NARUTO: In the Era of Sannin

One by one, names were called as the participants who passed the second round were announced. The exam was brutal, with nearly 90% of the students being from various clans, making the selection process fierce and unforgiving.

Yuichi stood quietly, waiting for his name to be called. He listened to the names being announced, recognizing many of them. 

He had a good memory, likely enhanced by his intelligence stat from the system, but it wasn't quite photographic. 

He didn't remember every single name, but the frequency of clansmen names stood out to him: Uchiha, Senju, Hyuga, and others.

"So many Senju… How did they vanish in just fifty years?"

Yuichi mused, recalling the story from his previous life. The plot holes left by the author never sat right with him, and now, in this world, they piqued his curiosity even more. He wondered if the answers lay somewhere beyond the written story.

Soon, his name was called, and he left the room, stepping through the door and entering an unexpected scene.

He found himself standing at the edge of a dense jungle, only two other participants alongside him. His eyes narrowed, immediately scanning the unfamiliar surroundings.

"Is this a genjutsu?" 

Yuichi quickly ran through the hand signs to dispel it, but nothing happened. Everything around him was real. The transition from the academy to this forest had been seamless.

"How did they do this? We just walked through the doors and now we're… here?" 

Yuichi's mind whirled with theories, trying to piece together how the exam had been structured. Before he could think further, an instructor appeared before them, holding a scroll.

The instructor spoke in a gruff, no-nonsense tone, "This scroll in my hand is a 'Graduation Scroll.' Your task in this round is simple. You three will act as a team and be provided with three headbands, each representing a 'life token.'"

He paused, letting the information sink in.

"Your mission is to deliver the Graduation Scroll to one of the eight Objective Zones located near the center of the forest. Each zone will be guarded by a single chunin instructor. To pass, you must either remove or break the chunin's life token while protecting your own."

The instructor's eyes swept over the three participants, his voice growing more serious. 

"This is the real test. Only 24 participants will graduate early. This means competition will be fierce. And while we advise you not to use lethal force against each other, it's up to you how far you'll go. Your graduation will be determined by your performance in this round. Remember, there's no fixed number of passers—could be as few as 15 or as many as 28, depending on how you perform."

He handed out the headbands and the scroll. "You have 30 minutes to prepare. The time limit for the test is three hours. A horn will signal both the start and end of the exam."

With that, the instructor vanished using the body flicker technique, leaving the trio behind.

***

The tension hung in the air like a thick fog. 

Yuichi could sense the awkwardness, and he wasn't the type to stand in uncomfortable silence. He scratched the back of his head and decided to break the ice.

"Hey, everyone. I'm Ensho Yuichi," he said, flashing a slightly forced smile. 

"I'm decent at ninjutsu, taijutsu, and kenjutsu. Let's work together and get through this."

The attempt at light-heartedness earned him a few nods. It was clear both his teammates were also feeling the pressure.

The girl, with bright eyes and a smile that seemed to radiate positivity, introduced herself next.

"I'm Aburame Saiko. I specialize in ninjutsu, bukijutsu, and I know some medical ninjutsu. Nice to meet you both!"

Yuichi couldn't help but be surprised. She wasn't like the typical Aburame he had met in this world—stoic and insect-centric. 

She seemed… sunny. So not every Aburame is the same, he thought, impressed by her upbeat energy.

The boy, who had been silent up until now, stepped forward. His posture was formal as he gave a slight bow.

"I am Senju Takeshi. I'm a sensory ninja, and I'm proficient in taijutsu and ninjutsu. It's an honor to work with you."

Takeshi was different from the cold, stoic Senju stereotype. He had brown hair and blue eyes—features that set him apart. He seemed gentle, perhaps a little introverted, but his eyes revealed intelligence.

They spent the next 30 minutes discussing their strengths and weaknesses, formulating a battle plan. Surprisingly, Takeshi took the lead, though his face betrayed a certain reluctance. Still, his strategies were sound, and even Yuichi, with his sharp mind, found them impressive.

"This kid's smart. Definitely someone to watch out for." Yuichi stretched his limbs as they prepared for the exam to begin.

Saiko, meanwhile, was full of surprises too. Unlike the bug-using Aburame Yuichi had read about, she explained that only certain members of her clan had the affinity needed to control insects.

Saiko had focused on different skills, and her proficiency in medical ninjutsu was far beyond what Yuichi had expected. She even knew a lower-level version of the Mystical Palm Technique, 'Healing Touch' , a C-rank skill that served as the foundation for the higher-level healing jutsu.

"Clan kids definitely have the advantage," Yuichi thought, somewhat bitterly. 

The access they had to advanced techniques, the resources available to them… It was a reminder of the uphill battle he faced, coming from a civilian background. Yet, even in the face of that, he smirked. Doesn't matter. I've got my own cards to play.

As the final moments ticked down, Takeshi sensed the nearest Objective Zone with his sensory abilities. The team was ready, their plan set.

Yuichi glanced at his two teammates, assessing them with newfound respect. "Both of them are good. Better than I expected."

He clenched his fists, his focus sharpening. This was it. Their first real test as a team—and for Yuichi, a critical step toward his larger goals.

"Let's see what we can do together."

***