The morning sun filtered through the kitchen window as Hanekawa prepared breakfast, his mind already three steps ahead of the day's events. He'd spent the last three days replaying the attack on Rin during the second round of the Chunin Exam, analyzing the gaps in his perception of ninjutsu.
Can foreigners learn the Kagura Heart's Eye? he wondered, flipping eggs with practiced precision. Karin picked it up without any formal training, so it's probably a bloodline ability, not a jutsu. Which means...
He paused mid-thought. Could there be entries related to bloodlines? That would be broken.
"Good morning."
Tsunade emerged from her room in a loose nightgown, her hair still tousled from sleep. She stretched, completely unbothered by how the fabric rode up her thighs.
Hanekawa kept his eyes firmly on the stove. "Teacher, are you planning to watch the matches today?"
"Wouldn't miss it." Tsunade yawned and headed toward the bathroom. "Let me freshen up."
As she walked past, her nightgown swayed with each step. Hanekawa deliberately focused on the eggs.
She's going to give me a heart attack before I turn ten.
When Tsunade returned, dressed and ready, she settled at the table with her chopsticks. "Where are Kurenai and Rin?"
"I asked them to head straight to the venue," Hanekawa replied, setting down a plate of rice and grilled fish.
Tsunade nodded and ate without further questions—one of the things he appreciated about her. No unnecessary chatter, just straightforward efficiency.
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The arena was already filling with spectators when they arrived. Hanekawa spotted an unexpected face in the crowd: Kushina Uzumaki, her red hair unmistakable even from a distance.
"Hanekawa! Lady Tsunade!" She waved enthusiastically, practically vibrating with excitement.
"Sister Kushina?" Hanekawa greeted her with a polite bow. "What brings you here?"
"Are you kidding? I wouldn't miss this!" Her grin was infectious. "The Hokage gave me permission. This is going to be amazing!"
Minato appeared beside her, offering a more measured smile. "We thought it would be good to observe the finals."
"Finally, that old man shows some sense," Tsunade muttered, loud enough for everyone to hear.
Minato's smile became slightly strained. He'd learned long ago not to comment on Tsunade's casual disrespect toward the Third Hokage.
"Come on, Hanekawa!" Kushina clenched her fists, eyes blazing with determination. "Knock them all down!"
"Don't forget Minato's students are competing too," Tsunade said with obvious amusement.
"They definitely can't beat Hanekawa anyway," Kushina declared without hesitation.
Minato nodded in agreement, which only made Hanekawa's eye twitch slightly.
Stop jinxing me! he thought desperately. This is like having the entire audience spam the chat with poison milk. Who can perform under these conditions?
Kushina practically dragged Tsunade toward the spectator stands, leaving Hanekawa to make his way to the candidate preparation area. Minato gave him an encouraging nod as he passed.
"Promotion to Chunin isn't determined by ranking alone," Minato said warmly. "It's about your overall performance. Don't stress too much."
"Right. Thanks, Minato-senpai." Hanekawa headed toward the arena floor, already mentally preparing himself for what was to come.
All twenty candidates had assembled. Hanekawa was the last to arrive, which drew a few curious glances. He scanned the audience seats, noting the empty chair reserved for the Third Hokage. Tsunade, Hatake Sakumo, and Minato occupied positions of honor on the platform, with ordinary villagers filling the rest of the stands.
At precisely nine o'clock, Hiruzen Sarutobi entered with Jiraiya at his side.
A young examiner stepped forward. "Please allow the Hokage to address the candidates."
The arena fell silent.
"I have just two things to say," Hiruzen began with a grandfatherly smile.
Oh no, Hanekawa thought immediately. This is going to be bad.
He was right. The Third Hokage proceeded to deliver a rambling speech that stretched on for a full hour. By the time he finished, half the candidates looked like they were about to fall asleep.
"Why is he so long-winded?!" Asuma muttered, swaying slightly.
The other candidates didn't dare voice their agreement, but their expressions said everything.
Finally, a young man jumped down from the platform. "I am Yamanaka Inoichi, your examiner for the finals."
Hanekawa recognized him—they'd crossed paths during the investigation into the missing infants and Orochimaru's experiments. Inoichi had found nothing, and the incident had been quietly buried.
Yamato's probably already in Root by now, Hanekawa mused. Ten more years of conditioning before Danzo sends him to assassinate the old man. Still don't understand that strategy, honestly.
"The finals have two simple rules," Inoichi announced, raising two fingers. "First, opponents are randomly selected. Second, you cannot kill anyone. Matches end when one side surrenders or is incapacitated."
The display screen behind him lit up, text scrolling rapidly before stopping.
"First match: Mizuki versus Asuma Sarutobi."
Hanekawa and the others retreated to the sidelines as the two candidates took their positions.
"You should probably forfeit," Asuma said casually, crossing his arms.
Mizuki's face darkened. These damn geniuses.
He pulled a larger shuriken from his back and hurled it with all his strength.
Asuma sidestepped effortlessly, then used the Body Flicker Technique to appear directly in front of Mizuki. His right hand flicked out, and wind chakra coalesced around his fingers, forming a sharp blade.
Mizuki drew a kunai and rushed forward, but the moment his weapon met Asuma's chakra blade, it shattered like glass. The blade continued its arc toward Mizuki's neck.
"Sarutobi Asuma wins," Inoichi announced.
Asuma smiled, clearly pleased with his new weapon. That old man really came through with these chakra blades. Worth every word of flattery.
Hanekawa examined the weapon with interest. It resembled a knuckleduster, wickedly sharp. If I can't beat someone, do I have to buy my way out? Asuma's a Genin—he definitely can't afford one of those. Probably depends on his father's wallet.
"Please don't let Hanekawa fight any of us yet," Kurenai whispered nervously, watching the display screen.
The same anxiety rippled through their group. With twenty-one candidates and only ten matches in the first round, civil wars were inevitable.
"Relax," Hanekawa said, reaching over to ruffle her hair. "It'll be fine."
The Hokage wouldn't let the strongest candidates eliminate each other early. That would ruin the show. He'll seed the bracket to eliminate the weaker ones first, then let the real finals play out for the audience.
"Round one, match two: Hanekawa versus Ebisu."
Hanekawa walked to the center of the arena. His opponent—a boy in dark sunglasses—looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him whole.
"Do your best," Shiranui Genma said from the sidelines, though his tone suggested he knew exactly how this would end.
Ebisu took a deep breath and formed hand seals. "Clone Technique!"
Two clones appeared in a puff of smoke. All three rushed forward with kunai drawn.
Hanekawa identified the real body instantly—it was on the left—and closed the distance using the Body Flicker Technique. His punch connected before Ebisu could react, sending the boy flying backward several meters.
A gasp rippled through the audience.
"Is that Superhuman Strength?" Kushina asked curiously.
"No," Tsunade said, shaking her head. "That brat's just strong."
"Hanekawa wins," Inoichi announced as Ebisu failed to stand.
The matches continued. Kurenai defeated her opponent with a Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu. Kakashi dispatched his Hyuga opponent without breaking a sweat.
By the time the first round concluded, Hanekawa had noticed something peculiar: eight consecutive matches had featured members of their group, with no civil wars among them. Only Rin had received a bye.
Definitely rigged, he thought with amusement. The old man's not even trying to hide it.
"Take a thirty-minute break," Inoichi announced. "Second round begins shortly."
"We all made it!" Asuma said happily.
"Everyone's so lucky," Shizune observed.
Hanekawa smiled but said nothing. There was no luck involved—just careful manipulation by the Third Hokage.
The break passed quickly. When the display screen lit up again, Hanekawa's stomach tightened slightly.
"First match of the second round: Hanekawa versus Obito Uchiha."
Well, he thought, watching Obito's confident expression, here we go.
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