I Said It Didn't Matter. Couldn't You Understand?

Little Lee and Gaara's battle gave many people a much clearer understanding of themselves!

Perhaps it was because their own combat strength was lacking, or perhaps because they were lost in life and their ninja way...

The final preliminary match was Choji Akimichi VS Dosu Kinata!

Even though Choji had endured the temptation of all-you-can-eat grilled meat and the rage of being called a fat pig!

In the end, he was still effortlessly crushed by Dosu, that cucumber sushi roll wrapped head to toe in bandages!

Although Choji's Human Boulder possessed tremendous destructive power, making the ground quake and mountains shake whenever he attacked.

His speed was insufficient, and he lacked agility. If he could have used Butterfly Transformation at this point, perhaps the outcome would have been different!

However, there were no what-ifs in the Chunin Ninja Exams. Once defeated, there was no starting over.

Of the Sound Ninja trio, the three people Orochimaru had modified on a whim, only Dosu made it into the finals!

The preliminary rounds had finally ended. As the Hokage, the Third naturally had to make his presence felt!

He announced the list of Genin advancing to the official finals and spouted a whole lot of nonsense!

Perhaps he felt that it would take quite some time for all those noble lords he had invited to arrive and depart!

Or perhaps he felt that the preliminary matches had been fought too casually, aside from Little Lee and Gaara's match!

The others had not shown much of the Genin's strength, and their abilities varied greatly!

To make the finals more entertaining, the Third had the advancing contestants draw lots again to determine their opponents in the finals!

That way... during this one month, they could undergo targeted training based on their opponents!

When the finals came, they could put on a more exciting show. Then, Konoha would naturally receive more missions.

The Land of Fire's daimyo would also provide more funding. Honestly, everything the Third did was nothing but a superficial performance!

It was only to make Konoha appear to still be developing well, to prove that he had not done such a poor job as Hokage!

Little did he know that this kind of performance-oriented exam for public entertainment had already lost the seriousness and professionalism of Chunin selection!

A bunch of noble lords watched the matches with him, then commented endlessly based on what they saw!

If they thought someone fought well, that person advanced. If Chunin selection could be this arbitrary!

Then what was the point of ninjas training so hard every day? What was the meaning of people like Little Lee persevering?

In the end, the Third was merely a good politician, not a good Hokage!

For profit, he could sacrifice anything he believed could be sacrificed.

That was precisely why Tenka disliked him. Be whatever politician you wanted, scheme about this and scheme about that—it was none of his damn business!

But...

If they dared scheme against someone he cared about, even reaching out their hands toward them, then they could not blame him for slaughtering indiscriminately!

The drawing results came out quickly. As always, there was much to consider in the matchups. Who knew whether anyone had tampered with them?

The Genin left one after another to find people to guide their training. Now that they knew who their opponents were, shouldn't they prepare some surprises for them?

Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura had no room for choice, and their views were unanimous!

Ever since graduation, Tenka had arranged all of their training plans. This time would be no different!

When the three found Tenka, Karin was still by his side.

However... the Grass Ninja forehead protector on her head had long since disappeared. It was obvious that she had relaxed considerably!

"Eat!"

"Consider it a celebration for you!"

Tenka ordered a table full of grilled meat. His face remained expressionless, and his voice remained icy!

"Teacher, but we haven't become Chunin yet!"

"Isn't it too early to celebrate now?"

Though he asked that, everyone present could feel Naruto's excitement!

Tenka's words made his thoughts run wild. Could it be that Teacher acknowledged our strength too?

Did he know we'd definitely advance in the third round, so he was celebrating for us in advance?

"The Chunin Ninja Exams as I see them ended in the second round!"

"The so-called third round doesn't matter!"

"Whether you participate or not is irrelevant!"

Tenka's icy voice gave Sakura and Sasuke much to think about!

At their age, there were many things they did not understand, but both of them were smart!

"Teacher!"

"How can we not participate?"

"I want to participate. I want everyone to see my progress!"

"Besides, I really want to fight Sasuke!"

"Right there in the Chunin Ninja Exams finals!"

Unlike Sasuke and Sakura, Naruto did not pick up on anything. He loudly insisted on participating!

"I said it!"

"Whether you participate or not is irrelevant!"

"Couldn't you understand?"

Tenka stared at Naruto, his tone suddenly growing somewhat stern. This guy was simply too noisy!

Naruto was instantly startled and did not dare interrupt Tenka again!

"Naruto, Teacher isn't telling us not to participate!"

Seeing this, Sakura hurriedly tugged Naruto and explained it to him!

"If you want to participate, then we'll all participate!"

"Now... eat the grilled meat!"

"Teacher, how should we arrange the next month?"

After Sakura pulled Naruto back, Sasuke looked at Tenka and asked, conveniently steering the conversation away from that idiot's topic!

"Do you have any ideas of your own?"

Sasuke recalled Little Lee and Gaara's battle. After pondering for a moment, he raised his head and said.

"Teacher, I want to comprehensively strengthen my physical abilities!"

Sasuke felt that both his physical strength and speed were still insufficient!

"You will undergo Lightning Body Tempering this month!"

"Normally, keep using Lightning-nature chakra to stimulate every part of your body!"

Lightning Body Tempering?

Sasuke's face was resolute. Although his teacher's guidance remained brutally direct and extraordinarily dangerous!

Sasuke believed that his teacher's advice would absolutely be the most effective and produce results the fastest.

Just like before, as long as they endured it, their improvement would be enormous!

"Thank you, Teacher. I understand!"

"Teacher, what about me?"

"I feel like I have too little chakra. It isn't enough to use. Is there any way to increase it?"

After Sasuke finished asking, Sakura raised her own question as well.

This was not something she had only just noticed. She had discovered it two months ago!

Naruto had so much he could not use it all, and Sasuke had plenty too. Only she had far too little!

If this problem was not solved, Sakura felt that it would most likely become her greatest weakness in the end!

"Train the Yin Seal!"

"But Teacher, that requires a very long time to store chakra!"

"I've been training it, but I still haven't filled it!"

"You... have another personality. She's stronger than you. That is an advantage!"

"If you can gain her recognition and have her willingly merge with you!"

"Your chakra reserves will surge enormously!"

"However... I don't recommend it!"

"Come find me tomorrow. I'll let you talk with her!"

Sakura fell silent. She had actually discovered that her other self when she was young. That other self... had always protected her!

Fine... it was time to meet her too!

"Teacher, Teacher!"

"What about me?"