An Itachi Fanfiction [EDITING]

The Chūnin Exam Begins

Five days later, Team Seven met outside the academy building with our completed applications for the Chūnin Exams.

The atmosphere felt strange.

Heavy.

Excited.

Nervous.

Even Naruto seemed unusually tense beneath all his loud confidence.

Of course, Kakashi-sensei had still managed to arrive late.

"I got lost on the path of life," he explained lazily.

Again.

Honestly, I was starting to think he reused the same excuse on purpose.

After handing us the application forms earlier that week, he had disappeared without another word, leaving the decision entirely up to us.

But for me...

There had never really been a choice.

If I wanted revenge...

If I wanted answers...

If I wanted to become strong enough to stop being helpless—

Then I had to keep moving forward.

Even if it terrified me.

As we climbed the stairs toward the exam room, a loud commotion echoed through the hallway.

Naturally, Naruto rushed toward it immediately.

A pair of Genin were blocking the entrance to what appeared to be Room 301 while intimidating younger candidates attempting to pass through.

Sasuke barely glanced at the sign before scoffing.

"Pathetic."

The two shinobi frowned.

"What was that?"

Sasuke crossed his arms.

"Reverse the Genjutsu already."

Then his eyes shifted toward me.

"Tell them, (Y/N). You probably noticed it before any of us."

I smiled faintly.

"This is the second floor."

Immediately, the illusion dissolved.

The number above the doorway flickered from 301 to 201.

Several nearby Genin gasped.

One of the fake guards lunged toward Sasuke angrily—

Only for another figure to suddenly appear between them.

A boy with huge eyebrows and a bowl cut blocked both attacks effortlessly.

"My youthful comrades should avoid fighting before the exam!" he declared dramatically.

Silence.

I blinked.

Then slowly looked toward Sakura.

She looked just as confused as I felt.

The strange boy suddenly turned toward her with sparkling eyes.

"My name is Rock Lee!" he announced loudly. "Please be my girlfriend!"

I immediately slapped a hand over my mouth to stop myself from laughing.

Sakura looked horrified.

"...No."

Poor guy.

As we walked away afterward, I leaned toward Sakura with a sly grin.