Chương 55

Sasuke smiled and was himself excited knowing that Gaara was strong. Everyone here knew that Rei was beyond strong now. He was on the level of jonins and though Rei never showed it, they had the general inkling that the teenager could actually take on any chunin and most jonins and come out victorious. Even Kakashi once admitted that Rei was a terrifying beast on his own, even if he had never fought him, Rei would be a nightmare for anyone. Thus Kakashi wasn't bothered about Rei at all.

He was worried about the trio. Especially Sakura. She needed to grow up and thankfully Rei had actually started teaching her medical ninjutsu. Though it was very basic and would take a lot of time, she had already started. The next few days went like a blur. Everyone was hyped up and so was Team 7. Except Rei. He treated everything with the same enthusiasm as an old man looking at children in an amusement park. Loved seeing them, but hated joining them. Soon it was time for the infamous written test.

Many things happened and Team 7 finally got to see Rock Lee and also the other infamous confession. Rei couldn't help but shake his head. This guy was one of a kind. He had seen him train before and was even tempted at one point to get his signature. Actually, no, he would definitely get his signature but he needed it to be genuine, not some manipulation. Besides, it wasn't like he was lacking at the moment. He was strong regardless. Having Lee as his half contract would just make him fast and strong.

No way in hell was he going to use the 8 Gates. Maybe in desperate situations and if he ever was in that kind of desperate situation where he needed to use the 8 Gates, then the situation was probably unsalvageable. Soon they entered the hall and finally the famous Rookie 9, sorry Rookie 10, met with each other. Seeing his older classmates again after a long time did make Rei smile. Their gathering didn't last long as soon the one with glasses came to add himself into the group. Yakushi Kabuto.

Another masterpiece of Danzo and molded by Orochimaru. He spoke about how he was the oldest genin and how he could help them and he was expecting a more enthusiastic reaction, but then Rei said.

"Why don't you leave us alone instead of bothering us?"

"Hey, Rei. He is a veteran and from Konoha. He will know it better than anyone else here.." Sakura couldn't help but interject only for Rei to continue looking at Kabuto.

"As I said, you can leave.." Rei said and this time with a certain amount of seriousness. Kabuto looked at the others and was surprised to see none of them seemed to refute his words. Even Kiba, whom he knew as the outgoing one, didn't say a word. Rei might not be the best among them all, but that didn't mean Rei was looked down upon. He was the first in the theory class and was considered the most intelligent in the class.

They might not know the intelligence of Shikamaru, but they definitely knew about Rei's intelligence and none of them questioned him. Even Naruto was silent and that said a lot.

"It seems I am not welcome here." Kabuto said with a smirk, expecting some kind of response but there was none. He could only leave with his head down and a bit of shame. But if one could put their camera down and look into his face, one would see a smiling one. He was amused by what he saw with Rei and his influence. It was more than he expected.

"Rei, why did you tell him to go away?" Ino couldn't help but ask.

"I got bad vibes when I looked at him." Rei said.

"Huh! Did you just say bad vibes and then tell him to buzz off? That's new coming from you, Rei." Shikamaru said. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Rei just shrugged his shoulders. And thus just like the original story, the exams finally began properly. The written exam itself went almost exactly according to canon. Ibiki came in with his terrifying aura. Everyone got intimidated.

Naruto panicked internally after seeing the impossible questions and everyone slowly started cheating through their own methods. Honestly, Rei almost laughed seeing all of it happen in real time. Because unlike others who were sweating bullets trying to figure out the hidden meaning behind the exam... he already knew it. Still, he played along anyway. Sasuke copied through his Sharingan. Sakura actually solved most of the paper genuinely because she was terrifying academically.

Naruto looked like his soul was leaving his body every five minutes. And Rei? Rei casually answered enough while also watching everyone else with mild amusement. Kabuto cheating professionally, if that was considered. Hinata helping Naruto. Gaara using his sand eye. Shino acting like an undercover government agent. The entire room looked less like an exam hall and more like a criminal convention. Then finally came Naruto's famous declaration.

"I DON'T CARE IF I STAY A GENIN FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE! I'M NOT GIVING UP!" That single loud declaration completely shifted the atmosphere of the room. Even Ibiki looked slightly impressed afterward. And thus the first phase ended successfully. Right before everyone could properly relax though— BOOOOM. The window shattered open dramatically. A black cloth flew across the room while a woman appeared upside down in classic over-the-top fashion.

"NO TIME TO CELEBRATE YOU MAGGOTS!" Anko Mitarashi had arrived. Rei genuinely forgot how extra this woman was. All of this courage only to be treated as a battery? What a waste? And in Boruto she even became fat. She was one of those people who shouldn't be introduced to modern life. Her downfall would come faster than Rei could keep up. Naruto looked stunned by the sheer amount of unnecessary theatrics. Meanwhile Anko proudly announced the second phase of the exam: The Forest of Death.

That instantly killed the mood of half the room. The waiver forms came next. And unlike canon where everyone hesitated slightly after hearing people could die... Team 7 barely reacted anymore. Because they had the permission of Rei, they could just teleport away if the situation was ever too dire. Soon the teams gathered outside near the massive fenced forest. And immediately another small complication appeared.

"... Team 7 has four members?" one of the proctors frowned slightly while checking documents. Technically Rei wasn't supposed to exist within the standard team structures anymore. Though the higherups would probably think it was Sakura, but would Rei ever admit it? Hell no. After brief discussion between exam officials and Kakashi, the solution became surprisingly simple. Instead of receiving one random scroll like ordinary teams— Team 7 received both. One Heaven Scroll. One Earth Scroll. Extra member.

Extra compensation. Also two scrolls too to complete the phase. Rei didn't care much either way. He already knew Orochimaru would eventually target Sasuke anyway. The scrolls themselves weren't the dangerous part. The forest was, or rather that snake was. Rei had already noticed him from the corner of his eye but he didn't dare to look at him in the eyes. Rei was strong but he wasn't that level as of yet. And this would probably be the first time he would be facing that monster and that too in his prime.

Rei was excited and also scared a bit. Naruto immediately shouted dramatically while charging inside.

"WE ARE GONNA FINISH THIS FIRST!"

"... Naruto wait." Sakura sighed tiredly. Sasuke simply jumped into the trees silently afterward. And Rei calmly followed behind them with his hands inside his pockets like someone going on a casual walk instead of entering a deadly survival zone designed to psychologically destroy children. Soon after entering deeper into the Forest of Death, Rei suddenly stopped on one of the higher branches quietly.

"... You guys go ahead." Naruto immediately looked confused.

"Huh? Why?"

"Need to check something." Rei replied casually.

"I'll find you later." Sakura frowned slightly afterward. She didn't understand what Rei could search in a forest, a deathly one at that.

"... Inside this forest?"

"He literally teleports between universes." Sasuke spoke calmly while adjusting his position on the branch.

"I think he can handle a forest." Naruto still looked slightly unconvinced though.

"... Don't die before we become chunins." Rei snorted slightly afterward.

"You first." And with that, Team 7 separated. Sasuke, Naruto and Sakura moved deeper toward the center of the forest while Rei quietly changed directions entirely. Because unlike them... he wasn't wandering randomly. He was searching for someone specific. Karin Uzumaki. It took some time to find her. The forest was huge and every team from the start had gone away from each other to survive. Only teams like Gaara's were built different, others followed the normal trope.

Some ninjas tried to get to him seeing him alone, instead two teams got beaten down almost instantly, with just normal shuriken and kunai. What were these guys smoking? Soon Rei silently landed atop a nearby branch before looking downward calmly. There she was. One of the last pure Uzumaki. Sorry, the only pure Uzumaki. Nagato, you have tainted yourself with Rinnegan, you aren't pure anymore. Adolf Hitler dislikes you.