章 65: Application
Riku's eyes widened when his gaze moved into his genins' hands. They were all holding the stones in their hands. Riku's gaze moved over to his pouch, where he was sure the stones were, only to find it empty.
'When did they get it?'
The surprise etched across Riku's face was palpable, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the empty pouch. The element of surprise had been masterfully executed, catching even the seasoned jounin off guard.
Aiko couldn't help but smirk. "It seems, sensei, that we've managed to learn a thing or two from your previous tests."
Renjiro added, "You taught us to expect the unexpected. It's only fair that we turn the tables every once in a while."
Riku, recovering from his initial surprise, couldn't help but crack a smile.
"Well played, guys. You've earned my approval for the Chunin Exams."
It seemed that Riku had finally caught on to what his genins had done to retrieve the three stones from him. Of course, he had earlier told them where the stones would be, to make things easier for them. Their only challenge was how to get them from him.
Back when the challenge was set by Riku, the members of Team 15 had begun brainstorming strategies to outsmart their jounin sensei.
Hiro proposed, "Why don't we just go for a frontal assault? We can overwhelm him with our combined strength!"
Aiko shook her head. "Hiro, even if sensei holds back, there's no way we can defeat him in a direct confrontation, we already tried that during our training and it didn't end well. We need a plan that plays to our strengths."
Renjiro chimed in, "What if we use genjutsu? We could confuse him and make our move."
Aiko raised an eyebrow, "Riku is no slouch when it comes to genjutsu. He'd see through it immediately, Renjiro."
Renjiro nodded, acknowledging the point. "True, but what if we use a layered approach? Create a genjutsu that's a distraction while we execute our real plan."
Hiro scratched his head, intrigued but unsure. "How do we even make him fall for the distraction? He's more experienced than us when it comes to such things."
Renjiro offered a sly smile. "That's where the beauty lies. We'll make it so convincing that he won't suspect it's a setup."
Renjiro, sensing the doubts lingering in the minds of his teammates, added. "Look, guys, Riku might know about our abilities, but he has no idea about my genjutsu practice. He's aware of our strengths, but he won't see this coming. I am not quite a master at it, but I can give it a try."
Hiro crossed his arms, "But won't he expect us to use genjutsu? I mean, it's a bit too obvious, isn't it?"
Renjiro grinned, his Sharingan reflecting a glint of mischief. "That's precisely the point. Riku will be ready for genjutsu, but not from me. He'll be expecting it from Aiko. We'll use that expectation to our advantage."
Aiko, catching onto Renjiro's plan, nodded in agreement. "He's right. Riku knows my expertise lies in genjutsu. If we catch him off guard with Renjiro's skills, it might just work."
Hiro, though still uncertain, shrugged and conceded, "Alright, let's give it a shot."
"Alright, so Aiko will initiate her genjutsu as a distraction. Then, when Riku is focused on countering her genjutsu, I will slip in with my own. It has to be subtle and something he won't notice immediately."
Aiko nodded. "Got it. I'll make it not too obvious, so he won't even realize it's happening until it's too late."
As the team finalized their plan, Hiro raised an eyebrow. "So, what's our plan B? Because this seems a bit too risky, and I wasn't even aware Renjiro was practising genjutsu."
Renjiro glanced at Hiro, his expression serious. "We don't have a plan B. This is it, do or die. If we fail to pull this off, we're not participating in the Chunin Exams. The stakes are high, Hiro."
Hiro let out a sigh, realizing the gravity of the situation. "Well, I guess we're all in then."
With the plan set, they dispersed to their positions, each mentally preparing for the challenge that lay ahead. Meanwhile, Renjiro focused on the details of his genjutsu, aiming for a level of finesse that would catch even a seasoned Jounin off guard.
'Which Genjutsu should I use? It can't be too flashy, otherwise our plan will fall like a house of cards. Right! I can use that!'
Fortunately for them, their plan worked like clockwork. The element of surprise helped Renjiro slip into his genjutsu dulling Riku's senses and securing the three stones from him.
The genjutsu Renjiro used was the very first one he learnt, the Demonic illusion: False surroundings technique. It was the one Aiko had used on him. Renjiro did not go all out with it as he had to ensure Riku didn't get wind of it.
Back to the present, Riku, who had been impressed by their ingenuity, approached them with a proud smile.
"You've earned my approval for the Chunin Exams. Take this opportunity seriously and take care of yourselves during the exams. Right now, the village needs every capable ninja it can get, and your promotion will be a significant contribution."
Riku continued, "Remember, being a Chunin comes with more responsibilities. Train hard and make the village proud. Good luck in the exams, and make the most out of this chance."
With those words of encouragement, Riku left them to contemplate the journey ahead. Since it was well into the evening they decided to meet up the next day to apply for the chunin exams.
=========
The sun had just begun to cast its morning glow over the village as Renjiro, Aiko, and Hiro approached the Hokage building.
The air was thick with anticipation, and the trio couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness as they prepared to officially apply for the Chunin Exams.
As they arrived at the registration building for the Chunin Exams, they were met with a bustling scene. The place was filled with genins from various teams.
As they navigated through the sea of genins outside the registration building, Renjiro couldn't help but express his surprise. "Has it always been this crowded during the Chunin Exams?"
Hiro glanced around, "Not really. This time, they've opened up the opportunity for genin reserves to take part. That's why there's such a surge in participants."
The trio strolled among the genins, weaving through the lively crowd.
The registration desk was a hive of activity. A Chunin official sat behind it, sorting through stacks of paperwork and calling out names. The trio approached the desk, and the Chunin looked up with a friendly yet efficient demeanour.
"Team 15, I presume?" she said, glancing at her clipboard.
Renjiro nodded. "That's right. We're here to register for the Chunin Exams."
The Chunin quickly located their team on the list. "Perfect. Fill out these forms, and once you're done, bring them back to me."
As they took the forms, Renjiro couldn't help but overhear snippets of conversations from the other genins.
"Hey, did you hear Team 10 is participating?"
"I hope we get a chance to face off against Team 7. They're always making headlines."
"Think they'll have us do the Forest of Death again?"
Renjiro couldn't help but glance around, expecting to see unfamiliar faces from other villages. However, his expectations were met with a hint of disappointment.
'Why is everyone from Konoha?' Renjiro wondered
"Are there no participants from other villages this time?" Renjiro inquired,
Aiko shook her head. "No, this time, it's an internal affair. The Chunin Exams will only feature Konoha's own shinobis."
'And here I was expecting genins from other villages. But with the temporary peace, it would be hard to do so.'
Renjiro exchanged glances with Aiko and Hiro, a bit surprised but nonetheless understanding the reasoning behind the decision.
Perhaps it was a strategic move, focusing on strengthening the village's internal capabilities before engaging in external competitions.
Completing the paperwork, Renjiro handed the forms back to the receptionist. "Thank you," he said, his tone a mix of determination and readiness. "We're looking forward to the exams."
After registering for the Chunin Exams, Renjiro returned home to make final preparations.
He took a moment to review his theories on Genjutsu and pondered how he could incorporate them into his performance during the exams.
Sitting at his desk, he meticulously inspected his ninja tools, making sure each kunai and shuriken was in perfect condition.
Alone in his room, Renjiro reflected on his journey from a determined Genin to a participant in the Chunin Exams. As he laid out his ninja headband and carefully adjusted his gear, he whispered to himself, "This is it, Renjiro."
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