Neji and Naruto's Encounter

After the mission in the Land of Waves, some time passed. Although Naruto and the others had proven their strength, Team 7 could still only carry out D-rank missions.

For example, finding lost cats and dogs, helping villagers with weeding, and cleaning up trash in riverbeds.

The other genin teams of Naruto's year were also busy with missions.

Coupled with the approaching Chunin Exams, although the genin didn't know it yet, these jonin were seasoned veterans and thus intensified their training, either openly or covertly.

Therefore, even though they were in the same village, Naruto rarely saw Shikamaru, Hinata, and the others from his year.

Occasionally, they would pass each other at the mission rendezvous point with just a hurried nod, skipping even pleasantries.

Additionally, during this time, Naruto himself was also training and not idle, because the impending Konoha Crush Plan was an important moment, and he continued to research how to break the Caged Bird jutsu.

Time quietly slipped away, and the atmosphere in the village gradually began to change.

The frequency of Anbu patrols noticeably increased, and ninja from other villages started appearing on the streets.

Naruto silently observed all of this, understanding it all too well in his heart.

The Chunin Exams were fast approaching.

Indeed, the very next day.

Just as they finished today's mission, ninja hawks began to fly in the sky, letting out long cries.

This was Konoha's notification to all genin, jonin, and relevant personnel in the village: the Chunin Exams were officially beginning.

Kakashi glanced up at the sky, his tone as lazy as usual, "This mission ends here. Meet at the usual spot tomorrow."

With that, he shunshined away, as decisive as ever.

Naruto stood in place, mentally recalling the background of this joint Chunin Exams.

On the surface, after the Third Great Ninja War, the various countries had not gained their expected benefits. Iwagakure and Kumogakure had openly engaged in a military arms race, and the situation had become subtly tense.

Sunagakure, due to the Land of Wind's Daimyo favoring delegating missions to Konoha, had their military budget drastically cut. Forced to cooperate with Otogakure, they secretly planned the "Konoha Crush Plan."

As for Konoha itself, after suffering multiple heavy blows – the Nine-Tails' attack, the Hyuga incident, the Uchiha clan massacre – its strength had been greatly diminished.

It was incapable of an arms race, yet it couldn't let other countries see Konoha's weakness.

Therefore, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, decided to hold this joint Chunin Exams.

The intention was to showcase the strength of Konoha's genin, indirectly declaring that Konoha was still powerful.

The ninja villages invited this time, besides their ally Sunagakure, included many surrounding small nations' ninja villages: Amegakure, Kusagakure, Takigakure, and Otogakure.

Jonin Request Office.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, sat behind his large desk, holding a list in his hand, his gaze slowly sweeping over every jonin and responsible person for the Chunin Exams present.

Then he exhaled a puff of smoke, the white mist slowly dissipating in the air.

"Are there no outstanding genin participating in the Chunin Exams this year?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi said calmly.

He cast a pointed glance at the few jonin who had just started leading their teams this year.

Kakashi stood among the crowd, knowing full well.

The Third Hokage's words were directed at him.

Through this comprehensively monitored exam, he could assess Naruto's strength and his inner thoughts.

Thinking of this, Kakashi stepped forward from the crowd, "I recommend the members of Team 7, Naruto Uzumaki, Uchiha Sasuke, and Sakura Haruno, to participate in the Chunin Exams, in my name, Kakashi Hatake."

As Kakashi finished speaking, Asuma also stepped forward, a cigarette still dangling from his lips, unlit, "I recommend the members of Team 10... and others, in my name, Asuma Sarutobi."

Kurenai Yuhi also stepped forward, her voice soft yet unwavering, "I recommend the members of Team 8, Hinata Hyuga, Inuzuka Kiba... and... Shino Aburame, to participate in the Chunin Exams, in my name, Kurenai Yuhi."

The Third Hokage slowly took a puff of his smoke, a seemingly pleased yet already anticipated expression appearing on his face, "Hmm... this is quite unexpected. Have all the genin who graduated this year participated in this exam?"

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, held a pipe, and although he said this, it was all within his plan.

Just then, Iruka Umino squeezed out from the back of the crowd, his face showing clear unease and determination, "Please wait a moment, Third Hokage-sama!"

"The ones recommended by those jonin just now are all students I taught at the Ninja Academy. They only graduated not long ago and haven't reached the level to participate in the Chunin Exams!"

Kakashi sighed softly in his heart.

Do you know how strong Sasuke is right now?

Although I don't know how much power he's mastered regarding the Sharingan as an Uchiha descendant, he now even knows my signature ninjutsu, Chidori.

And Naruto... actually, Kakashi has never told anyone else, but Naruto's strength might even make it difficult for me to handle with my three-tomoe Sharingan.

His true level, even Kakashi himself doesn't know.

Iruka, you have no idea how strong Naruto is, do you?

"They have already become excellent ninja, which is why I am recommending them to participate in the Chunin Exams," Kakashi replied.

He couldn't explain the reasons to anyone else; even without the Third Hokage, it was a foregone conclusion that Naruto and the other two would participate in the Chunin Exams.

"But..."

Iruka still wanted to argue.

"They are my subordinates now!"

Kakashi directly and rudely interrupted Iruka's unspoken words this time.

Are you trying to get yourself killed?

This is something the Third Hokage hinted at!

Seeing the two arguing, the Third Hokage lowered his head slightly, a barely perceptible curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.

He said nothing, just silently smoked his pipe.

The argument before him was within his expectations.

And he didn't need to personally intervene.

An afternoon at the Konoha training grounds.

Sasuke was training, the Chidori in his hand continuously screeching as the lightning underwent various changes, sometimes long, sometimes short, practicing the Chidori's shape transformation.

Naruto lay on the grass not far away, his arms behind his head, seemingly resting with his eyes closed.

At the other end of the training grounds, the members of Team 3 were finishing a round of Taijutsu practice and taking a short break.

Tenten nimbly spun a kunai in her hand and was the first to break the silence, "Did you guys hear? After five years with no new participants, nine new genin have signed up for the Chunin Exams this year."

Her tone was clearly curious.

Rock Lee continued doing push-ups, his breathing steady as he replied, "It's probably the Jonin teachers competing with each other behind the scenes. You know, we only dared to participate this year after accumulating a whole year of training."

As he spoke, Rock Lee flipped up, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

Neji Hyuga sat cross-legged to the side, remaining silent. His gaze wasn't focused on his teammates.

Instead, he frowned, listening to the piercing sounds from not too far away, which made it impossible for him to fully calm his mind.

"I heard that Kakashi's three students are also participating this year. I'm really looking forward to it," Tenten added.

The relationship between Team 3's teacher, Might Guy, and Kakashi Hatake was well-known throughout Konoha.

Neji suddenly spoke, his voice flat, "Kakashi Hatake's team? I remember one of them is named Naruto Uzumaki?"

He hadn't forgotten that brief encounter from beginning to end.

"I think there is someone like that," Tenten tilted her head, thinking, "I didn't pay much attention."

Neji slowly stood up, his tone indifferent, "Never mind..."

Saying that, Neji saw that today's training was almost over and planned to leave the training grounds. Rock Lee and Tenten naturally followed.

As the three walked through a small grove of trees, they happened to see Uchiha Sasuke training in the center of the training grounds.

And the conspicuous Gunbai clan crest on the back of his clothes.

"That's..." Rock Lee's eyes sharpened, and he stopped. "The Uchiha crest!"

With only one person left from the Uchiha Clan, his identity was self-evident.

Almost simultaneously, Neji's gaze passed over Sasuke and landed on the figure lying on the grass not far behind him, a head of dazzling blond hair that was hard to ignore.

"Naruto Uzumaki..." Neji whispered.

Recalling their last meeting, Naruto had said, "We will meet again at the Chunin Exams soon, or even before then."

Now, the prophecy had come true. They had met again at the training grounds before the Chunin Exams had even begun.

Neji's gaze lingered on Naruto for a moment, thinking, We've met already. So, what are you planning to do next?