Super Ninja

Moving toward our goal wasn't particularly difficult, though the terrain presented its challenges. We maneuvered carefully, aware of the potential for traps. This caution enabled us to notice and avoid them effectively. Unfortunately, not everyone was as vigilant.

Some shinobi, in their haste, triggered these traps, resulting in severe injuries or death. We encountered one such individual. After providing first aid to stem the bleeding, we had no choice but to leave him behind and continue. The traps ranged from physical mechanisms to chakra-based snares. The latter were more difficult to detect, but I managed to locate them using my Sage abilities.

We rested only once, stopping for the night before resuming our journey. I took the watch while Shiko and Ayamane recovered, as they weren't yet ready to handle such responsibilities. I believe that once they regain their strength, we'll be able to work more cohesively. Meanwhile, I replenished my energy by drawing on natural chakra, ensuring I could keep watch without strain. Hatake Kakashi and Captain Kiochi continued shadowing us, their stealth so effective that even with specialized techniques, they were nearly impossible to detect.

The next morning, we pressed on despite worsening weather. Travel became more challenging, but with the destination in sight, we opted to push forward without pause.

Following a narrow stone path, we eventually spotted a sizable building ahead. Its architecture blended seamlessly into the rocky terrain, with sharp spires, jagged formations, and barely visible windows through which we were being observed. Even the small entrance was cleverly concealed among the stones.

"We've arrived," I told Shiko and Ayamane as we slipped inside. A few shinobi awaited us, including the examiners responsible for issuing the next set of instructions.

"You sure took your time," one of the examiners remarked, frowning. "As shinobi, you must complete tasks swiftly and confidently."

We chose not to respond. We had met the delivery timeframe, and there was no point in arguing with a jonin. It seemed he wanted to provoke us, perhaps testing our composure under pressure.

"Hmph," he grunted, shaking his head. "Follow me, genin."

He led us into a small room, where he took a seat behind a desk. With a piercing gaze, he studied us, resting his cheek on his hand. His demeanor suggested he was trying to intimidate us, but without chakra, such efforts were ineffective. I remained unfazed, and Shiko and Ayamane, still recovering from the Chalice of Illusions ordeal, seemed equally unaffected.

"Your tests, genin," he said at last.

We handed over our completed assignments, which he reviewed with a scrutinizing eye. After nodding at some answers, he folded the papers and set them aside. From his desk drawer, he retrieved three documents bearing official seals.

"Your next mission is to deliver these to the Hidden Village Administration, where you began your exam," he instructed. "Present them there, and you'll receive further instructions. Any questions?"

"Is there a time limit?" I asked.

"Yes," he replied, glancing at a clock on the wall. "You have three days to deliver these. Failure to meet the deadline means disqualification. Understood?"

"Understood," we replied in unison.

"Then get going."

Without further delay, we left the room. I had hoped for a brief respite, but it was clear there wouldn't be one. We had to press on immediately.

Outside, we were greeted by dense fog. The gray mist swirled around us, creating an impenetrable veil that obscured the landscape. Visibility was limited to the road beneath our feet and the occasional stones a few paces ahead. Beyond that, everything dissolved into the murky haze.

The humidity accompanying the fog was oppressive. Tiny droplets clung to our faces and clothing, merging into larger beads that trickled down. The air was so saturated with moisture it felt like wading through a thick, milky soup.

This stifling environment was far from ideal for travel. Moving through the fog was exhausting—it clogged the lungs, blurred vision, and left a sticky film on the skin. The urge to find shelter and wait it out was strong, but we couldn't afford to stop.

"What miserable weather," Shiko grumbled. "I've never experienced humidity like this."

"Me neither," Ayamane agreed. "Could it be some sort of trap for the careless?"

"Do you think so?" I asked.

"The mist doesn't feel like it's from a jutsu," she admitted. "But I'm just speculating."

"Fair enough," I said with a shrug. "At least it doesn't block my chakra senses. I haven't detected any enemies so far."

"Alright, let's keep moving," Shiko urged. "I'd rather not get caught in someone's reckless ambush."

"Agreed. We'll stay cautious," I replied.

With that, we began our descent. The mist showed no sign of clearing, forcing us to move carefully. A faster pace could lead us straight off a cliff—and while shinobi could handle such falls if prepared, the unknown was always risky.

We moved in silence, slower than usual. So far, nothing and no one had crossed our path, a welcome relief. Combat in these conditions was the last thing we wanted.

"We're avoiding the Chalice of Illusions, right?" I asked Shiko and Ayamane.

"Yes!" they replied in unison.

"You have a map of the safe route, don't you?" Ayamane asked.

"We can figure it out," I said, unfolding the map. "Take a look. We have two options. One route is longer but likely to cross paths with other genin. The second is shorter but risks running into chakra beasts."

"It's better to encounter other genin," Ayamane suggested. "At least we can fight or negotiate if needed."

"I agree," Shiko said. "Dealing with chakra beasts in our current condition is too dangerous."

"Alright, we'll take the longer route," I decided, folding the map.

We adjusted our course, veering away from the original path. After some time, the mist began to lift. A faint breeze stirred, pushing the fog eastward like a massive cloud exhaled by some unseen force.

Twenty minutes later, the mist had completely cleared, leaving a slightly cloudy sky in its wake. Patches of blue peeked through the clouds, and rays of sunlight began to filter through, warming the damp terrain. Gradually, the sky opened, revealing a breathtaking expanse of azure above. The sun, finally free of its shroud, bathed the landscape in golden light, casting dazzling reflections that reinvigorated our spirits.

"The mist is gone," Shiko observed as we paused. "It seems it wasn't a trap after all."

We continued onward, traveling until dusk began to settle. As night fell, we stepped off the path to set up camp. This time, we avoided lighting a fire, mindful of drawing unnecessary attention. Instead, we ate some of our remaining provisions, conserving energy for the journey ahead. We pitched our tent between two large rocks, their looming forms offering shelter from the elements should the weather turn.

"Alright, girls, I hope you'll agree to take the watch tonight," I asked, trying to mask my fatigue. "I need a few hours of rest."

"Oh, Suzuki," Shiko sighed dramatically. "We're still recovering from the Chalice. I really can't help you with that."

"I haven't recovered either," Ayamane chimed in. "My chakra still doesn't feel as free-flowing as it should."

"Yeah, mine too… mine too," Shiko quickly echoed, nodding for emphasis.

For a moment, I froze, irritation flickering to life inside me. Clenching my teeth, I forced a smile to hide any sign of my frustration. Deep down, I knew they weren't being entirely truthful. If they truly had chakra issues, they wouldn't have been able to navigate the mountains as efficiently as they had. When I gave them natural chakra earlier, I had also confirmed their reserves were in decent shape. They weren't struggling—they just didn't want to take responsibility.

This wasn't what I had expected—though maybe I should have. Still, it stung. If I brought this up to anyone, I'd probably be accused of disrupting team morale. But how could there be morale when they refused to give me even a few hours of rest?

I inhaled deeply and exhaled, keeping the smile plastered on my face. Fine. I'd take the watch again. But when this exam was over, I'd make an effort to distance myself from them. Even our time together at the hotel didn't change the fact that they didn't want to function as a team. Honestly, I felt a little used—and the sensation was far from pleasant.

"Alright," I said evenly. "Go ahead and rest. I'll take the watch."

For a moment, a part of me wanted to give them a "lesson in the dark," but I dismissed the thought. If we ended up in a team battle, they could still be useful. For now, my goal was to ensure we all passed the exam. After that, I'd be glad to part ways. I didn't need teammates like this.

The girls settled into their tents, and I took my position for the watch. To pass the time, I tossed a kunai into the air, catching it by the handle and occasionally practicing tricks to make it spin in precise ways. The activity grew monotonous after a while, so I slipped into a light meditative trance, focusing on honing my chakra control.

The night passed quietly. Only once did I leave my trance to investigate a small animal scurrying nearby. Watching it and its young for a while brought a surprising sense of peace. The stars above were mesmerizing, their brilliance piercing the dark sky. I could have stared at them endlessly without tiring—they were captivating.

Morning came with a faint red glow on the horizon, which quickly spread, chasing away the night. A bluish hue followed, gradually lighting the land. Shiko and Ayamane emerged from their tents, stretching and yawning after what was clearly a restful night. No one had attacked us, and nothing had occurred to cause alarm.

"Good morning. I hope you slept well," I greeted them as I jumped down from the rock I'd been perched on.

"Good morning to you too, Suzuki," Shiko replied cheerfully. "Thanks for taking the watch. How was your night? Anything interesting?"

"No, nothing much," I replied with a strained smile. "Just a quiet night."

"That's good," she said, her face radiating satisfaction. For a fleeting moment, I felt the urge to wipe the smug look off her face, but the feeling quickly faded. No… it wasn't worth it. Soon, we'd go our separate ways. If I ended up in a team with people like them after becoming a chunin, I'd opt to work solo. Less hassle, more freedom.

I didn't bother making breakfast and instead snacked on what remained in my bag. Shiko and Ayamane didn't prepare anything for themselves either. They simply sat there, occasionally glancing at me as if hoping I'd offer them something. But I wasn't about to.

"Shall we continue?" I asked, breaking the silence. "If we pick up the pace, we can reach the village by evening."

They didn't respond. Their silence wasn't my problem.

"Well, silence means agreement," I chuckled. "Let's get moving, then."

The girls looked mildly annoyed, and it wasn't hard to guess why. They probably expected me to "read the room" and offer them breakfast. But if they could play dumb, so could I. How was I supposed to know they wanted to eat if they didn't say anything? I wasn't a mind reader.

We hit the trail at a solid pace, maintaining it for hours and covering significantly more ground than the previous day. Watching Shiko and Ayamane effortlessly keep up, it became abundantly clear they had no issues with their chakra. Their claims of exhaustion had been nothing but an excuse to skip the watch and get a full night's sleep. Meanwhile, I was running on fumes, desperately needing rest.

Eventually, we exited the mountains. Had we known about this path earlier, our journey would've been much easier. Then again, taking this route from the start might have increased our chances of encountering other genin teams. Although we had crossed paths with a few already, it hadn't been as risky as it could have been. Now, on flatter terrain, we sped up, crossing rivers effortlessly by running across the water's surface.

The ordinary people we encountered paid us no mind. To them, we were just another team of shinobi rushing somewhere, blending into the scenery. Occasionally, we passed fishermen in their boats, which we briefly used as makeshift platforms. I doubt they appreciated it, but we didn't cause any harm.

Chakra beasts lurking in the water tried to pursue us a few times, but they weren't fast enough to keep up. Some displayed hostility, but since they weren't obstructing our path, we avoided unnecessary fights and continued on.

Before long, the Hidden Village came into view. Relief swept through our group, and Shiko and Ayamane quickened their pace, eager to reach the gates before nightfall. Leaping onto the rooftops of the first few buildings, we sped toward the Administration Office. Fortunately, no one tried to stop or intercept us—an encounter with another team this close to our goal would've been a disaster.

At a familiar bridge, we allowed ourselves to relax slightly, crossing it at a calmer pace.

"We'll reach the Administration Office soon," Shiko said, her tone laced with satisfaction. "Ayamane, we've done a great job."

"I agree," Ayamane replied with a pleased smile.

"Don't get too comfortable just yet," I warned. "We still haven't turned in our forms."

"Oh, come on, Suzuki," Shiko said with a dismissive wave of her hand.

"That kind of carelessness could cost us," I replied, shaking my head. "Let's go. No point in lingering."

We reached the Administration Office quickly and entered to find several other genin already present. Some had apparently completed the task and returned earlier. A desk stood at the entrance, manned by an unfamiliar examiner. As we approached, he tilted his head slightly, giving us a brief once-over.

"Good afternoon..." I began politely.

"Forms," he interrupted curtly. "On the table. Now."

"Alright, alright," I replied, placing my form on the table. Shiko and Ayamane followed suit.

The examiner carefully inspected the seals on each form, running his finger over them before nodding slightly. He rolled the forms up and stashed them in a drawer, then pulled out three scroll tubes.

"Here's your final question," he announced. "You have twelve hours to solve it. You'll work in the assigned room. The rules are simple: no communication with teammates, no peeking, and no sharing information in any way. Anyone caught breaking these rules will be disqualified from the exam. Understood?"

"Understood," I replied calmly. His tone didn't faze me; my focus was solely on the rules. I welcomed the clear boundaries—it meant I wouldn't have to help anyone else find their solution.

Shiko and Ayamane nodded, though they looked less than thrilled. Begrudgingly, they followed toward the examination hall, likely dreaming of hot showers to wash off the dirt and fatigue. Not so fast, though—there was work to be done.

The examination hall was filled with proctors and two other teams. One was from the Hidden Sand, composed of puppet masters, and the other from Konoha—Kabuto's team, which didn't surprise me in the least. He noticed me; I could feel his gaze, though he gave no outward acknowledgment.

We were each directed to separate desks, where I unrolled my scroll. The task inside was deceptively simple at first glance: decipher a piece of text composed of images and strange symbols. Alongside the main objective, there were several sub-tasks, each more complex than the last.