Reincarnation Festival

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Before the third round of the finals began, there was a month-long preparation period.

During that time, Konoha would make tickets available to its residents and invite the daimyo and Kazekage to watch the matches. Naturally, the candidates would use that time to gather intelligence on their opponents or diligently train and improve themselves.

As Naruto and the others left the preliminary venue, Naruto turned at the exit and asked, "Teacher Kakashi, we don't need to take missions this month, right?"

"Ah... while participating in the Chunin Exams, you don't have to take on missions," Kakashi said.

"Then let's keep training, Sasuke, Hinata. Let's do our best in the third round too. I really want to become a chunin." Naruto smiled. In his memories, he had remained a genin until the very end.

"Okay." Sasuke readily agreed. Training had become one of his major habits by now. Naruto's strength was unfathomable, but he was not too discouraged by it... he had simply gotten used to it.

After her "defeat," Hinata had been preoccupied with her own little thoughts.

Before the Chunin Exams began, the young girl had felt that Naruto seemed to treat her a little differently... Thinking back further, had that feeling existed since their time at the Ninja Academy? She had always assumed it was merely an illusion caused by her constantly paying attention to Naruto...

But now...

The young girl became conflicted. If she thought negatively, what if Naruto was simply gentler toward his teammates? What if it only felt that way because they had been assigned to the same team and spent more time together? Yet she did not really want to accept that. If she thought positively, did Naruto really feel something for her... But she was afraid it was only her own wishful thinking.

"Now that Sasuke has learned Chidori and the method of using Lightning Release Chakra to stimulate his body, and as for the Sharingan, I don't know exactly how it can evolve into the Mangekyō Sharingan... There's really not much else I can teach you, Sasuke. Stay by Naruto's side and gain as much combat experience as you can."

Kakashi said lazily.

A few days later, at Kikyo Castle, where the out-of-village Chunin Exams candidates were staying.

In a hidden location, two people were meeting in secret.

One was Baki, the person in charge of the Sand Ninja; the other was the contact from the Hidden Sound Village, the Sand Ninja's ally in this secret operation... Kabuto Yakushi.

"Are things alright on the Sound Ninja side? How are Lord Orochimaru's preparations going?" Half of Baki's face was covered in white cloth as he asked in a low voice.

Kabuto pushed up his glasses and smiled faintly. "Rest assured. Don't underestimate Lord Orochimaru... he is one of the 'Legendary Three.'" A flash of white gleamed across his lenses. "What about your side? Is the Jinchuriki's condition... alright? Has the Kazekage already set out for Konoha?"

Baki nodded. "Lord Kazekage is already on his way." After a pause, he said flatly, "As for Gaara, the Sound Ninja need not concern themselves with him."

Kabuto smiled without comment. After briefly discussing the details of the Konoha Crush Plan with Baki, he leaped away.

Baki watched "Kabuto" vanish with a blank expression, his heart full of doubts.

Something about this Kabuto... seemed off.

Meanwhile, "Kabuto Yakushi" hurried back toward Konoha. After arriving outside the village, he tore off the "disguise mask" on his face, took out an animal mask from behind his back, put it on, and set off again, returning to Konoha's interior.

This disguise mask had been crafted by the master healer Tsunade herself, modeled after the real Kabuto Yakushi's face. It was no worse than anything Kabuto could have made himself, and ordinary people would find it impossible to distinguish the fake from the real one.

Some details of the Konoha Crush Plan had also been extracted with great effort from the mind of the talented spy Kabuto by Inoichi Yamanaka using a secret technique. Inoichi had even suffered a minor injury because of it.

A few more days passed, and it was the Reincarnation Festival, a holiday popular throughout the ninja world.

It was said to be a traditional festival passed down from the Warring States Era, held to honor the spirits of those who had died in battle.

Before dawn had fully broken, Sakura got up early and ran to the streets of Konoha. Following the recipes she had asked her mother about yesterday, she carefully selected ingredients before returning home to diligently prepare a bento.

It took her the entire morning to barely finish the bento. Sakura smiled in satisfaction, her face carrying traces of anticipation and longing.

After tidying herself up a little, Sakura left home with the carefully prepared bento.

She had already asked Hinata where the three members of Team 7 usually trained, and now she hurried there, filled with unease, nervousness, and anticipation.

She had also learned that Sasuke would be training there today.

Tightening her grip on the bento bundle, Sakura's steps became light.

What if Sasuke just sends me away? Sakura was walking along the street, growing afraid as wild thoughts ran through her mind, when she spotted two people ahead—

"Naruto? Hinata?"

Sakura stared at them in surprise. Hinata hurried over from nearby to Naruto's side, lowered her head, and spoke to him, probably apologizing for being late.

Hinata was carrying a bento bundle as well.

"Huh, Sakura?"

Naruto noticed Sakura staring at them with wide eyes. Seeing the surprised yet understanding look in her eyes, Naruto suddenly realized what she was thinking. He glanced at Hinata beside him and scratched his head awkwardly. "Since it's the Reincarnation Festival, so..."

"Alright, alright, I get it, Naru-to-kun." Sakura giggled, wearing an expression that said she understood. By then, Hinata had already blushed and buried her head against her chest.

"A bento? Sakura, this is..." Naruto seemed to have suddenly gained some emotional intelligence. Remembering what Sakura had occasionally asked whenever she ran into him or Hinata these past few days, he understood. He grinned. "That guy Sasuke is still training over there!"

Sakura's face immediately turned bright red. She hid the bundle behind her back and said awkwardly, "Then I'm leaving. Have fun, you two." Without waiting for Naruto and Hinata to react, she hurried away.

"Um..." After Sakura had gone far away, Naruto scratched his cheek and said to Hinata, "Then let's go. I happen to have something to buy. What about you, Hinata? I've saved all my mission rewards properly. I'll treat you today."

"N-no need, Naruto... I've been saving money too..." Hinata lowered her head and spoke softly.

"Why are you calling me Naruto-kun again? Just call me by my name." Naruto looked dejected.

"Y-yes..." Hinata nodded nervously.

The two fell silent.

"Then let's go..." they said at the same time. They looked at each other, and both blushed.

As Naruto turned his face away, he could not help smiling.

This warm feeling in my heart... hey, other me, can you feel it too?

I'm very happy. I wonder if I can share half of it with you?

Hehe...

The two wandered around Konoha for quite a while, then continued strolling side by side without any particular destination. Before they knew it, they had arrived at the site of their Survival Exercise... They exchanged a glance and both smiled.

"Let's eat our bentos here. I'm getting a little hungry," Naruto suggested, and Hinata nodded in agreement.

Opening the bentos, Naruto said happily, "Wow, this is so elaborate."

Hinata blushed. "It's nothing... I asked my mother for advice..."

"Thanks for the meal!" Naruto brought his hands together around his chopsticks and eagerly picked up a piece of squid...

"Finding you two really wasn't easy..."

Naruto turned his head, still chewing squid, and mumbled, "Pervy Sage?" He swallowed it in a few quick bites and asked, "What is it?"

Hinata, meanwhile, felt a little embarrassed that Jiraiya had caught her and Naruto eating bentos together.

Jiraiya stood there speechless and mocked himself, "Looks like I came at a bad time..." Then his expression grew slightly serious. "Things on Orochimaru's side have basically stabilized. The old man has something to tell you. He wants you to go see him."