The next time he saw Kakashi Hatake was during a break after a routine Team 7 training session.
This silver-haired Jonin, who usually presented an image of laziness, tardiness, and a love for reading erotic novels, seemed a bit different today.
He wasn't leaning against a tree reading his book as usual; instead, he stood at the edge of the training ground with his hands behind his back, gazing at the distant Hokage Rock.
Though his face was still covered by a mask, leaving only one eye visible in a crescent-shaped smile, the aura radiating from him was inexplicably smug and cheerful, as if even his perennially messy silver hair had smoothed out a bit.
"Kakashi-sensei, you seem... a bit different today?"
Sakura keenly noticed the change and asked curiously.
Naruto, having finished his routine training, was sitting on the ground drinking water, while Sasuke leaned against a tree with his arms crossed, resting with his eyes closed, though his ears twitched slightly.
Hearing this, Kakashi turned around, the smile in his exposed eye deepening.
He had been waiting for them to ask.
He cleared his throat and said in a deliberately casual tone:
"Ah, I just wanted to let you know. I'm getting married to Karin next month."
Naruto, knowing this was bound to happen sooner or later, wasn't surprised.
Sakura's green eyes instantly widened, her mouth forming an 'O' shape, her face written with disbelief.
Even Sasuke, who had been resting with his eyes closed, snapped them open, a flash of astonishment crossing his dark pupils.
So fast!
That was the first thought that popped into Sakura's head. In her mind, the time Kakashi-sensei had known Karin-san—who had recently joined Konoha—was... less than a month in total, right?
How could they suddenly be getting married!
This pace was even more exaggerated than the plots in her romance novels!
"M-Married?!"
"Kakashi-sensei, you and Karin-san decided this so quickly?"
She couldn't help but voice the confusion in her heart.
Kakashi seemed to have anticipated this reaction from his Disciples.
His smiling eye swept over the expressions of Sakura, Naruto, and Sasuke before he spoke slowly:
"Well, it's true we haven't known each other long. However..."
He paused deliberately, his gaze falling meaningfully on Naruto.
"Thanks to a certain someone."
Kakashi continued in that leisurely tone: "...The Third Hokage approved our marriage application long ago. It's only because of some preparations that the wedding is set for next month."
"Naruto?"
Sakura and Sasuke looked at Naruto with questioning gazes.
"I helped them pick up the 'Konohagakure Resident Marriage Application Form' and did the legwork to get the Third Hokage's stamp."
"Alright, my personal matters are settled. Let's talk about your Chunin Exams."
Kakashi briefly explained the details regarding the Chunin Exams.
The three members of Team 7 arrived at the exam venue, Konoha Village's Ninja Academy.
"You've arrived."
Neji noticed the three of them immediately.
"Yeah, but why are you guys wasting time here?"
Naruto nodded, then looked toward the crowd gathered at the entrance of Room 301, where the Konoha Gatekeeper Duo were using Transformation Jutsu, and Tenten and Lee were putting on an act.
"This is clearly a genjutsu scene created by someone using a 'Non-Local Technique', right?"
"So that's how it is."
Upon hearing Naruto's words, Rock Lee immediately stopped acting and stood up.
Naruto had no intention of further exposing the Gatekeeper duo's identities; he simply shrugged and said to his teammates, "Let's go, the real Room 301 is still upstairs."
As he spoke, he cast a half-smiling glance at Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane.
That look seemed to say: Keep acting, I won't spoil the show; see how many people you can fool.
Noticing Naruto's movement, Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane exchanged a glance.
Did this kid recognize us?
Even if he didn't, being able to instantly sense something was wrong is quite impressive.
As expected of a Genin who could go on out-of-village missions with Kakashi in his first year after graduation.
Naruto knew in his heart that these two were Konoha's 'Gatekeepers,' and their strength and sense of responsibility were top-notch.
In the original future, even against powerful enemies like the Six Paths of Pain, they could stubbornly hold the gates of Konoha.
Guarding a classroom door was a piece of cake for them.
This'show of force' before the first exam was, in a way, a part of screening one's Heart-Nature and observation skills; he would just let them continue their duties.
If someone could be screened out by these two, then so be it.
The group ignored the farce on the first floor and turned to walk toward the stairs.
While heading up, Naruto suddenly turned his head to look at Sakura, who was walking slightly behind him.
His gaze lingered on her face for a moment, his expression somewhat complex, seemingly containing a hint of regret.
What a pity.
Naruto sighed inwardly.
Sakura is someone with great talent for genjutsu.
She has a delicate mind, precise Chakra control, and excellent Mental Energy. Initially, there was even the 'Inner Sakura' setting, but unfortunately, the Sharingan is just too overpowered.
By the time of Shippuden, 'Inner Sakura' was simply deleted, and her talent in genjutsu was rarely mentioned.
However, the path in the original story where she studied under Tsunade isn't bad either.
Because of the Sharingan, all other genjutsu can only yield to its brilliance. Even if Kishimoto said the genjutsu clash between Itachi Uchiha and Kurenai Yuhi was evenly matched, no one would believe it.
In this Ninja world, the Peak of genjutsu is almost monopolized by the Sharingan.
Itachi's Tsukuyomi, Shisui's Kotoamatsukami, and the Uchiha Clan's Izanami—these three 'bug-level' ocular genjutsu can essentially end a match in the field of illusion.
Any other school of genjutsu pales in comparison and can hardly compete.
This is perhaps a regret of being born in the wrong era.
Naruto's glance contained this realization and a faint trace of pity, but he quickly withdrew his gaze and continued climbing the stairs.
However, this glance was keenly captured by Sakura.
She had been looking down, lost in thought, when she suddenly felt a gaze land on her.
She instinctively looked up and saw Naruto turning his head away after looking at her.
Sakura's heart inexplicably skipped a beat.
She instinctively looked behind her.
There was no one there.
Meaning, Naruto was looking at her just now?
——————————
One of Naruto's Shadow Clones, disguised as Menma, was moving through Konoha's sewers.
"This kind of miserable work... it would have been better for the original to come here and let me participate in the Chunin Exams instead."
The Shadow Clone grumbled inwardly; regardless, once he was dispelled, the original would gain the memories of using Kagura Minds Eye to search for the Root base's location in the sewers.
At that point, wouldn't it be equivalent to Uzumaki Naruto suffering twice?