Chunin Exam Registration

The wild bear heard Sakura's voice and turned to look at her, but it had no intention of paying her any heed and continued scratching at the tree trunk.

Naruto gritted his teeth, pulled out a kunai, and threw it at the wild bear.

However, the bear's hide was exceptionally tough. Even three kunai in a row merely stuck into its outer skin.

They did not cause it any substantial harm at all.

"Damn it!" he muttered with a frown.

At his wits' end, he remembered the meatball from the scratch-off tickets.

Full of anticipation, he took it out.

The instant the Futon appeared, its fragrance spread through the air, and the wild bear's attention was quickly drawn toward it.

Seeing this, a smug smile appeared on Naruto's face, and he casually tossed the Futon out.

The wild bear pounced on it, pinning the Futon beneath its body and happily licking it. In the blink of an eye, the fist-sized meatball had shrunk to the size of a ping-pong ball.

Once it had eaten the entire Futon, Naruto cleared his throat.

"Go back into the forest!"

Sakura and Sasuke both froze, looking at him as though he were an idiot.

That was a wild bear. How could it possibly return to the forest just because of a single sentence from him?

Yet, to their surprise, the wild bear seemed to understand Naruto's words and slowly turned around.

Wiggling its thick rump, it lumbered deeper into the forest.

Sasuke lay sprawled on the tree branch and let out a long breath, feeling completely refreshed.

Then he leaped down and hurriedly put away the Otaku Provocation Stick with great care.

He did not want to accidentally point it at something he should not point it at again.

Sakura ran over and anxiously looked Sasuke over.

"Are you okay, Sasuke?"

Keeping a straight face, Sasuke forced himself to remain calm. "I'm fine. Let's talk about the mission first!"

"Yeah, Sakura. Did that cat go missing around here?"

Naruto came over as well and asked softly.

Sakura picked up the mission scroll and examined the surrounding terrain again. "It was definitely here. That's right!"

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's hurry up and find the cat!"

Naruto rolled up his sleeves and was about to charge into the forest.

Sakura smiled, then took out the Cat Bell she had obtained from the scratch-off ticket shop today from her ninja tool bag.

She gave it a light shake.

The crisp ringing pierced straight through the forest, spreading across several hundred meters.

Before long, rustling sounds rose from the branches and bushes all around them.

One stray cat after another leaped out, all gathering at Sakura's feet.

Sakura took out a photo of the missing cat. After comparing them one by one, she finally found it among the group!

"Naruto, that's the one!" she cried happily.

Naruto lunged forward and immediately grabbed the cat.

The moment the kitten landed in his arms, it struggled desperately, clawing several bloody marks across Naruto's face.

Naruto's expression immediately darkened, and he raised two fingers.

"Sunflower - Acupoint Sealing Technique!"

Ever since learning this ultimate technique, he had only used it on people. He had never tried it on an animal before.

Today was the perfect chance to test it out.

Sure enough, the instant his fingers poked the cat, it immediately went still.

Like a stone sculpture, it did not move at all.

"Holy crap, it actually works!" Naruto's eyes widened, his face full of disbelief.

If he had known, he would not have needed to feed the Futon to that wild bear earlier!

What a regret! he thought tearfully.

Afterward, the three of them carried the cat back to the Hokage Building.

Hokage's Office.

Ebisu vividly recounted how Naruto had robbed him, crying bitterly as he did so.

Seeing tears streaming down his face, the Third Hokage let out a soft sigh.

"Forget it. I'll have the Shadow Department reimburse your three thousand. As for Naruto, just let things take their course."

"The Fourth Hokage gave his life for Konoha's peace."

"If we cannot be a little more accommodating toward his son, he may not find peace in the other world either."

Ebisu sniffled like a resentful housewife.

Fortunately, the Shadow Department had reimbursed the three thousand silver notes he had lost.

He could still go to the Yamanaka family to buy flowers and pursue the girl he admired.

He bowed and backed away. Just as he was about to open the door, he ran into Naruto, who had returned to turn in the mission.

He immediately flew into a rage and was about to scold him when the Third Hokage murmured behind him.

"Ebisu, hurry back and teach Konohamaru properly. Entrusting him to you is an enormous sign of my trust in you."

Hearing this, Ebisu excitedly turned around.

With tears in his eyes, he bowed excitedly. "Thank you for your appreciation, Third Hokage-sama. I will certainly live up to your expectations!"

After that, he no longer cared about whatever grudge he had with Naruto.

He clenched his fists and strode out the door, filled with fighting spirit.

After the three of them turned in their mission and received their reward from the Shadow Department, they were discussing going to the scratch-off ticket shop to try their luck.

Kakashi, Yūhi Kurenai, Asuma, and Might Guy entered.

Seeing the three genin counting their silver notes, Kakashi chuckled.

"You're all here. Good, now we won't have to look for you."

Naruto poked his head forward slightly and asked with narrowed eyes.

"Kakashi-sensei, what is it this time?"

Kakashi ignored him and walked straight up, handing the Third Hokage a form.

Standing to the side, Naruto felt as though two crows had flown over his head. He had been completely ignored.

"Third Hokage-sama, this is the list of personnel participating in this Chunin Exam. Please review it."

The Third Hokage took a puff from his pipe and exhaled a cloud of white smoke.

"All twelve genin led by you four will be participating, correct?"

Hearing that, Naruto and the others froze for a moment.

Then they watched Kakashi and the others nod with very serious expressions.

"Yes!"

Unhurriedly, the Third Hokage placed the form aside and said softly.

"In that case, let them fill out the Chunin Exam registration forms."

Then he took a stack of colorful, mysterious forms from the drawer.

Kakashi took three directly and came over to Naruto and the others.

"Fill out the forms now."

Naturally, Sasuke had no objections. Becoming a chunin sooner would also allow him to improve his strength more effectively.

That would bring him closer and closer to that man.

Seeing him take a Chunin Exam registration form, Sakura took one as well, though she still had some hesitation.

Naruto licked his lips. Originally, he had not wanted to take the exam this early.

But seeing that the other two from his class had both signed up, he could only force himself to join them.

After filling out the registration forms, Kakashi instructed them.

"Go back and practice your ninjutsu properly over the next two days. Strive to pass the Chunin Exam successfully."

"Okay!" the three answered in unison.

As they left the Hokage's Office, Naruto saw Ebisu at the end of the corridor counting the silver notes he had just recovered.

A sly smile appeared at the corner of his lips.

They would soon be taking the Chunin Exam. Before that, of course they had to go to the scratch-off ticket shop and scratch a few.

If he happened to win some special item, he would not need to worry about the upcoming exam!

He might have always been a bottom-ranker when it came to ninjutsu training.

But when it came to scheming, he was an undeniable genius.

He hurried after him and called with a grin, "Ebisu-sensei, wait!"

Ebisu turned at the sound.

The moment he saw Naruto's detestable face, he abruptly stumbled back two steps and warily covered his wallet.