In the end, Chiba held his nose and became Jiraiya's student. He had no choice. If he slipped through the cracks again, he'd end up under Orochimaru's care.
And right now? Orochimaru was neck-deep in human experiments. Yamato, the guy with the wood powers, was basically a product of this era. Chiba wasn't about to get anywhere near that.
With all his… unique qualities, he was terrified Orochimaru might get a bright idea and decide he'd make excellent experimental material. The man had a history of using his students as lab rats. Chiba had only interacted with Orochimaru a handful of times. He wasn't about to bet his life on the snake sage developing a soft spot for him.
He was just looking for a layer of protection, a connection. And Jiraiya's golden reputation was a far more reliable shield.
The two lifetime bachelors got to talking.
And you know what? They clicked. Soon, they were slapping each other's backs, laughing like old friends.
"Chiba," Jiraiya said, throwing an arm around the boy's shoulder as they walked through the woods. "Now that we're master and student, you don't have to hide things from me."
He looked at Chiba with a knowing glint. "There's something special about you, isn't there?"
Jiraiya was practically convinced Chiba was the Child of Prophecy. So, of course, the boy had to have something.
"Well, if you put it that way…" Chiba thought for a moment. He did have something. He leaned in and whispered into Jiraiya's ear.
(òwó?!) "NANI?!" Jiraiya's eyes bugged out. This kid… was bigger than the great Toad Sage?!
"Cough cough. I wasn't talking about that kind of special talent." Jiraiya cleared his throat, steering the conversation back on track. "I meant in terms of training. Something that gives you an edge."
Chiba knew exactly what Jiraiya meant. He'd mentioned his, ahem, asset just to show off—no, to buy himself some time to think.
"Well, I have a natural gift for chakra control. I can use some… unusual ninjutsu," Chiba said. "I tried combining fire and earth-natured chakra once. Ended up accidentally stumbling into Lava Release. It's not stable enough for combat yet, though."
After some thought, Chiba decided to "fully" disclose his special traits. Let Jiraiya's mouth be the channel to Sarutobi Hiruzen. He'd see how the village brass reacted.
Besides, bringing up Lava Release served another purpose. He was hoping Jiraiya might offer some pointers.
The man's understanding of ninjutsu was in a league of its own in this world. With his system and this walking encyclopedia? He was set to soar.
"Ha! Perfect timing!" Jiraiya boomed with laughter. "I've fought Ōnoki's student, Rōshi. Got a taste of his Lava Release. I was just wondering where to start with your training. Lava Release it is!"
"Ah…" Chiba was taken aback.
He hadn't expected Jiraiya to believe him so readily, without a hint of suspicion, and immediately start planning his training.
Jiraiya's thought process was simple: If the Child of Prophecy wasn't special, what was the point?
"Oh, Lord Jiraiya, there's something else," Chiba said suddenly.
Jiraiya was in a good mood. "Shoot."
"You're a great hero! A titan among men! Things like earlier… you really shouldn't do them. It tarnishes your majestic, glorious, and awe-inspiring image!"
Faced with his student's "criticism," Jiraiya's face flushed. "Ahem. Yes, well… this master is aware."
…
A month passed in the blink of an eye. The third stage of the Chūnin Exams arrived right on schedule.
"This exam is a microcosm of the wars between our nations! You will stake your lives here to defend your dreams and the honor of your villages! Is that understood?!"
"YES, SIR!"
After listening to the Third Hokage's address, Chiba followed the other Leaf candidates into a massive, cylindrical arena.
"WOOO! The Leaf team's here!"
"Sunagakure! Sunagakure!"
"Candidates from Kumogakure! Crush them!"
The roar of the crowd hit him like a physical wave. Harsh sunlight beat down on his face. For a moment, Chiba felt disoriented, like he'd stepped into another world.
He squinted upward. Tiered rows of spectators filled the stands, their faces flushed with excitement as they screamed for the candidates in the "arena" pit below.
The dignitaries in the highest seats, of course, maintained their composure. They simply waited, watching silently for the exam to begin.
"I am the proctor for the third stage—Gekkō Botan." A frail-looking Leaf jōnin stepped past the candidates to the center of the arena. His voice, amplified by chakra, echoed through the structure. "The sixteen candidates who passed the previous stage will now engage in one-on-one combat. There are no rules. Any means are permitted. The match ends when one party is incapacitated, surrenders, or dies!"
As the proctor droned on with ceremonial announcements, the bored candidates below began whispering.
"Hey, you hear? Some bastard ruined four scrolls in the last exam. That's why four fewer people made it through."
"Whoever did it is a real piece of—! My partner was just one Iwagakure scroll short! We searched everywhere!"
Chiba stood impassively amidst the stream of curses.
Gu Jie was the one who destroyed the scrolls. What did that have to do with Chiba?
"Wait… you think it was Konoha's Shimura Danzō?"
"Whoa, dude, you got a death wish? Saying that out loud?"
"I'm not from Konoha. Why should I care?"
"Oh. Right. My bad."
"Must've been those shameless brutes from Kumo! They'd pull a stunt like that."
"Shut it! You Suna bastards are the shameless ones! A bunch of poison-users yapping like dogs!"
The exam hadn't even started, and the air was already thick with hostility. Candidates glared icy daggers at each other, trading creative insults about each other's relatives.
"Hey, kid. We meet again."
Just when Chiba thought he could stay out of it, Rasa walked up, looking down at him from his greater height.
"Well, if it isn't Big Brother Rasa," Chiba said cheerfully. "That Gold Dust shield of yours last time? Left a real impression on me."
He was on home turf. Rasa couldn't do anything drastic. So why not poke the bear?
"You…!" Rasa's composure shattered instantly. He looked ready to squash Chiba right then and there.
A gentle-faced woman, nearly as tall as Rasa, hurried over and placed a restraining hand on his arm.
Is that… Karura? She's a candidate too?
Seeing the future "Mother Susanoo" stand beside Rasa, Chiba finally made the connection. This was Rasa's future wife, the mother of Gaara, Kankurō, and Temari.
Those are some long legs. I wonder if she can see her own toes. Kinda want to find out… Chiba mused silently.
"Just you wait, brat. I'll make you pay during the exam."
Restrained by Karura, Rasa left with a final icy threat, his sleeve flicking dismissively.
"You think you call the shots here?" Chiba called after him, unfazed. "This is Konoha."
At that moment, the proctor on the platform finally finished his speech. "All other candidates, please exit the arena. First match participants, step forward."
"Sunagakure—Rasa! Konohagakure—Chiba!" the proctor announced, reading from a list.
…What the hell?!
Chiba's smile froze and cracked on his face.
What kind of idiot made this match list?! Out of all the weaker candidates, they had to pair me with the strongest one here?!
His eyes instinctively snapped across the dispersing crowd, locking directly with Rasa's cold, predatory gaze.
This guy… He's sharp. Did he already figure out we'd be matched up just by looking at who's here?
…
At the very top of the viewing stands.
Sarutobi Hiruzen—the "idiot" in Chiba's mind—was sharing a pleasant chat with the Third Kazekage beside him.
Since Minato needed to deal with a troublesome Kumo candidate, Hiruzen had simply assigned Suna's strongest candidate to Chiba with a stroke of his pen.
"Hokage-sama, there's no way this child is Rasa's match," the Third Kazekage said with feigned pity. "You should have him surrender quickly to avoid losing his life."
Hiruzen waved a hand, smiling. "Now, now, Kazekage-dono. Isn't it a bit early for such conclusions? Let's watch. The result may surprise us both."
"Oh?" The Third Kazekage's brow furrowed slightly. Rasa, embarrassed, hadn't told him about his previous encounter with Chiba. He had no idea where Hiruzen's confidence came from.
"Hmph!" Ōnoki, seated nearby, snorted and closed his eyes. The sight of Chiba just irritated him.
A bunch of useless fools. Can't even handle one brat. Infuriating.
The Raikage said nothing, also closing his eyes. He had zero interest in such a lopsided fight.
Only the Mizukage watched the scene below intently, her gaze fixed on Chiba for reasons unknown.
…
On the arena floor.
The other candidates retreated. Chiba and Rasa walked forward, facing each other as they moved to the marked central combat zone.
"Don't you dare surrender later, brat," Rasa said coldly, taking his position. "I'll give you a funeral in a gold coffin so expensive you could never afford it in ten lifetimes."
"Heh. I was about to say the same to you," Chiba shot back, a cold smirk on his face. "Surrender nicely. That way, as long as you're still breathing, I, a medical-nin, can patch you up."
If there was a fight, he'd fight. Chiba wasn't backing down. This was the perfect chance to test the results of his month of training.
"Contestants, prepare!"
The proctor flashed away, leaving the center to the two of them. His hand swept down.
"The exam—begins!"
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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