Classmates

Rock Lee and Sasuke's battle began. Thanks to Naruto's advance warning, Sasuke hadn't let his guard down. Even so, he still struggled to cope with Rock Lee's taijutsu at the start.

Although he had learned Chidori, his own speed was still lacking. He had yet to master using Lightning-nature chakra to stimulate his legs and increase his speed. Even after taking a severe beating, the smile on Sasuke's face only grew wider. His pair of Two-Tomoe Sharingan copied every one of Rock Lee's moves and actions.

After gradually adapting, Sasuke was already able to receive and counter Rock Lee's attacks. Besides Naruto and Sakura, Rock Lee's teammates, Tenten and Neji, had also come to watch.

"He's so fast! That thick-eyebrowed guy is way too fast!" In Sakura's eyes, Rock Lee moved so quickly he was little more than an afterimage, while Sasuke could only struggle to defend himself the entire time.

Naruto exclaimed in amazement, "That's incredible!"

Neji snorted coldly and said disdainfully to Sasuke in the field, "So this is the top graduate of the new class? He's nothing special."

Bang!

Using his speed, Rock Lee feinted, then kicked Sasuke beneath the chin. Sasuke failed to react in time and was sent flying into the air.

Rock Lee immediately followed, leaping high into the sky as the bandages around his hands began to unravel.

Naruto stepped in then, grabbing Rock Lee's bandages and flinging him aside with force.

"That's enough, Rock Lee. This is only an ordinary spar between people from the same village." Naruto's expression was stern.

"Why did you interfere, Naruto?" Sasuke suddenly appeared beside Naruto. The two tomoe in his Sharingan faded away, while the figure falling from the air was a wooden log used for the Substitution Technique.

"H-How is that possible? When did he use the Substitution Technique?" Rock Lee's pupils shook as he stared in disbelief.

Sasuke lightly wiped the dust from his face. "A ninja has more than just taijutsu. You were already caught in my Sharingan genjutsu."

Naruto was stunned as well. After his warning and learning that Rock Lee only specialized in taijutsu, Sasuke Uchiha had silently restrained Rock Lee with Sharingan genjutsu. Sure enough, intelligence was extremely important between ninjas. If the Sasuke from Awen's memories hadn't been careless and had used genjutsu from the start, Rock Lee would have had no way to resist.

Knowing he had lost, Rock Lee lowered his head in dejection. Neji, standing above, also put away his contempt for Sasuke.

Bang!

Suddenly, smoke billowed out. A man wearing a ninja flak jacket, the same green bodysuit as Rock Lee, a bowl cut, and thick eyebrows appeared while standing atop a giant turtle.

That's Might Guy. He might be the strongest ninja in Konoha right now, Naruto thought in amazement. Awen's memories contained the scene of the Eight Gates being fully unleashed.

Another thick-eyebrowed guy appeared, Sakura thought to herself.

Sasuke internally ranted, They keep getting weirder and weirder. Konoha clearly isn't that big, but there sure are plenty of strange people.

"Rock Lee, you idiot..." Might Guy punched Rock Lee flying. Sakura and Sasuke were instantly dumbfounded. Even Naruto, who knew what to expect, was startled by the absurd scene between Might Guy and Rock Lee.

Might Guy and Rock Lee burst into tears, embracing one another as they cried. For some reason, Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke seemed to see a rainbow, a sunset, and the sea.

"Lee, how can you become depressed over one temporary failure? My youth will not allow you to do that!"

"Youth... this is youth, Guy-sensei..."

Might Guy looked at Rock Lee and said, "As punishment, after the Chunin Ninja Exams, I'll make you run five hundred laps around the training grounds."

"Yes, Guy-sensei..." Rock Lee saluted and replied with complete seriousness.

Might Guy looked at Naruto and the others and smiled. "Hehe... Is your Kakashi-sensei doing well?"

Naruto narrowed his eyes and smiled. "Yes, he's doing great. Kakashi-sensei also said that Guy-sensei is easy to recognize. Your youth is like an acorn—small but sturdy."

Rumble!

Might Guy looked as if he had been struck by lightning. He stood frozen in place, his mind buzzing.

Naruto lightly waved his hand, then drove the knife in deeper with a smile. "Now that I see it, Kakashi-sensei was right after all. Guy-sensei, your youth really is like an acorn. Bye-bye, Guy-sensei, Rock Lee. It's almost time for the exam."

The three members of Team 7 headed toward Classroom 301. As for Might Guy, who was still frozen in place, they gracefully ignored him.

Sakura asked curiously, "Naruto, what was that about? Why did that thick-eyebrowed teacher go limp the moment you mentioned acorns?"

"This?" Naruto quietly explained the reason to Sakura and Sasuke.

"What? So that's why! Kakashi-sensei actually said something so indecent to you?" Sakura asked in disbelief.

Naruto said, "I ran into Kakashi-sensei while watching the movie version of Make-Out Paradise, and I happened to overhear him mention it!"

"Besides Princess Gale, you actually watch that kind of thing?" Sakura looked as if she were seeing Naruto for the first time. Then she remembered Naruto's Sexy Jutsu, and it suddenly seemed perfectly reasonable.

The three arrived outside Classroom 301, where Kakashi had been waiting for them.

With both hands in his pockets, Kakashi said, "Even Sakura came. You can now officially apply to take the Chunin Ninja Exams!"

"Huh!" Sakura and Sasuke were both slightly stunned.

Kakashi explained, "This exam actually requires teams of three. The reason I didn't explain everything to you was because I wanted you to come here of your own will. I'm proud of you. Go on, it's about to begin."

"Yeah!"

Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura nodded happily before entering Classroom 301. Inside were many Genin taking the exam, at least over a hundred of them.

"Sasuke!!!"

Suddenly, a blonde girl pounced over, wrapping her arms around Sasuke's neck and pressing herself against his back with great intimacy.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at the overly familiar Ino.

Ino rubbed against him gently and said in a spoiled tone, "It's been so long since we last met. I've wanted to see you sooner. I missed you so much."

"Ah, Ino-pig! Take your hands off Sasuke and get down from him!" Sakura exploded in anger. It had been a year, and she hadn't even held his hand.

Ino looked at Sakura with interest. "Oh my, it's Sakura. Forehead girl, you're still as ugly as ever!"

"Say that again, you Ino-pig!" Sakura shouted back without backing down.

Ino and Sakura got into an argument and immediately began fighting. Sasuke took the chance to free himself without drawing attention and quietly retreated to the side.

Traveling with Ino were Shikamaru Nara and Choji Akimichi. The three were members of Team 10 from the same graduating class.

"Yo, we finally found you. Everyone from our graduating class is here now!" Kiba Inuzuka had a defiant air about him, with a small white dog named Akamaru perched on his head.

Traveling with Kiba Inuzuka were Shino Aburame and Hinata Hyuga, members of Team 8.

Sasuke looked at Kiba Inuzuka and said softly, "Kiba, you don't seem nervous at all..."

Kiba Inuzuka raised his head slightly and said, "Of course not. We've trained plenty for these Chunin Ninja Exams!"

"Naruto..." Hinata Hyuga looked at Naruto shyly, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible.