Shinji moved quickly across the rooftops as the village slowly woke beneath him.
It felt strange being back.
Three months away from the village training under Hiruzen Sarutobi had changed something in him.
He landed on the stone railing outside the Hokage Tower and dropped down to the balcony.
An ANBU guard stood beside the door. The masked shinobi gave him a short nod. "The Hokage is expecting you."
Shinji raised an eyebrow slightly. Expecting me?
He slid the door open and stepped inside.
The office was already occupied. Behind the desk sat the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.
Standing near the window was Hiruzen. Shinji stepped forward and bowed slightly.
"You wanted to see me, Lord Hokage."
Minato smiled lightly. "Yes."
He gestured toward the center of the room. "Stand with them."
Shinji blinked. Them?
That was when he noticed the other two figures already standing in the office.
One stood near the wall The other bounced slightly on his feet like he had too much energy to stay still.
Shinji's eyebrows lifted. "…Seriously?"
Shisui Uchiha smiled faintly. "Been a while."
Next to him, the energetic one threw a fist in the air.
"SHINJI!"
Might Guy grinned with explosive enthusiasm. "OUR YOUTHFUL RIVALRY CONTINUES!"
Shinji sighed. "I forgot how loud you are."
Guy pointed dramatically at him. "THE FLAMES OF YOUTH CANNOT BE SILENCED!"
Shisui chuckled quietly. Some things never changed.
Once upon a time, the three of them had been genin teammates. A strange squad put together during the war years.
Minato cleared his throat gently.
"You three have been recommended for the Jonin Promotion Examination."
Shinji blinked once. Shisui's expression didn't change.
Guy gasped dramatically. "THE JONIN EXAM?!"
Minato nodded. "Correct."
"Becoming a jonin is not simply a promotion in rank." "It means the village trusts you with lives."
Minato stood and walked toward them. "Normally many candidates are evaluated."
"This year… only three were recommended."
His eyes moved between them.
Shinji crossed his arms slightly. "So it's basically a competition."
Minato smiled faintly. "Not exactly."
Hiruzen finally spoke from the window. "The Jonin Exams are not about defeating one another." "They exist to determine who can carry the responsibilities of leadership."
Shisui nodded thoughtfully. "That makes sense."
Guy clenched his fist. "THEN WE SHALL ALL PROVE OURSELVES THROUGH THE POWER OF YOUTH!"
Shinji rubbed his temple. "You're going to yell through the entire exam, aren't you?"
"ABSOLUTELY!"
Minato laughed quietly. "I see the teamwork from your genin days hasn't changed."
Shinji smirked slightly. "Teamwork is a generous word."
Minato returned to his desk. "The exam will take place over several stages." "The first stage begins tomorrow."
Guy leaned forward eagerly.
"What is the first test, Lord Hokage?!"
Minato smiled. "A written evaluation."
Guy froze. "A what?"
Shisui immediately laughed. Shinji smirked.
Guy slowly turned toward them with horror on his face. "YOU DIDN'T SAY THERE WOULD BE READING!"
Minato chuckled.
"Jonin must be capable of strategic thinking."
Guy dropped to one knee dramatically. "MY YOUTHFUL SPIRIT IS STRONG… BUT MY TEST-TAKING SKILLS ARE NOT!"
Shinji shook his head. "You're doomed."
Shisui smiled. "Probably."
Minato let the moment settle before continuing.
"The written exam will test your judgment as a shinobi." "Battlefield decisions." "Leadership choices."
"There are no simple answers."
Hiruzen stepped forward. "And remember this." "A jonin is not the strongest shinobi in the room." "A jonin is the one others rely on when everything goes wrong."
Minato folded his hands again. "Get some rest." "The exam begins at sunrise tomorrow."
The three shinobi turned to leave. As they reached the door, Guy suddenly threw an arm around Shinji and Shisui.
"MY FRIENDS!"
He grinned wildly. "THIS WILL BE A GLORIOUS BATTLE OF YOUTH!"
Shinji sighed. "It's a written test."
Guy's smile froze. "…Right."
Shisui laughed as they stepped out into the hallway.
And tomorrow, the Jonin Exams would begin.