'Huh...?!'
'Konoha was... attacked by an unknown assailant?!'
Hearing this,
Not only Kakashi, but even Naruto and the other two behind him were also startled!
'This is Konoha's home base. Someone dares to do such a thing right under the Hokage's nose?!'
Kakashi's expression immediately became serious, and he lowered his voice, saying:
"Shikaku-san,"
"What exactly... happened last night?"
Kakashi had been busy with his own matters in his residence all last night, so naturally, he didn't know what had happened.
And Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura behind him certainly knew even less.
They all stared intently at Shikaku, curious.
But, just at this moment,
From the distance, a group of Sunagakure's examinee suddenly entered, walking towards them.
Shikaku immediately realized this wasn't a suitable place to talk.
So, after giving Kakashi and the others a look, he immediately led them into a compartment beside the passage.
After entering, he intently looked at Kakashi and said in a low voice:
"The situation is sudden and of great importance."
"So, I cannot explain the specific details of last night to you yet, to avoid intelligence leaks."
"However, what I can tell you now is-"
"We have preliminarily grasped the scope of the attacker. It is definitely among the countries participating in this Chunin Exam! And, that Amegakure's Shinobi you just encountered, if he entered Konoha under a disguised identity... his suspicion is extremely high!"
"Therefore, I need you to test him out, so I can see if we can obtain favorable intelligence from it."
Shikaku spoke calmly, without hurry.
Clearly,
He must already be very suspicious in his mind, but he lacks key evidence.
After hearing this,
Kakashi also began to ponder.
He placed his hand on his chin, slightly lowering his eyes, his gaze flickering in the darkness.
In fact,
Even if Shikaku hadn't proposed this test, Kakashi himself wanted to find an opportunity to test him.
After all,
This golden-eyed guy was the only person who had ever mentioned the name "Uchiha Obito" to him.
At the same time, he was also the only person who had declared the fact that "Obito is still alive".
Therefore, no matter what,
Kakashi wanted to get more accurate intelligence from him.
So, after considering for a moment, Kakashi raised his eyes again and said intently:
"Shikaku-san, I'll give it a try."
"However, that guy always seems lackadaisical and might not be willing to make a move... so we need to think of a suitable method."
As his words faded, Shikaku gently nodded.
Since it was a test,
A suitable reason was indeed necessary.
However,
Just as they were thinking of a reason, Naruto beside them suddenly spoke up.
"Hey, Kakashi-sensei, how about letting me try?!"
"...?"
At this sudden remark,
Everyone was momentarily stunned and looked over at him.
At this moment, Naruto had his hands behind his head, raised his chin with a grin, and said with a confident smile:
"Hehe, your goal, and Uncle Shikaku's, is to see him make a move, right?"
"In that case, if I go up and provoke him, won't that easily do it, haha?!"
"...Huh?"
"Provoke???"
Hearing this, before Shikaku and Kakashi could react, Sasuke and Sakura beside them both looked strange.
Sasuke frowned slightly and said blandly: "Hey, idiot, what if he doesn't accept the provocation?"
Sakura beside him nodded, covered her face with her hand very speechlessly, and sighed: "Ah, Sasuke-kun is right. Naruto, can you think before you speak..."
However, hearing this, Naruto immediately showed an unconvinced expression, looked at them, pouted, clenched his fist, and gritted his teeth, saying:
"Hmph, although I'm not good with words and not good at lecturing... I'm very good at provoking enemies. Don't underestimate me, damn it!!"
"..."
Hearing this, Shikaku and Kakashi exchanged glances, both looking somewhat helpless.
The method Naruto mentioned... although it sounded a bit direct and rough, even a bit thoughtless,
It did seem to be the simplest method currently available.
Moreover, having him, Konoha's problem child, do the provoking was indeed much safer than Kakashi doing it himself.
At least it wouldn't alert the enemy...
Thinking this,
Shikaku's expression regained its gravity, and he looked at Naruto, saying:
"Naruto, your words are very reasonable,"
"If I entrust this task of provocation and testing to you... can you do it?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Sasuke and Sakura beside him were momentarily stunned.
'Huh?'
'No way...'
'They're really going to let Naruto use this method to test...?'
However,
Naruto didn't care about their expressions. Instead, he instantly put his hands on his hips and said with a confident, loud laugh:
"Hehe, leave it to me! Uncle Shikaku can rest assured!"
...
A moment later,
Kakashi led Naruto and the other two to the final preparation area.
Entering from here leads to the exam venue.
Therefore, teachers from various villages had to stop here and were not allowed to proceed further.
When Kakashi and the others arrived,
This spacious area was already filled with various examinees.
They often stood in groups of three or five, and could basically be divided into several large areas.
On the left, Konoha, with the largest number of examinees.
In the middle, Sunagakure, with the second largest number.
Then on the right were various small countries' Shinobi Villages, like Takigakure, Kusagakure, Otogakure, Amegakure, and so on.
The moment he arrived,
Kakashi immediately saw Kyo and the others from the Amegakure ahead.
But at this moment,
He seemed about to turn and leave.
He had his hands in his pockets and walked leisurely towards the exit here.
Naruto's eyes flickered, and he raised his head and said in a low voice:
"Kakashi-sensei... is it this guy?"
As his words faded,
Kakashi nodded and said in a deep voice:
"That's right."
"But Naruto, be careful. Once he makes a move, don't continue fighting. Leave it to me."
"This guy, although he wears glasses and looks very honest, his strength... might be very formidable."
"Hehe... I know!"
Naruto grinned, then cleared his throat.
"Cough!"
The next moment,
He suddenly leaped onto a stone slab nearby,
Then, he suddenly reached out, one hand on his hip, the other pointing directly at Kyo ahead, curled his lips, and then shouted very noisily:
"Hey hey hey hey hey hey hey!!!!"
"That Amegakure glasses guy over there!! What's with your lackadaisical idiot look!!!!"
"If you don't have the strength, don't try to carry a sword and put on airs like others!!"
"Coming to our Konoha's Chunin Exams with such a negative attitude! Be careful, Naruto-sama will smash your glasses in the upcoming exam, dattebayo!!"
"!!"
Naruto's rough and slightly hoarse voice instantly echoed throughout the entire preparation area.
In an instant, the whole place fell dead silent!!
His almost name-calling insults and provocations instantly stunned everyone present!
Even Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura, who were already mentally prepared, were completely wide-eyed and jaw-dropped at this moment!
And all the Shinobi in the preparation area naturally immediately looked in the direction Naruto was pointing.
There, on the other side of the preparation area,
Aa brown-haired Amegakure's Shinobi with a black sword at his waist had stopped and was standing in the very center of the plaza.
Seeing it was him, many people were completely confused.
They couldn't understand why this yellow-haired idiot boy from Konoha suddenly started spewing profanity at this person from Amegakure...
However,
What they didn't know,
Was that at the same time,
Some people were instantly completely dumbfounded!
First,
Was Yakushi Kabuto!
At this moment, he was wide-eyed, with an expression almost like he'd seen a ghost, looking at Naruto ahead, doubting if his ears had heard correctly.
'Wh-What!?!'
'That idiot... suddenly dares to provoke Kyo-sama!?'
'Is he crazy!?'
'This has absolutely got to be crazy, right?!'
Kabuto was completely frozen for a moment, even unsure of what to do.
He opened his mouth, wanting to speak but stopping.
And at this moment,
Equally dumbfounded as him were all the Shinobi from Sunagakure.
At this moment, whether they were the background shinobi with forgettable faces, or Temari, Kankuro, or Gaara,
After hearing this, all their pupils contracted sharply, and they froze completely!
A cold sweat suddenly rose from their backs,
Everyone stared at Naruto, who was loudly shouting ahead, with looks as if they were looking at an idiot.
'Th-This...'
'What the hell, do you know who he is... and you're already mouthing off?!'
'Is this how you seek death?!'
'Don't you want to live anymore?!'