A Showdown with Youth on the Line!

Iruka had been feeling rather irritable lately.

The reason was none other than the upcoming Chunin Ninja Exams.

Among the Konoha Ninja taking the exams this time, nine were students who had only just graduated from his class.

He had no idea what their team leaders were thinking.

They had only just graduated, yet their teachers were already having them take the Chunin Ninja Exams.

Kakashi, in particular, had actually used himself as an example.

He had gone on about passing the Chunin Ninja Exams at six.

By Naruto's age, he had even become a Jonin.

How was that remotely comparable?

Iruka was deeply unhappy with Kakashi's decision.

"No, I need to test them myself."

"Otherwise, I won't be able to stop worrying."

As a responsible teacher, Iruka felt he had a duty to look after his students.

Especially a certain dead last in his class.

Seizing an opportunity, Iruka kidnapped Moegi right in front of Naruto Uzumaki.

He then lured Naruto into the dense woods within the village.

But something unexpected happened.

Partway there, a powerful blow came crashing down from above, knocking him out cold.

Completely unprepared, he fell from a branch three or four meters off the ground.

"Hmph!"

"You thought you could kidnap Moegi in front of a genius like me?"

"Just who do you think you..."

"Iruka-sensei!"

The Transformation Technique wore off, revealing Iruka's true face.

Baiwei Dango Shop.

Naruto Uzumaki looked at Iruka with an ingratiating expression.

Iruka's head was now wrapped tightly in bandages.

Only his mouth and eyes were exposed, making him look rather comical.

"So you're saying you landed on your head?"

Chiba sat across from Iruka, struggling to hold back his laughter.

"Yes."

Iruka looked miserable. A lifetime of dignity, ruined at Naruto's hands.

"Go ahead and laugh. Don't hurt yourself holding it in."

The moment he finished speaking, Chiba's merciless laughter filled the dango shop.

"Haha! Iruka-sensei, you really tripped over a molehill!"

Iruka looked even more miserable at Chiba's words.

No one could have imagined it.

Naruto Uzumaki's strength had improved so rapidly.

Caught off guard, Iruka had fallen straight into his trap.

Just thinking about it made Iruka's head throb.

"Even though I got hurt..."

The expression on Iruka's face relaxed considerably.

"Seeing how much stronger you've become puts my mind at ease."

His student had made progress.

That was what pleased a teacher most.

Even if that progress had little to do with him.

Naruto Uzumaki also respected Iruka deeply.

Even without the conflict surrounding the Mizuki incident, their bond as teacher and student remained as strong as ever.

As the impact of this incident sank in.

Naruto Uzumaki grew even more determined to pass the exams.

July first.

The Chunin Ninja Exams arrived right on schedule.

Team 7 gathered once again on the Great Bridge.

"Sasuke, I've been training really hard lately!"

Naruto Uzumaki said boastfully:

"Chiba put together a great special training plan for me!"

"I'm definitely not going to lose to you!"

At those words, Sasuke Uchiha's expression stiffened slightly.

Ever since returning from the Land of Waves, he had treated Chiba as the person he needed to catch up to.

They had only gone a few days without seeing each other.

Yet the person before him seemed even more fearsome now.

"Tch. You're still just the dead last!"

Sasuke Uchiha refused to concede anything either.

"Hey, hey..."

Naruto Uzumaki wanted to argue, but Chiba held him back.

"All right, we're all on the same team."

"Let's get along."

Chiba wore a bright smile.

To him, Team 7 had a very friendly atmosphere.

The other two were simply the sort who refused to back down verbally.

"Since everyone's here, let's go register."

Chiba said, "Kakashi-sensei should be waiting for us."

Naruto Uzumaki scoffed at that.

"I bet he's gotten lost on the path of life again."

Registration was being held at the Ninja Academy.

That was also the location of the first exam.

The Ninja Academy.

"Hey, hey!"

"Chiba, you're signing up for the Chunin Ninja Exams too?!"

Standing before them in his green bodysuit, looking like some kind of weirdo, Rock Lee stared at Chiba and the others in shock.

Chiba ran into Rock Lee every day while training with weights before dawn.

The two had gradually gotten to know each other.

"Didn't I tell you?"

A hint of confusion appeared on Chiba's face.

"I graduated from the Ninja Academy recently. This is my first time taking the Chunin Ninja Exams."

Rock Lee reacted very strongly to that.

"Ah, so those whose youth burns hot really do think alike?!"

"Youth is meant to be spent striving!"

Seeing Rock Lee's excitement, Naruto Uzumaki asked quietly:

"Chiba, who's this bowl-cut guy?"

"He looks pretty weak."

His voice was quiet, but Rock Lee still heard him.

"Youth over there! Let's have a showdown with our youth on the line!"

Rock Lee placed his left hand behind his back, extended his right, and beckoned with his fingers.

"Battle is what truly determines who's strong and who's weak!"