Gai woke up as early as possible, which was 3:00 a.m. for him. Today was a big day. Today was the day his students were going to attend the Chunin Exams.
He leaped out of bed with the enthusiasm of a thousand suns. "YOUTH!" he declared to the empty room, flexing his biceps at the mirror. He brushed his teeth with vigorous zeal, imagining each brushstroke as another step towards his students' success. After a trip to the bathroom and some dynamic stretching, he finished his morning routine, donning his signature green jumpsuit with pride. "Today is the day, my beloved students," he said to himself, striking a triumphant pose. "Today, we shall show the world the power of youth!"
It was 10:00 a.m. when he reached the academy, having jogged there at a brisk pace while doing handstands for the extra challenge. The area was full of students from all over the Elemental Nations. Strong ones, weak ones, nervous ones, and excited ones. Gai scanned the crowd, his eyes sparkling with determination.
"Neji Hyuga," he murmured to himself, spotting his student standing confidently among the throng. The boy was an absolute genius, a prodigy on par with the most talented chunin. He had the potential to go far, very far.
He turned his attention to Tenten and Lee. Tenten was meticulously checking her weapons, her brows furrowed in concentration. "She just needs a bit more proficiency," Gai thought, nodding approvingly. Lee was doing push-ups in the middle of the courtyard, shouting motivational phrases with every repetition. "And Lee... if only he could develop his strategic thinking a bit more."
His thoughts drifted to his eternal rival, Kakashi, who had also entered his students in this year's exam. Sasuke Uchiha, the Rookie of the Year and the solo survivor of the Uchiha clan, was undeniably talented. Sakura Haruno, a prodigy in terms of scriptural knowledge and the Kunoichi of the Year, had brains to spare. And then there was Naruto Uzumaki, the academy's dead last, and the son of the Fourth Hokage.
"Poor boy," Gai mused. "He's been overlooked, ignored, and avoided by the village. Even if he has Minato's genes, the environment he grew up in was not very helpful for his mental and intellectual development. But he has Kage-level chakra reserves. Maybe he has potential."
Gai smirked. Sasuke might be strong, Sakura might be smart, but his team would be the best. They stood no chance against his team.
Just at that moment, someone tapped on his shoulder. "Yo," came the lazy drawl.
"Kakashi! My eternal rival, you arrived early. Quite unusual for you," Gai exclaimed, spinning around.
"Ma, ma, Gai," Kakashi chuckled, his eye curving into a crescent. "I didn't want to miss all the entertainment I'm going to catch from here."
"Quite true, my friend!" Gai grinned broadly. "But it will not be as entertaining as it will be when your students fail the exam because my students are going to prevail!"
"So who is your best?"
"Neji Hyuga!"
"A Hyuga, huh?" Kakashi chuckled. "Well, I have a synthetic shinobi."
Gai's eyes widened in disbelief, his jaw practically hitting the floor. "A Synthetic Shinobi? What in the world does that even mean, Kakashi?"
Kakashi closed his book with a soft snap and finally looked up, his single visible eye crinkling in amusement. "It's quite simple, really. Naruto underwent an experimental procedure. She's now an android made of silicon and wood, designed to be stronger and more resilient."
Gai blinked rapidly, trying to process the information. "You mean to tell me that Naruto, the dead last of the academy, is now some kind of... of... super shinobi?"
Kakashi nodded. "Precisely. Her body is enhanced with advanced technology, giving her abilities far beyond what we initially expected. And she's still got that endless determination and spirit."
"Why do you refer Naruto as 'her'?"
"Because Naruto is a girl, I suppose."
Gai shook his head, still in disbelief. "I suppose I should have known better…but…you have creativity my friend… but... this is beyond my wildest expectations."
Kakashi chuckled. "Thanks."
"That wasn't a compliment!"
"Don't care."
"Huh? What does that even mean? And tell me the truth about Naruto!"
"Hm? You say something?" Kakashi said without looking up from the book he had just opened.
"Curse that hip and cool attitude of yours!"
o—O—o
Meanwhile, at the Academy, the atmosphere buzzed with excitement. Students from all over the elemental nations had gathered, creating a vibrant and competitive environment. Team Seven was among the crowd, their eyes scanning the faces of their fellow competitors.
As Team Seven entered the Academy building, they noticed people shooting them calculative looks, trying to gauge their strength and abilities.
Naruto blinked and was about to ask some of them why they were staring when Sasuke intervened. "Ignore them," he said curtly.
They saw a commotion in front of room 324.
"Please, let us through!" a boy pleaded desperately.
"Tch," scoffed a boy blocking the entrance, a toothpick in his mouth. "You don't have what it takes to be a chunin. Back off."
"I thought this was the second floor," Sakura observed.
"It is," Sasuke assured her. "They're trying to weed out those who lack potential through deception."
Naruto blinked. "So we should—"
"We should head to the third floor," Sasuke interjected. "Fewer competitors mean better chances for us."
"Ah," Naruto nodded. "So I should knock out everyone so we have no competitors at all." She looked quite satisfied with her plan. "I am a genius. Dattebayo."
Sakura quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her away before she could act on her impulsive idea.
Just as they were about to leave, a voice spoke behind them. "Identify yourself."
Naruto turned back mechanically. "I am Naruto Uzumaki, Rookie of the Year, and the most talented—"
"So you are not only the dead last," said a boy with pale eyes and long hair coldly, "but also a petty liar." He tapped his forehead protector. "I am a shinobi of this village who graduated last year, so I know exactly WHO Naruto Uzumaki is. This year's dead last. Although, I thought you were a boy."
His cold statement drew chuckles from those around them.
Naruto stuttered mechanically. "I…uh…was…assessing…your—"
A girl with two buns on her head stood beside the boy, she offered them a smile. She extended a hand towards Naruto who was still stuttering. "I am Tenten, this is Neji Hyuga. Nice to meet ya'!"
Naruto ignored her, still processing the fact that she was humiliated in front of so many people.
Sakura grabbed her hand and shook it. "I am Sakura and this is Sasuke."
Sasuke glared at the boy. "Sakura, these are our competitors, no need to get so friendly."
"Sasuke Uchiha," Neji took a step forward. "This year's Rookie of the Year. The last loyal Uchiha. I expect a good competition from you."
"Whatever," Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "Loser, Sakura, let's go."
Just when they were about to leave, a green blur shot in front of them, and they were immediately on guard but relaxed when they saw the person wearing a Leaf headband.
"Yosh!" The boy clad in a strange green jumpsuit exclaimed. His eyebrows wiggled like maggots. He had a bowl-cut hairstyle. "Sasuke Uchiha! This year's Rookie of the Year! I hope we can have respectable battles."
"Back off, weirdo," Sasuke said, looking bored.
The boy turned his attention to the girls, his jaw dropping. Sakura gulped as he looked her up and down with his mouth open. Then he looked at Naruto.
"Who might these beautiful blossoms be?" he asked, his tone dramatically reverent, his eyes sparkling with admiration.
Naruto blinked mechanically, clearly uncomfortable. "I... uh... Naruto Uzumaki, dattebayo."
Sakura, equally unnerved, stammered, "I-I'm Sakura Haruno. Nice to meet you."
The boy's eyes widened further. "Ah, such lovely names! I am Rock Lee, and I must say, you are the most beautiful things I have ever seen!"
Naruto and Sakura exchanged bewildered glances.
Rock Lee continued, undeterred. "I vow to protect you both from the bottom of my heart for the rest of my life. But alas, you must choose only one of you to be my eternal love! Thus, I wish to know which one of you is better suited for me."
Naruto, looking puzzled, started to say something when Sasuke interjected. "Stop bothering us, or else—" he activated his two-tomoe Sharingan, "you'll wish you hadn't messed with us."
Naruto nodded in agreement. "Acknowledge it."
"Hmph!" Sakura added, folding her arms.
Lee's expression shifted from confusion to determination. He grinned like a madman. "Yosh! So you want to keep both of them to yourself? Very well, I challenge you to a spar as last year's top student." He declared, striking a pose. "If you lose, you will not claim any of them."
Sasuke blinked, his expression one of disbelief. "Hn?!"
Naruto blinked, equally baffled. "Uh… Dattebayo…?"
Sakura blinked, shaking her head. "...cha?"
"Yosh! It appears that you have accepted my challenge! Let's head to the Academy's indoor sparring ground! "
Sasuke sighed, clearly exasperated. "...oh, fuck."
Naruto looked equally resigned. "Dattebayo."
Just then, Kakashi arrived, having witnessed the entire exchange. He sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "This is going to be interesting," he muttered to himself as he moved closer to watch the impending spar without revealing himself.
o—O—o
Unfortunately, Sasuke lost the spar easily. He was now rubbing his head, which was swelling and was currently bigger than Sakura's blossoms.
"Yosh!" Lee declared, striking a dramatic pose. "Since I have won, thus, which one of you blossoms is going to be my eternal lover?"
"...ew," Sakura shuddered. "I would rather date Kiba."
"His character is…questionable," Naruto stated, her robotic voice adding an extra layer of awkwardness. "I suspect he has a hidden agenda."
Lee clenched his fists, his determination unwavering. "I shall not back down—"
Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through the entrance and a booming voice echoed. "Lee! What is the meaning of this?!"
Everyone turned to see a man in a bright green jumpsuit identical to Lee's, his bowl-cut hairstyle and thick eyebrows unmistakable. He posed dramatically, a sparkling smile lighting up his face. "I am Maito Gai, the noble and handsome Green Beast of Konoha!"
"Gai-sensei!" Lee exclaimed, looking both horrified and excited.
Gai's expression turned stern as he marched towards Lee. "Lee, you know better than to engage in sparring matches right before the Chunin Exams! You must conserve your youthful energy for the challenges ahead!"
"But Gai-sensei," Lee protested, "I was merely defending the honor of these beautiful blossoms!"
Gai's eyes widened in surprise as he looked at Team Seven. His gaze lingered on Naruto, who stood there with her white hair and frilly black dress, looking decidedly out of place. He didn't say anything about her appearance, but his shock was evident.
"Well," Gai said, recovering quickly, "it seems you have met my eternal rival's students. Team Seven, I presume?"
Kakashi, who had been quietly observing, raised a hand in greeting. "Yo, Gai."
Gai's eyes narrowed. "Kakashi! I see your hip and cool attitude remains unchanged. But today is not about our rivalry. It is about guiding our youthful students towards success!"
Before they parted ways, Lee turned to Naruto and Sakura, his eyes shining with determination. "I shall win each of your hearts!"
"Sasuke-kun's heart too?!" Sakura exclaimed, her eyes wide with disbelief.
Sasuke looked horrified.
"I had already observed that he has a questionable character," Naruto stated with a nod. "Dattebayo."
"...no." Lee blinked, his confidence momentarily shaken. "But you blossoms shall indeed fall for me."
"Yeah, when hell freezes over," Sakura stated flatly.
"Indeed, when…I…uh…" Naruto stuttered, trying to come up with a metaphor.
"We shall see then," Lee declared, his resolve unshaken.
With that, Team Seven watched as Lee and Gai walked away, their matching green jumpsuits a bizarre yet memorable sight. The Chunin Exams were already proving to be more than they had expected, and this was just the beginning.