Naruto and Hinata Are Great

"With Sasuke included despite his absence, a total of nine people have passed the preliminaries for the third exam. I will now explain the contents of the final selection... First, draw lots."

After all the preliminaries had ended, the pipe-smoking Third Hokage appeared before the eight qualifying genin. At his signal, Ibiki Morino placed a box before them, filled with randomly numbered slips awaiting selection.

"Shino Aburame, victory over Zaku. Passed."

"Shikamaru Nara, victory over Kin. Passed."

"Naruto Uzumaki, victory over Kiba Inuzuka. Passed."

"Neji Hyuga, victory over Hinata Hyuga. Passed."

"Temari, victory over Tenten. Passed."

"Kankuro, victory over Misumi Tsurugi. Passed."

"Gaara, victory over Rock Lee. Passed."

"Dosu, victory over Choji Akimichi. Passed."

"Say, what are these numbers for?"

Naruto waved the slip in his hand. Other than the number '1' written on it, there was nothing else.

"As you can see, these are your opponents for the third exam."

Ibiki Morino drew up a tournament bracket on the board in his hands, listing the genin's names in order. Naruto would face Neji, Sasuke would face Gaara, and Kankuro would face Shino. Only Shikamaru had to fight two matches, against both Temari and Dosu, making the boy who feared trouble more than anything let out a wail.

"You will all compete formally before an audience. At that time, the feudal lords of every country and ninja leaders, including the Kazekage, will come to watch. You represent your respective countries' military strength, so I hope you will show your best rather than continue fighting with your exhausted bodies. Therefore, the matches will be held one month from now. You may use this time to improve your strength or study your opponents' battles."

After glancing at the list, the Third Hokage addressed everyone. Once he confirmed there were no questions, he left with the other examiners.

"Gaara."

After everyone else had dispersed, Naruto stopped in front of Gaara, making the dark-eyed boy frown in displeasure.

"What do you want?"

"You'd already won that match. Why did you still try to kill Lee at the end?"

Gaara and Lee's fight had been the most brutal. Lee's left arm and left leg had been crushed to pieces by Gaara's sand, and even at the end, Gaara had shown no intention of holding back. The medical team could only shake their heads, saying the chances of recovery were exceedingly slim. Even if he recovered, he could only live as an ordinary person.

"A reason? Do you need a reason to kill someone? Let me tell you, no one who has fought me has ever survived."

"I've decided. You're the second person I'm going to beat up. Wait until we meet in a month!"

Naruto was furious. Though he and Lee were only acquaintances, no one could dislike how hard Lee worked. Naturally, Naruto wanted to stand up for him.

"What a boring guy."

"Is something wrong with that guy? He just picked fights with the two strongest rookies this year."

Walking behind Gaara, Kankuro broke out in a cold sweat. At the same time, he found it strange that Gaara had simply left without lashing out. If anyone else had dared speak to him like that, Gaara would probably have crushed them.

"Who knows."

"Sis, I said Sasuke Uchiha, Sasuke!"

At Konoha Hospital, Naruto leaned over the counter and shouted at the nurse inside.

"Kid, I've answered you many times already. It isn't visiting hours for Sasuke right now."

The nurse was helpless too. She had repeated herself over and over, yet this brat still did not understand and insisted on seeing Sasuke.

"Hmm, Teacher Kakashi, you're here too."

Just as Naruto was about to keep pestering her, a hand pressed down on his head and pulled him away from the counter.

"Well, Sasuke is still unconscious. Seeing him wouldn't do you any good."

"Then teach me how to train. Neji will definitely get stronger over this next month too. I can't fall behind."

Since Kakashi had said so, Naruto stopped insisting and clung to Kakashi with a new request.

"Unfortunately, I'm already booked for this month."

"...You're not giving Sasuke special training, are you? Not fair, not fair! We're all your students! (°д°)"

"My, my. Isn't it cute when a boy throws a tantrum? Don't you already have an excellent teacher?"

Kakashi pulled Naruto up before he could start rolling around on the floor, then tapped him on the head and asked.

"Huh?"

"The Rasengan is even more powerful than my Lightning Blade. Don't tell me you figured it out on your own?"

"Ah, ah, well, um, I saw it in a book."

Naruto scratched his head and looked around before finally coming up with a stupid excuse.

"Idiot, you can't even lie properly. Then go make that book your teacher. See you."

Kakashi smiled with narrowed eyes. That ninja was very powerful, but his personality was rather strange. He also liked peeping into women's bathhouses, and the Third Hokage had been searching everywhere for him. It was only natural that he did not want to show himself. Kakashi understood. Given his relationship with the Fourth Hokage, it was not strange for him to teach Naruto. Thus, Kakashi naturally misunderstood Naruto's secret teacher to be Jiraiya.

"Ah! He left. That guy is really irresponsible. I'll ask Dad later. But why does Dad know so many jutsu? What exactly did Dad do before?"

Naruto angrily made a face. In any case, with Minato around, he did not need any other teacher. But only after eight years did Naruto realize that he did not know what his dad did for a living—and did not even know his name...

"Nurse..."

"Kid, please spare me. Sasuke really can't have visitors."

"Not him. Please tell me which room Hinata Hyuga is in."

"Hinata Hyuga is in room 311."

"Hey, Hinata. You're already able to get up?"

After Naruto pushed open the door to room 311, he found Hinata leaning against the headboard, staring blankly into space. She had not even noticed him enter until his hand touched her cheek, snapping the girl back to her senses.

"Ah, Naruto... why are you here?"

Once Hinata realized what was happening, she hurriedly pulled together the clothes that had been opened for treatment, covering her developing chest.

"Strange. Your injuries should've been serious."

"That's how it looked to outsiders. Brother Neji didn't strike any vital points, so a few days in the hospital should be enough."

Hinata shook her head. Neji had only made it impossible for her to move; he had not intended to kill her, so her vital acupuncture points were unharmed.

"Is that so? I knew Neji wasn't a heartless person. He just went down the wrong path. And I believe my fists can knock some sense into him."

Naruto clenched his fist, sat beside Hinata, and told her everything that had happened during the exam.

"I see. Lee was... Brother Neji will probably be very angry. He never says it, but he's always treasured his comrades."

"I'll avenge Lee! Neji can't beat me!"

"But if that happens, won't Sasuke lose? Is that what you want?"

"...I didn't think about that at all before making such a big claim. (°д°)"

"You're as foolish as ever, Naruto."

"Even if I'm that foolish, Hinata, you still like me, don't you?"

Naruto puffed out his cheeks in dissatisfaction at Hinata's teasing, then climbed entirely onto the bed and stared at her. Back then, he had been too angry to think much of it, but now that he considered it, Hinata's confession in front of so many people had been unbelievably cute.

"Eh? That was... I was just worried."

Hinata's little face turned bright red. She did not know why she had blurted it out back then, and so many people had heard it. Thinking about it now made her want to crawl into a hole and hide.

"Say it again."

Naruto leaned a little closer, pressing her step by step.

"I like you."

"Who do you like?"

"I like you, Naruto."

"Hinata..."

Hinata was just too cute right now. Naruto could not help leaning closer, and closer, until they could both smell each other's breath.

"What are you two doing?"

Just as they were about to kiss, her younger sister's voice suddenly came from the doorway. Hinata immediately shoved Naruto away in fright and pulled the blanket over herself.

"Hi, Hanabi."

Naruto greeted her, not feeling upset at all that his good moment had been interrupted. In truth, he did not know what would have happened if Hanabi had not appeared.

"You're bullying my sister again? You perverted scumbag!"

Hanabi only had to think for a moment to figure out what had happened. She jumped onto the bed, grabbed Naruto by the hair, and snapped angrily.

"...Hanabi really has so many names for me. I'm not a pervert."

"Shut up! If someone who can transform into something like that without changing expression isn't a pervert, then the whole world is full of perverts."

"Hanabi, let go of Naruto. Why did you come?"

Hearing the commotion, Hinata emerged from beneath the blanket, pulled Hanabi's hand away from Naruto's hair, and asked.

"Mother told me to come check on you."

Hanabi set what she had brought beside the bed: some fruit and Hinata's favorite cinnamon rolls, all made by hand.

"Mother? Why didn't she come herself?"

"Who said you could call her Mother?! Dad wouldn't let her come. He even said, 'Just let that useless daughter do whatever she wants.'"

Hanabi was very dissatisfied that Naruto acted as though he were one of the family, but she continued anyway, imitating Hyuga Hiashi's voice as she spoke.

"Again? Why is that stubborn old man still like this? I'm going to argue with him!"

"Naruto, don't, don't go. It's fine like this. You know Dad's personality. He'll get over it in a few days."

"It's been so many years! Hinata has grown so much, so why is he still like that?!"

"You really don't have a shred of fear, do you?"

Hanabi admired Naruto a little. This was also the only thing about him that could earn her respect. When he said he was going to argue, he was not merely saying it—if Hinata had not stopped him, another fierce argument would soon have erupted in Hyuga Hiashi's study.

Hyuga Hiashi exuded authority. As the head of Konoha's foremost noble clan, he could ignore anyone but the Hokage. Yet Naruto still dared to argue with him. Ever since Hanabi could remember, she had seen Naruto stubbornly quarrel with her father several times. Her father, whom even she feared, would actually end up conceding to that brat. The whole matter was practically becoming a childhood trauma.

"How has Father not broken his legs and thrown him into the Forest of Death yet?"

Young Hanabi could not understand how Naruto had survived this long. Hinata could only smile awkwardly, unsure how to answer.

"Freeloader, I heard you're fighting Neji next."

"You're pretty well-informed. What about it?"

"Forfeit already. Be careful he doesn't beat you to death. Neji is someone I'm going to surpass someday, not someone a guy like you can defeat."

Hanabi said confidently, her hands on her hips. Although Neji was hailed as a once-in-a-century genius, her own talent was no slouch either. As long as she was given time, she would catch up to him.

"You got that arrogant attitude from Neji, didn't you? Don't worry, I'll win."

"If you can win, I'll call you by your name from now on. But if you lose, you have to call me Lady Hanabi."

"It's a deal. Then I'm off to train. See you."

Naruto thought about it. Hanabi seemed never to have called him by his name even once, always using some strange nickname. He immediately felt that this deal was quite worthwhile and nodded in agreement.

"Freeloader, the toy you gave me wasn't bad. Anyway... thanks."

Just as Naruto stepped out the door, Hanabi's reluctant voice drifted into his ears.

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P.S. Thanks to reader El V Roca for the 500 tip, and reader Virus Liu for the 300 tip.