Chunin Exams (2)

Sasuke had a persistent craving for strength. Although over the years, with Naruto's subtle guidance, he had developed a more rational understanding of his revenge against Itachi.

He knew that with his current strength, even if he stood before Itachi…

He couldn't get revenge.

Itachi's eyes alone could kill him with a single glance. Having grown up in an environment that idolized the Sharingan, Sasuke firmly believed this. If Itachi's eyes were truly on a level above the Three Tomoe Sharingan, as Naruto claimed, his chances of winning would be incredibly slim.

If there really was a truth…

He couldn't even ask for the truth.

If Itachi truly had a difficult reason, then it must be a reason that even someone like Itachi couldn't overcome. So, what was the point of him, who was so weak now, knowing that possible truth?

But he just couldn't accept it…

It was all because he was too weak right now. He lacked the ability to kill Itachi, or to save Itachi.

Sasuke wasn't ungrateful, nor was he stupid.

He was a genius.

All of Naruto's strange behavior over the years—suddenly learning jutsu, suddenly becoming incredibly strong, suddenly becoming mature and steady, suddenly immersing himself in training with a frenzy—and Naruto's own previous statement about "seeing future events"…

Moreover, the Land of Waves mission that had just concluded also made Sasuke very curious.

During the mission, Kakashi's actions made Sasuke feel… as if he already knew the entire truth behind the mission! Including Zabuza, including Haku who was disguised as an ANBU, and the matter of the merchant Gato… He had even prepared a sealing scroll for storing ninja tools in advance to bring Zabuza's great sword back to the village.

Naruto… had truly seen the future.

He told me to be careful of people who would infiltrate the Chunin Exams… Does that mean we "once" met that person? He said that Sakura could become a ninja like Tsunade, does that mean… Sakura "has already" become that kind of ninja?

His thoughts racing, Sasuke assumed a fighting stance, the Three Tomoe in his eyes spinning gently.

In the reflection of his pupils, Naruto was engulfed in golden flames as he charged towards him, then turned into an illusion and disappeared from sight.

The Nine-Tails, huh…

Undoubtedly, Sasuke was no match for Naruto in his Nine-Tails Golden Body Transformation. In less than a minute, Sasuke had completely understood the insurmountable gap between himself and the current Naruto, and he also completely understood that he didn't even know how big that gap was.

"Naruto, Sasuke…" Hinata was very shocked that Sasuke was completely outmatched by Naruto in his golden form. Even she, who had activated her Byakugan and possessed incredibly sharp perception, couldn't track Naruto's movements…

Naruto-kun is already this strong, and I…

Sasuke lay on the ground, gasping for breath. In less than a minute, the physical exhaustion was secondary; the mental damage was too great…

Naruto is this strong now? And that guy Itachi… perhaps he's even stronger than this? Why am I so weak…

Naruto deactivated his Golden Body Mode and walked to Sasuke's side. Looking at the dazed Sasuke on the ground, he said sincerely, "Sasuke… you don't have to be like this. The reason I can…"

He had originally wanted to say that the reason he had such power was simply because he was standing on the shoulders of another version of himself… while Sasuke had already become much stronger than his original self through his own efforts.

"You don't need to say it, Naruto… I know what you're going to say, I understand it all." Sasuke lay on the ground, covering his eyes with his hand, gritting his teeth. "I'm just a little unwilling… When will I ever be able to catch up to Itachi?"

Naruto was speechless.

"And I'm not that fragile, Naruto. You don't need to underestimate yourself either. I've seen all your efforts over the years… I just hate that time is too short, and that the future is too long." Sasuke got up, supported his knees, adjusted his emotions, and returned to his usual state.

"Let's continue training."

Naruto smiled. He knew Sasuke had overcome it himself. The current Sasuke was more mature and more rational than the Sasuke in his memory.

You would be very proud too… Naruto touched his abdomen, but he knew that the "future self" who was like a brother would probably never appear again.

"Oh! Hinata, you should join us too!"

There were still 2 months and 11 days until the Chunin Exams. Team 7 was training and taking on missions according to schedule every day.

With Naruto as their sparring partner, both Sasuke and Hinata were improving rapidly.

Most of the missions they undertook daily were D-rank missions, doing light farm work while also getting some training in.

Of course, considering Team 7's overall strength, the Third Hokage had also assigned them C-rank, and even B-rank missions involving rogue ninja.

During this period, Kakashi had already taught Sasuke the Raikiri.

Sasuke's Sharingan had directly copied this astonishingly powerful Lightning Style jutsu. With the terrifying perception of his Three Tomoe eyes, the power of the Raikiri, or rather the Chidori, was doubled when he executed a full-power thrust.

One day, during a mission to clear out a small group of bandits causing trouble nearby.

The three Genin of Team 7 and Kakashi were speeding through the trees. Kakashi was leading his students in pursuit of the fleeing bandits while teaching them the key points to pay attention to during a high-speed chase.

Byakugan!

As Hinata leaped, veins bulged around her eyes, and her vision instantly turned into a black and white inversion, with a perception range reaching several kilometers in all 360° directions.

"They're hiding over there!" Hinata signaled to Naruto and Sasuke.

Golden light blazed on Naruto's feet, partially transforming into his Golden Body—

Bang!

Tree branches snapped, and his entire figure vanished.

At the bandits' hiding spot, the bandit, who was a former Sand Chunin, held his breath. Several of his subordinates had already been blasted away to hide elsewhere.

Even though he was extremely careful, he was still targeted by those bastards from Konoha…

He cursed inwardly.

But just then, a figure appeared before him.

What the—!?

He only had time to gasp in shock before being kicked away. The kick was so powerful that it sent him flying so high, so far, and so fast…

Another black figure charged at the rogue ninja in mid-air. Sasuke kicked the guy Naruto had kicked!

Bang!

The rogue ninja was instantly sent flying in another direction…

Naruto leaped up and kicked again!

Hinata descended from the sky, her right palm charged with power. Just as the man flew beneath her palm, she slammed him towards the ground!

Gentle Fist!

The Chunin Exams were just around the corner.

The sun was setting, painting the sky red. In the training grounds, three people were in a standoff.

Sasuke and Hinata watched Naruto, whose eyes had the vertical pupils of a demon fox, with their full guard up.

"You brats ready? 'Cause old man here is coming…" Naruto, controlled by the Nine-Tails' consciousness, wore a wicked grin like a street thug.

As soon as he spoke, an overwhelming aura of killing intent radiated from the Nine-Tails-possessed Naruto!

Cold! Ruthless!

The Naruto before them seemed to have transformed into a demon exuding an eerie, ghostly aura. He grinned menacingly at Sasuke and Hinata.

An overwhelming sense of fear washed over their minds. As they looked into the killing intent-filled eyes of the Nine-Tails-possessed Naruto, visions of their own deaths involuntarily flashed through their minds…

So scary…

I can't move…

From afar, Kakashi, perched on a tree branch, put down Make-Out Paradise and looked towards Sasuke and Hinata, who were being brutally overwhelmed by the Nine-Tails' killing intent.

"The Nine-Tails is actually helping me train my subordinates… This feels a bit strange…"

He mused.

On this day, Kakashi finally handed the Chunin Exams application forms to Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata.

"So, you've all decided to participate in this Chunin Exams, right?"

Kakashi asked, confirming as a matter of routine.

"Of course! We're going to make a big splash!" Naruto took the application form and tightened the headband on the back of his head, smiling. "Right, Sasuke, Hinata?"

"Yeah… I also want to see what kind of skills that guy with the bushy eyebrows was talking about, the strongest Genin in Konoha…"

Sasuke smiled confidently.

Hinata wasn't as self-assured as the other two, but her face was filled with determination. "Sensei, I'll work hard too."

Kakashi nodded and disappeared in a flash.