This Old Man, Always Tricking Me

"Begin repairing the arena. The contestants for the next match, please take your positions!"

The examination official announced the rules.

Kabuto's gaze didn't leave Naruto for a moment.

Would that threatening aura from earlier make him an enemy of Orochimaru in the future?

Kabuto wondered, if Konoha had a genius ninja like Naruto, how could it possibly fall?

His thoughts were quietly broken.

An old man appeared beside Naruto.

During this break.

The Third Hokage sat beside Naruto as if by a river.

"Amazing, Naruto, to have used such a difficult ninjutsu."

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled kindly.

"Your current strength is enough to stand on your own."

If Naruto's terrifying talent had been tempered more during the Ninja Wars, he would have definitely become a Jonin in his teens.

"If you have something to say, just say it directly."

Naruto disliked hearing such empty platitudes.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's presence here was for only one reason.

The Flying Thunder God Technique.

A space-time ninjutsu that even Jiraiya couldn't teach Naruto.

Unless it was Minato Namikaze's doing.

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't know what contingency plans that couple, who were masters of sealing jutsu, had left behind.

But Naruto's technique couldn't have come from nowhere.

"Are you in a bad mood?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a smile again.

"You've received information and everything from your parents, so you've also inherited their dying wish."

"That is the unquenchable Will of Fire!"

"Take their place and protect everyone in Konoha Village."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's words were likely something the Sannin had heard countless times.

He wondered how many people he had brainwashed.

No wonder only Orochimaru came to see him, and he wanted to see him die.

Naruto was already impatient.

In the past, they remained silent about Naruto's parents, but now that they discovered Naruto possessed talent like Minato Namikaze and the strength of an absolute genius ninja.

They started talking about inheriting their will.

"Third Hokage."

Naruto opened his eyes and leaned back in his chair, looking exceptionally casual.

"If it were you, how would you want Konohamaru to be viewed?"

"If one day you die protecting the ninja village, would you want everyone to see Konohamaru as an ill omen in order to protect him?"

Naruto's eyes fixed on the Third Hokage.

The old man's face looked weary.

"Fleeting hatred is just a fallen leaf obscuring your vision."

"You will eventually understand that to protect more people, some must sacrifice their lives."

"If your parents were still alive, they would surely say the same thing."

Hiruzen Sarutobi played the emotional card as always.

"Hmm."

The corner of Naruto's mouth curled up in a disdainful smile.

"I met the Fourth Hokage. He said he hoped I would live for myself, to live as a hero who saved Konoha."

No longer sleeping.

Naruto, now with his legs crossed, ignored Hiruzen Sarutobi.

He said impatiently, "Is no one selling popcorn and soda? What a shame."

"Naruto, you're not like your usual self today!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up, preparing to return to his original position.

The new match was about to begin.

He wore a solemn expression; a Jinchuriki with explosive talent would be troublesome if he harbored hatred toward the village.

"Is that so?"

"Perhaps, much like how Konoha insists on burning the Will of Fire, that soul—which has self-indoctrinated countless times to remain kind—has been burned away as well."

Naruto spread his hands.

Not to mention that he had already acquired a portion of the Nine-Tails' chakra, allowing him to enter the Nine-Tails Mode at any time.

A ninja capable of mastering the Flying Thunder God Technique.

Unless he was like Tobirama Senju, single-mindedly protecting others and covering the rear, who could possibly block his path?

"After the Chunin Exams conclude, I will take you for a walk."

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt that something was very wrong with Naruto.

A ninja who did not conform to the Will of Fire must have his will altered, or be purged!

"Take good care of Naruto; he is a bit tired."

Hiruzen Sarutobi instructed the Anbu ninja beside him.

Monitoring me?

This old geezer, always feeding me empty platitudes.

Naruto was faster than anyone else present; who could keep an eye on him?

Ridiculous!

Ultimately, the Yellow Flash's kunai had never pierced Konoha; otherwise, Hiruzen Sarutobi would never be so self-righteous.

Spin!

Naruto flicked the prize pool wheel.

He decided to use 10 Goodwill Points first.

[Ding!]

[The host's luck is off the charts. Aside from the "Thanks for Playing" results, two guaranteed prizes remain: Shuriken *1000, Ration Pills *1000. Please choose.]

Naruto wasn't particularly hungry, so after choosing the shuriken, he considered his assets significantly bolstered.

Again!

Naruto glanced at the match on the field and immediately drew again.

This was a rare triple draw.

With 300 Punishment Points, he had never been wealthier.

[Ding!]

[The host has truly suffered immediate karmic retribution; not a single good item in these three draws.]

[Summoning Technique: Slug]

[Taijutsu: Monster Strength]

[Ninja Art: Creation Rebirth - Strength of a Hundred Technique (Strength of a Hundred Seal, Strength of a Hundred Seal Release)]

"When did you grow a conscience? You actually gave me a Tsunade-style ninjutsu gift package!"

[The host has fallen into an endless abyss of pursuing power; the Degree of Blackening has deepened.]

As expected.

This Turn Back to the Shore System had its own set of standards.

Naruto thought to himself that he wanted greater power, but the system wanted a good person dedicated to kindness.

Therefore, the standards were completely different.

"WTF."

Naruto stood up, hands in his pockets, and walked toward the restroom.

Not long after, he returned to his seat.

He sat in the same spot as before and continued to watch the match.

Forest Training Ground.

Taking advantage of the gap while the Chunin Exams were still ongoing.

Naruto had long since arrived here using a Flying Thunder God mark he had left behind earlier.

"This Sasuke is always on the road to being late, just like Diao Chan riding a horse."

"I might as well use this time to continue my training."

This time, the rewards were quite balanced, with all three being completely different.

Monster Strength was actually a method of utilizing chakra to enhance power and explosive force, causing destruction by releasing powerful air currents.

The Strength of a Hundred Technique is the unrestrained release of the Strength of a Hundred Seal, a medical ninjutsu applied to oneself.

For a taijutsu user, being able to fight to the death without reservation in this state was invaluable.

The Katsuyu summoned by the summoning jutsu were more adept at healing, even capable of restoring Tsunade when she was severed in two.

While it couldn't be ruled out that she already possessed the Strength of a Hundred Seal, this terrifying healing effect was also unparalleled in the ninja world.

Beyond healing, the Katsuyu's greatest strength wasn't in combat ability like toads or great snakes.

The single Katsuyu body could share vision, transmit information, and chakra with each other.

This provided Tsunade with more accurate and wide-ranging battlefield information.

Naruto first signed a contract and summoned an extremely small Katsuyu, hiding it in his palm.

Before the Katsuyu could even comprehend where it was, it returned to its main body.

The Nine-Tails in the sealing space immediately bristled its tails.

Katsuyu?

When did Naruto learn this?

Did the Fourth Hokage and his wife know this?

"Seal a portion of my chakra, and then deeply analyze its self-healing and operational methods."

"Storage, release, full release – three different levels of locks."

"Next is Chakra Enhanced Strength."

A Strength of a Hundred Seal's curse mark quietly appeared on Naruto's forehead.

Hidden beneath the ninja headband was a further enhancement of Naruto's already formidable vitality from the Uzumaki Clan.

Talent!

Naruto was certain that before his transmigration, he had never possessed such astonishing talent.

The ninjutsu was given by the system, but cultivation was entirely Naruto's own affair.

As a result, his speed in every cultivation was astonishingly fast.

Boom!

A single punch shattered an innocent giant boulder.

Naruto knew he had mastered Chakra Enhanced Strength.

"What the heck."

The spectator stands.

Naruto went to the restroom again.

Strange.

Kabuto couldn't understand why this kid, at such a young age, was urinating so frequently?

Returning to the spectator stands, Naruto was in even better condition.

"Sasuke Uchiha has been delayed in arriving at the scene, and he's the only one left who hasn't appeared. Should we disqualify him?"

The person in charge was somewhat nervous.

However, on the spectator stands, there were clearly many people who wanted to know how strong the survivor of the Uchiha clan massacre would be.

"He's here! Sasuke has arrived!"

Damn.

Naruto thought that Sasuke, that kid, was too good at putting on a show!

"I have to be even better at putting on a show than him!"