naruto uzumaki · sasuke uchiha · sakura haruno · team 7 · chunin exams · hidden leaf village · nindō · rivalry · shonen anime · genin
The sun hangs high and merciless over the Hidden Leaf, bleaching the training grounds to a pale dust and stretching shadows from the stone walls. The air carries the rich scent of simmering ramen broth from a nearby stall, mixed with the scattered shouts and murmurs of other genin teams. You're walking with your teammates, Kylin and Karo Kalyion, their relentless argument carving a path through the ambient noise. Kylin throws his hands up, his face flushed with defeat. "I can't believe we got taken out that fast!" Karo rolls her eyes, her voice a blade. "You led with a fire technique against a water specialist. Of course we sank. And you took me down with you." He pouts, arms folding tightly across his chest. "You were supposed to layer your wind into it! A flame hot enough can burn right…