Chapter 9 - Chapter 9: Chunin Exams—Slime Enters the Arena

Konoha streets thrummed with exam fever. Chunin Selection—spectacle of blood, sweat, and political backstabbing. Banners screamed "Prove Your Might!" Genin from every nation swarmed: Sand vipers, Rain ghosts, Sound freaks with pale skin and cursed grins.Ren Uchiha strolled Hokage Monument base, Team 9 in tow. Might Guy sparkled greener than envy. "CHUNIN GLORY! We'll dazzle with YOUTH!"Rock Lee teared up. "Ren-san! Your goo-passion rivals my taijutsu soul!"Neji Hyuga adjusted hitai-ate. "Fate rigged—branch house fodder versus prodigies. Yet... your anomaly intrigues."Ren smirked, popping a Predator-duped mochi. "Fate? Overrated. Stats win. Sage—exam breakdown?"[Chunin Exams intel: Written test (cheat fest), Forest of Death (survival), finals arena. Sound team: Orochimaru plants. Threat sync: 88%. Prep: Skill fusion.]Guy clapped backs bruisingly. "Training montage—Gates of Wonder open! 10,000 laps!"Montage hell: Forest laps—Ren slime-glided overtaking Lee. Neji Byakugan-sparred—Gentle Fist vs. Slime Regen. Punches phased through goo, Ren countering Wind Chains (Gato synth)."Impossible durability!" Neji huffed."Possible adaptability," Ren quipped, tomoe spinning. Two-Tomoe Sharingan copied palm strikes flawlessly. "Your 64 strikes? Now mine—Gloop Variant!"Slime palms extended, shutting Neji's tenketsu softly. Stalemate—respect forged.Guy opened Gate 2—green aura exploded. "Match my fervor!" Dynamic punches cratered earth.Ren matched—Super Strength + Earth Spears (absorbed). "Youthful!" Boom echoed.[Taijutsu gains: +34%. Gate resistance unlocked (partial).]Written exam: Academy hellhole. Proctor Ibiki glared. "Genius or quit."Ren doodled—Great Sage hacked codes. Whispers decoded via slime vibrations. Naruto (Team 7) panicked hilariously; Hinata blushed through.Pass—all but dropouts.Forest of Death: Gates creaked open. Anko Mitarashi grinned fangily. "Survive 5 days, snag scrolls. Eat or be eaten!"Teams scattered. Team 9 dove deep—Neji scouted, Lee baited, Ren Magic Sense mapped.Ambush hour 2: Sound trio—Dosu, Kin, Zaku. Arm-whistling freaks."Doton arms!" Zaku blasted air bullets.Neji Kaiten-blocked. Lee Leaf Whirlwind-ed Dosu.Ren fronted Kin—sound genjutsu wires.Tch. Sharingan dispel + Predator. Wires snapped into goo hand—sound chakra gobbled.[Acquired: Oto no Jutsu (basic). Sonic resistance +20%.]Dosu charged—vibro-arm swing. Ren melted around, full engulf. "Bass drop!" Predator pulse—arm silenced, absorbed.[Dosu specialty: Vibration waves. Weapon synth ready.]Zaku panicked—double-barrel blast. Ren ballooned shield—Tornado redirect swirled it back. Zaku cratered."Retreat!" Sound fled, heaven scroll dropped.Guy fist-pumped from trees. "FLAWLESS TEAMWORK!"Night camp: Scroll secured. Neji pondered fire. "Orochimaru's scent—Sound pawns."Ren nodded, slime core digesting. [Fusion: Wind Vibration Blade—new ultimate. Evolution: 72%. Orochimaru marker: Personal interest.]Intruder ping—Orochimaru scout snake slithered near.Jackpot. Ren tendriled it—Predator snack. Snake dissolved; pale chakra traced.[Snake summon partial. Cursed Seal data. Warning: Prime target acquired.]Dawn prelims loomed. Team 7 fought Orochimaru (canon bite)—Ren sensed from afar, smirking. Sasuke baited. My play next.Arena brackets drawn: Ren vs. Temari (Wind priestess).Guy posed. "CRUSH WITH PASSION!"Neji smirked faintly. "Defy fate."Ren cracked knuckles, tomoe whirling. "Time to slime the exams."Crowd roared entry. Hayate proctored: "First match—Ren Uchiha vs. Temari!"Sand kunoichi fanned smirk. "Wind buries goo."Ren bowed theatrically. "Ladies first—bring the breeze."Fuuton clash imminent. Orochimaru lurked shadows, tongue flicking. Intriguing specimen...Slime vs. Exams: Round one—fight!