“Why would Kumogakure build in the mountains? I wonder how many fall off these paths either trying to be cool or on accident.”

A young girl around nine said as she was followed by three white dogs. She had her long brown hair tied back and red fang tattoos on her cheeks.

“From what I know only Konohagakure is surrounded by nature. Sunagakure is in the middle of a desert, Kirigakure is an island surrounded by water and fog. Iwagakure is also in mountains and rocks.”

Another girl around nine answered as her black hair blew in the wind revealing onyx eyes. She was walking with her hands behind her head as while throwing a few glances beside her. There was a boy with black hair and eyes but a stoic face walked.

“I want to know where Ryu ran off too?” The boy asked.

“There he is, grab the adorable child.”

The three of them heard in the distance, earning a sweatdrop.

“I believe he over there.” Sui-Feng said in an uncaring tone.

Beside her a man in his thirties nodded as two fourteen years old shrugged.

“I believe your rival is having some trouble, Itachi.” Izumi giggled.

Shrugging as he ignored the pleas of help, the group headed towards the check in point for the chunin exams. There they met a blue tinted white haired boy drawing circles in the ground as a cloud rained on him.

“What happened to you.” Hana asked seeing his clothes.

Most of his clothes were torn, scratched or just out missing sections. His grey hoodie was now missing both sleeves and his dark grey pant leg from his knee down. Even the mask covering half his face seen better days.

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Fangirls?” Itachi asked with smug tone.

“Nope, worse and I am not saying.” Ryu replied with a trembling body.

“Why don’t you just go check in for the chunin exams.” Sui-Feng said rubbing Ryu head getting a small nod.

After watching the two genin teams enter the building, Yuki turned to Sui-Feng. “What do you think got him so scared.”

With an evil smirk, “Fanboys.”

===

Watching from a nearby rooftop, was a young blonde who was investigating the shouting earlier. However, she seems to be in half a gaze once her sights landed on Ryu. Only it wasn’t by his appearance nor being a foreign shinobi. It was the giant blue flaming cat sealed inside of her.

“That was him, the master of the flames.” Nibi shouted.

“He is kind of cute but doesn’t look much older than eight or nine.” She replied.

“Good, now you just need to connect to him and get him to offer the chance to train with him. The Raikage already agreed if you managed to find him.” Nibi said.

“I will try, but we got to survive the chunin exams first.” The blonde said as she left the roof.

===

After being checked in Ryu and his team was led down underground. While Itachi and his team on the other hand was led somewhere else. So, following the pipes, they were put into a large room with twenty other teams.

“Wow, the killing intent is thick enough to cut with a knife.” Hana whispered but drew all the eyes due to it echoing. “Oops.”

Chuckling at his teammate, Ryu looked around at the other teams. While spotting a few from Sunagakure, he didn’t see any from Kirigakure. However most of the room was from either Iwagakure or Kumogakure.

Most of these participants are fifteen to nineteen by the looks of it, but in a different league from Ishigakure. Ryu thought as most had either mid or high chunin levels in chakra as well strength by the looks of it.

As he continued to glance around his eyes landed on a blond girl a few years older than him. Only for him to feel as if time had slowed down and wondered if his sharingan activated. He continued to watch as she twirled her straight blonde hair, but made contact with her dark eyes.

It was only after both of them were slapped on the back of their heads did time seem to resume. Hana was growling at him for some reason, while Izumi just laughed.

What did I do? Ryu could only wonder as he rubbed the back of his head nervously with a laugh. A habit he unknowingly picked up from Naruto over time.

However, inside a certain white wolf could only sigh, as she knew what has happened. While extremely rare it happens from time to time so it was packed into her knowledge. It appeared that Ryu has found a potential bond mate.

I hope this bond can grow as it will benefit both of them and increase both of their training speeds. With both of their chakra resonating with each other they will grow faster in both chakra and body. Now how to explain it and how to get it so she can come back to the village. Hikari rubbed her chin with her paw.

===

Unknown to her, the two tails was in the same thought as she ran into this before over the last thousand years. Grinning at the thought, while they don’t need to be romantically involved it was beneficial for her host. Now she just needed to break it to her host, without misunderstanding or maybe cause the misunderstanding.

“Nibi, what's going on?” She heard her host asked.

“It turns out our fire user also has the potential to be a bond mate. Which basically means you need to go introduce yourself and ask him if both of you can train together. This will grow your skills, chakra, and strength faster than before.” Nibi explained as she watched her host blush at the mate part.

“What if he rejects?” The young girl asked.

Nibi laughed at her host nervousness, “I doubt it as he keeps throwing you glances.”

“I will try.” The blonde girl said with determination.

Breaking away from her team, she walked over to the white haired boy who smiled at her approach. His Inuzuka teammate and ninkens on the other hand growled. However that didn’t break her courage to ask.

“Hello,” she heard his angelic and innocent voice behind his mask.

“H-hello, I w-was wondering i-if you would l-like to train to-together after th-this part of the exam.” She asked.

“Sure, I am Ryu Fumetsu but who are you.” The angel in mortal skin asked.

“I am Yugito Nii, I will come find you at your hotel after this part of the exam.”

Receiving a nod with an eye smile,and nod, she walked back to her teammate absent minded. Which totally missed the beating of her angel by his teammates for agreeing.

===

Picking himself off the floor, Ryu wondered what for Hana and Izumi in a twist. He only agreed to train with the girl which he does with them all the time. So why was this any different beside her being from a different village. Luckily for him the exams began as a man appeared in the room.

The man was a tall muscular man with heavily tanned skin, and blonde hair. His dark colored eyes scanned the room subconsciously releasing confidence, pride and muscles. Somehow or another the man made most males in the room to make their muscles that big. Only Ryu got a downcast look. As he had been told it was impossible for him.

“Alright, let's get this show on the road. The first part is a written exam alongside working under pressure. At random points you will find a kunai thrown at you, and should you be hit more than once you and your team fail. You may block or parry the kunai but you are not allowed to throw it at others. If you're caught cheating three times you and your team fails. Clear, great let's begin.”

He didn’t even introduce himself. Ryu thought as he sat at a table. Looking over the sheet in front of him, he realized that they are more jonin level question than chunin. The questions were more about advance tactics, elemental training, or jutsus.

Well it looks like the goal is to cheat. Now who to cheat off of? Ryu thought as he sneakily looked around before finding his target. I hope Hana and Izumi can get through this.

For the next fifty five minutes, Ryu sat there either parry a couple kunai half asleep or sending glance toward Yugito. A few times he sent glances towards his teammates making sure they are fine. Though Hana nearly was hit by a kunai if it wasn’t for one of the Haimaru Brothers.

When is this going to end? Ryu wondered as they were never told a time.

As if reading his mind the man appeared in a cloud of smoke in the front.

“Time up for the written test, so meet at the arena tomorrow if you can leave.” The man said before vanishing and the room began to rapidly rise in heat.

Seconds after the man left, someone ran towards the door only to find it locked. Which in turned began the ones remaining to panic.

“What shall we do?” Hana asked as fear leaked into her voice.

“The man had to enter and leave somehow. So let's look for a hidden door or tunnel.” Ryu whispered to her and Izumi.

Agreeing with him, as Izumi fanned herself and Hana began to sweat. The room was beginning to heat up faster as the time went by. So, heading towards the front of the room, Ryu began to calmly look around not bothered by the heat.

It doesn't feel that hot like the rest of the room. Ryu noticed as others were stripping off layers in an attempt to stay cool.

“Do you feel the breeze?” Izumi whispered.

“It coming from above.” Hana answered.

“Then let's go.” Ryu said jumping to the ceiling and using chakra to stick. Feeling across the tiles he soon found one that move and pushed it open and an exit sign. “Funny.”

===

Standing in the monitoring room, the various jonin instructors were shaking their heads. Most of them out of embarrassment as one of the youngest teams found the exit. Only one was laughing as she was collecting her winnings.

“Well, who wants to bet on the next round.” Sui-Feng grinned as the other groaned with tears in their eyes. Most bet their next payment and lost.