34Teacher Hong, please teach me.AI Model: kimi-k2-instruct-0905Chapter 34 – Kurenai-sensei, Teach Me
The Ino-Shika-Cho Trio followed Asuma to the second floor of the tower.
The moment the door swung open, a faintly eerie atmosphere greeted them.
Every team that had passed the exam was gathered inside, yet the hall was deathly silent.
Everyone stood in a wide ring, wordlessly keeping a respectful distance from the center.
There, in the middle of the circle, stood a single squad.
'Naruto-kun…'
A soft, tender call shattered the frozen silence.
'It hurts…'
Following the voice, the trio's eyes locked onto that central squad.
Both Kiba and Shino wore awkward, helpless expressions.
Their Jōnin Instructor, Kurenai Yuhi, stood nearby, heaving a deep sigh.
'Who told you to get injured? Massage is supposed to get the blood moving—of course it hurts.'
Naruto directed two Shadow Clones to gently massage Hinata's shoulders.
He himself lay with his head pillowed on Hinata's lap, happily reading a book.
The instant they saw that Blond-haired Youth, the Ino-Shika-Cho Trio all shuddered.
An unpleasant memory surfaced in each of their minds.
'All right, step inside.'
Asuma patted their shoulders, only to find his Disciples frozen in place.
Shikamaru: '…Sensei, can we get some air first?'
Ino: 'I—I think I'm injured too; the Medical Unitshould take a look.'
Choji: 'I'm out of chips; I need to grab another bag…'
Asuma was completely bewildered.
The next second, Rock Lee and Tenten, who had also reached the second floor, froze.
Rock Lee: 'I should go check on Neji.'
Tenten: '…I'll go with you.'
All five spun around at once to see Hiruzen Sarutobi leading a group of Tokubetsu Jōnin and other Villages' Jōnin Instructors.
'Sandaime-sama!'
'Youngsters, don't block the doorway—move along.'
Hiruzen gave them a kindly smile, the embers in his pipe flickering.
They could only brace themselves and walk in.
The door clicked shut behind them.
Hiruzen stepped onto the raised platform, Tokubetsu Jōnin and regular Jōnin lining up behind him.
His gaze swept the examinees, twitching slightly when he noticed Naruto still lying on Hinata's lap.
'Na-Naruto-kun, Sandaime is about to speak…'
Hinata whispered.
'Idiot, get back to your own team!' Kiba snapped. 'Why are you still hogging our Team 8?'
'None of your business.'
Naruto didn't even lift his head, kept reading.
'A-hem…'
Hiruzen cleared his throat, pretended he hadn't seen, and solemnly said, 'First, congratulations on passing the second exam.'
One, two, three… he silently counted the candidates below.
Nineteen, hm? Is someone still with the Medical Unit?
That meant seven squads had cleared the second round.
More than expected.
He began explaining the original purpose of the Chunin Exams and the significance of the third stage.
'A Ninja's true strength is born only in life-or-death combat…'
'This exam displays a nation's Ninja power and your own…'
'Before the third stage begins, let me remind you: this is no ordinary test…'
'It is a battle where you stake your dreams and your Village's honor—fight with your life!'
Many candidates felt their fighting spirit ignite at his words.
Of course, some were unmoved.
Gaara said coldly, 'Long-winded. Just announce the rules.'
Hiruzen: '…'
No will of fire in that one!
At that moment, Gekkō Hayate stepped forward behind him.
'Hokage-sama.'
Hayate bowed. 'Please leave the rest to me, the proctor.'
Hiruzen nodded.
The candidates exchanged glances, puzzled by this unfamiliar, sickly-looking Jōnin.
Hayate gave a light cough to quiet them.
'I am Hayate Gekkō, chief examiner for the third stage.'
'Because so many passed the second stage, a preliminary round is required before the third stage begins.'
'This prelim will be individual, random-draw one-on-one matches.'
'Losers are eliminated; winners keep their spots for the third stage. Prepare yourselves—prelims start in five minutes.'
Five minutes?!
Shock rippled through the room.
Apart from Gaara and Naruto, every candidate bore some injury.
'Wait!' Ino raised her hand. 'Only five minutes to rest?'
Hayate nodded.
'On the battlefield you won't even get a second.'
'Um…'
Sakura raised her hand as well.
'My teammate's still in the Medical Unit—could we wait a bit?'
She meant the still-unconscious Sasuke.
'No,' Hayate said flatly. 'If he doesn't appear for his match, he forfeits.'
No way… Sakura clenched her fists.
'Any more questions?'
'If not, we begin the draw.'
'Round one—Dosu Kinuta versus… Uchiha Sasuke!'
…With that, the preliminaries officially began; the floor was cleared.
The candidates moved upstairs to watch.
Leaving everything to Hayate, Sandaime dispelled his Shadow Clone, and the other Tokubetsu Jōninleft as well.
Only Kakashi, Asuma, and the other Jōnin Instructors stayed, concerned for their students.
'Hey, you…'
'Still lying on Hinata? Get back to your own team!'
Kiba raged in vain while Shino asked curiously,
'Naruto, first match is Sasuke's—aren't you worried about your teammate?'
'Who cares.'
Kurenai glanced at her student: Hinata looked perfectly content, then at Naruto.
She too was at a loss with this Blond-haired Youth.
Suddenly Naruto looked straight at her.
Their eyes met; he lifted the book and asked, 'Kurenai-sensei, I don't get this part—can you teach me?'
Kurenai: '…'
Kurenai: 'I'm not your instructor—go ask Kakashi!'
Naruto: 'Come on. When you're not around I tutor Hinata for you; round it off and tutor me, we'll call it even.'
Kurenai was left speechless by his logic.
She stared at his utterly shameless, taking-an-inch-and-wanting-a-mile face.
Annoyed, she still walked over, crouched, and glanced at the page.
'…Medical Ninjutsu?'
Kurenai blinked.
He was actually reading this stuff.
The dense, serious theory made her wonder if her eyes were failing.
'Medical Ninjutsu demands extremely fine Chakracontrol; you can't learn it just by reading,' she said earnestly.
'Whatever.'
Naruto shrugged.
'I'm a Genius.'