Chapter 124
No wonder that guy always targets me...
Hinata chuckled softly, "Actually, Naruto-kun, aren't you the same? What you care about most is Sasuke, right?"
"Me? Care about him? Don't be ridiculous..."
Hinata didn't argue, she just secretly smiled.
"Oh, right, Hinata, tell me more about the Chunin Exams..."
Hinata shook her head, "Actually, I only know this much..."
"But, anyway, it's about to start soon, so we'll all know then."
"And, I, it's time for me to go home..."
Naruto was a little disappointed, but he quickly hid it.
"Hahaha, I almost forgot, you've been away from home for so long, your family must be worried."
"Go quickly, go quickly!"
Hinata was clearly a little reluctant, "Naruto-kun..."
Naruto patted his chest, "Oh, I'm fine, I've been used to it for so many years!"
"Alright, alright..."
"Then, Naruto-kun, see you tomorrow."
"Oh! See you tomorrow!"
Hinata's figure gradually faded into the distance, and Naruto's forced smile also vanished.
Loneliness and solitude involuntarily appeared on his face.
But... "Ha, what's the big deal? I'll be able to make a name for myself soon anyway!"
Even though he said that, Naruto still couldn't help but lower his head.
"Forget it, forget it, what am I overthinking..."
"Right now, I have Iruka-sensei, Kakashi-sensei, and Bushy Brow Sensei, Asuma-sensei, plus Hinata... well, let's add Sasuke too..."
"I'm no longer alone like before."
Thinking of this, Naruto regained his usual vitality.
"And, now I'm a recognized genius Ninja!"
"Hmm, I'll go home and continue training, ready to welcome the Chunin Exams!"
...Back home, Naruto once again sorted out his thoughts and checked his current progress.
His original Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and Pseudo-NinjaTaijutsu proficiency had all increased significantly again.
The newly mastered Wind Release: Great Breakthrough and Wind Style: Wind Cutter Technique had also increased in proficiency to sixty or seventy percent.
There was still a lot of room for improvement.
In addition, within three days, Naruto completed Kakashi-sensei's rigorous special training and also completed system big brother's mission, receiving a special reward.
A new entry... [Wind Release Mastery]!
When training and using Wind Release Ninjutsu, you will achieve twice the results with half the effort, improving training efficiency and enhancing Wind Release power!
For Naruto, this was a truly significant benefit.
It further strengthened his determination to become a master in the Wind Release field.
"I want to become the strongest Wind ReleaseNinja!"
Naruto quickly ate his meal and soon began new training.
After activating the [Wind Release Mastery] entry, he once again persevered in "inhuman" special training, which was the "mental split" training arranged by Kakashi-sensei!
Although it was indeed anti-human, Naruto also found that after experiencing such tempering, his mastery of Wind Release Ninjutsu was indeed improving and reaching a new level!
"Chunin Exams?"
"Besides Konoha Village, many strong people from other Villages will also come..."
"Perfect, let the entire Ninja World witness the splendor of Uzumaki Naruto!"
And the system officially issued a new mission.
[Please, Host, in the upcoming Chunin Exams, conquer everyone with your own strength and successfully advance to Chunin! Upon success, you will receive a system reward; if you fail, you will be baptized by the system's Lightning Release!]
For Naruto, this was nothing.
Because he had already sworn to prove himself.
However... after this sentence, the system had another sentence... [The Chunin Exams are conducted in a team format. While ensuring that you become a Chunin, the Host must also ensure that both teammates also advance to Chunin, otherwise the mission will be considered a failure!]
Naruto: "...Nani?!"
"I can manage myself, but can I manage others?!"
Although he said one thing but meant another, and actually cared a lot about Hinata and Sasuke, the problem was... his own strength was one thing, but ensuring that both teammates also advanced to Chunin was beyond his capabilities.
Of course, Sasuke and Hinata were also very strong, but... any assessment has randomness.
What if their opponents were him?
He couldn't guarantee that both of them would win, could he?!
Naruto's original high spirits suddenly turned into immense pressure.
"No, I must urge Hinata and Sasuke to work hard too!"
Thinking of this, Naruto decided to... pressure the two of them starting tomorrow!
If they're going to compete, they'll compete together!
...The next day, at the agreed meeting time, Kakashi, of course, didn't show up.
Naruto then took the opportunity to express his thoughts to Hinata and Sasuke.
"Hinata, Sasuke, let's all do our best in this Chunin Exams!"
Hinata was fine, she nodded.
Sasuke, however, frowned and said, "What do you mean?"
After all, Naruto had never said anything encouraging to him before... Naruto coughed, "What do I mean? We're all members of Team 7, of course I hope everyone can advance to Chunin!"
"And I heard that the Chunin Exams are conducted in a team format, which means..."
"Our Team 7 is a whole! Which is like..."
Hinata said, "United we stand, divided we fall."
"Exactly, exactly!"
Sasuke snorted, "What do you mean? Do you think I'll hold you back?!"
Naruto originally wanted to say that he didn't mean that, but then he thought, Sasuke only responds to provocation, not persuasion, so it's better to provoke him.
"Ah, I do have that concern."
Sasuke, as expected, was furious, "Loser, do you want to fight?"
"It's not certain who the Loser is now!"
"You—"
Hinata quickly said, "Alright, Naruto-kun, Sasuke, don't argue anymore..."
"Actually, actually, the strength of our Team 7, if we're not being humble, is definitely considered strong among all teams. If we were to lose, the biggest possibility wouldn't be strength..."
"But rather like just now, Naruto-kun and Sasukehaving internal strife..."
Naruto and Sasuke both knew she was right, but neither of them was willing to back down.
"Sasuke, then let's settle it in the Chunin Exams!"
"If we get to face each other, I won't hold back."
"However, if we don't face each other, whoever fails to advance to Chunin will never be able to hold their head up again!"
Sasuke angrily said, "Good! Whoever fails to advance will be inferior for life!"
Naruto secretly curled his lips, revealing a cunning, triumphant smile.
At this moment, Kakashi, as usual, arrived late.
"Yo! Good morning!"
Naruto couldn't help but point angrily, "You're getting later and later! Kakashi-sensei!"
"Well, I can't help it, today I met an old woman who was lost..."
"Only a ghost would believe that!"
"Just get to the point!"
Kakashi scratched his head, feigning ignorance, "What point?"
"The Chunin Exams, of course!"
"Oh, you already know? You're well-informed..."
"Anyway, that's what it is."
"What is what?!"
Kakashi smiled, "Don't worry, I've already signed up all three of you."
"The assessment officially begins in about ten days."
Naruto was overjoyed, "That's great!"
Kakashi smiled, "Don't be happy too soon. Before that, we still have to train and carry out missions as usual."
"Hmm... Today's mission is..."
"Help the Daimyo's wife find her missing cat."
Naruto: "...How did we get back to square one?!"
"We've already killed Zabuza and completed an A-rank mission!"
Kakashi scratched his head, "There's nothing I can do. Even so, as long as you haven't passed the Chunin Exams, you're still just Genin, and can only be assigned missions of this level."
Naruto crossed his arms and pouted, "Hmph, it seems I have to become a Chunin, otherwise these days will never end!"
Hinata and Sasuke also deeply agreed...
"Alright, let's go!"
...Of course, a mission like finding a cat was no challenge for Team 7.
Under Hinata's Byakugan's perception, they quickly discovered the traces of this habitual runaway.
"Naruto-kun, Sasuke, on the tree by that street!"
"Okay!"