The first exam, as Kaoru had anticipated, was a written test. Each genin sat alone at a desk, tasked with answering ten questions. Some were multiple-choice, while others required written explanations of concepts. For Team Takimura, Kaoru was undoubtedly the weakest when it came to theory. Despite his love for books and scrolls, he only studied things he deemed important for his personal growth. Add to that the fact that he was the youngest and had only been studying for two and a half years, and it was clear he was at a disadvantage.
“Since we’ve already covered how to answer the questions, let’s talk about the rules,” the proctor began lazily.
[I don’t remember this guy. He was probably a minor character or maybe someone who died early on in the timeline.] Kaoru thought, glancing at the proctor, who seemed completely uninterested in the proceedings. Earlier, he spotted a familiar face—Kakashi. The iconic ninja had met the guardians near the entrance, acting as a buffer to keep them in check. It was absolutely necessary. The tension between Kiri and Takimura guardians was so thick that a fight seemed inevitable with just one wrong word. However, none of them dared to cause trouble under Konoha’s watchful eye. Even in its weakened state, Konoha was likely still the strongest of the five great villages.
“If you get caught cheating, you and your team will be disqualified,” the proctor continued, his tone as indifferent as ever. “If you don’t score enough points, you and your team will be disqualified. So basically, either the whole team passes or the whole team fails.” He yawned, then plopped into his chair, picked up a book, and started reading as if he had no other care in the world.
The genin collectively stiffened. How would he even know if someone cheated? There was no one else in the room but him.
Kaoru scanned the room, his Suijingan subtly activated, allowing him to observe without drawing attention. He wasn’t just curious about his friends; he was also looking for a specific person. Akane and Mizuki were already hard at work, their expressions showing focus and confidence. Yuji, Sugeru, and Akito were also writing with thoughtful expressions. Kaoru didn’t doubt they’d easily pass. His gaze shifted to a massive figure wearing an Iwagakure headband. The guy was built like a boulder, his shoulders so broad they seemed to take up two desks. [That must be Akatsuchi,] Kaoru concluded, smirking slightly.
Next, his attention turned to the Kiri genin. They were writing with disciplined precision, their every movement calculated. But then his eyes landed on the youngest person in the room—Itachi Uchiha. Calm and composed, the boy was scribbling on his paper as if the test were a mere formality. [Of course, the genius wouldn’t struggle,] Kaoru thought, chuckling internally before turning his attention back to his own paper.
Kaoru had considered using Suijingan to copy Akane’s answers, but he quickly dismissed the idea. He didn’t need to ace this test; he only needed enough points to pass, and he was confident he could manage that on his own.
The test itself was dull, and apart from a few genin from minor villages getting caught cheating and being disqualified, nothing of interest happened. Finally, the allotted time was up, and Kaoru stretched as he left the room.
“I expected Konoha to pull some interesting trick, but nope—it was just a plain old written test,” he muttered, walking out into the open air. The results would be announced in two hours, giving him plenty of time to kill.
He saw Itachi walking alone towards the nearby forest and while Kaoru’s initial thought was to go the opposite way, he could not help but follow him.
<<<>>>
Maki sat nervously in Hiruzen’s office, her usual confidence replaced by a sense of unease. She had heard countless tales of the Third Hokage’s strength and wisdom. While she knew he wouldn’t harm her, the sheer weight of his presence—someone who had fought in wars and brokered countless treaties—was enough to put her on edge.
“I’m glad your village is participating in these exams,” Hiruzen said warmly, his tone was calm and welcoming just like the smile on his face.
“The pleasure is ours, Lord Hokage,” Maki replied respectfully, sitting up a little straighter. “I’m glad Takimura’s first official appearance is happening here in Konoha.”
Hiruzen’s eyes glimmered with interest. “I hope you don’t mind me asking, Lady Maki, but we have limited information about Takimura. Who is the head of your village?”
Hiruzen’s tone was extra respectful since he wanted to establish a friendly relationship with Maki and Takimura. However his choice of words, the “head” instead of the “Kage”, implied that he didn’t see Takimura as equal to the great hidden villages. Maki did not catch the hidden meaning behind his words and answered earnestly.
“We don’t have a single leader, Lord Hokage. Takimura is governed by a council, and I am one of its members,” she said with a polite smile.
Hiruzen nodded thoughtfully, carefully observing her demeanor. [Young, capable, but inexperienced in diplomacy. That could work in Konoha’s favor.] He kept his expression neutral as he pressed on.
“If I’m not mistaken, one of the genin you’re accompanying is your younger brother?” he asked.
Maki’s face lit up, her nervousness melting away as she smiled brightly. “Yes, Kaoru is my baby brother. He’s the main reason I came here,” she chuckled softly.
Hiruzen’s own smile widened. “Ah, I see. So, if not for your brother, Takimura might not have sent a council member?” he teased lightly, testing the waters.
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“Oh no, that’s not what I meant!” Maki quickly explained, her cheeks coloring slightly. “Someone else from the council would’ve come, but... well, not me.” She gave a sheepish laugh, clearly flustered.
Hiruzen chuckled, finding her honesty refreshing. [Young, unpolished, but genuine. A rare thing in this world.] He leaned forward slightly, his tone growing more conversational.
“I’m not sure how much you know about our exams, so let me explain briefly. In exchange, perhaps you could tell me more about Takimura?” he suggested with a kind smile. Without waiting for her reply, he began outlining the details.
“The second exam will take place in the Forest of Death. Genin will be allowed to fight each other—and even kill, though we discourage it. Beyond rival teams, there are dangerous creatures in the forest as well. Each team will be given one of two scrolls: Heaven or Earth. To pass, they need all three members to survive and collect the opposing scroll. If too many genin pass, we have an extra elimination round to narrow the field. The final stage is one-on-one duels, but becoming a chunin isn’t determined solely by victories. Even a genin who loses to a strong opponent may still qualify, depending on the judges.”
He finished with a grandfatherly smile and leaned back slightly. “Now, Lady Maki, perhaps you could share a bit about Takimura?”
Maki took a deep breath, her confidence returning as the conversation shifted to something she knew inside and out. She began explaining Takimura’s development.
“Our village is still young, Lord Hokage. We’re small but growing steadily. Takimura was formed by two clans—Takime and Terumi—who sought refuge and freedom outside the great villages. Our focus has been on building a self-sustaining community. We’ve taken in orphans and rogue shinobi, giving them a place to belong. It’s far from perfect, but we’re trying to create something where everyone feels valued.”
She avoided mentioning anything of importance, trying to keep her response measured but sincere. Hiruzen nodded, satisfied with her response. [So, they’re focused on survival. No sign of offensive ambitions—yet.]
“Thank you for sharing, Lady Maki,” Hiruzen said warmly. “I look forward to seeing how your genin perform. Perhaps, through these exams, Takimura and Konoha will grow closer.”
Maki smiled politely. “That’s my hope as well, Lord Hokage.”
As Maki stood to leave, she felt a little more at ease. Hiruzen’s warmth had made the conversation less intimidating than she had anticipated. [But still, what a man...] she thought, marveling at the presence of someone so deeply rooted in the shinobi world.
However, while Maki believed she was having a genuine conversation, Hiruzen was carefully extracting valuable information from her words. He planned to share his findings with the council, where they would decide how to approach Takimura. If Takimura was deemed a greater threat than Kirigakure, Konoha would withhold support and keep their distance. But if the village was as peace-loving and weak as Maki portrayed, they could become the perfect tool to keep Kirigakure in check and sow controlled chaos in the Land of Water.
<<<>>>
Itachi strolled leisurely through the forest, enjoying the peace and silence—or at least, that had been his plan. He was now keenly aware that someone had been following him for a while.
“Come out. I know you’re there,” he said calmly, his voice carrying no hint of fear.
From behind the trees, three genin emerged. The one in the middle, clearly the leader and the strongest of the group, smirked. “So, Konoha’s really gotten this weak, huh? Promoting seven-year-old brats to chunin? What a joke.”
The genin on his left laughed and added, “No wonder the first test was just writing. Probably rigged it so this kid could pass. I bet his team has to carry him through the exams.”
All three burst into laughter, their mocking voices echoing through the quiet forest.
“Just leave,” Itachi said in an even tone, clearly uninterested in escalating the situation.
The leader sneered. “Don’t worry, kid, we’re not gonna kill you. We’re just here to teach you a lesson.”
Unbeknownst to them, Kaoru was perched on a branch high above, quietly observing the interaction. He was torn. On one hand, he wanted to see Itachi handle the situation himself and prove why he was so respected. On the other hand, Kaoru knew Itachi had already sensed his presence, and staying out of it might sour any chance of building a good first impression.
As the three genin prepared to attack, Kaoru made his decision. He leaped down from the branch, landing gracefully between them and Itachi.
“Guys, I heard examinees who fight inside Konoha are disqualified immediately,” Kaoru said, his tone casual but firm as he eyed them.
The leader turned to him, scowling. “And who the hell are you? What no-name village are you from?”
Kaoru’s gaze didn’t falter. “If you’re that desperate for a fight, come at me instead. Otherwise, get lost.” His voice carried a sharpness that Itachi’s calm demeanor lacked, something Kaoru had definitely picked up from Maki.
The three genin hesitated, weighing their options. After a moment, they exchanged glances and muttered to each other before deciding to back off. As they turned to leave, the leader cast a glance over his shoulder, sneering. “You’re lucky that loudmouth showed up. Otherwise, you’d be crying for your mommy’s help right about now.”
Kaoru didn’t flinch at the remark, watching silently as the trio disappeared into the trees.
Once they were gone, Kaoru turned to Itachi with a smirk. “I guess they couldn’t handle being saved from themselves.”
Itachi gave a small, knowing nod, his expression remained calm and indifferent. “Thanks for the help.”
Kaoru shrugged nonchalantly. “Oh, please. Unlike them, I can actually sense chakra.” He chuckled. “I wasn’t helping you—I was helping them.”
For the first time, a faint smile flickered across Itachi’s face. He studied Kaoru for a moment, his sharp eyes analyzing him. Then, in a rare gesture, he stepped forward and extended his hand.
“I’m Uchiha Itachi,” he said simply.
Kaoru blinked, momentarily caught off guard, before regaining his composure. “I’m Takime Kaoru,” he replied, shaking Itachi’s hand.
**
A/N -
Should Kaoru try to help the Uchiha clan? Or maybe he should focus on saving Itachi from Konoha and Danzo’s schemes? There are so many possibilities! ^_^
Character Notes:
Kaoru - Fanboy - “I just shook hands with the Itachi Uchiha! Stay cool, Kaoru. Stay cool.”
Itachi - Amused - “It might be interesting if we fought… but I’d still win, obviously.”
**