The morning sun lit up the room softly. Kakashi, lying between Kurenai and Anko, blinked lazily when a loud screech ca from the window. A calling eagle from the Hokage circled above before perching on the ledge. Kakashi sat up slightly and stared at it.
"Ugh… is that what I think it is?" Anko mumbled groggily, pulling the covers over her head.
"Yeah. Chunin Exams." Kakashi sighed,
"Already? I haven't even had breakfast." Kurenai sat up, rubbing her eyes.
" neither…" Anko muttered.
"We'll eat later," Kakashi said, nudging both of them gently. "Co on, let's go."
The two won got dressed quickly, tying their hair up and grabbing their gear. As they stepped out of the bedroom, Sakura was just placing plates on the table.
"Oh, good morning! I made breakfast for everyone." she started cheerfully.
"Sorry, Sakura!" Kurenai said, already heading for the door.
"Thanks, but gotta run!" Anko called out as well, grabbing a dumpling from the plate on her way out.
"At least pack so to go…" Sakura stood there, blinking, still holding a ladle.
….
At the Hokage's office, Kakashi, Kurenai, and Anko stood silently in a corner after bowing respectfully to Hiruzen. Most of the other Jonins were already present. So glanced curiously at Kakashi, whispering among themselves.
"Isn't that Anko with him too?"
"Yeah, we knew about Kurenai, but two?"
"What a guy…"
The whispers turned from judgnt to admiration when they saw how casually Kakashi stood between the two won, calm and confident as ever. Even Gai, standing across the room, gave him a sparkly thumbs up and a huge smile.
"KAKASHI! Your youth never ceases to impress !"
Kakashi sighed but offered him a lazy wave in return.
Hiruzen cleared his throat and got everyone's attention. "Thank you all for coming. As you know, the Chunin Exams are approaching. This ti, Anko Mitarashi will be the second examiner, and Ibiki Morino the first."
Anko stepped forward confidently and nodded. "I accept."
Ibiki gave a sharp nod. "Understood."
"Now," Hiruzen continued, "recomnd your teams."
Kakashi stepped forward first. "I recomnd Team 7. Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, and Sasuke Uchiha."
Kurenai stepped next. "Team 8. Kiba Inuzuka, Hinata Hyuga, and Shino Abura."
Gai didn't wait. "Team 9! Rock Lee, Neji Hyuga, and Tenten!"
Asuma gave a casual wave. "Team 10. Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji."
Before Hiruzen could speak, Iruka stepped forward with a stern look. "Wait a minute! So of these students have only just graduated! They're not ready!"
Kakashi looked at him coolly. "My students already handled a jonin with an Ice Release kekkei genkai. They didn't need my help."
The room went silent.
Even Asuma and Gai stared at Kakashi in surprise.
"You… what?" Iruka stuttered.
"It's in the mission report," Kakashi said simply.
Hiruzen gave a faint smile and nodded. "It's true. Team 7 has shown remarkable progress."
With that, he stamped the approval and handed out the forms for the students to sign.
Iruka stood there, speechless
…
As everyone filed out of the office, Gai caught up to Kakashi quickly.
"KAKASHI! Rember our bet! This Chunin Exam! Whichever team performs better wins!"
"I do rember it, Gai," Kakashi said, not breaking stride. "But be prepared to lose again."
"YOUTHFUL SPIRIT!" Gai declared proudly, posing dramatically before walking away.
Anko smirked. "How do you deal with that guy?"
"Selective hearing," Kakashi replied dryly.
Kurenai chuckled. "Works every ti."
The three left the building, heading back toward Kakashi's house where Team 7 waited.
Back at the training grounds, Team 7 was already waiting when Kakashi, Kurenai, and Anko arrived. Naruto was pacing in circles, clearly bored, while Sasuke leaned against a tree with his arms crossed, and Sakura sat with Ranmaru, quietly chatting.
Naruto perked up imdiately. "Oi! Kakashi-sensei! Where were you?! We waited forever!"
Kakashi casually raised a hand in greeting. "Important Hokage business."
Kurenai and Anko exchanged a knowing look and smirked behind him.
Sasuke looked up, sensing sothing serious from Kakashi's expression. "You're here to tell us sothing."
"You're right," Kakashi nodded, stepping closer. "You three are officially entered into the Chunin Exams."
Sakura gasped, eyes wide. "W-We're taking the Chunin Exams?! Already?!"
Naruto blinked, then grinned. "YEAH! I knew it! I'm totally gonna ace it! Believe it!"
Sasuke's eyes narrowed, thoughtful. "It's sooner than expected… but it makes sense. We're ready."
Kurenai stepped forward. "We recomnded you because you're not an average genin. All of you have proven your strength."
Anko grinned at Naruto. "Even you, loudmouth."
"Hey!" Naruto puffed his cheeks. "I'm the future Hokage, ya know!"
Ranmaru chuckled softly. "I think he'll do fine… if he doesn't trip on the way in."
Sakura gave a nervous smile. "But… this ans we'll be up against older, more experienced teams, right?"
Kakashi nodded. "Exactly. You'll face teams from not just Konoha but other villages. They'll be stronger, faster, and smarter."
Naruto cracked his knuckles. "Good! Let 'em co! I'll beat them all with my Rasengan!"
"Almost mastered Rasengan," Sasuke muttered under his breath. After all this Dobe couldn't do it without a shadow clone.
"WHAT WAS THAT, TE?!"
"Exactly what you heard, dobe."
Before the bickering could get worse, Kakashi raised a hand. "Enough. This is a serious challenge. But I wouldn't have recomnded you if I didn't think you were ready."
Sakura's face hardened. "I won't hold the team back. I've been training hard."
Kakashi gave her a smile. "And it's showing."
Naruto nodded. "We've co a long way, huh?"
Sasuke looked toward Kakashi. "You really think we can win?"
Kakashi stared at him for a long second, then spoke calmly. "You won't just win. You'll leave a mark that everyone will rember."
Even Sasuke looked surprised by the level of confidence in his teacher's voice.
Kurenai chuckled. "With the amount of training you've had, and your bond as a team? You'll be fine."
"Unless you get eaten in the Forest of Death. But no pressure." Anko said she leaned in and teased them.
Naruto paled. "Wait… EATEN?!"
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