On their way back to Konoha, everything felt strangely quiet.
Once they arrived in Konoha, everyone headed to the Hokage Tower to help Tsunade settle in.
Konohamaru resented someone taking over his grandfather's position, so he locked himself in the office and rigged booby traps to block the door.
When told by Konohamaru's friends, Naruto went directly to the door, kicked the heavy oak door off its hinges, sending everything behind it flying, then grabbed Konohamaru by the collar and dragged him out.
Naruto took care of it himself—because he knew if Tsunade had wanted in, she'd have done the exact same thing, maybe even harsher.
******
Today marked the start of the Chunin Exams.
Everyone entering the exam grounds was shocked to find Naruto already seated at the center, wearing a dark red bodysuit and his forehead protector tied around his waist, seemingly meditating.
Around 9:30 AM, Kurenai Yuhi led her squad into the arena.
Kurenai looked at Hinata:
"Hinata. You might end up fighting Naruto too. Don't let anything distract you—stay focused."
Hinata nodded, though her heart was in turmoil:
"What if I hurt him? Will I still have a chance with him then?"
******
Tsunade stood at the center of the arena:
"The match format will be a free-for-all brawl. The winner of each round will continue to fight the next challenger. Anko Mitarashi will oversee today's matches."
Anko stepped forward from behind and grinned:
"First match: Naruto Uzumaki vs. Sakura Haruno. Begin!"
******
Kakashi watched Sakura with lazy indifference:
"I hope Naruto doesn't go too hard on her."
[THWACK!]
"Naruto wins!"
[WHAT?!]
Naruto looked down at an unconscious Sakura below him. Anko strolled over and prodded her with a stick.
"Brat, what the heck did you do?"
Naruto shrugged:
"That was barely a love tap! Her defense is too weak—I didn't think one punch would knock her out cold."
Medical staff rushed in, carried Sakura away, and cleared the battlefield.
Anko raised her hand:
"Second match: Naruto vs. Ino Yamanaka! Begin!"
Ino waited nervously for Naruto to attack, but he didn't move at all.
"Naruto, aren't you going to hit me?"
Naruto shook his head:
"No need to attack. No matter what you do, I can win in one move."
Ino clenched her teeth and formed a heart shape with her hands:
[Mind Body Switch Technique!]
Ino projected her spirit into his body. Naruto collapsed.
Anko walked over and prodded his head:
"Hey? Which one of you is in there?"
Naruto sat up:
"It's me. Ino's just playing around in my mind."
Anko shook her head:
"This little brat's a troublemaker."
As he spoke, Naruto pulled out ninja wire and approached Ino's body:
"She brought this on herself."
He bound Ino up like a pig.
Anko announced:
"Naruto wins!"
At that moment, Ino screamed and returned to her own body. The medics immediately carried her away.
Anko continued shouting:
"Third match: Naruto vs. Kiba Inuzuka! Begin!"
"Four Legs Technique!" Kiba crouched down, planting all four limbs on the ground.
Suddenly, a blue ninja sandal came flying from below, striking under his chin and kicking him into the air.
Akamaru ran to his master, barking wildly.
Kiba stood shakily:
"I'm fine. He took me by surprise."
He lifted his head and noticed Naruto had vanished. Smirking, Kiba jumped aside, dodging a pair of hands reaching from behind.
"I can smell your scent, you crawling dirtbag!"
Quickly, Kiba grabbed a pill from his pocket and tossed it to Akamaru. The little dog swallowed it and glowed red.
[Beast Human Clone!]
Kiba pulled out a smoke bomb and threw it at Naruto, blanketing him in smoke.
Kiba and the transformed Akamaru rushed into the smoke:
[Passing Fang!]
Two spinning drill-like forms tore through the smoke, clearing it away until nothing remained. Kiba and Akamaru stood within, finding no sign of Naruto.
Turning around, Kiba spotted Naruto behind him and charged forward—only to slam into a transparent barrier that sent him flying back.
"What the hell was that?"
Kiba and Akamaru kept trying to break through the barrier.
Naruto shrugged:
[Lightning Release: Shockwave!]
A burst of white light erupted from Naruto's direction, followed by a sharp explosion.
Naruto held the hand seal for several seconds before releasing it. Both Kiba and Akamaru were struck by lightning, charred, then collapsed unconscious.
Anko shook her head:
"Naruto wins!"
******
"Fourth match: Naruto vs. Shino! Begin!"
Shino released a swarm of bugs toward him.
Naruto threw a shuriken. Effortlessly, Shino raised a wall of insects to block it.
Clapping his hands together, Naruto shouted:
[Wind Release: Gale Palm!]
Naruto boosted the spinning shuriken's speed, slicing straight through the insect wall. Hit by the attack, Shino turned into bugs in an instant.
Shino's true form emerged on a nearby tree, releasing more bugs to attack Naruto.
Naruto's eyes gleamed as he dashed straight toward him.
With a single, decisive punch, Naruto knocked Shino out.
Smiling, Anko approached:
"Naruto wins!"
After Shino was carried away, Anko raised her hand:
"Fifth match: Naruto versus Tenten! Begin!"
Tenten immediately threw kunai at Naruto, who drew his sword to block, then rushed in to attack.
Tenten lashed out with a powerful kick, but Naruto smacked her leg away with the flat side of his blade.
Snarling, she charged at Naruto again.
Naruto disappeared, reappearing swiftly behind her and striking the base of her neck with the hilt, knocking her unconscious. Gently catching her, he lowered her to the ground.
Anko pointed at Naruto:
"Naruto wins!"
"Sixth match: Naruto versus Shikamaru Nara! Begin!"
Scratching his head, Shikamaru formed a hand seal:
"What's the point in fighting you? Nothing to gain, nothing to lose. Way too troublesome..."
Naruto placed his hand on his neck and twisted:
"Then quit."
Shikamaru shrugged:
"Fine. Later."
He turned and walked off, waving lazily.
Snapping out of her daze, Anko called:
"Naruto wins!"
Hinata frowned:
"You should prove yourself to every ninja here—for the honor of your clan."
Shikamaru glanced at Hinata languidly:
"It doesn't matter," he muttered half-heartedly.
Sasuke sneered:
"You're just not bothering to fight."
Shikamaru glared at Sasuke:
"I trapped him with the Shadow Mirror Body Changing Method in the second *second* of our match. He just twisted his neck and got free. That was all I had—I couldn't win."
"Sixth match! Naruto versus Hinata! Begin!"
Without hesitation, Naruto rushed forward and hooked a punch into Hinata's midsection, sending her crashing down.
Hinata lay on the ground, tears streaming down her face.
"Naruto-kun… can you really hurt me like this? What's come over you?"
"Get up!"
After a moment of stunned silence, Hinata wiped her tears, activated her *Byakugan*, and quickly charged forward, launching a flurry of Gentle Fist strikes.
Naruto blocked her strikes with his palms and kicked her wrist away.
Hinata staggered back and retaliated with a quick kick. Naruto was taken aback by how fast she moved.
Naruto nodded slightly to himself, dodged her kick, swiftly appeared behind her, and landed a strike to her neck, knocking her unconscious.
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