Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Preparation for the Chunin Exam
As the chakra dissipated, the thick fog cleared.
Sasuke and Sakura's vision returned, and they looked ahead.
The scene seemed frozen in a picture frame.
A blond boy standing with his sword sheathed.
A menacing man without eyebrows pinned to a tree.
A damaged and broken large sword stuck in the ground.
The clanging of the battle had ended, and the outcome was clear.
Sasuke clenched his fists, staring intently at Naruto.
He had believed that the gap in strength between himself and Naruto wasn't large and that he could easily catch up once he awakened his Sharingan.
But...
Today's cold, harsh reality hit him hard.
Only now did he realize how vast the gap between them had become.
A Jōnin, whose mere release of killing intent rendered him immobile, was defeated by Naruto so swiftly.
As he looked at Naruto's back, for a moment, he seemed to see that man.
Uchiha Itachi...
The older brother he once admired greatly.
He was also a genius, possessing the abilities of a Jōnin at the age of twelve.
Back then, Sasuke didn't understand what being a "Jōnin" meant, only thinking his "brother" was amazing.
But now, with Naruto as a point of reference.
The path to catching up to "Uchiha Itachi" seemed so long.
"Sasuke, your eyes," Sakura exclaimed.
Eyes?
Could it be...
Sasuke excitedly took out a mirror from his ninja pouch.
Hearing this, Naruto turned to look.
The nature of Sasuke's chakra had subtly changed, acquiring a cold aura.
His eyes were no longer black irises on white; instead, they were entirely scarlet, with tiny black dots as pupils, surrounded by a tomoe pattern that seemed to orbit them.
Is this... the "Sharingan"?
Sasuke gritted his teeth. The joy of awakening his Kekkei Genkai lasted only a moment before fading.
Just one tomoe...
It wasn't enough to transform him to the level needed to defeat a Jōnin.
He looked up at Naruto, clenched his fists, and steeled himself.
If... he couldn't even catch up to Naruto, how could he ever think of catching up to that man!
On the tree trunk.
Zabuza squinted his eyes.
A good opportunity!
While they were all focused on that Sharingan kid.
He moved his right hand fingers to form the "Rooster" seal, quietly channeling his chakra.
But before he could activate the technique.
Smack—
A gust of wind accompanied the sheathed sword that struck his right hand.
Zabuza looked up in shock.
He was met with Naruto's smiling face: "This is the third time, don't make such small moves."
His heart sank.
Even now, he noticed me?
Once Naruto had tied him up, binding all ten fingers, Kakashi hurried back, carrying a fainted girl who seemed about their age.
"Oh? Naruto, you already took care of Zabuza?" He looked at the tightly bound and disheveled man, unable to contain his surprise.
He had believed Naruto could protect Sasuke and Sakura.
He thought Naruto could hold off Zabuza.
And with the Anbu team tailing them, following his chakra, he felt secure.
That's why he agreed to Naruto's strategy and left to pursue another target.
He only expected Naruto to delay, never thinking he could handle Zabuza alone.
How did he... manage it?
Naruto grinned: "Just luck, he happened to be restrained by my abilities."
Luck?
Zabuza scoffed.
Even if he hadn't thought of escaping, disregarding Kakashi's interference, at best, he would've lasted a few more rounds. Eventually, with his chakra nearly exhausted, he would still have been captured.
This kid's techniques are too strange.
No hand seals, with effects that defy ninja logic.
One must gather enough intelligence beforehand to handle him.
Kakashi didn't ask further.
They would wait for the mission to be completed, return to the village, and look at the final Anbu investigation report.
Bind these two "captives" securely and take them on the road. These two are very powerful and not suitable for transport by "ninja dogs."
Kakashi also mentioned a "young girl" about the same age as them.
He is actually a boy, just with delicate and handsome features.
Moreover, he is very powerful, at least of Special Jōnin level, possessing the Kekkei Genkai "Ice Release," and is even more valuable than "Momochi Zabuza." To deal with him, Kakashi had to put in a lot of effort.
This made Sasuke feel even more frustrated.
The praise he received at the ninja school gave him the illusion of being extraordinarily gifted.
But in reality...
Whenever Naruto gets serious, his strength increases by leaps and bounds.
Even encountering someone around the same age outside the village, their strength is far superior to his.
As soon as they arrived at Tazuna's house, Sasuke couldn't wait to request from Kakashi, "I want to become stronger."
Kakashi, without any hesitation, agreed.
During his spare time, he taught Sasuke some techniques related to the application of the "Sharingan."
This content was useless to Naruto and Sakura, as they did not have the Sharingan.
At Naruto's strong request, Kakashi copied down some knowledge of "sealing techniques."
He found it odd that Naruto was interested in "sealing techniques." At this age, shouldn't he be pursuing powerful strength like Sasuke?
Konoha's reinforcements arrived the next day.
Leading them was a man with a beard, whom they had seen before during the team assignments - "Sarutobi Asuma," the son of the Third Hokage, along with his subordinates, classmates Shikamaru, Ino, and Chōji.
This made Naruto frown.
It had already been explained that the situation was urgent, yet the dispatched ninja squad was still a new Genin team?
They didn't stay long. After a meal, they quickly left, escorting Momochi Zabuza and Haku back to Konoha.
The bridge construction proceeded smoothly.
Although Gato was not deterred by Zabuza's failure and repeatedly sent ronin to interfere.
Naruto was not interested in these ronin; their moves were ordinary, and their chakra was unimpressive.
However, they were suitable opponents for Sasuke's practical combat.
Initially, Sasuke struggled to deal with those ronin.
But within a few days, he was able to handle them with ease, smoothly and skillfully taking down a group at once.
In a week, the bridge was successfully completed.
On their return journey, Tazuna insistently followed. He felt that Naruto's words when they left Konoha made a lot of sense. It was difficult to resist Gato's forces relying solely on civilians like them; they needed Konoha's protection.
This bridge was his leverage to gain Konoha's support.
Upon returning to the village,
Naruto and his team resumed their previous routine of performing low-rank tasks to build their reputation among the public.
The frequency of these tasks also decreased.
In the village, unfamiliar faces began to appear, wearing different headbands.
This was a sign.
Until one day,
Team 7 was summoned.
Kakashi took out three application forms: "Although it is sudden, I have recommended you to participate in the Chūnin Selection Exam..."
Naruto reached out and took it.
At the end of the application form were the eligibility criteria.
One condition was, "Genin must have completed eight missions, including at least one C-rank mission."
Their qualifications were precisely met.
Indeed...
The feeling of being pushed to complete missions wasn't an illusion.
Was it all for this Chūnin Exam?
He glanced at Sasuke and then at himself.
Are there opponents in other countries that current Genin can't defeat, requiring his intervention?
Kakashi slowly said, "By 4 PM tomorrow, be at classroom 301 in the academy."
"Prepare well, and good luck with your exam."
"That's all."
He glanced at Naruto and then at Sasuke.
The mission report from the Land of Waves wasn't very detailed. The Anbu couldn't get too close; Naruto's sensory ability was very strong, getting too close would alert him.
But at least two pieces of information were confirmed.
Naruto had no contact with suspicious outsiders.
Naruto was very strong, fully at Jōnin level.
But... Kakashi felt that this might not be Naruto's limit.
There was no evidence, just a gut feeling.
~~~
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