ALL NOVEL Chapter 18: Chapter 18
After a brief explanation, Fujiwara Tetsuya slowly stood up.
Sure, he had a couple of days to rest, but ninja training was all about consistent progress. And once the night passed, he'd be back at the training grounds. There was always more to learn, and if it meant earning more kill points, that was all the motivation he needed.
---
The next morning, before the sun fully rose, Tetsuya was already on his way to the training fields, his short katana strapped to his back.
---
Youth, they say, passes like a fleeting horse, leaving behind only traces in the long journey of life.
In the blink of an eye, six months had passed.
During these months, Tetsuya and his team, Squad Thirteen, had taken on numerous B- and C-rank missions. They earned quite a bit of cash, but more importantly, Tetsuya accumulated a significant amount of kill points.
"Chūnin Exams, huh?" Tetsuya murmured.
"Yep, Chūnin Exams! I already submitted your applications," came the overly enthusiastic voice of their sensei, Konoha's self-proclaimed genius, Yūhi Shin. He leaned against the rooftop railing, basking in his own creativity. "How about that, Tetsuya? An early chūnin promotion for your eighth birthday—pretty brilliant gift, right? Hah, I'm a genius!"
Tetsuya glanced at his teammates, Uchiha Mikoto and Aburame Muto, trying to suppress a sigh.
"Sensei, no offense, but suddenly announcing we're in the Chūnin Exams is a bit... reckless. From what I've heard, it's not just Konoha's genin competing. There'll be participants from the Land of Wind, Water, Earth, Lightning, and even smaller countries too, right?" Mikoto chimed in, her tone sharp with the confidence of someone well-versed in the affairs of the ninja world.
"Wait, what? You're saying genin from the other Four Great Nations and Rain Village are coming to Konoha for the Chūnin Exams?" Tetsuya blurted out, now fully alarmed.
The year was Konoha's 35th, and the memories of the Second Shinobi War were still fresh. From the perspective of a paranoid time traveler like Tetsuya, the presence of these nations' ninja at Konoha's exams felt more like a reconnaissance mission. They weren't just here to compete—they wanted to see how strong Konoha had gotten.
"What's there to be surprised about?" Mikoto shrugged nonchalantly. "Sure, it's a big gathering this time, but it's not like it's the first time we've had other nations send their genin to participate."
Her eyes glinted mischievously as she added, "What's wrong, scared? If you're too chicken, just say so. I'm sure, as your teammate, I could offer you some intensive training before the exams."
Tetsuya rolled his eyes. Mikoto's arrogance was as strong as ever. Though, over the months, her sharp tongue had softened, if only slightly.
"Training with you? Nah, I'll pass. I'm pretty sure I can handle myself just fine," Tetsuya shot back, trying not to let her perfect, sculpted face distract him. He had learned long ago not to let Mikoto get too comfortable with her smug attitude. This was just their routine by now.
"Hmph, you'll regret those words, little punk. If you end up dragging the team down during the exams, don't expect me to go easy on you."
"All right, you two, enough," Yuhi Shin interjected, rubbing his temples in frustration. Watching these two go at it was a headache, even on good days.
"I've arranged the next two weeks to personally train you both. I want you in top shape for the exams. As for Muto, I've already asked Elder Seikyo to take over your training. His expertise with Aburame clan techniques is way beyond what I can help you with."
"Elder Seikyo is going to train me?" Muto, who had been quiet until now, perked up. He couldn't let this opportunity slip.
Seikyo's reputation in Konoha was well known. He was one of the elite jōnin, possibly even a hidden master among the Aburame clan. Tetsuya could see from their serious expressions that Muto was going to be in good hands.
"All right, if that's clear, we'll wrap up here. Tetsuya, Mikoto—you two, meet me at Training Ground 22 tomorrow."
---
At Training Ground 22 the next day, Tetsuya and Mikoto arrived early, eager for what was to come. They didn't have to wait long—within ten minutes, Yuhi appeared in a burst of speed.
"Morning, sensei!" the two greeted in unison, both standing at attention.
"Looks like you're ready," Yuhi said, his sharp gaze appraising them.
"Of course, sensei! We've been preparing for this!" Tetsuya replied confidently, nodding toward Mikoto, who gave a silent but resolute nod of her own.
"Good. Now, let's not waste any time." Shin formed a quick seal. "Earth Style: Earth Clone Jutsu!"
In an instant, several identical copies of Shin formed around them, each clone enhanced with the intricate illusions of the Yuhi clan. Tetsuya, despite being accustomed to clone techniques, found it hard to distinguish which was the real one.
"Stop guessing—I'm the original!" Yuhi laughed. "Mikoto, you'll be training with my clones. I want you to focus on refining your genjutsu skills. Your ninjutsu and taijutsu are solid, but your genjutsu needs to improve before the exams."
"Yuhi clan genjutsu, huh?" Mikoto mused. Even though the Uchiha clan was considered the undisputed masters of genjutsu in Konoha, she didn't dismiss the techniques of other clans. The Yuhi clan's illusions were known for their powerful ability to manipulate the senses, something even the Uchiha respected.
As Mikoto left with the clones, Yuhi turned to Tetsuya.
"Now, Tetsuya, I'm not much of an expert in Water or Lightning Style, and to be honest, you've already got a solid base in ninjutsu. So, we'll be focusing on taijutsu and kenjutsu from here on out. Sound good?"
Tetsuya nodded as he watched Mikoto disappear into the trees. His mind briefly wandered—Yuhi clan genjutsu would've been fun to learn, but he knew his genjutsu foundation was practically nonexistent. It'd take too long to be useful for the upcoming exams.
Swordsmanship, on the other hand? That was something he could use right now. Even the most basic Kenjutsu of the Konoha style could be a game changer in the heat of battle.
"Then let's get started, sensei," Tetsuya said, bracing himself for the hard training to come.
As the intense training began, Konoha itself was also bracing for the influx of new visitors. With the Chūnin Exams approaching, the village began to fill with unfamiliar faces.
---
"This is Konoha, huh?" a voice murmured. "It really is more prosperous than Sunagakure."
A group of four Sand teams had just passed through the village gates after a thorough inspection. Led by several senior Sand jōnin, they took in the bustling streets of Konoha, filled with lively activity.
"Well, no surprise there. The Land of Fire controls the most fertile land in the world. Its citizens live comfortably, and with their support, Konoha has grown into what you see today. If we had land like this in the Land of Wind, we'd be doing even better than Konoha," said a boy of thirteen or fourteen, his face stern but proud.
"That's our Rasa! You know so much!" came a girl's voice, tinged with admiration.
The boy—Rasa—blushed slightly at the compliment, trying to play it off. "It's just common knowledge, Karura."
As they exchanged glances, a subtle warmth passed between them.
"Let's move on," Rasa said, his tone firm again as he gestured for the group to follow their jōnin guide. The streets of Konoha were no place to be too comfortable—many curious eyes were already watching them.
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