Kushina Uzumaki POV
I was finishing washing the breakfast dishes for me and Amaya when the little redhead put away the last things from the table.
She put everything away quickly and looked around one more time, as if checking she'd gotten everything. Then her eyes turned to me.
– Need help with anything else? – the redhead asked, and I shook my head.
– No. You can go get your things – I looked at her for a moment – It's almost time, right? – She nodded excitedly and quickly left the kitchen, heading to her room.
I couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. December had begun, and with it came the day of the Chunnin Exams. Amaya was anxious about the first tests.
I finished the last things in the kitchen and headed to the living room just as the little redhead entered, finishing arranging her gear. I followed her to the front door.
– Aren't you taking your wakizashi? – I asked and knelt in front of Amaya.
– I'll probably only need it for the third test – the little one said calmly – Since only the first and second tests are scheduled for today, I think it's better to leave it stored. But if I end up needing it sooner, I'll come back home – I gave a faint nod.
– Are you very anxious? Want me to go over any of the stuff we studied? – She gave a soft laugh and shook her head.
– I'm already prepared enough. It won't help to keep pushing me beyond my limits, right? – I smiled and ruffled her hair.
– Exactly, 'ttebane! – Amaya and I laughed.
Our relationship had improved a lot in the last few months. We were even closer, and the Uzumaki had finally let her guard down completely around me.
I knew it was hard for the little one to show others what she felt and what was on her mind, but now she trusted me enough to express everything. I felt really good about that, and I wanted Amaya to feel good too. I wanted her to know she was, and always would be, important in my eyes.
I placed my hands on the redhead's shoulders, making her look at me. Her dark green eyes were brimming with anxiety, but they also had that determined glint that never left her.
– Take a deep breath and let it out slowly – I instructed her calmly, and the little one did it – Don't push yourself too hard – I smiled tenderly at the girl – And just remember to do your best, no matter the situation, and...
– Always stay calm – she finished with a smile on her face – I won't let you down – I pulled her close to me, hugging her tightly.
– Nothing you could do would ever disappoint me – I said quietly and kissed the top of her head – Now go, and show everyone what an Uzumaki can do, dattebane! – The girl laughed and separated from me, going down the front steps.
I watched from the door as the small figure with red hair went on her way. Her walk was determined, she seemed more than ready, and I couldn't stop smiling as I watched her.
The Chunnin Exam always allowed genin of all ages to participate, but the jounin senseis mostly recommended their students from the age of 10 onwards. Normally, the students were better prepared at that age.
And what I knew worried the little redhead was the fact that she might not be truly ready for it. She didn't want to disappoint her teammates, her sensei, or even me and Minato.
I think..., I thought, but corrected myself immediately. No, I'm sure she and her team will do just fine. Amaya had changed a bit more in the last few months, besides letting me get closer to her.
Not long after Minato left the village on a mission, the Uzumaki had arrived late from one of her training sessions with Shikaku and told me she'd felt sick during it.
And my worry went through the roof when she explained it was from the excessive training she'd been doing, whether with her team, with her friend Rin, or alone, practicing the techniques me and Minato taught her.
But before I could scold her and give her a long lecture about how harmful that was for her, the little one told me about the conversation she'd had with Shikaku.
Even though that ponytailed grump bothered me with his excessive laziness and limited view of women, I had to admit he knew how to get through to Amaya with his logic.
He managed to make her understand and handle her situation in a way that was safe for her. And the results of the redhead's change came quickly.
She started to organize herself better, stopped her training the moment she noticed she was nearing exhaustion, and didn't push herself more than necessary.
Even though the Nara never admitted it at any point, I knew he did that because he worried about the girl. It was even funny to think the lazy guy who couldn't handle female students had grown so fond of my little one.
It was like Minato said once: Shikaku valued students who wanted the best for the village and its residents, and Amaya had shown him she sought that of her own will.
My little redhead won him over, I thought, just like she wins over everyone who lets themselves get close to her. I couldn't hold back a smile at that thought.
Amaya Uzumaki POV
I was heading to the Ninja Academy, where the first test was scheduled to take place. Based on that, we'd know how to proceed regarding the second one, assuming we passed.
I didn't go to Shisui's house because he promised the day before he'd be at the Academy before the test started. Since my brother was so excited for the exam, I believed he really would be there early. I just hope he doesn't forget his things from being too excited, I thought.
Kakashi also said he'd go straight to the Academy and wait at the entrance. We needed to register for the exam and hand in our permission forms.
As I expected, I was the first to arrive. A certain number of genin were already there, some visibly waiting for their teammates, others with their whole team already present. And as I imagined, everyone seemed older than Shisui, I quickly assessed.
Our team is probably the youngest taking this exam, I pondered, and my eyes quickly scanned the genin. And there are so many...
– Already overthinking this early? – Kakashi's voice brought me back to reality and I laughed as I turned to him.
– Have you ever seen me not overthinking? – I looked at him and the boy gave a weak laugh.
– Your friend not here yet? – The Hatake asked and briefly looked around, as if searching for who he mentioned.
– "My friend" – I imitated his words – And our teammate, Shisui, hasn't arrived yet.
– Hope he's not late – The platinum blonde crossed his arms and I noticed he seemed, in a way, uncomfortable.
– Worried about something? – I asked.
– Why would I be? – He spoke without looking at me, paying attention to the other genin nearby.
– I know you relatively well by now – I said and continued in a slightly lower tone – I know when you're nervous – The boy stopped his eyes from analyzing our surroundings and turned to me.
– I have no reason to be nervous – He said it more to convince himself than me.
– Of course you don't, just like I don't have to mediate the teamwork between you and Shisui – I commented casually and leaned back against the wall outside the Academy.
– Has anyone ever told you your observations about others make you strange? – I gave a weak laugh.
– Yes, I've heard, mainly from someone who's losing our competition – I teased him a little and Kakashi tried to disguise his laugh.
He seems more relaxed... It was hard to tell he was nervous, but I knew him well enough to notice. His nervousness was for the same reason as mine: Our age difference compared to the other genin we'd be competing against.
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Shisui arrived shortly after, oozing excitement. Only then did we head to the entrance of the Academy building to go to the registration room, but we noticed a large number of genin standing outside, not entering the building.
I stopped with Shisui and Kakashi to try and understand what was happening. Many of the kids were talking loudly and complaining. I noticed the door leading into the exam building was closed. It shouldn't be like this..., I thought.
– Open up! – One of the genin trying to get into the building shouted at the door.
– Look at these faces... – We heard an arrogant voice coming from the floor above.
I followed everyone's gaze to the source and saw three boys leaning against the ledge of one of the windows, with expressions of superiority.
– You damn guys! What's your problem?! – A genin outside asked the boys at the window irritably.
– The Chunnin Exam isn't made for losers like you – Another member of the team upstairs spoke and laughed – Good luck, kids! – And the three kept laughing.
The genin in the courtyard with us shouted and cursed at the boys watching from above.
– They locked the door on purpose – Kakashi pointed out and I followed his gaze – They know that's the only entrance to the building.
– Then we'll have to open that door, even if by force – Shisui said and prepared to roll up his sleeve, clearly liking the idea of forcing his way in.
– No – I stopped him immediately and noticed both their eyes on me – We don't need to do that – I started moving away from the building and Kakashi and Shisui hurried to follow me, even without understanding.
– What do you mean? – My brother asked with visible confusion in his voice.
– Their intention is to make us waste time on that – I explained calmly – To open that door, someone would have to use a taijutsu or even a ninjutsu technique.
– And that would serve to let everyone find out a little about the techniques each one specializes in – Kakashi deduced, and I agreed.
– Right... But how are we going to get into the Academy then? – Shisui continued his questions.
At that moment, I stopped walking, seeing I already had a reasonable distance to put into practice what I had in mind. The two boys with me alternated their gaze between me and the building, their expressions changing instantly.
– No, you're not really thinking about... – Kakashi started to say but left his own sentence hanging as he realized what I was going to do.
– The best thing to do is try to go unnoticed so they don't know the level of our skills – I elaborated and looked at them – This will get us inside without having to resort to our techniques. Ready?
Shisui smiled excitedly and Kakashi just sighed heavily. Even so, they both got ready beside me, and I counted to three before we started running towards the Academy building again.
Some genin from the group stuck outside noticed we were advancing towards them and moved out of the way with confused expressions.
I concentrated chakra in my feet and jumped before my teammates to climb the outside of the building. If we can't go in through the front door, we'll go through the window.
The three boys, who had been mocking the other genin outside the Academy building, only had time to move away from the window ledge before I entered, followed by Shisui and Kakashi.
I noticed there were other genin on that floor, besides the three who locked the others out. Everyone had their attention on my team at that moment.
I looked at the Hatake and the Uchiha behind me, and they nodded briefly. Okay..., I thought. Now we can go do our registration. As we started heading towards the room, someone shouted in our direction.
– What the hell was that?! – One of the boys who locked the building door asked.
– Should we ignore them? – I asked the two walking with me.
– Absolutely – They answered in unison and glared at each other for it.
I couldn't help but give a weak laugh. These two always act like this..., I thought. Even though we chose to ignore those boys, it seemed they wouldn't do the same with us. I felt them approaching, but we kept walking.
– Hey, what do you think you're doing?! – One of the boys inquired in his irritable tone, but we didn't say anything – Are you deaf or something?!
– No – I said in the calmest way possible, without looking at them – We're just going to do the same thing you should have already done: Register for the Chunnin Exam.
– Who are you to talk like that?! – Another of the boys asked.
– You should learn to ask someone's name like a normal person – I suggested and glanced at the boys following us.
– You...!
One of them lunged in my direction, since Shisui and Kakashi were walking a little ahead of me. I saw him approaching quickly, intending to punch me from behind.
I wanted to stay unnoticed, but it seems that's not happening..., I pondered. I pivoted on my heels and raised my right arm, catching the boy's fist in front of my face.
His expression turned surprised, possibly because he thought I hadn't noticed his attack coming, nor that I could stop it so easily.
I saw from the corner of my eye his two friends coming towards me to try and hit me, but their strikes were blocked by Shisui and Kakashi, who had stopped near me once again.
The other genin had already gathered around us. Some were whispering, others were encouraging the fight I just wanted to get out of there. Being the center of everyone's attention wasn't something I liked very much.
– The red-haired girl... She's the one they brought to the village a while back, right? – Someone commented from the crowd around us.
– Dude, he's from the Uchiha clan! – Another genin pointed, likely indicating Shisui, since his shirt had the clan symbol on the back.
– And the other one with the mask, he's the White Fang's son! – Someone else shouted.
Hearing this, the three boys who attacked us looked at each other with blank expressions. I released the fist of the boy in front of me, and Kakashi and Shisui did the same with the other two they had blocked.
We moved away from the crowd that had formed, but we could still hear them talking about us: "A member of the legendary Uzumaki clan," "the best genin among the Uchihas," "the prodigy student who graduated from the Academy at 5 years old," among so many other titles.
And when we reached the room to wait for the exam registration, the attention was directed at our team again.
– Looks like we're really the center of attention! – My brother commented, still excited, unlike me, who wasn't very comfortable with all those eyes on us.
– Even if we wanted to, we wouldn't stay out of everyone's notice for long – Kakashi spoke and looked at me – We are the only rookie team here, after all.
I sighed heavily. It's going to be a long exam..., was all I could think.