"Strange, Teacher Minato is actually late today. Did he oversleep?" Obito rushed to the training field, only to find Nohara Rin and Kakashi there as he spoke doubtfully.
"Do you think Teacher Minato is like you?" Kakashi looked at Obito, who arrived just in time for the assembly, with a speechless expression. He almost arrived late himself and yet was complaining about the teacher.
"It's as if you've never been late, Kakashi." Obito clenched his fist, unwilling to accept it, and retorted.
"I have indeed been late before, but far less often than you." Kakashi replied calmly.
When he's not in great shape, he'll have insomnia, which leads to a chaotic schedule and being late, but his situation is rare to see within a year, while Obito being late has reached the point where 'if it's him, it's normal.'
"How can you slander me out of nowhere?" Obito's eyes widened as he continued arguing, "What tardiness? I was helping people, how can you call that being late?"
"Isn't being late essentially not arriving at the agreed time?" Kakashi killed the debate with one sentence.
"Alright, alright." Nohara Rin showed a helpless smile and began changing the topic, "Teacher Minato is probably delayed due to something important, with his speed, maybe he'll arrive soon."
Judging by Minato's reliable nature, Nohara Rin naturally wouldn't think he overslept.
Whoosh!
As if to prove Nohara Rin's words, in the next moment, Minato appeared before the three of them.
"Sorry, I was a bit late." Minato's face showed slight apology but quickly turned to a gentle smile.
"Would you like to participate in the Chunin exam? I've recommended you all, if you want to join, you can fill out this application form." With that, Minato took out three forms.
Nohara Rin's guess wasn't wrong; the reason he arrived late was because he was at the Hokage Building dealing with the Chunin exam qualifications.
"The Chunin exam, doesn't that mean we can get promoted to Chunin? Want, want, want!" Obito's eyes burst with excitement, repeating the important words three times.
Although Kakashi already defeated him, the fact that Kakashi's ninja level was higher than his was quite annoying for Obito; during missions, he would be ranked lower than Kakashi.
"It's just a qualification, you have to pass the exam to become a Chunin." Worrying that Obito might misunderstand participating as an automatic promotion, Minato quickly explained.
However, Minato felt that he didn't need to say anything; as their teacher, he knows the strength of the three, and their abilities are definitely enough to pass the Chunin exam.
"Heh, we'll definitely pass." Obito has ample confidence in himself; he beat several enemy Ninja Village Chunin during missions.
Kakashi looked at the three forms in Minato's hand with some confusion; logically, two should be enough. So he asked: "Teacher, am I also participating?"
"Kakashi, aren't you already a Chunin? Can you still take the exam? Does passing the Chunin exam three times in a row make one a Jonin?" Obito took a form with his photo from Minato and ridiculed.
Kakashi: ...
Even if asked like this, I still don't know.
"Indeed, Kakashi, you have to participate in the exam. However, passing the Chunin exam three times in a row won't make one a Jonin. A Jonin can only be promoted by the Hokage." Minato seriously answered both their questions.
"The reason Kakashi can participate in this Chunin exam is mainly because of your team's special nature, special in every sense." Minato continued to explain.
The formal start date for the Chunin exam is July 1st, and Obito and Nohara Rin graduated in mid-March, making them rookie Genin just 1.4 months graduated.
Generally, Genin who participate in the Chunin exam have graduated at least a year earlier; it's common to participate after three years.
Some people delay participation not because they don't want to, but because they can't; the Chunin exam isn't unconditionally accessible, as there are requirements for the duration of being a ninja and team mission records.
The reason Obito and Rin can participate in this Chunin exam is linked to the high-level tasks completed during Obito's internship period. Given the high value of S-level missions, coupled with Namikaze Minato's recommendation, the short ninja career can be overlooked.
Nonetheless, this Chunin exam requires team participation, considering Obito's team's short graduation period and other issues, Sarutobi Hiruzen ultimately allowed Kakashi, a Chunin, to participate in the exam with Obito and Nohara Rin.
After hearing Minato's explanation, Kakashi nodded to show understanding, then took his own form.
Kakashi looked at the somewhat familiar application form with a subtle expression; attending a Chunin exam as a Chunin is indeed strange.
Since leaving the previous formal team, Kakashi's encounters have become stranger each time, first forming a team with Ninja Academy students, repeatedly facing unexpected situations during tasks, and now taking the Chunin exam as a Chunin.
"Kakashi, don't let the fact that you're already a Chunin cause you to drag us down." After filling out his form, Obito commented.
He suddenly realized, if Kakashi doesn't try during the exam, it doesn't affect him at all because he's already a Chunin, but it will significantly impact them; they won't be able to get promoted.
"Instead of worrying about me, you should be more concerned about yourself. The first test in the Chunin exam is a theory examination; failure to pass leads to direct disqualification." Kakashi casually looked up at Obito and said, with undisguised disdain in his eyes.