214

A week or so from marking their first full year as genin, Haruto found himself reflecting on the whirlwind of challenges they had faced. Daichi's near-death experience still played on his mind. A shuriken had lodged dangerously close to Daichi's heart, a wound that should have been fatal. In Haruto's old world, such an injury would have meant months of recovery—if the person survived at all. But Daichi, with his Uzumaki resilience, had made a fast recovery in just three weeks.

On the second day of his hospital stay, Haruto and Shisui had been allowed to visit Daichi. Haruto had expected to see his friend looking weak and bedridden, but when they walked in, they found Daichi sitting up, already making jokes. His grin had been as wide as ever, and he teased them for looking so serious.

"You guys act like I'm on my deathbed," Daichi had said with a chuckle. "I'll be back on the battlefield in no time!"

That moment had brought a flood of relief to Haruto and Shisui. Daichi's ability to shrug off danger with a smile was reassuring. Despite the scar now etched into Daichi's chest—a permanent reminder of how close they had come to losing him—he had quickly returned to his usual self.

Haruto chuckled quietly to himself now, sitting in the training field as they awaited Sakumo's announcement. Uzumaki healing really was something else, but Haruto had learned to accept that life in this world was anything but normal. After all, he had his own advantage: his system rewards. The system had given him abilities and skills that no other genin could match, and with the one-year mark of their genin status approaching, Haruto knew another system reward was coming soon.

During Daichi's recovery, Shisui had offered to stay with Haruto to keep him company. It had been a quiet gesture, but one Haruto appreciated. There was, however, a small problem—Haruto only had one bed in his apartment. Not wanting Shisui to sleep on the floor, Haruto had gone next door to Daichi's place and borrowed his bed, knowing Daichi would have wanted them to use it. Shisui had laughed at the lengths Haruto went to make him comfortable, teasing him for "breaking in" to their friend's apartment. Haruto had shrugged it off, knowing Daichi would've approved of the arrangement.

When Daichi was discharged and back to his usual energetic self, the team had returned to its routine. They completed two C-rank missions without trouble, and Haruto felt their bond as a team deepen even further. The shared experience of almost losing Daichi had solidified their connection.

Now, as Sakumo stood in front of them, Haruto sensed something big was coming. Their sensei's tone had been serious when he called them to the training field, and now his expression was equally stern as he addressed them.

"Alright," Sakumo began, his voice calm but commanding. "It's time to talk about the Chunin Exams."

At the mention of the Chunin Exams, a wave of excitement surged through Haruto. The Chunin Exams had always been one of his favorite parts of the anime—the battles, the strategy, the high stakes. Inside, he was practically bouncing with joy, but he kept it hidden, a quiet thrill settling deep within him.

"The Chunin Exams?!" Daichi practically shouted, his grin widening as his eyes sparkled with excitement. "Finally! I've been waiting for this forever!"

Haruto smiled slightly, watching Daichi bounce on his toes, full of energy. This was exactly the reaction he had expected from his friend. Shisui, standing calmly on the other side of Haruto, gave a subtle smile as well, though his response was much more reserved. Shisui was the steady hand in their team, always calm and composed no matter what came their way.

Sakumo waited for Daichi's excitement to settle before continuing. "I want to sign the three of you up," he said. "But there's one condition. You have to enter the exams as a team. If one of you isn't ready, none of you can participate."

Haruto, Daichi, and Shisui exchanged looks. They didn't need to say anything; the unspoken bond between them said it all. After everything they had been through together—training, missions, and nearly losing one of their own—they were ready. Each of them knew that they had grown stronger as a team, and none of them would hold the others back.

"We're ready, Sensei," Haruto said confidently, his voice steady.

Shisui nodded in agreement, his calm gaze meeting Sakumo's. "We've come this far together. We're not stopping now."

Daichi, predictably, couldn't contain his enthusiasm. "We've got this!" he exclaimed, practically jumping. "Let's show everyone what we're made of!"

Sakumo's serious expression softened slightly as he looked at the three of them, a hint of pride in his eyes. "Good," he said, nodding. "I expected nothing less from you three."

For a moment, the team stood in silence, letting the weight of the announcement sink in. The Chunin Exams weren't just another mission—they were a proving ground. Haruto knew that this was a critical moment in their journey as shinobi. The exams would test not only their strength but their strategy, judgment, and ability to work together under pressure.

Daichi broke the silence with his characteristic grin. "This is going to be epic! We're finally going to show the village what we can do!"

Haruto couldn't help but chuckle at his friend's enthusiasm. While Daichi's excitement was all out in the open, Haruto felt his own anticipation simmering beneath the surface. He knew this was their chance to prove themselves.

Sakumo clapped his hands together, a faint smile playing on his lips. "You have one week to prepare," he said. "Train hard, but don't overdo it. The Chunin Exams are tough, and you'll need all your energy when the time comes."

Haruto, Shisui, and Daichi all nodded in agreement. The seriousness of the exams weighed on them, but so did the excitement. The chance to compete, to rise to the next level, was finally within reach. They knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy, but together, they were ready to face whatever challenges the Chunin Exams would throw at them.

As they left the training field, the three of them shared a quiet but confident resolve. Haruto's mind raced with thoughts of the trials to come, but there was one thing he knew for certain: they were stronger together, and together, they would succeed.