Systematic Shinobi - Chapter 19.1

The Hokage Bunker was abuzz with noise. Usually a quiet place, it was a large room located under the Hokage Tower itself, fifty feet underground and with only the Hokage themselves able to enter and access the room.

But, that was not so today.

Today, the room was filled to the absolute brim, many a top jonin were gathered alongside dozens of active chunin. Elite Jonin, Special Jonin, clan heads, advisors and all.

Despite how many of them that had gathered though, there was a large, respectful distance between the gathered ninja and where the Hokage sat behind a desk, comfortably resting on an incredibly large and soft throne-like chair.

His advisors and former teammates, flanked him from each side, Homura Mitokudo, an old, stern faced man with rectangular spectacles and Koharu Utatane, an old bun haired woman with just as stern a face as her glasses wearing comrade.

"As you all know, it is that time of the year again," Sarutobi spoke up, his voice immediately halting any voices from the gathered ninja and allowing his words to carry over the large room easily, "The chunin exams are once again upon us and it is now time to determine who of our genin will be taking part in the exams."

He let his words hang in the air a bit, looking through the gathered ninja slowly before nodding, "First, I think we'll hear from the those teaching the newest squads of genin," the Sandaime continued, his eyes lingering on three specifically of the gathering, "Kakashi, Asuma, Kurenai, your thoughts?"

At his prompting, the three named stepped forward out of the crowd of ninja, a beautiful dark haired woman with striking red eyes and a scruffy bearded jonin with an unlit cigarette hanging from his mouth.

Kakashi was the first one to speak, looking up from his ever present book, "I Kakashi Hatake, leader of Team Seven, nominate Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno and Naruto Uzumaki to take part in the Chunin Exams." he stated clearly and loudly.

For a second, there was silence, before a chorus of shocked exclamations and mutters resounded from behind him.

"A rookie team, is he crazy?"

"Oh come on Kakashi! Are you kidding?"

"Sasuke Uchiha I can see, but that Uzumaki brat? He's useless!"

And so on and so forth, a many were trying to get on Kakashi's case about his bold nomination, but he ignored them boredly.

Things only became more heated when Asuma and Kurenai nominated their own rookie genin teams to take part in the exams.

Especially Kurenai, being only a recently promoted Jonin, having only been one for a few months before becoming a squad leader and sensei.

"All of them, huh?" Sarutobi mused with a light grin, "How rare." few genin teams after all, were talented enough to be nominated for the chunin exams within their first six months of being proper ninja and leaving the academy behind.

"Hold on a second!" a scar faced chunin spoke up. Iruka stormed his way to the front and glared at the three sensei's of the nominated rookie genin teams, "You three can't be serious!"

The chunin and academy teacher glared at them for a moment before turning and bowing to the Hokage, "I'm sorry for speaking out of turn Hokage-sama, but please allow me to say my piece." he apologized.

The Hokage raised an eyebrow, but that was all, before merely waving his hand and gesturing for the man to say his piece.

Iruka nodded, before turning to the three, "I may be speaking out of line, but I know these kids, I taught them for years, it's only been six months, they're not ready!" he stated firmly, "They are talented for sure, each and every one of them in their own way, but the Chunin Exams is on another level, are you trying to get these kids crushed?"

"I became a chunin when I was six, seven years younger than Naruto." Kakashi pointed out with a shrug.

Iruka paused, registering his words, before his glare became lethal, "This isn't just about Naruto!" he spat, "Not a single one of them are ready, not even Sasuke, they need more experience!"

"A lot can change in six months," Kurenai refuted him, "Hinata for instance has changed massively in the last few months and grown in leaps and bounds, she may very well be the strongest of her graduating class now."

Kakashi snorted.

"Oh, you disagree?" Kurenai challenged him, "I'm actually in a position to comment because I taught these kids some at the academy myself before I became a Jonin. You may think Sasuke is the strongest, but I'm well aware of his talent, and I was already a chunin myself at their age, yet, I believe I would not be able to defeat Hinata as I was at her age."

Hiashi Hyuga, standing alongside his few clan heads, perked up at the mention of his daughter, his lips for a brief moment, twitching upwards, before being hidden by an impassive frown a split second later.

"No actually, while Sasuke has definitely come a long way himself and grown by leaps and bounds, I already know who the strongest genin is in the village, taking every single one of them into account," Kakashi shrugged, "And it definitely isn't the cute little Hyuga heiress, and I wouldn't be bragging so much about her strength, it isn't exactly your doing."

Kurenai's mouth dropped at his casual dismissal of her efforts as a sensei, but before she could fire back, Asuma stepped between them, "Now now guys, let's calm down, no need to get all fired up," the heir of the Sarutobi laughed lightly, "I think my kids are pretty talented as well, which is why I'm recommending them."

Kakashi shrugged uncaringly, while Kurenai huffed and crossed her arms, "Hmph, probably just going to make a stupid joke about Naruto being the best or something anyway, despite how untalented he is." she muttered.

Kakashi's eyes narrowed ever so slightly and Iruka outright glared at the woman, opening his mouth to reply-

Only for a cough to interrupt them, "Well, I suppose this is as good a time as any then," the Sandaime drew the attention back to him, "But now that Kakashi has brought the subject up, I will be personally pushing forth a single genin to take part in the exams."

All eyes in the room whipped to him.

"Hiruzen..?" Koharu asked, looking at him oddly.

With all eyes on him, Hiruzen merely placed his hand under his desk, and the wall behind him slid apart to reveal a large screen embedded within the wall.

A second later, it lit up, displaying the ninja registration and information page of a broad shouldered, tan skinned and crimson red eyes teenager.

"Daiki!?" Iruka went absolutely wide eyed.

Unnoticed by many, Hiashi straightened up and paid special attention at the mention of the boys name.

"Kakashi mentioned him off hand, but this is Daiki Yurei, a genin I specifically have my eye on," Hiruzen explained to the gathered ninja, "Currently, he has completed sixty four D-rank missions, three C-rank missions, one B-rank mission and one S-rank mission, currently a member of the Genin Corps, he graduated six months ago and failed the exam placed by his Jonin Sensei of the time, since then, he has trained rigorously and has personally killed no less than five Jonin, one a former member of the Seven Swordsman of The Mist and beyond my dear friend Kosuke, has the highest kill count of any Genin in the village, with over one hundred confirmed kills to his name."

For a moment, there was absolute silence, before the gathered ninja once again broke into a cacophony of noise.

"Five Jonin!?"

"Forget that, a member of the Seven Swordsman, as a rookie Genin? Am I hearing this right?"

"He's gotta be kidding right? And what's with that absurd number of D-ranks!?"

"No, ignoring all that, what's a kid who accomplished all this and has the eye of the Hokage himself doing in the corps What absolute idiot failed this kid?"

Genma Shiranui near the back of the room winced, ducking his head out of view of any scanning the room.

"Daiki?" Kurenai frowned, "I don't remember him standing out much, he was middle of the pack at best within the academy, are you sure Hokage-sama?"

"You really shouldn't talk Kurenai, you mainly taught Genjutsu classes and were only at the academy for a couple of months," Iruka cut in, "Daiki was one of the most talented of the class, rivalled only by Sasuke Uchiha, the only reason he was ranked much lower was because he pursued every shinobi art at once - Taijutsu, Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, Bukijutsu, everything taught at the academy, he pursued instead of focusing on one or two like most others, I specifically noted in his examination papers that should he find a focus, he would no doubt be the best of his graduating class by far, surpassing even Sasuke."

"Eh, kid did you one better," Kakashi shrugged, "He just trained even harder, the kids a training maniac that puts Gai to shame, trains from dawn till dusk until complete exhaustion, every single day."

"Indeed," the Sandaime nodded in agreement, "Young Daiki-kun is a splendid shinobi. Physically fast and strong enough to fight a taijutsu specialist Jonin, ninjutsu capability that few can match, a massive chakra capacity, a near expert in Fuinjutsu, a very special pair of Genjutsu to his name and even capable of using elemental jutsu from every element with a variety of B and A-rank jutsu under his belt."

Nobody said a thing in response, too busy digesting what was said and none had the bravery to question the Hokage's decision.

Shock though was the most prevalent feeling throughout the room. None felt more so, than Iruka at the progress his former student had made.

Well, none that is, but Kakashi;

"By the way Kurenai, he's the one you can thank for the Hyuga Heiress' change in attitude," Kakashi helpfully informed with a wide eye smile, "He usually trains at training ground sixty-nine if you want to go thank him for doing your job for you."

Kurenai's fingers flexed, hands balling into fists, but she held her tongue instead of retorting to Kakashi's baiting, her eyes narrowed into an angry glare upon his form though.

From there, things proceeded, with the rest of the sensei's speaking up and nominating or declining their teams entry into the exam.

None spoke about Daiki Yurei any longer, despite the burning question many of them all shared: why was he being allowed to participate without a team?

But none had the gall to question the Hokage's decision.

Things only really perked up at all again when Iruka spoke up and pleaded with the Hokage for the chance to test the rookie genin teams, and would wholeheartedly agree with the decisions made by the the rookie team sensei's, if they passed his test.

The Hokage, left the decision up to the sensei's themselves, Kakashi and Asuma agreeing without a fuss.

Kurenai on the other hand:

"I'm all for it, I have faith in Team Eight," she declared, but then looked to the Hokage and bowed her head, "On that note Hokage-sama, I request the permission to test Daiki Yurei myself, I wish to confirm the skills you speak so highly of." she asked of him.

The Sandaime raised an eyebrow at her, but merely nodded, "Very well, I give you permission to do so," he agreed, "I should warn you though, not to take him lightly." he informed her, narrowing her eyes and pinning her in place with the seriousness of his gaze.

"Thank you Hokage-sama." Kurenai bowed her head, ignoring the eyes her request had drawn to her.