Hey everyone!
So, I've been thinking of taking a short break from writing and uploads until August 10.
Gotta recharge a bit and make sure the next arc comes out strong. Hope you all understand.
In the meantime, I wanted to get your input on something important: The Chunin Exams Participant Roster!
I've been putting together the lineup of teams from the major villages with the help of suggestions from the comments, and I'd love for you guys to vote on it or suggest any characters you'd like added. Here's the current list of teams (some canon, some filler, and some OC):
Team A (Sensei: Baki)
Gaara
Temari
Kankuro
Team B (Sensei: Pakkura)
Shira (filler taijutsu specialist similar to Lee)
Maki (canon background character, fūinjutsu user)
Sen (filler character, genjutsu user)
Or should Pakkura just replace Baki as the sensei?
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Team Otogakure:
Team C (Sensei: Orochimaru)
Dosu Kinuta
Kin Tsuchi
Zaku Abumi
Team D (Sensei: Guren)
Jirobo
Kidomaru
Tayuya
Team E (Sensei: OC)
Kimimaro
Sakon
Ukon
Or Orochimaru stops carring about the sound trio of dosu and just makes two teams from the sound 4?
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Team Kumogakure:
Team F (Sensei: Killer Bee)
Omoi
Karui
Samui
Team G (Sensei: Yugito Nii)
Atsui (Samui's brother)
Young Darui (Headcanon: Could still be a Genin, trained by the Third Raikage)
C (Similar logic as Darui — Jonin in Shippuden, but could be Genin here)
Either select one full team or select 3 members like A orders Darui to join team B as a third member.
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Team Iwagakure (Team H)
Sensei: Gari
Kurotsuchi
Deidara (we don't know when Deidara joined the Akatsuki, and since in the manga and anime flashbacks, when Deidara was recruited he looks about 15 to 16 and is 19 in Shippuden, you can legit say that Deidara would be recruited by the end of P1 of OG Naruto, so in the Chunin Exams we can technically add a young Deidara)
Suzumebachi (Filler shinobi who uses bees like Shino)
Replacement Options for Deidara (if needed):
Ittan (side character from canon)
OC with Explosion Release
Akatsuchi
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Team Kirigakure
Team I – Sent by Yagura (under Obito's control)
Mangetsu
Suigetsu
Chūkichi
Team Waterfall – Sent by Mei (disguised rebel team)
Technically posing as a Waterfall Village team to sneak into the Exams with Zabuza's help.
Sensei: Zabuza
Haku
Chōjūrō
Fū
Waterfall Village agreed to host this "proxy" team since they're a small village looking for visibility. They saw this as the perfect PR move.
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Team Grass (Kusa)
Karin Uzumaki
Shigeri (canon filler)
OC slot
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Team Amegakure (Rain)
Here's where it gets fun.
In canon, we actually got a team from Amegakure:
Kagari
Mubi
Oboro
Total fodder. But here's the twist…
What if Pain/Nagato was using them as puppets?
Imagine these Genin aren't just ordinary candidates, they're are Nagato's latest paths of pain sent to hunt down Danzo.
Remember: Danzo was involved in Yahiko's death. Pain erased Hanzo's entire bloodline… but never touched Danzo. So why not send his proxies into Konoha, using the Exams as cover?
Two versions possible:
Team OG Rain Genin (canon team)
Reanimated Rain Genin puppeted by Nagato.
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So yeah... the Chunin Exams are absolutely stacked now. Almost too stacked, which is a good problem to have.
If you've got more suggestions for characters, village twists, or potential rivalries, drop them below.
The poll is on, so y'all can vote on the final rosters!
If you've got a suggestion, feel free to drop it in the comments below.
— Adam