A Show of Force

The three of them walked down the corridor. As soon as they reached the first floor, they saw the two Konoha gatekeepers standing outside a classroom.

Naruto didn't care in the slightest and turned to leave.

"Who's the fool trying to lecture the master?"

But Sasuke had a sharp tongue. Seeing their shoddy genjutsu, he couldn't resist taunting them.

Naruto's face twitched. It felt like he'd brought a taunt machine along with him.

Sure enough, the two men, who had seemed unconcerned, immediately turned to look.

"Now that's a brat who needs a beating."

As he spoke, Steel Magnet rushed forward and swung a whip kick at Sasuke.

Sasuke raised his hand to block.

Bang!!!

He staggered backward.

Naruto was speechless. He had no intention of stepping in to help.

Just then, another group came in through the doorway.

With their bowl cuts and thick eyebrows, the three of them immediately fixed their eyes on Naruto, who was standing beside Hinata.

"Are you Uzumaki Naruto?"

"I heard you're the strongest in your year."

"Who said that? I didn't hear about it."

Naruto looked puzzled.

"Your team leader, Kakashi."

Tenten explained.

Naruto noticed the girl with her hair in buns, dressed in a qipao. She was quite cute.

"Want to spar, Naruto?"

Rock Lee gazed at Naruto with shining eyes.

Influenced by Guy, Rock Lee also felt he needed a worthy rival.

Naturally, his gaze settled on the strongest one, Naruto.

As for Sasuke, his training under Itachi Uchiha had already sent him down a different path. He'd learned too many things: shuriken, Fire Style, genjutsu, and Uchiha swordsmanship.

He knew a little of everything, but wasn't truly skilled at any of it. Since his Taijutsu wasn't strong, Rock Lee had unconsciously dismissed him.

"No. I'm not interested."

"Come on, Naruto! Youth means having the courage to fight!"

Completely ignoring Naruto's refusal, Rock Lee immediately worked himself into a frenzy.

His chuunibyou energy made his two teammates take a couple of steps back without thinking.

Naruto felt as if some filthy thing had latched onto him.

"I said no."

Passion? Rock Lee wasn't enough to stir Naruto's blood.

But Rock Lee didn't care at all. He vanished in an instant.

When he reappeared, he was right in front of Naruto.

He swung a whip kick at him.

"So fast."

The fight on Sasuke's side had already stopped. Seeing Rock Lee attack, Sasuke looked shocked.

Naruto frowned. He knew Rock Lee was a hot-blooded fool, but he hadn't expected him to actually attack the moment he said he would.

Hinata was standing right beside him, too.

Naruto raised his left hand.

A dull thud rang out.

He caught Rock Lee's powerful whip kick with one hand.

"That feels heavy. You're wearing weights, too."

With that, he casually flung Rock Lee away.

"He's so strong."

Tenten and the other teammate narrowed their eyes.

They often made fun of Rock Lee, but they knew better than anyone how strong he was.

As far as they knew, only their teacher could stop Rock Lee's whip kick with one hand.

"Naruto, you really are my fated rival! I'm fired up! Youth means challenging yourself without end!"

Rock Lee landed, even more excited than before. His chakra erupted, sending his hair straight up.

"Hey, hey! If you charge at me again, I won't hold back."

Naruto didn't want to get dragged into this guy's antics.

"Enough, Lee. This isn't the time to fight."

In a flash, a large green-clad figure appeared.

One hand was already resting on Rock Lee's head.

"So fast! What kind of monster is this?"

Sasuke was shocked. He hadn't seen how the man had appeared at all.

Naruto looked toward the newcomer, too.

Tight green clothes, a bowl cut—the strongest Taijutsu ninja, Might Guy.

He could open the Seventh Gate as a matter of course. Even without activating the Eight Gates, his Taijutsu was at the level of an elite jonin.

Taijutsu. Naruto wasn't an expert, but he couldn't help feeling a little fired up.

A man's battles should be fought with fists and flesh. Besides, he wasn't afraid of getting hurt anymore.

So when he saw this guy, Naruto felt a long-dormant fighting spirit stir within him.

Guy immediately sensed it and looked toward Naruto.

"Not bad, young man! Youth means daring to challenge!"

He gave a thumbs-up, his pearly white teeth bright enough to make even the Black Zetsu jealous.

Naruto felt a flash of white light.

"My eyes!"

"Goodbye, Teacher Guy. Nice seeing you, Teacher Guy."

Naruto turned and left with Hinata.

He felt that if he stayed any longer, their influence would rub off on him.

Sure enough, they hadn't gone far before they heard the two men behind them sobbing as they embraced.

Naruto fought the urge to look back and unconsciously quickened his pace.

"Teacher Guy, that's enough! We'll be late for the exam."

Tenten looked exasperated, turned, and left. This was too embarrassing.

They found the exam room without any trouble.

Naruto and the other two walked inside.

At once, they felt the oppressive atmosphere.

It was like entering a room packed with gunpowder, where the slightest spark could set off an explosion.

"Naruto, long time no see! Over here!"

Shikamaru and the others stood up to greet him.

Everyone around them immediately turned to look.

But since this was Konoha's home turf, no one caused trouble. They simply glared at the newcomers with hostility.

Naruto stood in the doorway. He'd been planning to keep a low profile, but the moment he saw them, he felt annoyed.

It seemed like they were trying to intimidate him.

If that's the case, I might as well show off.

His chakra erupted, forming a terrifying pressure.

He took one step forward.

In an instant, everyone in the small room felt the dreadful pressure.

"Damn it! What kind of monster is this?"

"That chakra is terrifying!"

"How is this possible?"

Some of the weaker ones were forced straight to the ground.

Even Gaara, for all his strength, took several wary steps back.

"A bunch of trash. What are you staring at?" Naruto sneered as he looked around.

"You—"

Someone started to retort, but Naruto glared at him, and he instantly crumpled to the floor.

Naruto withdrew his chakra, and everyone immediately backed away.

The three of them found seats in the middle and sat down.

"Are you seriously going to be that ostentatious?"

Shikamaru looked exasperated.

"Hey, Naruto, isn't your chakra a little over the top?"

Kiba stared at Naruto in surprise.

Naruto's classmates all gathered around him.

"Everyone, long time no see."

Naruto greeted them.

"You still haven't told us what's going on with your chakra."

Kiba was blunt and insisted on finding out where Naruto's enormous chakra came from.

"Kiba."

Shikamaru frowned, feeling that it wasn't right to ask, even if they were friends.

"It's fine. My constitution awakened. The Uzumaki Clan naturally has a huge amount of chakra."

Naruto casually explained.

Everyone with him now came from a clan, so they knew about the Uzumaki Clan.

They chatted happily while everyone else kept their distance.

Naruto's little display had eased the tension, but it had also crushed the confidence of many shinobi from the smaller villages.

Having a lot of chakra didn't mean much. It depended on how much. Naruto's chakra wasn't just "a lot" anymore.