Naruto: Chakra System

Underneath the Hokage Tower, a large room, typically a quiet and secluded place reserved for the Hokage, was today filled with a throng of Konoha shinobi. Elite Jōnin, Jōnin, Special Jōnin, and active Chūnin were all gathered. Despite the large number, a respectful distance was maintained between the gathered ninja and the incredibly wide, soft purple chair where Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, sat behind his desk. He rested comfortably, a smoking pipe under his mouth.

"Seeing whom I invited here, you may be able to guess," Hiruzen said, taking a long drag from his pipe. "...Guess what we are here to discuss."

"Yep! The Chūnin Exams, of course," Kakashi replied, his hands in his pockets. His single visible eye was directed toward Hiruzen, though his mind seemed to be elsewhere.

'Why the hell is my chakra level still at Peak-Kage? Just how far is the next level?' a thought of annoyance crossed Kakashi's mind as he checked his system status screen, a detail only he could see.

[Host: Kakashi Hatake]

[Chakra Pool: 2,986,880/3,014,750]

[Chakra Control: 93/100]

[Chakra Level: Peak-Kage]

[Chakra Affinity: All]

[Chakra Growth: +50,000 per day]

He had been looking at this screen since he woke up this morning, through an early Council Meeting, training with his team, and now here.

'Is this what System told me about, the limit of normally any Shinobi has?' thought Kakashi, 'If even Peak-Kage is a limit for others, it's still a pretty high for those who reached this level normally!'

"When is it to be?" Genma, standing to Kakashi's right, asked Hiruzen.

"One week from today!" Hiruzen answered, taking another quick puff from his pipe.

"Huh! Isn't this rather sudden?" several shinobi in the room asked, their surprise evident.

"Well, preparations have already been made. To make it completely official, I hereby announce... seven days from now, on July 1st," Hiruzen said with a warm smile, "We shall begin conducting the Chūnin Exam!"

He gestured for them to approach. "Now then, we'd like to hear first from those who have overseen the training of our newest junior ninja, the Genin," Hiruzen requested. "Come forward, Kakashi, Kurenai, and Asuma. Tell us... Do any of you have any students you'd recommend for this year's Chūnin Exam?"

He took another smoke from his pipe before adding, "And one more thing, they must have completed a minimum of fifteen missions. You may begin, Kakashi!"

"I, Kakashi Hatake, vow upon the honor of my... No, the Sarutobi Clan, that all three of my Genin are ready for the Chūnin Exam." Kakashi stated, making a seal of confrontation with his right hand.

"HUH?!" Everyone in the room, even those who were standing casually, was stunned, gaze at Kakashi with eyes and mouth wide open. They didn't even take into account the rest of what Kakashi said, only hearing his vow on the Sarutobi Clan's honor.

"Cough... Cough..." Hiruzen coughed lightly, placing his smoking pipe down.

"K-Kakashi, why are you vowing upon my clan's name?" Asuma asked. After all, besides Hiruzen, he was the only other shinobi from the Sarutobi Clan in the room.

"Because only I remain in my clan," Kakashi stated simply, don't carrying about logic, his mind still half-focused on his system status screen.

"Ahem... Well, if you say so, then I believe your team is truly ready. Next, Kurenai," Hiruzen sighed with a light cough, prompting Kurenai to speak.

Kurenai also made a seal of confrontation, but with her right hand, and said, "I, Kurenai Yūhi, vow upon the honor of my... No, the Sarutobi Clan, that all of my students are ready for the Chūnin Exam."

Cough...

Cough...

The room fell silent for another moment, punctuated only by a few coughs from Hiruzen and Asuma.

Kakashi turned to her and asked, "Hey, why did you vow on the Sarutobi Clan's honor?"

"I'm considering it from a future perspective," Kurenai stated simply, with a straight face.

"Oh... That makes sense," Kakashi nodded in understanding.

"W-well, that's good. Asuma, what about your Genin?" Hiruzen, wanting to move on, turned to his son.

Asuma, who had been left speechless by Kurenai's remark, had a slight blush on his cheeks and his cigarette fell from his mouth to ground. He didn't even hear Hiruzen.

"Ahem, Asuma, speak!" Hiruzen cleared his throat and said firmly.

"Oh, yeah," Asuma came out of his shy shock, making a seal of confrontation. "I, Asuma Kur... Sarutobi, v-vow upon the honor of my... yeah, my Sarutobi Clan, that all of my Genin are ready for the Chūnin selection exam."

Asuma said with a half-mind, his thoughts on the 'future perspective' that Kurenai had spoken of.

"Haa... How unusual, for all three of you to have unhesitatingly assented," Hiruzen said with a small sigh.

"J-JUST A MOMENT!" But before he could say anything else, Iruka, who was standing in the back, yelled hesitantly.

"...What is it, Iruka?" Hiruzen asked.

"Forgive me if I overstep but... all of these nine were my students just half a year ago at the Academy," Iruka protested. "They're certainly talented and hardworking, but... It's too soon for them to be stepping into the Chūnin Exam already!"

Iruka's gaze turned to Kakashi, Kurenai, and Asuma. "Only with time will they have the kind of experience and maturity needed for the Chūnin Exam. I don't understand why you three can't see that!"

"Hmmm... Iruka, you know, I was only six years old when I became a Chūnin," Kakashi said with a simple tone, turning to Iruka. "Though even I can't understand now how I was able to attain that rank, but I did. So why can't these kids, who are double my that age— twelve and almost thirteen now?"

"BUT NARUTO'S NOT LIKE YOU!!" Iruka shouted in protest.

"Yeah, he's not like me," Kakashi said with a genuine smile hidden under his mask. "...Actually, he's more talented than me. Even Sasuke and Sakura as well."

Iruka was momentarily taken aback. Kakashi himself saying this was surprising, not only for him but for all the other ninja in the room, who began to murmur quietly.

"And I don't know about Asuma and Kurenai's students, but my Genin are more than ready for this exam. Trust me, bro— I mean, Iruka, Naruto is ready. Trust me on this!" Kakashi said in a reassuring tone.

"Kakashi! My students are also ready!" Kurenai spoke firmly, turning to him.

Kakashi gave her a plain, blank stare, as well as to Asuma, who seemed like he was about to join Kurenai's protest, then turned his focus back to his system status screen, which was only visible to him.

Iruka, who had protested against letting Naruto and the other eight enter the Chūnin Exam, now felt a peace of mind from Kakashi's assuring tone, though he was still a little worried. But he did not speak against it anymore. Hiruzen later asked the other Jōnin who had Genin for more than a year back under them for their viewpoints on their students entering the Chūnin Exam.