Hearing Danzo's words, Naruto calmly met his gaze.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Danzo." His voice was magnetic, and a gentle smile graced his face.
Danzo's purpose was none other than to have him join Root. Naruto had learned from Minato that Root's methods for handling incidents were more covert and sordid. Moreover, Root had always been conducting some… interesting experiments. To be honest, compared to ANBU, Root was more suitable for Naruto.
However, Naruto was currently aligned with the Third Hokage. That was the biggest problem.
"Naruto, I believe you understand my intentions," Danzo said with a benevolent smile, his eyes crinkling. "Root has very deep and thorough research into Kekkei Genkai. It is the most suitable place for your growth. As long as you become my disciple, I will not only develop your Kekkei Genkai but also give you enough time and space to grow. In Root, you can take on countless high-difficulty missions and fight more jonin."
"The strong do not fear challenges; the weak only cower in greenhouses. For you at this stage, gradual progress is actually your biggest hindrance."
Danzo's words struck a chord deep within Naruto. If not for his consideration for the Third Hokage, Naruto might have followed Danzo without a second thought. He could only feign disinterest and decline Danzo's invitation: "I'm sorry, but at this stage, I still want to stay with my comrades."
"You don't need to rush to refuse me. Think it over carefully. Root's doors are always open for you." Danzo, rejected again, was not discouraged in the slightest. He smiled, leaned on his cane, and departed.
The moment he turned, however, his expression grew cold. He always got what he wanted. He did not like being refused!
Watching Danzo's departing figure, Minato, within Naruto, said softly, "Danzo is very dangerous, Naruto."
"Dangerous? Tch. With me around, what's there to fear?" The Nine-Tails was sprawled chair, his chubby belly exposed, two feet propped up on the table, claws deftly maneuvering a mouse and keyboard between his crossed ankles, eyes glued to the computer screen. "Instead of worrying about Naruto, you should probably prepare to leave this place."
"You'll be cooperating with Orochimaru later. Be careful you don't end up as one of his experiments~~" the Nine-Tails teased Minato with a wicked grin.
Minato, however, looked worried. After he left, Naruto would be without his strategist.
Ignoring the bickering between the Nine-Tails and Minato within him, Naruto displayed a flawless, gentle smile. "Danzo… is an interesting person."
Early the next morning, villagers streamed in droves towards the arena. What followed would be the final stage of the Chunin Exams, and also the most shocking, most exciting battles.
Just as dawn was breaking, ANBU operatives were already stationed along all major streets. Naruto moved through the large trees lining the streets, each light tap of his toes carrying him a great distance forward.
When he arrived at the arena, it was already almost packed to capacity.
"Over here, Naruto!" From a great distance, Sakura waved energetically at Naruto, her small face alight with excitement. When Naruto approached, Sakura shyly presented a meticulously prepared bento, her cheeks flushed. Sasuke hadn't arrived yet; he was probably still training hard. Naruto had seen Jiraiya and Sasuke at the training grounds yesterday when he went out to buy ingredients. According to them, Jiraiya was giving Sasuke some intensive last-minute training. Naruto naturally approved wholeheartedly. Sasuke's current progress was still a bit too slow. Jiraiya, though unreliable as a person, was still a decent teacher.
Before long, everyone was in place, and the final stage of the Chunin Exams was about to begin.
Rock Lee came over to Naruto, cheering him on: "Naruto, you have to win for my sake too!"
"I will. Thank you, Lee."
"It's such a pity. I prepared for so long, yet I got eliminated early." Rock Lee scratched his head, smiling foolishly, but his smile was tinged with bitterness. He had originally planned to showcase all his efforts in the Chunin Exams and make Naruto see him in a new light. In the end, he had disappointed everyone, and himself.
Naruto saw the distress in Rock Lee's heart. He gently patted Lee's shoulder and leaned against the railing with him, chuckling softly, "Lee, passing or failing an exam doesn't negate a person's effort."
Rock Lee looked up, bewildered, his voice somewhat dejected, "Sasuke's talent is better than mine, and he works very hard too. In just a few short months, he surpassed me. If it weren't for Kakashi-sensei and Guy-sensei, I might be lying in the hospital right now."
"Naruto, you said effort is my talent, but why can't I see any hope of surpassing Sasuke now?"
Sasuke worked hard. But in terms of sheer effort, he couldn't compare to Rock Lee. Rock Lee's effort was the kind that pushed beyond human limits. Yet even so, the distance between him and Sasuke was already widening, and soon Sasuke would be too far ahead to even see his dust.
"Lee, no effort yields immediate results," Naruto said, smiling as he looked towards the arena. The audience in the surrounding stands was cheering, waiting for the battles to begin. Yet Naruto couldn't immerse himself in such an atmosphere.
"The path of Taijutsu training is inherently difficult. Even if you put in twice the effort of others, the results you reap might not match theirs. However, the subtle changes in your body and the tempering of your will are all real and tangible."
"What you lack is merely an opportunity—an opportunity for all your past efforts to fully materialize, a breakthrough after long accumulation."
Naruto's eyes were profound, as if he had thought of something, and a meaningful smile touched his lips.
"An opportunity…?" Rock Lee's eyes were dazed as he murmured to himself.
"That's right. An opportunity to be completely transformed, to be reborn anew," Naruto's whispering words echoed in Rock Lee's mind.
The sunlight was warm, refracting into an unusually beautiful brilliance. At that moment, an image of a sword inexplicably appeared in Rock Lee's mind, along with a thought: "If I had a Zanpakuto, would I be able to possess strength like Naruto's?"
After the fantasy, he shook his head, his heart even more bitter. The gap between fantasy and reality was too vast. How could he possibly possess a Zanpakuto? What he needed to do now was only to work even harder!!
"Thank you, Naruto!" But Naruto was right; his efforts would surely pay off in the future.
"I always need you to guide me. I'm really sorry about that," Rock Lee scratched his head sheepishly.
"How could that be? We're best friends, after all," Naruto said softly with a meaningful smile. "Lee, you've always silently supported me, so of course, I have to help you too."
"That's right! No matter what you do in the future, Naruto, I'll help you!!!" Rock Lee declared firmly.
After this interlude, the final stage of the Chunin Exams officially began.
Under the watchful eyes of all, the Third Hokage, dressed in his Hokage robes, walked to a high platform and began a speech about the Will of Fire.
"Where leaves dance, flames will burn… With this, I declare the Chunin Exams… officially open!"
The entire venue erupted in thunderous applause.
"First match: Uzumaki Naruto versus Hyuga Neji." As the words fell, the cheers in the venue paused for a second, then murmurs arose.
"It's actually Uzumaki Naruto! Is that…"
"He's even participating in the Chunin Exams?"
"Why did the Third still let him become a ninja? Isn't it too dangerous?"
"Who knows?"
"His opponent is Hyuga Neji. I want to see how badly he loses."
The villagers' malice towards Naruto was still predominant.
Naruto ignored these discussions. With a slight movement, he used Shunpo to appear in the center of the arena.
"Damn it! The first match is actually against Naruto!" Neji's expression wasn't good. Just yesterday, covered in injuries, he had barely defeated Naruto. Today, he was actually up against the person he least wanted to face. He glanced at Hinata, who was looking at Naruto with utter admiration, her eyes holding no one else.
Neji sighed, thinking silently, "Lady Hinata, if you wish to change the fate of the branch family, you cannot indulge in romance too early. I will show you with a victory that strength is what you should be pursuing now."
Neji's expression turned stern as he walked towards the center of the arena.
The two faced each other from a distance, but the atmosphere was not as tense as Neji had imagined. The Naruto opposite him wore a gentle, leisurely smile, his gaze even following a butterfly fluttering nearby, as if he didn't regard Neji at all.
Neji's eyes instantly turned cold.
"Naruto, you're too arrogant!! I am different from who I was before!" Neji said coldly. He still remembered the nonchalant Naruto after that one blow had defeated him. That indifferent gaze still bothered him deeply. For countless days and nights, he had trained with this shame, yearning for the day he could defeat Naruto and avenge his defeat. His strength was the most underestimated; even Hinata, despite her rapid progress, couldn't catch up to him.
"Uzumaki Naruto!" he raised his voice, drawing Naruto's attention, and declared emphatically, "I will defeat you, no matter what it takes!!"
"Okay," Naruto nodded warmly. There was absolutely no hint of mockery, but rather a feeling of firm belief. Neji sensed respect in it. He paused, a sudden pang of guilt striking him. Naruto had always been everyone's sun, yet he himself had harbored hostility towards him.
"Damn it, why am I having this thought?" He shook his head, banishing the idea, and assumed the Gentle Fist's opening stance. Compared to Rock Lee's Taijutsu, the Hyuga clan's Gentle Fist was like the opposite side of the coin, embodying softness to its extreme.
"Go, Naruto! But don't beat Brother Neji too badly! I still want him to train with me today!" In the stands, Hinata clasped her hands together, praying quietly. It was just that the content of her prayer wasn't what Neji wanted to hear.
"Big Sis Boss! We finally found you!!" A few kids ran up to Hinata along a small path, saying in their childish voices, "Big Sis Boss, why are your eyes practically sparkling?"
"Big Sis Boss, is there someone you like in there?"
Hinata had always projected a domineering and cool image in front of children; when had she ever shown such a girlish demeanor?
"Yes. Remember this, that blond-haired boy is the one I like," Hinata admitted openly and generously.
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