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Chapter 784 - Chapter 784: Gathering

Hokage Office

"It seems the Fourth Kazekage doesn't possess a particularly generous disposition," Yamato observed, his usually stoic expression betraying a hint of concern.

Standing at attention before Minato's desk, the ANBU captain had just finished reporting on the confrontation between Gaara and the Konoha genin in the Academy hallway. Though none of the surveillance team had intervened, they had documented the encounter in detail.

"Heh, this particular maneuver may not have been orchestrated by Rasa directly," Minato replied, a knowing smile playing across his features.

Despite the tentative alliance between Konoha and Sunagakure, numerous high-ranking officials within the Sand Village still harbored resentment toward the Yellow Flash. His reputation had been built partially on the defeat of their forces during the previous war—wounds that hadn't fully healed despite the diplomatic veneer of cooperation.

"Regardless of who's behind it," Yamato cautioned, his brow furrowing, "you should warn Naruto and Chiharu about that boy. He's extraordinarily dangerous."

The Wood Style user's instincts were seldom wrong. The sense of danger he had detected emanating from Gaara wasn't related to the boy's combat abilities—regardless of his talent, he was still only eleven years old. Rather, it was the malevolent chakra of Shukaku, the One-Tailed Beast sealed within him, that had triggered Yamato's internal alarms.

"That won't be necessary," Minato replied calmly, shaking his head.

He leaned back in his chair, fingers interlaced before him. "Becoming a shinobi and participating in the Chunin Exams were decisions they made for themselves."

The Fourth Hokage's blue eyes, so similar to his son's, revealed a depth of conviction. "In choosing this path, they must be prepared to face whatever challenges arise. If they can't even recognize when they're being deliberately targeted, they have no business advancing to the rank of Chunin."

A shadow passed across his features. "I would rather see them eliminated at this stage than allow them to proceed unprepared. The consequences of such unreadiness in the future would be far more severe."

As a father, Minato's love for his children was unquestionable. It was precisely because of this love that he refused to provide them with special advantages or protections. His restraint stemmed from two sources: his absolute faith in their capabilities and his understanding of the harsh realities of shinobi life.

Moreover, while Gaara undoubtedly possessed formidable abilities, Minato had complete confidence that Konoha's rising generation was more than capable of meeting such challenges. The Will of Fire burned brightly in this new cohort of young ninja.

Namikaze Residence, Morning of the Written Exam

"Try not to be nervous during the test," Kushina advised as Naruto and Chiharu prepared to leave for the first stage of the Chunin Exams. "Just focus and do your best."

Chiharu nodded obediently, her composed demeanor a stark contrast to her brother's visible agitation. Naruto's expression had grown increasingly despondent as the reality of facing a written examination loomed before him.

For someone like Naruto, who thrived on physical action and instinctive problem-solving, the prospect of a written test was far more daunting than battling multiple opponents. With his historically poor academic performance, he couldn't help but worry that his journey would end before it truly began.

Dwelling on this possibility, Naruto shook his head in dismay before raising his eyes to meet his mother's gaze.

"Mom," he asked suddenly, "how did you pass the written portion when you took the Chunin Exams?"

"Eh?" Kushina froze, clearly caught off guard by the unexpected question.

A telling flush spread across her face as memories resurfaced. If Mikoto Uchiha hadn't surreptitiously assisted her during the written section of her own Chunin Exam, Kushina might well have been disqualified at the first hurdle.

Though she had ultimately completed the remaining trials successfully, the Third Hokage had initially hesitated to promote her to Chunin due to concerns about the Nine-Tails sealed within her. It was only after Minato personally vouched for her capabilities, assuring the Third that she could protect herself, that her promotion had been approved.

Kushina was well aware that the first written test of the Chunin Exams was primarily a façade—its true purpose was to evaluate candidates' intelligence-gathering and information-transmission skills. However, she had no intention of revealing this insider knowledge to Naruto. Some lessons were best learned through experience.

As a result, she found herself momentarily speechless before her son's direct question.

"Judging by that expression," Naruto said with growing suspicion, "I'm guessing Dad helped you cheat during your Chunin Exam, didn't he?"

The moment the words left his mouth, Minato, who had been quietly sipping his morning milk at the breakfast table, nearly choked. In a sense, Naruto's supposition wasn't entirely inaccurate.

Kushina's expression became even more flustered. "N-no, that's not what happened, dattebane!" she protested, waving her hands emphatically.

The verbal tic that emerged when she was anxious—ending her sentences with "dattebane"—betrayed her immediately. Her reaction was practically a confession, leaving both her and Minato momentarily speechless.

"Ha! I knew it!" Naruto's face broke into a triumphant grin at his parents' telling silence.

"Well, if even Mom and Dad did it that way..." He turned to Chiharu with a conspiratorial look. "Little sister, I'll be counting on you for the written portion."

"Um," Chiharu replied noncommittally, glancing between her parents to gauge their reaction. When neither offered any objection, she regarded her brother with newfound surprise. It was unexpected that Naruto would be strategic enough to extract such useful information from their parents.

"So you've been lying to me all this time!" Kushina's temper flared, but Naruto, well-acquainted with his mother's legendary wrath, had already grabbed Chiharu's hand and was halfway out the door.

As the siblings made their hasty retreat, Kushina turned to Minato with an accusatory pout. "You must have seen through his ploy from the beginning. That boy has become increasingly crafty lately."

Minato raised his hands in mock surrender, his expression one of innocence though his eyes sparkled with amusement. While Naruto typically displayed a slower reaction time than his peers, his intuition for certain matters was identical to Kushina's—sharp and unerring.

"The first written test doesn't actually evaluate theoretical knowledge," Minato pointed out with a casual shrug. "Chiharu assisting Naruto is well within the parameters of what's being tested."

Academy Entrance

Having successfully escaped their home, Naruto and Chiharu found Shin already waiting for them outside the Namikaze residence. The three teammates set off toward the examination venue, their conversation filled with speculation about what challenges awaited them.

As they approached the Academy building where the first stage would take place, they noticed a small commotion near the entrance. Someone appeared to be blocking Sasuke's team from proceeding further.

"Sakura-san, please accept my feelings and go on a date with me!" proclaimed a boy in a green bodysuit, striking an elaborate pose. His bowl-cut hair and extraordinarily thick eyebrows made him instantly recognizable even from a distance.

A dazzling smile that seemed to actually sparkle completed the unusual picture as he declared his affections for the pink-haired kunoichi.

"That's him," Naruto murmured, memory stirring. During their Academy days, he had occasionally noticed Sasuke observing this particular individual with cautious interest. The fact that this unusual character was also participating in the Chunin Exams added another dimension of competition.

"Your eyebrows are too thick," Sakura replied bluntly, her expression a mixture of discomfort and embarrassment. "You're not my type at all."

She glanced nervously at Sasuke beside her, clearly concerned that he might misinterpret the situation. Sasuke, however, appeared entirely disinterested in the exchange.

The green-clad boy looked as though he had been physically struck by her rejection. His exuberant posture crumpled momentarily, his expression falling into deep dejection.

After a brief moment of visible despair, however, his head suddenly snapped up. Tears welled dramatically in his round eyes as he clenched his fists with renewed determination.

"Though you have decisively rejected me today, Sakura-san," he declared passionately, "this has only made me recognize my own shortcomings! I will redouble my training efforts and strive to become a man worthy of your affection! This is what Gai-sensei means by the power of youth!"

Behind this theatrical display stood two figures who appeared to be his teammates. One, a girl with her hair styled in two buns, was pinching the bridge of her nose in evident embarrassment. The other, a young man with long dark hair and refined features, stood with arms crossed, his expression one of practiced indifference.

"That guy's eyes," Naruto observed, narrowing his own as he studied the long-haired boy. "They're just like Hinata's."

The distinctive pupilless eyes were unmistakable—a trait exclusive to the Hyuga clan in Konoha.

"Woof! Woof!"

A series of sharp barks from behind caused Naruto to turn. Approaching their position were three familiar figures: Kiba Inuzuka with his ninken partner Akamaru, the silent Shino Aburame, and Hinata Hyuga.

"N-Naruto-kun," Hinata greeted softly, her voice barely above a whisper as a delicate blush colored her cheeks.

"Hinata," Naruto acknowledged with a casual nod, his attention quickly shifting back to the ongoing drama with the green-clad ninja.

At that moment, the Hyuga boy who had been standing behind the enthusiastic genin glanced in their direction. His previously detached expression subtly transformed as he recognized Hinata. With a slight but formal bow, he addressed her respectfully: "Lady Hinata."

Hearing her name, Hinata turned toward the voice. A brief flash of recognition crossed her features before she returned the gesture with equal formality, a gentle smile gracing her face.

"Neji-niisan," she replied softly, acknowledging her cousin with a mixture of respect and hesitation.

The exchange between the two Hyuga clan members carried a palpable tension that didn't escape the notice of those around them. Though superficially polite, there was an undercurrent to their interaction that hinted at a complex family dynamic.

As more and more genin filtered into the Academy grounds, the air became charged with a mixture of nervous energy and competitive spirit. Teams from various villages clustered together, eyeing their potential opponents with varying degrees of curiosity, hostility, or strategic assessment.

The Chunin Exams had drawn together an eclectic assembly of young shinobi, each with their own abilities, backgrounds, and motivations. For Naruto and his friends, this gathering represented not just a professional milestone, but the beginning of encounters that would shape their understanding of the wider ninja world.

Behind them, the clock ticked steadily toward the scheduled start time of the first examination. Whether prepared or not, all present would soon face their first true test as aspiring Chunin.

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