Chunin Selection Exams

Without ordinary people to slow them down, Team 7 traveled at the speed expected of ninjas, returning to the Hidden Leaf Village from the Land of Waves in just a single day.

"Let's split up here."

At the intersection closest to the village gate, Kakashi pointed toward the Hokage Building: "I'm going to report on the mission first."

Sakura looked toward the direction of her home: "I'm going home to let them know I'm safe."

Naruto and Sasuke exchanged a glance and pointed toward the market: "How about we hold a small banquet tonight to celebrate the successful completion of our first C-rank mission?"

Sasuke: "My place is very spacious, and there's no one else around, so it's perfect for a banquet."

Naruto: "Great, leave the cooking to me."

Sakura: "I'll help you out."

Kakashi: "Then I..."

"Kakashi-sensei, leave the banquet to us."

Sakura interrupted him: "You've worked very hard during this time, and you still have to report on our mission. Don't trouble yourself with small things like a banquet; just remember to come on time."

Kakashi smiled and gladly accepted his students' good intentions.

At night, the Uchiha Compound.

The place, usually silent, was filled with the sounds of people and life tonight.

Having finished the tense and exciting C-rank mission, Team 7 returned to the mundane routine of training and D-rank missions.

However, no one complained—it was precisely because these D-rank missions were simple that they could spare enough time and energy to train every day. Moreover, the income from D-rank missions was not low, enough to sustain their daily training lifestyle.

Most of Naruto's recent daily training consisted of repeating a specific set of movements. Sasuke and Sakura had tried following along, but it had no effect. They later learned that these movements were a specialized training method designed by their Master based on Naruto's physical condition. By simply completing one standard set, he could finish a round of Qi Refining, simultaneously tempering both body and spirit—efficient and convenient.

After Sasuke tested his chakra affinity, he focused all his energy on practicing chakra nature transformation, aside from his basic physical training and Qi Refining.

Of course, to maximize efficiency, he used Shadow Clones.

As a price, Sasuke had to replace his three daily meals with special Military Ration Pills just to barely keep his chakra and physical recovery speed on par with his consumption.

Sakura's situation was more unique than Naruto's or Sasuke's. Whether it was the influence of the Qi Refining or the cumulative effect of eating well, her physique underwent a qualitative change one day. Her strength, which had previously been only slightly greater than an average person's, doubled overnight, reaching a level approaching "superhuman strength."

After the Master examined Sakura, he confirmed that it was a special constitution she possessed, which had been strengthened by multiple factors.

Afterward, Sakura balanced adapting to her vastly increased strength with diligent study of various medical knowledge.

In the day-to-day training, Sakura felt that her total chakra reserves were also gradually increasing, though the margin was so small it felt like an illusion.

Watching his students train and improve every day, Kakashi felt a sense of pressure. To maintain his dignity as a jonin leader and teacher to the three, he once again cut down on his "reading" time to increase his training intensity.

Just two days ago, Kakashi had received the "Sealing Headband" crafted by Naruto. Although it didn't reach the expected level of completely sealing the Sharingan, it reduced the continuous chakra drain by ninety percent.

This allowed Kakashi to experience a long-lost feeling of chakra abundance. While in high spirits, he dug out the ancestral sword techniques he had abandoned many years ago to practice them, and various ideas regarding ninjutsu also popped into his head from time to time.

"You all performed very well on today's mission as well."

Kakashi praised them with a smile: "There are no suitable missions tomorrow, so there's no need to assemble. You've made great progress in your training recently; if you feel tired, a little rest isn't a bad thing."

Naruto (saluting): "Understood!"

Sasuke (coldly): "Got it."

Sakura (obediently): "Okay, Kakashi-sensei."

With that, all three simultaneously dispelled their Shadow Clones.

"As expected, they used Shadow Clones again today."

Kakashi let out the sigh of a lonely old man. Just as he was about to head home, he suddenly heard the cry of an eagle overhead. He looked up instinctively, and a moment later, he lowered his head with a soft sigh: "Sigh, it's going to get busy again..."

He then headed toward the Hokage Building.

About half an hour later, in the Hokage's office, almost all the notable jonin in the village were present.

Third Hokage: "You should all know the reason I've gathered you here."

The jonin:

"It's that time of year again."

"You notified the other nations in advance, right? Some have already arrived."

"Is today's meeting to decide when it starts?"

The Third Hokage exhaled a puff of smoke and said: "In one week."

"So soon..."

"Let's get it over with while the village isn't too busy."

The Third explained: "I now officially announce that our Hidden Leaf Village will hold the Chunin Selection Exams on July 1st, seven days from now."

The jonin present responded in unison: "Yes!"

In the woods on the outskirts of Konoha, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura were engaged in their daily training.

A few minutes ago, the intel relayed back by a Shadow Clone had distracted them, but by now, they had already readjusted.

Suddenly, Naruto sensed a chakra that was unfamiliar yet somewhat recognizable, and he turned his head toward the Konoha gates as Kurama's voice echoed in his mind: Tsk, that stinking raccoon dog.

Naruto asked in his heart, "Raccoon dog?"

The One-Tail. That guy looks just like a fat raccoon dog.

Naruto: "A Tailed Beast? So that's a Jinchuriki from another village? I thought they said they wouldn't let a Jinchuriki leave their village so easily?"

That just means that for Sunagakure, there is something more important at stake.

Minato's voice also resonated within Naruto's mind: Don't be careless, Naruto. My intuition tells me that the people from Sunagakure definitely have some bad intentions.

Naruto took a deep breath and continued his training: "Master said that as long as one's abilities are strong enough, no matter what kind of unexpected situation arises, there will always be a way to solve it."

Just as Naruto and Kurama sensed Shukaku, Shukaku also felt the presence of Kurama: "This feeling... that stinking fox! Should I go over and see..."

But Shukaku immediately remembered that he had yet to "reconcile" with his current Jinchuriki, and they didn't even speak to each other under normal circumstances: "Gaara, that guy... even if I were to speak first, or even back down, he probably wouldn't listen to a word I say. Tsk, forget it, I'll let that stinking fox off for now."

Still, he carefully sensed the area for a moment.

"Since that stinking fox didn't come looking for me, he must be in the same boat as me, stuck with a Jinchuriki who isn't easy to get along with."

Thinking of this, Shukaku suddenly felt a bit more relaxed.

Two days later.

Team 7 gathered at the Hokage Building as per their usual routine.

"Regrettably, there are no missions today."

Kakashi said, "Furthermore, there won't be any missions for at least the next half-month."

"That long..."

Naruto had barely finished muttering when he immediately realized something: "Is something happening in the village?"

"Five days from now, the village will be hosting the Chunin Selection Exams, and it will be very busy then."

As Kakashi spoke, he suddenly remembered something: "Oh, right, you are all qualified to participate. Do you need me to help you register?"

Sasuke answered instantly: "Yes!"

Sakura was a bit hesitant: "We haven't even been Genin for half a year yet. Wouldn't that be too soon?"

"Since Kakashi-sensei brought it up, he must feel that our abilities are already sufficient."

Naruto speculated: "Besides, I have reason to suspect that Kakashi-sensei has already registered us."

"Can't hide anything from you."

Kakashi calmly took out three forms and handed them to the three of them: "These are the registration forms. If you want to participate, sign your names and deliver them to Classroom 301 at the academy on the morning of July 1st."

"That is all I have to say. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll be off."