As soon as I left the classroom, the examiner gave me a quiet nod and pointed toward the adjacent corridor.
— Those who passed — that way, — he said briefly.
I walked down the narrow hallway and found myself in another room. It was almost empty, though about five people were already sitting there — some silent and waiting, others quietly chatting.
I took a seat by the window, giving a quick glance at the others. Near the wall sat a team from the Nara Clan — lazy eyes but tense postures. In the far corner — Kakashi. He sat leaning back in his chair, arms crossed, face hidden behind his mask. He wasn't even looking at anyone — his gaze fixed somewhere on the floor. Clearly not in the mood to talk.
— Yo, — one guy quietly threw in his direction. Kakashi didn't even move.
— As always, the life of the party, — someone snorted. I just smirked.
Gradually, the classroom filled up. At first, everything was calm — just whispers and heavy anticipation. But when about thirty people had gathered, a slight tension arose.
Familiar faces appeared.
— Hey! What took you so long? — I waved when Genma and Gai appeared in the doorway.
— I had to wait for him to get ready, — Genma said reluctantly, jerking his thumb behind him.
Gai immediately flashed his trademark wide smile:
— I just wanted to prepare myself mentally!
— Yeah, a fierce battle with the doorframe, — Genma chuckled.
I smiled and nodded toward the empty seats nearby.
— They said the results will be announced in half an hour, — I said, sitting down.
— Great, — Genma stretched and yawned. — At least a few minutes to relax.
We settled in, but the peace didn't last long. There were still no proctors in the room — the chunin hadn't returned yet, and the older genin decided to "get active," as they called it — in reality, trying to intimidate and unnerve potential competitors.
One stood up — tall, with his headband tilted to the side and a scar across his cheek. He slapped his palm loudly on the desk and walked slowly between the rows.
— Well, since we have to wait, let's kill some time, — he said with a crooked grin. — Let's start… with you.
And he stopped right in front of Kakashi.
I lifted my head slightly, watching. Kakashi sat as before — as if he hadn't heard a thing. Head slightly bowed, mask covering half his face.
No reaction.
— I didn't like you from the start, — the older genin hissed, leaning closer. — You think just because you're the White Fang's son, you're the smartest here? The most special?
A couple of his buddies chuckled quietly. One nudged the other with his elbow:
— Yeah, or maybe he's just hiding behind that mask so no one sees how scared he is.
I glanced at Gai and Genma. Gai was already rising, ready to step in, but I stopped him with a gesture.
— Wait, — I whispered. — Let's see.
Meanwhile, the guy with the scar placed his hand on the desk in front of Kakashi and leaned in even closer:
— Hey, I'm talking to you. Are you deaf or just too proud? Maybe I should take that mask off for you?
He suddenly reached out toward Kakashi's face.
And it all happened in an instant.
The chair screeched across the floor, Kakashi moved — barely noticeably. His hand caught the attacker's wrist, his other hand gripped his shoulder, and within a second the scarred guy was on the floor — face down, arm twisted painfully behind his back.
— A-ah! — the guy yelped as his joint neared the limit of pain.
The room froze. No one even had time to blink.
Kakashi crouched calmly beside the fallen genin, expression unchanged, though his eye glinted coldly.
— I heard you, — he said quietly. — It just wasn't interesting to listen.
Some gasped, others snickered, but most fell silent. The mood in the room shifted sharply.
The scarred guy's friends hesitated for a moment. One stood up uncertainly:
— Hey… let him go.
— Or what? — Kakashi asked calmly without even lifting his head.
Silence. Even Obito, sitting farther back, stared wide-eyed — first at Kakashi, then at the pinned genin.
Kakashi held the pause just long enough to show he wasn't playing around. Then he released the guy and stood up.
The scarred genin rose angrily but carefully, rubbing his arm. He clearly wanted to say something but just spat angrily to the side and stepped back toward his group.
— You're dead once we're out of here, — he hissed, though without his former confidence.
Kakashi returned to his seat as if nothing had happened. He even set his chair back quietly, without a sound — as if that brief fight and the muffled cries had never occurred.
— Just what I'd expect from my rival, — Gai said respectfully, placing his hands on the desk and watching Kakashi closely.
I turned to him in surprise.
— Since when is he your rival?
Gai grinned proudly, as if he'd been waiting for the question:
— Since before the academy! I knew — he's the one I have to catch up to… and surpass!
I snorted quietly, but not unkindly.
— You'll surpass him soon enough, — I muttered, watching Kakashi lazily open a book as if he hadn't heard a thing.
While we talked, the door creaked open again, and a man in uniform entered — one of the chunin proctors. The room instantly fell silent.
— The results are ready, — he said, scanning us. — They're posted at the entrance. Those who passed, proceed immediately—but not yet; you can check the list first. After that — head to Training Ground Forty-Three.
The benches buzzed like a hive. Some jumped up, others sighed heavily, and some grew even quieter.
— Shall we? — Genma nudged me.
— Let's go, — I nodded, standing up.
In the hallway by the board, a crowd had already gathered. Some strained their eyes to find their names, others paced nervously. I pushed forward and started looking for "Hagane." There it was — about halfway down the list.
— Got it… — I exhaled and smiled faintly.
From the left came Gai's triumphant shout:
— I passed too! Ha! The Green Youth shines bright!
— Yeah… — Kakashi said from just behind us, calmly scanning the list. He didn't even raise an eyebrow when he found his name.
Obito nearly bumped into us as he ran to the board.
— Please, please… — he muttered, eyes glued to the paper. — Yes! I made it! I knew it!
— Rin? — I asked.
— Here, — she smiled shyly. — We all passed.
— Then let's gather and head to the training ground, — I said. — Before everyone tramples each other.
We moved toward the exit. Behind us, the noise rose again — some hadn't found their names, others started arguing, asking for rechecks. But that no longer concerned us.
The sunlight was blinding after the dark hallway. I took a deep breath and looked toward the road leading to Training Ground Forty-Three. Beyond the forest, the next stage would begin.
— Well, — Genma smirked, folding his arms behind his head, — now it definitely won't be boring.
I nodded.
— Yeah. Now everything's picking up speed.