Sasuke! Why Are You Bragging About Me?

After returning to Konoha Village, Kakashi seemed to have urgent business. After giving Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura a few instructions, he left.

Sakura asked, "Why did Kakashi-sensei leave in such a hurry?"

"Usually, Kakashi is so lazy that he only lies around reading books, but he hurried off the moment we got back to the village. There's only one reason," Naruto analyzed. "He must have gone to see the Hokage."

"He went to see the Hokage so urgently. Did something happen?" Sakura asked.

"Anyone would be anxious if the Hokage summoned them," Naruto said. "You think everyone's like me? I'm the only one who wouldn't be anxious."

At that moment, Sasuke had been staring silently at Naruto. Then he suddenly said, "Naruto, fight me!" His first words were startling.

"Huh?" Sakura was shocked. She did not understand why Sasuke wanted to fight Naruto.

"Nope!" Naruto said with a completely uninterested look. "If you want to fight, wait a while and I'll satisfy you."

Sasuke looked displeased. I have to settle who's stronger between Naruto and me. Otherwise, I'll always feel that Naruto is stronger than I am.

A black shadow suddenly darted out, seemingly launching a sneak attack on Naruto. Naruto merely shifted slightly to the side and avoided its strike.

"Konohamaru?" Naruto asked. "With skills like yours, you still want to sneak attack me?"

"As expected of the boss, you actually dodged my attack." Konohamaru put on airs as he said, "As expected of the opponent I've chosen, your strength is truly terrifying."

"Hahaha!" Naruto laughed. "Even ten of you together wouldn't be my match. Are you scared now?" I need to hurry up and play ninja games with Konohamaru, or Sasuke will definitely drag me into a fight...

Seeing someone as old as Naruto still playing childish ninja games with a kid, Sasuke instantly lost all desire to compete with Naruto.

"Take this!" Naruto shouted. "Wind Release: Rasenshuriken!"

Konohamaru asked, "What is Wind Release: Rasenshuriken?"

Naruto said, "It's an incredibly powerful ninjutsu I'll use in the future. I haven't learned it yet."

"You're cheating." Konohamaru accused, "How can you use a ninjutsu you haven't even learned yet?"

Naruto immediately rolled up his sleeves and said, "Even if I haven't learned it, I can still spank your butt."

Seeing Naruto continue clowning around with Konohamaru, Naruto was not embarrassed, but Sasuke was mortified. He left without even looking back.

Hearing that Naruto was going to spank him, Konohamaru turned and ran in fright. However, he accidentally crashed into someone wearing a black bodysuit with purple markings painted across his face.

That person was Kankuro, a Genin from the Sand Village in the Land of Wind. He grabbed Konohamaru by the neck and lifted him up, snarling, "Brat, are you blind? Don't you watch where you're going?"

Naruto acted immediately, throwing a kunai at Kankuro and forcing him to quickly let go and put Konohamaru down.

After dodging the kunai, Kankuro became furious. He pulled the puppet from his back, but a girl carrying an iron fan beside him stopped him. "Kankuro, don't forget our mission."

"If I don't kill that brat, I won't be able to vent my anger." Kankuro was about to activate his puppet when he said, "Crow!"

Sasuke flashed behind Kankuro and punched toward the back of his head. The unexpected sneak attack left Kankuro unable to react in time.

"Hmph!" A black shadow suddenly appeared behind Sasuke. A red-haired boy carrying a gourd appeared at Sasuke's back.

Sasuke abandoned his sneak attack on Kankuro and exchanged a punch with the red-haired boy carrying the gourd. After landing, Sasuke staggered back several steps, while the red-haired boy landed steadily, looking completely at ease.

Sakura asked, "Sasuke, are you okay?"

Naruto asked, "Sasuke, why did you come back?"

Sasuke ignored Sakura and said only to Naruto, "I saw several strange people approaching, so I came back. When I saw you fighting them, I joined in."

Sakura asked, "They're foreign ninja. Why are they in Konoha?"

The red-haired boy carrying the gourd stepped forward and said, "You're quite strong. You must be Konoha's strongest Genin, right?"

Hearing that question, Sasuke's proud self-esteem was stung. He pointed at Naruto and said, "He is Konoha's strongest Genin."

Naruto froze for a moment, then cursed inwardly, Sasuke! Don't go around bragging about me!

"Interesting." The red-haired boy carrying the gourd shifted his ill-intentioned gaze toward Naruto.

"You're here to take the Chunin Ninja Exams, right?" Naruto took the initiative and said, "If you dare lay a hand on me, I'll cancel your eligibility for the exams."

"What!" The red-haired boy carrying the gourd looked startled, and both the girl with the iron fan and Kankuro wore equally shocked expressions.

"Who are you?"

"The future Hokage," Naruto said. "The Chunin Ninja Exams are being held in Konoha, and Konoha sets the rules. Since you've come onto Konoha's territory, keep your tails tucked between your legs. If you make one wrong move, I'll cancel your eligibility for the exams."

Kankuro endured the pressure and said, "Who are you trying to scare, brat?"

"You can try me. I can send you straight home and let you know who calls the shots in Konoha."

"Let's go." The red-haired boy carrying the gourd walked up to Naruto and said in a calm yet threatening tone, "Will you be taking the Chunin Ninja Exams? I look forward to meeting you." Then the three of them walked away.

I finally bluffed Gaara into backing off. That guy is still inhuman right now. Who knows what would happen if I provoked him...

Sakura could not hold back anymore and hurriedly asked Naruto, "Naruto, can you cancel their eligibility for the Chunin Ninja Exams? They were so awful and had such a bad attitude. Wouldn't it be better to just disqualify them?"

"No." Naruto looked at Sakura as if she were an idiot and said, "Because I don't have that authority at all. I was just scaring them."

Sasuke asked, "Why did you know about the Chunin Ninja Exams?"

"They're held twice a year. Every time the Chunin Ninja Exams happen, foreign Genin show up in the village. It was obvious, okay?"

Kakashi appeared out of nowhere and said in surprise, "Hm? You already know about the Chunin Ninja Exams?"

"All right then." Kakashi said, "I've recommended the three of you for the Chunin Ninja Exams. Participation is voluntary, so you can decide for yourselves whether to join. If you decide to participate, report to Room 301 at the Ninja Academy tomorrow at nine."

Sasuke was delighted at the chance to fight more strong opponents. Naruto looked indifferent, while Sakura remained very calm.

At nine the next day, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura arrived at the Ninja Academy on time. Wherever Sasuke went, people recognized him first.

"Sasuke Uchiha." A thick-browed boy in green stood in front of them and said, "You're the one who graduated from the Ninja Academy with perfect scores this year? Then you must be very strong."

Sasuke looked displeased and pointed at Naruto beside him. "He's stronger than me."

The thick-browed boy in green froze, while Naruto screamed inwardly, Sasuke! Why are you bragging about me?

"What!" The many ninja around them were all shocked. Quite a few people present had heard of Sasuke and acknowledged his strength. Now that Sasuke had personally admitted in public that someone was stronger than him, he naturally drew everyone's attention.

"Who is he? He's actually stronger than Sasuke?"

"He looks familiar. Isn't he that annoying guy who always causes trouble all over the village?"

"That dead last? He actually managed to graduate and become a ninja?"

"Is he here to take the Chunin Ninja Exams?"

"I really didn't expect this." A boy dressed in white stepped out and said, "Your name is Naruto Uzumaki, right?" After leaving behind that strange remark, he turned and walked away.

Naruto became the center of attention. That was Neji Hyuga just now. It looks like he's got his eye on me. Then I'll have to settle the score with you. You dared to hit my wife...