Questions On Questions!

Naruto clenched his fists, his stomach churning with unease. This is wrong. No one should have to face that guy. Gaara's not just strong—he's a monster.

His gaze darted toward Sakura's slumped figure. She was still unconscious, blissfully unaware that her opponent was the same bloodthirsty sand-user who nearly crushed Lee to death. She doesn't even know she has to fight him… Naruto's throat tightened.

He scanned the room frantically, searching for Kakashi-sensei. Where is he? His sensei's absence sent a fresh wave of panic through him. Then he realized Sasuke was gone too. What's going on?

Naruto's heart pounded as his mind raced. He didn't know what to do, but one thing was clear: Sakura didn't stand a chance—not against Gaara.

Naruto sprinted out of the room, his footwear slapping against the cold stone floor of the arena as he pushed past spectators and fellow genin. His mind raced faster than his feet. Kakashi-sensei has to know what's going on. He wouldn't just disappear—not when we need him.

He tore through the village streets, the chatter of merchants and villagers barely registering. His chest burned with the effort, but he didn't stop until he reached Training Ground 7. The sight of the familiar clearing—the old posts, the worn grass, and the distant rustle of leaves—usually brought him a strange sense of calm. Not today.

"KAKASHI-SENSEI!" Naruto yelled, his voice echoing across the empty training field. He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted again. "KAKASHI!"

No response. Not even the sound of the lazy flip of a page from one of Kakashi's weird books. The silence was unnerving. Naruto scanned the area, searching for any clue. The training posts stood like silent sentinels, and the ground was undisturbed. If Kakashi had been here, there was no sign of it.

Frustrated, Naruto stomped toward the base of a tree and slumped against the trunk. He gritted his teeth. "Where the heck did you go, sensei? This isn't the time to just vanish!"

He punched the tgreeRRRRRrt. His thoughts swirled with worry. First Sasuke's missing, and now Kakashi too? What's going on?

After a few moments of fruitless searching, Naruto jumped to his feet, determination flickering in his eyes. If Kakashi wasn't here, there was one person who had to know where he was.

The Hokage's office was bustling when Naruto burst in, earning him a few sharp glares from the administrative staff. He ignored them, marching straight to the door where the Old Man worked. Two Anbu guards stepped into his path, their masks impassive.

"You can't go in unannounced," one said, voice firm.

Naruto clenched his fists, his chakra stirring with his frustration. "I don't have time for this! I need to talk to the Old Man—now! It's about my team!"

Before the guards could respond, the Hokage's calm voice called from within. "Let him in."

The Anbu exchanged glances before stepping aside. Naruto stormed through the doors, his anger dissipating slightly at the sight of the elderly Hokage seated behind his desk. The man's face was calm but tired, the weight of the village's problems evident in his eyes.

The Hokage raised an eyebrow at Naruto's frantic explanation, but his expression softened as he gestured for the boy to calm down. "Take a breath, Naruto. One thing at a time."

Naruto gulped in air, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides. "But, Old Man! Kakashi-sensei is gone! Sasuke's gone! Sakura doesn't even know she has to fight Gaara, and there's something off with my chakra! I don't know what's going on, but it's bad!"

The Hokage folded his hands on his desk, his gaze steady. "I understand your concerns, Naruto. But I need you to listen carefully."

Naruto quieted, his chest still heaving as he tried to rein in his frustration.

"Kakashi is currently attending to an urgent matter involving Sasuke," the Hokage explained. "They're both safe, and they'll be back soon. As for Sakura, she'll need to recover before facing her match, and I assure you, she'll have support when the time comes."

Naruto's jaw tightened. "But Gaara—"

"Gaara is dangerous," the Hokage admitted gravely. "But so is this exam. Every genin here is fighting at the risk of their own lives. That's the reality of becoming a shinobi. Sakura will have to face her opponent when the time comes, just as you and Sasuke must face yours."

Naruto's fists shook, but he nodded reluctantly. "Fine. But what am I supposed to do now? I can't just sit around!"

The Hokage smiled faintly. "You won't be sitting around, Naruto. Tomorrow morning, at 8 a.m., I want you to meet Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura at Training Ground 4. Kakashi will resume your team's training then. In the meantime..."

He paused, his expression growing more serious. "You mentioned trouble with your chakra. That's not something to take lightly. If your chakra is out of balance, it could be related to the seal that contains the Nine-Tails. We cannot afford to ignore it."

Naruto stiffened, his hand instinctively brushing his stomach. "What's wrong with it?"

"That's what we need to find out," the Hokage said. "I want you to see Jiraiya. He's the one who reinforced your seal after your birth. If there's anyone who can address this issue, it's him."

Naruto blinked, confused. "Wait… who the heck is Jiraiya? You're just sending me off to some random guy?"

The Hokage chuckled softly, though his expression remained serious. "Jiraiya is no random person, Naruto. He's one of the Legendary Sannin—a title reserved for the most powerful and skilled shinobi. He's also an expert on the Nine-Tails' seal. If anyone can help you, it's him."

Naruto tilted his head, frowning. "Legendary Sannin? So, he's supposed to be some big shot, huh? Why haven't I heard of him before?"

The Hokage's smile widened faintly. "Jiraiya prefers to stay… out of the spotlight. But trust me, Naruto, his skills are unmatched. You'll recognize him easily enough—he has white hair, wears a forehead protector with the kanji for 'oil,' and has a very distinctive personality."

Naruto crossed his arms, still skeptical. "Alright, Old Man, if you say so. But where do I even find this guy?"

The Hokage leaned back in his chair, his gaze turning slightly amused. "Jiraiya has a fondness for hot springs. Start there. If you don't find him, ask around—his… habits tend to make him memorable."

Naruto furrowed his brows. "Hot springs? What's a guy like that hanging around there for?"

The Hokage coughed into his hand, avoiding the question. "Just go, Naruto. Time is of the essence. Once you meet him, explain what's been happening with your chakra. Jiraiya will take it from there."

Naruto sighed, scratching the back of his head. "Fine, I'll go find this Jiraiya guy. But he better not be a weirdo or anything."

The Hokage smiled warmly. "You'll see soon enough. Remember, meet Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura tomorrow at 8 a.m. in Training Ground 4. Until then, focus on resolving this issue."

Naruto nodded, determination flickering in his eyes. "Got it, Old Man. I'll find this Jiraiya guy and figure out what's going on."

Without another word, he turned and sprinted out of the office, the Hokage watching him go with a faint smile. "Jiraiya," the Hokage murmured to himself, "you'd better be ready for this one."

Naruto skidded to a halt in front of the hot spring Jiraiya was lounging by. The older man reclined casually with a notebook in one hand, a ridiculous grin plastered across his face. Naruto blinked, momentarily taken aback by how ordinary—and weird—the guy seemed.

"Hey, old man!" Naruto shouted, his frustration boiling over. "Are you Jiraiya or not? The Hokage said you're supposed to fix my seal or something!"

Jiraiya turned his head lazily, his grin widening as his eyes landed on Naruto. "Old man? Kid, do I look old to you?" He stood up with exaggerated flair, dusting off his robes. "I am the great Toad Sage, Jiraiya! Writer, sage, unparalleled shinobi, and—"

Naruto cut him off with an unimpressed scowl. "So you're just some pervert hanging out by a hot spring?"

Jiraiya's grin didn't falter. "Pervert? No, no, no. I'm a super pervert."

Naruto groaned, rubbing his temples. "The Old Man sent me to you? You've got to be kidding me!"

"Watch your tone, brat," Jiraiya said, his voice taking on a sharper edge. "You're the one who came looking for my help. Now, let me see that seal."

Naruto huffed but obeyed, lifting his jacket and shirt to reveal the faint spiral seal on his stomach. Jiraiya crouched down, his eyes narrowing as he studied it.

"Hmm…" Jiraiya muttered, tracing his fingers over the marks. "This is definitely Orochimaru's handiwork. He added a Four Symbols Seal on top of the original. That snake always loved meddling where he didn't belong."

"Can you fix it?" Naruto asked impatiently.

"Of course I can fix it," Jiraiya replied. "Hold still. This might sting a little."

Jiraiya pressed his glowing hand against the seal, and Naruto tensed as a wave of heat surged through his stomach. For a moment, it felt like something was fighting to break free, but then a sudden burst of light signaled the Four Symbols Seal's removal.

"There," Jiraiya said, standing and brushing off his hands. "You're back to normal. That should stabilize your chakra and give you full access to the Nine-Tails' power again."

Naruto blinked, touching his stomach with wide eyes. "Whoa. I feel lighter. And stronger! This is amazing!"

Jiraiya nodded, but his tone was casual. "Good. You'll need that strength if you want to survive in this world. But tell me—how did Orochimaru end up targeting you?"

Naruto scowled, crossing his arms. "It wasn't about me! He was after Sasuke. He only messed with my seal because I got in his way."

"Figures," Jiraiya muttered. "That Uchiha kid's probably got a lot of potential. Orochimaru's always been obsessed with rare talents."

Naruto clenched his fists. "That's why I have to get stronger. I need to protect Sasuke and Sakura—and myself!"

Jiraiya chuckled. "You've got guts, kid. But guts aren't enough. You need training—and not just any training. You need someone like me to show you the ropes."

Naruto grinned, his excitement building. "Alright! Then let's get started!"

Jiraiya raised a hand, stopping him. "Hold on, kid. I agreed to help with your seal, but training you? That's another story."

"What?" Naruto's face fell. "But you just said I need your help!"

"I said you need someone like me," Jiraiya corrected, smirking. "But I'm a busy man. Besides, I'm not sure you're worth the trouble."

Naruto glared at him, determination flickering in his eyes. "You're wrong! I'll prove it to you—I'll make you regret turning me down!"

Jiraiya laughed, shaking his head. "Fine, fine. If you're serious, come find me when you're ready to focus. But don't drag anyone else into this. I don't have time to babysit your whole team."

Naruto frowned, his shoulders stiffening. "But we're a team! If we're gonna get stronger, we've gotta do it together. Sasuke, Sakura, and me—we're gonna be stronger than the Sannin!"

Jiraiya's expression flickered with something unreadable, but he quickly masked it with a chuckle. "Big talk for a kid who doesn't even know who the Sannin are."

Naruto blinked, caught off guard. "Wait… who are the Sannin?"

Jiraiya sighed dramatically. "You've got a lot to learn, brat. The Sannin are me, Orochimaru, and Tsunade. We were a legendary team back in the day, trained by the Third Hokage himself."

Naruto's eyes widened. "Whoa. So you're, like, super strong?"

"Something like that," Jiraiya said with a smirk. "But don't think you can just waltz in and become the next Sannin. It takes discipline, hard work, and—"

"Then train us!" Naruto interrupted. "Not just me—Sasuke and Sakura, too! Together, we'll be even stronger than you guys. And we won't make the same mistakes you did!"

Jiraiya stared at him for a long moment, his smirk fading slightly. "You've got spirit, kid. I'll give you that. But I'm not running a daycare. You want my help? You'll have to earn it—and you'll have to come alone."

Naruto's fists clenched, but he didn't argue. Not yet.

Naruto stretched, his excitement dimming as he realized the conversation was winding down. Jiraiya had made it clear: he wasn't training Naruto's team, not yet, and Naruto wasn't going to change his mind today.

"Well, thanks for fixing my seal, old man," Naruto said, pulling his jacket back down and giving Jiraiya a pointed look. "Even if you're kinda useless when it comes to the rest of my team."

Jiraiya smirked, unfazed by the jab. "We'll see how useless I am when you decide you're ready for real training, brat."

Naruto turned to leave but froze mid-step. His eyes went wide as something crucial hit him like a lightning bolt. "Oh no… Sakura!"

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. "What about her?"

"I left her in the preliminaries room! She was still unconscious!" Naruto shouted, panic rising in his voice. He took off without another word, his sandals clattering loudly against the cobblestones as he ran.

Back at the Chūnin Exams arena, Naruto dashed through the empty halls. His earlier anxiety was back in full force, twisting his stomach into knots. She's gonna kill me if I left her there too long! Or worse, what if something happened to her?

When he burst into the room where he'd last seen her, his heart sank. The room was empty—no Sakura slumped against the wall, no medic-nin bustling around. Even the spectators had cleared out.

Naruto's pulse quickened as he turned to the nearest official-looking person, a proctor still tidying up the room. "Hey! The girl who was passed out—Sakura! Where is she?"

The proctor gave him a tired look. "She was taken to the hospital. Standard procedure for unconscious participants."

"Hospital…" Naruto muttered before taking off again, sprinting through the streets toward Konoha's medical wing.

Naruto barged into the hospital lobby, his chest heaving. "Where's Sakura Haruno?" he asked the startled receptionist.

"She's in Room 204," the woman said after a moment. "But you can't just—"

Naruto didn't wait for her to finish, bolting down the hallway. He stopped just outside Sakura's door, pausing to catch his breath.

When he stepped inside, he saw Sakura sitting upright in bed, her pink hair slightly disheveled but her expression calm. A few scratches and a faint bruise on her temple were the only signs she'd been hurt.

"Naruto?" she said, blinking in surprise as he entered. "What are you doing here?"

Naruto let out a loud sigh of relief, grinning as he rubbed the back of his head. "You're okay! I mean, of course, you're okay. But I was worried!"

Sakura gave him a small smile. "They said I passed out after my fight. I don't really remember it… just that I was exhausted." Her eyes flickered with concern. "What about the preliminaries? Did anything happen while I was out?"

Naruto hesitated, debating whether to tell her about Gaara being her next opponent. He decided against it—for now. She didn't need that hanging over her head while she recovered.

"Nothing important," he said, trying to sound casual. "But we've got a team meeting tomorrow. Kakashi-sensei wants us at Training Ground 4 at 8 a.m. sharp."

Sakura tilted her head. "A team meeting? Why?"

Naruto shrugged, his grin faltering slightly. "Just… something about getting us ready for the finals. You, me, and Sasuke—we've gotta be ready, y'know?"

Sakura nodded slowly, her brows furrowing. "Alright. I'll be there."

Naruto gave her a thumbs-up, his usual energy returning. "Good! Rest up, Sakura. We're all gonna get stronger together—believe it!"

As he turned to leave, her soft voice stopped him. "Naruto?"

He glanced back.

"Thanks for checking on me."

Naruto's grin widened. "Of course. That's what teammates do, right?"

Sakura smiled faintly as he left, a small spark of determination lighting in her eyes.