The True Purpose of Returning to the Village

"He's Uchiha Ye Fan?"

Neji Hyuga and Tenten were also behind Might Guy, having arrived here.

Upon hearing this name, they were both extremely surprised.

Like everyone else, they had all believed Ye Fan was long dead.

"Byakugan!"

Neji Hyuga's eyes snapped open as he looked at Ye Fan, activating the Kekkei Genkai unique to the Hyuga Clan.

"There's not even a trace of Chakra in his body?!"

"What?"

Might Guy and Rock Lee were greatly shocked by this news.

They had assumed that even if Ye Fan hadn't inherited the Uchiha Clan's bloodline, and even if he only practiced Taijutsu, he should still have Chakra within him.

They didn't doubt Neji's words at all; they were somewhat aware of the capabilities of the Hyuga Clan's Kekkei Genkai.

"Rock Lee, is Ye Fan's Taijutsu very strong?" Neji asked.

"Yes, very strong, extremely strong!"

Rock Lee recalled the scene of Ye Fan repelling Sasuke with a single move, a technique so fast he couldn't even follow it!

"How does it compare to yours?"

"Hmm..." Faced with this question, Rock Lee was silent for a moment before replying, "Between us, it's probably a toss-up!"

This answer was one Rock Lee had carefully considered.

"Uchiha Ye Fan, is he that strong?"

Might Guy was somewhat surprised by this.

He knew Rock Lee's strength very well; Rock Lee had learned the Eight Gates by now!

And even so, Rock Lee only dared to say it was a toss-up, not that one would definitely win against the other!

He understood Rock Lee's personality very well; there was still a sense of pride deep down. For Rock Lee to say something like this proved Ye Fan was indeed extraordinary.

"It seems you have another formidable opponent in this Chunin Exam, but I believe in you!"

Might Guy laughed heartily, fully confident in the abilities of his three students.

"Thank you, Teacher Guy!" Rock Lee's eyes were filled with passion.

Although the Chunin Exam was full of strong contenders, it didn't intimidate him.

Ye Fan's appearance also made him secretly resolve to train even harder in the future.

"Let's strive forward, everyone! Unleash your youthful vitality to the fullest!"

Might Guy clapped Neji and the other two firmly on the shoulder, his eyes filled with excitement, as if he himself were about to participate in the Chunin Exam.

While Rock Lee looked excited, Neji and Tenten seemed a bit speechless.

They couldn't quite grasp what Might Guy and the others were so excited about...

However, Neji seemed to see through Rock Lee's thoughts and said, "Ye Fan might be very strong now, but he will absolutely never surpass you in the future, Rock Lee."

"You are completely different from him. Although you haven't practiced Ninjutsu, you have Chakra within you, just like us."

"Someone without the support of Chakra is destined not to go far on the path of a ninja."

Upon hearing this, Might Guy's expression became unusually serious. He knew that while Neji's words were harsh, they were indeed the truth.

From ancient times to the present, no one without Chakra in their body had ever become an outstanding ninja.

Even if that person worked incredibly hard!

Some things simply couldn't be overcome through effort alone.

"Let's go, the Chunin Exam is about to begin."

Neji took the lead towards the registration area, not sparing Sasuke and the others a second glance throughout.

In the eyes of others, Sasuke might be a genius who inherited the abilities of the Uchiha Clan.

But!

In his eyes, there was nothing special about him.

At least, the current Sasuke was not worth mentioning in front of him!

Sasuke watched the retreating figures of Neji and Rock Lee and slammed his fist heavily onto the ground.

Although he was extremely unwilling and unconvinced in his heart, he had indeed lost to Rock Lee!

The actions of Ye Fan and Rock Lee had dealt a great blow to his pride.

Especially Ye Fan, Sasuke refused to lose to the "Plague God" of the Uchiha Clan, refused to lose to Uchiha Ye Fan, who had no Kekkei Genkai!

"Ye Fan!" Sasuke's face was as dark as water, and he gritted his teeth, vowing silently in his heart that he would personally take his life!

At the Chunin Exam registration area, Kakashi, holding Make-Out Paradise, saw Ye Fan's figure.

Kakashi, who hailed from the Anbu, had long since received news of Ye Fan's return to the village.

Kakashi sized up Ye Fan, who was not far away, his expression calm.

Ye Fan met Kakashi's gaze and also sized up the legendary Kakashi Hatake.

He didn't have any particular feelings, good or bad, towards Kakashi.

In his past life, Ye Fan had been an avid fan of Naruto. Looking back at the entire series, he felt Kakashi had been somewhat biased.

Although Kakashi was ostensibly Naruto's teacher, he hadn't actually taught Naruto anything truly useful.

Naruto's eventual achievements were largely due to Iruka and Jiraiya.

Both Iruka and Jiraiya played crucial roles in Naruto's growth.

After appraising Ye Fan, Kakashi buried his head in Make-Out Paradise once more.

Ye Fan, meanwhile, walked over to the registration desk to sign up for the Chunin Exam.

The teacher at the registration desk, seeing that Ye Fan was alone, displayed various expressions.

"Are you here to participate in the Chunin Exam?"

"Where are your teammates?" one teacher asked.

"I don't have any teammates at the moment," Ye Fan replied truthfully.

"No teammates? Then I'm sorry, you're not eligible to participate in the Chunin Exam."

"The Chunin Exam has clear regulations: you must form a team of three."

"Please leave!"

The registration teacher directly rejected Ye Fan's application.

Just then, another teacher spoke up, "Where's your forehead protector? You're not even a Genin, are you?"

He had observed Ye Fan for a while and hadn't seen any Konoha forehead protector on him.

"Currently, I'm indeed not even considered a Genin."

Ye Fan had spent years traveling with Jiraiya, indulging in... honing his combat skills everywhere. He had never bothered to take the Genin exam.

"Kid, are you serious?"

"You're not even a Genin, what are you doing here causing a commotion?"

"Hurry up and leave, go somewhere cool and comfortable. There are still many people waiting to register!"

The registration teachers spoke with clear disdain, believing Ye Fan was simply there to mess with them.

Ye Fan: ...

Was Jiraiya really that unreliable?

So he sent me here to participate in the Chunin Exam without any prior arrangements?

Where am I supposed to get promoted to Genin now? Where am I supposed to find two teammates?

Ye Fan felt speechless.

"Fine, if I can't take it, then I won't."

Ye Fan wasn't particularly keen on participating in the Chunin Exam anyway. In his eyes, those who participated were no different from three-year-old children.

The only reason he had agreed to Jiraiya's request to return and participate in this Chunin Exam was to use the opportunity to return to Konoha and ask the Third Hokage some questions.

Naruto, as the descendant of a hero who protected Konohagakure from destruction, had lived such a miserable childhood.

Not only was he ostracized by everyone in the village, but even his food was terrible!

Instant noodles, and nothing but instant noodles!

In Ye Fan's opinion, Naruto was the one who most deserved to have turned to the dark side!

"Alright, I won't bother you all."

Ye Fan, hands behind his back, whistled and started to leave.

Just as he was about to depart, an Anbu ninja suddenly appeared and blocked his path.