Konoha Ninja Academy — North Wing
The old stairwell creaked under Team 7's feet as they stepped inside. The familiar walls of the Academy felt different now—less like a school, more like a trap.
"It's quiet," Naruto whispered. "Too quiet."
"It's a ninja exam," Michio replied. "It's supposed to mess with your head."
Sasuke was already staring ahead, eyes sharp. "There."
At the top of the stairs, two older-looking genin stood confidently in front of a door labeled:
"Chūnin Exam – 301"
A thick crowd of genin were already gathered in front of the door, arguing, whispering, and glancing over their shoulders nervously.
One of the guards—a tall one with a headband half-sliding off—sneered at a pair of genin trying to push forward.
"No entry unless you have the guts to get past us," he barked.
Another guard smirked. "This is where we separate the genin from the wannabes."
---
Michio narrowed his eyes.
He didn't know what it was at first—but the hallway was off. The numbers. The echoes. Even the light.
He blinked—and in the blink, something clicked.
"Genjutsu," he murmured. "This isn't room 301. We're still on the second floor."
Sasuke's Sharingan lit up a moment later. "They altered the signage. Illusion-based sensory distortion. They're testing for awareness."
Naruto stepped forward, squinting. "Wait… so we're not supposed to fight these guys?"
"Nope," Michio said. "Unless you want to fail before the exam even starts."
One of the 'guards' lunged forward with a grin. "Then let's test you anyway."
But before the hit could land, a sudden whirl of wind blew through the hall.
---
Interruption. A shadow. A leaf-patterned vest.
"Yo," came a lazy voice.
A green jumpsuit appeared mid-air, landing between the fake proctors and Team 7.
Rock Lee.
"Picking fights before the exam starts?" he said, arms folded, eyebrows intense. "How youthfully impolite."
The crowd stepped back.
Michio stared.
"…Is that guy wearing leg warmers?"
Naruto tilted his head. "Wait. What's wrong with his eyebrows?"
Sasuke blinked. "Are they… moving?"
Rock Lee smiled warmly at Sakura—who was further behind the group—and then turned to Team 7.
"I've been watching you," he said to Sasuke. "I want to test myself… against you."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "Later."
"I insist!"
Michio raised a hand. "How about not right in front of a Genjutsu trap?"
Lee grinned. "Ah, you are clever. Then I will delay this match—for now."
He vanished in a blur, landing beside his team at the far wall.
Naruto stared. "Who was that?"
"Someone we'll see again," Sasuke said simply.
---
The Real Exam Room
They climbed the next flight and finally arrived at the real Room 301.
Inside?
Chaos.
Over fifty genin. Loud voices. Intimidation everywhere. Some teams were already staring down others. Others sat quietly, eyes closed, meditating.
One team of Suna shinobi was watching everyone without blinking.
A squad from Hidden Rain whispered in a corner, their eyes like razors.
Michio scanned the room and saw it—every shinobi in this room had killed, bled, or nearly died to get here.
No more training wheels.
This was the deep end.
---
Ibiki Morino stood at the front of the room.
Scars crisscrossed his face. His expression looked like it hadn't changed since the Third War.
He watched every genin enter. Measured them.
Judged them.
When the clock hit 0900, he cleared his throat once.
Silence fell like a blade.
---
"I am Chief Examiner Ibiki Morino," he said. "And your first exam… begins now."
---
Journal Entry 11:
> This isn't just a test of strength.
It's a test of everything.
Of fear. Of doubt.
Of how long you can sit still without blinking.
Let the games begin.