Inside the surveillance room—
Dozens of screens displayed the various genin teams already entering the exam hall.
Yūhi Jinchūriki nodded approvingly as he saw his niece pass the illusion test.
But then he saw the handsome boy standing beside her—
Kaito… that walking disaster.
Thankfully, his own daughter had just turned one this year.
She'd never fall for this boy in the future.
"Hmph. Kaito's still acting like a show-off," Sarutobi Shinnosuke muttered, arms crossed, watching the screen.
This was his first time observing the chūnin exams from backstage.
Hiruzen cast him a brief glance but said nothing, continuing to watch the other candidates.
Click.
The door opened.
A chūnin responsible for exam logistics walked in with a clipboard.
"Report! All genin have entered the exam area!"
"Excellent. Good work. Begin the proctor procedures."
"Yes, sir!"
He left quickly.
On-screen, all candidates had reached the exam hall—Room 404 on the fourth floor.
The written test room was large enough to seat 150 people, though only a bit over fifty examinees filled the room, leaving it feeling spacious.
Might Duy leaned forward, hands on his knees, panting.
"Thank goodness… we made it…"
"Tsk, Duy. With strength like yours, I'm worried," Uchiha Mikoto sighed dramatically, one hand to her forehead in proper young-lady fashion.
"At this rate, I'll definitely become a chūnin before you~"
Yakushi Nonō stood beside her, lips twitching.
Wow… Mikoto really can act. She might be even more dramatic than Kaito-sensei…
She scanned the room and spotted Kaito sitting with his team. Instinctively, she almost waved—until someone called out:
"Yo, Mikoto! Fancy seeing you here too. So you're taking the chūnin exam this year? These are your teammates, right? How cute~"
"Mistress Kayo, enough," another voice scolded.
"We're all candidates here. Don't tease her."
"Oh relax, Fūya," the third girl chimed in with a grin.
"Everyone knows Mikoto joined a genin-led team. I've always been curious what that's like~ Right, little Mikoto?"
The trio wore black high-collared clothing, each with the Uchiha crest embroidered prominently.
Mikoto's expression cooled.
"Kayo, Em, Fūya. Long time no see."
—The Uchiha Trio.
"It has been a while," said Uchiha Kayo, three years older than Mikoto.
Acting like a friendly older-sister type, she slipped an arm around Mikoto's shoulders.
Her lips brushed Mikoto's ear as she whispered softly—only the two of them able to hear:
"Two years ago, you beat me during sparring.
I'm still a genin because of that."
"This grudge—
Today I'll return it."
Her outward smile remained gentle and elegant, betraying none of the venom behind her words.
Then she continued aloud, cheerfully,
"If you're confused during the exam, big sis can help you~"
"Of course—no cheating."
Mikoto shot her a cold glance.
"Sorry. This time, you'll remain a genin."
"Drop the fake friendliness. It makes me want to gag."
"You—!"
"Enough, Kayo," Fūya said sternly, arms crossed like a dependable older brother.
"You're still hung up on that? Becoming a chūnin is survival of the fittest."
"If you can't pass this year, then try next year."
"There's no shame in losing to Mikoto—she's only following the training her grandfather designed."
"Heh. So you're calling me her training dummy?"
"H-Hey, that's not what he meant!"
Em scrambled to mediate the escalating tension.
"Sure, sparring results may influence how elders evaluate us… but the real deciding factor is still our ability."
"Right, Kayo?"
"Hmph!"
Kayo ignored the peace offering and marched to a seat.
Fūya sighed helplessly.
If he still remembered how painful losing to nine-year-old Mikoto had been, of course Kayo would hold a grudge too.
He apologized to Mikoto, dragged Em along, and sat beside Kayo.
Only when they finally left did Nonō whisper to Mikoto:
"Mikoto… those were your friends?"
Might Duy nearly tripped anime-style.
"Nonō… how do they look like friends to you…?"
"They're all from the same clan, right?" Nonō pointed at their identical Uchiha crests.
Mikoto shook her head slightly.
"Same clan doesn't mean friendly relationships."
As the granddaughter of one of the only two remaining clan elders, she was a target of envy.
Her grandfather always told her—
Never rely on status to suppress others. If you must suppress someone, use your strength.
"Come on. Let's find seats."
They walked away silently—no longer in the mood to greet Kaito.
Kaito, though chatting casually with Unma, saw everything.
Poor girl… being a clan heiress really isn't easy.
Mikoto found her seat and sat quietly, recalling a scene from a year earlier—
Passing by the clan's training grounds, she had witnessed Kayo pushing herself brutally hard.
Even defeating a mid-ranked Uchiha chūnin flawlessly.
But still, the clan withheld her promotion.
Even the Provisional Chūnin slots hadn't gone to her.
Genin could only take low-tier village errands.
Anything above C-rank, especially Police Force missions, required chūnin certification.
Without the rank, Kayo would never be allowed to take such missions.
Soon after
The proctors entered the room.
A seating chart was posted on the blackboard, and candidates shuffled around accordingly.
Unfortunately…
"What rotten luck. I have to sit next to you," Kayo sneered, settling into her seat beside Mikoto.
"This exam… I'm not letting you off."
Mikoto frowned.
"What do you mean? Isn't this just a written test?"
Kayo let out a cold laugh.
"A written test?
That's what they call it."
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