As the black border slowly faded, a bright white light replaced it.
The timeline had officially arrived at one of the most exciting moments in the Hidden Leaf Village—the Chūnin Exams.
"I've registered all of you for the Chūnin Exam!" Kakashi announced with a rare smile, handing over the registration forms to Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno.
"Keep working hard!"
The three young Genin received their entry passes, their faces glowing with excitement. After all, without the approval of their team leader, a Jōnin, they wouldn't even be eligible to participate in the exam.
Kakashi's decision was clear: in his eyes, they were ready.
This year's Chūnin Exam would be held in the Hidden Leaf Village, hosted by Konoha itself in alliance with several other ninja villages. Participants were arriving from Sunagakure (the Hidden Sand Village), Amegakure (the Hidden Rain Village), Kusagakure (the Hidden Grass Village), Takigakure (the Hidden Waterfall Village), Otogakure (the Hidden Sound Village), and of course, Konohagakure.
---
Senju Tobirama, the Second Hokage, spoke from within the white dimension. "Not bad, Hiruzen. This year's Chūnin Exam has quite the scale!"
He was right. This year's exam would go down in history as one of the most intense and ruthless ever held. No one had anticipated the kind of battles and danger that lay ahead.
If every Chūnin Exam was held to this standard… more than half the Chūnin across the ninja world wouldn't survive it!
After all… even Iruka became a Chūnin.
Iruka, clearly offended: "Can you not?"
---
Soon, Konoha's new generation of Genin was thrown into the heart of the challenge.
When Team 7—Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura—set off to attend the written exam, they were stopped at the entrance by Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane, disguised as Chūnin, using a genjutsu to mislead the candidates.
But Team 7 saw through the illusion and made it to the real classroom where other Genin from different villages had gathered. The room was filled with tension—and talent.
Before the written test began, Rock Lee from the Hidden Leaf challenged Sasuke Uchiha to a one-on-one match. Though the fight was interrupted by his mentor, Might Guy, Lee's display of raw taijutsu strength amazed everyone present.
Then, the first exam officially began—a written test—led by Special Jōnin Morino Ibiki. The questions were impossibly difficult, pushing everyone toward one conclusion: cheating was the true test, and doing so without getting caught was the key.
Naruto, however, didn't know the answers nor did he cheat.
But he never gave up.
"I… I will never quit!" he shouted. "Even if I stay a Genin forever, I'll still become Hokage someday!"
His unwavering determination left an impression on Ibiki. Naruto passed—despite submitting a blank paper.
---
Next came the second test, held in the infamous Forest of Death. Team 7's mission was to survive and collect both Heaven and Earth scrolls.
On paper, this task was difficult but doable for the trio.
But no one expected the sudden arrival of a terrifying enemy—Orochimaru.
He had come with one goal: target Sasuke Uchiha.
During the ambush, he branded Sasuke with a cursed seal, pushing the boy's mental and physical limits.
---
Watching from the white void, Uchiha Itachi muttered, "Orochimaru, your obsession with the Uchiha clan is truly persistent."
The tone may have seemed casual, but to Orochimaru, it carried a clear and dangerous warning. Years ago, when Orochimaru had once tried to steal Itachi's body, he was effortlessly defeated by Itachi's mesmerizing red eyes.
Those blood-red Sharingan were not just a dōjutsu—they were art, deadly and perfect in Itachi's hands.
---
Despite Orochimaru's interference, Team 7 managed to complete the mission just in time and passed the second round.
Next up—the third and final stage of the Chūnin Exam: a one-on-one battle tournament.
Even the preliminary matches were full of surprises!
In one of the strangest moments, Naruto defeated Kiba Inuzuka using—of all things—a surprise fart attack!
Elsewhere, Hinata Hyuga, representing the main branch of the Hyuga Clan, faced off against her cousin, Neji Hyuga, a prodigy from the branch family.
Despite being defeated, Hinata stood tall and declared her own ninja way, her determination inspired by Naruto.
Naruto, holding Hinata's blood-stained hand, declared war on Neji's ideology.
In the finals, he would prove that a so-called loser could surpass even a genius.
---
One of the most emotional and intense fights in the preliminaries was Rock Lee versus Gaara.
Opening the Fifth Gate of the Eight Inner Gates, Lee unleashed devastating taijutsu, showcasing his conviction: that ninjutsu wasn't necessary to be a great ninja.
"Neji," he said, "this move was originally meant to defeat you!"
Neji: "???"
Though Lee earned the admiration of all, Gaara was simply too powerful. His sand defenses were monstrous. In the end, Gaara crushed Lee's arms and legs and was about to deliver the final blow.
At the last second, Might Guy intervened to save his student.
Thus, the preliminaries came to an unforgettable close.
---
Watching from the white void:
Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage: "I didn't expect Konoha to have such a gifted ninja. Even someone like Gaara, terrifying as a tailed beast, almost lost."
Fourth Raikage: "Although our village didn't send participants, we can see the strength of Konoha's new generation."
Terumi Mei: "As expected from one of the Five Great Nations. We still have much to learn from Konoha."
Ōnoki: "Yes… Just like we must accept that we are growing old."
Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, felt incredibly proud.
He beamed.
"Indeed," he thought, "under my leadership, Konoha has accomplished much."
---
With the preliminaries over, a one-month break was announced—time for all the Genin to rest and train.
During this time, Naruto ran into a peculiar man peeping in the women's bathhouse—Jiraiya, the Toad Sage and one of the legendary Sannin.
Naruto managed to impress him with the Sexy Jutsu, and Jiraiya, recognizing the boy's resemblance to his late student Minato Namikaze, agreed to train him.
What followed was a rapid improvement in Naruto's strength. Under Jiraiya's guidance, Naruto:
Learned to communicate with Kurama, the Nine Tails.
Harnessed the Tailed Beast Chakra.
Summoned Gamabunta, the boss toad of Mount Myōboku.
Though their master-servant relationship was… unconventional, Naruto's strength was undeniably growing.
---
Finally, the final tournament began.
In his match against Neji Hyuga, Naruto's signature move—Multiple Shadow Clones—was ineffective. Neji shut off all of Naruto's chakra points with pinpoint precision.
But at his lowest point, Naruto found strength in desperation.
He rented chakra from Kurama, igniting a new energy within him.
With a single, powerful punch, he defeated Neji.
"A loser can defeat a genius. Fate can be changed," he declared.
Naruto promised that once he became Hokage, he would change the Hyuga Clan's destiny—for good.