Early the next morning, Fenghuo rose with the sun and made his way to the Ninja Academy after a quick breakfast.
It was technically a holiday, so the school grounds were nearly empty—save for about twenty youths milling around in the courtyard. All of them wore Konoha forehead protectors and bore the confident, restless air of genin gathered to take the Chūnin Exams.
As Fenghuo quietly observed them, he could feel their eyes sizing him up as well.
"Who's that kid? Could he be Hatake Kakashi?"
"No way. Kakashi's got white hair. This one's not him."
"Still, look at these brats—trying to take the Chūnin Exams at that age. Makes us look bad!"
Most of the genin looked to be in their early to mid-teens, though a few were clearly older—grown men with scruffy faces and the weariness of those who had spent too long stuck at the bottom rung of the shinobi ladder. Seeing someone as young as Fenghuo naturally stirred up a bit of envy and scorn.
"You must be Uchiha Fenghuo," came a voice from nearby.
A young man approached with a friendly expression. He wore dark shinobi attire, and a red-and-white Uchiha crest was emblazoned on the back of his shirt.
"I'm Uchiha Tenizumi," he said, activating his Sharingan with a theatrical flourish—two tomoe spinning lazily in each eye.
Fenghuo instinctively tensed. He looked to be about seventeen or eighteen—handsome, with sharp features and an aura that screamed "popular with the ladies." Fenghuo's first instinct was suspicion: Was he sent by Danzō?
"Hello. Do you know me?" Fenghuo asked carefully.
"Of course," Tenizumi replied, smiling with a touch of smugness. "My father is Uchiha Sanno, captain of the Konoha Military Police Force. He mentioned you."
"I see." Fenghuo's face remained neutral. Whether it was true or not, he wouldn't trust a stranger's words so easily. Especially with Danzō lurking in the shadows—anything could be a setup.
A stir passed through the courtyard.
"Hey, is that Kakashi?"
"White hair—yep, that's him!"
"Tch, another cocky kid…"
Fenghuo turned to look.
A pale boy just a little shorter than him walked through the school gates. His spiky silver hair curled naturally. A black face mask covered his mouth, and his visible eye had the listless, unbothered look of someone already too jaded for his age.
That dead-fish gaze at his age?
Fenghuo raised a brow in disbelief.
Kakashi Hatake—prodigy, son of the White Fang. He had long since grown used to scrutiny, and it showed. The disapproving looks from older genin didn't faze him in the slightest. He walked forward calmly, though his steps briefly paused when he saw Fenghuo.
"I'm not accepting your challenge," Kakashi muttered as he passed by without breaking stride.
"…" Fenghuo's eye twitched. Who gave you that absurd confidence?!
He hadn't intended to start anything with Kakashi… but now he was tempted. His fists were practically demanding to teach that arrogant brat a lesson.
"Everyone's here," drawled a voice from the front of the building.
A jōnin had appeared without warning, hands in his pockets and posture relaxed. "Proceed to classroom A-101 for the first stage."
Whoosh!
The assembled genin scattered instantly, racing toward the building. Kakashi didn't even bother with footsteps—he vanished in a blur, using the Body Flicker Technique.
Fenghuo followed at a steady pace, eyes narrowed. Kakashi was one thing, but Danzo's reach concerned him more. He scanned the others ahead of him, wondering which of them might be one of Danzō's tools.
The first exam followed a familiar format: a written test meant to evaluate mental resilience as much as knowledge.
The questions weren't especially difficult—provided you paid close attention. The real test lay in the atmosphere: four chūnin stationed at the corners of the room radiated pure killing intent, draping the classroom in invisible pressure like a suffocating fog.
Many genin trembled. Some broke into cold sweat, their pens shaking.
But not Fenghuo. His will had been forged through the brutal training of Maito Dai and hardened by the lives he'd taken on missions. Compared to that, this pressure was nothing. He answered each question with calm precision, then leaned back, eyes closed in quiet meditation.
When time was called, chaos erupted.
Two genin collapsed in their chairs, overwhelmed by the oppressive atmosphere. One even wet himself in panic.
The rest passed—regardless of whether their answers were right.
"The second stage will be held in the Forest of Death," the same jōnin announced. "Keep in mind: death is a real possibility."
As he spoke, he stepped aside. Another figure had appeared silently behind him.
A tall man with pale skin and long, jet-black hair stood watching them. His slitted golden eyes gleamed with an inhuman gleam, and his smile was both amused and sinister.
Gasps spread like wildfire.
"Orochimaru-sama?!"
"One of the Sannin… he's the proctor?!"
"We're being tested by him?!"
Fenghuo's blood ran cold.
Orochimaru?! What kind of cursed luck is this?!
His thoughts raced. Has he already begun working with Danzō at this point? If so… I'm in serious trouble.
Orochimaru's gaze swept over the crowd. He paused briefly on Kakashi, then his golden eyes locked onto Fenghuo—and stayed there. Unblinking.
Fenghuo's shoulders stiffened. Yep. I'm not okay.
Outside the Forest of Death, Orochimaru explained the rules.
"I want exactly half of you eliminated," he said, tone cheerful. "Only ten of you will pass."
He paused, lips curling into a snake-like grin.
"You must make it to the central tower within five days. Use any means necessary."
Uchiha Tenizumi raised a hand. "Are all tactics permitted, Orochimaru-sama?"
"Of course," Orochimaru said smoothly. "Kill, deceive, betray—it's all allowed."
Another genin muttered, "Then can't we just fight here and eliminate ten now?"
Orochimaru smirked again. "That would be too easy… so I've added a rule."
His voice dropped, fanged smile widening.
"Only teams or individuals entering the central tower as part of a plural count will pass. Those who arrive in a singular position—first, third, fifth, etc.—will be disqualified."
Everyone froze.
"Wait… what?"
"That means if you enter the tower as the first, third, or any odd-numbered arrival, you're eliminated?"
"But… how are we supposed to know what order we're in?"
"If we split up or arrive alone, it's over!"
"And if we kill everyone and go first, we still fail?!"
"Tch, this test is all luck!"
Confusion and irritation spread like wildfire. Many genin wore scowls.
Orochimaru gave a contented sigh. "Any questions?" he asked, before slowly licking his cheek in that deeply unsettling way of his. "No? Then… the second exam begins now."
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