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[+200 power stones = +1 extra chapter]
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Fighting against stronger opponents is one of the best ways to grow stronger.
Sasuke knew this well—after all, he often challenged Naruto, pushing himself to his limits. But every time, Naruto crushed him effortlessly, leaving Sasuke with nothing but shattered confidence. Otherwise, he wouldn't have hesitated before rushing out of the grass last time.
Now, the Chūnin Exams had caught his interest, and that was exactly what Naruto wanted.
After all, the rules were clear, entering the exams required a full team. Otherwise, they'd be stuck waiting for the next round.
Just as Naruto and Sasuke began discussing the exams, Sakura spoke up hesitantly.
"Um… I don't think I'll participate. I'd just hold you two back."
She knew her own limits. Even at the Ninja Academy, her combat skills were below average. Taking the Chūnin Exams now would be suicide.
Naruto frowned. "C'mon, Sakura! You don't want us to miss out just because we're short one person, right?"
"Huh?" Sakura blinked. "If I don't join, you can't take the exam?"
Naruto nodded, explaining the team requirement.
Sakura bit her lip, torn between fear and guilt.
Seeing her hesitation, Naruto flashed her a reassuring grin. "Don't worry! Think of it like this, your job is just to get us in. Once we're in, I'll protect you. And if it comes down to solo matches, you can just forfeit. Easy!"
Sakura's face brightened. "That… actually makes sense. Okay, I'll do it!"
A warmth spread through her chest. Naruto had promised to protect her.
With Sakura on board, the team was set.
Naruto headed straight to the Hokage's office to register.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had expected Naruto to need some convincing. Instead, the boy had come willingly.
A pleased smile spread across the Hokage's face. "Excellent! If you're ready, Naruto, I'll register your team immediately."
The Chūnin Exams were more than just a test, they were a display of a village's strength.
In the past, they had been a battleground for the Five Great Nations. But with tensions high, each village now held its own exams.
Still, Konoha's alliance with Sunagakure's meant their Genin would compete together.
And Naruto's team?
They were a spectacle waiting to happen, Naruto himself, a rising powerhouse, and Sasuke, the last Uchiha.
Hiruzen couldn't have been happier.
With registration complete, Naruto began preparing.
The system would grade him based on his performance, so he needed to stand out.
Reviewing the exam's key events, Kabuto, Orochimaru, the tournament, the Konoha Crush, he devised a plan.
Then, for the first time since forming Team 7, they trained seriously.
Naruto dug up some interesting jutsu scrolls, sparring with Sasuke to sharpen their skills.
Sakura, meanwhile, focused on chakra control, tree-walking and water-walking. At the very least, she wouldn't be dead weight.
---
The morning sun cast long shadows across the Konoha Academy's courtyard as teams gathered for the Chunin Exams. A nervous energy hummed in the air, genin from every corner of the village, and beyond, stood in clusters, sizing each other up. Among them, Team 7 approached the designated building, only to be halted by an unexpected obstacle.
"Stop!"
A figure landed in front of them with a dramatic thud, kicking up a small cloud of dust. Rock Lee stood tall, his bowl-cut hair unmoving despite the sudden movement, his thick eyebrows furrowed in determination. His green jumpsuit was pristine, as if he'd polished it for the occasion.
Sasuke eyed him warily, already sensing trouble.
Lee struck a pose, one hand pointing dramatically at Sasuke. "Uchiha Sasuke! I have heard of your reputation, the so-called 'genius' of the Uchiha clan!"
Sasuke exhaled through his nose. "I'm not."
The response was flat, almost weary. After weeks of being humbled by Naruto, his rival, his teammate, his once-unshakable pride had taken more than a few hits.
Lee blinked, momentarily thrown off by the lack of arrogance. But he recovered quickly, grinning. "No need for false modesty! You are the last Uchiha, and I must challenge you! I will prove that hard work can surpass even the greatest of bloodlines!"
Sasuke barely suppressed an eye roll. "If you want to prove something, go fight him first." He jerked his chin toward the sidelines, where Neji Hyuga stood with his arms crossed, watching the scene with detached amusement.
Neji's pale eyes narrowed. 'What did I just get dragged into?'
With a cold glare, Neji strode forward, his long dark hair swaying. "Uchiha Sasuke. Are you implying that you are stronger than me?"
Sasuke shrugged. "Not necessarily. But you don't seem that impressive."
A ripple of tension spread through the gathered Genin. Even Naruto raised an eyebrow, Sasuke wasn't usually one to poke the bear unless he had a plan.
Neji's expression darkened. "Bold words for someone who hasn't even seen what I can do."
Nearby, Tenten caught Naruto's eye and waved a photo from her pouch, a not-so-subtle reminder of their earlier encounter. Naruto coughed into his fist, pretending not to notice.
Lee, however, burst into booming laughter. "Hah! Uchiha Sasuke, your arrogance is astounding! I was going to defeat you before challenging Neji, but if you're so eager to skip ahead...!"
He shifted into a fighting stance, fists raised. "Unlike me, Neji is a true genius. You? You're no match for him! But if you want to face him, you'll have to go through me first!"
Without another word, Lee lunged.
Sasuke exhaled. 'This guy doesn't know when to quit.'
Wasting energy before the exam was stupid. So...
"Sharingan."
His eyes snapped shut, then opened, revealing the crimson tomoe spinning lazily. A subtle genjutsu flickered in the air.
Lee's momentum faltered. His vision blurred, his limbs suddenly heavy. Before he could react, his face met the ground with a dull thud.
Tenten rushed forward, shaking him. "Lee! You lost."
Lee groaned, blinking dazedly. "Wha…? When did...?"
Neji's gaze sharpened. Sasuke had taken Lee down without even moving.
Sasuke met his stare, unimpressed. "You're not going to waste your energy too, are you?"
The unspoken message hung in the air: Save it for the exam.
Neji smirked. "After the test, then."
Lee, meanwhile, slumped in defeat, until a sudden gust of wind announced the arrival of Might Guy, who swept in with tears streaming down his face.
"LEE! MY BELOVED STUDENT!" Guy pulled him into a crushing embrace. "EVEN IN DEFEAT, YOUR YOUTH BURNS BRIGHT!"
Naruto grimaced. "Let's go."
He herded his team away before the emotional display could escalate further.
---
The exam hall buzzed with activity, Genin from every major village mingled, some exchanging wary glances, others sizing up potential threats. The air was thick with tension, the scent of ink and sweat mingling under the flickering fluorescent lights.
The moment Team 7 stepped inside, Ino Yamanaka pounced, wrapping her arms around Naruto from behind in a playful chokehold.
Sakura's eyes widened as Ino clung to Naruto like a possessive vine.
"Ino-pig!" she hissed, yanking her rival away. "Stop embarrassing Naruto!"
Ino smirked, deliberately glancing at Sakura's chest before sighing dramatically.
Sakura's teeth ground together. If looks could kill, Ino would be ashes.
"Naruto-kun~!" she sang, smirking at Sakura over his shoulder. "Still haven't won him over, Forehead Girl? Guess he just doesn't like flat tomboys~"
Sakura's eye twitched. "What's that supposed to mean?!"
Ino cackled. "You know exactly what it means!"
Naruto sighed, rubbing the back of his head. 'This again?'
Before Sakura could retort, a new voice cut through the noise.
"Tch. What a pathetic display."
Shikamaru Nara leaned against the wall, watching the scene with half-lidded eyes. "All this squabbling before the exam even starts… What a drag."
Choji, beside him, munched on a chip. "At least it's entertaining."
Nearby, Kiba snorted. "Yeah, if you like watching a bunch of losers argue over nothing." Akamaru barked in agreement.
Just as the two were about to escalate their catfight, Naruto slipped away straight toward Hinata, striking up a cheerful conversation.
Hinata her cheeks tinged pink. "N-Naruto-kun… good luck."
Naruto flashed her a grin. "Thanks, Hinata! Not that I'll need it, I'm gonna crush this thing!"
Sasuke rolled his eyes, but there was no real bite to it.
Soon, their entire graduating class had gathered, laughter and chatter filling the room.
.....
T/N: Thanks for the support from: Lam Sha, Black Widow, Hamza Masfar, Lord Of the Mysteries, Andrew, Jiri Stehule, trey hill, Agustin Monti, Tightless, Impulsionimulsion.