After the list of candidates for the third exam was finalized, everyone except Sasuke gathered again in the exit hall of the Forest of Death.
Seeing the Konoha's Ninjas making up over half of those present, Hiruzen paused slightly as he held his pipe, a complex look flickering in his eyes.
He was pleased that Konoha was producing so many talents, yet worried that these talents were too brilliant.
It had to be said that Hiruzen was a genuinely complicated person, and a genuinely real one.
He exhaled a plume of smoke and slowly explained the content of the third exam.
Like the preliminary round, it would still be individual combat, but the stage would be moved to the arena in the center of the village.
By then, they would showcase their strength before the nobles and dignitaries of various countries.
They would have a month to prepare, during which they could improve their strength or gather intelligence on their opponents.
As he finished speaking, Hiruzen stepped aside.
Anko behind him stepped forward, holding a draw box, a playful smile on her face: "Come on, decide your opponents."
Utaha, the first to pass the preliminary round, stepped forward. Her slender fingers reached into the box and pulled out a slip of paper.
"No. 7."
The candidates stepped forward one by one.
"Ah, I'm No. 1."
Megumi looked at the slip in her hand, speaking with some surprise.
Makoto glanced at her.
If he remembered correctly, in the original plot, No. 1 was supposed to be Naruto.
But now Naruto had drawn No. 3, so at least Megumi wouldn't have to face that increasingly overpowered unpredictable Ninja in the first round.
Then, Haruno stepped up to draw.
The moment she unfolded her slip, her expression tightened slightly before returning to normal. "I'm No. 2."
By the railing on the second floor, Yukino lowered her eyes.
'Nee-san's opponent... was that person's other student.'
Megumi and Haruno's eyes met across the space.
After a few seconds, Megumi nodded slightly: "Please take care of me."
Haruno also snapped back to reality and nodded in return.
In the past, she would have loved to tease these high school students her sister's age, taking pleasure in their embarrassment.
But after a month in this world, that habit had long been curbed.
After all, although these young ones weren't as monstrous as Makoto, they each had the ability to flip the table.
Haruno couldn't even imagine what kind of impact these people would bring to the real world when the mission ended.
Especially Makoto.
But... she also breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
Megumi seemed like the easiest of Makoto's disciples to deal with.
'I should be able to... avenge my sister, right?'
After the draw, Hiruzen announced the end of the session. The crowd left the Forest of Death in groups, the atmosphere much lighter than during the second exam.
Although most had been eliminated, being able to escape the Chunin Exams was a blessing.
The Forest of Death had a radius of only ten kilometers.
Led by the Jonin, they soon returned to the entrance of Konoha Village.
"Let's split up, then."
Asuma, cigarette in mouth, looked at his students. "Shikamaru, good luck in the third exam."
Of his squad, only Shikamaru had advanced.
Kurenai walked ahead in silence, her expression not looking good. All her students had been eliminated.
The crowd dispersed. The Yukinoshita sisters were about to go check on their parents, hoping their mother's anger had subsided.
Just then, Makoto spoke.
"Megumi, come with me for a moment."
Everyone stopped in their tracks, eyes falling on him.
"I'll give you special training this month."
Haruno's expression changed.
'Was that necessary?'
'She needed special training just to deal with me?'
Megumi was stunned for two seconds, then nodded: "Yes, I understand, Sensei."
Makoto turned to leave.
"Uh, um—"
An unexpected voice stopped him.
Eriri stood in front of Makoto, head down, ears red.
Everyone stared wide-eyed at the twin-tailed girl.
Airi, also a blonde twin-tail, immediately narrowed her eyes with suspicion.
'Are you, a knockoff, trying to take my place?'
'There can only be one blonde twin-tail in the Nishikawa Household, and that's me, Aizono Airi!'
Realizing the ambiguity in her words, Eriri quickly waved her hands: "N-No! It's just that my mom wants to thank you for saving me back then, and wanted to invite you to dinner..."
Naruto, Sakura, Shikamaru, and other native inhabitants looked puzzled… when had Makoto ever saved Eriri?
But they didn't know Eriri was referring to the first time they were transmigrated.
At that time, everyone thought Makoto had single-handedly completed the Uchiha Massacre mission, allowing them to return to the real world.
Because of this, Eriri, Hachiman, and the others all considered Makoto their savior.
Even though he was probably just focused on completing the mission and didn't care whether they lived or died.
But actions spoke louder than intentions… he had indeed saved their lives.
Hearing Eriri mention 'mother', Makoto recalled the beautiful woman in kimono who looked ninety percent like Eriri. He nodded: "Alright."
"Okay!" Eriri nodded firmly.
Although because of Tomoya, her feelings toward Makoto were limited. But repaying kindness was the baseline. A meal was no big deal.
She just had to make sure... that Tomoya didn't see.
The Yukinoshita sisters arrived at their mother's dessert shop.
The shop that had been destroyed was now rebuilt. When the finance department heard the words 'Nishikawa Makoto', they approved the funds without delay, and within days, the shop was as good as new.
Moreover, since Makoto had stood up for this shop and even killed someone, no one dared to cause trouble there again.
Inside, Mrs. Yukinoshita was still working alone.
Mr. Yukinoshita was nowhere to be seen.
The lady clearly hadn't reconciled with her husband yet.
"Mother—"
Haruno called out as she approached. Although she and her sister were both in awe of their mother, she could at least remain calm.
Besides, having successfully advanced to the third exam, she had some confidence in front of her mother.
Mrs. Yukinoshita glanced at her two daughters: "Wait for me."
After serving a few desserts to customers, she led her daughters to the kitchen.
"Yukino didn't pass?"
Mother and daughters sat facing each other. Mrs. Yukinoshita asked calmly.
She had already guessed the outcome from her daughters' expressions.
Yukino lowered her head, her fingers gripping her clothes.
Haruno quickly tried to mediate: "Mother, it's not that Yukino is weak, it's that her opponent was too strong."
"Oh? Who was the opponent?"
Mrs. Yukinoshita was calmer than expected.
Either because she had become more even-tempered since coming to this world, or because she was already completely disappointed in her family.
Haruno recounted the exam in detail.
Hearing that her younger daughter had lost to Makoto's student, Mrs. Yukinoshita's tightly furrowed brow relaxed slightly.
But when she heard that her older daughter's next opponent was another of Makoto's students, and that Makoto had just decided to give special training to that girl named Megumi—
Mrs. Yukinoshita grew uneasy.
She had the same thought as Haruno moments ago:
'Was Makoto targeting the Yukinoshita family!?'
If Makoto were present, he'd be absolutely speechless.
Misunderstanding.
Ma'am, it's a misunderstanding.
You're seriously overestimating your own importance.