The Chunin Exams had finally come. Sukuna for once couldn't believe he was in this world for over half a decade now. It was a surreal feeling.
He adjusted the strap of his pack as he walked through the wide streets leading toward the exam building, Karin bouncing beside him while Kiyomi followed at a measured pace, a book already open in her hands despite walking, mimicking a certain jonin sensei from their neighbour team.
"Woh... look at that," Karin said, craning her neck as more and more genin flooded the streets. "There are a lot of them."
"More than I expected," Kiyomi replied without looking up. "Statistically, most of them will fail."
"Statistically, all of them will fail. The numbers might look impressive but remember only a few will become Chunin, or perhaps no one will. It all depends on one's strength."
Karin blinked. "You didn't have to say it like that."
Sukuna snorted. "I only said the truth..."
They stopped briefly, taking it all in. Headbands of every color, strange clothes, unfamiliar faces—genin from all over the continent. Even Sukuna had to admit it was… impressive. Annoying, loud, and chaotic—but impressive.
There were headbands which he couldn't even recall seeing from the anime. He only remembered the most important ones. Like Suna and Mist...
Another chance he didn't see coming. Mist was taking part in this Chunin Exam. Surely an effect of his butterfly effect.
'Let's be honest, besides some factual knowledge, most of the canon at this point could be overwritten for all I know.' Sukuna sighed. Part disappointed that he couldn't take advantage of knowing the plot anymore, and part excited at knowing he might see something new. Not the same old same old...
Then a voice cut through the noise.
"HEY! SUKUNA!"
Naruto came barreling toward them, waving both arms wildly. Sakura followed, already rubbing her temples, while Sasuke walked calmly behind them, eyes scanning everything with quiet intensity.
"Team 7," Karin said, grinning. "You guys look… the same."
Naruto pointed dramatically. "That's because we're already awesome!"
"So awesome that the Hokage had to prevent you from hoarding all the missions." Karin snickered, earning a disgruntled snort from Naruto.
Sakura sighed. "Naruto, please don't embarrass us before the exam even starts."
Sasuke nodded once toward Sukuna. "You're entering too."
"Obviously," Sukuna replied. "Can't let you guys hoard all the fun, now can I!"
Kiyomi closed her book long enough to nod politely. "I'm not here for fun. I'm here to win."
In reply, they only earned a 'Hm...' from the other Uchiha sibling, like he was agreeing with his sister.
Naruto leaned closer to Karin. "Hey, hey, hey—so many weird people! Did you see that guy with the face paint? Or that tall one with the bandages?"
"I saw the one with your mouth still running," Karin shot back. "Stop attracting attention you idiot." She chided.
They ended up walking together toward the exam center, the conversation overlapping and messy. Naruto loudly declared he'd become Hokage one day. Sakura oscillated between excitement and panic. Sasuke said little, but his eyes never stopped moving, observing everything. Kiyomi walked like Sasuke's intellectual mirror—quiet, observant, detached. Though most of her attention was on her book. At this point we might have a female Kakashi on our hands.
At least that wasn't Ninja P*rn...
Karin… well, Karin alternated between chatting with Naruto and poking Sukuna for reactions. Her possessiveness had increased recently. Sukuna didn't mind. He liked the girl. He just didn't wish to make any moves until they were at least a bit older.
When they finally entered the exam building, the atmosphere shifted.
The room was packed.
"So many…" Sakura whispered, awed.
Teams from other villages filled the space, some loud, some silent, some openly hostile. Before Naruto could shout anything regrettable like what he did in the canon, familiar faces appeared.
"Kiba!" Naruto yelled.
'Of course he recognized only other knuckleheads like him first...' Sukuna rolled his eyes.
Team 8 approached—Kiba with his usual grin, Akamaru perched on his head, Shino silent behind his glasses, and Hinata fidgeting as always.
"N-Naruto…kun," Hinata murmured, face flushing.
To her defence, Hinata was much better at expressing herself compared to the original canon, she just flustered when Naruto was present.
"Yo," Sukuna said casually.
Shino inclined his head. Kiyomi returned the gesture alongside Sukuna, the two sharing a brief, mutual recognition for all the boy had done for them.
For the past half a month or so, Kiyomi had been learning about insects from Shino.
Why? some may ask.
Because Sukuna arranged it that way. Yorozu, who also had the Construction Technique, was able to achieve special grade status by finding a way to use her technique more efficiently. She found her answer in insects.
Sukuna himself wasn't sure what exactly it was, but he knew she created a type of liquid metal by studying insects and made the efficiency of her technique better.
Sukuna couldn't actually teach Kiyomi about her technique, but this was the direction he could push her in. The rest was completely dependent on her.
Kiba crossed his arms. "Hmph. More competition."
"Don't worry, you're not in that competition list yet."
"Hey... who said that..."
*Sneaky snickering noises.
"Hinata how are you!" Both Karin and Kiyomi called out together and then looked at each other, blinking.
Strangely enough, both had a good relationship with the Hyuga girl and equally bad reputations in each other's eyes.
Though, who didn't like cute little Hinata. No one in the entire Konoha would dislike her.
Then started the bickering. Which of course, Sukuna tuned out, he had learned how to do it so far.
They didn't stop long before Team 10 wandered in—Shikamaru yawning, Choji munching, Ino already running...
'Running?'
"Ino—" Sakura started.
Too late.
Ino latched onto Sasuke's arm instantly. "Sasuke-kun! I didn't know you'd be here already!"
Sakura exploded. "INO YOU PIG, GET OFF HIM!"
Karin blinked and then sighed, then leaned toward Sukuna. "I almost forgot how normal this was back in the academy."
"Unfortunately." Sukuna shrugged.
Kiyomi narrowed her eyes slightly. Strangely bothered by those girls all over her brother. "Annoying..." She grumbled.
"Jealous much..." Sukuna teased.
"None of your business..." Kiyomi sent a cold glare at him.
"Troublesome," Shikamaru muttered, glancing at Sukuna. "This exam's going to be annoying."
"Anything which is not napping is annoying for you, Shika," Sukuna replied.
He didn't even have the decency to grunt. He just found replying too troublesome.
At least Choji nodded approvingly while chewing.
Team 9 also seemed to have been attracted toward them in between all this.
"GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE!" Lee announced loudly, striking a pose. "It is wonderful to see you all again!"
Karin groaned. "Why are you yelling?"
Lee ignored her, rushing up to Sukuna and Sasuke. "It has been far too long since our youthful sparring sessions!"
"Please don't remind me," Sasuke muttered.
Lee then turned to Naruto. "Naruto! Let us compete fairly!"
Naruto grinned. "You're on!"
Everything seemed normal—until Tenten stepped forward.
She stopped directly in front of Sukuna. Hands on her hips, and with a betrayed expression on her face, she leaned closer to him and glared.
"You," she said sharply.
Sukuna's face stiffened.
"You've been ignoring me."
The audience seemed to quieten there.
Karin's smile vanished. Sakura froze. Even Kiyomi slowly turned her head.
"I have not," Sukuna replied.
Tenten crossed her arms, pouting. "Oh really, when was the last time we met, remind me?"
Sukuna blinked, mind rewinding exactly when, but the search showed a 404 error.
"4 months ago... that was when we last met." She almost shouted.
"You no longer train with me anymore. No longer come to the shop. WHY?" She demanded.
'What do you mean why?' Sukuna cursed under his breath. Could he say that he was just way too busy to come playing ninja with her.
Not that she was playing, she was indeed training. It's just that for him, that was children's games. And he long learned that he got zero talent in Kenjutsu. So there wasn't much point.
Sakura's eye twitched. Karin leaned closer. "Training…?"
Kiyomi too stared.
Sukuna sighed. "Ahem... We used to train back then. With weapons. That's it."
Tenten huffed. "That's all huh... what about the weapon you promised me."
'Weapon???' Sukuna blinked and then suddenly recalled.
"You forgot, didn't you?!"
Sukuna rubbed his temples. "I didn't, I was just waiting for the right time." He grumbled.
He recalled asking Tenten to make something for him and in return finally decided to give those legendary Mist swords he had to her. They were no use to him since his Kenjutsu was terrible, better she used them than them rotting away, collecting dust.
"And you'll get it, just let me collect my order first."
"That's not an excuse. I had completed that order months ago, you didn't come..." the girl chimed with clear irritation on her face.
"Ah! sorry sorry... but don't worry, I'll make sure to come by after the exam, promise." Sukuna sighed, it was indeed his fault.
Tenten at this just snorted, cutely huffing and taking out a scroll from her storage. "No need, I've been carrying them on me all the time. They are pretty nice to have honestly. If not for the order I might even give them to Lee or use them myself. You're lucky I'm a business woman with integrity." She huffed again and tossed the scroll at him.
"Ah... thank you. Sorry again. Don't worry, I'll give you the payment soon." He replied. He had the swords on him of course, but it would be better not to take them out when Mist shinobi were present in this exam as well. It would put her in unnecessary danger.
Karin narrowed her eyes. "Wait..wait… how come you never told us about... 'Her.' Are you guys close?"
"Not close," Sukuna said flatly.
"Who's she...?" Tenten asked, blinking.
"Uh-huh."
That was when a voice broke their chat. It was a white-haired boy with glasses.
And almost immediately upon seeing him, Sukuna was alert.
xXx
A/N : Writing so many characters going to be hard, its always hard nailing all of their personalities right when MC himself have changed much about them.
Sigh...
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