After leaving the office, Anko found a secluded corner and contacted Naruto.
"…Understood. I'll be careful not to let the Nine-Tails' chakra affect me."
In a restroom somewhere, Naruto tucked the snake back into his sleeve.
This situation wasn't hard for him at all—if anything, it was a welcome surprise.
"Hiruzen wants to take me as his disciple. Talk about a pillow delivered the moment I yawned."
He felt a spark of excitement.
Before, Naruto had been stuck with no clean way to learn new jutsu. Training under Kakashi wasn't realistic—Kakashi was about to teach Sasuke Chidori, and their chakra natures didn't align anyway.
Seeking Jiraiya? In canon that would start with a blood contract and summoning jutsu—great, but not what Naruto needed right now.
What he urgently lacked was mobility.
Hiruzen, though, was different. A famed master of ninjutsu, with a whole library of techniques. Studying under him meant options.
One thought rose sharply in Naruto's mind—if he could learn that technique, he might become truly unrivaled among his peers before the third round.
And the political value of becoming Hokage's disciple… didn't even need saying.
"But I can't use Nine-Tails chakra in the fight later. Speed-running won't work. I'll need another way."
He returned to Sakura and Sasuke.
…
Inside the huge arena, the genin who passed gathered in the center. Ahead of them stood jōnin from various villages, Konoha's jōnin and elders, and Hiruzen in full Hokage robes at the front.
"First, congratulations on passing the brutal second stage…"
He followed the usual script, explaining the purpose of the chunin exams, emphasizing their cruelty, and urging everyone to give everything they had.
Naruto glanced around, counting survivors.
"Six squads… eighteen people." He calculated silently. "The Konoha rookies, the Sand trio, and Kabuto's team. Aside from the Sound trio wiped out earlier, everyone else made it."
Only one squad fewer than canon.
What Naruto didn't notice was how many eyes were already on him.
Neji never once looked away, studying Naruto. He realized Team Seven didn't look battered at all—nothing like the dusty, exhausted groups all around them.
"What a powerful rival…"
Ino-Shika-Chō wore complicated expressions. They had seen Naruto's Rasengan ambush on Kin and Sakura's monstrous showing.
Kabuto's gaze drifted between Naruto and Sasuke, but his interest in Naruto was clearly stronger.
The "Konoha F4" watched Naruto's calm demeanor closely. Danzo especially—when he looked at Naruto, Naruto met his gaze and smiled politely with a nod.
"So he dares provoke me… the evil Nine-Tails," Danzo thought coldly, keeping his face unreadable.
Only Tenten and Hinata were secretly shining with excitement.
"Then next—cough cough—I'll explain the preliminaries."
Hayate stepped out, hacking a few times hard enough to make everyone grimace, then outlined the rules.
"…After hearing this, anyone who wishes to withdraw or is physically unfit, raise your hand."
Kabuto predictably raised his hand and withdrew.
No one cared.
"Any others?" Hayate scanned them weakly. "Then there are seventeen participants. According to the draw, one person will get a bye straight to the final round."
Instant uproar.
"What?!"
"Are you sure you didn't mess that up?"
"A bye? That isn't fair!"
"What kind of bullshit is this—"
Noise exploded across the floor.
"Interesting." Naruto muttered. In canon there were seven squads—twenty-one people, and after Kabuto withdrew, it became an even twenty. No byes.
Hayate coughed, trying to regain control. "Um, everyone—"
"Quiet!"
A sharp shout cut through the arena.
Silence fell.
The blond boy in the middle swept his gaze across them, his presence suddenly like a monarch scolding his court.
"A bye is a bye. Why are you all whining?"
His eyes were razor-sharp. "A ninja's battle is full of randomness. One second late with a jutsu, one breath early with a weapon can change the outcome—change fate."
"Third Grandpa just said the chunin exam is a miniature of war. Did you all forget already?"
"Luck is part of strength."
His voice was clear, his aura crushing. More importantly, he had deliberately called Hiruzen "Third Grandpa" right there.
Naruto's survival trick: when you meet a leader who favors you, seize every chance to perform and show respect.
Since he already knew Hiruzen planned to take him as a disciple, Naruto had to return the gesture and lock it in.
Third Grandpa—tell the loyal from the treacherous!
Just as expected, Hiruzen smiled and nodded in satisfaction.
After another beat of silence, Temari finally muttered, "But still, the bye person gets a huge advantage…"
Not everyone bought Naruto's speech.
Hayate coughed again, relieved to regain the floor. "That classmate is right—luck is part of strength. We'll draw now and reveal the bye on the screen."
He nodded to Anko, and a large monitor descended.
"The bye name will be shown here."
Beep-beep went the automated voice as names flickered.
Then it stopped.
Haruno Sakura.
Naruto's face twitched.
He had just made that grand speech, and now his teammate got the bye.
Sakura stepped out calmly and walked up to the stands, unfazed.
"Hey, hey, hey!"
Right beside Naruto, a masked boy with round sunglasses erupted and pointed at Naruto.
"This isn't rigged, is it? What are the odds the bye is your teammate?!"
Naruto was speechless.
You want her to come down and punch you instead?
Could you even survive her fist?
Do you people understand what humanitarian care in Konoha means?!
Naruto narrowed his eyes. "You. What's your name?"
"Hah?" The boy hadn't expected that. "Akadō Yoroi. What's it to you?"
"Nothing. I'm asking for her."
Yoroi laughed in fury. "Good. You'd better pray I don't draw you!"
Naruto quietly filed the name away.
Since the draw had changed, would his opponent change too?
…
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