Time flowed swiftly. Before anyone realized it, the Class of Year 60 had already spent an entire season as fresh Genin.
In the span of just a few months, even Genin teams made up of ordinary civilians had evolved from green newcomers into competent novices.
Those teams with strong potential and excellent performance, under the guidance of their Jōnin leaders, had already taken on C-rank missions outside the village, engaged enemies, seen blood, and undergone a solid transformation.
By the end of June, any Jōnin aware of the imminent major event refrained from taking missions outside the village, instead assigning their subordinates to more menial, in-village tasks.
Meanwhile, Genin squads that were out on missions gradually returned to the village.
A grand occasion for all Genin was about to arrive.
…
A shrill eagle's cry pierced the skies of Konoha on that day, so loud it seemed to reach every ear in the village.
Upon hearing this cry, the Jōnin across town tilted their gazes upward, spotting an eagle perched high above. Their eyes flashed knowingly.
"Once you finish today's chores, head to the Hokage Building to collect your pay, then you can all take the rest of the day off. We'll meet tomorrow morning at nine, same place."
With this brief instruction, Kurenai shivered from sight in a Body Flicker. A host of other Jōnin likewise vanished in rapid blurs, darting across rooftops toward the Hokage Building.
"Something big must be happening again?" Shino Aburame said flatly, looking up at the eagle that continued to shriek, "No alarm's been sounded, so presumably an internal affair."
"Probably some important date has come," Izayoi remarked with a grin. "Don't forget: we haven't had the Chūnin Exams yet this year."
Hearing that, Hinata and Shino both brightened, the former's pupils shining milky-white, the latter's hidden behind tinted glasses.
Shino eyed Izayoi's smile, and the look of anticipation on Hinata's face, then asked, "If it is indeed time for the Chūnin Exams, Izayoi and Hinata…are you two planning to enter?"
"I want to," Hinata answered before Izayoi could, with a touch of urgency.
Izayoi smiled. "If Hinata's in, I'm in. And we both have what it takes—right?"
"Mmm."
Shino tucked his hands into his pockets, nodding coolly. "If you two are going, I won't be left behind, either."
"Then let's show all the other Genin just how strong Team 8 is," Izayoi replied with a confident grin. The three exchanged glances of mutual trust, sharing the same confidence.
Plenty of other newly minted Genin felt likewise—some had even participated in multiple Chūnin Exams before, surviving by the skin of their teeth and now only needing a stroke of luck to advance.
…
June 27, 9 a.m.
Team 8 assembled at their usual meeting spot, waiting for Kurenai. A few minutes passed before she appeared in a flicker, holding three documents in her hand and greeting them with a smile. "Sorry I'm late."
"Kurenai-sensei, are those applications for the Chūnin Exams?" Hinata asked as she noticed the paperwork.
"Looks like you all guessed." Kurenai lifted the documents, explaining, "Yes, these are the registration forms for the Chūnin Exams. Yesterday, Hokage-sama summoned all of us Jōnin leaders and announced that this year's Exams will begin on July 1."
"Though you've only graduated a few months back, your performance and strength more than qualify you. So I already put your names in."
"That said, registering doesn't force you to participate. If you're not confident enough, you can simply discard the forms. But if you are confident, sign here and submit your form by three-thirty in the afternoon on July 1, then arrive at the exam room on time."
Handing the three forms to Izayoi—by default considered the group's "leader"—Kurenai lied casually, "You have a few days to think it over carefully. Don't push yourselves, and don't pressure your teammates, either—it doesn't need to be all three of you in the Exams."
With that, she vanished again in a swirl of movement.
"All right, see you all on the 1st, Shino. Let's meet here at 3 p.m.," Izayoi said.
"Understood."
Izayoi handed one registration form to Shino, then set off alongside Hinata, waving goodbye.
On the way back, he turned toward Hinata and gave her both his and her forms. "Sasuke wants me to train with him. Want to join us these next few days?"
Though tempted, Hinata declined. "No, these few days I plan to ask Father's help with my Gentle Fist. I might not have time to drop in on you."
"Don't worry—I'll make sure you become a Chūnin," Izayoi said, patting her gently on the head.
He already had suspicions about her motivation. This world's Hinata was leagues ahead of her canon self in skill.
As the main branch princess, she'd always been heir apparent—but she had grown so exceptional that the clan elders would be putting unrelenting pressure on her father, pressing him to brand Hanabi with the cursed seal as soon as possible.
Undoubtedly, Hinata's eagerness to rise to Chūnin was tied to outpacing those elders and helping Hanabi avoid the brand.
At that thought, Izayoi's eyes flickered coldly. If that were truly the reason, once the Exams ended, perhaps he should pay a formal visit to the Hyūga clan.
Yet Hinata's real motive was simpler still—to gain legitimate standing to be with him.
…
"Izayoi, you guys planning to enter the Chūnin Exams?"
"Of course. Don't tell me you're scared, Sasuke?"
"Hmph, as if. I'm going to make Chūnin for sure."
"Not if you run into me in the Exam, you won't," Izayoi retorted cheekily.
"Tch…"
Nighttime, in the courtyard of the Uchiha clan patriarch's estate.
After finishing their training on the water's surface, Izayoi and Sasuke had settled down by the yard, grilling fish and chatting.
Cinders sparkled before them, casting bright reflections across Sasuke's face as he flipped the fish. Suddenly, Sasuke asked, "Izayoi—did your team do those classic introductions? Y'know, naming your dreams?"
"We did. Why?"
"What is your dream, then?" Sasuke's gaze moved across the campfire to Izayoi, who was eating while flipping more fish.
Izayoi spat out a fish bone, smiling. "I said I wanted to become a 'fine shinobi.'"
"I'm asking your real dream."
"I'm worried you won't believe me—and you might mock me," Izayoi teased.
"I won't," Sasuke replied, utterly serious.
"Mmm…" Izayoi stared into the flames for a moment, then a grin split his lips. "Call it a dream, call it a goal… I want to free both Hinata and me from the limits of our lifespans, so we can be together forever."
At that, Sasuke's pupils narrowed. Such a farfetched notion was a 'goal' rather than some idle fantasy? Did he actually think it was possible?
Before Sasuke could press further, Izayoi asked, "So what about you? What's your dream, or your goal?"
"Same difference. I have a goal," Sasuke said, eyes darkening with hatred, "I'm going to kill that man—to avenge my parents, my clan."
"You'll sacrifice everything for it?" Izayoi asked.
"Anything at all, even my life. I'd sell my soul to a devil if that's what it takes," Sasuke said in a deadly serious tone.
Izayoi studied Sasuke's resolute face for a few seconds, then smiled. "Don't worry—you'll succeed. And you won't have to sell your soul to any devils."
After all, you're my most reliable source of points.
~~~
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