"Don't ask me. I don't know what's going to happen either. This is all Genya's own thought!"
Kurenai looked at Kakashi's stunned expression and could only shake her head helplessly.
How could she possibly guess what Genya was thinking?
Yet both of them shared one understanding: something important might happen during the Chunin Exams.
But exactly what that would be, they didn't know yet.
Kakashi's expression grew unusually serious. He knew very well that with Genya's current strength, even a casual decision could affect the fate of many people.
He wasn't worried about the Konoha leadership facing danger, but about certain actions affecting the civilians.
A single mistake could bring catastrophic consequences to Konoha. Genya's power and influence were just too strong.
With only a brief exchange of glances, the two moved apart, leaving only Kakashi and his three students behind.
Naruto continued to chatter loudly. He looked at Uchiha Sasuke, his forehead creased in confusion and a hint of shock. "Sasuke, what's wrong with you?"
When Sasuke didn't answer, Naruto scratched his head, puzzled, and asked again, "The brother Genya mentioned… is he the same person you've always been trying to kill?"
He kept talking, while carefully observing Sasuke's changing expressions.
Although Naruto seemed carefree on the outside, his mind was constantly working. He tried to understand something from Sasuke's expressions while also thinking: what does the Chunin Exam have to do with Sasuke's brother?
Naruto's mind raced. He seemed to sense, even vaguely, that something major would happen during the upcoming Chunin Exams.
"Hmph, what does Genya want to do, saying such strange things!" Sakura muttered, watching Genya and his group leave. "Good thing he left, or I would have given him a piece of my mind!"
Seeing Sasuke's emotions fluctuate so much, she also became irritated.
In her eyes, if Genya hadn't left in time, she would have already rushed over to teach that kid a lesson.
How could Uchiha Genya treat Sasuke like that just because he was the son of the Uchiha clan leader?
Next time I see Genya, I'll make sure to teach him a lesson!
"Teach Genya a lesson? Sakura, you better give up that idea!" Naruto interrupted, listening to Sakura's words. "You're no match for Genya!"
"What? You're saying I can't beat a useless member of the Uchiha clan?" Sakura was furious at Naruto's words. She pointed at him and scolded, "Do you think I'm weak?"
Not to mention anything else, saying she couldn't beat Genya—the so-called useless Uchiha—was an insult.
It was ridiculous. Everyone in Konoha knew that Uchiha Genya was just a spoiled brat who relied on his clan's status to act high and mighty.
Even during the graduation exam, he had barely passed.
Someone like him could never be her match.
"Sakura, I'm telling the truth!" Naruto felt a little wronged but still insisted, "Right now, you're not Genya's match!"
"Don't think just because you're close to Genya that he's stronger than me. Everyone knows he's a useless Uchiha!" Sakura placed her hands on her hips, staring at Naruto with seriousness and contempt in her eyes.
Naruto looked at Sakura, feeling speechless. Maybe he really needed to reevaluate his judgment. Perhaps Sakura wasn't right for him at all.
From the beginning, Sakura had never really listened to him. No… she had never respected him at all.
"Hmph, this little girl really has no idea about the world. Does she really think Genya is useless?" The Nine-Tails complained to Naruto in the mental world as he listened to Sakura ramble on.
A few years ago, Genya could already enter Natruto's mental space directly and even absorb its chakra!
Now, the Nine-Tails couldn't understand how someone as talented as Genya could be called useless by some clueless girl. It was absurd!
At this point, Genya might even be stronger than the Nine-Tails, yet a little girl looked down on him.
Sure enough, she was just a naive girl who had never seen the world.
"All right… let's go." Kakashi looked at the bickering Naruto and Sakura and urged them to move along.
Then, he led the group toward the mission office to submit their mission.
"Do you all want to participate in the upcoming Chunin Exams?" Kakashi asked his students. He thought they were strong enough, and if they signed up, the Third Hokage might approve.
"Sign up? Of course I'm signing up!" Naruto was the first to speak, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
Sasuke, who had been silent until now, also nodded and said briefly but firmly, "I'm joining!"
At this moment, Sasuke still didn't understand why Genya said his brother would come to Konoha during the Chunin Exams. But just to see Itachi, he decided to participate in the exams.
"I'm joining too!" Sakura saw that Sasuke was joining and quickly nodded as well. She thought that participating alongside Sasuke might give her a chance to help him.
That night, inside the Hokage's office.
"The Uchiha brat is back?" Hiruzen Sarutobi took a drag from his pipe, lifting his eyelids slightly. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes, making Asuma, who had just walked in, straighten up.
But Hiruzen already knew that Uchiha Genya had returned safely.
The events in the Land of Waves had already spread.
Uchiha Genya had mobilized people from the Uchiha Merchant Association to annihilate the Gatō Company, winning the favor of the Land of Waves.
This news had spread throughout the ninja world and greatly enhanced the reputation of the Uchiha clan.
Not only had they made a name for themselves, but they had also gained the goodwill of the ninja world.
It was a brilliant move. Among all the clans in the ninja world, the Uchiha clan's reputation was growing better and better, with some even seeing them as saviors.
But the higher the Uchiha clan's prestige grew, the greater the threat became to the Sarutobi clan and Hiruzen's position as Hokage.
As for that useless Uchiha brat, no matter where he went, Genya always had people protecting him. Even schemes couldn't kill this kid.
Asuma Sarutobi nodded, confirming, "Not only has he returned, he's participating in the Chunin Exams too!"
"The Uchiha brat is taking the Chunin Exams?"
Hiruzen hadn't expected this. Uchiha Genya was actually going to take the Chunin Exams?
Interesting.
If that useless Uchiha took the Chunin Exams, it wouldn't just embarrass Konoha. It would embarrass the Uchiha clan as well.
Especially since a useless kid was the heir of the Uchiha clan—who would take the development of the Uchiha seriously then?
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