About five or six days before the Chūnin Exams, the Konoha genin squad led by Koharu Utatane and Torifu Akimichi set out for the Land of Rivers.
Among this group of genin, the most prominent weren't Hoshiyomi and his team, but rather a few fourteen- and fifteen-year-old prodigies from the Hyūga and Uchiha clans—the ones Konoha openly presented as its elite candidates.
Over the past year, these prodigies had completed several high-difficulty C- and B-rank missions under the guidance of their jōnin instructors, and the village had made sure to broadcast their talents far and wide.
What even they didn't realize was that they were essentially decoys—meant to draw attention away from Hoshiyomi and his team.
Currently, these so-called "geniuses" were walking around with a self-important swagger, each convinced they were the pinnacle of the new generation. Their arrogant stride practically screamed that they had no regard for anyone else.
In comparison, Hoshiyomi's six-person team—whose official ages had been altered to "11"—looked like mere filler participants.
The age alteration had been absolutely necessary. Had they registered with their actual ages—barely nine, in lunar years—they would've been instantly targeted the moment they stepped into Yugakure by any observant ninja, especially those from Kumogakure.
Although the rule stated that only genin under 15 could enter, no one in their right mind would send freshly graduated nine-year-olds into a bloodbath like this exam—unless the village leader was utterly deranged, or the kids themselves were anomalies. There was no third option.
So altering their ages to 11 blurred their true abilities.
Besides, most children begin their growth spurts around age 12. Between ages 9 and 11, physical development tends to vary little, especially in height. Given that Hoshiyomi's team had grown up with ample nutrition and proper development, claiming they were 11 raised no suspicion at all. Their relatively slim builds even made some assume they were slightly undernourished.
Even among Konoha's own genin squad, most viewed Hoshiyomi's team as cannon fodder, only there to make up the numbers.
The way others spoke to them ranged from condescending to outright pitying, which left the six feeling uncomfortable and out of place.
After about two days of travel, the group finally arrived in the Land of Rivers.
"Yugakure is just up ahead. Everyone, get your exam ID ready. Don't cause any unnecessary trouble," Koharu instructed.
At her words, a group of eager teens quickly pulled their exam IDs from their ninja tool pouches, excitement clear on their faces.
Once at the village gates, they presented their IDs to the patrolling Yugakure ninja and were warmly welcomed by official escorts arranged by the village.
Nearby, teams from several smaller villages watched with open envy and resentment. So this is what it's like to be from Konoha? Even entering the village comes with a welcome party. Must be nice to be born elite.
To prevent clashes between Konoha and Kumogakure squads, Yugakure's staff took no chances. Konoha's team was led straight to a hot spring inn on the western side of the village, while Kumogakure's was housed on the eastern side. The clear separation was designed to avoid any direct confrontations.
Cowardly? Perhaps. But it was cowardice at a whole new level.
Konoha didn't press the issue. They settled in peacefully, enjoying two days of meals and hot springs without stirring up any trouble.
On the third morning, representative teams from all participating villages gathered at Yugakure's ninja academy for the first round of the exam—a written test.
Yugakure, lacking any authority figures capable of maintaining order in the exam hall (they certainly weren't going to have the village leader proctor), had borrowed several chūnin from Konoha and Kumo to serve as examiners.
"Silence."
The room immediately went still at the sound of a deep, commanding voice. Konoha's genin instinctively tightened up at the sight of a burly, dark-skinned Kumo jōnin. Meanwhile, the rest of the villages' genin turned pale at the imposing presence of Torifu Akimichi.
With his horn-like hairstyle, shadowed eyes, and massive, mountain-like frame, some even questioned whether he was human.
If not for Hoshiyomi's group being relatively normal-looking, these genin might have assumed Konoha was a village of monsters.
Clearing his throat, the muscular jōnin announced, "I'm Karui, jōnin of Kumogakure and one of the chief proctors for this written exam. I'll be handing out the test papers. Please take your assigned seats according to your exam ID and wait for further instructions."
Torifu followed up, "I'm Akimichi Torifu, jōnin from Konoha, and the other chief proctor. I'll now explain the exam rules.
"There are ten questions total—six multiple choice and four written response. Each is worth ten points. Scoring 60 or more means you pass. Less than 60 and you're out.
"Cheating is strictly forbidden. Four chūnin are positioned at the corners of the classroom to observe for cheating. In addition, two mobile proctors will patrol the room. If anyone in your team is caught cheating, your entire squad will be disqualified and banned from taking the exam again for three years. Understood?"
The warning silenced the room. No one even dared respond. Only when Konoha's genin muttered a quiet "understood" did the rest of the students nervously echo them in mosquito-like voices.
This test was similar to the one in the original story—meant to assess their knowledge and ability to gather intel.
But unlike the original, there was no "tenth question" trick. All questions were mandatory. There would be no miraculous pass like Naruto's just for guts.
You could pass through sheer knowledge or by copying someone else's answers—if you could do it without getting caught.
Hoshiyomi's team had been briefed ahead of time. At least ten of the "students" in the room were actually proctors in disguise, and the answers they wrote would be correct.
All they had to do was find a way to cheat without being detected.
Once the exam began, Hoshiyomi's group remained calm. Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Shinku handled it with ease, answering the questions from pure knowledge alone.
The rest waited patiently. Once a disguised proctor finished writing, Hoshiyomi casually raised his hand.
"Excuse me, I need to use the restroom."
Inside the restroom, Hoshiyomi created a shadow clone. The clone activated Transparent Escape Technique and concealed itself before Hoshiyomi returned with the proctor—his invisible clone trailing silently behind.
Back in the classroom, the clone easily collected the answers. It lightly traced the multiple-choice answers on Jiraiya's and Sakumo's backs with its finger before slipping away and dispersing.
Hoshiyomi, receiving the clone's memories, quickly filled in the answers with ease.
Once finished, all six quietly put down their pens and sat back, calmly watching the chaos unfold around them.