No one could keep up with Naruto's train of thought.
Yet none of them knew that in the original story, Naruto really did turn out like this by the time of Boruto.
Everyone had been waiting for him to take off his forehead protector, but he had gone to shave his head instead.
Before long, Kakashi Hatake, who had logged off earlier, finally found Naruto and Kitahara Kaede.
And after probing Izuna for information, he had brought Sasuke along as well.
"Didn't you give us time off, Kakashi?"
"I don't have time to keep you company."
Sasuke said.
Sasuke's strength had been improving rapidly. If he had not been summoned, he would have gone to find Kitahara Kaede and continued training with Shadow Clones.
Like Naruto, he was learning the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu, but his Chakra could not support his clones, so he could only borrow Chakra from Kitahara Kaede.
Therefore—
He found Kakashi a little troublesome and long-winded.
"..." Kakashi fell silent.
Who the hell had Sasuke learned this attitude from?
Kakashi could not sense even a shred of respect from Sasuke.
And when Sasuke addressed him, he did not even include the honorific "Teacher."
"Maybe there's something he needs to tell us," Kitahara Kaede interjected.
"Oh." Sasuke immediately became obedient.
"..."
That change in attitude made Kakashi uncomfortable.
Kakashi suddenly realized that his authority within the team had greatly declined.
He was clearly this team's Jonin Instructor.
Yet both Sasuke and Naruto seemed closer to Kitahara Kaede...
But then again, he had not been the one to make Naruto and Sasuke stronger. Kitahara Kaede had done all of that.
If he had been teaching them, he probably would have taught them ordinary exercises like tree climbing or water walking to practice Chakra control.
He definitely could not have made Sasuke and Naruto as strong as they were now.
Well then.
Kakashi instantly recognized the situation for what it was.
This team had always been rather unusual.
Sasuke was the lone survivor of the Uchiha Clan, Naruto was the Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails and Teacher Minato's son, while Kitahara Kaede was a Wood Release awakener valued by the Second Hokage and might even become the Fifth Hokage.
As for him, the Sixth Hokage designated by the system, he would sooner or later end up being managed by Kitahara Kaede...
Fine.
He had nothing to say.
"Actually, I'm here to inform you that the Chunin Ninja Exams will be held in two weeks."
"The Chunin Ninja Exams will be hosted by the Hidden Leaf Village, and Genin from the other ninja villages will come to participate."
"Because different villages have different teaching habits, curricula, and philosophies, their standards vary greatly."
"But I hope you can participate and gain some experience," Kakashi said.
After listening to Kakashi, Sasuke and Naruto both showed a hint of delight.
Naruto wanted to earn others' recognition, and what better place to show himself off than such a widely known major exam?
As for Sasuke... he wanted to become stronger. Were not the Genin from other villages basically experience points waiting to be collected?
Kitahara Kaede asked.
"Is it really okay for rookies like us to participate in an exam like this?" Kitahara Kaede said. "According to the schedule, it hasn't even been a month since we graduated from the Ninja Academy."
"Oh, right!"
Sasuke and Naruto came to their senses.
After all, they had not completed many missions.
Even their Genin status had not been theirs for very long.
"Pfft..."
"Cough, cough—"
Kakashi nearly spat blood.
And he was not the only one. The people in the group chat felt the same way.
Observing Kitahara Kaede? (^_-): Small Group
Hashirama Senju: Ha, this is the first time I've realized that this guy is actually so good at pretending.
Tobirama Senju: Isn't that so? Naruto and that Uchiha brat—
Brother of Hashirama Senju: Tobirama, watch your manners. What do you mean, "that Uchiha brat"? Don't deliberately mock him just because Sasuke looks like me.
Tobirama Senju: Aren't you the one who dislikes Sasuke the most?
Brother of Hashirama Senju: Hmph!
Brother of Hashirama Senju: @Kakashi, before the Chunin Ninja Exams, raise Sasuke's Sharingan by at least one tomoe.
Brother of Hashirama Senju: He's the last bloodline of the Uchiha Clan, right? He looks so much like me, yet he only has one tomoe. How embarrassing!
Unmarriageable Older Single Woman: The Chunin Ninja Exams... indeed, we need to make some preparations. I'm logging off first. I need to arrange people from my Kirigakure as well.
Mei Terumi soon logged off.
Worst Kazekage—Rasa: ...
Rasa said nothing. Orochimaru had betrayed him from behind, and he did not know what situation Gaara, Temari, and the others were in.
He did not know whether they would still follow the original plan and invade the Hidden Leaf Village during these Chunin Ninja Exams.
Might Guy: Ha, the Chunin Ninja Exams! Of course my lovely team will participate.
Might Guy: But I need to go find Neji and give him a little psychological counseling.
Might Guy: So he doesn't get carried away and challenge Kitahara Kaede again.
Clearly, Might Guy possessed the title The Man Recognized by Madara Uchiha and carried the strongest traits, but he still felt that... Kitahara Kaede was extraordinary.
Otherwise, why was everyone watching him?
Still, everyone believed that Kitahara Kaede's group would definitely pass the exams.
Kitahara Kaede's strength was unknown, but even if Naruto and Sasuke relied only on Taijutsu and ignored Ninjutsu, they could still charge straight into Jonin level.
How could they possibly fail the Chunin Ninja Exams?
After all—
It was only the Chunin Ninja Exams. What could be difficult about that?
Kakashi's Request for Advice! (Asking for Data)
It was only the Chunin Ninja Exams. For Kakashi, a Jonin, it should not have been a problem...
But the pressure he had to bear was far from ordinary.
Although he was not participating himself... as Team 7's Jonin Instructor, he was under enormous pressure.
Part of that pressure came from the previous Hokage big shots in the Observing Kitahara Kaede? (^_-) Small Group.
First of all—
Naruto's life had always been miserable, and now that the Chunin Ninja Exams had suddenly appeared... naturally, he needed to make a proper showing.
Kakashi felt that Naruto's Taijutsu could even defeat him now, but... the group chat was full of complaints and righteous anger toward the Third Hokage.
Therefore...
After announcing that Team 7 would participate in the Chunin Ninja Exams, Kakashi had to get busy.
Naruto needed further improvement.
And then there was Sasuke's... Sharingan tomoe upgrade.
Lord Izuna said that Sasuke looked too much like him. Sasuke was always disgracing himself with Izuna's face, and Izuna could not bear that embarrassment.
So...
Sasuke's Sharingan also needed to improve.
So he could only entrust it to him... my ass!
Kakashi was Kakashi Hatake, not Kakashi Uchiha.
How was he supposed to know how the Sharingan awakened?
Besides, Izuna himself had said that he had awakened it naturally. What could Kakashi do? How could he make Sasuke go from one tomoe to two?
He was desperate too.
So—
After sending Naruto and Sasuke away with some vague excuses, Kakashi kept Kitahara Kaede behind alone.
However—
Before that—
"So..."
Kitahara Kaede sat inside Ichiraku Ramen while Ayame, the pretty daughter of the owner, held out a menu for Kakashi to choose from.
But Kakashi did not make a choice. Instead, he handed the menu to Kitahara Kaede.
"Teacher Kakashi, have you really decided to treat me to ramen?"
Kitahara Kaede asked.
After Naruto and Sasuke had gone off to train, Kakashi had kept him behind alone.
And then offered to treat him.
"Yes..."
"Eat as many bowls as you want," Kakashi said. "I'll pay for all of it."
"..." Kitahara Kaede was speechless.
Although he could afford Ichiraku Ramen, and the money from Mei Terumi's Land of Waves wallet should arrive soon enough—
Kitahara Kaede felt that having someone treat him to a meal early on was still nice.
Thus—
Kitahara Kaede ultimately chose a relatively luxurious seafood ramen.
Kakashi remained quiet.
"Your seafood ramen is here."
Ayame set the bowl of noodles before him.
In an instant, the enticing aroma whetted his appetite.
Kitahara Kaede had chosen seafood ramen, with four large shrimp, fish balls, meatballs, clams, and fish meat.
It looked simple, but the flavor was incredibly fragrant.
Kitahara Kaede gently took a sip of the broth.
Before you continue