After submitting their application forms to the Third Hokage, Julian Drake and his teammates gathered together to discuss the upcoming Chūnin Exams.
"The Chūnin Exams are divided into three stages," said Shibi, the quiet boy in dark glasses, his tone calm but firm. "The first stage is intelligence gathering. Don't worry about this part. My insects will collect the information for us and pass it on to each of you. I'll make sure we all clear the round."
"Thanks, Shibi!" Minato Namikaze said with a grin. Though Minato himself was a sensor-type ninja, his skills in intelligence gathering were nothing compared to the Aburame clan's unique insect techniques.
Shibi nodded, his face unreadable, though those who knew him well could sense that he was quietly pleased.
Meanwhile, Choza Akimichi continued to munch on his potato chips, showing little interest in the strategy discussion.
"The second round," Minato continued, taking up the explanation, "is about our ability to protect and deliver information. From what I've heard, we'll need to collect two different scrolls and deliver them to a designated location."
"And the third round?" Choza finally chimed in between bites, his voice full of excitement. "That one's just raw strength and skill! Heh, even if we face each other in the arena, don't expect me to hold back."
Julian Drake gave a thoughtful nod. He remembered the structure of the Chūnin Exams from what he knew of the future, and hearing his teammates' breakdown reassured him that little had changed. At least he wouldn't need to waste time relearning a set of bizarre rules.
Over the next few days, the four of them trained together instead of splitting into separate routines. It was the perfect chance to learn about each other's fighting styles and prepare for missions as a real team.
"I don't have anything too fancy," Julian admitted, holding up his palm. "But my offensive output is pretty strong, and I'm faster than average." With a concentrated effort, a swirling sphere of chakra formed in his hand. The Rasengan glowed faintly in the afternoon light.
Choza nearly choked on his snack. His eyes widened as he leaned in, staring in awe at the spinning ball of chakra.
"What in the world? You actually condensed chakra into a solid form, and it's rotating at insane speed! How is that even possible?"
Shibi remained silent, but beneath his black sunglasses, his body trembled slightly. Even he could not maintain his usual calm after witnessing such a feat.
Julian continued matter-of-factly. "Besides the Rasengan, I've been learning sealing techniques. I can handle some support and utility roles."
His teammates exchanged stunned glances. A deadly, close-range technique that could crush an opponent in one blow, and now sealing jutsu as well? And he still had the audacity to call himself a support ninja?
What kind of monster was this?
Minato chuckled before speaking up. "As for me, you can think of me as a lighter version of Julian. I know sealing techniques, have decent sensory skills, and…" He extended his palm, gathering chakra into another spinning orb identical to Julian's. "…I've also mastered the Rasengan."
This time, Shibi and Choza were truly shaken. Two supposed 'ordinary' civilian-born ninja, both wielding a technique powerful enough to be considered near-legendary? Facing either of them in combat would be terrifying enough facing both at once bordered on impossible.
Both boys shuddered at the thought. "If we run into either of these guys in the finals," Choza muttered under his breath, "the smart thing would be to forfeit right away."
Minato noticed the unease in his teammates' faces but didn't dwell on it. His mind was occupied with the larger picture. Once they became Chūnin, they would be dispatched to the front lines. Could he survive the chaos of war?
He clenched his fists. No he had to survive. He still had a dream to chase. He would become Hokage.
Julian, in contrast, carried himself with a more relaxed air. He had no desire to become Hokage, no ambition to earn fame or glory. His only goal was to strengthen himself and live a relatively ordinary ninja life. Why would he give that up?
Besides, being a ninja had its perks. No farming or manual labor missions meant money, and the stronger he grew, the less dangerous those missions would be. Easy income for minimal risk. The thought alone made him grin.
The next day, the Chūnin Exams officially began.
Because the world was still at war, the exams lacked the pomp and fanfare of future generations. When Julian and his teammates arrived at the testing site, they saw several genin already trapped in an illusion on the second floor, unable to even reach the first exam room.
Julian smirked. "As expected. Without Naruto and the other 'main characters' around, even a simple genjutsu wipes out a huge chunk of candidates."
When the first exam started, the scroll of questions landed on his desk, and Julian nearly groaned aloud.
"These problems don't look familiar at all!"
Then he heard Shibi's steady voice in his ear. "Don't worry. My insects have already collected the correct answers from others. I'll dictate, you just write."
For Shibi, the test was laughably easy. The Aburame insects had already gathered intelligence from the few candidates who knew the answers, and distributing that information to his teammates was child's play.
Thanks to him, their squad breezed through the first round. But most weren't so lucky. By the end, only twenty-five candidates remained just eight squads in total.
The second exam took place in the Forest of Death. The rules were identical to the future: each team carried either a Heaven or Earth scroll, and to pass, they had to obtain the other scroll and deliver both to the central tower.
After receiving their scroll and signing the waiver that acknowledged the risk of death, the genin squads were escorted to various starting gates. Once the gates shut behind them, there was no turning back.
The Forest of Death loomed before them, dark and foreboding. Yet unlike most teams, Julian's squad didn't wander aimlessly. Before the exam had even begun, Shibi's insects had already scouted the forest, identifying which teams carried which scrolls.
"We've got the Heaven scroll," Shibi explained in his calm monotone. "The nearest Earth scroll is to the west. My insects will guide us. We'll save time and avoid unnecessary risks."
Julian grinned. "Honestly, Shibi, you're a lifesaver."
He remembered how Naruto's original team had stumbled blindly through the forest, relying on sheer luck and recklessness. They had made themselves easy prey. His own team, by contrast, had already mapped out their objectives before even entering the forest.
All they had to do was follow Shibi's lead.
"Agreed," Minato added. "With you on our side, this exam feels too easy."
Choza nodded silently as he popped another chip into his mouth, but his relaxed expression made it clear he felt the same.
Following the faint buzz of Shibi's insects, the squad moved westward, and soon three figures appeared in the distance.
The hunt for the scrolls had begun.
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