Author's Note: Sorry for not posting as much, I have just gotten a bit too lazy. I have gotten some reviews about the Sakura hate in this fanfiction. I just want to say I don't really have much of an opinion about her. I just thought it would be a bit funny to troll her, and honestly, I laugh while writing this, it feels natural.

For Naruto's Uzumaki summon, I will include this in the month before the finals. I will also make this a mythical creature, although I will not reveal my choice yet. If you'll have any suggestions, you can let me know and I will definitely consider them. Another thing I wanted to clear is that Naruto does not share any clan jutsu with his friends, the only instance I added was when he shared a beginner katas of the Whirlpool Fist with Hinata, to build a base for her Dancing Fist. The jutsu he gets from Gato, are not really that useful for him, since it deviates a lot from his fighting style.

In the final month, I had already planned for Naruto to ask Hiruzen to make a clan library. I am sorry if I did not write that part clearly, but he will not make it in the public library.

The votes are neck and neck, and honestly, if I get better ideas with any one idea I might veto the votes since they are so close anyways. In the comments I am getting great additions for the first idea, but not much for the second, so whoever voted for 2, give some good reasons too.

First Idea (Hiruzen's apprentice ANBU Commander): 7 votes

Second Idea (Double Agent with Orochimaru): 8 votes

It was the day before the chunin exams. Temari was casually strolling through the streets of Konoha, enjoying the peace and quiet away from her brothers—especially Gaara, whose presence was always suffocating. She took in the scenery around her, admiring the vibrant flowers and lush greenery that filled the village. Unlike Suna's constant heat and barren sands, Konoha felt alive. It was beautiful, and she secretly loved it. Though she was a fierce kunoichi at heart, Temari still appreciated the finer things—like flowers and the cool, gentle breeze brushing against her skin.

Naruto was on his way to Ichiraku Ramen, his stomach already growling in anticipation. He rounded the corner, and suddenly his heart skipped a beat. Standing ahead of him, looking completely mesmerized by the colorful blossoms along the roadside, was Temari. Her sandy blonde hair gently swayed with the breeze, and he couldn't help but notice how her teal eyes sparkled with admiration for her surroundings.

For a brief moment, Naruto hesitated, a rare feeling of uncertainty creeping in. Should I go and talk to her? Would she even like me? But then he mentally scolded himself, shaking away any doubt. What the hell am I thinking? I'm Naruto freaking Uzumaki! There's no way I'm backing down now!

Confidently, Naruto walked towards her, offering his signature grin as he greeted her warmly. "Hey there."

Temari turned, startled, but quickly recovered when she saw Naruto. Her cheeks flushed faintly pink as she smiled back. "Hey yourself," she replied smoothly, regaining her composure.

Naruto glanced around, then back at her, his eyes sparkling playfully. "Enjoying the sights?"

She nodded, returning his playful look. "I am. Konoha's beautiful—much better than I'd expected," she admitted honestly, before adding with a teasing smirk, "Though the company just got more interesting."

He chuckled, feeling a rush of confidence at her flirtatious tone. "Glad to hear that. You know, I was just on my way to my favorite eating spot. Care to join me? You look a bit hungry," he teased lightly.

Temari tilted her head slightly, an amused twinkle dancing in her eyes. "Are you asking me out on a date, Naruto?"

Caught off guard by her directness, Naruto flushed deeply, quickly trying to regain his composure as he stumbled through his words. "W-well, I mean—only if you want it to be."

She giggled softly, thoroughly enjoying his momentary embarrassment. She gently brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear, eyes twinkling mischievously. "I suppose it can be."

Feeling victorious, Naruto's embarrassment faded, replaced once more by his trademark grin. They started walking side by side toward Ichiraku's, effortlessly falling into conversation about their lives, their villages, and what it was like being shinobi.

When they reached the ramen stand, Naruto immediately shouted out cheerfully, "Hey, Old Man, I'll have my usual!"

Teuchi's voice echoed warmly from the kitchen, "Coming right up, Naruto!"

Ayame walked to the front to greet him but paused abruptly, her eyes nearly popping out comically as she saw the stunning girl standing beside Naruto. "Naruto-kun, is this…? Did you actually manage to find yourself a beautiful girl?" she teased mercilessly.

Naruto and Temari both turned crimson. Naruto laughed nervously, scratching his cheek as he tried to explain, "Well, Temari here is from Suna, participating in the Chunin Exams. We just met a day ago, and I was kinda… showing her around Konoha."

Ayame leaned forward over the counter, a mischievous smirk spreading across her lips. "And you brought her to our ramen stand for your first date? I'm honored, Naruto-kun!"

Temari laughed softly at Ayame's teasing, her cheeks pleasantly warm. She glanced at Naruto, whose face matched her own embarrassment. Despite the awkwardness, Temari couldn't deny she enjoyed this playful, warm atmosphere—it was refreshingly different from Suna. And Naruto, she realized with amusement, was definitely growing on her.

Naruto cleared his throat, trying desperately to regain control of the situation. "Just get us two bowls already, Ayame nee-chan!" he pleaded, making Temari smile warmly.

Temari looked at Ayame thoughtfully before responding, "I'd like a chicken and pork ramen, please." Ayame nodded cheerfully and vanished into the kitchen, but not before sending Naruto a playful wink that instantly made his cheeks flush a deep red. Naruto grumbled something under his breath about "stupid Ayame nee-chan," prompting Temari to giggle lightly at his embarrassment.

Soon, Ayame returned with their orders—a towering Naruto special for Naruto, and a steaming chicken and pork ramen bowl for Temari. The rich aroma wafted upwards, tempting her senses. Curious, Temari took a cautious bite. Her teal eyes immediately widened in shock, and a wave of pure bliss spread across her face. She eagerly began to devour her meal, completely forgetting about manners for a moment.

What the hell kind of heaven is this? she wondered aloud between bites, savoring the incredible flavors. Suna has nothing even close to this.

Naruto chuckled softly, clearly amused by her enthusiastic reaction. When Temari glanced up and noticed his entertained expression, she asked defensively, "What?"

He shook his head lightly, smiling warmly. "Nothing, it's just... you had the exact same reaction as everyone who tries ramen here for the first time."

After a few more hearty bites, Naruto grew curious, setting his chopsticks aside for a moment. "So, what's the deal with your brothers anyway?"

Temari raised an amused eyebrow, her lips curling into a teasing smile. "And what exactly do you mean by that?"

Naruto rolled his eyes slightly, a playful grin appearing on his lips. "Well, let's see. One of them is a psychotic killer who literally threatened to kill me after talking to me for like, one minute. And the other one walks around in a catsuit, wears makeup, and carries what I can only assume are dolls."

Temari nearly choked on her noodles from sudden laughter, hastily covering her mouth as she giggled uncontrollably. When she regained her composure, she smiled at him apologetically, wiping a tear of mirth from her eye. "Kankuro is a little quirky, I'll give you that, but he's actually a strong fighter," she explained, before adding quietly with a small laugh, "Though even I don't get his fashion choices."

Her expression turned solemn as she began to speak about Gaara. "Gaara... he's had a rough life. Ever since he was a child, practically everyone in the village treated him like a disease, ignoring and isolating him." Temari chose her words carefully, avoiding any direct mention of Gaara's status as a jinchuriki. "Then the only person he ever trusted betrayed him, telling Gaara he hated him. Ever since that day, he's become cold, distant, and dangerous."

Naruto nodded slowly, understanding her explanation far more deeply than she knew. He felt an immediate sense of sympathy for Gaara, recognizing the similarities between Gaara's past and his own. Despite knowing about Gaara's jinchuriki status from sensing his chakra, Naruto chose not to bring it up, respecting Temari's evident sensitivity about the topic.

They continued their meal, exchanging stories and occasionally laughing over lighter topics. Eventually, Naruto leaned back comfortably, stretching slightly before smiling broadly at her. "You know," he said cheerfully, "I have a feeling these Chunin exams are going to be really fun."

Temari returned his smile, her eyes sparkling with playful excitement. "I agree. I'm really looking forward to it."

After a while, Temari turned red when she caught Naruto openly admiring her figure, clearly appreciating her long, creamy legs and curvy chest. Her initial embarrassment shifted to curiosity as she arched an eyebrow, teasingly asking him what exactly he thought he was doing.

Naruto didn't even try to hide it; he smirked cheekily and said, "I'm checking you out in both ways."

Temari tilted her head, intrigued, a faint blush still on her cheeks. "Both ways? And what's that supposed to mean?"

Naruto finished the last of his ramen, placing the bowl down. "Well, first off, you're a competitor. That means as a shinobi, it's my duty to gather as much information as I can about you," he said, earning an amused smirk from her.

"Oh really? And what have you learned?" Temari playfully challenged.

Naruto leaned slightly forward, eyes gleaming mischievously. "Well, for starters, you've clearly got wind release, judging by that massive fan of yours. The size and weight of it indicate you prefer large-scale futon attacks to overwhelm opponents."

He paused, deliberately letting his gaze wander appreciatively over her body, lingering slightly on her toned arms and elegant figure. "But the size of your fan also suggests something else—it's heavy and requires a lot of upper-body strength, meaning you have quite a strong and toned physique. Especially," he smirked knowingly, his eyes briefly glancing lower, "your legs and thighs, since you clearly need stability to generate that kind of forceful wind."

Temari was blushing furiously now, thoroughly impressed but also flustered at the depth of his analysis—and the boldness of his stare. "You're… pretty observant, Naruto," she muttered, unable to fully hide her smile.

He grinned broadly, his confidence clear. "And as for the second way, well," he continued innocently, "you know, how boys tend to check out hot girls." That earned him a playful swipe to the shoulder, but Temari's twitching lips betrayed how much she enjoyed his honesty.

They left Ichiraku's, Naruto offering to escort Temari back to her hotel, which she gladly accepted. On their way, she glanced at him sideways, a teasing smirk forming on her lips. "I have to admit, Naruto, this date wasn't half bad," she said playfully, emphasizing the word 'date.'

Naruto chuckled, hands casually tucked in his pockets. "Well, I'd have to agree with you. For a date right before the chunin exams, it was actually pretty fun."

Temari smiled warmly, her usual bravado softening a bit. "Thanks for today, Naruto. Great food and good company—I had fun."

Naruto sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck, genuinely touched. "Aw, you're making me embarrassed now," he admitted before quickly adding with sincerity, "But seriously, I had fun too. You're really something, you know."

An awkward silence briefly fell over them as neither quite knew how to proceed. Finally, Naruto decided to throw caution to the wind, surprising Temari by leaning in swiftly, planting a gentle kiss on her cheek—dangerously close to her lips. "Good night, Temari," he whispered softly before disappearing in a quick shunshin.

Temari stood there, frozen in surprise for a moment, her heart racing. When she finally snapped out of it, a broad smile stretched across her face, fingers touching the spot he'd kissed. It had been bold—without her consent, even—but she found she couldn't be angry.He's certainly bold, that's for sure, she thought happily as she headed back to her room, already looking forward to their next encounter.

The Next Morning

At exactly 7:30 AM, Naruto and Sasuke stood at the academy entrance, spotting Hinata already there, patiently waiting. Naruto paused for a brief moment, taking in the familiar sight, nostalgia washing over him. He smiled softly, recalling all the days they'd spent goofing off, skipping class, or playing pranks around here.

Sasuke rolled his eyes, giving Naruto a friendly elbow to snap him out of it. "Oi, don't start getting all nostalgic now, Dobe. We have a test to take."

Naruto chuckled, nodding as they began ascending the staircase. They knew exactly where they had to be: room 301. As they approached the second floor, a commotion caught their attention—a large crowd had formed around one particular doorway.

Naruto's eyes narrowed slightly as he took in the scene. Two older-looking boys were blocking the entrance to the supposed third-floor room—though Naruto immediately recognized them as Kotetsu and Izumo, the eternal chunin gate guards. Do they really think they are fooling anyone with that Henge, he thought. Before he could voice this realization, however, a pleading voice reached their ears.

"Please, just let us through. We have to take the exam!" begged a pretty girl dressed in a pink Chinese-style kimono, hair done neatly in two buns atop her head. She looked determined yet somewhat anxious, a slender but athletic build marking her clearly as a kunoichi. Naruto noticed her sincerity but doubted she was as helpless as she pretended to be.

Nearby, another genin, a boy dressed in a green jumpsuit with an absurd bowl haircut and incredibly bushy eyebrows, was violently pushed back. Naruto instantly recognized him as Rock Lee, the guy he'd briefly encountered running around the village months ago. Naruto smirked subtly; Lee wasn't this weak, which meant he was purposely downplaying his strength to deceive potential opponents.

Sasuke cut sharply through Naruto's contemplation, slightly irritated. "Come on, let's not waste time here."

Hinata quietly agreed, glancing nervously at another genin who stood to the side. He had long dark hair, calm yet cold pale eyes, and an air of superiority around him. Hinata visibly tensed, barely whispering, "Neji nii-san." Naruto caught her anxious expression, silently reassuring her with a gentle squeeze on her shoulder. Hinata nodded appreciatively, whispering softly, "This seems to be a test, they're probably using genjutsu to weed out weaker teams. After all, we're still on the second floor."

Naruto nodded approvingly. He had sensed the genjutsu much earlier, confirming Hinata's analysis. The trio then silently proceeded up the stairs, undisturbed by the scene behind them.

As they reached the real third floor, a sudden voice halted their advance.

"Wait, hold it!" came Rock Lee's determined voice from behind, his stance already prepared for battle. His eyes locked onto Sasuke's, burning with intensity. "You're Sasuke Uchiha, this year's rookie of the year. I wish to challenge you to a fight!"

Sasuke raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Can't this wait? We're literally about to enter the Chunin Exams. I already noticed you're stronger than you let on downstairs," Sasuke smirked faintly, eyes narrowing. "Though I have to say, for someone strong, you certainly dress like a joker."

Naruto couldn't help but burst into laughter at Sasuke's blunt assessment. Lee's determined expression never wavered; instead, he tightened his fists, taking offense. "You have a hip and cool attitude, Sasuke Uchiha. I am the strongest genin in these exams. I wish to prove that even a genius can be defeated by hard work!"

Sasuke's eyes sharpened dangerously, slight irritation surfacing in his voice. "I might be talented, but I've busted my ass to get where I am. And I have no intention of fighting you right now—we've got more important matters."

As Sasuke turned dismissively, Lee frowned deeply, a flicker of anger and determination blazing in his eyes. Without warning, he surged forward at astonishing speed, launching a powerful kick aimed squarely at Sasuke.

Taken aback slightly by the sudden attack, Sasuke hastily raised an arm to block, but Lee's strike had tremendous force, propelling Sasuke backward across the hallway. Quickly regaining his footing, Sasuke's sharingan instinctively flashed to life, spinning rapidly as he glared back at Lee, fully prepared to engage now.

Hinata stepped forward anxiously, eyes wide with concern. Naruto gently stopped her, a calm smile on his lips. "Relax, Hinata-chan. Sasuke's got this."

Lee and Sasuke simultaneously charged, each preparing to strike. Just as their blows were about to collide, a commanding voice sharply pierced the hallway, stopping them both in their tracks.

"What the hell do you think you're doing, Lee?"

They all turned around to see a turtle standing upright, wearing a small red Konoha headband and sporting a serious look on its face. The turtle had thick-rimmed glasses and a miniature scroll tied neatly to its shell, and it began speaking in a deep, gruff voice, immediately capturing everyone's attention.

"Lee!" the turtle scolded sternly. "You have broken our rules! Fighting another contestant before the exam is strictly forbidden!"

Lee's shoulders slumped visibly, clearly disheartened. "I am sorry! But I just wanted to prove my strength and show that I—"

The turtle raised a small but authoritative paw, silencing him immediately. "Your lack of patience is disappointing, Lee. You should have waited until the exams began."

Team 7 watched this scene unfold, their eyes comically wide, mouths twitching with disbelief. Naruto leaned towards Sasuke, whispering incredulously, "Sasuke…is…is he arguing with a turtle?"

Sasuke deadpanned, nodding slowly, "Yep. Definitely arguing with a turtle."

Hinata sweatdropped, softly mumbling, "I never thought I'd actually see a ninja scolded by a talking turtle…"

Meanwhile, the turtle shook its head, sighing deeply. "Wait until Gai-sensei hears about this!"

Before they could process this new information, a massive explosion of smoke appeared dramatically in the hallway, and when it cleared, Team 7 almost choked on their breath.

Standing dramatically, thumbs up and smile shining brighter than the sun itself, was an older, taller, and even more eccentric version of Rock Lee, complete with the green spandex suit, bowl-shaped haircut, and those undeniably massive eyebrows.

Naruto's jaw dropped, openly pointing. "No way! Those eyebrows are bigger than Lee's! They're practically alive!"

Lee glared fiercely, his youthful fire burning brightly. "Gai-sensei is the most amazing shinobi alive! Don't insult him!"

Naruto dramatically waved his hands, "Oh, forgive me! It's just…those eyebrows…I couldn't look anywhere else."

"That's enough!" Gai boomed, silencing the childish banter. Turning abruptly towards Lee, Gai struck a dramatic pose, his voice filled with emotion. "Lee, you fool!"

Lee snapped to attention, a bead of sweat forming on his forehead. "G-Gai-sensei?"

Gai shook his head with exaggerated disappointment. "For your reckless youthful behavior, I sentence you to five hundred laps around Konoha!"

Naruto raised a hesitant hand, clearly confused by the surreal scene unfolding. "Uh, Sensei…don't we have the chunin exams, like… right now?"

Gai immediately paused, his pose faltering comically. "Oh, yes. I…seem to have forgotten." Without missing a beat, he spun towards Lee, giving a blinding thumbs-up. "Lee! Make that one thousand laps! An extra five hundred for interrupting the exams!"

Team 7 collectively face-faulted, crashing down to the floor comically at Gai's illogical punishment.

Gai finally noticed Team 7, eyes sparkling in recognition. With unimaginable speed, he appeared behind them, startling Hinata, though Naruto and Sasuke tracked him, albeit barely.

"You three must be Kakashi's students!" Gai shouted exuberantly. "I am Might Gai, his eternal rival! My record against him currently stands at fifty wins and forty-nine losses, one glorious victory ahead!" He flashed a grin, his teeth sparkling brightly.

Sasuke, contemplating this sudden appearance, thought quietly to himself, I'm not sure if he's stronger than Kakashi, but he's definitely faster. A lot faster.

Gai turned dramatically back to Lee, his expression softening somewhat. "Lee, I am deeply disappointed in you."

Lee lowered his head apologetically, trembling with youthful remorse. "I am sorry, Gai-sensei! I allowed my flames of youth to dim!"

Gai's eyes watered instantly, "Oh, Lee!"

Lee burst into tears as well, "Oh, Gai-sensei!"

Naruto sweatdropped, hesitantly stepping back, feeling an uncomfortable sense of dread. This exchange repeated a couple of times, each louder and more emotional than the last. Then, it happened—something that would scar Team 7 forever.

Behind the eccentric duo, a massive sunset inexplicably appeared, casting everything into a dramatic golden hue. Gai and Lee embraced tearfully, crying each other's names repeatedly in absolute bliss.

Naruto immediately flared his chakra, hoping desperately to break this awful illusion, cracking the floor beneath him from the sheer force. Sasuke activated his Sharingan, spinning frantically, and Hinata activated her Byakugan desperately trying to break whatever horrifying genjutsu this was. But nothing worked.

Naruto, visibly shaken, turned frantically to Sasuke. "You gotta master this genjutsu, Sasuke! It could be useful!"

Sasuke paled drastically, shaking his head adamantly. "No way, Naruto! Even thinking about learning this Genjutsu of Doom makes me sick!"

When the surreal genjutsu finally vanished, Team 7 collectively gasped for air, sweat pouring down their foreheads.

Gai, completely oblivious, turned dramatically once more. "It's time to leave, Lee!"

Lee nodded energetically, turning quickly towards Team 7. With a determined expression, he spoke seriously, "I lied earlier about being the strongest genin here. That title truly belongs to my teammate, Neji Hyuuga."

Gai and Lee struck a nice-guy pose, their smiles blinding as they dramatically vanished from sight, leaving Team 7 traumatized and speechless in the hallway.

Sasuke finally shook off what had just happened, sighing deeply before turning to his teammates, "We better get going; it's time for the exams." Naruto and Hinata nodded, pushing away the absurd scene they had witnessed, and moved towards room 301.

As they approached the door, they spotted Kakashi casually leaning against the wall, seemingly waiting for them, his single visible eye crinkling in a familiar smile. "Yo."

Naruto raised an eyebrow, confused. "Sensei? What're you doing here?"

Kakashi chuckled, looking amused. "Just here to officially let you into the exams."

Hinata tilted her head slightly, puzzled. "L-let us in? What do you mean, Kakashi-sensei?"

Kakashi straightened up a little, his expression suddenly serious. "The Chunin Exams are a team event. If even one of you had chosen not to participate, none of you would have been allowed to enter."

Hinata blinked, confused and slightly embarrassed. "Then why did you say it was completely optional, sensei?"

Kakashi's eye curved into another warm smile. "Well, I didn't want any of my cute little genin to feel pressured, of course!" Hinata blushed deeply at Kakashi's teasing, while Sasuke rolled his eyes and Naruto chuckled softly.

After a brief moment, Kakashi stepped back, eye smiling at them one final time. "Good luck, team. Make me proud." With a puff of smoke, he vanished.

Team 7 entered the exam room, instantly drawing the stares of the other genin, all noticeably older and giving off intimidating vibes. A familiar voice shouted from the side, "Oi, you guys made it too, huh?"

They turned to see Team 8 approaching. Kiba grinned cockily, Akamaru barking happily from atop his head, while Shino nodded politely in greeting. Sakura immediately launched herself onto Sasuke's back, wrapping her arms tightly around him. "Sasuke-kun, you're participating too?"

Sasuke groaned, irritation evident in his voice as he roughly shook her off, "Obviously, Sakura, otherwise why would I be here?" Sakura only squealed happily, hearts practically bursting from her eyes at his 'coolness.'

From behind came a lazy, bored voice. "Man, you guys are so troublesome." Team 7 turned to find Shikamaru approaching with Choji, who was calmly munching chips, and Ino trailing behind. Naruto smirked at Shikamaru's unenthusiastic face. "If it's so troublesome, why did you even come?"

Shikamaru sighed dramatically, rubbing the back of his head. "Ino wouldn't stop nagging me, and neither would my mom. Figured it'd be easier to just do it." Choji offered Naruto some chips, who politely declined.

Ino, however, was glaring daggers at Sakura, annoyed at the pink-haired girl for clinging to her boyfriend. She swiftly walked up to Sasuke, who began casually, "Hey, In—," only to be silenced as Ino firmly pressed her lips against his, initiating a passionate kiss.

Immediately, Sasuke responded, gripping her hips firmly before letting his hands wander down to her ass. Ino deepened the kiss even further, pushing chakra into her tongue, causing Sasuke to moan openly and repeatedly into her mouth, completely losing himself.

They finally separated, breathing heavily, Sasuke looking utterly dazed. Naruto burst out laughing loudly. "Wow, Ino, it's pretty clear who's the dominant one in your relationship."

Ino smirked proudly, while Sasuke shot Naruto a glare, attempting weakly to defend himself. "Shut up, Naruto."

Naruto held up his hands defensively, grinning mischievously. "Oh, what? You gonna deny she has you wrapped around her finger, Sasuke? Everyone here knows you're basically Ino's bitch."

Sasuke blushed furiously, muttering under his breath as everyone laughed at his expense, Sakura fuming silently in the corner.

Kiba ignored Sakura's tantrum, stepping forward boldly to challenge Naruto. "My team's been training nonstop, Naruto. There's no way we'll lose, especially not to a dead last like you."

Naruto grinned confidently, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Bring it on, dog-boy."

Shino shook his head slightly, whispering quietly, "Foolishness…," as Sakura enthusiastically nodded in agreement with Kiba.

Their bickering was abruptly cut short by a voice that echoed sternly throughout the room, instantly silencing everyone present. "You rookies shouldn't be making so much noise."

They all turned their heads to the voice, spotting a silver-haired boy with round glasses and an unassuming, friendly expression. He wore a simple, purple outfit beneath a white sleeveless shirt, giving off an almost harmless vibe—though Naruto wasn't fooled for a second.

"I'm Kabuto Yakushi," the boy introduced himself calmly, adjusting his glasses with a small smile.

Kabuto looked over Team 7 briefly, his eyes sharp despite his relaxed posture. "Just thought I'd give you rookies a little advice. You're causing quite a stir, you know." He gestured around the room. "It's been a long time since we've had rookies participating. Everyone here is sizing you up, and frankly, they're not impressed."

The trio glanced around, suddenly aware of countless hostile gazes directed their way, accompanied by a collective surge of killing intent. Naruto and Sasuke shared a look, rolling their eyes at the pathetic display before simultaneously releasing their own oppressive waves of killer intent.

Instantly, the weaker genin began to buckle—some fell to their knees, drenched in sweat, while others outright fainted. Naruto scanned the room with satisfaction, smirking when his eyes landed on Temari. He winked at her playfully, and she flushed brightly, quickly averting her gaze in embarrassment.

To his surprise, Naruto's eyes landed on a familiar face. Haku stood near two other genin wearing Mist headbands: one had short blue hair, large glasses, a shy expression, and carried a sword on his back—looking rather timid for a shinobi. The other had messy, curly black hair, warm brown eyes, and wore a loose blue cloak over black clothing, appearing confident but approachable.

Haku noticed Naruto's gaze and smiled warmly, waving gently in his direction. Naruto grinned back, pleased to see a friend among the competition.

Sasuke turned back to Kabuto, intrigued. "You're talking like you've done this before."

Kabuto chuckled lightly, adjusting his glasses again. "Oh, I'm somewhat of a veteran. This is my seventh time."

Kiba immediately burst into laughter, pointing at Kabuto mockingly. "Damn, you must really suck then!"

Kabuto shot Kiba an annoyed glare, responding coldly, "Or perhaps the exams are simply harder than you can possibly imagine."

Naruto narrowed his eyes, carefully observing Kabuto. Something about him didn't sit right. Despite Kabuto's best efforts to suppress it, Naruto sensed a chakra signature far too strong for a mere genin—bordering on jonin level—and impressively refined, indicating near-perfect chakra control. He made a mental note to watch Kabuto closely.

Kabuto cleared his throat, pulling out a stack of cards. "But, thanks to my repeated failures, I've gathered valuable intelligence," he explained, holding up a card. "These are my Ninja Info Cards. Each one holds detailed information on anyone I've collected data about. I channel chakra into a card, and it reveals everything I know about that individual."

He smiled again, an oddly calculating look in his eyes. "Since you're rookies, I'll give you a small demonstration."

Sasuke stepped forward, curiosity piqued. "Show us Rock Lee, and Gaara no Sabaku."

Kiba quickly jumped in as well. "And Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha!"

Kabuto smirked slightly, feigning disappointment. "Not as interesting since you already know their names, but fine." He channeled chakra into the first card, which immediately glowed with intricate patterns.

"First up, Rock Lee from Konoha. His teammates are Neji Hyuuga and Tenten Higurashi, under the guidance of Might Gai. He's completed 20 D-rank and 11 C-rank missions. Specialization in taijutsu—but he completely lacks skill in ninjutsu and genjutsu. Despite that, he's quite formidable in hand-to-hand combat."

He swiftly moved onto the next card. "Gaara no Sabaku, from Sunagakure. His teammates are Temari and Kankuro, under the supervision of Baki. He has completed 8 C-rank and an impressive 1 B-rank mission as a genin. Interestingly, he's rumored to have never suffered even a scratch on any mission. Be very careful around him."

The entire group fell silent, processing the information and gauging their competition more seriously than ever.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes sharply, immediately suspicious. How could Kabuto have access to such sensitive information? He pondered internally, understanding that such intel should only be accessible to higher-ups within each village. His suspicion of Kabuto deepened.

Kabuto continued unfazed, pulling out Sasuke's card and channeling chakra into it. The card illuminated, and Kabuto read aloud, his voice steady yet slightly mocking. "Sasuke Uchiha of Konoha. Teammates are Naruto Uzumaki and Hinata Hyuuga, led by Kakashi Hatake. He's completed 60 D-rank missions, 5 C-rank missions, and..." Kabuto paused for dramatic effect, smirking knowingly, "...1 S-rank mission."

Gasps echoed around the room, and Sasuke met their stares calmly, his pride evident. Kabuto continued, impressed despite himself. "Specializations include ninjutsu, taijutsu, genjutsu, and bojutsu. Notably, he's awakened a complete, three-tomoe Sharingan."

The room erupted into whispers, shocked expressions aimed at Sasuke, who merely shrugged casually, ignoring the stunned looks.

Kabuto next pulled out Naruto's card. Before he could activate it fully, it vanished from his grasp. Surprised murmurs filled the room until they noticed Naruto calmly holding the card, inspecting it carefully. Kabuto, irritation seeping into his voice, extended his hand. "Mind returning my card?"

Naruto's icy blue eyes met Kabuto's, narrowing slightly as a warning aura of killing intent rolled off him. "First, I'll read what's written here," Naruto stated coldly. "If the information reveals too much, you're not getting it back." Kabuto flinched slightly but masked it quickly, forcing a polite smile.

After scanning the card, Naruto's tense expression relaxed marginally, and he tossed it back to Kabuto. Kabuto caught it deftly, adjusting his cracked glasses before reading it aloud.

"Naruto Uzumaki, of Konoha. Teammates: Sasuke Uchiha, Hinata Hyuuga; Sensei: Kakashi Hatake. Mission count: 60 D-rank, 5 C-rank, 1 B-rank mission, and 1 S-rank mission." Kabuto's voice faltered slightly at the end, clearly shocked himself by the high-ranking missions of mere genin. Silence enveloped the entire room. "Specialties are taijutsu, kenjutsu, ninjutsu, and fuinjutsu. Notable achievements include defeating A-ranked missing-nin and one of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Raiga Kurosuki."

The entire room fell into stunned silence, eyes wide in disbelief. Even the jonin disguised among the genin were taken aback. Kabuto struggled to maintain a calm facade, internally shaken by the revelation of Naruto's strength.

Kabuto forced a smile, sweat barely visible along his forehead. "Quite impressive, Naruto-kun," he said, barely concealing his unease. "You three definitely live up to your reputations."

Attempting to regain his composure, Kabuto cleared his throat. "Of course, there are several other villages participating in this exam—Sunagakure, Kusagakure, even a newer one called Otogakure—though, being a newly founded village, my information on Oto is sparse."

From the back, three genin stood visibly agitated at Kabuto's dismissive tone. One was a girl with long black hair and fierce eyes, dressed in dark clothing. The other was a muscular, cocky-looking boy with spiky black hair and visible air holes in his palms. The third was bandaged heavily, wearing an oversized coat and emitting an aura of quiet menace.

"Small village?" the spiky-haired boy scoffed, enraged. "We'll show you 'small'!"

Without further warning, the three Oto-nin lunged toward Kabuto with impressive speed. Instantly, Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata reacted—Naruto appearing protectively before Shikamaru and Choji, Sasuke swiftly shielding Ino, and Hinata positioning herself defensively in front of Shino.

Kabuto dodged the initial strike effortlessly, but suddenly, to everyone's confusion, his glasses cracked violently. He collapsed onto his knees, vomiting blood and gripping his head in pain.

Before anyone could react further, a stern, commanding voice echoed powerfully through the room, silencing all.

"NO FIGHTING BEFORE THE EXAM OFFICIALLY STARTS, YOU WORTHLESS MAGGOTS!"