Six Defeats of Sasuke

"[Flash Step]: Movement as swift as a ghost, capable of dodging a barrage of close-range and ranged attacks!"

Naruto's fists clenched and his face flushed when he saw how powerful this Divine Power was.

He opened his Personal Status Panel again:

Host: Naruto Uzumaki

Age: 12

Strength: Special Jōnin

Chakra attributes: Yang, wind, water, earth (granted by Sage Body)

Special title: [Heart of Slaughter]

Points: 300

Divine Powers:

Myriad Transformations

Immortal-Binding Rope

Flash Step

Bloodlines:

Uzumaki Clan Sage Body (Level 4, God-Tier Bloodline)

Deidara's Explosion Release Kekkei Genkai (Level 2)

Skills:

Uzumaki Clan Sage Body innate skills (Masterclass) (Huge Chakra Amount, Adamantine Sealing Chains, Mind's Eye of the Kagura, Physical Healing, Fuinjutsu Talent)

Deidara's Explosion Release Kekkei Genkai innate skills (Novice) (Clay Bird, Ant)

Multiple Shadow Clone Technique (Masterclass)

Body Flicker Technique (Masterclass)

Transformation Technique (Masterclass)

Clone Technique (Masterclass)

Substitution Technique (Masterclass)

Exceptional Chakra Control (Novice)

Flying Thunder God Technique (Intermediate)

Impure World Reincarnation (Uninitiated)

Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags (Uninitiated)

Bringer-of-Darkness Technique (Uninitiated)

Hashirama Senju's Wood Release Ninjutsu (Uninitiated)

Tobirama Senju's Water Release Ninjutsu (Uninitiated)

Basic Taijutsu (Proficient)

Basic Genjutsu (Proficient)

Basic Ninja Tool Throwing Technique (Proficient)

B-Rank Wind Release Ninjutsu: Hurricane (Proficient)

C-Rank Wind Release Ninjutsu (Proficient)

(Great Breakthrough, Gale Palm)

C-Rank Earth Release Ninjutsu (Proficient)

(Earth Release: Underground Projection Fish, Subterranean Voyage, Decapitation Skill, Earth Dragon Hiding Technique)

C-Rank Water Release Ninjutsu (Proficient)

(Water Release: Water Trumpet, Water Prison Technique, Water Clone)

Items: None

His strength had reached the level of a Special Jōnin.

Of course, that was mainly because he excelled at ambushes and assassinations. He stood a good chance of killing even a Jonin.

In a head-on fight, though, he would probably still fall short.

"Naruto, am I really that weak?" Sasuke asked beside him, his brow furrowed.

"You're actually really strong, Sasuke-kun!" Sakura hurried to reassure him, worried that the defeat had shaken his confidence.

"I asked Naruto." Sasuke shot Sakura an annoyed look, then turned back to Naruto.

Sakura's face fell, and she said no more.

"Do you think unlocking the Two-Tomoe Sharingan makes you unbeatable?" Naruto smiled at Sasuke. "How about another match?"

"Fine!" Sasuke agreed without hesitation, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit. He seemed eager to take out his frustration over Rock Lee's beating on Naruto.

"Ready?" Naruto stood ten meters from Sasuke.

Sasuke said nothing. He fixed Naruto with his blood-red eyes, two Tomoe spinning in each, and sneered. "This time, I'll see through every one of your Ninjutsu!"

"Divine Power: Flash Step!"

Whoosh!

Sasuke was watching Naruto smile at him from across the clearing when a figure suddenly flashed before his eyes!

His Sharingan spun rapidly. He barely caught sight of Naruto's face, now inches from his own.

Another Naruto? How did he get here so fast? With no time to think, Sasuke instinctively raised both arms to guard his face and chest.

Bang!

A vicious upward blow struck Sasuke's face and sent him flying.

"Can the Sharingan see through a Divine Power?"

"Ding! Congratulations, host, on defeating Sasuke for the sixth time. [Seven Defeats of Sasuke] is 67% complete. Keep it up and claim the Mysterious Reward!"

On the way to the exam classroom, Sasuke kept his head down and said nothing. His tightly clenched fists were enough to show how shaken he was.

He had thought unlocking the Two-Tomoe Sharingan would let him take on anyone. Instead, Rock Lee had humiliated him, and then Naruto had done the same.

Can't help it. I've got cheat powers!

Naruto wanted to say that to comfort Sasuke, but he feared it might provoke him into a fight to the death.

Sakura wanted to comfort Sasuke too, but she was afraid he would ignore or snap at her. She kept opening her mouth, only to hesitate and say nothing.

Kakashi was waiting for them outside the exam classroom, hoping to give the three of them one last word of encouragement. Instead, Naruto ignored him, and even his prized pupil Sasuke walked past as though he weren't there.

Only Sakura gave him an awkward nod before the three pushed open the door and entered.

More than a hundred Genin from various ninja villages had gathered in the classroom. Some looked arrogant, some strange; there were old men and teenagers alike.

Every one of them eyed Naruto and his teammates with open hostility. After all, they would soon be competing against one another, perhaps to the death.

Under so many fierce stares, Sakura swallowed hard, her face tight with nerves.

Sasuke gritted his teeth, gave a cold snort, and glared right back.

Just then, a girl rushed over and threw her arms around Sasuke from behind, breaking the tension around the three of them.

"Sasuke-kun! It's been so long. I missed you to death!"

The moment Sakura saw her longtime rival hugging Sasuke, her anger flared and her nerves vanished. She pointed at Ino and snapped, "Get off Sasuke, Ino-pig!"

"You're as ugly as ever, Billboard Brow!" Ino shot back without missing a beat.

Naruto chuckled, then looked past Ino at Shikamaru and Choji, who were following her.

He was about to greet them when he spotted his future wife Hinata approaching with her teammates, Kiba Inuzuka and Shino Aburame.

Naruto couldn't help walking over and taking Hinata's hand. "Long time no see, wifey."

Hinata's face turned as red as a boiled shrimp. She looked ready to faint.

"Hey, hey, this is the third time. You don't have to react like that, do you?"

Naruto steadied Hinata, caught between laughter and tears. Looking at her adorable face, he couldn't help wondering what she had been like after marrying Naruto in the original story. Had she spent every day in bed, too faint to get up?

Heh, heh, heh.

"Hey! Damn it, Naruto! Flirting with our teammate right in front of us? You want a beating?"

Kiba shoved Naruto away and spoke with a scowl. He had always considered himself the leader of their team, and he never bothered to be polite.

Naruto chuckled again and let Hinata go, releasing her hand. But he still made sure to say, "I'll protect you during the exams, wifey!"

"Hey, Naruto, a dead-last like you thinks he can protect our Hinata? Just don't come begging her to save you!"

Kiba glared at Naruto as he spoke.

Just then, a young white-haired ninja wearing glasses walked over. "Hey, you nine rookies. You'd better keep it down in here," he advised.

Naruto looked at Yakushi Kabuto, that consummate actor, and the corners of his mouth rose. He both envied and admired Kabuto. An Ordinary Ninja with no Kekkei Genkai had become one of the Shinobi World's greatest villains. His talent and resolve were extraordinary.

Kabuto then played the helpful senior, sharing information about the Chunin Ninja Exams with the nine rookies and earning himself some goodwill.

Naruto had no interest in listening to Kabuto. Instead, he scanned the classroom, counting the people inside.

"What are you doing, Naruto?" Sakura asked when she noticed. The other rookies and Kabuto stopped talking and looked at him too.

"Counting how many people are taking the exam. Oh, I forgot about you, Kabuto. How many are there in total? Can you tell me?"

Naruto smiled at Kabuto.

"One hundred and fifty-three people. Fifty-one teams."

Kabuto answered offhandedly, a trace of amusement in his eyes as he watched Naruto. He was very interested in Tailed Beasts and Jinchūriki, but Orochimaru was busy preparing for his reincarnation, so Kabuto hadn't had a chance to study them.

"One hundred and fifty-three?" Naruto's eyes lit up. Apart from a few teams he knew too well to bring himself to attack, all those ninja meant points for him—double points once the Shura Field began.

The ninja who had come to Konoha for the exams were elite Genin from their respective villages. No village would send raw recruits just to make up the numbers. That would only advertise its weakness and might even bring disaster down on it.

So some of these Genin had to possess the strength of Chunin.

At the thought, Naruto could barely contain his excitement. His right arm trembled as he raised it and pointed at everyone in the classroom.

"I'm not singling anyone out. I'm just saying everyone here is trash!"