Chapter 110: The First - Ends

Chapter 110 - The First Chapter Ends In the VIP box above the stadium, silence lingered for a few moments before the Third Hokage broke it with a soft chuckle. "Well now... that was certainly one way to end an exam," Hiruzen said, setting his pipe down and exhaling a gentle stream of smoke. Onoki, seated beside him, had his arms crossed and a scowl just shy of amused. "Tch. You Leaf shinobi always have a flair for drama. Your Genin nearly broke the stadium." Hiruzen smiled lightly. "Oh, come now. I could say the same about your granddaughter. Floating above the ground in a match between Genin? That was quite the display. Is the famed 'Lightening Technique' already being passed down?" Onoki snorted. "She's a fast learner. And unlike your Genin, she doesn't need to punch through stone to be flashy." Hiruzen chuckled again, leaning back with half-lidded eyes. "True. But sometimes, a well-placed punch speaks louder than a long-winded strategy. Youth must make an impression, after all." "Oh, they made an impression all right," Onoki said dryly. "On my Genin's ribs, on the stadium walls, and probably on every betting book in the Land of Fire." "That's the price of being memorable, old friend," Hiruzen said with a puff of smoke. "Not every shinobi can age into politics with the luxury of being forgettable." Onoki gave him a sideways glance. "And yet here we are, two old men sitting above the next generation, pretending we don't see our mistakes reflected in their shadows." Hiruzen nodded slowly. "Perhaps. But the difference is... I've made peace with mine." A flicker of silence passed. Then Onoki let out a rare chuckle. "Well said, Sarutobi. I'd expect nothing less from the man who raised a boy strong enough to beat an Uchiha in front of all five nations." Hiruzen's gaze remained on the field. "And I'd expect nothing less from the Tsuchikage whose granddaughter nearly rewrote the rules of Earth Style before reaching adulthood." The two men sat back as medics healed Itachi and left while Ren sat in the center of the field besides Itachi. "Looks like we're really heading toward a new era," Onoki muttered. Hiruzen raised his pipe. "And all we can do is pray the next generation doesn't make the same mistakes we did." Both men chuckled softly. But behind their smiles, their eyes remained sharp. The two might have shared a brief moment of peace with each other however they wouldn't hesitate for a second if they had to pick up the kunai once again for their villages. The two old men who had been guided by the strong ones of the past, they themselves had guided the strong ones of the present and would continue to guide the strong ones of the future. The two shall be here until there time comes. Watching. So that the next generation grows safe. Waiting. So that the next generations take over their duties. Protecting. ~~~ The rest of what happened after the match didn't matter much to Ren. He stood in the middle of the arena, catching his breath, feeling the last traces of adrenaline ebb out of his limbs. He'd fought seriously, not because it was a tournament, but because it was Itachi. He respected him. And more importantly, he wanted to win without Itachi holding anything back. This also proved that even without using all his strength he was able to beat Itachi. As the medics came and carried Itachi away, Ren gave him one final glance. There was no bitterness, no overwhelming pride. Just a quiet nod to himself. The crowd was still roaring, but he had already tuned it out. He made his way toward the inner hallway of the stadium, where the participants' quarters were located. There, a medic checked his vitals and bandaged his bruises, but Ren barely listened. 'He'll be fine,' he thought as his eyes drifted to the opposite bed where Itachi had been placed just a few minutes ago. Itachi was healed soon enough as his breathing stabilized, his injuries cleaned and covered. But he hadn't spoken a word. Not to the medics. Not to his mother who came to visit him. Not even to Ren when their eyes met. He simply sat up, nodded once in acknowledgment, and walked out of the room with the silence only an Uchiha could wear like armor. Ren didn't take it personally. He understood. Defeat wasn't an easy pill for anyone to swallow, especially for someone like Itachi. The boy who had been touted as a genius since young. The boy who barely faced defeat since young. The boy was someone with the eyes of an entire clan always focused on him, this defeat meant more than just a loss. It meant pressure. Expectation. Weight. Ren leaned back on the cot and let out a slow breath. 'Let them have their expectations for him, they'll die by his hands after all. They'll probably realize that they shouldn't have pressured someone by their expectations so much.' He let out another sigh, 'Atleast I'm not carrying anyone's burdens but my own.' Later that afternoon, Yugao and Kurotsuchi returned to the participants' stand, both freshly healed, though still slightly stiff in their movements. What surprised Ren wasn't their return, but how closely they were walking together. They spoke in low tones, occasionally smiling, and their body language was relaxed. Comfortable. Ren narrowed his eyes slightly, his brain immediately jumping to conclusions. "You think they're friends now?" he asked quietly to Hitoshi, who had taken a seat beside him. Hitoshi glanced at the two kunoichi, then replied in his usual flat tone, "They tried to cave each other's heads in a few hours ago. That's how shinobi friendships start." Ren scoffed, "Makes sense." Yugao noticed him looking and gave him a small wave before returning to her conversation with Kurotsuchi. Neither of them seemed interested in discussing the outcome of the exams or their matches. It was as if, once the fighting was over, the rest didn't really matter. Ren found that strangely agreeable. The eliminated Genin were soon called back and allowed to return to the main field. The proctors, now wearing more formal flak jackets, began organizing the participants in a line as the crowds in the stadium began to settle once again. Ren saw familiar faces return, some with small smiles, others trying to mask their disappointment. Others, like Kabuto and Iruka, returned with the expressions of people who had already accepted their failures and were simply glad to be included in the closing ceremony. Eventually, the field was cleared except for the Genin participants, now standing shoulder to shoulder in front of the central platform. There was a hush. Then, the Third Hokage stepped out once again, flanked by his bodyguards, and behind him walked the small, floating figure of Onoki, the Tsuchikage, accompanied by two of his own elite guards. This time, there was no flair. No dramatic proclamations. Hiruzen stood calmly, his hands behind his back, and addressed the stadium. "Citizens of Konoha, honored guests, and esteemed shinobi of every land, we now come to the end of this year's Chunin Exams." He paused, letting his words settle. "You have all witnessed the next generation with your own eyes. You have seen their struggles, their growth, their determination, and their conviction. Some may have fallen early, some may have shined bright, and some may have left an impression that will echo for years to come. But remember this." He raised his hand. "Every shinobi here today carries with them the potential to protect not just their nations, but the peace we all strive to maintain." The crowd responded with applause, steady and respectful. Onoki floated forward with a grunt and took his place beside Hiruzen. His expression was stern but his tone was diplomatic. "The Land of Earth is proud of its representatives. They fought with strength, spirit, and unwavering resolve. Though the records may show who won or lost, I believe we can all agree, these young ones are our future. And that future seems unpredictable." He glanced sideways at Ren, then at Kurotsuchi, before floating back slightly. Hiruzen stepped forward again, smiling warmly. "With that, we conclude this years Joint Chunin Exams." The crowd erupted in cheers one final time. A moment later, a team of proctors stepped forward and began organizing the Genin to leave the field. Some were clapping each other on the backs, others simply walked out with their heads held high. Ren stood near the end of the group and looked once more at the towering stadium. The cheers didn't matter. The recognition didn't matter. He had won. Finally. Not just that. With this win, he had taken one of the first step towards changing the future. When he first thought about something taking away his friend, his teacher and his dad, he had been a bit apprehensive, but now he won't accept it, he would keep changing the canon if it gets in his way, one step at a time. ~~~ Once all the Genin had left the arena and the audience had dispersed, Team 1 made their way to Training Ground 1. It was already decided beforehand that they would meet here after the exams were over. Their Sensei, Utakata, was already waiting. When the three arrived together, Utakata looked at them, standing side by side like they had so many times before. His gaze swept over them once, and then a rare, almost gentle smile appeared on his face. Quietly, he walked toward them and placed a hand on each of their heads, one by one. "Good work, you three." The words were simple, but his tone was different. There was no sarcasm, no stiffness, no casual detachment. Just plain, sincere praise. All three of them, Ren, Yugao, and Hitoshi paused. Even Ren, who was usually quick to respond with a joke or smug comment, or Yugao who would ask for something outrageous casually, stayed silent for a moment. They weren't used to hearing this from Utakata. He wasn't the type to praise easily or say anything unless he meant it. The weight of those words settled on them more than any applause from the crowd earlier. They exchanged a quick glance, understanding something unspoken. Then, as if it was the natural thing to do, they took a step back together, lowered their heads, and bowed. "Thank you, sensei." It wasn't rehearsed. It just came out, naturally. Even Ren meant it. In the past 2 years and even before that in the academy, Utakata had taught him more than just techniques. The Rasengan, chakra control, basic and advanced medical ninjutsu, refining his elemental understanding. The man had sparred with him on daily basis for more than an year. Utakata had helped him more than anyone else aside from Juichi. And in some ways, more than Juichi. The man wasn't loud about his help, didn't constantly tell Ren what he was doing right or wrong, but he was always there. Always correcting quietly, showing the better way, offering explanations Ren hadn't even thought to ask. Ren had relied on him more than he admitted. Utakata looked at all three again. Yugao, the reckless swordswoman who had learned to slow down and think. Hitoshi, the quiet tactician who was no longer just a shadow in the background. And Ren, the unpredictable powerhouse who'd somehow taken on responsibility and leadership without being forced into it. From fresh academy graduates to real shinobi. All within his team. He let out a quiet sigh, barely audible. "Raise your heads." They obeyed. "You three have become splendid shinobi," he said. "I don't know if you'll ever hear that from anyone else and believe it, but, I'll say it now. You've made me proud. Extremely proud." He paused for a moment, then continued, "A week from now, meet me here again. We'll have our final lesson together. After that," He glanced upward, toward the sky. "You'll be free from me." He didn't say it with sadness, or relief. Just a quiet acceptance. Their time as Genin under him was done. Whether they became Chunin, ANBU, or something else entirely, they would no longer walk behind him. They would walk on their own. Without waiting for a response, Utakata flickered away, vanishing from the training ground. The three stood there in silence. They had been on dozens of missions. Bled together. Sparred. Trained. Fought side by side. And now, without their Sensei saying another word, the weight of their progress started to sink in. Yugao gave a small sigh. Hitoshi remained silent, as always. Ren just glanced at the spot where Utakata had been standing and nodded to himself. Without a word, all three flickered away in separate directions, leaving the training ground empty once again. Their time as Genin was over. What came next, none of them knew. But the first Chapter of their life was now over. ~~~ {We will have just one more day of team 1 together as a whole, after that, you won't be seeing them together anymore.} {I remember when I wrote Chapter 4 it felt so cringe to write the talk between Ren and Juichi but in this Chapter everything just kept coming to me and I was able to write the team 1 convo without a single edit.} {Thanks for sticking around till now guys. I mean it. When I started writing this fic I thought that this would also die out just like thousands other on webnovel but here we are with more than 100 Chapters and so many consistent readers. Thanks for keeping this fic alive.} {If you guys liked the story up to this point you can support me on my pat-reon} {Latest pat Chapter- Getting pegged by an old man (ANBU Edition)} { h t t p s : / / w w w . p a t r e o n . c o m / / Z e e n o n } {You know what else to do.} {STONES!!!!}