No matter how wonderful the performance is, there will always be a moment when it comes to an end.
At the Konoha Duel Arena, with the establishment of the Ninja Association and the announcement of the closing ceremony by Uchiha Hikaru and the Five Kage, the audience dispersed like a receding tide.
No one lingered—not because they lacked interest, but because they understood that what came next would be the greatest opportunity and upheaval of this era.
After the competition, all the shinobi from various villages began preparations to return to their homelands.
Only those who had successfully stepped into the arena remained in Konoha, awaiting the final announcement of the Chunin Exam results.
Three days later, at ten in the morning, the twenty-five contestants gathered once more before the bulletin board outside the Hokage Building, anxiously waiting for the results.
Uchiha Hikaru strolled leisurely from his home to a spot not far from the board and noticed the groups of Genin gathered there in pairs and trios.
Well—perhaps now it would be more accurate to call them Chunin.
After all, the results were already decided… they just didn't know it yet.
"Yo~ You're here so early?"
Uchiha Hikaru's casual greeting made everyone's tense nerves snap like bowstrings.
The gathered Genin instinctively took two steps back. After all, this man was now recognized as the strongest shinobi in the world.
He alone had defeated the former Shura of the Shinobi World and returned him to the Pure Land. There were even rumors that he'd taken down the Fourth Raikage in a one-on-one match when he was only sixteen or seventeen...
As for how these rumors started—well, that involved a certain passionate freestyle monologue from Killer Bee to a bunch of gossip-hungry elders in Konoha's central plaza.
From the fact that Hokage Tsunade and her assistant Uchiha Hikaru were now living together, to the juicy tale of some neighbor's scandalous youth—there wasn't a rumor those old ladies didn't know.
But among these twenty-five contestants, there was one person who didn't treat Hikaru like an untouchable idol. He rushed straight up to him, his eyes shining with nervous hope.
"Big bro Hikaru, did I pass? I can't wait to wear that awesome Chunin vest!"
Hikaru calmly placed one hand on Naruto's forehead and let the boy bounce around.
"I don't know. You'll see for yourself in a second."
"But I do know one thing."
Naruto froze mid-jump, blinking in confusion.
"What is it?"
"That if you keep blocking the list, more than twenty people are about to beat your ass."
Naruto stiffened, then slowly turned his head.
Sure enough, everyone was glaring at him.
Even his fellow Jinchuriki were clenching their fists and smiling ominously.
He quickly stepped aside, scratching his head and laughing sheepishly.
Sasuke, arms crossed beside him, smirked smugly.
Hmph. I've seen through everything. There's a 99.75% chance Naruto didn't pass.
"Woooah~! Woooah~!"
Once the list was posted, Uchiha Hikaru stepped aside.
Naruto, Sasuke, Rock Lee, and Suigetsu Hozuki rushed forward to check the board.
Naruto muttered, "Damn, the first name isn't me—Uzumaki Naruto… huh? Saya—oh, okay. I'll check further down."
Sasuke snorted. "Second on the list? Just barely passed."
Though he tried to sound indifferent, he was clearly proud.
It's no shame losing to Sister Saya. At least among the rest, I'm number one.
Lee shouted, "Hoo~! I'm fifth?! I thought I'd be first! That means there are four younger than me. I've still got work to do! YOSH! Still, this is a good result. I'll celebrate by walking upside down around Konoha five hundred times!"
He immediately flipped onto his hands and started crawling away under the horrified stares of everyone around him.
#1 gasped, "That's how Lee trains? No wonder he's stronger than me. I can't fall behind!"
So he dropped to the ground and began crawling upside down too.
#3, dressed in simple shinobi gear, hurriedly followed #1, worried he'd fall on his face.
#2 shook her head helplessly. "It's not easy being #3…"
One by one, everyone received satisfying results—everyone except Naruto, who scanned the list from top to bottom, then frowned, puffed out his cheeks, and began to doubt himself.
"Hmm…?"
"Did I miss it? Let me check again…"
SMACK!
Sasuke slapped the back of Naruto's head.
"Stop looking. Your name's not there."
Naruto immediately started arguing.
"No way!"
"I made it to the final round just like you! Why wouldn't I advance?!"
His voice cracked with frustration.
He knew the truth deep down… but he didn't want to accept it.
Why hadn't he made Chunin?
Sasuke had wanted to mock him—but when he saw Naruto's dejected expression, he lost the urge to tease.
He snorted and turned away.
"Think back to your written test score."
Fu, Gaara, Utakata, and Yukimaru exchanged glances, unsure how to comfort him.
They all remembered the chaos Naruto caused in the first round.
Naruto's practical combat ability was top-tier… but leadership and theory? A disaster.
Just then, Uchiha Hikaru appeared behind Naruto and knocked him on the head—Bang! Bang!
"OW! Big bro Hikaru! What was that for?!"
"Why didn't I pass?!"
But instead of his usual joking tone, Hikaru's expression turned cold. His eyes sharpened, and an aura of killing intent radiated from him, sending chills down Naruto's spine.
"Do you even understand what it means to be a Chunin?"
Naruto had calmed a little, but frustration still lingered in his voice.
"What… what does it mean?"
"It means you'll leave your current squad. You'll become the leader of a Genin team fresh out of the Academy, responsible for their missions."
"If you're ambushed by enemy shinobi during a C-rank mission, do you have the awareness and judgment to detect the threat and protect your team?"
"If they die out there—are you ready to face their parents? To shoulder that responsibility?"
"Tell me, Naruto. Are you mentally prepared for that?"
Naruto said nothing.
His head hung low.
"I…"
The rest of the contestants sobered up. Their earlier celebration dimmed under the weight of those words.
The life of a shinobi is steeped in blood and regret—something Hikaru knew all too well. His own hands were stained from countless missions: eliminating mountain bandits, dismantling corrupt lords, rooting out black-market traffickers...
He had lost count of how many had died by his blade.
But now—
Hikaru placed a gentle hand on Naruto's head again. His gaze softened.
"It's not that you didn't pass. You're just… special."
Naruto blinked, confused. "Huh?"
"You won't wear a Chunin vest like the others. You won't be assigned a squad."
"Because your path is different. Your strength isn't in leadership—it's in faith."
"The kind of faith that inspires the entire world."
"…!"
Naruto's eyes widened. His throat tightened. He didn't know how to respond—but something inside him stirred.
A seed of conviction.
Of purpose.
Of destiny.
—
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