Rewrite: The Chunin Exam Arc (1)
Official art used
Disclaimer: Despite my username, English is not my first nor native language, and I am not quite good at it. This work has been edited so many times already. It took a lot of research and data collection, and theory readings e.t.c I was going to write an additional arc before the chunin exams, but I lost my original draft. I couldn't remember it, plus I hadn't finalized it yet, so for the sake of my sanity, I will be proceeding with Part 1 format as it was in the original (changing and adding a few details, of course) and will only add additional arcs in Shippuden. Please enjoy.
I am not going to start the chunin exams arc from the get-go like in the original. Before we get to the actual exam arc we get a small mini arc but it kind of starts off pretty much as it did in the actual arc in the original. We start with Naruto waking up late, meeting Sasuke and Sakura together on the bridge, the competitive tension between Naruto and Sasuke due to the events of the land of waves and Kakashi showing up late, however, one major change happens after Kakashi shows up. Naruto of course is hyped up for their next mission and askes if it's tough one like the Land of Waves mission saying that he's gonna become Hokage and he's not running from any tough quests. Kakashi just smiles and says that they won't be going any missions today. Kakashi then tells Team 7 to follow him and they would be doing something different today. [I am removing that background mission that team 7 goes on for the sake of improving the narrative of the story that i am trying to build.]
Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura follow Kakashi until they reach the common training grounds. We then get something that we should have gotten in Naruto part 1: A team 7 training scene. [The only one we ever got was the tree climbing scene for all of Team 7 in the entire story.] We get some good and further exposition about how chakra works, genjutsu, ninjutsu, taijutsu, the chakra natures and kekkai genkai. Kakashi doesn't explain in it in extreme details but just the basics so Team 7 and we the audience/readers can understand it. Kakashi will then train each member of Team 7 in particular skills.
THE TRAINING
Naruto's training consists of basic taijutsu combat as well as other basic training. Naruto is a stamina type of fighter but his fundamentals are very sloppy. When Naruto complains about getting basic training, Kakashi mentions their encounter with the mist brothers and how Sasuke outperformed in basic taijutsu which fires Naruto up and he goes along with it.
Kakashi then teaches Sakura some basic types of genjutsu cause unlike the original I am going to pay of the promise that Sakura is gonna become a genjutsu master. She doesn't learn anything to extreme like paralysis or space/time altering genjutsu but she does learn some basic techniques and illusions etc. We also see Sasuke watching Sakura train from afar which hints that he's a little bit interested in her for the sake of making their romance more....romantic.
Kakashi then trains Sasuke on his Sharingan. Kakashi then explains how the Sharingan works in more detail to Sasuke and us, the audience. He explains about the increased perception the Sharingan gives and that it can copy abilities; however, Sasuke won't be able to physically replicate an ability he can't reproduce. e.g, If you can't use wind style, then you won't be able to use wind style jutsu, and this rule applies to other kekkai genkai. Kakashi then tells Sasuke to try to copy what he's doing. Sasuke activates his Sharingan and stands ready. Kakashi weaves hand signs and says Fire Style: Phoenix Fire Jutsu. Kakashi shot out a massive phoenix-shaped fireball into the sky. Kakashi looks at Sasuke and says, "Did you copy that?" and Sasuke says, "Yes." "Then do it." Sasuke weaves hand signs and casts the same Phoenix fire jutsu as Kakashi, although his phoenix is quite smaller than Kakashi's. Sakura cheers and simps loudly over Sasuke. Naruto gets jealous and says that he could do that too if he had the time. Naruto then tries to get Sakura's attention and impress her by doing taijutsu combos in the air without a target, but he trips on a rock and lands badly on his butt. We can see in this scene Kakashi training Team 7, and they are all bonding and getting closer, which makes the Team more cohesive and intimate, and the bond they share more concrete. However, this scene cuts back and forth with a much more serious scene, and that is:
THE INTRODUCTION OF DANZO SHIMURA.
I am introducing Danzo earlier since he becomes a more prominent antagonist in Shippuden, and teasing him here will do well to set up some things to come. In this scene, we see the Third Hokage, Hiruzen, in his office. Hiruzen looks to be quite busy as his table is littered with documents, and he seems a little stressed. Hiruzen also discusses with his advisors to make sure everything is ready for their visitors. It seems like something big is going on, but we, the viewers, don't know what it is yet. Danzo then enters the room, and we get this chilling feeling from his cold and ominous presence. He says, "Hiruzen, don't tell me that you've grown foolish enough in your old age to allow that boy to participate in the exams." Hiruzen dismisses with a smile, saying, "Danzo, my old friend, you know me. I believe in the younger generation and the will of fire that burns fiercely in their hearts, plus Naruto has shown significant development in these following months, which I believe makes him ready to take this next step in his life." Danzo says, "You forget that the boy is not his father. It was already bad enough that you let the boy become a genin, but putting him in a Team with that Uchiha boy was beyond stupid. Two of the Leaf's most valuable assets in risk of being killed or captured by our enemies." Hiruzen replies, "Which is why I placed Kakashi with them. Not only because of his relationship with the Fourth Hokage, but because he is the most skilled and powerful jounin around. I have faith he will protect them and train them well, so we have nothing to worry about." Danzo sighs, "Another asset at risk." There is a short pause, and Danzo soon resumes saying, "Do as you wish, old friend, but I cannot allow you to send the Kyuubi to take the exam." For the first time, we see Hiruzen visibly angry. He has never reacted like this, even when Naruto was shouting and acting like a prick to him. Hiruzen says, "That's enough! Naruto is a shinobi of the Leaf village, not a tool, and he will be treated as such. The same thing goes for Sasuke Uchiha, and I will not have my decisions questioned again. Last I checked, I was the Hokage." Danzo chuckles and says, "For now," and he leaves.
We cut back to Team 7, and they are returning from the training grounds. This scene plays out in the same way as the original when they come back from that background mission, with Sakura helping Naruto walk and Sasuke stating that he's a nuisance, except the reason for this will change. Sakura is helping Naruto walk because he once again tried to impress Sakura by displaying his taijutsu skills with a target, but he tripped and suffered a way nastier fall. Sakura tells Naruto that he shouldn't do something like this next time or he could seriously hurt himself as she helps him walk but Naruto is only thinking about his very close proximity to Sakura with a slight blush on his face as he inches a tad bit closer to her but Sakura sees what he is doing and flashes him an ominous smile that means he shouldn't think about it. Naruto gets the message and backs off with a nervous grin.