as he spoke he began punching at blinding speed, the wind of his fists howling, as if he couldn't wait to trade three hundred blows with the imagined foe.
Watching the instantly fired-up Lee, Tenten pressed her brow and sighed.
"Hey, hey, Lee, cool it... Neji made it pretty clear —you're just asking to get flattened."
"Tenten!" Lee stopped and flashed her a shining grin and thumbs-up. "It's because he's strong that I must challenge him! That is youth! I can't wait to see just how amazing someone you rate so highly can be!"
Neji watched the re-energized Lee and gave a small shake of his head, yet no disapproval showed in those pale eyes.
Perhaps having a teammate who never gives up could blow away some of the gloom inside him.
With that thought he looked into the distance again and whispered,
'Shinichi, at the Chunin Exams, let me witness with my own eyes just how high you now stand!'