The Chunin Exams That Would Change Konoha Have Arrived

Several days later

"Your missions today are to clear trash from the river and walk the client's dog...

Now, come with me to pick up the mission tools.

We'll clear the river first..."

At Team 7's meeting spot, Kakashi arrived late and made the announcement lazily.

"Two more D-rank Missions!!

Teacher Kakashi...

We've already done several D-rank Missions in a row these past few days. Aren't there any more exciting and dangerous high-level missions?

I'm sick of these boring missions..."

Hearing that they were D-rank Missions again, Naruto clenched his fists and exploded in frustration.

The missions had kept them busy lately, but these dull, low-level tasks were way too annoying...

"Next time, next time I'll try to get you a C-rank Mission.

Well, that's that!"

Kakashi waved him off perfunctorily, shot Sasuke and Sakura a look, then turned and led the way.

Boring? What a pain...

He'd been exhausted these past few days too, trying to build up their mission count, okay?

He hadn't even had much time to savor the latest volume of Icha Icha Violence...

"Let's go, Sakura..."

Ignoring Naruto's endless complaints, Sasuke called to Sakura and followed after him.

"Wait for me, Sasuke, Sakura..."

Naruto hurriedly shouted and quickly caught up with the other three.

Before long, Sasuke and the others followed Kakashi to collect bamboo baskets and arrived at the mission site.

"There, this is the river...

Clear out all the trash clogging the riverway!

Be careful. The current here is pretty swift.

Even if you've learned Water Walking, watch yourselves. Don't get swept away..."

Kakashi gave a warning as he looked at the rushing water, then took out Icha Icha Paradise and hid off to one side to leisurely catch up on his reading.

"I see...

This is too easy for us!

Sasuke-kun, let's get started..."

Sakura suddenly understood. She invited him along, gathered Chakra beneath her feet, and stepped onto the river's surface.

"Mm..."

Sasuke nodded faintly, Chakra surging beneath his feet as he stepped forward as well.

"Damn it...

I won't lose to you two..."

Watching the two walk across the river as though on solid ground, Naruto regained his fighting spirit and formed Hand Seals.

He had trained in Water Walking back in the Land of Waves too!

"That's it, here I come..."

As Chakra burst from beneath his feet, Naruto shouted and charged onto the river.

Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi all turned to look at him...

The next moment

Naruto had only taken a few steps before the ground beneath his feet vanished, his face going pale before he could even speak.

Splash...

Water sprayed everywhere as Naruto, unsurprisingly, fell into the river.

"Help, help..."

Caught off guard, Naruto swallowed a mouthful of river water and cried for help with a miserable expression.

Sasuke reacted quickly, reaching out and yanking him from the water...

Keeping Naruto from being swept away by the current.

"I told you, the current here is swift...

If you can't maintain a steady Chakra output continuously over a fast and unstable water surface,

then of course you'll fall into the river...

Naruto, it looks like your Water Walking training isn't good enough yet!!"

Kakashi shook his head and gave his assessment, leaving the freshly rescued Naruto utterly embarrassed.

"Hmph, even without Water Walking, I can still complete the mission brilliantly.

I'll be no slower than Sasuke or Sakura!!

Watch this, Multiple Shadow Clone Technique..."

Humiliated into anger, Naruto gritted his teeth, formed Hand Seals again, and shouted.

Poof, poof, poof...

Ten Narutos appeared in an instant. After giving Sasuke and Sakura a defiant look, they lowered their heads and began searching for trash beneath the water.

Sasuke merely smiled at that...

If they could finish this boring mission faster, what was there for him to complain about?

No matter in this life or his previous one, hardworking colleagues like Naruto were beloved by everyone...

Time passed in a flash, and an hour went by.

With Naruto's Shadow Clones practically cheating, Sasuke and the others quickly finished clearing the trash.

By noon, they had followed Kakashi to the home of the client who had requested the Dog Walking Mission...

"Naruto, are you sure you want to choose the biggest one?"

Looking at the Vicious Dog Naruto had chosen, Sasuke finally couldn't help but comment.

This familiar scene... wasn't what came next just...

"Hehehe...

Sasuke, you were one step too late!

This big dog is mine. You can take care of those two little dogs..."

Though Naruto had an uneasy feeling, he still stubbornly put on a brave front.

There was no way he would give something this flashy to Sasuke!

"Uh, as long as you're happy..."

Good advice could not save someone determined to die. Sasuke did not say anything further.

Instead, his gaze darkened as he fell into thought...

Since things had already reached this point, then next should be...

"Ah!!

Don't run around..."

Just as Sasuke's thoughts wandered, Naruto's howl suddenly rang out.

Sasuke looked up and saw Naruto being dragged out of sight by the big dog the moment it left the house!

"Let's go..."

Sasuke sighed helplessly, calling Sakura over as they began leisurely walking their dogs.

"Okay, Sasuke-kun..."

Sakura immediately nodded and followed him, her face brimming with happiness.

It was perfect that Naruto was gone. Now she could have some alone time with Sasuke-kun!

"No...

That's the trap area, don't go in!

I'm begging you, ah... don't..."

Just as Sasuke and Sakura slowly caught up to Naruto, they saw him being mercilessly dragged by the big dog into the Minefield Trap, terror written all over his face.

The next second

Boom... rumble...

Amid a series of overlapping explosions, Naruto was dragged out by the big dog, filthy and battered.

"What a pain...

Naruto, you'll have to pay compensation for damaging the traps without permission!!"

Naruto had barely stood up with a miserable face when Kakashi's fatal blow made his expression change drastically.

"Pay money??

Stoppp..."

A miserable wail instantly echoed through the sky.

Ten minutes later

"Seriously, all you do is cause trouble for me..."

Sasuke supported Naruto as they followed behind Kakashi, sighing helplessly. Sakura beside them wore an equally agreeing expression.

Naruto had somehow turned the safest Dog Walking Mission into a life-or-death ordeal.

It was simply unimaginable...

Screech...

Suddenly, a clear eagle cry rang out above the three of them.

Sasuke's heart stirred...

"Well, that's it for today's missions!

I'm going to submit the missions. You're dismissed on the spot..."

Kakashi discreetly glanced at the Ninja Hawk overhead, found an excuse, and vanished with the Body Flicker Technique.

[The Chunin Exams that would change Konoha's entire landscape have arrived...]

Watching the Ninja Hawk fly away toward the horizon, Sasuke's eyes flashed as he instantly understood.

"Sasuke-kun...

Since we actually get to rest early today, do you want to go shopping and have dinner together?"

Seeing Kakashi leave, Sakura immediately clung sweetly to Sasuke's arm.

They had been running nonstop these past few days and had barely had any free time to themselves...

"No!!

Sasuke promised to treat me to meals for a month, so I'm coming too..."

The half-dead Naruto instantly sprang up, refusing to give the two a chance to go on a date.

"Naruto...

This is a private date between Sasuke-kun and me. Don't come and ruin it!"

Sakura immediately turned to refuse him. There was no way she would let Naruto interrupt their alone time.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk...

So these are Konoha's Genin?

At a time like this, you're still immersed in some ridiculous little romance game.

I wonder if that's confidence or ignorance..."

Naruto was just about to retort when a mocking voice suddenly sounded behind him.

"Sunagakure ninja...

You'd better not be too arrogant in someone else's village. People die that way!"

Looking at the newcomer, a sharp glint flashed in Sasuke's eyes as he spoke coldly.