As Long As You're Willing, I'll Let You Join Team 7

"I, Naruto Uzumaki, am taking the Chunin Ninja Exams! If you have what it takes, defeat me in the exam!" Naruto shouted at the top of his lungs. "Don't say I didn't give you a chance. If you don't have the guts, then quit spouting crap."

Faced with the ugly remarks all around him, Naruto naturally could not afford to lose in momentum.

The stronger Naruto's presence became, the fiercer the looks around him grew. They were all proud young ninjas; none of them feared anyone, and none would yield to anyone else.

Naruto's declaration was quite effective. In the ninja world, only the weak were unworthy of sympathy. Once you acted strong, those around you treated you as a competitor.

"Naruto Uzumaki, I acknowledge you." The thick-browed boy in green said, "Since Sasuke said so, fight me."

"Might Guy-sensei—" Naruto suddenly called out. "Why do you have time to come here?"

"Sensei is here!" The thick-browed boy in green hurriedly turned around in fright and said to the empty air, "Guy-sensei!"

"Huh?" The thick-browed boy in green realized that there was no one there at all. Might Guy had not come, and when he turned back around, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura had already slipped away.

"Ugh." Naruto sighed. "All I run into are idiots, like they've been pumped full of chicken blood. Gaara, Rock Lee, and Neji are all the same."

Walking beside him, Sasuke said, "Naruto, there must be a winner between you and me."

"Even Sasuke is like this." Naruto felt exhausted.

"Naruto! Face me head-on!"

"Yeah, yeah. I'll satisfy you when the time comes."

Though they encountered a few minor setbacks, they successfully arrived at Classroom 301, where Kakashi had already been waiting.

"I didn't expect Sakura to come too." Kakashi said with a sigh. "Only because all three of you came together have you truly earned the qualifications for the Chunin Ninja Exams."

Sasuke and Sakura were both shocked.

Kakashi explained, "Though I said it was voluntary, in truth, you need to register in teams of three to qualify for the exam. If even one person is absent, everyone in the entire team loses their qualifications."

"Because I wanted you to think it through carefully, assess your own strength, and then decide whether to take the Chunin Ninja Exams. There was no need to worry about your teammates' feelings. Make the decision according to your own will."

"I'm very happy that all three of you chose to participate and have officially earned the qualifications for the Chunin Ninja Exams."

Kakashi focused especially on Naruto. "Especially you, Naruto. I have great confidence in you. With your abilities, you can definitely become a Chunin."

"Yeah!" Naruto gave himself a thumbs-up, making Sasuke rather envious. Naruto had actually received such high praise from Kakashi.

Little did anyone know that Naruto was thinking, I have no interest in being a Chunin. I said I'm the strongest Genin, so I'll only be a Genin. I only came to the Chunin Ninja Exams to accompany my wife, Hinata...

The first trial of the Chunin Ninja Exams began. The chief examiner was Konoha Special Jonin Morino Ibiki. His face bore several scars, and he wore black clothes. He had a muscular build and a fierce gaze; one look was enough to tell that he was ruthless.

Inside a classroom that could hold over a hundred people, chief examiner Morino Ibiki explained the rules. "Without the examiners' permission, no one is allowed to fight privately. Even with permission, you may not take a life. Otherwise, your exam qualifications will be revoked."

Mocking laughter immediately rang out from below. "What kind of exam is this? That's way too easy."

"Compared to our village, if a few people don't die, it doesn't even count as a contest."

"If the death rate isn't over half, it isn't worth mentioning."

"Heh heh." Morino Ibiki spoke in a low, magnetic voice. "I will now hand out the test papers. Everyone, prepare for the written exam."

"Rule one: each of you starts with ten points. There are nine major questions on the paper. One wrong answer deducts one point. Get every question wrong, and you will have zero points."

"Rule two: whether you pass will be judged by the combined scores of the three members of your team. If even one person scores zero, the entire team will be eliminated."

"Rule three: if you are caught cheating, two points will be deducted each time. Anyone who loses all ten points will cause their entire team to be eliminated."

After hearing the rules, Sakura thought, Naruto should be able to pass. Since Kakashi-sensei said Naruto would be fine...

Sasuke sat several rows behind Naruto. Looking at Naruto's back, Sasuke was not worried at all, because he knew that with Naruto's abilities, he would definitely find a way to pass the trial.

Sakura received her test paper and looked over the nine major questions. She was completely stunned, her face instantly filling with worry. Aside from me, no other Genin could possibly solve these questions. Sasuke naturally won't have a problem, but can Naruto really pass?

The moment Sasuke received the paper, he immediately understood the purpose of this exam. Even he could not answer these questions, let alone anyone else. Sasuke did not believe more than a few people could solve them.

Sasuke thought, This exam isn't testing problem-solving ability. It's testing intelligence-gathering ability. No wonder the third rule is so strange. It clearly allows cheating; it just doesn't allow clumsy cheating.

Naruto, with your abilities, you must have discovered the true purpose of this exam too, right? Sasuke stared at Naruto's back and thought, We have to obtain the answers through cheating without being discovered.

At this moment, Naruto's mind was not on the test paper at all. All his attention was on the classmate beside him, because Hinata was sitting next to him.

Naruto thought, Hinata is so cute... She seems to want to look at me. After glancing at me, she quickly looks away again... I can't take this...

"Naruto..." Hinata asked softly, "What's wrong?"

"Hinata, do you want to join Team 7 and go on missions with me?"

"Huh? Can I transfer to Team 7 when the teams have already been assigned?"

"I'll think of a way. As long as you're willing, I'll let you join Team 7."

"Mm." Hinata only murmured softly. She did not answer, but her face had already turned red, and she buried her head deeply in her test paper.

Naruto was overjoyed inside. First, he would get Hinata into Team 7. Then they could spend every day together. More importantly, Hinata was too weak. In this dangerous ninja world, she would have difficulty protecting herself. Naruto also had to find a way to make Hinata stronger, at least strong enough to be on Sasuke's level.

"Aren't you answering the questions?" Hinata pressed her test paper beneath her arm and quietly shifted it toward Naruto. "You can copy my answers."

"Okay." Naruto would not refuse Hinata's request. Only then did he finally pick up his pen and begin writing on the test paper.

Hinata did not know that while Naruto's eyes were looking at her test paper, the pen in his hand was writing on his own: Today, Hinata smells like lilies...

Hinata was extremely excited inside, her little heart pounding wildly with delight. Naruto was actually copying her answers. Why did it make her feel so happy? Was it because she could help Naruto? After all these years, this was the first time she had been able to help him.