Chapter 29: Chapter 29: White Haired Glasses and Red Hair Jinchuriki
Chunin Exams...
Haruno Sakura held the registration form, glanced at the two people beside her, and hesitated.
She was considering whether or not to sign up.
Sasuke was very strong. After activating the Sharingan and receiving Kakashi-sensei's guidance, his power had increased dramatically.
Naruto was even stronger, already at the "Jonin" level.
But what about herself...
She had only learned a little sealing technique with Naruto during the mission in the Land of Waves, and her abilities had barely improved since graduation.
"Do you not want to sign up?" Naruto noticed the change in her expression.
Haruno Sakura felt embarrassed, hesitated, and nodded.
"Kakashi-sensei didn't say it earlier, but as you know, he always values 'teamwork' highly," Naruto said, shaking the registration form in his hand. "So, it's likely that the Chunin Exams will be conducted in teams."
Haruno Sakura was stunned.
"Was our mission to the Land of Waves deliberately arranged?" Sasuke, imitating Naruto, carefully read the text on the registration form and naturally came to this conclusion after noticing a specific clause.
Kakashi's insistence on continuing the mission had felt a bit off to him as well.
Naruto nodded, "If you don't sign up, Sasuke and I probably won't be able to either."
Haruno Sakura widened her eyes, "How could that be..."
"I hope you can participate," Naruto said gently, "Of course, since I brought you into this, I'll be responsible for your safety during the exam."
"Me too," Sasuke said coldly, hands in his pockets.
Haruno Sakura blushed, "I... I understand."
Naruto smiled, "Then see you tomorrow."
He disappeared in a flash.
Sasuke looked at Haruno Sakura, "Are you going to stay like this forever?"
Haruno Sakura was taken aback.
What did he mean by "like this"?
"You're not weak," Sasuke jumped up onto the wall and looked down at her. "You're just not determined."
"And you have Naruto and me by your side."
"Naruto is very strong, at the Jonin level."
"I'm strong too. I awakened the double tomoe in my Sharingan recently, making me an elite among the Chunin."
Sasuke didn't say more, only giving Haruno Sakura a meaningful look before disappearing from her sight.
Haruno Sakura was puzzled. 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 school building and headed upstairs, they encountered a crowd gathered in front of Classroom "301," with two Genin guarding the entrance, dispersing the Konoha ninjas.
They were "examiner" disguised as "candidates," and had set up a genjutsu in the hallway.
But... for the purpose of the exam, the genjutsu wasn't very sophisticated.
Not to mention Naruto and Sasuke, even Haruno Sakura could easily see through this "clumsy" trick.
Just as they were about to move forward.
A boy with a bowl haircut and wearing a green jumpsuit, who called himself Rock Lee, suddenly appeared, confessing his love to Haruno Sakura and seemingly provoking Sasuke. After successfully prompting Sasuke to intervene, they had a sparring match.
Rock Lee was very strong.
Even with the double tomoe Sharingan and improved taijutsu and ninjutsu, Sasuke still lost.
This made Sasuke, who had recently felt more at ease due to his progress in strength, become heavy-hearted again.
He had accepted that he couldn't surpass Naruto, who was on the same level as his brother and Kakashi-sensei.
He could even accept not being as strong as Haku, who had a very special Kekkei Genkai.
But this boy with a bowl haircut in a green jumpsuit...
Why couldn't he surpass him either?
At the real Classroom 301 entrance, Kakashi was waiting, just as Naruto had said yesterday. This was indeed a team-based exam.
After confirming that all three were present, Kakashi formally granted them the qualification to take the exam.
As they pushed open the door and entered, they were greeted by a wave of heat from the hundreds of people gathered inside.
Most were adults, dressed in various strange outfits, with different styles of forehead protectors, and the majority were from other villages.
There were quite a few familiar faces as well.
The "Team 8" and "Team 10," who also graduated this year, were present.
The nine of them were undoubtedly the youngest among these people and instinctively gathered together, most of them chattering familiarly.
Naruto did not join in.
He was staring in a direction, staring at a person.
"Is that guy strong?" Sasuke came over and followed his gaze.
It was a young boy with short red hair, who looked about the same age as them. His skin was unusually pale, with dark circles under his eyes, a crimson "愛 (love)" character tattooed on his forehead, and a large earth-colored gourd almost as big as his body strapped to his back.
"Yes, he's a very formidable person." Naruto nodded.
He now understood why the village was so eager for him to participate in the Chunin Exams.
From this person...
He sensed the presence of a "Tailed Beast."
"Stronger than you?" Sasuke asked again, his tone heavy.
Naruto lowered his head, gripping the hilt of the Nine-Tails sword: "Without using this sword, he's probably about as strong as me."
When chatting with the Nine-Tails, he had mentioned matters related to the Tailed Beasts.
It said... Tailed Beasts' power is determined by their tails.
The "One-Tailed Shukaku" in Sand Village is the weakest of the Tailed Beasts; it has only one tail.
Sasuke nodded, lost in thought.
Without the sword?
That would be bare-handed, at the level of an elite Chunin?
The ninja with dark circles keenly sensed Naruto's gaze and looked up, exuding a murderous intent. As his chakra swirled, a rustling sound emerged from tiny moving objects.
A man and a woman beside him were startled, softly persuading and calming him down.
Naruto squinted his eyes.
Is the temper of the One-Tailed Jinchuriki so volatile?
Just a glance, and it provokes killing intent?
"Curious about that person?" A sudden inquiry whispered in his ear.
Naruto was startled, instantly stepping back.
He stared seriously at the person who had suddenly appeared beside him.
The person was tall, seemingly an adult, with white-gray hair and wearing square glasses, making him look quite unremarkable.
"Don't be so tense. I'm also a Konoha ninja, and actually your senpai. Just call me Kabuto." He raised his hand, looking harmless, "I just saw you were curious about that ninja over there and thought I'd help you out."
He lightly waved his right hand, and a stack of cards spread out in his palm.
"This is a little gadget I made myself, called Ninja Info Cards. It has fairly detailed information about that ninja. Want to take a look?"
Naruto scrutinized him, a bit surprised.
This kind of person... is still just a Genin?
His chakra is not much weaker than Hatake Kakashi, and his concealment skills are so sophisticated that I didn't notice him at first.
Definitely a Jonin level ninja.
"Delivering information proactively?" Naruto shook his head, "So kind? I don't think we've met before."
Kabuto approached cautiously: "You don't know me, but I know you all. The genius who soared high after turning over a new leaf, Uzumaki Naruto."
"And Uchiha Sasuke, the genius as famous as you."
Sasuke did not seem pleased, clenching his fist.
Being compared to Naruto?
The gap is so wide, is this an insult?
Kabuto continued: "You will both be prominent figures in the village in the future. It's beneficial for me to befriend you now."
"Want to take a look?"
"Though not complete, it should still have some reference value."
Naruto looked at him: "Then, Kabuto-senpai, I want to know about that Sand ninja from before."
Sasuke leaned in, adding: "And Rock Lee from Konoha."
Naruto paused, his gaze falling on Kabuto: "Kabuto-senpai, can we learn about you from your information?"
Kabuto was surprised, looking at Naruto: "Why interested in me? I'm just an ordinary Genin."
"You're very strong," Naruto said bluntly, "The feeling you give me is not much weaker than that Sand ninja."
Kabuto smiled shyly, scratching his head: "Ah, you flatter me."
"But you'll be disappointed. I'm actually quite weak. I've failed the Genin exams seven times in a row."
"My presence is just naturally weak. It's not any remarkable ninjutsu."
"It's not just you. Many others have misunderstood me before."
Naruto stared at him.
Not believing a word of it.
~~~
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