The sun peeked over the rooftops of Konoha, casting warm light onto the village below. The air was lively as merchants opened their stalls and shinobi prepared for their daily missions. Yet, for Team 7, the day began with a summons to the training grounds. Kakashi Hatake stood with his usual slouched posture, book in hand, but his eye carried an unusual seriousness.
"You've been recommended for the Chūnin Exams," he said simply, his tone even.
Naruto's eyes widened, a grin splitting his face. "What?! Seriously?! I'm gonna be Chūnin already? Believe it!"
Sasuke, arms crossed, smirked. "Tch, took long enough."
Sakura's face shifted between excitement and nervousness. "Are… are we really ready?"
Raven leaned against a tree, arms casually resting behind her head, her expression unreadable. "Huh. Guess we're moving up in the world."
Kakashi raised a hand. "This is no ordinary exam. You could die. You don't have to accept."
Naruto stepped forward, fists clenched. "I'm not backing down! I'll show everyone I'm the future Hokage!"
Sasuke's gaze darkened, his hunger for power simmering beneath his cool facade. "I accept."
Sakura took a breath and nodded. "I'm in."
Raven smiled faintly. "Sure. Sounds fun."
Kakashi's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer than the others. He knew she was more capable than she let on. Sometimes he wondered if he was watching the birth of a legend—or a disaster.
As the team dispersed, Raven's smirk faded the moment her back was turned. Her eyes shifted briefly into her violet Rinnegan before she suppressed it again. This exam was more than a test. It was a battlefield—a stage where future leaders would rise or fall. And she intended to use it to evaluate potential allies and future enemies.
Her thoughts turned to her faction, her hidden army. The Sisters of Virtue.
The name had not come lightly. It was born from pain—hers and others. Men in the shinobi world made promises they did not keep. They swore to protect, only to betray. Fathers, husbands, leaders—they all failed. But women… women endured. Women kept their vows.
The Sisters of Virtue was more than a name. It was a creed. We Keep Our Promises.
While the shinobi world played their games of power and deceit, her Sisters grew stronger. Every vow was honored. Every betrayal was punished.
Raven clenched her fists. She would never allow the fate of the Uzumaki Clan—or the Uchiha—to happen again.
That afternoon, Raven sought out Kurenai Yuhi in a quiet training clearing. The woman greeted her with a nod, her crimson eyes sharp but warm.
"Raven," Kurenai said softly.
"Kurenai," Raven replied, lowering her voice. "I need a favor. Sakura. She has potential with Genjutsu, but I can't give her the time she needs."
Kurenai arched an eyebrow. "You want me to train her?"
"You're the best. I trust you."
A small smile played on Kurenai's lips, though there was a hint of knowing in her gaze. "I'll guide her. But you know how this works. I won't give away everything."
Raven chuckled. "I wouldn't expect you to."
There was an unspoken understanding between them. Raven had guided Kurenai's growth, unlocking potential even Kurenai hadn't realized she possessed. Over the years, Kurenai had become a master of Genjutsu beyond comparison. She was a shadow queen in her own right—a deadly illusionist who had long since surpassed the Uchiha's famed Sharingan users. Her techniques were so lethal, so precise, that she had ensured no witnesses ever survived.
Raven respected that. Strength cloaked in secrecy. That was what the Sisters of Virtue embodied.
"I heard from Hinata and Ino recently," Kurenai continued. "They seem… different."
Raven's lips curled. "They're progressing."
Hinata Hyuga had shed her timidness under Raven's watch. Ice Release—Sole Ice Domain—was her masterpiece. She could reshape the battlefield into frozen death, turning her Gentle Fist into a lethal dance that the Hyuga Elders still did not comprehend.
Ino Yamanaka had broken free from her clan's limitations. Mind Transfer was outdated. Soul Projection Jutsu was her path now. Her physical body became irrelevant when she could walk the battlefield as a spirit, striking directly at the enemy's soul.
Neither had revealed their true strength to anyone but Raven. The world still thought them ordinary kunoichi.
Raven preferred it that way.
Later that evening, Naruto burst into the Arata household, vibrating with excitement. "Mom! Mom! We got recommended for the Chūnin Exams!"
Sayuri (Raven's mother disguise) looked up from the kitchen, a proud smile on her face. "That's my boy!"
But the warmth turned mischievous. "Good. You'll need those Ramen Senbon."
Naruto blinked. "Wait, you were serious?"
Sayuri crossed her arms. "Weapons can be anything if you put your mind to it. Hardened noodles sharp enough to pierce bone. Explosive Ramen Bombs. Sticky Noodle Bindings to trap enemies. Get creative."
Naruto's eyes widened as the ideas swirled in his mind. "Ramen Bombs… Ramen Threads… Wait… Ramen Senbon that EXPLODE!"
Sayuri grinned. "That's my boy."
The night drew on, but Raven's mind remained restless. She stood on the roof of The Crusty Kunai, staring out at the village. The exams would bring out the best and worst in these young shinobi. Gaara. The Sound Genin. Orochimaru.
Raven's violet eyes flickered in the dark. Orochimaru. That snake slithered ever closer. Riko's latest reports from Root confirmed his movements.
Danzo knew. The Third suspected. But no one would stop it.
Raven would not interfere—yet.
But the Sisters would watch.
The Chūnin Exams were not simply about promoting genin. They were the first true battlefield for the future.
She whispered into the night, the words of her faction's creed carried on the wind.
"We Keep Our Promises."
The Sisters of Virtue were ready.
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