"Crunch, crunch~"
A sound of footsteps on snow echoed. Kurenai lifted her head and smiled warmly, her round little face lighting up with joy.
She exhaled a puff of white breath and waved her right hand. "Mirai, over here!"
"Hey, Mirai, have you been waiting long?"
"Nope, I just got here too."
When Uchiha Mirai approached, Kurenai suddenly looked shy. She stood there awkwardly, hands behind her back, twisting from side to side.
"Did you get a sore butt or something?"
"Pfft! You're the one who has hemorrhoids!"
Uchiha Mirai shook his head in confusion. "Then why are you acting so weird here?"
Kurenai glared at him, clearly annoyed by his comment, then shoved a red scarf into his hands.
"A scarf?"
Seeing the questioning look from Uchiha Mirai, Kurenai raised her chin slightly and hummed. "I just thought you were dressed too lightly, and if you catch a cold it might affect your performance in the upcoming Chunin Exams. Don't get any funny ideas."
This sudden mix of coldness and care made Mirai Uchiha stifle a laugh.
He wrapped the scarf around his neck and pretended to be shocked. "Whoa, this is actually super warm!"
The corner of Kurenai's lips curled upward slightly, but before she could say anything, Uchiha Mirai spoke again. "Kurenai, where did you buy this? I'll go buy dozens of them to stock up."
"Mirai, you big idiot!"
"Hahaha... Just kidding." Uchiha Mirai looked at Kurenai sincerely. "Thank you, Kurenai. I really like it."
"As if I care whether you like it or not… Why do you always have to tell me stuff like that..."
"Hey, it's almost time. We should head to the exam hall first."
Hearing someone's voice from the side, Uchiha Mirai feigned surprise. "Eh? Asuma?"
"When did you get here?"
"..."
That bastard! He was clearly the first to arrive, so stop pretending you just noticed him, damn it!
Asuma Sarutobi clenched his fists. "Tch! Since when do guys wear scarves, especially bright red ones? Total wimp move…"
Uchiha Mirai walked straight past him without looking sideways and turned his head to address Kurenai. "Weird, why does it smell like vinegar so early in the morning?"
Ahhh!!!
Asuma stomped angrily on the ground as he watched the two walk away.
Man, how he wished he could punch this guy's lights out right now!
Uchiha Mirai stepped into the Ninja Academy, and along the way met Kakashi Hatake, Rin Nohara, and Obito Uchiha.
"Mirai, good morning!"
"Huh? How did you guys know this scarf was handmade by Kurenai?"
All three wore dark expressions.
Seriously, did anyone even mention that stupid scarf just now?
After Mirai Uchiha departed, Obito Uchiha turned his hopeful gaze toward Rin Nohara standing beside him.
"Um... Rin..."
"Absolutely not!"
...
They entered the school building and noticed a crowd gathered at the stairwell, apparently arguing about something.
"Why won't you let us in?"
"That's right! We're all ninja here for the exam. What do you think you're doing blocking the way like that?"
"The exam's about to start! Get out of our way, old man!"
Mirai Uchiha and the others looked ahead and saw two people standing one in front of the other, blocking the entrance to classroom 501.
Anyone who tried to enter was easily knocked down by them.
"They've crossed a line," Asuma Sarutobi muttered angrily.
How could they block the entrance to the exam hall like this?
"Mirai, should we go check it out?" Kurenai asked.
"No need to deal with them," Mirai Uchiha shook her head. "Those hanging around here will get eliminated anyway."
Hearing Mirai's words, Asuma scoffed indignantly. "So you share the same mindset as those two gate-blocking guys?"
"Trying to eliminate your competition with cheap tricks?"
"This isn't a mission anymore, so whatever decision you make, I won't just stand by and watch."
Upon hearing Asuma's words, Mirai simply shrugged. "Suit yourself."
With that, Mirai turned to Kurenai. "Red, let's head upstairs first."
"Huh?"
Kurenai was surprised at Mirai's suggestion. "Mirai, isn't the exam hall right here?"
"Red, observe carefully. Is this really our exam hall?"
Kurenai hesitated, then sensed something unusual.
She had considerable talent in *genjutsu*, and with Mirai's reminder, she quickly realized she'd fallen into an illusion.
[Release!]
As the illusion dissolved, the number plate '501' before their eyes twisted and changed into '401'.
"Future, you noticed this earlier?" Kurenai looked at Mirai with admiration.
Though this *genjutsu* wasn't difficult to break, detecting the anomaly immediately wasn't an easy feat.
"Red, remember, the Chunin Exams don't necessarily have to be conducted inside an exam hall."
"If you limit your thinking with preconceived notions, you might fall into someone else's carefully designed trap."
"I know, Mirai."
Watching the two ascend the stairs, Asuma Sarutobi's face darkened.
Reflecting on his fiery words from earlier, he felt like a total fool.
Darn it!
Why was he always overshadowed by Mirai Uchiha, even though he had worked just as hard each time?
Hesitating for a moment, Asuma Sarutobi finally gritted his teeth and followed Mirai Uchiha up the stairwell.
If he gave up now, he'd never live down being "the Hokage's son."
...
Arriving at the actual exam hall, Mirai Uchiha and his two companions pushed open the door and walked inside.
Inside the classroom was packed to the brim with students.
All seats were already occupied, with many others standing in the hallways, corners, and along the walls.
"What? How are we supposed to take the exam like this?"
"Did they mess up the arrangements?"
Kurenai asked in astonishment as she took in the scene before her.
Asuma also frowned.
That's totally ridiculous.
How could one exam hall accommodate so many examinees?
There isn't even enough space to sit—how are they supposed to take an exam?
Asuma was about to go immediately and complain to the responsible personnel when he noticed that Mirai Uchiha still looked calm. For some reason, he felt something was off.
Forget it, let's see what Mirai Uchiha plans to do first.
That single thought brought a sense of shame to Asuma Sarutobi's heart.
But remembering all the times Mirai had embarrassed him before, Asuma ultimately held himself back from taking any further action.
"Look quick, that guy is Mirai Uchiha."
"That genius from the Uchiha Clan? He doesn't look all that special."
"If the Hokage himself hadn't confirmed it, I wouldn't believe a kid like him could actually kill two Jonin."
"Hey hey hey, letting a monster like him into the Chunin Exams? You've gotta be kidding me! That's just screwing over regular contestants!"
Amidst the murmurs of the crowd, Mirai Uchiha walked toward a spot near the window. "Move aside. This spot's mine."
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