The next morning, the air was buzzing with excitent and nerves. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura stood outside the Ninja Academy building, staring up at the second floor.
"Wait… isn't the first test on the third floor?" Naruto scratched his head.
"Yeah, that's what the form said…" Sakura nodded, her eyes narrowing.
Two older genin were standing in front of the door labeled "301," arms crossed, blocking it.
"Hey," Naruto said, stepping forward. "This is the exam room, right?"
One of the older genin snorted. "Sorry, kid. This room's for those ready to be chunin. You three should back off."
"You're using a Genjutsu." Sasuke's eyes sharpened.
"Huh?" The two older genin frowned.
Sakura stepped up beside Sasuke, her eyes scanning the area. "I noticed it too. The layout of the building doesn't make sense. The stairs shouldn't lead here yet. This is still the second floor."
"Wait, really?!" Naruto blinked.
"Release!" She ignored him and made a quick hand sign.
The illusion faded instantly, revealing the door's real number: 201.
"WHOA! That was aweso, Sakura!" Naruto's jaw dropped.
"Kurenai-sensei taught how to spot basic genjutsu traps." Sakura smiled proudly
The two fake genin scoffed and vanished in a puff of smoke, clearly proctors sent to weed out weak or easily fooled teams.
"You didn't notice anything?" Sasuke glanced back at Naruto.
"I was gonna punch my way through the door," Naruto muttered. "Sa thing, right?"
Sakura groaned. "Please don't punch anything unless I say so."
They headed to the stairs and made their way to the real third floor. The hallway was already crowded with dozens of other genin teams, so from the Leaf, so unfamiliar foreign villages like the Sand, Mist, and Sound.
"Whoa, there are so many people!" Naruto gasped.
Sasuke kept his cool as usual, scanning every face. Sakura stuck close to him, suddenly nervous from all the intense stares.
Kakashi had warned them to expect this: intimidation, competition, and misdirection even before the exam started.
As they approached the door, a familiar figure waved lazily from across the hallway, Kakashi.
"Yo," he said, appearing suddenly beside them. "Glad you didn't fall for the fake door."
Sakura bead. "We figured it out thanks to your training, and Kurenai-sensei's."
"Good," Kakashi said, then leaned in to whisper, "The first test's all about the mind. Don't let them rattle you."
Naruto gulped. "Rattle us? That doesn't sound good…"
"We'll be fine." Sasuke's eyes narrowed.
Kakashi smiled behind his words. "Just rember… the real test isn't always the one on paper."
Before they could ask what that ant, he disappeared in a swirl of leaves.
"Why does he always do that?"Sakura sighed.
"He's Kakashi-sensei. It's his thing." Naruto shrugged.
The tension inside the hallway had barely settled when a green blur zipped in front of Team 7.
"YOSH!!"
"Gah! What the?!" Naruto jumped back.
Before them stood a boy with thick eyebrows, a green jumpsuit, and the biggest smile they'd ever seen. He stood proudly, fists on hips, with a bandage-wrapped hand raised like he was greeting the sun.
"I am Rock Lee! A splendid shinobi of Konoha!"
"Uh… okay?" Sakura blinked.
"You! With cool eyes and a cold attitude! Fight !" Lee said as he turned to face Sasuke directly.
"No." Sasuke gave him a flat stare.
"Why not?! Are you… afraid?" Lee leaned in dramatically.
"I don't fight people who clearly scream 'loser.'" Sasuke scoffed.
"Pfft, Sasuke, you savage!" Naruto burst out laughing.
"Be quiet, idiot!" Sakura said as she elbowed Naruto in the side.
Lee's eyes sparkled. "A true challenge! You may mock , but I, too, have a dream! I shall prove that hard work can surpass genius!"
He struck a pose. "Even if it is just for the heart of the one I love!"
He turned and winked at Sakura, sending a dramatic sparkle her way.
"Ugh! Not interested!" Sakura gagged.
"Rejected!" Naruto pointed and cackled again.
Lee's face fell for a second before bouncing right back. "It is fine! Love blooms in the midst of battle!"
He imdiately dropped into a fighting stance. "Co, Uchiha Sasuke! Face !"
"Fine. But don't cry when you hit the wall." Sasuke sighed.
Before they could clash, a sharp voice cut in.
"That's enough."
Everyone turned as a tall boy with pale eyes walked forward, arms crossed. Neji Hyuga, calm and serious, stood behind Lee.
Beside him was Tenten, who looked equal parts annoyed and concerned. "Lee! You can't fight here! We're right outside the exam room!"
"Don't waste your energy. You'll need it." Neji gave Sasuke a quiet nod.
Sasuke didn't reply, but his narrowed eyes showed he took the warning seriously.
Lee lowered his stance with a sheepish smile. "Ah… sorry, Neji. I got excited."
He bowed slightly to Team 7. "Another ti, Sasuke Uchiha! I shall await our fated duel!"
And with a dramatic swirl of leaves, Lee vanished down the hall.
"What the heck is that guy on?" Naruto stared after him.
"Whatever it is, I hope you never get it," Sakura muttered,
"Still. He was fast." Sasuke smirked just slightly.
The door to the exam room opened wider.
Sakura took a breath. "Let's go. Ti to prove we're not just kids anymore."
Team 7 stepped into the first stage of the Chunin Exams ready, nervous, but very excited.
The heavy doors creaked open as the genin filed into the examination room. The atmosphere was tense, with low murmurs and cautious glances exchanged among the participants.
Team 7 Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno entered, their eyes scanning the room filled with unfamiliar faces from various villages.
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