A few days after returning from his first serious mission, Naruto enthusiastically began intensive training under Anko. His foster mother, as promised, decided to give him a real drill to prepare for the upcoming Chunin exam.
"So that's it, Naruto," Anko began sternly, standing in the middle of the training field. - To become a Chunin, you will have to work hard. Bravery and perseverance alone will not be enough, advanced skills and versatility will be needed.
Naruto nodded decisively, clenching his fists:
- I'm ready for anything, Mom! Teach me the coolest techniques so that I can impress everyone on the exam!
Anko grinned at such enthusiasm.
- It will be for you, but keep in mind - it won't be easy. First, let's focus on your ninjutsu. Show me how well you've mastered the shadow cloning technique.
Naruto quickly folded the seals and released a dozen perfect copies of himself. The clones cheerfully saluted Anko.
"Not bad," kunoichi nodded approvingly. - Now make them fight each other using different attack styles and combinations.
The clones immediately rushed into battle, demonstrating the honed technique of hand-to-hand combat and the use of weapons. Anko watched the fight closely, occasionally making notes.
- So, I see you've mastered the basics of taijutsu and cloning well. It's time to move on to more advanced techniques. Now I'm going to teach you the technique of summoning snakes - my signature feature.
Naruto's eyes lit up:
- Wow, snakes? It's going to be something! Come on, show me how it's done!
Anko smirked smugly and began explaining the intricacies of the reptilian summoning technique. She showed the necessary seals and gestures, told how to sign a contract with snakes. Naruto listened intently to every word, striving to master the new technique as soon as possible. Meanwhile, Kiba and Hinata also trained hard under Kurenai's guidance, honing their clan abilities. Kurenai paid special attention to the development of Kiba's sense of smell and sense of smell, teaching him to track down opponents by the slightest odors over vast distances. Akamaru also participated in these classes, learning to synchronize with the host. Hinata Kurenai taught more sophisticated techniques of a Soft Fist and the expansion of the range of the Byakugan. Timid Hyuga gradually learned to reveal her potential and gain self-confidence.
After a couple of weeks of intensive training, the 8 Team got back together for a joint practice. Naruto proudly demonstrated his new snake technique to his comrades, making them gasp in admiration. Kiba, in turn, surprised everyone with the incredibly accurate detection of hidden targets by smell. And Hinata showed impressive agility and precision of punches in sparring. They have made significant progress in mastering new techniques and improved their teamwork.
One day, when the exam was only a week away, Kurenai gathered her students for an important conversation.
"You guys have done a great job, and I am very proud of your success," she began with a warm smile. - I'm sure you will do brilliantly in the exam. But remember that the most important thing is not winning, but how you support each other and work as a team.
Naruto nodded vigorously:
"Don't worry, Kurenai-sensei! We will not let you down! Really, guys?
Kiba grinned and slapped him on the shoulder:
- That's right! Akamaru and I are in the best shape and ready to tear everyone apart!
Hinata also smiled shyly and nodded, clearly encouraged by the words of her comrades. She has become much stronger in these months.
- That's the attitude! Kurenai winked at them approvingly. - Now you will have a few days of rest before the exam. Spend this time recuperating and preparing your equipment. And don't forget to practice your new techniques to bring them to perfection.
- Yes, Sensei! - the trio reported together and enthusiastically went home.
Naruto decided to visit Anko and brag about his successes. He found his foster mother at an ordinary training ground, where she selflessly threw kunai at targets.
- Hey, Mom! He called out to Anko.
Anko turned around and smiled when she saw Naruto: - Oh, kid! How are your workouts? Am I ready for the exam?
- I'm in great shape! Naruto replied enthusiastically.
Anko narrowed her eyes slyly: - Is that so? Then maybe we can test your skills? Show me how you use the kunai. Shall we fight?
Naruto's eyes lit up with excitement, and he readily took out a weapon. Mother and son enthusiastically came together in a mock battle, ringing with metal and showering each other with kunai. Meanwhile, Kiba and Hinata also decided to have a sparring match to consolidate their skills. They came together in close combat, using their clan techniques and working in tandem with Akamaru. Despite the obvious progress, Hinata still had problems with stamina and confidence, missing Kiba's painful punches. This did not escape Inuzuki's attention. Interrupting the training, he asked sympathetically:
- Hey, Hinata, are you okay? I see you're having a hard time with close combat. Is something bothering you?
Hinata shuddered and lowered her eyes, clearly feeling awkward. She was always shy about talking about her weaknesses.
- It's simple... I still don't feel strong enough. I'm afraid I won't be able to help the team in any way during the exam... Unlike you and Naruto.
Kiba frowned and suddenly put a serious hand on her shoulder:
- Listen, Hinata, you are not inferior to us in anything. Your role in the team is irreplaceable, especially with your Byakugan and tracking skills. I'm sure you'll save our skins more than once in the exam! Just believe in yourself.
Hinata stared at him in amazement, clearly touched by these words of support. A slight blush bloomed on her cheeks.
- Thank you, Kiba... It means a lot to me. I promise that I will believe in myself and our team!
Kiba grinned approvingly and slapped her on the back, causing Hinata to almost fly nose-first into the ground. Akamaru barked happily.
- That's another conversation! And now let's repeat the combination that Kurenai-sensei showed. You see, with your help we will bring it to mind!
Hinata beamed and joined Kiba with renewed enthusiasm to practice the combat bundle. Her friend's words seemed to inspire and give her strength. Finally, the day came when genins from other hidden villages began to arrive in Konoha to participate in the exam. The whole village was buzzing with excitement and anticipation of the upcoming large-scale event. Naruto, Kiba and Hinata met at the agreed meeting place of the teams, curiously looking at the arriving rivals. There were also harsh guys from Hidden Stone, and arrogant Shinobi from Hidden Cloud, and mysterious genins from Hidden Fog. They all looked formidable and determined.
- Wow, this is a competition! Kiba whistled, looking around the crowd with an excited gaze. - Do you think we can make them?
Naruto just grinned and banged his fists:
- Yes, easily! We're a super-mega-cool team now! Really, Hinata?
The girl flinched slightly at the unexpected question, but then nodded decisively, clenching her fists:
- Y-yes, I believe in us! We've been training a lot and we won't let Kurenai-sensei down!
At that moment, the mentor herself, accompanied by Anko, came up to them. Both kunoichi looked very serious and focused.
- So, my dear genins, so you have waited for your finest hour, - Kurenai began solemnly. - In a few minutes, the first stage of the Chunin exam is waiting for you - a written test. Don't be surprised, it's not as simple as it seems. The main thing is not to panic and act covertly.
- And don't try to cheat, otherwise you'll be out in no time! Anko added pointedly, her eyes flashing. - But if anything happens, I believe in you guys. Especially you, Naruto! Don't let Mommy down!
Naruto scratched his head in embarrassment, and Kiba and Hinata hid their smiles. They knew that behind Anko's gruff manner, there was a sincere concern and affection for her adopted son.
- We will not let you down, Kurenai-sensei, Anko-sensei! The trio bowed together.
At that moment, a loud beep sounded, announcing the start of the exam. Genins from all sides began to enter the large building of the academy in an organized manner.
- Well, good luck! Remember - you are a team! Kurenai said goodbye to them.
Naruto, Kiba and Hinata exchanged resolute glances and stepped forward together, ready to conquer the peaks. The first stage of the exam met them with deceptively simple at first glance written tasks. The Genins took their seats in a huge auditorium, surrounded by dozens of competitors and the Chunin examiners watching them keenly. Naruto eagerly grabbed his task sheet, but very quickly realized that he did not understand anything about these intricate logical riddles and ciphers. He began to sweat and look around in despair, wondering how he could not fail the team at the very beginning.
"So, Naruto, pull yourself together! He ordered himself mentally. - Kurenai-sensei hinted that there was some kind of trick and the main thing was to act covertly. Maybe we should try to spy on the answers from others while no one is watching? That bespectacled guy from the Hidden Sand seems to be scribbling smartly!"
Naruto squinted at his neighbor's form as unobtrusively as possible, but immediately came across the sharp gaze of one of the examiners. He swallowed and hurriedly looked at his paper. Groaning inwardly, Naruto tried to concentrate and solve at least a couple of examples on his own. But the numbers and letters stubbornly refused to form meaningful combinations. At that moment, Naruto noticed how Akamaru on Kiba's head began to whine and twitch his ears almost imperceptibly. He instantly realized that the dog was passing the spied answers to his master! Kiba pretended to scratch the back of his head, while he carefully listened to Akamaru's signals. Naruto admired their teamwork.
"Oh, I wish I could! It's a pity snakes can't read!" He thought enviously.
Suddenly Naruto felt someone gently touching his leg under the desk. He looked down in surprise and saw that Hinata was imperceptibly slipping him a piece of paper with notes. When their gazes met, the girl blushed embarrassedly, but her eyes burned with determination. Naruto hastily grabbed the piece of paper and hid it under his letterhead, giving Hinata a look full of gratitude. He rejoiced inwardly, quickly copying his girlfriend's decisions onto his sheet. He realized that Hinata must have used her byakugan to spy out the correct answers and help him. After half an hour of intense mental struggle, the signal for the end of the first stage sounded. Naruto pushed the form away from him with relief. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that Kiba and Hinata had also completed the task quite successfully. The examiners quickly collected the papers and went out the door for a check and a meeting.
- Phew, what a mess! Kiba exhaled, leaning back in his chair. - I didn't understand a damn thing about these ciphers at all! I thought my brain would boil!
"That's for sure," Naruto nodded in agreement. - If it wasn't for you and Hinata, I would definitely have flown! You are just super!
Hinata blushed, lowering her eyes from the praise, but pride splashed in her eyes: -The K-team must act together, right? We promised not to let each other down!
Naruto slapped her on the back approvingly, which made Hinata almost fly off her chair: - And they didn't let you down! With such a team, we can handle Chunin himself!
At that moment, the door swung open, and one of the examiners appeared on the threshold with a sinister grin, this examiner was Anko Mitarashi. The Genins instantly quieted down, waiting for the verdict. Anko looked at the silent genins with a stern look and said slowly: "Well, well, little ones, you did a good job with the first test. But it's too early to relax! The next stage of the exam will be a hundred times more difficult and dangerous. Will you be able to cheat just as cleverly in a real fight? Ha ha!
A nervous laugh rang through the audience. The Genins looked at each other warily, wondering what the examiner was talking about. Naruto met Anko's eyes for a moment and saw a faint spark of approval in them. He immediately realized that Mom was just playing her role as a strict examiner. In fact, she is proud that he was able to find a way out and rally the team. Naruto gave her a barely perceptible nod and hid a smile. Anko clapped her hands, attracting everyone's attention:
- Okay, enough of the chatter. Congratulations to those who somehow mastered this test and scored a minimum passing score. You have officially passed the first stage of the chunin exam! But don't get excited ahead of time. It will only get more difficult from now on.
- Now you have two hours to prepare. After that, everyone should arrive at training ground number 44 for the next test. This is the so-called Forest of Death. I think it's clear from the name what awaits you there. Gather all the necessary equipment and supplies, and be ready to demonstrate all your strength and cunning. That's it, you can be free.
The Genins made a noise, talking excitedly and discussing what they had heard.
Naruto didn't pay attention to them. He got up from his desk and walked over to his friends.
- Well, guys, we only have a couple of hours to prepare! Let's quickly discuss the strategy and check the equipment. Something tells me that it's going to be very hot in this Forest of Death!
- Of course! Kiba grinned. - Akamaru and I are ready for anything! Let's fight our way through!
"Y-yes, I'll do my best too!" Hinata stammered, clenching her fists in a rare fit of determination.
Naruto clapped his friends on the shoulders approvingly, and together they headed for the exit. He caught a glimpse of Anko winking goodbye at him, and felt a surge of pride. Mom believes in him! He would never let her down! When team 8 left the auditorium, they saw that a whole crowd of genins had gathered in the hallway. The center of attention turned out to be a tall guy with glasses, who was telling the others something with an intelligent look.
- Hey, Hinata, who is this? Naruto asked in a whisper, nodding towards the bespectacled man. Hinata looked closely at the stranger.
- His name is Kabuto Yakushi, according to the registration data. The Ninja of the Hidden Leaf, but I haven't met him before. It seems that this is not the first time he has participated in the Chunin exam. Naruto frowned. He didn't remember this guy either. It is strange that the more experienced genin could not pass the exam earlier. Suddenly, an arrogant voice came from the crowd:
- Hey, you smartass! They say you have information on all the participants? Then enlighten us about a few people!
Naruto turned towards the voice and saw Sasuke Uchiha himself. He stood with his arms crossed over his chest and glared at Kabuto with a haughty look. Kabuto smiled slyly and adjusted his glasses:
- No problem, Sasuke-kun! I do have data on all applicants, including foreign Shinobi. Just tell me the names and I'll share what I know.
Sasuke's gaze swept over the crowd and settled on Naruto. The man tensed involuntarily, waiting for his next words. But Uchiha suddenly grinned and said, "To begin with, I'm interested in this red-haired one from the Hidden Sand. He reeks of a murderous aura. And Rock Lee from our village. They say he's great at taijutsu. After a moment's hesitation, he added with a barely perceptible grin:
- Tell me about Naruto Mitarashi too. I'm curious to know what he's learned over the years.
Naruto gritted his teeth, holding back an angry rebuke. How he wished he could wipe that smug grin off Uchiha's face! But now is not the time or place for a showdown. He just looked away, pretending that he didn't care about Sasuke's provocations. Kabuto nodded and pulled out a stack of information cards from his waist bag.
.. Yeah, here I found it! The redhead's name is Gaara, he is the youngest son of the Fourth Kazekage and jinchuriki of the One-tailed demon Shukaku. He has already completed 8 missions of rank B and one of rank A. They say he is not to be trifled with - a sand monster who only wants to kill.
Sasuke chuckled contentedly, and a frightened hum swept through the crowd. Naruto felt an unpleasant chill run down his spine. He glanced sideways at where Gaara was standing and met his gaze. There was something dark and eerie in Sandstone's impassive eyes.
"Let's continue," Kabuto said calmly. - Rock Lee, a student of Maito Guy. He is 13 years old. Missions: 20 of rank D, 12 of rank C. His main skills are taijutsu and teamwork with teammates Neji Hyuga and Tenten.
Neji? Hinata flinched when she heard her cousin's name. Naruto knew that their family had a difficult relationship due to disagreements between the main and secondary branches of the clan. It seems that they will also have to face each other in the exam. Kabuto continued to sort through the cards until he came across one and whistled in surprise:
- Wow, here comes Naruto Mitarashi himself! The adopted son of our examiner Anko Mitarashi! I wonder how much he has learned from his mother.
Before he could finish, Naruto himself crept up behind him and deftly snatched the card. He quickly scanned the text, grunted and casually tore it in half.
- I think we're done with this, - Naruto grinned and leaned towards Kabuto so that their faces were on the same level. - You will find out everything about me directly on the exam. There's no need to reveal your cards ahead of time, right?
Kabuto was slightly taken aback by such impudence, but quickly pulled himself together and smiled:
- Whatever you say, Naruto-kun. I'm really curious about what you're capable of after learning from Mitarashi-sensei.
Naruto narrowed his eyes and lowered his voice to a barely audible whisper.
I see you know an obscene amount about all the participants. You're not spying on someone here, are you, smartass?
Kabuto froze for a moment, and then put out his hands in a conciliatory manner and smiled nervously:
- Come on, Naruto-kun, what kind of spy am I? I just love collecting all sorts of information, it's my hobby! Nothing criminal, I swear!
But Naruto continued to stare at him suspiciously, feeling that something was wrong with this guy. He was about to ask a couple more tricky questions, but Kiba intervened.
- Hey, Naruto, it's already good to arrange the inquisition! It's time for us to get on our feet before the bespectacled man thinks of something else to sniff out about us.
Naruto reluctantly nodded and stepped away from Kabuto, finally giving him a meaningful squint. Then he turned to his friends and waved his hand towards the exit.
- Let's get out of here. It's not good for real Shinobi to hang around and scratch their tongues. The Forest of Death awaits us!
With these words, he famously turned around and strode away, sincerely enjoying the effect produced. Kiba and Hinata hurried after him, trying to ignore the whispers and curious glances from all sides. It seems that Naruto's prank did not go unnoticed.
Team 8 left the academy building and headed towards the training ground. On the way, Kiba whistled admiringly and slapped Naruto on the shoulder:
- Oh, come on, my friend! Did you see how everyone was staring at you after your card trick? Now, for sure, every second person will be afraid to contact you!
Naruto smirked smugly and casually shrugged his shoulders:
- That's it! Let them know that Naruto Mitarashi is not to be trifled with. Especially if he suspects something is wrong.
Hinata smiled shyly and added:
"Y-you were very cool, Naruto-kun. Although this Kabuto really seemed suspicious to me. How did he get so much information?
Naruto frowned and scratched his head thoughtfully:
- That's what I'm interested in. He's too knowledgeable for a simple genie, it's already creepy. I'll have to take a closer look at him in the exam. I don't like all this.
On the way to the 44th training ground, known as the Forest of Death, Naruto and his comrades noticed that other Genin teams had already begun to gather around. They all looked focused and tense, anticipating the coming ordeal. Suddenly, someone called out to Naruto in a familiar lazy voice:
- Hey, Naruto, it's been a long time! As always, you're making noise all over the neighborhood.
Mitarashi turned around and broke into a smile, recognizing one of his best friends:
- Shikamaru, is that you? I didn't think you'd show up for this difficult exam! Did you really decide to get your ass off the clouds?
Nara grinned and scratched his head:
- Yes, Asuma-sensei said that it's time for us to apply our skills in real conditions. What can I do, I'll have to work a little harder. What a hassle!
His constant partner Choji appeared next to Shikamaru, eating chips from a bag as he walked. He waved a friendly hand:
- Hi, Naruto! Are you ready to kick everyone's ass on this exam? I've stocked up on food so that I have enough strength!
Naruto burst out laughing and slapped his friend on the chubby shoulder:
- Of course, Choji! Over these months, the guys and I have become very good at teamwork. You'll see, we'll do it all!
Shikamaru cast an interested glance at Kiba and Hinata, looming behind Naruto:
- Yeah, I see you've got a fighting team. Inuzuka with her dog and Hyuga with byakugan are serious trump cards.
Kiba proudly sat up, and Hinata blushed, lowering her eyes. Naruto put his arm around his friends' shoulders and exclaimed fervently:
- That's for sure! My guys are just something! Kiba can track anyone by smell, and Hinata sees through any tricks with his huge eyes. Well, I am... Now I can summon snakes as well as Anko!
Genuine surprise was reflected on Shikamaru's face:
- Wow, that's impressive! It looks like your foster mother has trained you well. With such skills, your team is a real threat to the rest.
Naruto chuckled smugly, and then suddenly became serious:
- By the way, do you guys know what kind of guy this Kabuto is who gives out dossiers to everyone? He's too suspicious.
Shikamaru rubbed his chin thoughtfully:
- Hmm, I heard that this is not the first time he has passed this exam. It is strange that such an informed Shinobi still walks in genin. There's really something fishy here.
Choji swallowed nervously and looked around:
"Do you think he might be a spy?" What if he's gathering information for some enemy village?
Naruto nodded grimly:
- That's what I'm talking about. We need to be on our guard and keep an eye on this smart guy. Who knows what he's up to.
Hinata timidly raised her voice:
- M-maybe we should tell the sensei or the examiners? What if this is some kind of deception or sabotage?
Kiba scratched his chin and hesitantly stretched out:
- Well, it's unlikely that they will believe us without proof. They will also say that we are panicking from scratch. We'll figure it out for ourselves, right, Naruto?
Mitarashi clenched his fist resolutely:
- Of course! We are no longer children to run to our elders for every reason. We'll break through on our own, and I'll personally catch this Kabuto, if anything!
Friends buzzed approvingly, supporting Naruto's fighting spirit. They knew that they could always rely on him in difficult times.
Suddenly, the loud voice of Anko Mitarashi rang out over the training ground, calling on all genins to gather at the gate. The guys exchanged glances and hurried forward, not wanting to be late.
"Well, that's it," Shikamaru sighed. - Well, Naruto, see you at the exam. Don't fuck up there!
Naruto just grinned in response:
- Don't even dream about it! It's better not to do it yourself, or you'll disgrace the glorious name of Nara.
The friends exchanged knowing grins and dispersed, each to his own team. Soon, an impressive crowd of Genins gathered in front of the gates to the Forest of Death.
Anko gave them her trademark sadistic look and yelled:
- So, youngsters, listen here! Now you have to enter the Forest of Death and get two scrolls of Heaven and Earth within three days. But it will be very difficult to get them! In the forest, not only other teams are waiting for you, ready to tear each other's throats for scrolls, but also all sorts of creepy creatures, traps and poisonous plants.
A nervous hum swept through the crowd of Genins. Some of them turned noticeably pale and shook. Anko grinned, enjoying the effect.
"And one more thing," she drawled in an ominous tone. - Before entering the forest, you need to sign these charming pieces of paper agreeing that in the event of your sudden death, Konoha does not bear any responsibility. So think carefully about whether you are ready to risk your worthless lives for the cherished title of Chunin!
With these words, she threw a pile of forms into the crowd, which the Genins began to hurriedly sort out. Team 8 also received a piece of paper per person. Naruto quickly scanned the dreary text of the waiver and signed the paper with a flourish, without hesitating for a second. He believed in himself and his team. Kiba and Hinata did the same, although the girl paled noticeably.
"That's it, guys, we're on the verge of our main battle," Naruto said earnestly, folding the form. - No matter what happens in this forest, remember: we are a team. Trust each other and don't try to be a hero alone, it can cost your life.
Kiba and Hinata nodded solemnly, imbued with the importance of the moment. They understood that the upcoming test was not just an exam, but a test of their friendship and loyalty.
"When it's over, we'll have a real party," Naruto winked. - Let's celebrate our promotion to Chunin. So let's give it our all!
The friends beamed, inspired by this simple promise. It was worth trying for this! At that moment, Anko commanded to form up at the gate, and the genins bustled around, breaking into teams. Naruto smiled encouragingly at Kiba and Hinata one last time, and then resolutely stepped forward. The Forest of Death was waiting for its victims. And team 8 was determined to go in there and win. As soon as they crossed the border of the ominous forest, the atmosphere changed dramatically. The tension in the air became almost palpable. Gloomy giant trees loomed over them, blocking out the sunlight. An alarming silence reigned around, occasionally broken by ominous rustles and distant screams. Naruto looked at his comrades and commanded:
- So, guys, the deal is this: we need to find a team with a scroll of Earth and take it away. Hinata, check the surroundings with byakugan. Kiba, try to smell other people's smells. In the meantime, I'll summon the scout snakes.
The friends nodded and got down to business. Hinata activated her unique eyes and began scanning the forest. Kiba and Akamaru sniffed, trying to distinguish foreign scents. And Naruto quickly pulled out a scroll and, biting his finger, drew a bloody line on the paper. A second later, three small snakes appeared in front of him.
"Spread out in the forest and look out for other genins," he ordered the reptiles. - As soon as you find it, let me know immediately.
The snakes obediently slid in different directions, and Naruto turned to his companions:
- Well, have you spotted anyone?
Hinata narrowed her eyes and nodded:
- Yes, there is some movement a couple of kilometers to the northeast. There seems to be another team there.
Kiba barked in confirmation and sniffed:
"That's right, I also smell a human smell in that direction. They don't seem to be hiding much.
Naruto clenched his fist resolutely:
- Great, so let's try to take them warm. Just be careful, we don't know what they're capable of. Let's move out!
Team 8 quickly and silently jumped along the branches in the indicated direction. The first target loomed ahead. Soon they saw three guys from Hidden Rain, who made a camp in a clearing. The Genins seemed tired and exhausted, but they kept their eyes open anyway. Naruto motioned for his friends to hide in the foliage and began to watch the enemies, figuring out an attack plan. The alignment was not in their favor - the Rain Shinobi were famous for their ability to handle the water element and set tricky traps. Suddenly Hinata whispered:
- They have a scroll of Earth, I see it in the bag of that guy with the bandage!
Naruto's heart skipped a beat. Did they really get lucky so quickly? However, it was not worth relaxing. He knew that there would be no easy victory.
- So, this is the plan, - Naruto began faintly. "Kiba, you and Akamaru are distracting them with your clones. Hinata, you sneak in and grab the scroll. And I'll cover you with my genjutsu. If anything, we immediately go into the forest, do not be heroic. Do you understand everything?
The friends nodded in agreement, gathering their courage. They understood that the first fight would be decisive in many ways. Failure could undermine their confidence, and success could inspire them.
"Then on the count of three," Naruto whispered. - One, two...
But he didn't have time to finish. At that moment, a dark shadow silently slipped out of the foliage right behind them and hurled a scattering of thin poisoned needles at the Rain Genins. Two guys immediately gasped and sank to the ground, struck by the poison. The third jumped up and rushed around, putting a kunai in front of him, but immediately got a powerful kick in the face and passed out. Naruto and his team stared dumbfounded at the sudden ally and recognized Kabuto! He calmly adjusted his glasses and smiled:
"Looks like I showed up just in time." You definitely wouldn't have been able to handle the three of them.
Naruto's cheeks flushed with indignation:
- Why is that?! We would have killed them in no time! And anyway, what are you doing here, watching us?
Kabuto put out his hands in a conciliatory manner:
- Take it easy, Naruto-kun. I happened to be passing by here and saw that you could use some help. You were too clumsy to take them.
Kiba scowled and growled:
- We would have done just fine on our own! Without your advice and handouts!
But Hinata timidly objected:
"W-wait a minute, guys. M-maybe we should really thank Kabuto-san. He helped us a lot.
Naruto gritted his teeth, but had to admit she was right. Anyway, the bespectacled man really helped them out, even if without asking. He grunted reluctantly:
- Okay, thanks for the help, Kabuto. But next time we'll do it on our own, okay?
He just chuckled condescendingly and nodded at the defeated genins:
- Whatever you say. By the way, were you going to pick up their scroll? There it is, lying in the bag.
Naruto roused himself and quickly searched the indicated bag. And sure enough, the coveted scroll of Earth appeared in the light! Mitarashi beamed and triumphantly raised his booty:
- There is! One is ready, there is only one left!
Kabuto smiled approvingly and casually waved away:
- Well, I have to go, good luck to you guys! Be careful and keep your eyes open.
With these words, he winked provocatively and melted between the trees as quickly and silently as if he had never existed. Naruto watched him go with a wary look and turned to his friends:
- What a guy, huh? He's hanging around here like a lost man. It would be better to keep an eye on your team.
Kiba growled in agreement, and Hinata looked thoughtfully after Kabuto:
"B-but he really helped us. M-maybe he's not that bad?
Naruto shrugged his shoulder irritably:
- We'll see there. I don't trust him anyway. Now let's get out of here before the bespectacled guy puts someone else suspicious on our trail!
Team 8 swiftly left the scene of the battle, taking the trophy scroll with them. But Naruto's heart was troubled. It was too timely for Kabuto to appear on their way. He was determined to keep an eye on this guy. Such "helpers" are even worse than outright enemies. After a while, Naruto, Kiba and Hinata camped in a small cozy clearing, sitting around an improvised campfire. While Hinata and Akamaru were on guard duty, Naruto decided to practice genjutsu - he knew that illusions could become a trump card in battle. Despite his fatigue, he couldn't stop thinking about Kabuto's strange behavior and decided to use this time not only to improve his skills, but also to consider the possible motives of the mysterious genin.
- Hey, Kiba, let me practice on you! Mitarashi offered eagerly. "Let's see if you can recognize my techniques!"
Inuzuka grunted skeptically, but agreed. He stood in front of his friend and crossed his arms over his chest, showing that he was ready. Naruto grinned and folded the seals, putting an illusion on Kiba. After a second, Kiba squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head, and then blurted out irritably:
- Well, what kind of kindergarten is this, Naruto? I can see that you just multiplied yourself, and did not change the environment! A little weak!
Mitarashi frowned, but did not give up. He concentrated again and this time created a more realistic picture - the clearing around the Kiba began to float and change, turning into quicksand. Inuzuka started in surprise and tried to free himself, but he got stuck even more.
- That's better! He exclaimed approvingly. - I almost believed it! But with an effort of will, I can still dispel it, see?
And sure enough, after a couple of seconds, the illusion crumbled, and Kiba was back on solid ground. Naruto winced in annoyance, but then brightened up:
- But now I know what my weaknesses are! I will train harder so that even you can't recognize my genjutsu!
Kiba respectfully slapped him on the shoulder:
- Come on, come on, maybe you'll fool at least someone on the exam! And now let's go to bed, otherwise Hinata will call us on watch very soon.
Naruto nodded in agreement, and the friends lay down around the campfire, covered with their sleeping bags.
Hinata's night watch passed quietly and without incident. At dawn, the team gathered around a campfire to snack on supplies before moving further into the forest in search of the second scroll. But very soon the first trouble overtook them.
Hinata, who continued to scan the surroundings with byakugan even during breakfast, suddenly gasped and whispered:
- There's some noise and movement ahead! There seems to be a battle going on between several teams!
Naruto instantly pulled himself up and motioned for everyone to hide. They crept cautiously closer and peered out from behind the trees. What they saw shocked them. A serious battle was unfolding in a small clearing. On the one hand, the team of 10 - Ino, Shikamaru and Choji participated in it.
Apparently, they were protecting the unconscious team 7. Naruto recognized Sasuke with a shudder, sprawled on the ground and writhing in pain. Sakura was sobbing on her knees next to her, and a guy in sunglasses, unknown to Naruto, was lying a little further away. They were opposed by three sinister-looking ninjas from Hidden Sound. One of them, Zaku Abumi, spread his arms and seemed to be controlling some invisible air waves, which Ino and the others barely dodged. Next to him stood a gloomy girl with long black hair - Kin Tsuchi, who threw a lot of senbons with bells at opponents. And a little further away towered Dosu Kinuta, whose right forearm was wrapped in a strange device emitting sound waves.
Naruto clenched his fists, feeling anger boil inside at the sight of his comrades' torment. To launch a frontal attack against such strong opponents would be reckless. But he couldn't leave his friends in trouble either. And then it dawned on him - genjutsu! Months of grueling training were not in vain. It's time to apply your skills. Naruto turned to Kiba and Hinata and whispered, trying not to let his voice tremble:
- I have a plan. I will immerse them in an illusion, and at this moment you will pull out our people and leave. The main thing is to act quickly and silently. The friends nodded, gathering their courage. Naruto took a deep breath, folded the seals and concentrated on the images of the soundtracks. He imagined how the reality around them was distorted, and suddenly their worst fears appeared in the middle of the battle. Orochimaru himself appeared in front of all three, shaking his head in displeasure. The sound engineers froze, startled by what they saw. Their attacks stopped, and terror distorted their faces. They began to look around in confusion and mutter something.
- Now! Naruto commanded.
Kiba and Hinata rushed forward and with one lightning-fast jerk picked up their wounded comrades. In a matter of seconds, they disappeared into the undergrowth. Team 10 immediately ran after them. When the illusion dissipated, the sound engineers realized that they were too late.
- Damn, we've been cheated! What a powerful genjutsu! Dosu croaked. - We have to run after them!
But Zaku shook his head.: - It's useless. They've probably already gone to ground in their hiding place. Sasuke is still not a tenant after the cursed seal of Orochimaru-sama. Let's finish this stupid exam.
The sound engineers looked at each other with displeasure, but did not object. They turned around and disappeared into the woods. Meanwhile, Naruto led his friends along a confusing trail and led them to a huge hollow trunk of an ancient tree. The massive trunk was almost completely hidden behind dense thickets of undergrowth. This natural shelter was the perfect place to hide from pursuers. Here you could calmly catch your breath and take care of the wounded. Sakura anxiously bent over Sasuke, who was still writhing in pain. Her eyes were full of tears, but she tried to keep her composure:
- Thank you guys, you literally saved us! I don't know what we would have done without you!
Ino snorted and casually brushed her hair back:
- There's nothing for you to do - run into all sorts of weaklings! And this is called the best team of the Academy?
Sakura flushed, but did not snap back. And Hinata timidly asked:
"Wh-what happened to Sasuke-san?" What is he suffering so much from?
Everyone looked at each other, but no one had time to answer. At that moment, Uchiha suddenly opened his eyes and sat up abruptly. Sinister black patterns ran across his body, and his iris turned purple.
- Sasuke! Are you okay? Sakura was alarmed.
But Sasuke didn't seem to hear her. He slowly turned his head, looking around at everyone with a bleary inhuman gaze, and said hoarsely:
- I feel it... power. Incredible strength. I... I want to try it out. Right now.
Sasuke slowly got to his feet, and the black patterns on his skin flashed an ominous purple. Naruto involuntarily backed away, feeling the terrifying thirst for blood coming from Uchiha. Such a Sasuke, possessed and lost himself, scared the shivers out of him.
- Hey, asshole, what are you doing? Wake up! Naruto shouted, trying to get through to his mind.
But Sasuke just stretched his lips in a mad grin and said:
- Shut up, Naruto. You're a weakling and a jerk. You can't tell me what to do. I can easily destroy you with one blow.
Sakura gasped in fright, and Kiba growled threateningly, preparing to rush at the offender. But Naruto stopped him with a gesture. He understood that he would have to deal with this problem himself.
- Sasuke, listen, it's not you. This seal that Orochimaru put on - it changed you. She made you hurt us, your friends. But you're stronger than her! You can overcome it!
For a moment, confusion flashed in Uchiha's eyes, but it was immediately replaced by fierce denial:
-no! This is me, the true me! I've finally found the power I've been looking for for so long. With her, I will defeat Itachi and everyone who gets in my way!
- Fool! Naruto barked, losing his patience. - This is not your power, but a handout to Orochimaru! You're dancing to his tune like a puppet! Are you really ready to betray us and the village for the sake of a ghostly revenge?!
Sasuke shuddered as if from a blow. There was doom and pain in his gaze.
.. I don't know. This seal, it's driving me crazy. I don't understand anything anymore...
Naruto resolutely stepped up to him and put his hand on his shoulder:
- Then trust me. We'll handle this together. Just believe in us... and into myself.
Sasuke took a shuddering breath, and the patterns on his skin began to slowly fade away. It seems that Naruto's words were able to break through the veil of madness to him.
But I can't promise anything," he said hoarsely.
Naruto smiled encouragingly:
- That's enough. The main thing is that you haven't lost yourself. And we'll figure out the rest as we go. Right, guys?
Everyone nodded in unison, expressing support. Even Sakura smiled faintly through her tears. They understood that Naruto was able to accomplish the impossible - to reach Sasuke and keep him from falling into darkness. It was encouraging. The guy with glasses, the third member of team 7, silently watched what was happening. His name was Yoshio, and he was a rather mysterious person.
Despite the fact that Yoshio had been teaming with Sakura and Sasuke for some time, few people knew anything specific about him. He looked a little battered from the recent fight, but there was relief in his eyes behind the sunglasses. Yoshio quietly approached Naruto and Sasuke. "I can help," he said softly, adjusting his glasses. - I have some medical skills. Sasuke, let me examine your seal.
Naruto looked at his teammate in surprise. Yoshio rarely took the initiative, and his sudden offer of help took everyone by surprise. The night passed relatively calmly. The teams took turns keeping watch, fearing an attack. Yoshio spent most of the night observing Sasuke's condition and occasionally applying some unknown techniques that seemed to ease the pain of the seal a little. The next morning, fortified with the remaining supplies, they set off again in search of the team with the Sky scroll. Naruto involuntarily squinted at Sasuke, who still looked depressed after yesterday's incident. It cost him a lot of effort to overcome the influence of the cursed seal of Orochimaru, and this internal struggle clearly exhausted Uchiha.
Suddenly, there was a noise ahead, and an unfamiliar team of genins jumped out of the rain from behind the trees. At the sight of team 8, they raised their kunai and charged.
- Wait a minute, guys. I have an idea! Naruto shouted, quickly creating shadow clones for protection.
While the clones were holding back the opponents, Naruto leaned over to Kiba and Hinata, hurriedly whispering his plan in their ears. Inuzuka grinned approvingly, and Hyuga hesitated for a moment, but then nodded decisively, concentrating. In the next instant, Naruto folded his hand seals and sprinkled the attacking opponents with a stream of chakra. The rain Genies froze for a moment, stunned by this burst of energy. And when they saw the light, the world around them began to change and distort. The forest dissolved, giving way to an endless expanse of sea under a flaming crimson sunset. Waves roared around the astonished Genins, engulfing them from all sides.
- What the hell is this?! One of them shouted, trying unsuccessfully to dispel the illusion.
- Where are we? What's going on?! Another panicked, splashing water around.
At that moment, Naruto and Kiba attacked. While the Geniuses of the Grass were completely absorbed in the optical illusion, the friends had their entire team pinned down in no time. When it was over, the mirage dissipated. The Genins found themselves lying in the mud and tightly bound.
- Great job, Naruto! Kiba was delighted. - This technique of yours is just something!
- Hinata is also a great guy, - Mitarashi smiled, winking at the embarrassed girl. - Together we are a force!
He began to search the prisoners and soon exclaimed joyfully:
- There is! The Scroll of Heaven! We have passed the second stage, friends!
Team 8 raised their fists in a single burst and burst into cheers. Kiba slapped Naruto on the back, and Hinata smiled shyly, her eyes shining with pride. The goal has been achieved! Now they just had to get to the central tower and prepare for new challenges. Elated by their success, they quickly moved on, discussing the upcoming challenges and dreaming of a well-deserved rest. There were only a few kilometers left when the Genin teams, who were heading towards the central tower, suddenly fell into a trap. An ominous rustling and hissing could be heard from the surrounding thickets, which made the blood run cold. And then countless venomous snakes poured into the clearing. Snakes of all sizes and colors crawled out from under the roots of trees and bushes, surrounding the Shinobi with a dense living ring.
- What the hell is this?! Shikamaru shouted, pulling out his weapon.
- Snakes! Thousands of snakes! Hinata stammered, instinctively squinting.
A tall figure in a coarse robe began to rise from the core of the vortex. Sasuke, still struggling with the agony of the cursed seal, bulged his eyes:
- That's him... Orochimaru!
The villain threw back his hood, revealing snake eyes and a crooked grin.
- Oh, I see you know me.
- What are you doing here, you bastard?! Naruto growled, getting into a stance.
"I just decided to check if you are worthy of my power," Orochimaru drawled, licking his lips. "Before I take her away from you."
He cast a greedy glance at the writhing Sasuke.
- Hey, snake-faggot, don't even think about climbing up to Sasuke! Sakura roared, standing up to defend herself.
The snakes, at a sign from Orochimaru, rushed at the Genins. Ino, Shikamaru and Choji stood shoulder to shoulder, repelling the first attack with shurikens and explosive seals.
- Stay together! Shikamaru commanded, scattering extension shadows to bind the vipers.
Meanwhile, Kiba and Akamaru had a hard time. Their whirlwind attacks scattered the snakes, but they stubbornly climbed in new waves.
- Naruto, Hinata, help! Inuzuka barked, almost getting bitten in the leg.
Naruto nodded and folded the seals for shadow cloning. Two dozen copies of Mitarashi flashed around them in an instant. Hinata, concentrating, activated her Byakugan and brushed away a whole wave of vipers. Sakura, who had been unsuccessfully treating Sasuke until now, jerked her head up at her friend's scream:
- Ino, look out!
She saw a huge anaconda rapidly approaching Yamanaka from behind. Without hesitating for a second, Sakura threw a kunai, pinning the snake to the ground at the last moment. Ino turned around, her eyes widened in shock as she realized how close she was to danger.
- Thank you, Sakura! Ino breathed out, nodding gratefully to her friend.
Orochimaru stepped towards Sasuke, and the rest of the genins rushed to intercept, surrounding Uchiha with a human shield. Orochimaru paused.
- I see that you will protect dear Sasuke-kun to the last. Well, that's worthy. In that case...
He waved his hand, and the snakes suddenly rushed towards the genins. Soon, they completely surrounded the team, forming an ominous cocoon of writhing bodies.
"I'll just seal you up here until the exam is over, and then I'll take what's coming to me."
The cocoon shrank, burying the stunned genins inside. The last thing they heard was Orochimaru's ominous laughter:
- Enjoy the darkness, kids! See you soon!
The Genins woke up in complete darkness, stuffy air and cramped space. They were imprisoned inside a giant cocoon of snake bodies at the behest of Orochimaru.
- What the hell is this?! Where are we? Naruto's confused voice rang out.
- Quiet, everyone, quiet! Shikamaru hissed. - This is Orochimaru's trap. He sealed us here until the end of the exam.
Sakura's excited voice could be heard in the darkness:
- What should we do? Sasuke-kun is still unconscious, he needs urgent help!
"Don't panic, Sakura," Ino said firmly. - You better think about how to get out of here.
Naruto looked around at the dense scaly walls and frowned. An idea struck him:
"Hey, Shikamaru, what if I try... He paused and folded the seals, "Snake summoning technique!
A cloud of smoke erupted in the cramped space of the cocoon, and a large rattlesnake appeared. Hinata gasped, and Sakura shrank into the wall.
But then the snakes forming the very wall of the cocoon, to everyone's amazement, stirred and hissed, as if greeting a relative. The summoned rattlesnake responded with a kind of hiss.
- What's going on? Shikamaru muttered, dumbfounded.
Naruto beamed:
- Oh, that's what I thought! It seems that Orochimaru's snakes recognize me as one of their own because of my ability to summon them!
He turned to the rattlesnake:
- Hey, friend, could you ask your relatives to unclench this cocoon? We want to get out and stop Orochimaru!
The snake hissed again, and the snakes in the cocoon walls actually moved, parting and forming a passage out. The Genins watched with a mixture of amazement and relief as the scaly grip loosened.
- Wow, it worked! Kiba gasped. - Naruto, you really are a cool snake-eater!
Soon, the teams got out of the cocoon with the direct assistance of the snakes themselves to Orochimaru. Naruto grinned contentedly and patted the nearest one on the head:
- Thank you, friends! Who would have thought that you would be on our side!
Exhausted but overwhelmed with relief, teams 8, 7 and 10 hurried to the central tower of the Forest of Death. Sakura carefully carried the unconscious Sasuke, hurrying to get him to the doctors as soon as possible. There was nothing blocking their way anymore - the rest of the animals and traps seemed to be parting, sensing the danger coming from the group. Naruto walked in front, ready to summon snakes to help at any moment. His determined look and newfound ability seemed to scare away all the threats in the forest. Shikamaru and Ino covered the rear of the group, closely monitoring the surroundings. Finally, the stone walls of the tower loomed above the treetops. The Genins quickened their pace, feeling that the goal was already close. Their fatigue disappeared when they saw the entrance to the tower.
- Look, there's a road ahead! Ino was the first to notice.
Shinobi examiners and medics crowded around the main gate of the tower. When they saw the approaching teams, they became worried and prepared for possible danger. But Naruto put his palms forward reassuringly:
- It's okay, we're Konoha's team! We urgently need medical help for Sasuke!
The examiners noticed the unconscious Uchiha and immediately called for a stretcher. Relieved, Sakura handed him over to the doctors, who immediately rushed inside the tower. Anko greeted Team 8 with a smile in the lobby of the tower along with Kurenai.
- Naruto, Kiba, Hinata! I'm glad to see that you're alive and well," she looked at them approvingly. - How was the second stage?
Naruto broke into a tired grin:
- Yo, Anko-sensei! It wasn't easy, but we did it!
Anko nodded, noticing the wounded Sasuke:
- What happened to Uchiha?
Here Naruto switched to a more serious tone:
- Everything was fine until we ran into Orochimaru.
Kurenai gasped, and Anko almost choked on air:
- What? That bastard? Have you met him?
Naruto nodded,
"Yes. He wanted to get the power of that damn seal that Sasuke had set. We barely fought off his snakes. And when we broke out, Orochimaru sealed us in a giant cocoon of snake bodies!
Anko's face contorted with rage, his features sharpened. She clenched her fists so that her knuckles turned white:
- This geek... Did he dare to harm my students?!
Kurenai anxiously looked from her to Naruto and back again.
"But in the end, I was able to free us by summoning my snakes!" Naruto beamed. - They convinced Orochimaru's snakes to unclench the cocoon, and we got out!
He nodded contentedly towards the huge snakes waiting outside. Anko froze for a moment, then resolutely stepped towards Naruto and put her hand on his shoulder:
- You did well, Naruto. I'm proud of you and the whole team. You have shown incredible resilience and resourcefulness. Now rest, you deserve it.
She stroked his head impetuously, nuzzling his tousled hair. Naruto hugged her back, feeling her warmth and protection.
"You were so brave and resourceful," Anko continued with a worried smile, pulling away. - I'm proud of you, little hero.
She patted his cheek, dropping a tear. Naruto beamed, seeing the sincere pride in her eyes. Anko turned to the others:
- Everyone go and rest. You deserve it.
The teams nodded and reached for the living quarters. Anko watched them go with a tenacious, worried look, and then turned to Kurenai:
- Did you hear that? Orochimaru is here, and he won't rest until he gets to Sasuke. We need to strengthen security and protect children at all costs. I won't let this freak hurt them!
However, the joy was short-lived. Soon, Anko reported in stunning detail to the Hokage and the council of elders about the incident involving Orochimaru. It turned out that the villain, apparently, was hunting for Sasuke and the power of his cursed seal. This news alarmed Konoha's leadership. After a heated debate, it was decided to suspend further examination for a while for security reasons. All nonresident Genin teams began to urgently evacuate back to their native villages. Konoha herself was put on high alert. Hokage mobilized all available forces of the Jonin and ANBU for round-the-clock patrolling and perimeter protection. Especially valuable Shinobi like Kakashi, Guy, and Asuma kept watch at key positions.
Sasuke, as Orochimaru's main possible target, was temporarily placed under heavy guard by the ANBU. Anko was also assigned to his safety, fiercely determined to thwart her former teacher's plans. Her eyes burned with determination and there was steel in her voice as she instructed the ANBU team on precautions. When the situation relatively stabilized, the leadership of Konoha decided to resume the Chunin Exam, but in a much safer and enhanced mode. Nonresident Genin teams were allowed to participate again, but now under the close supervision of selected ANBU detachments.
The exam itself has undergone major changes. Additional stages and tests have been introduced to eliminate as much as possible any incidents like the recent Orochimaru attack. Naruto and the rest of Konoha's teams, who had already passed the first two stages, were immediately admitted to the next one, but before that they were subjected to an even tougher inspection for the presence of prohibited techniques. Uchiha was still under heavy guard and close medical supervision. The influence of the cursed seal was temporarily neutralized, but Anko stubbornly continued to look for a way to finally remove this threat. At the new stage, the geniuses had to fight each other in a series of dueling duels. These fights had to take place in specially prepared arenas simulating various combat conditions, which made it possible to evaluate not only the combat skills of the participants, but also their tactical thinking.
The participants were paired up by drawing lots, and then entered a huge arena located on the highest observation tower of Konoha. The judges of these fights were personally Hokage and the elders of the village. They kept a sharp eye on each participant, assessing his combat skills, strategic thinking and ability to control the situation. Naruto waited in awe for his turn to enter the arena. Just before the start, Anko came up to him, clearly worried about her adopted son. She hugged the boy tightly and whispered in his ear:
- Naruto, remember - you have already proved that you deserve to be a Chunin. Just be yourself and show them what you can do. I believe in you. And know that no matter what happens, I will always be proud of you.
Naruto nodded, swallowing a lump in his throat from the overwhelming feelings. He squeezed her hand tightly and replied:
- Thanks, Mom. I will do my best to make you proud of me!
Naruto rushed back to the preparation area, where the fights were already in full swing. Anko remained among the spectators, holding her breath and not taking her eyes off her boy, who was ready to enter the decisive battle. After several intense fights, it was Naruto's turn to enter the arena. His opponent by lot turned out to be a genin from Suna named Saburo. When the names of the participants were announced, Anko clenched her fists convulsively, feeling inner excitement. She knew perfectly well what a dangerous and unpredictable opponent her adopted son had got. Naruto and Saburo entered a huge stone arena and stood in front of each other in racks. Hokage loudly announced the start of the match.
Saburo immediately rushed to the attack, taking advantage of his advantage in physical strength and height. His heavy kunai whistled dangerously close to Naruto's face, who deftly dodged.
- Be careful, Naruto! Anko prayed to herself, not taking her eyes off the arena.
Mitarashi concentrated, going on the defensive and studying the opponent's style. Saburo launched one attack after another at him, but Naruto deftly blocked and dodged, waiting for the right moment to counterattack. At some point, Saburo growled and released a series of explosive seals in Naruto's direction, but he reacted with lightning speed:
-Summoning snakes!
A gang of huge snakes materialized around Naruto, who took on an explosive attack, saving genin. Resting their tails on the ground, the snakes raised their heads high and began to spew powerful jets of poisonous liquid in the direction of the stunned Saburo. The Genin from Suna deftly dodged, using all his agility and reaction speed to avoid the deadly jets of poison. But Naruto did not retreat, continuously giving new commands to his snake allies to continue the attack. Soon, one of the jets of poison still landed in Saburo, burning his hand. He cried out in pain and hesitated for a moment. This is exactly the moment Naruto has been waiting for. He swiftly closed the distance and knocked the opponent down with a powerful kick to the chest. Saburo fell backwards, gasping for air, and Naruto had already put a kunai to his throat:
- Give up! The fight is over!
Judge Hokage nodded and loudly announced:
- The winner is Naruto Mitarashi from Konohagakure!
The stands roared with cheers. Anko, who was watching the fight, exhaled barely noticeably when the judge declared Naruto's victory. She caught her pupil's eye and nodded approvingly, smiling discreetly. After leaving the arena after a bright victory over Saburo from Suna, Naruto, along with Anko, went to the place for the participants to watch the rest of the fights. On the way, his foster mother softly praised him:
- You did a great job. But don't relax - it will only get more difficult.
They settled down on a bench and continued to watch the fighting. Anko did not stop sharing valuable instructions with Naruto, analyzing the tactics of the fighters and noting their strengths and weaknesses. Her experienced gaze noticed even the smallest details that could escape the inexperienced genin.
- Do you see how that guy from the Fog holds his left hand? It looks like he has a hidden weapon up his sleeve. Be attentive to such little things if you have to fight with him," Anko commented quietly, without taking her eyes off the arena.
Naruto listened attentively, absorbing every word. He understood that these lessons could prove invaluable in the next rounds of the exam. Soon, the next pair of participants was announced. Naruto's name was mentioned as one of the fighters. Mitarashi straightened up warily, concentrating. Anko took Naruto aside before entering the arena. Her gaze was serious.
- Rizo is a master of stealth techniques. Don't let him trap you. Use all your senses, not just your eyes
Naruto nodded, absorbing Anko's instructions. And then he resolutely headed for the entrance to the arena. His next opponent turned out to be a genin from the Mist named Rizo. The fighters entered the stone battlefield and froze in front of each other, waiting for the judge's signal. Under the gaze of the judges and the audience, including Anko, Naruto and Rizo froze in the stands on the stone arena. The tension in the air was literally ringing. Hokage majestically raised his hand, then abruptly lowered it, announcing:
- The fight has begun! May the most worthy one win!
Before his words could be heard, Rizo was already on the attack. He folded the hand seals, and a cloud of acrid fog swirled in front of Naruto.
"Must be one of the special techniques of the Mist Ninja!" Mitarashi realized, feeling the tart smell of this cloud in his nostrils.
He jumped back, dodging the streams of poisonous steam that Rizo was releasing towards him with his punches. Naruto knew that the slightest hit of this stuff could be fatal. In an instant, Rizo disappeared back into the dense fog, becoming completely invisible.
Remembering Anko's advice, Naruto closed his eyes and concentrated. The sounds of Rizo's movements came from all sides, and now Naruto was trying to catch the slightest changes in these sounds. He could feel the slight vibrations from the opponent's footsteps through the stone arena.
"Damn, it's a trap!" Naruto clenched his kunai warily, trying to predict where the next attack would come from.
And then Rizo's shadow darted out of the fog with a naked blade. Thanks to his heightened senses, Mitarashi managed to parry his lunge when the opponent immediately disappeared into the fog again. The next throw, and another - Naruto had to desperately fend off these invisible rapid attacks, relying not only on sight, but also on hearing and touch. Anko watched the fight, biting her lips with tension. Rizo used an overly dangerous stealth technique so that Naruto could easily overcome it. She could only hope that her boy would be able to find a decent answer. Suddenly, one of Rizo's throws turned out to be deadly fast and accurate. His blade whistled dangerously close to Naruto's face, managing to leave a deep scratch on his cheek. Mitarashi shuddered, but immediately bared his teeth in a bloodthirsty grin.
He abruptly threw out his open palm, and at the same moment a whole flock of small snakes flew out of the sleeve of his jacket. Rizo jumped back in surprise, falling out of the fog. The snakes rushed towards him, enveloping his body and limbs with their bodies, knocking him down! The fog had almost cleared by then. Now Naruto could clearly see his opponent writhing in the arena, entangled in living fetters. He stepped forward decisively, raising the kunai over the fallen Rizo:
- Give up! You've lost!
Genin from the Mist grinned viciously, but still nodded, admitting defeat. Hokage loudly declared Naruto the winner to the cheers of the audience. After intense battles with genins from Suna and Mist, Naruto had a little respite. When Naruto left the arena, Anko met him at the exit. Her eyes were shining, but she restrained herself from making loud exclamations. Instead, she just handed him a bottle of water and a clean towel.
"You handled his fog well," she said softly. - But the next fight will be even more difficult. Get some rest.
Soon, the Hokage judge announced the names of the next pair of fighters. Naruto tensed when he heard his name and the name of his opponent - Rana, an experienced genin from the mist, famous for his deadly water techniques.
The fighters entered the arena. A huge stone platform stretched out under the scorching sun without a single hint of water. But Naruto remembered Anko's instructions and was on the lookout for any surprises. Rana was the first to unleash a powerful elemental attack on him-a torrent of water gushing out of nowhere! Naruto deftly dodged, having noticed how the opponent spat out a tiny water ball from his mouth, which became the source of this stream.
"Incredible chakra manipulation!" Mitarashi was amazed, rolling to the side.
He called for snakes to help, but the jets of water from the Wound were so dense that they easily washed them away. Naruto had to resort to another tactic. By folding the hand seals, he created an incomplete reflection illusion around himself to confuse the opponent. Now Rana couldn't tell where the next attack would go-into the real Naruto or his reflection. However, the genin of the Mist was experienced enough not to fall for this trick. He quickly dispelled the genjutsu with a blow of his powerful chakra. In the next instant, Rana reactivated his deadly technique, forming a huge water tornado in front of him, threatening to overwhelm everything around! Naruto had to hold the line with all his might. Mitarashi folded his hand seals and summoned the largest snake in his arsenal, a huge snake named Oropachi. He materialized to his full considerable height, hissing deafeningly and taking a fighting stance.
- Oropachi! Destroy this water vortex! Naruto commanded.
The mighty snake unleashed its infernal chakra on the tornado, along with poisonous bile from its mouth. A powerful wave literally hit the rotating water, gradually drying and dispersing it. Rana retreated in a daze, seeing his formidable technique collapse. But he was not going to give up and continued to bring down new streams of water on Naruto. A furious exchange of attacks ensued. The Oropachi snake fiercely reflected each new water wave, not allowing it to wash away its owner. Meanwhile, Naruto was frantically thinking about how to neutralize such a strong opponent. And then a clever idea came to his mind. Naruto created an illusion of smoke and fog around himself, confusing the Wound. And then, in this illusory veil, he began to simulate the release of fire jets, throwing his arms forward and creating corresponding fire images with the help of genjutsu.
Upon encountering these illusory jets of fire, the Wound's water streams reacted as if they were being overtaken by tongues of real flame, instantly turning into steam. Genin looked around from the Fog in confusion in the swirling haze, unable to distinguish the real Naruto from his deceptive fiery projections. At that moment, the real Mitarashi caught the right moment to throw.
He darted towards the opponent through the fog and struck the Wound with a series of lightning strikes, knocking him off balance! He collapsed to the ground, completely disoriented by Naruto's powerful illusion. Mitarashi pressed the defeated Rana to the ground with lightning speed, putting a kunai to his throat and not letting him get up:
- Give up! You can't resist my illusions!
Rana nodded breathlessly and admitted defeat. The signal for the end of the battle sounded. The dazzling victory was once again for Naruto Mitarashi!
Anko watched the finale of the fight, gripping the railing tightly. When Naruto's name was mentioned as the winner, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, feeling the tension recede. She was filled with pride, but now it was more important to make sure that her pupil was not seriously injured. While Naruto was receiving congratulations from other Konoha Shinobi, Anko quickly descended from the stands. She walked over to him, carefully examining him for possible damage. After making sure that he was all right, she finally allowed herself to smile.
"Naruto," she said softly, "your mastery of genjutsu was truly masterful. This Rana didn't even realize that he had been tricked.
Mitarashi broke into a pleased grin:
"I followed your instructions, Mom. I watched the enemy carefully and waited for the right moment to apply the technique.
Anko patted his hair lightly, her eyes shining with pride:
- You executed your strategy perfectly. Keep it up, and you'll definitely become a Chunin.
Naruto nodded, sharing her confidence. His foster mother has always been his main source of inspiration and support. Soon, the judges announced the names of the next pair of fighters for the fight. Naruto's name was once again mentioned as one of the participants. Mitarashi felt the familiar thrilling thrill of the coming fight. Anko squeezed his hand reassuringly:
"Well, you're eager to fight again! Show these green genies your whole class!
She playfully nudged his shoulder:
- And I will watch you and catch your every move. I love it when you destroy everyone in your path!
After several bright victories using his signature snake techniques and illusions, Naruto reached the final of the third stage of the exam. His final test was a duel against Neji Hyuga, the genius of the clan and a born master of Soft Fist fighting techniques. When the names of the finalists were announced, Anko could barely contain her excitement. She was well aware that Neji was a very formidable and experienced opponent, even for such an agile fighter as her adopted son. Just before the start of the decisive battle, she took Naruto aside and hugged him tightly, burying her nose in his hair:
- Naruto, this will be your most serious test. Neji is a warrior with a rare gift, he will not be fooled by deceptive tricks. You're going to have to give it your all.
She pulled back and looked into his eyes with passionate determination:
- But I believe that you will succeed! You've grown up to be such a strong, agile and unpredictable Shinobi. Surprise this genius with something he doesn't expect!
Naruto nodded, feeling her words infuse confidence into him. He was ready to do anything in this last fight. The fighters entered the arena to the cheering of the audience. Naruto stood in front of Neji, studying his perfect stance and icy calm. This opponent really looked formidable. The referee gave the signal to start, and the fight broke out with swift fury. Neji immediately went on the attack, bringing down his deadly blows with a Soft Fist on Naruto. Mitarashi applied agility and speed, dodging and leading a mobile defense. He tried to confuse Neji genjutsu, but he dispelled the illusion with a single stroke of his chakra. The summoned snakes also couldn't hold back the pressure of the unsurpassed hand-to-hand combat master. Naruto retreated, panting and feeling his strength leave him. Neji, on the other hand, was impeccable, did not drop a single drop of sweat. His punches exhausted Mitarashi just by hitting the chakra currents.
At a certain point, Naruto lost his balance, and Neji took advantage of it. He delivered a series of hard punches, knocking the opponent out of the rack. Mitarashi collapsed to the ground, writhing in pain and gasping for air. Anko gritted her teeth, not taking her worried gaze away. Neji hovered over the defeated Naruto, raising his hand for the last blow. His face was unreadable, his eyes stared coldly at the prostrate opponent. It seemed that victory was already in his pocket. But at that moment, the real Naruto silently appeared behind him. The one lying on the ground turned out to be just an elaborate illusion. Mitarashi struck several precise blows at key points on Neji's body with lightning speed, partially paralyzing his limbs.
Hyuga jerked in surprise, trying to turn around, but his movements became constrained and Hyuga jerked in surprise, trying to turn around, but his movements became constrained and slowed down. Neji staggered and began to fall. Without wasting a second, Naruto summoned long snakes that rapidly wrapped around the opponent's body, completely depriving him of mobility. Neji collapsed to the ground, staring at Naruto in a daze. There was amazement and... respect in his eyes?
- How... How did you do that? - He croaked. - When did you manage to replace yourself with an illusion?
Naruto grinned:
- You were so confident in your superiority that you didn't even notice how you got into my genjutsu at the beginning of the fight. You've been fighting the illusion all this time.
After declaring victory, Naruto helped Neji up. The crowd was raging around them, but it was as if they were trapped in their own bubble of silence. Neji, still stunned by defeat, looked at Naruto:
- How did you do it? You're not from a famous clan.
Naruto thought for a moment, and then replied:
- You know, Neji, I started training hard from the very day I entered the Academy. My goal was to become a strong Shinobi to protect my village and those who are dear to me.
He paused, as if lost in memory.:
- My mom, Anko Mitarashi, she adopted me when I was a baby. She taught me that true strength is not just about techniques or bloodline. This is perseverance and the will to win.
Neji listened attentively, his gaze gradually changing.
"We practiced every day," Naruto continued. - Sometimes to the point of exhaustion. She always said, "Naruto, it doesn't matter what others think of you. What matters is what you think of yourself." And I believed her.
"But didn't people treat you well?".. Wary? Neji asked.
"You're right, a lot of people didn't know how to treat me," Naruto nodded. - Someone was afraid, someone shunned. But there were also those who believed in me. My mother, the Third Hokage, Kurenai-sensei... Their faith gave me strength.
He looked Neji straight in the eye.:
- I realized that it doesn't matter where you come from - from a noble clan or not. What matters is which path you choose and how much effort you are willing to put into going through it to the end.
Neji was silent, thinking about what he had heard. He had always believed that fate was predetermined, that he was doomed to suffer forever in a side branch of the clan. But this guy... he forged his own destiny, despite the ambiguous attitude of others.
"Naruto," he finally said. - I think I'm starting to understand. All these years I've been blinded by my resentment. I thought that nothing could be changed. But looking at you, I see how much I was wrong.
Naruto smiled and held out his hand to Neji:
"Hey, it's not too late to start over. You can change your destiny too, if you want to!
Neji hesitantly shook the outstretched hand, feeling something new arise inside him - hope.
At that moment, Anko, beaming with pride, ran up to them, wrapping Naruto in her arms. And Neji, looking at them, felt for the first time in a long time that the weight of hatred began to fall off his shoulders. Perhaps it's time to look at the world through different eyes. After intense final fights and an emotional conversation with Neji, Naruto left the arena accompanied by a proud Anko. They were walking down the corridor, discussing the details of past battles, when they heard approaching footsteps and familiar voices. Team 8 appeared around the bend in full force: Kiba Inuzuka with his faithful dog Akamaru, Hinata Hyuga and their sensei Kurenai Yuhi.
- Yo, Naruto! Kiba called out loudly. - Dude, you were just unstoppable today!
Akamaru barked loudly, as if to confirm his master's words. Naruto broke into a wide smile:
- Hey, guys! Glad to see you!
Kurenai-sensei smiled warmly:
- Naruto, your victories were very impressive. Especially the final fight with Neji. You have shown true Shinobi skill.
"Thank you, Kurenai-sensei," Naruto was slightly embarrassed by the praise. - I tried my best.
Hinata, who was standing a little behind, timidly stepped forward. Her cheeks turned slightly pink as she spoke:
- N-naruto-kun... It was amazing. Y-you... You really changed Neji. I've never seen him like this... thoughtful.
Naruto smiled gently at Hinata:
- I just told him that each of us can change our fate. I think he's starting to realize that.
"Yeah," Kiba grinned, "if anyone could get through to this stubborn guy, it's you, Naruto!"
Anko, who was standing next to her, proudly put her hand on her pupil's shoulder:
- My boy is not only strong in body, but also in spirit. He knows how to find the right words.
- Anko-san, - Kurenai addressed her, - you have raised a wonderful Shinobi. Konoha can be proud of such a young generation.
The two Kunoichi exchanged knowing glances. Both knew what a hard path Naruto had gone through to reach this level.
- Hey, Naruto! Kiba suddenly exclaimed. - And maybe we can arrange a little training? I want to see if I can hold out against you for at least five minutes now!
Naruto laughed:
"Only five?" Come on, Kiba, don't underestimate yourself! Let's do it for all ten!
Hinata giggled softly, watching their playful exchange.
"Take it easy, guys," Anko interjected with a grin. - Naruto still needs to rest after today's fights. But I don't mind if you get ready for training a little later.
- Great idea! Kurenai supported. - I think joint training will benefit all our geniuses. What do you say, Anko?
- I'm all for it! Mitarashi nodded. - Naruto is always happy to face new challenges.
Naruto was beaming with joy. He felt the respect of his peers growing, and it filled him with pride and determination to become even stronger.
- Then it's decided! - He announced. - As soon as I get some rest, we will definitely arrange a grand training session!
Everyone nodded in agreement, anticipating future sparring sessions. After saying goodbye to Team 8, Naruto and Anko hurried back to the arena. The Hokage was about to announce the results of the exam. When they took their seats, a tense silence reigned over the arena. The third Hokage stood up and looked around at the hushed Genins.
- Today we witnessed outstanding fights, - he began. - All the participants proved themselves to be true Shinobi. But only a few of you have proved that you are ready to carry the title of Chunin.
Naruto's heart thumped when Hokage started calling names. And now it sounded:
- Naruto Mitarashi from Konohagakure!
A wave of applause swept through the stadium. After the solemn announcement of the exam results and the presentation of new vests, Chunin, Naruto and Anko finally left the arena. The bright sun was already setting, painting the sky over Konoha in warm orange tones. They walked through the streets of the village, tired but happy. Naruto kept glancing at his new vest, still not fully believing that he had reached this important milestone.
"You know, Mom," he said suddenly, stopping, "I couldn't have done this without you.
Anko smiled softly:
- You made this journey yourself, Naruto. I was just there.
"And that's the most important thing," he replied, looking into her eyes. - You've always been there for me.
They hugged, and at that moment both understood that no matter what challenges lay ahead, together they could overcome everything.