The examination building was exactly as Naruto remembered from his research—a large, utilitarian structure designed more for function than aesthetics. Teams of genin filtered through the entrance, their nervous energy palpable even from a distance.
Naruto walked between Satsuki and Sakura, their positions so habitual now that they moved in perfect synchronization without conscious thought. Both girls had dressed carefully for the occasion—their outfits modified to accommodate their impossible figures while still allowing full range of combat movement.
The stares they attracted were inevitable.
Foreign genin stopped mid-conversation to gawk at the two kunoichi flanking the expressionless blond boy. Konoha teams who recognized them whispered behind raised hands. Even the proctors stationed throughout the building couldn't entirely suppress their reactions.
Naruto ignored all of it.
The first floor was crowded, teams milling about in apparent confusion. A cluster had formed near a doorway marked "301," where two older genin stood blocking entry while a girl with twin buns pleaded to be let through.
"Please! We need to take the exam! You can't just—"
"This exam isn't for weaklings," one of the blocking genin sneered. "If you can't even handle us, you'll die in there. We're doing you a favor."
Naruto's eyes moved across the scene, cataloging details with mechanical precision.
The room number read 301, but they were on the second floor. The two "genin" blocking the door had chakra signatures consistent with chūnin-level development. The entire situation was designed to weed out candidates who couldn't recognize a simple genjutsu.
"Illusion," he said flatly, not slowing his pace. "We're on the second floor. The real Room 301 is above us."
Satsuki's Sharingan had already activated, the tomoe spinning lazily as she confirmed his assessment. "Obvious, really. The chakra distortion is sloppy."
"Probably intentional," Sakura added. "They want to see who notices."
The three of them walked past the gathered crowd without stopping, heading for the stairs that led to the actual third floor. Behind them, whispers erupted—candidates who had been fooled suddenly realizing their mistake, the disguised chūnin exchanging glances at the team that had seen through their test instantly.
Naruto didn't look back.
The third floor hallway was quieter, most teams still trapped by the genjutsu below. A few early arrivals lingered near the real Room 301, sizing up potential competition with varying degrees of subtlety.
They had almost reached the examination room when a green blur dropped from somewhere above, landing directly in their path with theatrical precision.
"HALT!"
Rock Lee stood before them in his distinctive green jumpsuit, bowl-cut hair gleaming, eyebrows so thick they seemed to have their own gravitational pull. His pose was dramatic—one arm extended toward Sakura, the other pressed against his chest.
"You must be Haruno Sakura! Your beauty is legendary throughout the Academy! Your pink hair like cherry blossoms in spring! Your eyes like emeralds catching the morning light!"
His attention moved to her figure—the impossible curves that her outfit barely contained—and his already enthusiastic expression somehow intensified further.
"And your form! Truly, you are the epitome of youthful femininity! Please, Sakura-san, allow me to be your protector! Go out with me! I will defend you with my life!"
Sakura's expression had shifted from surprise to annoyance to cold dismissal over the course of his declaration.
"No."
The single word was flat, final, carrying no room for negotiation.
Lee's dramatic pose faltered. "But—Sakura-san—if you would only give me a chance—"
"I said no." Sakura's green eyes flicked toward Naruto, then back to Lee. "I'm not interested. In you or anyone else who isn't Naruto-kun."
"Naruto-kun?" Lee's attention shifted to the blond boy who had been standing silently throughout his declaration. His eyes narrowed, taking in Naruto's relaxed posture, his empty expression, the way both girls seemed to orbit around him like planets around a sun.
"You! You are Uzumaki Naruto! The one they call the rookie genius! The genin who defeated Momochi Zabuza!"
Naruto observed Lee without any particular interest. "Yes."
"Then I challenge you!" Lee's pose shifted into something more combative, his enthusiasm now carrying an edge of competitive fire. "If I defeat you, Sakura-san will surely recognize my worth! And I will prove that hard work can overcome natural talent!"
"Your challenge is based on flawed assumptions," Naruto said. "Sakura's romantic preferences are not dependent on combat outcomes. Additionally, I possess no natural talent—my abilities are the result of extensive training."
"Then we are the same! Two practitioners of youth and dedication!" Lee's eyes were practically burning now. "All the more reason to test ourselves against each other! Please, Naruto-san! One match! Right here, right now!"
Satsuki had moved slightly, positioning herself between Lee and Naruto. "He's not interested in—"
"I accept."
Both girls turned to look at Naruto with surprise.
"You do?" Sakura asked.
"Combat data is valuable. His taijutsu style is unfamiliar—likely a specialized form I haven't encountered." Naruto's flat voice carried no enthusiasm, just practical assessment. "The experience will be educational."
Lee's face split into an enormous grin. "YOSH! That is the spirit of youth! Let us engage in glorious combat!"
He dropped into a fighting stance—weight balanced, hands positioned for his unique style of taijutsu. His chakra signature, Naruto noted, was unusual—almost entirely concentrated in his physical body rather than distributed for ninjutsu or genjutsu use.
A taijutsu specialist. Possibly someone who couldn't use other ninja techniques.
Interesting.
Naruto didn't adopt a stance. He simply stood, arms at his sides, watching Lee with those empty blue eyes.
"Whenever you're ready."
Lee launched himself forward.
His speed was impressive—far beyond typical genin parameters, likely enhanced through intensive physical conditioning. His opening strike was a spinning kick aimed at Naruto's head, the motion fluid and practiced.
Naruto leaned back precisely two inches.
The kick passed harmlessly through the space his head had occupied a fraction of a second before.
Lee recovered instantly, flowing into a combination of punches and kicks that would have overwhelmed most opponents through sheer volume. Each strike was technically perfect, delivered with speed and power that spoke to years of dedicated training.
Naruto avoided all of them.
Not with any particular effort—he simply moved the minimum distance required to evade each attack, his body flowing around Lee's assault like water around a stone. His expression never changed, his breathing never quickened. He was observing, analyzing, cataloging Lee's techniques for future reference.
"You're not attacking!" Lee shouted between strikes, frustration beginning to creep into his voice. "Please, Naruto-san! Take me seriously!"
"I am taking you seriously. I'm learning your patterns."
Lee's next kick was faster—significantly faster. He had been holding back, Naruto realized, testing the waters before committing to full speed.
It still wasn't enough.
Naruto's hand came up and caught Lee's ankle mid-kick, stopping the attack cold. The impact was absorbed without any visible strain.
Lee's eyes widened. "You caught—"
Naruto twisted, using Lee's own momentum against him, and sent the green-clad genin flying across the hallway. Lee managed to flip mid-air and land on his feet, but the surprise on his face was evident.
"Your speed is above average for your age group," Naruto observed. "Your technique is refined. Your dedication to physical conditioning is impressive." He tilted his head slightly. "But you're holding back. You have additional capabilities you haven't revealed."
Lee's expression shifted—surprise giving way to something more complex. Respect, perhaps, mixed with renewed determination.
"You can tell? Even though I only showed you a fraction of my abilities?"
"Your body language suggests preparation for techniques you haven't used. Your chakra concentration is higher than your current output requires. And your bandages—" Naruto nodded toward the wrappings covering Lee's forearms, "—are weighted. You're wearing resistance training equipment during combat."
"Amazing perception!" Lee actually smiled, despite having been outmaneuvered. "You are truly worthy of your reputation, Naruto-san! But I cannot remove my weights without Guy-sensei's permission, and this is not a life-or-death situation."
"Then we're finished." Naruto turned away dismissively. "Your techniques at current output are insufficient to challenge me. Further combat would provide diminishing educational returns."
Lee's face fell. "But—the match—"
"You lost. Accept it and improve." Naruto began walking toward Room 301, Sakura and Satsuki falling into step beside him. "Your dedication is admirable. Your ceiling for growth appears high. Perhaps we'll fight again when you've reached it."
It was, by Naruto's standards, practically a compliment.
Lee seemed to recognize this. His expression shifted from disappointment to determination, his fist clenching with renewed resolve.
"I will train harder! And when we meet again, I will show you my true capabilities!" He struck a dramatic pose. "This I swear on my youth!"
Naruto didn't respond. He was already walking away.
The door to Room 301 slid open, revealing a space packed with genin from villages across the Elemental Nations. The atmosphere was tense, competitive—dozens of young ninja sizing each other up, calculating threats, forming mental hierarchies.
Naruto observed the room with his usual clinical detachment.
Sunagakure teams in one corner, including Gaara and his siblings. Temari's eyes found him immediately, that familiar adoring expression blooming across her exaggerated features. She began moving toward him without seeming to consciously decide to do so.
Konoha teams scattered throughout, including the rest of the former Academy class. Ino spotted him from across the room and immediately abandoned her conversation with Shikamaru, making her way over with determined strides. Hinata followed moments later, having apparently been waiting near the entrance specifically to intercept him. Tenten detached from her team—Lee's team, Naruto realized—and joined the convergence.
Within thirty seconds, he was surrounded.
Six girls with impossible figures and devoted expressions, forming a protective circle that made other genin give them a wide berth. The combined effect of their transformed proportions drew stares from every direction, but none of them seemed to notice or care.
"Naruto-kun!" Ino reached him first, immediately taking position at his left side. "We were starting to worry. Some of the teams down there were talking about a genjutsu on the second floor—did you have any trouble?"
"No."
"Of course not." She smiled, satisfied. "My Naruto-kun wouldn't be fooled by something so basic."
"He's not 'your' Naruto-kun," Sakura objected, though without any real heat. "He's all of ours."
"Details."
Hinata had claimed position behind him, her Byakugan subtly active as she scanned the room for threats. "There are many strong chakra signatures here. Some of the foreign teams seem quite capable."
"The Sand team in particular," Tenten added, her eyes flicking toward Gaara. "That redhead with the gourd—his chakra is... wrong. Dark. It feels like yours, Naruto-kun, but more unstable."
"He's a jinchuuriki," Naruto confirmed. "Like me. The One-Tailed Shukaku."
All five Konoha girls tensed at this information. Temari, who had finally reached the group, merely nodded.
"Gaara is... dangerous," she said, her voice carrying a note of old fear buried beneath new devotion. "I should warn you about him. He kills without hesitation, without remorse. He's my brother, but I don't think he's entirely human anymore."
"We've met. Yesterday, in the village." Naruto's voice remained flat. "He recognized what I am. We came to an understanding."
"An understanding?"
"We are similar. Empty. He wishes to test himself against me. I have no objection to the eventual confrontation."
Temari's expression flickered—concern for him, Naruto noted, rather than for her brother. The transformation had apparently superseded familial loyalty.
Another data point.
"Well, isn't this interesting!"
The new voice came from behind the group—cheerful, friendly, carrying an undertone that immediately drew Naruto's attention.
He turned to find a silver-haired figure approaching, glasses glinting in the fluorescent light. The newcomer was older than the typical genin—late teens, perhaps, with a smile that seemed designed to put people at ease.
"First time taking the exams? I remember how overwhelming it felt my first year." He adjusted his glasses, a gesture that seemed almost too casual. "My name's Kabuto. Yakushi Kabuto. I've taken this test seven times now, so I've accumulated quite a bit of information about the other participants. Would you like to see?"
He held up a deck of cards, fanning them with practiced ease.
The six girls had shifted automatically, positioning themselves between Kabuto and Naruto. But Naruto himself was focused entirely on the silver-haired figure, his analytical mind processing data at maximum speed.
Something was wrong.
Kabuto's chakra signature was masked—professionally, completely, in a way that spoke to training far beyond genin level. His heartbeat was artificially regulated, maintaining a steady rhythm that didn't fluctuate even when he spoke. His micro-expressions were rehearsed, each smile and gesture calculated rather than genuine.
He was infiltrating. Pretending to be something he wasn't.
And his chakra, beneath the masking, felt... serpentine. Cold. Familiar in a way Naruto couldn't immediately place.
"You don't feel right."
The words cut through Kabuto's presentation, stopping his card-fanning mid-motion. His smile froze for a fraction of a second—imperceptible to anyone not specifically watching for it.
"I'm sorry?"
Naruto moved.
There was no warning, no buildup, no telegraphed intent. One moment he was standing among his devoted entourage. The next he was directly in front of Kabuto, hand already forming the distinctive seal.
"Shadow Clone Technique."
Four copies of Naruto appeared simultaneously, surrounding Kabuto before the spy could react. Each clone had a kunai drawn, blades positioned at throat, heart, spine, and femoral artery.
The room went dead silent.
"Your chakra signature is masked with professional-grade techniques," Naruto said, his voice flat and cold. "Your physiological responses are artificially controlled. Your cover identity—seven-time exam failure—is statistically improbable for someone of your apparent skill level. And your underlying chakra carries traces of a signature I've encountered in intelligence reports about a specific S-rank missing-nin."
Kabuto's smile had become fixed, a mask of friendliness that no longer reached his eyes.
"I'm not sure what you're implying—"
"You're a spy. Possibly affiliated with Orochimaru of the Sannin." Naruto's empty blue eyes bored into Kabuto's widening ones. "Your presence here is not coincidental. You have an objective beyond the stated purpose of the exams."
The entire examination room had frozen. Genin from every village watched the confrontation with varying degrees of shock, confusion, and professional interest. Several had drawn weapons, unsure of what was happening but prepared for violence.
The six girls had moved with Naruto, forming a secondary perimeter around the standoff. Their expressions ranged from cold fury (Satsuki, Sakura) to quiet menace (Hinata, Tenten) to barely contained aggression (Ino, Temari).
"Identify yourself truthfully," Naruto continued. "Or I will extract the information through other means."
Kabuto's mask cracked further, something cold and calculating surfacing beneath the friendly facade.
"You're remarkably perceptive for a genin," he said, his voice losing its artificial warmth. "Most wouldn't have noticed anything unusual. I've fooled jonin with this cover."
"Most people observe with emotion clouding their perception. I observe without that interference." Naruto's kunai pressed slightly closer to Kabuto's throat. "Your identity. Now."
"And if I refuse?"
"Then I kill you here and examine the body for information. Your survival is not required for my objectives."
The casualness with which Naruto delivered this threat seemed to unsettle Kabuto more than the threat itself. There was no anger in the words, no bluster, no emotional investment. Just cold, practical assessment of available options.
"You would start a fight in the middle of the examination room? In front of witnesses from every village?"
"Yes."
Kabuto's eyes moved across the room, calculating escape routes, assessing potential interventions, weighing his options with the speed of a trained operative.
Whatever conclusion he reached, it apparently didn't favor resistance.
"Very well. You've caught me." His voice had shifted completely now, shedding the friendly act like a snake shedding skin. "I am indeed gathering intelligence. Though my affiliations are rather more... complex than you might assume."
"Orochimaru."
"Among others." Kabuto smiled—a real smile this time, thin and cold. "You're quite remarkable, Naruto-kun. My master will be very interested to hear about this encounter."
"Your master's interest is irrelevant. What is your objective here?"
"Observation, primarily. The Chūnin Exams draw talented young ninja from across the continent. My role is to identify potential... acquisitions."
"And your interest in me specifically?"
Kabuto's smile widened. "You were already on our radar. The jinchuuriki of the Nine-Tails, exhibiting unprecedented development and reportedly defeating A-rank ninja as a fresh genin. But this—" he gestured at the kunai still pressed to his throat, "—this is beyond even our projections. You detected me in seconds. Your combat reflexes are jonin-level at minimum. And your complete lack of emotional response suggests psychological conditioning that most ninja never achieve."
"I'm not conditioned. I'm broken. There's a distinction."
"Is there?" Kabuto seemed genuinely curious. "From my perspective, the result is the same—a perfect weapon, uninhibited by fear or hesitation or moral constraint. Exactly the kind of asset my master values."
"I'm not an asset. I'm not a weapon. I'm simply someone who exists because stopping requires effort I don't care to expend." Naruto's voice remained flat. "And I don't like being studied."
"Then perhaps we can reach an accommodation. I provide you with information, and you allow me to leave this room intact. A trade."
"You're not in a position to negotiate."
"On the contrary. I have information you want. I can see it in your eyes—that calculating assessment, weighing the value of what I know against the satisfaction of eliminating a threat." Kabuto's smile turned knowing. "You don't feel satisfaction, do you? So the calculation is simple. My information is valuable. My death gains you nothing beyond removing a future variable. And I suspect you prefer to collect variables rather than eliminate them."
Naruto considered this argument.
It was, objectively speaking, sound reasoning. Kabuto was a threat, but a known threat was often more useful than an unknown one. His connection to Orochimaru suggested access to intelligence networks that could prove valuable. And killing him here would create complications—political fallout, examination disruption, potential interference with the actual exam objectives.
"What information?"
"The reason for my master's interest in this particular exam. The targets he's identified among the participants. The broader objective that bringing so many talented young ninja together serves."
"Speak."
Kabuto glanced at the surrounding genin, many of whom were listening with undisguised interest.
"Perhaps somewhere more private?"
"No. Here. Now. If the information is valuable, others hearing it is acceptable. If it's not, you die anyway."
Something like respect flickered in Kabuto's eyes.
"Very well. My master is interested in the Sharingan. Specifically, in the last loyal Uchiha—though I see that designation may need updating." His gaze moved briefly to Satsuki, then back to Naruto. "He intends to approach her during the exam with an... offer."
"What kind of offer?"
"Power. The ability to surpass her limits, to achieve heights that normal training could never reach." Kabuto's voice was smooth, persuasive even in its coldness. "My master believes the Uchiha are wasted as Konoha ninja. Their bloodline deserves better than servitude to a village that allowed their clan to be massacred."
Satsuki had gone very still. Her Sharingan was active, spinning slowly, fixed on Kabuto with murderous intent.
"I'm not interested," she said, her voice carrying an edge that hadn't been there before. "I have everything I need right here."
Her hand found Naruto's arm, gripping it with possessive intensity.
Kabuto observed this with clinical interest.
"Fascinating. The reports mentioned your... attachment. But seeing it in person is quite different." He turned back to Naruto. "You have six girls who would apparently die for you without hesitation. You've developed abilities that exceed anything we projected. And you've done it all while maintaining a state of emotional emptiness that most ninja spend decades trying to achieve."
"Your observations are noted. Continue."
"The exam itself serves multiple purposes. Identification of talent is one—my master is always recruiting. But there's also a more immediate objective." Kabuto's smile turned sharp. "Konoha will be attacked during the exam finals. A joint operation between Sunagakure and my master's organization. The goal is the death of the Third Hokage and the destruction of Konoha's military leadership."
The room erupted.
Genin from Konoha shouted in anger and disbelief. Foreign teams shifted uncomfortably, suddenly aware that they might be caught in crossfire. The Sand siblings—Gaara impassive, Kankuro alarmed, Temari conflicted—drew immediate attention as representatives of one of the alleged conspirators.
Naruto's expression didn't change.
"You're revealing this information freely. Why?"
"Because knowing won't change the outcome. The invasion is already prepared. The pieces are in place. And frankly—" Kabuto's smile widened, "—I'm curious to see what you'll do with the knowledge. Will you try to warn your village? Will you prepare your own defenses? Will you simply not care, as your emotional state suggests?"
"Your curiosity is irrelevant to me."
"Perhaps. But my master's curiosity is very relevant to you, Naruto-kun. He'll be watching your performance in these exams with great interest. And afterward..." Kabuto shrugged. "Who knows? Perhaps you'll find his offer more appealing than Konoha's tepid appreciation of your talents."
"I don't find anything appealing. I don't experience preferences."
"How fascinating." Kabuto's eyes glittered behind his glasses. "A ninja without desires. Without ambitions. Without anything that could be used as leverage." He tilted his head. "And yet you're still here. Still participating. Still growing stronger. Why?"
"Because existing is the default state. Improvement is logical. The alternative requires effort I don't care to expend."
"So you'll continue becoming more powerful simply because you have nothing better to do?"
"Yes."
Kabuto actually laughed—a genuine sound, though cold.
"My master is going to love you. Whether as an ally or an experiment, you're exactly the kind of anomaly he finds irresistible."
"His interest is noted and irrelevant." Naruto's kunai pressed fractionally closer. "We're finished here. Leave the examination room. Do not approach me or my team again during the exams. If I see you again, I will assume hostile intent and act accordingly."
"And the invasion? You're not going to try to stop me? Report this to your village leadership?"
"The information will be reported. But you've already indicated that the invasion is prepared regardless. Killing you now removes a source of additional intelligence. Allowing you to leave maintains that source for future exploitation."
"Coldly practical." Kabuto nodded approvingly. "Very well. I accept your terms."
Naruto's clones dispelled, the kunai withdrawing from Kabuto's vital points. The silver-haired spy straightened his clothes with casual precision, apparently unbothered by how close he had come to death.
"One last piece of information, offered freely." Kabuto began walking toward the exit, but paused to look back over his shoulder. "The girl transformations you've noticed? The impossible figures, the obsessive devotion? My master has theories about what's causing them. If you ever want to know..."
He left the sentence hanging, then continued walking, disappearing through the door before anyone could react.
The examination room remained frozen for several long seconds.
Then chaos erupted.
Konoha genin demanding explanations. Foreign teams reassessing threat levels. The Sand siblings being confronted by angry Leaf ninja about the alleged invasion. Proctors appearing from nowhere to restore order.
Through it all, Naruto stood motionless at the center of his devoted entourage, processing what he had learned.
An invasion was coming.
Orochimaru was interested in him.
And someone had theories about the phenomenon affecting the girls.
The last piece of information was the most interesting.
Not because he cared about the girls' wellbeing—he didn't, couldn't. But understanding the phenomenon's cause might allow him to replicate it. Enhance himself further. Grow stronger.
Power was always useful.
"Naruto-kun?" Sakura's voice was concerned. "What should we do?"
"About the invasion?"
"About everything. Kabuto's revelations, the threat to the village, Orochimaru's interest in Satsuki..."
"We continue the exam." Naruto's voice was flat, decisive. "The invasion is weeks away. Our participation in the exams provides cover for preparation. And Orochimaru's interest in Satsuki is irrelevant—she's made her preferences clear."
Satsuki's grip on his arm tightened. "I'm not going anywhere. He can offer whatever he wants. Nothing matters more than being with you."
"Your devotion is noted."
"It's not just devotion." Her voice carried unusual intensity. "I love you, Naruto-kun. All of us do. We'd die for you without hesitation."
"I know."
But he didn't feel anything about it.
He never did.
A door at the front of the room slammed open, and a scarred, intimidating figure strode in—Morino Ibiki, head of Konoha's Torture and Interrogation Force.
"Alright, maggots! Everyone shut up and find a seat! The first exam begins now!"
The chaos subsided almost instantly, genin scrambling to obey the terrifying proctor's commands.
Naruto moved to an assigned seat, the six girls forced to separate to their own positions throughout the room. Their eyes remained fixed on him, worried, protective, devoted.
He observed them briefly, then turned his attention to the test papers being distributed.
The Chūnin Exams had begun.
And somewhere out there, enemies were watching, plotting, preparing.
Naruto didn't care.
He simply existed, observed, and waited for the next challenge.
Because that was all he knew how to do anymore.