The hallway before Room 301 buzzed with the suppressed tension of many footsteps that had passed there before. The old academy walls were still, as if even they were holding their breath in anticipation of what was to come.
Team 7—Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno—stood before the tall, imposing door that bore the number "301" in bold black letters.
Their steps echoed behind them, and the faint buzz of other candidates could be heard beyond the wood.
But it wasn't the door that stopped them in their tracks—it was the man waiting beside it.
"Kakashi-sensei…!" Sakura called out as she noticed their teacher leaning casually against the wall beside the door. His ever-lazy eye lifted to glance at them, the usual orange book nowhere in sight.
That alone was unusual.
"I see... You're all here," Kakashi said, his voice calm but holding something heavier than usual. "Sakura, you came too."
Sakura blinked, unsure what he meant by that. "Of course I did… Was there a chance I wouldn't?"
Kakashi didn't answer right away. He looked at the three of them, eye scanning their faces, pausing for just a beat longer on each of them—as if reading something deeper.
"Now, you can officially register for the Chūnin Exams."
Sakura tilted her head slightly, puzzled. "What do you mean by that? Didn't you already say we were free to decide for ourselves? Was it up to us whether we wanted to take the exam or not?"
Kakashi's eye narrowed ever so slightly. "Yes… I did say that."
"Then... I was lying," He interrupted flatly.
All three of them blinked.
Sakura's mouth hung open for a moment, then she frowned in disbelief. "You… lied to us?"
Naruto scratched the back of his head and asked. "Oi, sensei, what's that supposed to mean?! Why say it like that?!"
Kakashi sighed and turned his head, his lone visible eye drifting toward the window beside the door, gazing out as sunlight poured into the corridor, dancing against the dust in the air. His voice lowered, more serious than any of them were used to hearing.
"It's true. From the very beginning, only full three-man squads were eligible to even apply for the Chūnin Exams. If just one of you had decided not to come…" He paused and looked back at Sakura specifically. "Then it would've been over. The other two wouldn't have been allowed to take the exam."
"But… why didn't you just tell us that in the first place?" Sakura asked, her voice touched with uncertainty.
"Because, Sakura…" Kakashi began, his tone like a whisper carried by the wind. "If I told you everything, then you guys might've been swayed by pressure. Especially you."
Sakura's eyes widened. She didn't like where this was going.
"Sasuke and Naruto are strong-willed," Kakashi continued. "They would've pressured you to join. Even if you weren't sure, even if your heart wasn't ready… you'd have gone along with it. Not because you wanted to—but because you didn't want to hold them back."
Sakura opened her mouth, then closed it again. She was already aware of that... all the information had been shared with her by Naruto.
"You would've applied half-heartedly," Kakashi said bluntly. "For Sasuke's sake. For Naruto's sake. And that would've been the worst mistake."
Naruto was silent now, just observing everything with a smile.
Sasuke crossed his arms, looking thoughtful, though his eyes flicked toward Sakura, just briefly.
"And what if only Naruto and I had come?" Sasuke asked.
Kakashi didn't even hesitate. "I would've stopped you."
Sasuke's brow twitched. "You think we wouldn't have passed?"
"No," Kakashi said. "It wouldn't have mattered whether you passed or not. If Sakura didn't come of her own will, then your team is incomplete in more ways than just numbers. The Chūnin Exams aren't just about strength… they're about unity, leadership, and trust. You'd be risking more than your own life—others would depend on you."
He let those words settle for a long, thoughtful moment.
"But… all three of you came," Kakashi finally said, his tone softening. "Together. On your own."
He stepped aside from the door, one hand in his pocket, the other gesturing to the entrance.
"Haruno Sakura. Uchiha Sasuke. Uzumaki Naruto… I'm proud of you."
Naruto's eyes widened. That wasn't something Kakashi said lightly, if ever.
Sakura stood a little straighter, pride blooming in her chest.
Even Sasuke nodded slightly, as though recognizing something unspoken between teacher and student.
"Now then," Kakashi said, smiling behind his mask, "Go on. This is your next step."
Naruto grinned. "Heh! Alright, let's do this, guys!"
The three turned toward the heavy wooden door, the final threshold into the unknown.
As Naruto reached for the handle, he paused. His hand trembled just slightly—whether from excitement or nerves, even he didn't know. He pushed the door open.
A wave of pressure hit them the moment they stepped in.
The room was massive, filled wall to wall with unfamiliar faces—genin from across the Hidden Leaf and beyond. Some leaned against walls with arms crossed, others sat in silent corners, sharpening weapons or closing their eyes in focus.
There was noise, movement, and the electric tension of competition in the air.
Sakura stepped in after Naruto and froze.
"W-What's… what is this?" She whispered, her voice shrinking as her eyes darted from one intimidating face to another. "There are so many… and they all look strong."
Sasuke entered last, his gaze calm but sharp, scanning the room. His Sharingan hadn't activated, but his eyes betrayed a natural instinct to assess threat levels. Even without saying a word, his posture told Naruto and Sakura he was already preparing himself.
Sakura's heart pounded, whether from excitement or nervousness. Because these people… some of them looked older. Some looked more dangerous than any opponent she had ever imagined.
Naruto, however, didn't flinch. He stepped forward, a grin on his face as his eyes swept across the vast gathering. The feeling in his chest wasn't fear—it was exhilaration. His blood surged, his breath deepened.
"Heh," He chuckled. "Now this… this is more like it."
Naruto's grin widened. "This is where things get fun."
Sasuke smirked quietly at Naruto's reaction.
As the door closed behind them with a soft thud, the three members of Team 7 stood shoulder to shoulder in a sea of strangers.
This was it. There were no more practice matches or handholding.
The Chūnin Exams had officially begun.
And there was no turning back.
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
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