No wonder this guy keeps targeting me…
Naruto suddenly realized the reason behind Sasuke's constant hostility. As the thought crossed his mind, Hinata let out a soft chuckle.
"Naruto-kun," she said gently, "aren't you the same? The person you care about most… is Sasuke, right?"
"Huh? Me? Care about him?" Naruto waved his hand exaggeratedly. "Don't be ridiculous!"
Hinata didn't argue. She simply smiled quietly, her eyes warm and understanding.
"Ah, right," Naruto said quickly, changing the subject. "Hinata, tell me more about the Chunin Exams."
Hinata nodded slightly. "Actually… that's all I know. But the exams will start soon, so everyone will find out then."
She hesitated for a moment, then added softly, "And… it's about time for me to go home."
Naruto froze for a split second. A trace of disappointment surfaced on his face, but he quickly hid it behind a grin.
"Haha, right! I almost forgot," he said loudly. "You've been away for so long—your family must be worried!"
"Hurry, hurry!"
Hinata looked reluctant. She lowered her head slightly.
"Naruto-kun…"
Naruto patted his chest confidently. "Don't worry about me! I'm totally fine. I've been used to this kind of thing for years!"
"…Okay."
After a brief pause, Hinata smiled again.
"Then… see you tomorrow, Naruto-kun."
"Ah! See you tomorrow!"
Hinata's figure slowly disappeared down the street. The moment she was gone, Naruto's forced smile faded.
Loneliness crept back onto his face, quiet and heavy.
But then—
"Tch, what's the big deal anyway?" Naruto muttered, clenching his fists. "I'm going to make a name for myself soon!"
Even as he said that, his head lowered slightly.
"…Man, why am I thinking about this stuff again?"
He took a deep breath.
"Right now, I've got Iruka-sensei, Kakashi-sensei, Bushy Brows-sensei, Asuma-sensei… and Hinata…"
"…Uh, fine, I'll add Sasuke too."
"I'm not alone anymore."
As he thought about it, Naruto's usual vitality returned.
"And now," he grinned, "I'm a famous genius ninja!"
"Hm! I'll go home and keep studying. I'll be completely ready for the Chunin Exams!"
Back at home, Naruto quickly settled down and reviewed his current progress.
His core abilities in Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and Pseudo-Ninja Taijutsu had all improved significantly.
His proficiency with Wind Release: Great Leap Forward and Wind Style: Wind Cutting Technique had increased by nearly seventy percent.
Still, there was plenty of room for growth.
More importantly, after completing Kakashi-sensei's brutal special training and his system mentor's task within three days, Naruto received a special reward.
A new entry appeared in the system panel:
[Wind Release Mastery]
When practicing and using Wind Release Ninjutsu, training efficiency is doubled while chakra consumption is reduced. Wind Release power is significantly enhanced.
Naruto's eyes widened.
"This is huge…"
For him, this was nothing short of a cheat-level advantage.
It strengthened his resolve even further.
"I'm going to become the strongest Wind Style ninja!"
He quickly finished his meal and immediately began training again.
After activating [Wind Release Mastery], Naruto continued Kakashi's infamous "superhuman" special training—mental split training that pushed the limits of concentration and endurance.
It was brutally inhuman.
But Naruto could clearly feel the results.
His control over Wind Release was sharper, more precise, and far more efficient than before.
"Chunin Exams, huh…"
"Strong people from all the villages will be there…"
Naruto clenched his fist.
"Perfect! Let the entire ninja world witness the glory of Uzumaki Naruto!"
At that moment, the system issued a new task.
[System Mission] Defeat all opponents with your own strength in the upcoming Chunin Exams and successfully advance to the rank of Chunin. Success: Receive a system reward. Failure: Undergo the system's Lightning Release punishment.
Naruto didn't even blink.
"This means nothing," he said confidently. "I've already decided to prove myself."
But then—
Another line appeared beneath it.
[Note: The Chunin Exams are conducted in teams. While advancing yourself to Chunin, you must also ensure that your teammates are promoted. Otherwise, the mission will be considered a failure.]
Naruto: "…Nani?!"
"I can take care of myself," he muttered, panicked. "But how am I supposed to take care of other people too?!"
Even though he cared deeply about Hinata and Sasuke, the problem was obvious.
His own strength aside, ensuring that both teammates advanced to Chunin was a massive challenge.
Sure, Sasuke and Hinata were strong.
But the Chunin Exams involved randomness.
What if they faced overwhelming opponents?
What if they ended up fighting each other?
Naruto couldn't guarantee their success.
His initial excitement turned into intense pressure.
"…No," he said firmly. "I have to make them work harder too!"
Starting tomorrow, he decided, he would push both of them.
If they were going to compete—
They would compete together.
The next day, at the agreed meeting time—
Kakashi, unsurprisingly, was nowhere to be seen.
Naruto used the opportunity to share his thoughts with Hinata and Sasuke.
"Hinata! Sasuke!" he said seriously. "In the Chunin Exams, all of us have to give it everything we've got!"
Hinata nodded obediently.
Sasuke frowned. "What are you trying to say?"
Naruto coughed awkwardly. Encouragement wasn't exactly his strong suit.
"Well… we're Team 7," he said. "Of course I want all of us to become Chunin!"
"And I heard the exams are team-based, which means—"
"Our team must stay intact," Hinata said softly. "If we stand together, we win. If we're divided, we lose."
"Exactly!" Naruto pointed at her.
Sasuke snorted. "What? Are you saying I'll drag you down?"
Naruto originally wanted to deny it—but then realized that Sasuke responded better to provocation than persuasion.
"…Honestly," Naruto said, scratching his cheek, "yeah. I'm kind of worried."
Sasuke's eyes flashed.
"You want to fight?"
"Who says you'll win?"
"You—!"
"Stop it!" Hinata quickly stepped between them. "Naruto-kun, Sasuke, don't argue."
She took a deep breath.
"To be honest, Team 7 is already considered very strong. If we lose, it won't be because we're weak…"
"…It'll be because you two keep competing against each other."
Naruto and Sasuke both knew she was right.
But neither wanted to back down.
"Fine!" Naruto said. "Then let's settle it in the Chunin Exams!"
"If we face each other, I won't hold back."
"But if we don't… whoever fails to become Chunin won't ever be able to hold their head high again!"
Sasuke sneered. "Good. Anyone who can't advance deserves to stay at the bottom!"
Naruto smirked secretly, a sly, victorious grin on his face.
At that moment—
"Yo! Good morning!"
Kakashi finally appeared.
Naruto exploded. "You're getting later and later, Kakashi-sensei!"
"Well," Kakashi said lazily, scratching his head, "I ran into an old woman who lost her way…"
"Only a ghost would believe that!"
"Enough!" Naruto shouted. "Get to the point!"
Kakashi sighed. "What's the rush?"
"The Chunin Exams!"
"Oh? You already know?" Kakashi smiled. "Impressive."
"So what about it?!"
"Relax," Kakashi said. "I already registered all three of you."
"The evaluation officially begins in about ten days."
Naruto was ecstatic.
"That's awesome!"
"Don't celebrate too early," Kakashi warned. "Until then, we still have missions and training."
"…Today's mission," he continued, "is to help the Daimyo's wife find her missing cat."
Naruto: "…How did we end up back at the beginning?!"
"We've already killed Zabuza and completed an A-rank mission!"
Kakashi shrugged. "Until you pass the Chunin Exams, you're still Genin."
Naruto crossed his arms. "Hmph! I really need to become a Chunin!"
Hinata and Sasuke silently agreed.
"Let's go!"
Of course, finding a cat posed no challenge for Team 7.
With Hinata's Byakugan—
"Naruto-kun! Sasuke! It's in the tree by the roadside!"
"Got it!"
Naruto leaped forward eagerly.
"Alright, Chunin Exams—just wait for me!"
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)