Long shadows stretched across the Third Training Ground.
Yamato leaned against an old tree, gaze fixed on the entrance.
When three familiar figures came into view, his honest face broke into a smile.
Tejima Shinichi led the way, Kobayashi Takeshi and Satō Yū behind him, both still tinged with lingering excitement and fatigue.
"Sensei Yamato!" Kobayashi waved from afar and jogged over. "We're back!"
Satō Yū followed, a relaxed grin on her face.
Yamato straightened, looking at his three students, and laughed. "Judging by your faces, the first test went smoothly. How was it?"
"Smooth?" Kobayashi blurted, words tumbling out. "You should've seen Head Proctor Morino Ibiki —his aura was terrifying! And those questions —no Genin could answer them!"
He gesticulated wildly.
"Then the cheating —good grief, the room turned into a cheating technique exhibition! Every trick imaginable; I was dazzled."
Satō Yū took over, nodding with lingering fear. "Those Chunin monitors had eyes like blades. But the real thrill came at the end…"
She described the brutal tenth-question rule, the despair and hesitation thick in the air.
"Loads cracked under pressure and raised their hands to quit," Kobayashi cut in, wistful. "Yū and I almost…"
He left the sentence hanging, but Yamato understood; under that pressure, wavering was human.
"Right then —Uzumaki Naruto slammed the table and stood up!"
Kobayashi mimicked Naruto's tone, recounting the declaration that he'd stay a Genin for life if that's what it took to become Hokage.
"Honestly, sensei," Kobayashi said, turning serious, "that guy usually seems so flaky, but in that moment his words shattered the weight on our chests."
"Fear just evaporated."
Tejima Shinichi listened in silence, mentally sweating. 'Ashura's influence is still alive and kicking.'
Yamato listened quietly, smiling; he could picture the scene and feel the reckless strength of Naruto's outburst.
"Sounds like a fine test of will." He nodded approvingly. "Whatever the case —congratulations!"
Then Tejima Shinichi spoke, steering to business.
"Sensei, after the first test, proctor Mitarashi Anko appeared and told us to ask our Jonin Instructors for the location of the second stage."
Yamato nodded, unsurprised.
"The assembly point for the second exam is Training Ground Forty-Four."
He added after a pause,
"The first was written; the second will definitely be combat. In the Forest of Death you'll face not just the environment but teams from other villages."
"Details drop tomorrow, but count on it being far tougher than stage one. Be ready."
Kobayashi clenched a fist. "We won't lose!"
Satō Yū nodded. "We've come this far; we'll pass!"
Yamato studied them. "Tomorrow morning, gather at the Forest of Death gate. Rest well tonight —stay in peak form before the real trial."
"Yes, sensei!"
…A knock sounded at the Hokage Office door.
"Enter."
Tejima Shinichi stepped inside.
"Sensei!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up from paperwork, pipe set aside. Seeing him, the old man smiled, wrinkles easing.
"Shinichi, my apologies —official duties kept me from watching over you. As your teacher I've been remiss."
"Sensei, you carry the whole village; I know what matters. Training is personal. You showed me the path and opened the sealed scroll —that's already the greatest teaching."
Hiruzen's eyes warmed. He set down his brush, leaned back, and studied Tejima Shinichi carefully.
"You haven't slacked off. Your aura's calmer, your Chakra… feels different."
Hiruzen felt a bead of sweat. 'This student's physical gifts —or rather attributes— are off the charts!?'
His Chakra reserves were already monstrous, yet on closer look, they were still rising!
Tejima Shinichi nodded. "I've grasped several scroll techniques, and Wood Release Ninjutsu is battle-ready."
Hiruzen sighed at how old he'd become, then remembered: "How did the first exam go?"
"Passed easily; the questions were simple, and the final will test was interesting."
Hiruzen chuckled, relaxing, and lit his pipe.
"Ibiki's method does filter out the faint-hearted." He exhaled a smoke ring. "So, you're here for more than results?"
Tejima Shinichi hesitated. "This Chunin Exam… something feels off."
Hiruzen's pipe paused. "Oh?"
"Hard to pin down," Shinichi frowned, "but tomorrow's second stage won't be calm."
He met Hiruzen's gaze, certain.
"It's no illusion, so I came to inform you."
Hiruzen's smile faded; he set the pipe down and leaned forward, elbows on the desk.
"Shinichi, with your current strength…" he said slowly, "ordinary examinees or even team-leading Jonin shouldn't trigger such vigilance."
Tejima Shinichi nodded. "I've assessed everyone. No Genin present is my match!!!"
It wasn't arrogance.
Three months of special training, plus forbidden arts from the scroll and Wood Release, had pushed him past Jonin level.
Vast Chakra, innate Wood Release, and high-level techniques gave him full confidence to beat even Elite Jonin.
As for Kage… he hadn't tested that far; maybe his overall strength hadn't reached that pinnacle yet!?