Chapter 52: Your Effort is Worthless"I'm sorry, Guy-sensei. To test my capacity, I must use a forbidden technique... Omote Renge!"Rock Lee thought to himself, unwrapping the bandages on his hands.Unexpectedly, Sasuke, who was above him, suddenly turned his head. The rapidly spinning double tomoe met his eyes."Sharingan? When did this guy activate it?"While curious, Rock Lee didn't slow down in the slightest. With a flick of his wrist, the loosened bandages seemed to come alive, twisting and wrapping around.Hearing the tearing sound of the bandages wrapping around a human body, a smile appeared on Rock Lee's face: "It's said that the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan can see through all Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, and Taijutsu. But as long as one's Taijutsu is strong enough, being able to see through it doesn't mean you can counter it!""Do you know? The strong can be divided into the gifted type and the hard-working type. You inherited the Uchiha bloodline and possess the Sharingan; you could be called a genius-type Ninja. As for me, I belong to the hard-working type who diligently pushes Taijutsu to its peak!"As he spoke, those bandages, like venomous snakes, bound Sasuke tightly.Rock Lee pulled tight, making it impossible for the struggling Sasuke to break free.Then he grabbed Sasuke, spun rapidly, and brought him headfirst toward the ground."I will use this move to prove...""...that hard work can overcome genius!"Bang!Before he could finish, a flying kick struck from the side, hitting Rock Lee's body squarely, halting his descent and kicking him away.Rock Lee turned his head and discovered that it was actually Naruto who had intervened: "Stepping in to save a comrade? I suppose I can't blame you for that."But Naruto wore a look of disgust: "I'm saving you, you idiot.""What?!"Rock Lee was full of questions, then immediately frowned, feeling the same tingling sensation where Naruto had kicked him as he had from Sasuke's fist earlier.He shuddered as if electrocuted, then realized something was wrong: "Wait! When?!"The Sasuke he was holding in his hands had vanished, and he was the one wrapped in the bandages!"This is Genjutsu?! How is that possible?!"With a bang, Rock Lee flew backward and slammed into the wall.He ignored the pain in his body and hurriedly stood up to look.He saw Sasuke standing beside Naruto, the corner of his mouth curled up, looking at him with a hint of disdain, as if mocking him.It was easy to imagine that if Naruto hadn't intervened, he would have been the one smashed into the ground by the Omote Renge.Realizing this, Rock Lee loosened the bandages binding him. His face no longer held its previous confidence; instead, he looked at Naruto and Sasuke standing side by side in a daze.Seeing his pale face and hollow gaze, Narutopoked Sasuke: "You seem to have dealt a huge blow to him.""I told you, it wouldn't take me a minute to deal with him."Sasuke replied nonchalantly, but inwardly, he was sweating.Judging by the power of Rock Lee's final move just now, if he had been hit, things would have turned out badly.Fortunately, when he used his fist to clash with Rock Lee's Konoha Whirlwind earlier, he had transmitted Hamon into his body.Although the resulting stiffness lasted less than a second, it was enough to cast a SharinganGenjutsu.Especially since Rock Lee was immersed in his own world, talking incessantly, he hadn't even realized he was under a Genjutsu.However, despite winning, Sasuke felt no joy, instead silently glancing at Naruto.After just over half a month of training, his Hamonhad already developed a Genjutsu that could be used in conjunction with the Sharingan.And Naruto, in terms of Hamon, both in experience and strength, far surpassed him.Then, just how strong would he be now?"Damn it!"Every time he felt he had gotten a little closer to Naruto, he realized just how vast the gap between them really was."One day, I will surpass you, Naruto!"Sasuke's train of thought was interrupted by a muffled sound. He looked over and saw Rock Lee panting dejectedly, slowly kneeling on the ground."I... I lost..." Rock Lee's lips trembled.As the dead last at the Ninja Academy, he wasn't unable to accept failure.But what he could accept was being defeated head-on in battle.That would only encourage him to train harder and move toward stronger goals.But now, Rock Lee didn't even understand how he had lost.In this moment, he felt the gap between himself and the genius was unimaginably huge, so huge that he couldn't even see their backs."He doesn't look too good." Sakura looked at Rock Lee with some concern."Hmph, people who can't recognize their own limits are like that." Sasuke arrogantly straightened his clothes, which had been messed up by the fight.Naruto walked up and patted Rock Lee on the shoulder: "Hey.""Hmm?" Rock Lee looked up, his eyes hollow."Because you lost without understanding how, you've lost your confidence?" Naruto grabbed his shoulder and pulled him up.Hearing Naruto hit the nail on the head, Rock Lee blushed slightly, lowered his head, and remained silent.Bang!The next second, Naruto's fist struck, hitting Rock Lee squarely on the cheek.He felt a sharp pain, and his whole body flew backward, slamming into the wall with a dull thud."You! What are you doing?!" Rock Lee covered his face, jumped up angrily, eyes wide, glaring at Naruto."Ah, Naruto! What are you doing?!" Sakurascreamed from behind.Sasuke stood where he was, watching Naruto with interest.When Naruto walked up just now, he thought this guy was having another bout of his "saintly" heart, wanting to comfort that bushy-browed kid.He didn't expect Naruto to give him a surprise by punching the guy."I don't know much about Konoha Taijutsu, but my eyes aren't blind. I can tell that your final move just now was a killing blow, right?"Naruto looked straight at Rock Lee, his eyes full of sharpness, without a hint of guilt.Rock Lee swallowed hard and guiltily looked away."You said something about 'proving that hard work can overcome genius.' Is your so-called way of proving it to use a killing blow against a comrade from the Village in a narrow, empty corner like this?"Naruto took a step forward, his aura even more intimidating."I... I didn't..." Rock Lee's lips quivered, his voice weak."I don't know what kind of conviction you hold as a Ninja, but I can tell you this: if you use your hard work for something like this, then your hard work is worthless. Do you understand?"Naruto dropped this harsh truth."He's right, Rock Lee!"Just then, a booming voice suddenly rang out.The Three Little Ones and Rock Lee looked toward the sound and saw a middle-aged man with thick eyebrows, dressed in a green bodysuit just like Rock Lee, walking from the end of the corridor.His movements were incredibly fast; the group had only just caught sight of his figure when their vision blurred slightly, and the guy had already appeared beside Rock Lee."Guy-sensei!" Seeing the newcomer, Rock Lee called out excitedly.Naruto: "You're the bushy-browed kid's teacher?""You can tell just by looking, the master-disciple resemblance is just too obvious." Sakura muttered to herself on the side.Second Personality: Super Bushy Brows! Super Bowl Cut! Super Disgusting!"This guy is so fast!" Sasuke's focus was on the other side.
Chapter 53: This is Your Big Sister Sakura's True StrengthMight Guy didn't pay attention to The Three Little Ones of Team 7, but instead looked at his beloved pupil: "Lee, you were trying to use that forbidden technique just now, weren't you?""Sensei, I..." A look of shame appeared on Rock Lee's face."That yellow-haired boy was right! If you use that move in a place like this, what does that make of all your hard work?" Might Guy shouted."Um... my name is Naruto..." Naruto silently raised his hand.Bam!Might Guy completely ignored Naruto's words and punched Rock Lee in the face as well.This punch was even heavier than Naruto's earlier one, sending Rock Lee flying until he was practically embedded in the wall."Guy-sensei..."Rock Lee wasn't angry; instead, tears began to stream from the corners of his eyes."Don't cry, Lee! I understand you! Who hasn't made mistakes in their youth? But that is exactly the meaning of youth!"Even as Might Guy told Rock Lee not to cry, his own tears were flowing freely. He stepped forward and plucked Rock Lee from the wall.The master and disciple embraced each other, weeping bitterly."I feel like this scene is even more disgusting..."Naruto turned his head and exchanged glances with his companions.Sakura directly raised her hand to cover her eyes: "Ugh, I don't want to see this!"Sasuke was also taking deep breaths, trying to soothe the churning in his chest."Enough, Lee. Youth and mistakes coexist." Might Guy lowered his head, wiping his tears and snot on Rock Lee's shoulder before standing up.Rock Lee looked up, gazing at him with an expression of pure adoration: "Thank you, Guy-sensei!""However, since you fought with others and broke the taboo, I must punish you! But with the Chunin Exams imminent, I will wait until the exams are over to punish you!""Yes!" Rock Lee gave a salute.Might Guy nodded with satisfaction, then turned to look at The Three Little Ones, stroking his chin in thought: "I remember you three are Kakashi's subordinates, right?""You know Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura asked, quite surprised."Even Zabuza from outside the Village knew that guy; he must be quite famous," Sasuke explained.Might Guy suddenly moved, appearing before the three of them in an instant, grinning triumphantly: "Of course! After all, people call us 'Eternal Rivals'!"He's even faster than before!The Three Little Ones were all shocked."My battle record against Kakashi is 50 wins and 49 losses. In other words, I'm even stronger than he is!"Might Guy pointed a thumb at himself."Sorry, but you're about to lose to Kakashi-senseisoon."Naruto was the first to speak, a confident smile appearing on his face as well."Oh? What makes you say that?" Might Guybecame interested, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Naruto.Might Guy had heard Naruto's name from Kakashibefore and knew his rival thought very highly of him.After hearing what Naruto had just said to Rock Lee, his favorable impression of the boy grew even stronger.So, speaking to Naruto in person now, Might Guywas full of anticipation."In terms of teaching disciples, you're completely inferior to Kakashi-sensei."Naruto pointed at Rock Lee."Are you talking about what just happened? That was just the passion of youth...""Youth doesn't mean being frivolous!"Might Guy was about to argue when Narutointerrupted him."Like that guy—he talks about how hard he works, yet he frivolously displays the results of that hard work in a place like this. I don't think that's a small matter. And as his teacher, you turned a blind eye to it. I don't think you're a good teacher either."Naruto's tone was cold."How dare you be disrespectful to Guy-sensei!" Rock Lee was fuming.Might Guy raised a hand to stop him: "Lee, don't be impulsive!"This time, Might Guy's gaze became serious as he met Naruto's eyes: "It seems Kakashi has a good student.""As long as you know," Naruto said, giving his companions a look. As they left, he added, "By the way, your bond as teacher and student is actually quite good. I actually quite admire the atmosphere you two had earlier."Might Guy turned to look at Naruto's departing back, the smile on his face deepening. Then he turned to his disciple: "Hey, Lee, hurry and catch up. Time's almost up."On the other side, after walking a distance, Sakurawhispered: "Hey, Naruto, that thing you said about admiring them... you were just lying to fool that bushy-browed pair, right?"Hearing this, even Sasuke couldn't help but look over, his gaze scanning Naruto up and down."Why would you say that? I actually really like that atmosphere."Naruto looked puzzled.He could feel that Might Guy and Rock Lee weren't just teacher and student, but more like father and son.This made him think of himself and Lisa Lisa. Though they were teacher and student, they were also like mother and son.That maternal bond was at least much deeper than the one between Joseph and Lisa Lisa, who were actually mother and son.However, after seeing the strangely disgusted looks from Sakura and Sasuke, Naruto immediately realized they had misunderstood something.He didn't intend to explain, instead quickening his pace: "Don't dawdle."Soon, The Three Little Ones reached Room 301 and pushed the door open."Whoa!""So many people."!!!The Three Little Ones entered the classroom through the door Kakashi had pointed them to, and were instantly stunned by the scene before them.The originally spacious classroom now seemed packed to the brim, filled with people of all shapes and sizes.A rough scan suggested a count of about two hundred people.At the creaking sound of the door opening, the noisy classroom fell silent in an instant.Nearly a hundred Genin looked over in unison. Their gazes—some scrutinizing, some disdainful, some indifferent—felt like a mountain pressing down on the heads of The Three Little Ones.Especially Sakura.She had never been the center of attention like this before, and the vast majority of those stares were hostile.At this moment, she felt immense pressure, and cold sweat trickled down her forehead."Hello! Everyone!"Just then, Naruto stepped in front of Sakura, shielding her from the collective gaze. He raised a hand and greeted the crowd.Sakura's heart instantly settled, and she smiled as she looked at Naruto's back.However, Naruto's move made him the target of everyone's attention.Originally, everyone was just sizing up the newcomers, but now they were drawn by his casual greeting.Particularly those Genin wearing headbands from other Villages; their expressions turned unfriendly.But for Naruto and Sasuke, this was just a minor scene.They had already fought a Jonin like Zabuza; why would they fear these Genin?Sasuke also stepped forward, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Naruto. His expressionless but sharp gaze swept across the crowd, forcing many to subconsciously look away."These two guys... are not to be messed with!"Such a thought immediately spread among the many Genin.Seeing this, Sasuke let out a cold snort and was about to say something more.But before he could speak, a clear and pleasant shout rang out first."Sasuke! You're so slow!"A girl's graceful figure darted past, heading straight for Sasuke.Seeing her open her arms as if to hug him, Sasukestepped aside and dodged."As expected of Sasuke, still so amazing!"The girl, having missed her hug, wasn't annoyed at all. Instead, she turned around and looked at Sasuke bashfully: "It's been so long since I've seen you. I was so looking forward to your arrival!"Sasuke looked at her, his eyes narrowing slightly: "Who are you?""..."The atmosphere froze for a moment.A moment later, Sakura burst out laughing: "Hahaha, Ino-pig, you're so lame!"Ino Yamanaka, who had been crushed by Sasuke's words, turned all her resentment toward Sakuraafter hearing her mockery: "Ugly Sakura, your wide forehead is as bright as ever!""You bastard! I'm going to beat you into a pig's head!"Just as the two girls were at each other's throats, Naruto slapped his forehead: "Ah, so it's the Idiot Trio!"Like Sasuke, his memories of his classmates from the Ninja Academy were a bit fuzzy.It was only after seeing the two boys get up and slowly walk toward Ino that he finally remembered their identities."Don't call us that, Naruto."The boy with the pineapple hair, dead-fish eyes, and a hand in his pocket was Shikamaru Nara, one of his bad influences from the Ninja Academy.Naruto's impression of him was an idiot who complained all day, had zero motivation, and liked to mope.*Crunch, crunch.*The boy holding a bag of potato chips and chewing loudly was Choji Akimichi, also a bad influence from the Ninja Academy and a good friend of Shikamaru.Naruto's impression of him was a fat idiot who only knew how to eat.As for Ino...Naruto looked back at the girl whose forehead was pressed against Sakura's, eyes sparking with fire. His impression of her was an idiot who constantly fought with Sakura and liked Sasuke."It's rare for you three to participate in the Chunin Exams. I thought for sure you'd find it too troublesome to come, Shikamaru."Seeing Shikamaru and Choji, Naruto felt a bit of that old Ninja Academy feeling and asked with a grin."I'm also wondering why I'm looking for trouble," Shikamaru sighed, then pointed behind him. "And it's not just us; Kiba's team is participating too.""Oh! It's true! The Bizarre Trio!"Following the direction of his finger, Naruto saw the three members of Team 8."I didn't expect you'd actually dare to compete, Naruto."Inuzuka Kiba, with a small white dog perched on his head, walked over and gave a casual greeting.This guy was also one of the bad influences from the Ninja Academy. He loved to nag incessantly, took his dog everywhere, and strangely liked to act like the boss.The last time the two had met was during the team assignments."S-Sorry, Naruto... Kiba, he... he didn't mean it like that..."The girl looked at Naruto, her face flushed red as she poked her fingers together, trying to explain for Kiba.Naruto remembered her name was Hyuga Hinata, an introverted girl whose gaze was always strangely fixed on him.Then, following his memory, he looked at the boy in sunglasses wearing a high-collared trench coat next to Kiba.He kept his hands in his pockets and remained silent.Shino Aburame—a guy who was bizarre in everything from his outfit to his behavior to his personality."Wait, is this guy Naruto?"Hearing Kiba's mockery, Ino turned her head and looked at Naruto in disbelief.The last time they had seen each other was also nearly three months ago at the team assignment meeting.Back then, Naruto was less than 1.5 meters tall, wore heavy coats all day, and was generally unkempt. If it weren't for the unchanged whiskers on his face, it would be hard to associate him with the tall, clean, and handsome boy he was now.Probably only old friends like Shikamaru, or a girl with a crush like Hinata, could recognize the current Naruto at a glance.At least Ino, who wasn't close to Naruto, hadn't recognized him earlier."I also couldn't believe such a beautiful girl was Ino,"Naruto replied with a grin."Hehe, you've become quite the smooth talker, Naruto!"Ino laughed, her face blooming like a beautiful flower.If it were the old Naruto, even if he said such complimentary things, he would only get a roll of her eyes.But coming from the current handsome Naruto, it was a different story.At this moment, Ino was incredibly envious of Sakura for being on a team with two handsome guys.Feeling her former friend's gaze, Sakura tilted her chin up triumphantly.This is your Big Sister Sakura's true strength; talk about a stroke of luck.
Chapter 54: Dosu's SecretSeeing Sakura's slightly provocative gaze, Ino's mouth twitched.But before she could snap, a lazy and lecturing voice suddenly spoke up."Hey, you guys better quiet down. All that noise is annoying as hell. Don't go treating this place like some tourist spot."The group looked back to see a white-haired young man with a center part and round-framed glasses walking toward them.Judging by the pattern on his forehead protector, he was also from Konoha."Arrogant jerk, who are you?"Inuzuka Kiba's short temper flared as he snapped back bluntly."My name is Yakushi Kabuto. I suppose you could call me your senior."Yakushi Kabuto stood with one hand on his hip, looking crisp and capable."Look around you. With the exam coming up, everyone is on edge. You'd better be careful, or they'll start looking for trouble with you."Hearing this, the group looked around. Sure enough, because of their earlier commotion, the Genin nearby were already casting glares filled with undisguised malice."You're the rookies who just graduated from the Ninja Academy this year, right? So green... you remind me of my younger self."Yakushi Kabuto sighed with a smile."Kabuto-senpai, right? So this is your second time taking the exam?" Sakura couldn't help but ask."No, this is my seventh time," Yakushi Kabutoshook his head. "Since the exam is held twice a year, this is my fourth year."Sasuke scoffed, "Then you must know a lot about the Chunin Exams.""Of course! I've gathered all the intel on the Chunin Exams into my own 'ninja identification cards'! Just channel some Chakra into them, and you can see all the relevant info—it even includes personal data on every candidate participating in this exam."With that, Yakushi Kabuto pulled a stack of cards from the pouch at his waist and smiled at them."Is there anyone you're interested in?""Naruto!""Naruto!""Naruto!""Naruto!"Hearing the unanimous response, Naruto blinked, his gaze sweeping over Sasuke, Ino, Kiba, and Shino.Huh? What do you four mean?Sasuke was easy to understand; he definitely wanted to know how the outside world evaluated Naruto.Ino wasn't hard to figure out either; she was surely full of curiosity about Naruto, who had suddenly turned into a handsome guy in less than three months.As for Kiba, there was no need to even mention him. From their brief clash on the day of team assignments, he had realized Naruto had changed. Meeting again now, he naturally wanted to understand this no-longer-familiar frenemy.As for Shino...Naruto really couldn't fathom why this enigmatic guy would inexplicably want to know his information.Shino's eyes were hidden behind his sunglasses as he withdrew his gaze from Naruto.As an Insect User, the Kikaichu inside his body possessed an instinctive nature far beyond other animals, allowing him to roughly gauge the strength and danger of others.And the feeling Naruto gave the insects was a power that far surpassed Sasuke's.How could Shino not be curious?That was why he had spoken up and given Naruto's name.Shino just hadn't expected others to be so interested in Naruto as well. For a moment, he became even more silent, trying to lower his presence."Naruto? That's you, right? Seems like you're quite popular."Yakushi Kabuto smiled at Naruto, then plucked a ninja identification card from the deck and held it between his fingers.He channeled Chakra into it, and text and images appeared on the previously blank card.Uzumaki Naruto, Konoha Genin, age 12.Sensei: Kakashi Hatake; Teammates: Uchiha Sasuke, Sakura Haruno.Mission Experience: 782 D-rank, 10 C-rank, 1 A-rank.Taijutsu: B; Ninjutsu: C; Genjutsu: E; Ninja Tools: C; Bloodline Limit: None.Traits: Last in his class at the Ninja Academy; possesses immense physical stamina."How did Hokage-sama let you pass with such an embarrassing pose?"Ino was the first to speak, but her focus was on Naruto's photo on the ninja identification card.This was the photo taken on the day of Ninjaregistration. The Third Hokage had originally told him to retake it, but Naruto had settled it with a single Sexy Jutsu.Thus, that JOJO pose, brimming with artistic flair, became Naruto's official file photo.Compared to Ino, the others were focused on much more practical matters."782 D-rank missions? No wonder they say you have immense stamina, Naruto!"Kiba gasped, staring at the mission info in disbelief.Shino added in a low voice from the side, "There's even an A-rank mission on record?"Not just those two—the other rookies all crowded around to see the information on the card, and the way they looked at Naruto changed instantly.Sakura wore a proud smile, her chin lifting slightly as if Naruto's incredible performance was partly her own achievement.Sasuke said nothing and looked away, his lips curling into a faint, disdainful smirk.Based on data alone, these things didn't show Naruto's true strength at all.The others were just frogs in a well after all; only he truly understood the depths of Naruto's power!Seeing everyone shocked by his intel, Yakushi Kabuto pushed up his glasses with satisfaction. "Naruto's data is impressive, but the others taking the exam this time are no pushovers either. This exam has brought together elites from several hidden Villages, including Konoha, Sand, Waterfall, Grass, Rain, and Sound.""And except for the Otogakure, which was established quite recently, I have information on the candidates from all the other Villages too."Yakushi Kabuto waved the ninja identification cardin his hand.But before he could finish, he was interrupted."Hey, kid."Three figures arrogantly pushed through the crowd and walked over.The leader had white hair and bandages wrapped around his face. To his left was a boy with his head tilted arrogantly, the character for 'Death' written large on his clothes. To his right was a cold-looking girl with glossy black hair.Dosu Kinuta, Zaku Abumi, and Kin Tsuchi—the symbols on their forehead protectors already revealed their origins.From the Hidden Sound trio, the bandaged leader, Dosu, glared at Yakushi Kabuto. "You just said the Hidden Sound was a small, newly formed Village, didn't you, bastard?""That is the case," Yakushi Kabuto nodded calmly.Before he could finish, Dosu struck out, throwing a hook punch.Yakushi Kabuto stepped back half a pace, the fist grazing the tip of his nose. It looked like a very close call.But seeing the slight smirk on Kabuto's face, one would think he was in total control.However, in the next second, Kabuto's expression changed.The glasses on his nose shattered with a snap, followed by a wave of dizziness that made his legs buckle, sending him to his knees."Ugh!"Yakushi Kabuto propped himself up with his hands and vomited right there."What? Didn't he dodge it?" Sasuke's brow furrowed.Shikamaru shook his head. "Maybe it grazed his nose. Hmph, that's what he gets for being so cocky."Among the crowd, only Naruto noticed something was off. He stepped forward and patted Yakushi Kabuto on the back.Golden specks of light fell, and a numbing sensation like an electric shock flowed into Kabuto's body, instantly making him feel much better."Th-thank you, Naruto." Yakushi Kabuto felt the nausea recede significantly and looked up to thank Naruto.He then turned to look at the Hidden Sound trio, a glint of coldness flashing in his eyes behind his disheveled hair.Beating up your boss's workhorse...Once the plan starts, I'll send you all to Lord Orochimaru as sacrifices!Dosu and his team unaware that their fates were already sealed, looked down at Yakushi Kabuto. "Write this down on your ninja identification card—""The trio from the Hidden Sound will definitely pass the exam and become..."Before he could finish, a figure lunged forward and was right in front of him.Standing at the front, Dosu was the first to react, immediately raising his arms to block.With a loud bang, Dosu stumbled back half a step before steadying himself."You bastard, you dare sneak attack me?"While surprised by the power of the punch, Dosuglared at Naruto for interrupting his posturing and shouted.Naruto said nothing, only tilting his head and looking at Dosu with interest."Hey, what do you me—"Dosu wanted to continue questioning him, but before he could finish, a massive wave of dizziness rushed to his brain.His legs gave out, and he collapsed to his knees.Then, with a retch, Dosu vomited all over the floor, just like Yakushi Kabuto had moments before."Thanks for the inspiration."Naruto see this and finally smiled.No one expected that Dosu, who had just defeated the veteran Genin Yakushi Kabuto with a single punch and acted so incredibly arrogant, would end up in the same state as Kabuto in the blink of an eye.No one thought it was because Dosu was weak.After all, the technique he used to defeat Kabuto was far too bizarre; almost no one could see through it except for his fellow Otogakure, Zaku and Kin.But clearly, Naruto—who could say "thanks for the inspiration"—had not only seen through the technique but had even adapted it to take Dosudown in return!Just who is this guy?!In an instant, every Genin in the classroom, without exception, felt a surge of wariness and caution toward Naruto.Even the arrogant-looking Zaku and Kin were somewhat intimidated, standing frozen in place instead of rushing forward to avenge their teammate.Yakushi Kabuto, barely managing to Stand up, stared at Naruto's back with a strange light flashing in his eyes.Under everyone's gaze, Naruto calmly took a step forward and pointed at Dosu's right arm. "That thing is your secret weapon, isn't it?"When he struck, Dosu had rolled up his sleeve and attacked with a right fist bound in a porous metal gauntlet, after which Kabuto seemed to take a heavy hit and knelt down to vomit.And as for Kabuto's symptoms, Naruto was all too familiar with them.After awakening his Stand on Earth, his favorite combat maneuver was to channel Hamon into an enemy's brain and then use his Stand to convert the Hamon into Shockwaves.At best, it caused nausea and vomiting, making them lose the will to fight; at worst, it turned their brain to mush, killing them on the spot.Thus, Naruto could conclude that the reason Dosucould defeat Kabuto was entirely due to the gauntlet on his arm."If I'm not mistaken, that thing can take in air currents, create high-frequency vibrations inside, and convert them into ultrasonic waves inaudible to the human ear to launch an attack. That's how you can defeat an opponent so silently, right?""H-how did you..."Hearing Naruto expose Dosu's secret so easily, the expressions of the Sound trio changed drastically.
Chapter 55: So This Is the Subject of Our Chunin Exams"How... how do you..."Hearing Naruto expose Dosu's secret in a single sentence, the complexions of the Otogakure trio changed drastically.In truth, it wasn't just them; everyone in the classroom was incredibly surprised.The rookies of Team 8 and Team 10, in particular, couldn't help but look at Naruto in a new light.Ino: "Not only has Naruto become more handsome, but has his strength become this impressive too?"Choji: "That analysis is amazing! He's almost caught up to Shikamaru, hasn't he?"Shikamaru: "Ah! How did even the dead lastNaruto become so strong? I feel like this exam is becoming more and more of a drag!"Inuzuka Kiba: "I knew it! That day we were assigned teams wasn't a fluke! This Naruto is too much, getting strong behind our backs!"Hinata: "Naruto-kun... is so amazing..."Shino: "..."Naruto took a moment to appreciate the expressions of the Otogakure trio before continuing, "It just so happens that I have the ability to release Shockwaves. Inspired by you, I tried increasing the frequency to convert it into sound waves, so I should thank you for the inspiration."There was a hint of craftiness in Naruto's smile.He wasn't stupid enough to expose his own intel.After all, whether for Stand Users or Ninjas, once their information is leaked, what awaits them is basically the fate of defeat.So, Naruto was merely misleading everyone at this moment, while also mocking Dosu.Although he harbored suspicions about Yakushi Kabuto, the guy was still one of Konoha's own, and now that elite Genin from various nations were gathered, he naturally couldn't let those from the Otogakure act so arrogantly."Naruto, thank you."Yakushi Kabuto walked up beside Naruto from behind, gave him a gentle smile, and reminded him, "However, you should be careful. Don't just blurt out your own intel next time; that's a basic rule of being a Ninja.""Don't worry, Kabuto-senpai," Naruto nodded.Then he looked at the other Genin, placed one hand on his hip, and pointed at the crowd, declaring loudly with a face full of confidence: "My name is Uzumaki Naruto! What I just said was intentional, because even if you know my intel, you still won't be my match!"No matter his mental age, Naruto was always that boisterous boy who loved to show off.As soon as these words were spoken, various emotions rippled through the crowd.Anger, disdain, indifference, curiosity...It was all there.The ones with the most intense emotions were, of course, the Otogakure trio.Naruto's words were a provocation to others, but to the three of them, it was already an insult.Even though the three didn't have much team spirit to speak of, they had to take action now to reclaim their dignity.Zaku, the one with the most explosive temper, raised his arm and roared, "You Konoha bastard, stop talking so big! I'll—"Boom!An explosion rang out.It wasn't Zaku launching an attack, but the sound of a Summoning Jutsu being activated.A large cloud of smoke erupted in the open space by the podium.As the smoke cleared, a large group of intimidating Konoha Ninjas appeared before everyone."Everyone shut up and find a seat."The speaker was a middle-aged man wearing a black leather trench coat, with several scars across his face, looking fierce and ruthless.His voice was thick and low; just hearing it gave people goosebumps, as if a sharp blade were being held against their throats."I am the head proctor for the first stage of the Chunin Exams, Ibiki Morino. You lot from the Otogakure, if you cause trouble before the exam, I will immediately revoke your eligibility."Under his piercing gaze, the Otogakure trio, who were just at each other's throats, felt an immense pressure.Clearly, it was this Uzumaki Naruto who was provoking them! Was he trying to protect his own people?Zaku had fire in his heart and was about to vent it, but he was stopped by Dosu raising a hand.Dosu felt slightly better now, and with Kin's help, he stood up. "So sorry, it's our first time taking the exam, we got a bit too excited."After saying that, he gave Naruto a vicious glare and then led his team to empty seats in the classroom.Naruto shrugged, turned back to smile at his Konoha companions, and they each found seats as well.Seeing the entire classroom fall silent, Ibiki Morinonodded with satisfaction and stood on the podium to announce loudly."The first stage of the Chunin Exams begins now!""Submit your applications in order and receive a number tag. Once everyone is seated in their designated spots according to their tags, we will distribute the test papers for the written exam."Wait! A written exam?The confident smile on Naruto's face withered and faded at a speed visible to the naked eye."Oh no, I forgot Naruto is a dead last with bottom-tier grades!"Sakura also covered her mouth on the side, her face full of worry."Don't worry," Naruto forced himself to perk up, "I have my ways!""I will write the rules for this exam on the blackboard and explain them. No questions allowed, so listen up!"Once all the candidates were seated in their assigned positions, Ibiki Morino tapped the blackboard."First, this exam uses a point-deduction system. Each person starts with ten points. There are ten questions in total, and one point is deducted for each wrong answer.""Second, this exam is a team battle. Each team has a total of thirty points, and the final competition will be based on the team's total score.""Third, if you are caught cheating during the exam, two points will be deducted each time. If an individual's score is depleted, they will be immediately expelled from the testing room."At this point, Ibiki Morino turned back, his gaze sweeping across the candidates."Remember this: engaging in shameful cheating is seeking your own destruction. If you want to become a Chunin, then act like an impressive Ninjafor me."Then Ibiki Morino withdrew his gaze and continued writing on the blackboard: "One last rule: after the exam, if anyone scores zero, their entire team will lose their eligibility for the competition."What?!Hearing this, the already worried Sasuke and Sakura's expressions changed.The two of them looked at Naruto simultaneously, seemingly already certain that this guy would definitely score a zero.However, facing their worried gazes, Naruto gave them a thumbs-up, the smile on his face as if telling them there was no problem.But...Is this guy really reliable?Sasuke quickly pulled his thoughts back, no longer worrying about Naruto.Sakura was a bit conflicted, wondering if she should find a way to pass the answers to Narutolater.On the podium, Ibiki Morino threw away the chalk and announced: "The exam time is one hour. Begin now!"With a flurry of rustling sounds, the candidates immediately began flipping through the distributed test papers."Question one: Decipher and translate the following code."Looking at the jumble of garbled code on the test paper, Naruto's mouth twitched.Who on earth could figure this out?Next question!"Question two: Parabola B in the diagram represents the maximum range of a shuriken thrown by enemy Ninja A standing on a 7-meter-high tree. Please answer by assuming the characteristics of the enemy Ninja that would appear on the ellipse drawn by this shuriken and the maximum range distance when fighting on a flat surface, and provide the basis for this hypothesis."What is all this gibberish?Done in a second!Naruto's speed was very fast; in about ten seconds, he had flipped through the entire paper.Except for the tenth question, which stated it would be given forty-five minutes after the exam started, he didn't know how to do any of the other questions, without exception.Naruto shook his head and laughed.Great!So these are the written exam questions for our Chunin Exams.There's code-breaking and cipher analysis, mechanical energy analysis, mathematical formula calculations, chemical equation balancing...Even the English I'm best at is a translation of a theological article. These questions are just—aaaaaaah!Naruto rubbed his hair in agony. After a long time, he finally let out a long sigh of relief and gave up on the idea of answering them himself.It looks like I can only execute Plan B.
Chapter 56: This is Exactly the Charm of Konoha!Naruto gave up on answering the questions himself and turned to look at Sasuke.He saw that the guy had also quickly skimmed through the exam paper, then set it down with a confident smile.Without a doubt, this guy definitely didn't know how to solve a single problem either.Naruto immediately made his judgment, then looked at Sakura; her eyes were bright, and the corners of her mouth were slightly curled.It seemed these questions weren't difficult for Sakura.Naruto vaguely remembered that back at the Ninja Academy, Sakura had perfect scores in every theoretical subject.If the practical combat score hadn't carried so much more weight than the theoretical knowledge in the Graduation Exam, the top spot wouldn't have belonged to Sasuke, but to Sakura.Sakura felt Naruto's gaze and looked up, meeting his eyes.Seeing this, Naruto pointed to himself and then placed his left palm on the desk.Buzz~In the next second, Sakura frowned slightly, feeling a faint tingling sensation spread through her body.The feeling wasn't intense; it was similar to the residual vibrations in muscles after using a Massage gun.After seeing the change in Sakura's expression, Naruto pointed to himself again and signaled with his eyes.Sakura immediately understood that this sensation must have been caused by Naruto.Although she didn't know the principle behind it, Naruto should be able to learn her answers through this."Very good, Naruto is actually quite clever!"Sakura smiled at Naruto.As for Sasuke, she knew she didn't need to worry about him at all.In that case, let's start answering immediately!Sakura calmed her mind, picked up her pen, and began scribbling a long string of text onto the exam paper.As expected of Sakura, she could even answer such difficult questions fluently.With his palm pressed against the desk, Narutosensed the vibrations returning from Sakura and couldn't help but marvel.Meanwhile, everyone else in the classroom had finished reading the questions.Everyone immediately realized that these questions, which clearly exceeded normal expectations, were meant to encourage the examinees to cheat.And Ibiki Morino had set the rule about point deductions for being caught cheating right from the start, which clearly held a deeper meaning.Thus, the true purpose of this exam was to test the examinees' information-gathering and counter-intelligence abilities!Soon, most people in the exam hall understood the real objective of this test and began to use their own special methods.The entire classroom was pin-drop silent, except for the proctors sitting on the sides who would occasionally stand up and approach an examinee to inform them of how many times they had been caught cheating.A tense battle of information offense and defense began.While Naruto was analyzing Sakura's movements based on the transmitted vibrations to derive the answers, he multi-tasked, leisurely glancing around to observe the other examinees.After all, intelligence-gathering was a part of a Ninja's strength; this was a good opportunity to gauge the other examinees' capabilities.Setting aside those examinees who were kicked out after losing all their points due to poor technique, the others were mainly divided into several categories.The first category was the obvious ones that Naruto could see through at a glance.For example, Inuzuka Kiba; the small white dog Akamaru crouching on his head whimpered softly from time to time, clearly passing information to his master.Then there were Tenten and Rock Lee, who used mirrors and forehead protectors respectively to reflect other people's exam papers.The second category wasn't as obvious, but Narutocould roughly deduce their methods.For instance, Sasuke and Dosu; although he didn't know exactly what technique they used, there were clear signs of them mimicking others' movements.The third category had basically no traces, and Naruto couldn't figure them out for the time being.Like Gaara, who was forming hand seals and striking a pose, and Neji, whose veins were bulging around his eyes."Hmm, it seems these few will be the most troublesome in this exam."Naruto yawned, noticed that Sakura had finished her answers, and pulled his paper over to start writing.Just then, someone poked his arm."Huh?" Naruto turned his head and saw Hinatasitting next to him.Seeing Naruto look over, a blush appeared on Hinata's fair face as she whispered, "Naruto-kun, if you don't know the answers, you can look at mine.""Don't worry," Naruto waved his hand slightly at her, "I'll be fine."Having said that, he picked up his pen, and a large amount of text quickly flowed from the tip.By the time he filled the entire exam paper, less than five minutes had passed.Naruto let out a long breath and turned to smile at Hinata, who was still watching him. "I'm pretty good, right?"The blush on Hinata's face spread down to her slender neck; she nodded almost imperceptibly and hurriedly looked away.Naruto idly twirled his pen and continued observing the nearby examinees.Then he noticed that sitting not far away on his other side was a female Ninja from the Hidden Sand Village whom he seemed to have met once before; her name was Temari something or other.At this moment, her paper was still completely blank, and her face showed some signs of anxiety."Why isn't Kankuro back yet? I'm still waiting for his answers."Temari rested her chin on one hand, her brow furrowed."Hey," Naruto's faint voice drifted over.Temari turned her head, her eyes filled with questioning. "?""If you can't do it, you can find a chance to peek at mine." Naruto slightly lifted his exam paper, showing the surface already filled with writing.Temari, who had been anxious waiting for Kankuro, perked up as if she had seen a lifeline.Furthermore, the fact that the handsome Narutowas proactively offering his answers for her to copy made Temari feel even better.Her eyes crinkled with a smile as she glanced at Naruto. "Flirting?"However, Naruto's next words caused Temari's expression to twist."I don't want Gaara to fail at the first written exam, so I'm letting you copy my answers. Don't hold him back."Naruto jerked his chin toward Gaara's back a few rows ahead, his gaze not lingering on Temari's face for even a second."Such an insincere guy."Temari rolled her eyes, the corners of her mouth drooping.Even if this kid is too embarrassed to admit he's flirting, there's no need to find such a poor excuse, right?Worried about Gaara? Why not say you're worried about Kankuro?"What's wrong?"Naruto rested his chin in his hand, looking at Temari curiously."You're asking what's wrong? You can't be serious, right?"Temari met Naruto's gaze and saw no trace of concealment in his eyes.She couldn't help but widen her eyes, her face full of disbelief.Is this guy really human? Ignoring a beautiful girl like me to care about Gaara?And you're a Konoha Ninja; is it really okay for you to care about people from another village?"That guy is very strong; he's probably the strongest Genin in your Hidden Sand Village, right? I find him very annoying, so I plan to defeat him fair and square in a formal battle. Naturally, I can't let that brat fail the written exam."Naruto looked at Gaara, fire spitting from his gaze.During their first meeting, Gaara had displayed an air of supreme arrogance.He completely disregarded his teammates Kankuroand Temari, and even attacked them on a whim.For Naruto, who valued the existence of his teammates more than his own life, this was something he absolutely could not tolerate.Temari looked at Naruto's profile and could see from his eyes that he wasn't joking.However, hearing Naruto's words, she only wanted to laugh.Gaara is the Jinchuriki of the Ichibi Shukaku! Who does this kid think he is?Temari's gaze toward Naruto unconsciously took on a hint of contempt and disdain.She admitted that Naruto looked quite good, his strength was likely high, and he had finished those difficult questions on the exam paper so quickly.So Temari thought that back in school, Narutomust have been a popular genius boy who had never suffered any hardships.Only someone living in such a smooth-sailing greenhouse would rashly decide to defeat someone fair and square just because they found them annoying.Compared to him, Gaara was monster-level strong.She figured that once he saw Gaara's true self, this kid probably wouldn't be able to maintain his current confident and handsome posture; he'd probably be scared into wetting his pants.Temari's eyes held a bit of pity. "You Konoha Ninjas really are naive.""You're the second person from another village to say that, but that's exactly where the charm of Konoha lies." Naruto chuckled.
Chapter 57: My Dream Will Never End!"Quiet!"A cold voice rang out behind Naruto and Temari.Turning their heads, they saw an examiner who had appeared beside Naruto at some point, looking at him coldly.However, after glancing at the examiner, Narutoshifted his gaze to Kankuro, who was standing beside the examiner with an equally unfriendly look.This guy had just claimed he needed to go to the restroom, and it was this examiner who had accompanied him.Yet, there was not the slightest fluctuation of life energy on this examiner.Naruto immediately saw through the truth, so he said in a voice so low that only the two of them could hear: "Your puppet is not bad."Kankuro raised an eyebrow; he never expected that Naruto would be able to see through his trick at a glance.Of course, the surprise was only fleeting.He immediately calmed his mind and took a deep look at Naruto. Without answering, as he passed through the aisle, he slipped the answers he had prepared in the restroom to Temari.Naruto also noticed Kankuro's small movement and the corners of his mouth curled up: "It seems you don't need me anymore."Temari rolled her eyes at him: "I never needed you in the first place."The whispered conversation between Naruto and Temari was just a small interlude, and the time for the written test ticked away second by second.When there were fifteen minutes left until the end of the test, Ibiki Morino, who was sitting on the podium, stood up and spoke again: "Alright, forty-five minutes have passed, and the trash has all been cleared out. Now it's time for the tenth question."The examinees nervously lifted their heads, their gazes focusing on Ibiki Morino.Under everyone's gaze, he was instead unhurried: "Before I present the question, I want to add a few rules regarding the final exam question."No one dared to criticize Ibiki Morino's leisureliness; almost everyone held their breath, waiting for his announcement."First, you must choose whether or not to take the tenth question."Temari frowned: "What happens if we choose not to take it?""Those who choose not to take it will have all their previous answers invalidated, be given a score of zero on the spot, and their teammates will also be disqualified from the exam," Ibiki Morino said slowly."What does this mean? If we choose not to take it, all three of us get eliminated together?""In that case, of course we choose to take it!"The classroom instantly erupted.However, Ibiki Morino's voice, like a biting cold wind, made the noisy classroom go quiet again: "There is one more rule..."Another rule? This never ends, does it! This thought flashed through everyone's minds."If anyone chooses to take the tenth question but fails to answer it correctly, they will lose the qualification to participate in the Chunin Examsforever! In other words, you will be a Genin for the rest of your life."Ibiki Morino's words were no different than a bomb thrown into a lake, exploding into countless protests."This, what kind of bullshit rule is this! Aren't there people here who have taken the Chunin Examsseveral times already?"Inuzuka Kiba couldn't hold back; he stood up directly and loudly vented his dissatisfaction.Facing his questioning, Ibiki Morino didn't get angry, but instead chuckled coldly: "You are really unlucky. Today, I am the one setting the rules. So, if you don't have confidence, just obediently choose to give up and take the exam in the future."After speaking, Ibiki Morino ignored Inuzuka Kibaand slammed his hand heavily on the table: "Alright, start choosing now. If anyone is not taking it, raise your hand to indicate."Below, there was a deathly silence.Choosing not to take it would implicate teammates and get them all eliminated. But choosing to take it meant if you didn't answer correctly, you would be a Genin for life.Faced with this dilemma, the examinees couldn't help but tremble, sweating profusely.The second hand of the clock on the blackboard ticked away, making a ticking sound as if it were urging their lives away.Soon, someone couldn't bear the pressure and raised their hand."Gen-nai, Inaho... I'm sorry..." A young man stood up, his whole body trembling, almost on the verge of tears.The examiner's ruthless voice also rang out: "Examinee number 50 is disqualified; number 111 and number 130 are also disqualified."Under everyone's gaze, the three examinees walked with unsteady, stumbling steps as they left the classroom.After this first one, several more people gave up on the exam one after another.After making their choice, they all looked dejected, as if they had lost their souls.Naruto watched their backs disappear behind the door, a flash of sympathy in his eyes.Having participated in the Chunin Exams this time, these people must have prepared for who knows how long, yet to say goodbye in this form was truly lamentable."Hmph, it seems they are all smart people. Are there any more smart people?" Ibiki Morino snorted coldly. Although his words were praises, his voice carried undisguised mockery.Listening to his sarcasm, Naruto frowned tightly.Bang! The next second, the examinees' attention was drawn by a heavy, dull thud.Naruto had slammed his palm on the table and stood up abruptly: "That's enough!""Hehe, are you also choosing to quit, brat?" Ibiki Morino sneered.Naruto looked straight at his scarred, fierce face: "Using mental pressure to toy with, and even trample upon, people's hearts, yet still feeling smug about it—I can't stand bastards like you the most!"Ibiki Morino didn't get angry, but asked in a deep voice: "I'll ask you one last time. This is a choice that gambles with your future path as a Ninja. If you want to leave, do it now.""Who do you think I am? A wimp who can be crushed by a few words from you? My path as a Ninja is not for you to choose for me."Naruto's gaze did not waver in the slightest."I only know that as a Ninja, my dream is to do the right thing and ultimately die without regrets!""So what if I'm a Genin for the rest of my life? My dream will never end!"His words were like a shot of adrenaline, striking the hearts of those examinees who were originally hesitant.Flames reignited in their eyes, and when they looked at Ibiki Morino, there was no longer the fear from before.Ibiki Morino swept his gaze over the examinees; his expression remained terrifyingly cold and hard.But this time, no one avoided his gaze anymore.So Ibiki Morino let his gaze fall back onto Naruto, the corners of his mouth slightly curling up.This brat is really interesting; he actually eliminated the unease in these people in an instant.There are still 72 people left; the number is much higher than I expected. Oh well, even if I wait longer, the result will be the same.After pausing for ten seconds, Ibiki Morino coughed to clear his throat: "Your resolve is quite good, kid. In that case, I announce...""All of you, you all pass!""???" The examinees were full of question marks.Most of them had only summoned the courage to take the test after being inspired by Naruto's words just now. They didn't expect that in the blink of an eye, the exam would already be over."What is going on?""What about the tenth question? Didn't we not take it yet?" The exam hall was filled with discussion."Actually, there is no tenth question, or strictly speaking, the choice I just let you make was the tenth question," Ibiki Morino explained with a smile.At this moment, his smile lacked the gloominess from before and instead carried a touch of softness."Wait! What was the meaning of the first nine questions? Didn't we take them for nothing?" Temari said loudly, quite dissatisfied."How could it be for nothing? The purpose of the first nine questions was to test your intelligence gathering ability. For a Ninja, intelligence is often more important than one's own life. That is why I used the first nine questions to weed out those whose abilities were not up to par."Ibiki Morino raised one finger to answer, then held up a second finger."The tenth question is the real exam question of this test. Asking you to choose between 'taking' it and 'not taking' it was undoubtedly a painful dilemma.""Choosing not to take it would implicate your teammates, and choosing to take it, should you fail, would mean you could never be promoted to Chunin for the rest of your life. Undoubtedly, this is a very unreasonable rule. But as a Ninja, you must face such choices.""If you receive a classified mission in the future, and you are completely unaware of the enemy Ninja's numbers, abilities, armaments, and whether they are prepared, would you accept the mission?""Would you refuse the mission just because you cherish your own life or don't want your companions to be in danger? Wrong! Dead wrong! Sometimes, there are missions that you must accept even if it costs you your life!""Therefore, at such times, those who possess the ability to break the deadlock and can bring courage to their companions are the ones who have the qualifications of a Ninja.""As for those who dare not gamble their lives at critical moments, who pin their hopes on 'there's always next year,' and give up the opportunity—such weak-willed people do not have the qualifications to become a Chunin."As he spoke, Ibiki Morino scanned the examinees with an expectant gaze."And you, you have passed my test. I hope you will continue to work hard from here on out."
Chapter 58: I Will Give This Exam My All"You have broken through my test. Keep up the hard work from here on."Ibiki Morino scanned the candidates with a gaze full of expectation.This guy...Is he really the same person as that cold-faced proctor from before?To show such a look, it feels a bit disgusting...While complaining in her heart, Temari looked toward Naruto, prepared to poke fun at the boring Konoha Ninja with him.But as her gaze shifted to him, she immediately noticed something was wrong.Naruto, who had looked so determined just moments ago, now had his head lowered, his chest heaving violently as if he were suppressing something.Temari frowned and called out, "Hey, you kid..."She didn't finish her sentence; she swallowed the words back down.Naruto turned his head, looking directly into Temari's eyes.!!!Temari's breath hitched as she stared blankly at Naruto.His eyes were red, crystal tears welling in them, his azure pupils bloodshot; his gaze was like a blade, piercing straight into Temari's heart.She was all too familiar with Naruto's current expression.It was like an infant in swaddling clothes craving a mother's comfort, yet also like a lone wolf in the desert licking its wounds in isolation.Pain, ferocity, hatred, loneliness...Temari clearly remembered that the last time she saw such a gaze was seven years ago, in the eyes of Gaara, who had just been betrayed and had killed his uncle, Yashamaru.From that day on, her once simple and kind younger brother had turned into the cold and cruel monster he was now.Soon, Naruto withdrew his gaze, still keeping his head down, though his breathing gradually steadied.Looking at him, Temari changed her previous opinion.This guy might not be the greenhouse flower she had guessed—someone popular at school who had never experienced failure or pain.Perhaps hidden in this guy's heart was a pain no less than Gaara's.But if that was the case, how did he overcome it?Could Gaara one day become like him too?As she thought, a sense of curiosity toward Narutocouldn't help but sprout within Temari.Just then, a sharp crashing sound rang out as a dark shadow burst through the window.The shadow headed straight for the podium, twisting in mid-air. With two thuds, two Kunaiwere pinned into the classroom ceiling.A massive black banner was unfurled and hung up, completely blocking Ibiki Morino on the podium.Two rows of large characters were written on the banner: the top read'Second Exam Proctor,' and the bottom was the name 'Anko Mitarashi'.The shadow that had just crashed into the classroom stood still in front of the banner, and only then did everyone see her appearance—It was actually a female Ninja, wearing a long trench coat over a tight fishnet outfit. One hand was coolly shoved in her pocket while the other pointed a thumb at herself, her beautiful face filled with impatience."I am the proctor for the second exam, Anko Mitarashi! Now is not the time to be celebrating!""Hurry up and head to the next exam! Everyone, follow me!"Her voice was crisp and pleasant, but the moment she spoke, it carried a fierce aura.The entire examination hall was deathly silent as all the candidates stared at Anko Mitarashi without a word.There was no helping it; this kind of 'cool and edgy' entrance wasn't something everyone could appreciate.Sakura even silently criticized her without mercy: 'Is this really a proctor? Why does she feel so much like the old Naruto?'"No one's paying attention to you."The obscured Ibiki Morino lifted a corner of the banner, a look of schadenfreude on his face."..."Anko Mitarashi was so embarrassed she could have curled her toes into the floor.This was the entrance show she had carefully planned, but she hadn't expected these bastards below to be so unsupportive!In that case... Hmph!Anko Mitarashi's gaze swept across the room, and she turned back to look at Ibiki Morino with dissatisfaction. "72 people? Are you kidding me, Ibiki? You actually let 24 teams through?""Ah, because the candidates this time are quite excellent," Ibiki Morino said as he walked to her side, the corners of his mouth curling up.Anko Mitarashi sneered. "Hmph, whatever. No matter how many are left, in the upcoming second exam, I'll eliminate at least half of them!"With that, she gave a grand wave of her hand. "I can't wait anymore. Everyone follow me! Once we reach the location for the second exam, I'll tell you the rules."This time the candidates finally reacted, standing up one after another to follow her out of the classroom.Naruto deliberately slowed his movements, walking at the very back.After everyone else had left, he approached Ibiki Morino.Ibiki Morino looked at Naruto with interest. "What is it?"He knew the person before him was the genius Kakashi had mentioned, whose character and strength could rival or even surpass the Fourth Hokage.That phrase 'My dream will not end' had left a deep impression on Ibiki.Naruto took a deep breath and then gave him a deep bow. "Thank you!""Hmm?" Ibiki Morino was startled.He had originally thought Naruto disagreed with his views and wanted to have a debate with him.He hadn't expected this kid to give him a shock right from the start."Can you show me what it looks like under your headscarf?"Naruto didn't explain, but instead made a serious request.Ibiki Morino was slightly stunned, but he didn't refuse, removing the black headscarf that covered his entire crown.What was revealed to Naruto was a head covered in scars, terrifying and hideous.Knife wounds, burns, screw holes...Just looking at these scars was enough to make one feel a chill.Naruto gazed at the top of Ibiki Morino's head, his breathing becoming a bit heavier.Then he closed his eyes as if recalling something, his face shifting through countless emotions.When Ibiki Morino put the headscarf back on, Naruto opened his eyes."Do you have something to say?" Ibiki Morinocrossed his arms and leaned against the podium, assuming the air of a life mentor."Dreams are the kind of thing that, if they only stay as words and aren't put into practice, will eventually just be a slogan," Naruto said, looking down at his hands. "Earlier... I was lost on the path of life..."Ibiki Morino smiled. "You're Kakashi's student, right? He uses that excuse quite often. However, being late is a bad habit; don't learn that from him.""That's right. That's why I wanted to thank you just now. Thank you for reminding me, for making me remember what the right thing to do is, and what it means to die without regrets."Naruto looked up, his face brimming with a smile as bright as the sun."You kid..."Faced with this smile that held no shadow, Ibiki Morino, who spent all year in the dark interrogation rooms, actually felt a bit of discomfort and awkwardly looked away."I will work hard to become a great Ninja. I hope you'll be there to see that day. Goodbye!"Naruto bowed once more and then dashed out of the classroom with light steps."Sigh~"Ibiki Morino watched his silhouette disappear behind the door and sighed.Then he reached up and touched those scars that still throbbed with pain through the headscarf, before suddenly breaking into a gratified smile."As expected of someone Kakashi holds such high hopes for. It's because such radiant people exist that I'm willing to soak in that dark, sunless interrogation room. Knowing this kid can bask in the sunlight makes it all worth it..."Meanwhile, Naruto arrived downstairs and caught up with the main body of candidates on the playground.Standing in the sunlight, he looked up at the sky, remembering events buried deep in his memory.After defeating Dio, Naruto had returned to the Ninja World without regrets, but that didn't mean he had nothing he repented.The greatest regret of Naruto's life was when he was young in St. Moritz, Switzerland, not stopping or accompanying Caesar into the Pillar Men's castle to fight alongside him.At that time, Naruto held the same thought as Lisa Lisa, believing that Kars would surely have prepared a trap in broad daylight and that they should wait until nightfall to attack.Thus, he watched with his own eyes as Caesarstepped toward his fate of death alone.Since then, Naruto had always believed that his choice at the time had caused his friend's death, and this matter became a sore spot he was unwilling to mention.After returning to the Ninja World, Naruto's dream of always doing the right thing and eventually dying without regrets stemmed from this.There are times and missions that one must accept, even if it means risking one's life!Ibiki Morino's earlier words echoed in Naruto's mind, and his gaze became increasingly determined."Since I'm going to do the right thing, I'll start with the basics! No more slacking off. I'm going to give this exam my all!"
Chapter 59: Advancing Towards VictoryLed by Anko Mitarashi, the group of examinees soon left Konoha and arrived at the perimeter of a forest enclosed by iron fences.Whether it was the twisted, strange, and eerie trees inside, or the iron locks wrapped around the gate, everything made people feel a bit uneasy."This is the venue for the second stage of the exam, Konoha Training Ground 44, also known as—""The Forest of Death!"Anko Mitarashi stood before the gate, looking back at the examinees, seemingly savoring their expressions.After scanning the crowd and finding no troublemakers, she felt a bit disappointed and pulled a stack of documents from her pocket: "Before the exam, all of you must sign a consent form.""Why?" someone in the crowd asked, as expected."Because after entering the exam venue, you will quickly understand why this place is called the 'Forest of Death,' so I must obtain your consent first, otherwise I would have to be held responsible."Anko Mitarashi smiled happily."Those who don't want to sign can get lost now."Watching her act like this, almost all the examinees cursed inwardly.Now everyone could see that this woman was completely different from Ibiki Morino before.Although she appeared carefree and hot-blooded, she was actually a very cunning and black-bellied person.However, even if they harbored dissatisfaction, they had already arrived here, so naturally, no one chose to withdraw.Thus, the examinees stepped forward one after another, and after signing the consent forms, they entered the closed examiner's hut in groups and each received a scroll.Meanwhile, Anko Mitarashi was loudly announcing the rules."The content of this exam is very simple—a survival challenge!""Training Ground 44 is a circular area with a radius of ten kilometers. Each of your teams will be randomly assigned to one of the 44 entrances to the training ground.""There is a high tower at the center of the training ground, which is the finish line of the exam. What you need to do is arrive at the tower alive within five days.""However, just reaching the destination is not enough. I just gave each of your teams a scroll, on which 'Heaven' and 'Earth' are written respectively.""The condition for passing the exam is to hand over a matching pair of 'Heaven' and 'Earth' scrolls after arriving at the tower.""In other words, you must seize scrolls from other teams, so at least 12 teams will be eliminated."Once these words were spoken, the looks the examinees gave each other were filled with undisguised vigilance and defensiveness.The air was filled with tension, which excited Anko Mitarashi, a person who loved chaos."Teams that cannot arrive with the scrolls within the limited time will be eliminated; teams that suffer casualties or loss of combat capability will be eliminated; teams that open the scrolls before reaching the tower will be eliminated; you cannot withdraw after entering the venue and must stay for five days."Anko Mitarashi said, pointing her finger at the crowd: "One last piece of advice for you—""Don't die in there!"Sakura whispered, complaining: "I feel like this woman is cursing us to die in there."Naruto rolled his eyes at her: "Sakura, how can you speculate about others like that? That's very impolite!"Sasuke looked over in surprise: "You would actually say something like that?"Naruto nodded heavily: "This woman is a Konoha Ninja, after all, so she must be cursing the people from other Villages to die in there!"Swish!A sound of something cutting through the air came.Naruto tilted his head, and a Kunai grazed his cheek, cutting off a few strands of hair.Immediately after, Anko Mitarashi appeared abruptly behind Naruto and wrapped her arm around his neck: "Don't think that just because you are a Konoha Ninja, I will give you special treatment.""Because I questioned your fairness as an examiner, you're getting anxious?" Naruto turned his head, looked at Anko Mitarashi's side profile, and smiled.Anko Mitarashi didn't answer but patted his shoulder: "A kid like you had better put away your wishful thinking. Even if we are both Konoha Ninja, I will not extend a helping hand to those who are useless."Naruto looked directly at her, and the smile on his face deepened slightly: "You... have been abandoned by a man, haven't you?""...""...""..."The atmosphere in the arena turned icy instantly.Anko Mitarashi exuded a strong killing intent.The eyes of all the examinees were focused on Naruto, with a hint of admiration.After all, everyone had already gained some understanding of what kind of person Anko Mitarashi was just now.For Naruto to dare say such a thing to such a fierce woman, it was really hard not to admire him."Unpleasant brat, if you don't fix that mouth of yours, you'll soon be spitting out the blood I like best and losing your life."Anko Mitarashi still looked at Naruto with a smile, but her eyes had already pierced him tens of thousands of times."This is your Kunai, examiner."Just then, a hoarse voice came.Anko Mitarashi turned her head and looked at the figure that had appeared behind her at some unknown time.It was a Ninja from Kusagakure Village wearing a conical hat, with an eerie appearance, neither man nor woman.He stuck out his long tongue, wrapping it around a Kunai.This was the Kunai Anko Mitarashi had shot at Naruto just now, and he had picked it up."Thanks." Anko Mitarashi showed no disgust, took the Kunai from the other person's tongue, and narrowed her eyes, "Also, if you don't want to die, don't stand behind me with killing intent.""Sorry, I got a little excited." The Kusagakure Ninjaimmediately stepped back half a step.Taking advantage of this little interlude, Anko Mitarashi pulled her arm away from Naruto's shoulder: "Alright, the exam begins!"Hearing this, the originally tense crowd breathed a sigh of relief.Sakura also came forward at this time: "You scared me to death, Naruto! Don't provoke the examiner!""What's there to be afraid of? Anyway, once we enter the exam venue, we won't even have the chance to withdraw. That person only serves to announce the exam rules, right?"It was Sasuke who spoke.He had always been like this; he almost never showed any respect to those he didn't identify with.Then Sasuke looked at Naruto: "Come to think of it, how did you know?"He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was already very clear.Naruto scratched his head: "I don't know.""Huh? Then why did you say that just now?" Sakura asked curiously as well."Ah, that person told me in a very heavy tone, 'Don't expect me to extend a helping hand to you,' which was completely different from the carefree feeling she had at the beginning, so I guessed she had an experience of being abandoned or given up on."Naruto put his arms behind his head and smiled leisurely."But didn't you say she had been abandoned by a man?" Sasuke asked gossipingly.Naruto rolled his eyes at him: "I wanted to provoke her at the time, so of course I had to say she had the experience of being abandoned by a man. If that person were a man, I would have changed my words to him being abandoned by a woman.""You guy..."Sasuke and Sakura both put their hands to their foreheads, speechless."But judging from the results, I really guessed right about that woman." Naruto touched his chin and chuckled.Thirty minutes later, The Three Little Ones, led by the examiner, arrived at their assigned entrance."The second stage of the Chunin Exams, now begins!"At Anko Mitarashi's command, the iron gates at the entrances were opened simultaneously.The examinees, like arrows released from a bow, rushed into the dangerous Forest of Death."Alright! Let's go! Advancing towards victory!"Naruto raised his hands high, announcing his arrival to the entire Forest of Death.
Chapter 60: The AttackNaruto raised his hands high, announcing his arrival to the entire Forest of Death."Alright! Let's go! Onward to victory!"Sakura looked at him in confusion: "Why did you suddenly become so full of energy?"Sasuke also had a strange look on his face: "Back to being that hot-blooded idiot?""No, it's a revival."Naruto did not deny it, but instead smiled at his companions."Since we've entered the exam, we naturally have to give it our all to win! That's the right thing to do, isn't it?"Sakura's face flushed red, while Sasuke looked away: "As long as you know that, just don't hold me back!""Of course!" Naruto gave a thumbs up.Afterward, The Three Little Ones headed deep into the Forest of Death.Soon, they understood why this training ground was called the Forest of Death.The huge, gnarled trees were like a curtain covering the sky, blocking all the sunlight.Walking through the forest, everything seemed eerie and terrifying.Because it rarely saw the sun, the ground in the forest was slippery and difficult to traverse.The roots of the trees were intertwined everywhere, blocking the path, and poisonous insects and beasts would occasionally dart out.The surrounding environment was fraught with danger; even the usually bold Naruto and Sasukecouldn't help but heighten their vigilance.Sakura was even more solemn, following closely behind the two, not daring to relax for a moment."Ah~~~~~~~"About half an hour later, a scream suddenly echoed through the desolate forest.Because of the distance, the scream sounded lingering and eerie, adding a touch of horror."Was that someone else's scream just now?" Sakura shivered.Sasuke frowned: "It seems the hunt has already begun.""Are you nervous, Sakura?" Naruto noticed Sakura's body trembling, so he took her hand.A warm current flowed from Naruto's hand, and Sakura, who had been feeling terrified, relaxed a little.Sasuke lowered his gaze, watching Sakura grip Naruto's hand in return, then looked away: "Right now, we have the Scroll of Heaven, so we must snatch a scroll of earth to complete the mission.""It's a pity that the collection of the scrolls was kept strictly confidential, so we aren't sure which teams have the scroll of earth." Having calmed down, Sakura was quick to react.Naruto looked at the two: "Do you have any ideas?""We just have to act as soon as possible, right?" Sasuke frowned. "It would be best if we could directly pick a team that has the scroll of earth.""What about you, Sakura?" Naruto asked.Sakura did not hesitate: "I actually have an idea."Seeing that Naruto and Sasuke were both looking at her, she didn't beat around the bush. After a moment of thought, she analyzed: "To meet the conditions as quickly as possible, most teams will definitely choose to find enemies first and then start fighting to snatch the scrolls. We can do the opposite.""You mean..." Naruto understood her line of thinking, "We give up looking for the scroll and head to the tower first?"Sakura nodded: "That's right. As the destination of the exam, all teams will head there after gathering the scrolls. We can arrive early, set traps, wait for them to come to us, and directly rob those who have already completed their sets.""But the teams that are able to gather the scrolls first probably won't be weak, right?" Sasuke said."I'm not much, but among the other teams, I don't think anyone can defeat you two geniuses."Sakura looked at Naruto and Sasuke, smiling confidently."Very good! A great proposal!"Naruto clapped his hands, encouraging Sakura's input.But his next words made Sakura's smile stiffen."But there is just one problem.""What problem?""The enemy is already here!"No sooner had Naruto finished speaking than a sound of something breaking through the air was heard.He pulled Sakura into his arms, embraced her, stepped forward, and leaped away, while shouting: "Sasuke!"Sasuke did not answer; he turned around silently, reached into his ninja tool pouch at his waist, and several cold stars flew out.Clang, clang, clang.Three Shuriken knocked down three Kunai.Then, with a swish from the bushes, a blurred figure fled at high speed.Clearly, seeing that the sneak attack failed, the lone attacker realized they would be no match for The Three Little Ones and simply chose to run away.Sakura was stunned by the sudden change, and only now reacted: "That guy ran away!"Without needing anyone to remind him, Sasukechased after them, his figure instantly disappearing into the bushes.Naruto put Sakura down: "Let's chase!"The two picked up their pace, and about a dozen seconds later, they caught up with Sasuke in a clearing.Seeing the two of them, Sasuke turned back: "Lost them."In his eyes, two tomoe were spinning rapidly.Sakura couldn't help but exclaim: "To be able to escape under the Sharingan? It seems that guy's strength is very high."Naruto nodded: "The terrain here is complex, and plus that person ran away immediately, creating distance. It's normal that we couldn't catch them.""But they already know of our existence and will definitely find a way to sneak attack again. We must move as soon as possible."Sasuke said, walking over and standing side by side with Naruto."Right," Naruto agreed, "Since that's the case..."The next second, the two performed hand seals simultaneously.The only difference was that Naruto formed the Snake seal, and Sasuke formed the Tiger seal."You guys?"Sakura looked in surprise at the two who suddenly took action.Naruto separated his hands, his palms wrapped in a thin layer of colorful bubbles, and he bent down to slam them heavily onto the ground beneath his feet.Sasuke turned to the side, facing the four o'clock direction, while concentrating Chakra in his throat."Vibration Release: Rock-Crushing Palm!""Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"In an instant, both Ninjutsu were unleashed."Ah!"Sakura couldn't react in time; she only felt the ground beneath her feet soften and shake, while a surging heat rushed toward her.Naruto stepped across, blocking in front of Sakura, shielding her from the incoming heat while holding her arm.Sasuke took out two Kunai from his waist and followed, staying close to Naruto.Both of them looked alertly toward the direction where the Great Fireball, several meters in diameter, had flown.Just now, the two of them cooperated tacitly; one used Vibration Release to break open the nearby ground, forcing the enemy to reveal themselves, and the other used Fire Release to give the forced-out enemy a head-on blow.Now they just needed to wait for the result.Just at this moment, a hoarse voice rang out, and then the sound of howling wind drowned out everything."Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"The wild wind was overwhelming, surging and gathering.Normally, Fire Release has a restraining effect on Wind Release.Sasuke had originally been laughing in his heart at the enemy's stupidity for using Wind Release to counter his Fire Release.But immediately, he couldn't laugh anymore.Because under the huge gap in power, this restraining effect was almost negligible.He saw that the originally huge fireball expanded a circle under the aid of the wind.But immediately after, a more violent cold wind blew past, and the fireball went out with a puff and vanished without a trace.Moreover, after the Great Fireball was extinguished, the enemy's Wind Release power actually increased rather than decreased, continuing to strike toward The Three Little Ones.The three of them were in an open, flat area. If they were blown away by the strong wind, they would definitely be severely injured, and the subsequent battle would be troublesome.Thinking of this, Naruto thrust both palms out, arms straight, blocking in front of himself.Huge bubbles were generated from his palms, then deformed into the shape of a barrier, blocking in front of the three."Vibration Release: Immortal Path Hamon Infused Rigid Wall!"
Chapter 61: Let Me Be Fascinated by You!"Vibration Release: Sage Way Hamon Infused Hard Wall!"Under Naruto's activation, a bubble barrier expanded from his palm, and as Vibration ReleaseChakra was injected, it twisted and deformed into a streamlined state.Immediately after, a gale that swept away everything came howling.The rainbow-toned bubble trembled violently, looking as if it could be breached at any moment.Seeing this, Sasuke grabbed the back of Naruto's jacket with one hand and Sakura Haruno's arm with the other, preparing to pull them both away and flee if the bubble shattered.Sakura Haruno trembled slightly, her eyes filled with undisguisable fear.Although she knew this exam would be dangerous before entering the Forest of Death, and had just heard screams from somewhere...In Sakura Haruno's view, with the two geniuses Naruto and Sasuke by her side, their team's strength was among the top of the 24 participating teams, so there was no need to worry about safety.The only thing to focus on was how to obtain another scroll as quickly as possible to improve the team's ranking.But the enemy that appeared now completely shattered Sakura Haruno's expectations.A simple C-rank Wind Release had easily destroyed Sasuke's Ninjutsu, and even Naruto's defense was teetering.Even while protected, just hearing the howling wind in her ears made her feel like she was about to be torn apart.For the first time, Sakura Haruno felt a crisis that could take her life.One second, two seconds, three seconds...After a full five seconds, the gale finally subsided.Fortunately, with the enhancement of Vibration Release Chakra, the bubble barrier was incredibly tough and ultimately survived the enemy's attack.Then, with a soft 'pop', Naruto's Chakra could no longer be sustained, and the barrier shattered and disappeared.Soon, the dust kicked up by the gale dissipated, and The Three Little Ones looked around, staring at the scene before them in disbelief—Within a radius of dozens of meters, everything had been cleared out!Originally just a small forest clearing, now the nearby trees were all snapped from the roots, with thick trunks thrown far away."How... how was this done?" Sakura Haruno covered her mouth.Sasuke's expression was equally grim: "Who knows..."Naruto panted slightly, his gaze fixed on the three people appearing in the distance.From their attire, Naruto immediately recognized the enemies' identity: "They're the ones from Kusagakure Village earlier!""What? Kusagakure Village?" Sakura Haruno's eyes widened.Sasuke was also in disbelief: "Isn't Kusagakure Village a small Village? How can there be such strong Genin?""I don't know. Anyway, run if we can."Naruto shook his head while cautioning his companions.He understood the logic: if you can win with Hamon, fight; if not, run for it."Hehe, do you think you can escape?"The one in the middle of the three Grass Ninja spoke with a grin.He was the guy who had picked up the Kunai for Anko Mitarashi earlier.Then the man tossed his head: "You two, go play with them.""Yes!"The other two responded respectfully.Their manner made it seem as if the person in the middle was not their companion, but their superior."I'll hold them off. You take Sakura Haruno and leave first,"Naruto said in a voice only the three of them could hear.Sasuke frowned: "Are you crazy?"In his view, although Naruto was stronger than him, it wasn't by much.Facing three people alone, with at least one enemy far surpassing himself, was complete suicide."Don't worry, my life is very tough!"Naruto turned and gave his companions a confident smile.But this time, his smile didn't infect Sakura Haruno: "No, how can you be alone..."However, before she could finish, Sasuke nodded heavily, grabbed Sakura Haruno's collar, and without another word, pulled her away toward the distance."Oh my, what a truly touching scene."Seeing this, the Grass Ninja in the middle didn't pursue the fleeing Sasuke and Sakura Haruno, but instead looked at Naruto with a smile."Do you need me to applaud for you?""More than just applause!"Facing the enemy alone, Naruto showed no panic, instead stretching his limbs."Next, you'll be cheering for my performance!""I'll wait and see."The Grass Ninja in the middle chuckled, extending an incredibly long tongue to lick the corners of his mouth, appearing extremely sinister and eerie.Then, at his signal, the other two Grass Ninja charged straight forward.So fast!Naruto raised an eyebrow, not expecting these two to be so capable.In an instant, the two had lunged in front of him, the Kunai in their hands glinting with a chilling light.These two coordinated perfectly, one attacking Naruto's neck while the other aimed for his abdomen.With their strength, their Taijutsu alone was enough to rank them among the Chunin.They were even stronger than the Hidden Mistrogue ninja, the Demon Brothers, whom Narutohad encountered during the Land of Wavesmission.However, for Naruto, who had returned from the Land of Waves and cultivated hard for over half a month, these two were truly not enough to look at now.He opened his palms and held them in front of him, actually intending to use his bare hands to intercept the incoming Kunai.Seeing this, the attacking Grass Ninja looked fierce, feeling as if they were being looked down upon by the kid in front of them, and prepared to increase their power to teach him a lesson.Meanwhile, the man in the back frowned.Because even he couldn't see what Naruto was trying to do for a moment.But he was certain this guy wouldn't be so arrogant as to actually use flesh and blood to block steel.Buzz~In the next second, with a hum, a cluster of bubbles sprouted from each of Naruto's palms.The two Grass Ninja had no time to change direction, and their Kunai stabbed into them.However, to their surprise, their Kunai didn't pop the bubbles as expected, but were instead swallowed by the incredibly tough bubbles.Then, the two clusters of bubbles expanded rapidly, spreading up their arms.Seeing things go south, the two Grass Ninja immediately dropped their Kunai and tried to retreat.Naruto, seeing this, no longer hesitated and directly detonated the bubbles."Vibration Release: Void Space Bomb!"With a soft pop, a powerful and chaotic Shockwaverippled within the bubbles."What?!"The two Grass Ninja's eyes widened, their gazes shifting down as they let out cries of disbelief.The hands they had used to hold the Kunai, the parts from the elbow down encased in the bubbles, had all turned into a mist of blood!Before their pain receptors could even transmit the sensation, the two had each lost a section of their arms!Only then did the intense pain surge in like an overwhelming tide."Aaaargh!!!"The two clutched their arms, letting out shrill and horrifying screams.But this ear-piercing screaming lasted for less than half a second before it came to an abrupt halt."Sorry, coming through."Naruto walked past the two, his movements so fast that no one could see him strike; the two Grass Ninja each took a punch and were sent flying to the sides.Bang!After a dull thud, the two fell heavily to the ground, already unconscious."Alas, those two were my loyal subordinates, yet you've beaten them into this state. How regrettable."The long-tongued Grass Ninja sighed.But judging by the excited smile on his face, one couldn't feel any sense of regret from this guy at all."I haven't heard your cheers yet."Naruto continued to walk, slowly approaching.Although he had dealt with two enemies, he could tell that the person in front of him was the final boss; now was not the time to relax."Not bad, not bad. I, Orochimaru, am willing to call you an excellent child," the long-tongued Grass Ninja clapped, "but this alone is not enough. Keep performing..."Saying that, he revealed a sinister and eerie smile."Let me be fascinated by you!"