Third Hokage: Naruto, Give Up on the Chunin Exams (Skip or Fast-Forward if Disliked)

"But the ice cream was still pretty tasty," Kidomaru said. "Are we really going to wait for him here?"

"Lord Orochimaru's mission is for us to pose as orphans and infiltrate Konoha, carrying out the Konoha Collapse Plan during the Chunin Exams."

"But there seems to be some time before the Chunin Exams start, and Konoha has really provoked some troublesome people these past couple of days."

"I'm not waiting anymore, I can't keep this up," Sakon and Ukon said. "I'm going to look around."

"Don't go! Without that guy, we'll really starve to death," Kidomaru shouted at Sakon and Ukon. "Wait for me!"

The two left, leaving only Jirobo and Tayuya in their child forms.

"Hey, Tayuya," Jirobo said, watching his two companions leave. "You're not really going to wait for him, are you?"

"Shut up!" Tayuya, with a grim expression, walked away in a different direction.

Meanwhile, Naruto returned to the Ninja Academy for classes, and even used the Transformation Jutsu to mark Sasuke and Sakura present.

On the podium, the female lecturer Suzu was explaining the Will of Fire. Even her pleasant voice couldn't compensate for the rotten ideology of the Will of Fire, making Naruto drowsy.

In a daze, he slumped onto his desk and fell asleep. When he woke up again, the classroom was empty, and the sunset's crimson glow streamed in through the window.

Naruto cursed inwardly; he had promised to eat barbecue with those four people. He was truly idle lately, and it would be good to have some company for meals.

Training was out of the question, and he no longer had to do D-rank missions, except for waiting for the Chunin Exams. For the remaining time, Naruto had already planned how he would waste it.

But the current situation was a bit awkward; he had overslept.

"Oh no, oh no, this is so embarrassing, I overslept," Naruto hastily wiped his drool and rushed out of the classroom. "I wonder why I've been so sleepy lately."

Complaining, Naruto ran out of the Ninja Academy. By the time he reached the place they had agreed to meet that morning, there was no one to be seen in the dusty ground bathed in the dim sunset.

It made sense, really. Who would wait from noon until the afternoon? They must think he stood them up, or perhaps they thought he didn't care about such promises.

Naruto sighed softly. His newly found meal companions were gone, but since that was the case, he might as well eat something.

Just then, his stomach rumbled, and at the same moment, another rumbling sound came from behind a pile of cardboard boxes nearby.

Hearing the sound, Naruto froze.

From behind the boxes, a girl timidly emerged.

The barbecue restaurant.

Sizzling slices of meat released a mouth-watering aroma as they hit the hot, oiled grill. Naruto grilled and placed the meat into bowls for himself and the girl.

"Eat up, eat up," Naruto couldn't resist and started eating himself.

After a couple of bites, the girl suddenly looked up at Naruto and asked, somewhat confused.

"Isn't barbecue very expensive?"

"It's not expensive," Naruto mumbled. "Don't worry, I can completely afford it."

The girl nodded and slowly began to enjoy the barbecue. After they finished, Naruto asked if she wanted to buy something to take back for the other three.

"No need, I think they've already found something to eat," the girl said, smiling with her hands behind her back.

"Alright. Oh, if you come again tomorrow morning, wait for me here," Naruto said, scratching his head. "I'll be here earlier; today was an accident."

"Okay!" the girl nodded earnestly.

After they parted ways, Naruto walked home at his usual leisurely pace. Tayuya, meanwhile, turned into an alley and quickly disappeared into the darkness.

"Tayuya? You really waited there all afternoon?" Kidomaru said with some disdain. "Did you end up waiting for him?"

"Ah, I ate barbecue, and there wasn't any for you guys," Tayuya said airily.

"Do you really think you're an orphan? Don't forget Lord Orochimaru's mission!" Kidomaru warned. "A meal of barbecue bought you over!"

"That's right," Tayuya said. "A meal of barbecue bought me over. I ate, and you guys didn't."

"You!"

"Lord Orochimaru's mission hasn't started yet, and I know what I'm doing," Tayuya said. "You don't need to say so much; mind your own business."

"Tayuya, since you say that..." Kidomaru looked at Tayuya, wanting to say more but ultimately saying nothing.

The next day, Naruto woke up and didn't check the "God of Ninjas" updates as usual because he was summoned by the Anbu.

"The Hokage wants to see you."

"Oh."

On the way, Naruto remembered yesterday's promise and felt a bit annoyed. He hoped this meeting wouldn't take up too much of his time, or he would break his promise again.

Upon entering the Hokage's office, Naruto met the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. The old Hokage sat at his desk, smoking his pipe, his gaze scanning Naruto.

"Naruto, quite a few things have happened in the village recently," Hiruzen Sarutobi said. "What do you think?"

"I don't feel anything different," Naruto said indifferently. "Anyway, with you here, Hokage, the village is generally safe."

"I saw your name on the list for this Chunin Exams," the Third Hokage said, glancing at Naruto.

"Given the current situation of the village, and that you are a very important existence to Konoha, I hope you will give up on this exam."

"Okay," Naruto said almost without hesitation. "Can I leave now?"

"Don't you want to know why?" the Third Hokage asked Naruto. "I originally thought you wouldn't accept it; the Chunin Exams are a great platform for ninjas to showcase themselves."

"There's nothing to ask," Naruto replied in a standard, perfunctory manner. "The village has its reasons for arranging things this way. I don't really care."

"The essence of a ninja is obedience, right? I don't care anymore."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression was serious, but for a moment, he couldn't speak. He looked at Naruto, and Naruto looked back at him.

"Hokage-sama, can I go now?"

"You may."

Receiving an affirmative reply, Naruto left without any hesitation. As he closed the door, he heard the Third Hokage's sigh.

Perhaps the Third Hokage didn't want Naruto to simply become a tool for the village, but the current Naruto didn't possess such an optimistic mindset.

He saw how the village treated him, and he didn't want to risk his life for Konoha.

With the System by his side, he didn't need anyone to teach him Ninjutsu, nor did he need external help to subdue the Nine-Tails. If he wanted, the System could completely bypass the Nine-Tails and directly extract its power.

As long as he wished it, he wouldn't need to rely on anyone and could live as he pleased.

The Nine-Tails was just a fox living inside his body; why should he avoid its edge?

It's just the Nine-Tails. With the System, why would he need to avoid its edge?

Sooner or later, he'd crush the Nine-Tails with a single punch.

Note: To our esteemed readers, the next chapter will feature a "little trumpet" plot device. If you don't like it, feel free to skim through it quickly (skipping will only slightly affect the plot). This is a setup for future chapters.

You can also skip it entirely.

Guide: Chapter 36, One-Tail