Super Ninja

Resting and staying put turned out to be the best decision I'd made over the past few days. I allowed myself to relax and focus on controlling my chakra. However, when I tried lying down for a few hours, doing absolutely nothing, an inner voice began to stir. It metaphorically "banged on the pipes," shouting that I was being lazy while my future opponents were undoubtedly training.

Naturally, it became impossible to stay idle after that. I would get up and engage in some form of training, and only then did I feel a fleeting sense of peace in my mind. This peculiar reliance on training... In this world, it's not a bad thing. Consistent, proper growth ensures that a shinobi lives longer, happier, and more successfully.

With this understanding, I found myself compelled to keep training, even when it felt unnecessary. But... it was necessary.

The day of our departure back to Konoha was eagerly anticipated—not just by me, but by all the other genin and even the shinobi who had accompanied us throughout. Simply put, we all wanted to go home. There, we could rest more safely, free from the constant worry of being watched or targeted for assassination by those wishing to neutralize potential threats before they fully matured.

We left the hidden village early in the morning, just as the sun began to rise over the distant hills. The sky was a flawless expanse, devoid of clouds, serving as a perfect canvas for the colors of dawn to unfurl. On one side of the horizon, the final glimmers of starlight lingered, retreating as the day advanced. On the other, a gentle rosy-golden glow spread, painting the landscape in soft pastel tones.

The cool morning air was crisp and refreshing, imbued with the scent of damp pine and the first dew of spring. The paths we traveled shimmered with tiny droplets clinging to blades of grass and the leaves of shrubs. Everywhere, the rejuvenating essence of spring's awakening was palpable. Birds perched in the tree branches were just beginning their melodious chatter, greeting the birth of a new day with cheerful songs.

We moved swiftly, as the slowest member of our group was now faster than the slowest member had been when we first embarked on our journey to the Chunin Exams. Ironically, that "slowest member" was now sealed in one of the medical scrolls, having sustained severe injuries during the second stage of the exam. Because of this, we were able to maintain a steady pace.

Hatake Kakashi led our group with his usual skill and precision, expertly avoiding potential encounters. These encounters could have ranged from harmlessly curious villagers to hostile individuals who might have deduced our route and set up traps or mines—out of "friendly care," of course.

Our movement was silent; no one was in a hurry to talk or share their thoughts. If information needed to be conveyed, hand signals were used immediately. No... if someone wanted to chat, the option was there, but it required keeping pace to exchange words effectively. Still, when traversing unfamiliar territory, unnecessary dialogue is best avoided. During breaks, though, conversation was more acceptable.

Hatake Kakashi decided against stopping for a break. No one questioned his reasoning. As the leader of the group, his decisions went unquestioned, and we simply kept moving. I think I understood why he made that choice—he wanted to return to the Land of Fire's territory as quickly as possible. We began skirting the mountain range at night. By morning, it still loomed on our right, as we hadn't even made it halfway around. Honestly, I would have chosen to go through the mountains myself. It would have been faster, albeit a bit riskier.

When we were within arm's reach of the border and had finally circled the mountain range, we stopped for a rest. Crossing the border at night wasn't ideal. The border guards had likely been informed of our approach in advance, but there was no reason to strain them unnecessarily.

"We're moving fast," I said to Kabuto as we sat on a fallen tree eating dry sandwiches. Lighting a fire wasn't permitted.

"I thought we'd be slower," I added.

"Well, we have decent options for reaching the village in half the time," he replied, taking a bite of his ham sandwich. "But really, have you thought about what you'll do next? I think you're going to get a new rank... so what's next?"

"I don't know," I said, deliberately avoiding mention of the training I knew awaited me. "I haven't decided yet. I'll probably keep developing myself or join some team... I'm not sure. What about you? Are you planning to try the Chunin Exams again next year?"

"Of course," he said with a shrug. "Maybe then luck will finally smile on me."

"You just shouldn't have skipped the team battles," I replied. "I don't know if my team would've managed to win, but at least we gave it our all."

"Heh," the guy scoffed, saying nothing more as he stuffed another piece of sandwich into his mouth.

The night passed peacefully, and I even managed to get some rest. By morning, as the first rays of sunlight gilded the treetops, we set off for the border crossing, blending into the general flow of travelers and merchants heading toward the Land of Fire.

At the border, we, like everyone else, had to wait briefly until one of the on-duty chunin pulled our group aside. There, we were met by a small team of border patrol shinobi. They carefully inspected our identification cards and asked us a few questions about our journey and what we had encountered along the way.

Most of our answers were the same since we were all there for the same mission—the Chunin Exams. The consistency of our statements reassured the border patrol that we weren't a threat. Not that they treated us harshly, but they were thorough. Of course, if the Hokage himself had been traveling with us, no such checks would have been necessary—his presence alone would have been the ultimate guarantee of security.

After completing the standard formalities, we were allowed to cross into the Land of Fire without issue. As we left the border behind, a palpable sense of relief settled over us. The thought of returning home to Konohagakure after successfully completing our mission brought a quiet joy to everyone.

"You're free to go," the chunin said. "By the way, when you get close to Tanzaku, be cautious. The recent heavy rain has caused the river to overflow its banks, flooding much of the surrounding area."

"Hmm," Kakashi murmured. "Noted. Thank you."

"Good luck," the chunin said, stepping aside to clear the way for us.

We didn't need to be told twice. We left the border at a pace faster than we'd maintained at any point before. There was a unique sense of peace in the Land of Fire, one that felt hard to disrupt. Once we had put a good distance behind us, we slowed down, shifting from running to walking. The change in pace allowed us to appreciate the natural surroundings and the quiet, savoring the tranquility as we continued our journey home.

That night, we rested and stayed put. We managed to light a few campfires and prepare some delicious, comforting, and—most importantly—warm food. The air was filled with a sense of relaxation and joy—the joy of knowing that soon, very soon, we'd be back in our homes and sleeping in our own beds.

The morning was particularly pleasant, with warm sunlight, a light breeze, and a few fluffy white clouds drifting lazily across the sky. We moved quickly and didn't stop for any more breaks—not even for rest at night—because everyone was eager to get home.

After two more stretches of fast-paced travel along the upper paths, we reached the village. Konoha appeared suddenly, almost catching us by surprise. Though there were plenty of subtle signs along the way that indicated we were close, we hadn't been paying them much attention. For us, these signs were second nature—obvious and familiar. They were meant specifically for shinobi, ensuring that any hostile individuals or groups would likely stick to the main road, where they'd be immediately detected. Of course, this wasn't a perfect system. Experienced shinobi from other villages, familiar with similar tricks, could still detect them.

At the gates, several shinobi stood on guard duty, checking the identities of visitors. Naturally, they noticed our group and quickly cleared the visitors aside, giving us space to re-enter the village without delay. We didn't slow down, darting through the gates and heading straight for the Hokage Administration Building, leaping across rooftops as we went.

When we arrived at the Administration Building, Hatake Kakashi raised a hand, signaling us to land on the platform. Once we were assembled, the jonin turned to us and said:

"We've returned to the village. Gentlemen escorts, your mission is complete. You are dismissed."

The jonin who had been responsible for escorting and protecting us let out audible sighs of relief. For them, the mission was finally over—they could return home and rest.

"You can pick up your checks tomorrow," Kakashi added with a casual wave of his hand. "You're dismissed."

The jonin didn't need to be told twice. They disappeared so quickly it was almost impossible to see them leave. Almost—but I managed to catch that they simply leapt away in different directions at incredible speed.

"And now, genins," he addressed us, "your captains will inform you of the commission's decision. Take care."

With that, Hatake Kakashi turned and headed into the Hokage Administration Building.

The genin gathered around their respective captains, waiting for them to share any important or interesting information. Captain Kiochi, however, remained silent for a moment.

"Sensei, I didn't know there was going to be another commission," I said, breaking the silence. "What does it do?"

"Oh, it's the group that decides whether genin will be promoted to the next rank or not," he replied with a shrug. "It's made up of all the team captains, the head of the commission, and several of the escorting shinobi who have the authority to evaluate genin."

"Oh," I said, genuinely surprised. "Interesting. I didn't know that. Are there shinobi who don't have the right to evaluate genin?"

"Of course," Captain Kiochi nodded. "Being a good shinobi isn't enough to properly assess others. You also need to know how to teach. Every jonin who takes on a team of genin must first complete a short course on how to train them effectively before meeting their team."

"Is that so," I said with a thoughtful nod. "Can chunin take that course too?"

"Of course," he said with another nod. "It's always important to have people who can evaluate others within established parameters."

"Got it," I said, accepting his answer. "So, will my promotion be discussed at this commission too?"

"Yes, but you don't need to worry," Sensei replied with a smile. "Your promotion is as good as decided. It just needs to be made official."

"Alright, thank you, Kiochi-sensei," I said to the captain.

"Yes, see you tomorrow morning," he replied.

The captain turned and headed toward the Hokage Administration Building. I, on the other hand, turned around and immediately leapt home. I was sure my parents would be happy to see me. When I arrived in front of the house, I noticed that, in addition to my parents, there was a third person inside—probably a guest.

I knocked on the door, and after a moment, it opened. My father stood on the other side. He studied me for a few seconds before his face broke into a joyful smile.

"Wife! Our son is back!" he called into the house.

A few seconds later, my mother appeared in the hallway and immediately came toward me, throwing her arms around me.

"Suzuki! You're finally home!" she said, pulling me into a tight hug.

Another woman's face appeared in the hallway. She seemed familiar for some reason, but I couldn't quite place where I had seen her before. Maybe she was one of my mother's friends... I couldn't remember.

"Of course," my mother nodded to her, then turned back to me.

"Come in, come in! Why are you standing there like a stranger?" she said with a gentle smile, stepping aside to let me in.

***

In the spacious yet cozy office, a significant gathering of Konohagakure shinobi had assembled. Present were the Hokage himself, several of his closest advisors and assistants, elite jonin, and the heads of the most influential clans—all eager to hear the results of the recent Chunin Exams held in the Land of Rivers.

Neatly arranged stacks of papers lay before each attendee, detailing the participants' combat characteristics, skills, and achievements during the trials. The room carried an air of purpose, with everyone prepared for a meticulous analysis of this crucial event.

The Hokage sat at the head of the long table, leisurely taking a puff from his aromatic pipe. His demeanor exuded the calm confidence of a leader well-accustomed to responsibility and the gravity of important decisions.

"Well then," he said at last, exhaling a thin stream of smoke. "Let us begin the work of our commission."

For a moment, solemn silence filled the room. Every eye was fixed on the Hokage, their undivided attention awaiting his next words. This exam held great significance for the future of Konoha and its shinobi.

"Let's start with Team Thirteen: Captain Subizuma Kiochi. Genin: Suzuki Grandvitara, Ayamane Nara, and Shiko Yamanaka. Now… Suzuki Grandvitara is deserving of the rank of chunin. What do you say, comrades?"

"I agree," said Hatake Kakashi. "He conducted himself honorably throughout all stages of the Chunin Exams and demonstrated a sufficiently high level of shinobi skills."

"I support it, I support it," chimed in several other jonin who had been part of the group's escort.

"What does the captain say?" Sarutobi asked, turning his attention to Captain Kiochi.

"I agree with the commission's assessment," said the jonin captain of Team Thirteen, nodding with a serious expression.

A weighty pause hung in the room as all eyes turned to the Hokage. Imposing and majestic in his white robes, with piercing coal-black eyes, he shifted his gaze to the folder in front of him. It contained the detailed dossier on genin Suzuki Grandvitara.

The Hokage slowly scanned the room, meeting the gaze of each elite shinobi present.

"It is decided," he said at last, his deep, resonant voice breaking the heavy silence.

With deliberate yet swift motion, he reached for the official seal of Konohagakure. A dull thud echoed through the room as the stamp came down on the dossier's cover, leaving a clear imprint with a single, decisive word: "Approved."

"Next," the Hokage said. "Shiko Nara."

"This genin has not yet demonstrated what it takes to be a successful chunin," Kakashi said abruptly. The room fell silent, and all attention shifted to him. Such a blunt critique of a genin was rare in these discussions.

"What do you mean?" the head of the Nara Clan asked, breaking his previously calm silence. His tone was measured, but the intensity behind it was unmistakable. "Kakashi-san, could you elaborate?"

"Very well," Kakashi said evenly. "Shiko Nara failed to fulfill her team responsibilities, often shifting her tasks onto her teammates. Additionally, she did not use the preparation time for the final stage of the exam effectively. For further details, you can reference my report—it's on your desks."

At Kakashi's words, the shinobi in the room opened the referenced report and began skimming its contents. Some frowned as they read, their expressions darkening with each line. The Nara Clan head, however, remained impassive, his face revealing nothing of what he might have been thinking.

"Hmm," Shikaku murmured, setting the document aside. He would take it with him to discuss at the next clan meeting. "Alright. I support Hatake Kakashi. She's not ready to become a chunin yet."

"What does the team captain think?" the Hokage asked.

"I think she should be given a chance," Kiochi replied with a shrug. To be honest, he couldn't say much else. Even if he agreed with the assessments of the other shinobi, as a captain, he couldn't openly voice it. This neutral response allowed him to avoid expressing his true opinion.

"No," Shikaku Nara said firmly. "She's not ready yet."

For several seconds, silence filled the room. Slowly, the other jonin nodded in agreement.

"Then it's decided," the Hokage declared. He picked up another stamp and pressed it onto the document. The imprint read: "Denied."

"Next genin. Shiko Yamanaka."

"The same applies," Kakashi said. "Like her teammate, she is not ready to be called a chunin. She lacks teamwork skills, which became evident during the exam. Additionally, her behavior does not meet the high standards of our village. All the details are in my report."

The shinobi began reading through the referenced report, carefully reviewing every line and assessment. The head of the Yamanaka Clan, who had already familiarized himself with the document, remained silent. Like his counterpart from the Nara Clan, his displeasure was evident in his expression—or lack thereof.

"What does the team captain think?" the Hokage asked, turning to Kiochi.

"I think she should also be given a chance," Captain Subizuma said.

The Hokage turned his attention to the head of the Yamanaka Clan. Inoichi shook his head firmly, unwilling to put his clan at risk of poor evaluations from other clans. Besides, it was just one genin. There were other promising members of his clan who might become chunin in the future.

With a swift motion, the Hokage picked up the stamp and pressed it onto her file. The imprint read: "Denied."

The other jonin and clan representatives exchanged glances, all clearly understanding what awaited these two genin in the future. The punishment for their failures would not be lenient.