The Chūnin Exam is here.
Sakura Haruno held the registration form, casting a glance at the two people beside her, feeling a bit hesitant. She wondered whether she should sign up.
Sasuke had grown extraordinarily strong after unlocking his Sharingan and receiving guidance from Kakashi-sensei, while Naruto was even stronger, having reached the rank of "Jonin." But what about her?
The only improvement she had made was learning a bit of sealing jutsu while following Naruto during their mission in the Land of Waves. Compared to her graduation, her abilities had hardly changed at all.
"Don't you want to sign up?" Naruto noticed the change in her expression.
Sakura felt a little embarrassed and hesitated before nodding.
"Kakashi-sensei didn't mention it earlier, but you guys know he really likes to assess 'teamwork,'" Naruto said as he waved the registration form in his hand. "So, unless something unexpected happens, the Chūnin assessment will be conducted in groups."
Sakura was taken aback.
"Our mission in the Land of Waves was intentionally arranged?" Sasuke, who had been examining the registration form closely like Naruto, noted the specific point and naturally came to this conclusion. He also felt that Kakashi's insistence on continuing the mission raised some doubts for him.
Naruto nodded, "If you don't sign up, I'm afraid Sasuke and I won't be able to as well."
Sakura widened her eyes in disbelief, "How could that be?"
"I hope you can participate," Naruto said gently. "Of course, as a responsibility for getting you involved, I will ensure your safety during the exam."
"Me too," Sasuke added, putting his hands in his pockets, his tone cool.
Sakura's face turned red, "I... I understand."
Naruto smiled, "Then see you tomorrow."
With that, he left in an instant.
Sasuke turned to Sakura, "Are you going to keep feeling this way?"
Sakura was taken aback. What did he mean by that?
"You aren't weak," Sasuke said as he jumped onto the wall, looking down at her. "You just lack conviction."
"And you have Naruto and me by your side."
"Naruto is strong, he's at the Jonin level."
"I'm strong too. A few days ago, I unlocked my double tomoe; among the Chūnin, I'm considered elite."
Sasuke didn't continue but threw a glance at Sakura before disappearing from her sight.
Sakura was confused. What did that mean? Was he blaming her for not keeping up with them?
The next day, at the ninja academy, the three gathered.
As they entered the teaching building and headed up the stairs, they encountered a crowd gathering in front of Classroom 301. Two genin were guarding the door, dispersing the Konoha ninjas that approached.
They were disguised "proctors" posing as "examinees," setting up genjutsu in the corridors. However, for assessment purposes, the genjutsu wasn't particularly intricate.
Not to mention Naruto and Sasuke, even Sakura could see through this "clumsy" trick at a glance. Just as they were about to move forward, a boy with a watermelon head and a tight green outfit suddenly jumped out. Self-introducing as "Rock Lee," he confessed his feelings to Sakura and subtly provoked Sasuke. After successfully drawing out a response from Sasuke, they engaged in a spar.
Lee was strong. Even with Sasuke activating his double tomoe Sharingan, enhancing both his taijutsu and ninjutsu, he still lost. This defeat weighed heavily on Sasuke's mind, especially after he had been feeling a bit more relaxed due to his recent improvements.
He had accepted that he couldn't surpass Naruto, a genius on the same level as his brother and Kakashi-sensei. He could accept not being able to beat White as well, given that guy possessed a very unique bloodline limit. But why couldn't he keep up with Rock Lee in that ridiculous outfit?
At the door of Classroom 301, Kakashi was waiting. Just as Naruto had mentioned yesterday, the assessment was indeed conducted in groups.
Once confirming the three had arrived, Kakashi officially granted them their examination qualifications. They pushed the door open, and the heat generated by the hundreds of gathered people washed over them.
The majority were adults, dressed in peculiar styles, wearing different headbands, with most being from other villages. Many familiar faces were present, including those from "Team 8" and "Team 10," who had graduated this year.
But Naruto did not join in. He kept his gaze fixed on one direction, locking onto a certain person.
"That guy seems strong?" Sasuke leaned over, following Naruto's gaze.
Before them stood a boy with short red hair, looking about their age, with an unusually pale complexion and pronounced dark circles under his eyes. On his forehead was a vivid red character for "Love," and behind him was a gourd almost equal in size to his frame.
"Yeah, he's quite remarkable," Naruto nodded.
Now he understood why the village was so eager for him to participate in the Chūnin exam. This boy exuded the aura of a "Tailed Beast."
"Is he stronger than you?" Sasuke asked, his tone serious.
Naruto looked down, holding the hilt of his Nine-Tails blade. "Without using this blade, he's probably around my level."
During a conversation with the Nine-Tails, they had discussed matters related to the Tailed Beasts. It mentioned that the power of a Tailed Beast was determined by the number of tails they possessed. The Shukaku, the One-Tailed Beast in Sunagakure, was the weakest, having only one tail.
Sasuke nodded in understanding. Without the blade? That meant in hand-to-hand combat, he was at the elite Chūnin level?
The boy with dark circles noticed Naruto's gaze and looked up, a chilling aura surrounding him. As his chakra boiled, faint scratching sounds could be heard around him as small objects brushed against each other.
A boy and a girl beside him were startled, trying to calm him down.
Naruto squinted. Was the Tailed Beast Jinchuriki so irritable? Just turning to look at him elicited such killing intent?
"Are you curious about that person?" A voice suddenly asked beside him, startling Naruto, who quickly retreated a step.
He fixed his gaze on the figure that had appeared next to him. The person was tall, seemingly an adult, with a grayish-white hair and wearing round-framed glasses, giving him a rather unremarkable appearance.
"Don't be so tense. I'm also a Konoha ninja. In fact, I'm your senior; you can call me Kabuto," he said, raising his hand with an innocent smile. "I just noticed your curiosity about that ninja over there, so I thought I could assist you."
With a flick of his right hand, he revealed a stack of cards. "These are something I put together, called 'Ninja Knowledge Cards,' which contain fairly detailed information about that ninja. Would you like to take a look?"
Naruto examined him, surprised. A person like this? He was just a genin?
His chakra was not much weaker than Kakashi's, and he concealed his aura so well that Naruto hadn't noticed him initially. He was definitely a top-tier Jonin-level expert.
"Offering information like this? How generous of you," Naruto shook his head, "Why the sudden kindness? We didn't seem to know each other before."
Kabuto moved a little closer, "You may not know me, but I know you. The talent who has soared after a complete turnaround, Naruto Uzumaki."
"And of course, there's Sasuke Uchiha, a genius on par with you."
Sasuke was not pleased by this, clenching his fists. To equate himself with Naruto? The disparity was so vast; was this an insult to him?
Kabuto continued, "You will both become significant figures in the village soon. It's beneficial for me to befriend you at this time."
"Care to take a look?"
"Though it's not complete, it should still hold some reference value."
Naruto regarded him, "Then please, Kabuto-senpai, I'd like to learn about that Sunagakure ninja from earlier."
Sasuke leaned in and added, "And Rock Lee from Konoha."
Naruto paused, shifting his gaze back to Kabuto, "Kabuto-senpai, could your information help us understand?"
Kabuto looked surprised, staring at Naruto, "Why are you interested in me? I'm just an ordinary genin."
"You're strong," Naruto stated bluntly. "You don't feel any weaker than that Sunagakure ninja to me."
Kabuto smiled shyly, scratching his head, "Oh, you're flattering me."
"But I have to disappoint you, I'm quite weak. I've participated in the genin exams seven times without success."
"My presence is just naturally weak; it's not because of any powerful jutsu."
"It's not just you, many have misunderstood me like this before."
Naruto stared at him, not believing his words at all.
(End of Chapter)