Hinata's Appetite

The nine rounds of the preliminaries concluded, and after excluding Neji and Hinata who were both eliminated due to their draw, exactly eight candidates remained.

Subsequently, the Third Hokage said a few words to the remaining eight, which could be summarized in one sentence: the third exam would begin in one month, and while the format would remain one-on-one combat like the preliminaries, it would now be a single-elimination tournament.

Finally, before dismissing everyone, they drew lots to determine the specific matchups for the third exam:

① Uchiha Sasuke

② Kabuto Yakushi

③ Shikamaru Nara

④ Temari

⑤ Shino Aburame

⑥ Sakura Haruno

⑦ Gaara

⑧ Uzumaki Naruto

They were paired up in order according to their numbers.

Some were dissatisfied with the results, such as Naruto: "How come I'm in the last group again?"

Or Sakura: "Of all people, Shino... I hate bugs!"

Or Shikamaru: "That fierce fan-wielding girl... what a drag. Maybe I should just forfeit when the time comes."

But others were quite satisfied, such as Kabuto Yakushi: "Luck is on my side. Now I can collect intelligence on Uchiha Sasuke in a legitimate way. It seems I'll be able to complete the mission Lord Orochimaru entrusted to me quite well this time."

With everything said, the Third Hokage concluded: "You have all worked hard today. See you in a month. Dismissed!"

The Chunin Exams were temporarily put on hold; those who passed celebrated with their teammates, while those who were unfortunately eliminated also celebrated with their teammates to comfort themselves or each other.

Team 7, led by Kakashi, was the only team among the many Konoha candidates to have all its members pass, earning Kakashi plenty of face.

Consequently, at Naruto's strong insistence, Kakashi had to break the bank and take the three of them to the highest-end barbecue restaurant in Konoha, booking a private room.

Once the food was served, the four ate in silence for a while. Only when the three students began to slow their pace did Kakashi speak: "What are your plans for the next month?"

Naruto: "I will continue to follow Master's plan, training every day to improve my strength."

"Hmm, I can't even understand the things you're training with right now, so I can't offer you any advice. If there ever comes a day you need my help, just ask."

After speaking to Naruto, Kakashi turned to Sakura: "Lady Tsunade is currently missing, and I don't know where to look for her. As soon as she returns, I will notify you immediately."

"Thank you, Kakashi-sensei."

Sakura nodded: "Actually, Master has taught me so much that you don't need to trouble Lady Tsunade."

"I see..."

Kakashi was silent for a moment before looking at Sasuke: "And you?"

"In the near future, my Sharingan should evolve into the Three-Tomoe. So for the first half of the month, I plan to follow the schedule Master provided and maintain my current training rhythm."

Sasuke said slowly: "For the second half of the month, Master should have a new plan, and I'll see then."

"Already reaching the Three-Tomoe? That's much faster than I anticipated..."

Kakashi looked thoughtful: "Back in the Forest of Death, when you encountered that person, were you triggered by something?"

"I know that the awakening and progression of the Sharingan are accelerated by stimulation."

Sasuke thought for a moment: "But my recent changes are likely due to the 'medicinal meals' provided by Master."

Kakashi looked at Naruto.

"Well... Master said the recipes could be given to the village, but the prerequisite for the medicinal meals to take effect is that there must be some inheritable special bloodline within the body, and it cannot be too sparse."

Naruto relayed: "For example, in my case, I not only inherited part of the Uzumaki Clan's constitution from my mother, but also part of my father's constitution, though I don't know what it's called. However, the effects of the medicinal meals only strengthened the part of my constitution that belongs to the Uzumaki Clan."

"I see."

Kakashi felt a bit regretful, then thought of something: "Does that little princess of the Hyuga Clan often eat the medicinal meals you make?"

Naruto: "Hinata?"

Kakashi: "Yes."

Naruto: "No."

"No?"

Kakashi was somewhat surprised: "Then why has her strength improved so much?"

Naruto scratched his head, not understanding why Kakashi would say such a thing: "Because Hinata already had that talent and potential."

"That's not right..."

Kakashi also felt like scratching his head: "The Hyuga Clan hasn't intentionally hidden it; most jonin in the village know that the eldest daughter of the Hyuga Clan has poor aptitude and little talent. Neji, on the other hand, is the most talented of the Hyuga Clan in recent years. If her aptitude hadn't been improved, Hinata couldn't have fought to a draw with Neji."

"I'm not really sure about Hinata's situation."

Naruto recalled: "The first time she approached me was about three years ago. At that time, Master said that the bloodline Hinata inherited was 'very pure,' and ordinary ingredients couldn't further strengthen it, so he didn't have me give Hinata any medicinal meals."

"Pure bloodline?"

Kakashi was somewhat confused: "Although she is indeed the eldest daughter of the Main Branch, she doesn't seem any different compared to the others. Besides, that medicinal meal was clearly effective even for Sasuke..."

"I don't really get all that."

Naruto gave up on thinking: "But since Master said so, it definitely can't be wrong."

Kakashi felt a slight sense of unease regarding Naruto's blind faith in his "Master," though so far, the influence the Master had on Naruto showed no discernible negative factors: "Does that Master of yours have any opinion on Hinata's strength?"

Naruto closed his eyes to communicate with his Master internally, only opening them after a long while: "Master says that while Hinata's bloodline is pure, she is slightly lacking in terms of spirit. However, the main reason Hinata's strength was weak in the past and failed to manifest her talent was simply that she wasn't eating enough."

"What?"

Kakashi was certain he hadn't misheard, but the Hyuga Clan could be considered the strongest and largest ninja family in the current Hidden Leaf Village. As the eldest daughter of the current clan head, how could Hinata be weak simply because she wasn't eating enough?

"Don't let her small size fool you; her appetite is even bigger than mine."

Naruto pointed at the grilled meat on the table in front of them: "Everything the four of us are eating combined wouldn't even be enough to make Hinata thirty percent full, and that was her appetite from three years ago. As for now, if Hinata were to finish this table alone, I doubt she'd even reach ten percent fullness."

"Isn't that a bit of an exaggeration?"

Kakashi expressed a sliver of doubt: "Based on the portions you're describing, wouldn't Hinata be able to eat enough food for forty people by herself?"

"Only forty portions? That's not enough."

Naruto looked earnest: "Two years ago, I once treated Hinata to a meal and told her she had to eat until she was full. As a result, the amount of food Hinata consumed that day, converted into raw ingredients, was about one hundred pounds."

Kakashi, Sakura, and Sasuke all wore expressions of dull shock.

"And that was only because Hinata eats slowly and was dragged home by the guards who came looking for her."

Naruto added: "If we had let her keep eating, the final amount of ingredients consumed would definitely have been more than that."