"I'm really sorry about before," Violet suddenly said, stepping closer to Shigure. Her tone was low, almost awkward. "Our team... we just can't stand those ninjas who flaunt their bloodline limits arrogantly. It wasn't personal."
Lucien blinked in mild surprise. He had expected lingering hostility—yet here was an apology instead. He relaxed, just slightly. "No need. We're all Konoha shinobi. A small misunderstanding means nothing."
Still, her sincerity unsettled him. Why should she bother?
"Be careful of the Uchiha," Violet murmured before she was called away by Yoshida Kappei. "I can feel their intent."
Lucien tilted his head in silent thought. Strange... why warn me?
But the uneasy truth lingered: Hizashi had already warned him. The Uchiha clan held blood in their hearts for him. And here, in a crowded exam hall filled with rival eyes—many of them burning red with scorn—he felt the killing intent pressing from multiple directions.
As if to cut the tension, a loud voice boomed:
"It seems this Chunin selection exam won't be as easy as we thought!"
Heads turned—the Ino-Shika-Cho trio had entered.
Nara Kazuru, Yamanaka Nozomi, Akimichi Tonki—the next generation of the clan alliance descended together, their reputation preceding them. Their arrival put the entire waiting room on edge.
Lucien recognized them instantly. They had graduated with him. And like him, they were here to fight for advancement.
"Nozomi Yamanaka, Chunin hopeful. Please take care of me in the exams, Shigure," the blonde girl greeted brightly.
"Heh. You sound pretty confident," Tonki muttered through a mouthful of snacks.
"Why wouldn't I? After all, Kazuru's with me." Nozomi smiled, nudging her Nara teammate.
Kazuru only rubbed the back of his neck lazily, ignoring the commotion.
Lucien smirked. The trio's reputation was well earned. Intelligence, communication, and force bundled together—they'd be dangerous enemies.
"Shigure!"
His name was called again, this time by a loud, overly energetic voice. Might Guy stood before him, fists clenched, bushy eyebrows gleaming with determination.
"Your spirit burns brightly! Fight me sometime during the exam—I must test my youth against yours!"
Lucien found himself smiling slightly. This was the man who would one day become Might Guy, wielder of the Eight Gates. He nodded. "Very well. A fair fight, someday soon."
Guy's face glowed. "Splendid! Genma! Ebisu! Take note! I've found us a worthy rival!"
Shiranui Genma, chewing his trademark senbon, smirked. "Great. I'm eager to try."
Ebisu adjusted his sunglasses sharply. "Kai, do you really want to provoke such a monster? Look at him."
"Doesn't matter." Genma shrugged. "In this exam, everyone's the enemy anyway."
Lucien kept quiet, but inside, he engraved every face, every name.
Hatake Kakashi, Uchiha Obito, Nohara Rin.
Nara Kazuru, Yamanaka Nozomi, Akimichi Tonki.
Matsuyama Shuichi, Katori Violet, Yoshida Kappei.
Might Guy, Genma, Ebisu.
And those hostile Uchiha brats... Hideaki, Naomasa.
That made five groups he already knew well. Among a hundred, they were but the beginning.
His Sharingan swirled faintly. This exam will be chaos—but I won't lose here.
"Kusuo, you'll be fine," Hongdie assured, her gentle voice soothing. "Just don't be nervous."
But Kusuo still looked pale, muttering under his breath about the written test.
Lucien placed a hand on his shoulder. "Both of you—remember. Don't just stare at the questions during the exam. Watch the examiner. Listen. And no matter what—you do not quit. Even if you can't answer one single question. Quitting could mean all three of us get eliminated."
They both nodded firmly, though neither fully understood. Still—they remembered what he said.
Just then, a Chunin entered and called aloud:
"Uchiha Shigure. Hyuga Hongdie. Hatake Kusuo. Enter the 'Ugly' exam hall. The test begins."
Lucien gave one last glance to his teammates. "Don't forget my words."
Inside, the candidates were quickly separated. Seated distant from one another by deliberate design, their isolation was absolute.
At the front of the room stood Nara Shikaku, hands folded, eyes half-lidded yet gleaming sharp. His voice carried calm authority:
"Everyone... welcome. I am your examiner for the first test of the Chunin Selection Exam. I am Nara Shikaku, Jōnin of Konoha."
The room's restless whispers died instantly.
"Two rules you must engrave into your minds." He raised two fingers.
"First: From this moment on—you are forbidden to speak. If anyone speaks to another... I will sentence them to be Genin for life. You will never qualify for promotion."
The silence turned suffocating. None dared even murmur assent.
"Good." A faint smirk lifted Shikaku's calm face. "You all understood."
He let the pause sink deep, then continued.
"Rule number two. I will now explain the format of this test. Understand it well. If you cannot... then you had best leave now."
The exam had begun.
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