Chapter 199: The Chunin Exams Finally Begin
Evening. The setting sun's afterglow bathed Konoha's streets, stretching the shadows of people returning home. Team Seven walked along the road back.
Naruto's expression was somewhat odd, occasionally using his peripheral vision to glance at Satsuki pressed close beside him. Perhaps anticipating this "special relationship" pair might have things to discuss, Kakashi had already found an excuse to pull the curious Sakura wanting to get closer several steps ahead, deliberately creating distance.
Recalling the entire afternoon, the so-called "sparring" between Satsuki and Konohamaru had been a completely one-sided crushing education. Completely different from Naruto's purely defensive, almost non-retaliatory "playmate" mode, Satsuki had actually gotten physical.
Of course, she'd controlled her strength to avoid real injury.
Thus, the scene from the original where Sakura beat up Konohamaru was replaced in this timeline with a Satsuki version.
Moreover, from the moment they regrouped after finishing, Satsuki had silently and naturally grabbed Naruto's wrist, never releasing it.
Naruto naturally could tell Satsuki was jealous, and quite strongly at that. But... he thought with some amusement and helplessness, that was just a transformation jutsu! It was fake! Even that wasn't allowed?
Just then, the silent Satsuki suddenly spoke, her voice lower than usual.
"Naruto... do you think I'm... very strange?"
Naruto turned to look at Satsuki, discovering her cheeks slightly flushed, her gaze somewhat evasive, as if she herself felt her earlier reaction might have been excessive, yet couldn't control those emotions.
Actually, Satsuki herself understood it was somewhat strange. But the problem was, the "beauty" Konohamaru's transformation jutsu created was far too realistic! From Satsuki's perspective, that instant had felt like witnessing firsthand a living, voluptuous woman flirting with Naruto!
If forced to make a comparison, that feeling was like Satsuki accidentally seeing an NTR doujin based on herself and Naruto, but with the content being "Naruto stolen by another woman"—if the shinobi world had such things.
Even though she rationally knew clearly it was fake, fictional, that intense sense of violation and anger still burned uncontrollably!
"Naruto..." Satsuki didn't wait for Naruto to answer the previous question, but continued asking, her tone becoming more serious. "Just now you said... he's still just a child?"
Naruto immediately nodded. What else could he do in this situation? Appease and agree.
Satsuki's next words, carrying an obsessive seriousness and possessiveness, clearly reached Naruto's ears. "A child... still doesn't count."
Those pitch-black eyes were exceptionally bright and determined, looking directly at Naruto. "Any form... is not allowed."
She slightly tightened her fingers gripping Naruto's wrist, emphasizing each word.
"You can only be mine."
Facing Satsuki's undisguised, obsessive possessiveness, this was the first time since they'd established that special relationship that Satsuki had so plainly spoken aloud the deepest exclusive declaration in her heart.
Naruto clearly felt that almost scorching emotion in Satsuki's words.
Unexpectedly, what surged through his heart wasn't pressure or trouble, but rather a strange warmth and... satisfaction?
Even he himself found this reaction somewhat odd—facing this possessiveness that wanted to completely envelop him, even with somewhat suffocating implications, he not only didn't feel stifled, but from the bottom of his heart rather liked this feeling of being cared for to the extreme, treasured as precious.
He turned to face Satsuki directly, his expression no longer showing earlier helplessness or teasing, replaced instead with solemn gentleness.
"I see..." Naruto said softly, his gaze carrying understanding and apology. "I'm sorry, I was too insensitive, didn't consider your feelings."
"Then I promise you, from now on no matter who it is—whether adult or child, no matter what kind of strange jutsu they use—my attention will only be on you alone."
He carefully observed Satsuki's reaction, asking with testing reassurance in a soft voice, "Is that... acceptable?"
Hearing Naruto's almost indulgent promise, Satsuki first froze, then those black eyes that had originally carried some grievance and stubbornness bloomed with astonishing brilliance like lit stars.
Intense joy and security washed over her entire body like warm currents, making her almost unable to control her rising smile.
She didn't immediately respond with words, but expressed her inner surge through action—her hand that had originally only gripped Naruto's wrist quietly slid down, becoming a tight grasp of Naruto's hand, ten fingers naturally intertwining and locking together.
Simultaneously, her body also leaned slightly closer toward Naruto, the flush on her cheeks deepening, yet carrying an indescribable happiness and sweetness. She gently nodded.
All jealousy, unease, and obsession melted in that promise into wordless dependence and intimacy.
Up ahead, deliberately maintaining some distance, Kakashi relied on shinobi superhuman hearing to catch that sickeningly sweet conversation between the two behind him. Though his face remained expressionless, he couldn't help thinking internally,
Young people these days... really something else.
"Alright, everyone worked hard today, so Team Seven is now dismissed..."
At the usual parting intersection, Kakashi spoke in his trademark lazy tone, but halfway through, paused slightly, his tone turning somewhat more serious.
"...Though I'd really like to just say that, there's still one official matter to notify you about."
The three—Naruto, Satsuki, and Sakura—who'd already been preparing to bid each other farewell, immediately focused their attention on Kakashi. Naruto's heart stirred slightly, a thought flashing through. This timing... could it be?
Kakashi pulled three neatly folded paper documents from his ninja tool pouch, handing them before the three.
"Though it's quite sudden, well... I've already recommended you three to participate in this term's Chunin Selection Exam in my capacity as jonin instructor. These are the exam application forms."
He waved the documents in his hand, continuing in a calm tone, his gaze sweeping across his three subordinates with assessing intent.
"That said, my recommendation isn't mandatory. The decision whether to participate in this exam rests entirely in your own hands."
His gaze lingered on the three faces momentarily, especially glancing at Sakura who seemed still digesting the information, then gave specific instructions.
"Those who want to participate in the exam, sign your name on this application form. Then five days from now, before 3 PM, arrive punctually at Room 301 of the Ninja Academy for registration."
"That's all." Kakashi finished speaking, stuffing the three application forms into each person's hands, then resumed his lazy appearance. "Alright, this time we're really dismissed. Go home and think it over carefully."
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