We sprinted through the forest like our butts were on fire. Maybe we were too focused on reaching the middle, burning away our chakra this much, but... Suddenly, we didn't think about it at all. I just watched the branches blur beneath our feet, the trunks flash past us one after the other. Then, the deeper we went, the quieter everything became, telling us for sure that no other group had come to this spot yet.
"We're close," Minato said from the front.
"Yeah, I can see that," I answered, because there was also a subtle change in the terrain.
Suddenly, the trees began to thin, so much so that from above us, I could see sunlight coming down again here and there. Plus, there were signs of man-made structures that, even if overgrown by the foliage, were still there.
"The tower is bigger than I... expected," I muttered, almost saying 'remembered,' changing it at the last moment when I could catch a glimpse through the thinning trees.
"Let's not slow down now," he replied without catching it, picking up speed even more.
"As if I would!"
We pushed harder because now it was all about one simple thing: pride. Who wouldn't want to be a record holder? I knew that, until Gaara's or, well, Itachi's time, this would stand. Maybe even after them? I can't tell, because I do remember that Itachi got a ridiculous time, without much explanation. Going in all alone and completing the task in an hour? Yeah, sure. Pushing that to the back of my mind, the idea of finishing this early came back to the forefront.
"We are here!" Minato shouted as we came to a stop at the tall, circular stone tower.
It rose high from the center of the clearing, its surface worn but standing solid and without nature actually swallowing it. I wondered whether it was kept clean or whether something was done to it so the forest would transform it. No matter, it wasn't something I needed an answer for. We landed at the edge of the clearing at the same time, our boots hitting the ground in perfect sync, and for a brief moment, neither of us moved...
I could only hear the wind... the rustling leaves and... nothing else.
"Can you feel anything?" I asked. "Trap or... whatever?
"No..." Minato exhaled lightly. "You?"
"Nothing," I said, looking, my Sharingan active, three tomoe spinning, trying to see... anything.
There were no guards, no traps, or some weird final test waiting for us... I think.
"Huh," I let out a small chuckle. "That's almost disappointing."
"Don't relax yet," he warned me nonetheless, already stepping forward. "We still have to complete the final part. Until then, anything could happen."
Right.
"Ready the scrolls," I told him as we moved toward the entrance, watching where we stepped, pushing the heavy doors open, and strolling inside.
Looking around, the interior was quiet and dusty, but it wasn't empty. Seals were etched into the walls, reminding me of Uzushiogakure for a moment, and maybe it was why the forest refused to devour this building. After a few more steps, we stood at the center of the room, where a raised platform was waiting for us, and on it… instructions.
"Open both scrolls here." I read it out and then stared at it for a second. "That's… anticlimactic." Not that it was any different than in the show.
"Then let's not waste time," Minato said as he ignored me, already pulling out the scrolls, just as excited as I was, which was hilarious to see. "One Heaven, one Earth," he hummed, checking we didn't make any mistakes. "Okay, that matches the requirement."
"Yeah, yeah." I stood next to him, "Together?"
He nodded and then, without ceremony, we opened them. The reaction was immediate because the moment the scrolls unrolled fully, chakra flared up from within the two. It didn't feel dangerous, but it did give us a second to feel scared. I watched as the ink on both scrolls began to glow, the lines within them merging together as if the two were parts of a single whole, the whole time... and then:
Poof.
A cloud of smoke burst before us, and I blinked once, holding up my hand to shield my eyes.
"…Of course," I muttered.
Standing before us, arms crossed and expression unreadable, was Sakumo Hatake, and I had a feeling that this was not a clone this time around, but the real one.
"You two… Well," he said slowly, his eyes moving between us, "this is… not unexpected."
"Oh?" I smirked, hearing that. "We're good students... I'm glad the others realized that, too."
"Hatake-sama," Minato, of course, bowed slightly. "We completed the objective."
Sakumo didn't respond immediately; instead, his gaze shifted toward the scrolls, then back to us, then to the doorway behind us… as if expecting more people to arrive. No one did, of course. I would have been the most surprised shinobi in history if anyone did!
"How long did we take?" I asked, making him tilt his head, glancing down at us.
"From entry to completion…" He began, taking a deep breath, "Just under two hours. One hour, fifty-two minutes, thirty-three seconds, if you need it to be that precise."
"Huh..." I crossed my arms, glancing at Minato, "We lost time going after the Amegakure team and watching Shikaku fight. Oh well, it's still a good time!"
"Just under two hours." Minato nodded, also looking at me, "It is indeed a good time, and it gives future generations a chance to break it. That should be ample motivation!"
"If you say it like that, yeah!" I grinned, sharing a high five with him, while Sakumo just looked at us, stoic as a statue, but I could tell his eyes were twinkling in a weird light.
Breaking our celebration, he exhaled loudly, closing his eyes for a brief moment.
"The average completion time is three days," he said flatly. "So this is more than... good."
"Yeah, we figured," I grinned.
"The fastest recorded time, until you two," he continued, opening his eyes again, ignoring me, "was just under a day."
"Well then," I tilted my head, mimicking his stance, crossing my arms, "Then I guess that's gone now. Do we get bonus points? A reward? Oh! I'd like a new skin for my headband. Something sparkly."
He looked at me, really looked this time, trying to understand what he was seeing. Or what was I even saying? I didn't know at that time that my current attitude was clashing so strongly with what he thought of me that it genuinely made him get confused. Especially after reading my papers... The two just didn't mesh, and he was a bit stumped about what to make of me.
"You two didn't just pass," he said, trying to find his voice. "You bypassed the entire purpose of the exam. Honestly..."
"Sensei," I grinned, "We were told to show everyone what Konoha can offer with its next generation. Does this mean we aced it? So we do need some extra... rewards! A wish from each of us, granted by the Hokage, will do it. Like... Let Kushina—"
"Renji," Minato elbowed me and then added, more politely, "We are ready to leave the test."
"Haaah… At least you didn't kill anyone." He muttered, shaking his head.
"Nope," I said simply, "We are not monsters! Duh."
"Close to it…" He muttered, and if not for my eyes reading his lips, I would have missed it. No wonder Kakashi hid his mouth... Lipreading is overpowered! "Very well." Just like that, the moment passed, and Sakumo straightened, his expression returning to that composed, controlled way of the ultimate judge of the exams. "You will remain here until the other teams arrive," he said. "Do not leave the tower."
"Whaaat—?!" I groaned, "Oh come on...! We can't just sit here and play with our fingers for five days! Can we?! You know what?" I elbowed Minato, "Let's go back out and collect everyone's scrolls. At least we will have some practice and won't get bored to hell."
"..." He glanced toward the entrance, but then... back at us, and he could see I wasn't joking. I was dead serious. "Well," He began, immediately reconsidering it, "It is a unique circumstance. Very well... I will bring you two out, back to the village."
In the end, we were allowed to leave and even got a good four days to just laze around, rest up, and get ready for the final leg of the exams. I wonder if we will have a preliminary battle or not, like Naruto's group did. Though they did it because they had too many of the groups coming through. Oh well, we will see after the second part is done!
"I'm going to see Kushina," Minato said suddenly as we entered through the village's main gate.
"Heh," I elbowed him. "Of course you are."
"What?"
"Nothing," I waved him off. "Go. I'll catch up with you two."
"You're not coming?"
"I will," I said. "Just… not immediately."
"Hm...?" He raised an eyebrow.
"I'm going to grab Sayuri first," I added.
"Ah." He grinned, giving me back what I had just done to him. "Of course you are!"
"Touché!" That was all I said, and he was about to say something else, but I interrupted him, "Don't make it weird," I pointed at his chest.
"I didn't say anything."
"You didn't have to." I snorted as he smiled slightly, then turned toward the road leading to where they were holding Kushina.
"Don't take too long." He said while waving his hand, "I bet she will be happy to see you, too."
"I won't, don't worry. I will bring Sayuri along, too!" And just like that, he was gone, being just as fast as he was while we were in the forest. "Alright," I muttered to myself, stepping forward. "Let's go get Sayuri. I guess... She should be around the Yamanaka's ground."
...
....
...
I didn't rush myself because I enjoyed the slower pace. I liked watching people move through the streets, children running past with wooden kunai in hand... Well, I was still a kid, too, in a way... Haaah. It was hard to gauge with us being shinobi and all that. I didn't feel like a kid anymore, that's for sure, but I also had way more years behind me with all my previous memories intact. It gave me a momentary headache thinking about it, but I was saved by the smell of food. Maybe I should invite Sayuri for a bowl of ramen.
"Hmmm..."
I shoved my hands into my pockets, looking for some change while heading towards the Yamanaka compound. She should be home, probably helping with something, or just… being there. I don't think the Genin teams would head out on missions during such a big event... Their leaders had to be back in the village, just in case something happened. I was trying to imagine what she will say when I tell her about our record. Heh... Will she draw a blank or scream? I turned onto a quieter street while trying to imagine it, one that led toward the clan districts, the same one where I once fought Arai and his idiot followers.
"Renjiro."
"Huh?" I stopped at once because of the voice, and turned to see Fugaku Uchiha standing a few steps behind me.
"Fugaku-san," I greeted, straightening slightly out of habit. "Didn't expect to see you here."
"That's my line," he nodded, examining me. "You should be in the forest..." he said simply, furrowing his brows, and when I began grinning, opening my mouth, he raised both his brows, actual amazement visible on his face. "Already done?"
"Under two hours." I nodded proudly. "So, I'm about to go and enjoy the same looks you just gave me, so if there is nothing else..."
"No." He said at once, looking at me again, with a composed expression, "You will come with me. Now."
"Fugaku-san..." I held his gaze for a moment longer than necessary, "It's been a long day, even if it counts as a short one." I began, still keeping my tone light, testing the line just a bit. "Fights, record-breaking run, you know how it is. Thought I'd take a break before—"
"Renjiro."
Ugh... That was it. So it was a command and not a request... I was afraid of that.
"Ugh… Right," I exhaled quietly, letting the smirk fade just a little bit. "Got it. Please! Lead the way."
I wasn't happy about it... But as for what happened, now I was curious. I just hope it's not something serious.