... Where's the shady story?!
Naruto's heart was instantly filled with huge question marks, and he was a little confused. Isn't this right? Why did Old man Third deliberately arrange for me to confront Satsuki? Isn't it possible that this electronic lottery system can be controlled manually?
Let yourself have a civil war with Satsuki. Doesn't this mean that Konoha's promotion quota will be reduced in advance? Or... is this thing really completely random? That's really bad luck!
On the bleachers, Kakashi's lazily half-squinted eyes suddenly widened, staring at the electronic screen in disbelief. Are you kidding me... This kind of matching result is just like fate making a bad joke.
But at this moment, Sasaki's mind was in chaos. How could it be like this... How could luck be so bad?! Why is it Naruto...
Let's not talk about whether Satsuki can defeat him... Satsuki doesn't want to fight Naruto at all... Do you want... to admit defeat?
But then, a strong feeling of unwillingness surged into my heart. Could it be that I, Chunin Ninja Exams, was going to end in this way... so useless?
However, those on the sidelines who do not have a deep understanding of the special relationship between Naruto and Satsuki have completely different ideas.
Both the Jonin on the examiner's bench and the teachers leading the team, all cast their eyes towards the center of the venue with strong interest, looking forward to how fierce the confrontation between Third Hokage, who is hailed as the "strongest Genin" and the "Uchiha genius" will be.
Under the spotlight, the two of them walked to the center of the venue with their own thoughts. Earth Flow. Gekko Hayate announced briefly in his signature weak voice with the lingering sound of a cough. "Then... please start." Then he took a few steps back, leaving space for both sides.
But - one second, two seconds, three seconds...
Time passed quietly, but the two people on the field still stood facing each other without any movement.
Are they wary of each other, looking for each other's weaknesses? Some people speculate this.
No, if you are close enough, you can clearly see that the face of Uchiha Satsuki is not tactically calm at all, but shows that he is restless and hesitant.
Naruto noticed the status of Satsuki. She looked... worse than herself. Is it because you don't want to fight with me?
Combined with Satsuki's delay in taking action, he quickly understood her inner turmoil.
A strange feeling came to Naruto's heart. This is Uchiha Clan who is born with bellicose blood... Ruga actually resists fighting because he doesn't want to hurt the opponent. Of course, this is probably only because the target is Naruto.
So, how should I choose now? Do you want to admit defeat and give up the chance of victory and promotion to Satsuki? Or should he remain silent and wait for Satsuki to speak first and abstain, so that he can advance?
... No, neither of these two methods is the optimal solution. No matter what the outcome is, this duel that ended in a hurry without a real confrontation will become an irreparable regret in the memory of the two Chunin Ninja Exams.
Thinking of this, Naruto made up his mind. There was no way it was going to end like this. We want this exam of Satsuki to leave no regrets or regrets!
Outside the court, seeing that the two were still reluctant to take action, most of the audience looked puzzled and started talking among themselves.
Sakura and Fugaku Uchiha in the stands were worried about what was going on in the field. Kakashi listened helplessly to the chattering comments of Might Guy next to him. "Why hasn't Naruto started sweating his youth? With his strength, that kid Uchiha should be no match for him!"
Kakashi At this moment, I was even a little envious of Kai, who was unusually nervous.
Finally, at the moment when Satsuki made up his mind, took a slight breath, and was about to raise his arms, ready to give up——
"Wait a minute, Satsuki."
Naruto A clear voice sounded, interrupting her movements.
Looking at Satsuki who was stunned when he heard the words and raised his confused eyes to look at him, Naruto continued to speak. Not only did he want to break the deadlock at the moment, but he also wanted to make Satsuki understand that this battle between them was not a meaningless internal conflict. At the same time, he also wanted to help her get rid of the unnecessary knot in her heart.
"Are you thinking that there is no point in fighting me here, it is just consuming each other's strength?"
Even... you think if you win against me, it will embarrass me, and if you lose to me, it will appear that you are not qualified to stand by my side, right? "
Being poked at the center of things so accurately, Satsuki froze, as if being bound in place by invisible threads. The tangles that she was ashamed to talk about that she had tried to escape by admitting defeat were actually laid out in the sunlight so plainly by Naruto, which made her feel a mixture of shock and embarrassment rising up her cheeks.
Naruto didn't give her a chance to hide, and firmly locked his eyes that she was trying to dodge, and continued, "Yes, you made a mistake. As we stand here today, our purpose has never been to 'defeat' each other."
"It's to prove to each other that every step we take and every drop of sweat we shed has its irreplaceable value."
Having said this, Naruto scratched his hair in embarrassment, with a hint of self-deprecation in his tone. "Haha, I'm sorry, I said so many truths all at once. I am the worst at this kind of preaching..."
This embarrassment was quickly put away by him, and he brought the topic back to its core.
"Satsuki, do you remember when we first started practicing together?" His tone became softer, with the warmth of memories, "At that time, in order to master the most basic C-level ninjutsu, we could climb up the tree for an entire afternoon and fall all over ourselves."
He deliberately mentioned that period of her youthful, clumsy but extremely hard-working past, with warm ridicule and clear contrast in his words.
"Now, you can stand here upright and advance with me to the final preliminaries of Chunin Ninja Exams. This in itself is a very remarkable flower that has bloomed proudly."
Since when did Satsuki no longer want to fight Naruto with all his strength? Naruto This question ran through his mind. When she was at the Ninja Academy, she was always the most active in seeking discussion with me. Every time we sparred, excitement and competitiveness shone in her eyes.
It's since that night... Uchiha Clan Massacre Night. That day, the system kept reminding Satsuki of the soaring favorability like a malfunction.
Since then, Satsuki has never taken the initiative to seek training from Naruto. Even when sparring in Taijutsu's class at school, he became depressed and hesitant to take action.
"And today's battle," Naruto's voice brought her thoughts back to reality, "is not about us fighting to the death to fight for the only fruit called 'victory'."
"It is another flower, a flower named 'Respect' - respect for our first encounter, respect for our growth along the way, and respect for the Ninja path we have chosen together."
"Only by letting the flowers of hard work continue to bloom, one day in the future, we can truly usher in the 'fruitful' season."
Finally, he took a step back, raised his hands solemnly, and formed a steady "Opposition Seal".
This action was not only the ceremony for the start of the Ninja duel, but also the most sincere invitation he sent to Satsuki that could not be refused.
"So, Uchiha Satsuki."
"Please show me everything you have. Your hesitation, your progress, your determination... present all your 'processes' along the way in front of me without reservation."
"This is the highest respect that I, as your only comrade, can give you."
He stared into her eyes and made Zheng Yu's promise.
"And I will respond to you with all of me."
(Still at least three updates)