180

Chapter 180: The Chūnin Selection Exam! 1

 ---

*At This Moment*

In the central hall of the shipyard, a banquet was in full swing. Glasses clinked amidst lively chatter and laughter.

The men were dressed in tailored suits, and the women adorned themselves with elegant evening gowns, embodying the demeanor of high society.

These people were the "nobles" of the Land of Waves and surrounding smaller nations.

Much like Gato.

They were the wealthy elite.

Naturally, they sided with Gato, driven by shared interests, utterly indifferent to the lives of ordinary citizens.

“Now, let us welcome Mr. Gato for his speech!”

At that moment, the host’s voice rang out.

In an instant, everyone stood up and turned their attention to the stage.

Under the gaze of the crowd, a short, middle-aged man ascended the stage.

The man was clad in a black suit with a tie, his slightly disheveled hair combed as neatly as possible.

This man was none other than Gato.

Two samurai followed closely behind him.

One was a tall man with a scarred face, his right eye covered by an eyepatch. Shirtless, he sported vine-like tattoos across his torso and left arm. He wore a light purple samurai robe, with a sword strapped to his right hip.

This was Vajra, Gato’s personal bodyguard.

The other had light gray hair, wore a hat, and was dressed in a blue samurai robe, carrying a sword on his left hip.

This was Zori, another of Gato’s trusted bodyguards.

Both Vajra and Zori were highly paid by Gato, earning his complete trust and staying by his side to ensure his safety.

---

*At the Banquet*

Countless eyes turned to the two bodyguards, their gazes shimmering faintly.

In truth, Gato was an invader, an outsider.

The Land of Waves had originally belonged to the locals, but Gato had seized control by force.

Now, they were merely his vassals, relying on Gato for scraps.

He consumed all the meat, leaving them only the broth.

Thus, while resentment against Gato simmered in the hearts of everyone present, they dared not voice it. Instead, they were forced to applaud as Gato took the stage.

Clap, clap, clap!  

Amid the applause, Gato stepped onto the platform. His two bodyguards retreated slightly but stayed close enough to guard him.

Gato adjusted the microphone in front of him and smiled.

“Thanks to everyone’s support,” he began, “I, Gato, have been able to manage the maritime trade of the Land of Waves and neighboring nations.”

“I offer my heartfelt gratitude to all of you who support me.”

Gato continued his grandiose speech, savoring every moment.

He especially relished the knowledge that many in the crowd hated him but could do nothing about it.

That, to him, was the pinnacle of satisfaction.

---

*Crash!*

Suddenly, a loud crashing sound interrupted the speech, startling everyone in the hall.

“What was that?”

“What’s going on?”

“What happened?”

The attendees, holding their wine glasses, were momentarily frozen in shock.

Whoosh!  

The crowd's attention turned toward the shipyard’s entrance, where the sound originated.

Wooden debris scattered as a cold breeze swept in.

No figure was visible.

---

*Clink!*

Out of nowhere, the sharp, metallic sound of a kunai striking the ground echoed.

A distinctively shaped kunai lay at the entrance, instantly drawing everyone’s attention.

It was a Flying Thunder God Kunai!

Whoosh!  

In the next instant, a figure materialized where the kunai had landed.

It was Sasuke.

He slowly raised his head, his dark eyes glowing faintly with a cold light.

---

With a powerful push from his ankles, Sasuke launched himself forward, hurtling toward the stage with Gato in his sights.

It was a direct assassination.

A bold and domineering approach!

Whoosh!  

Sasuke’s speed was astonishing. To the onlookers, he appeared as nothing but a blur.

He leaped onto the hall’s ceiling, his feet adhering to it with chakra.

After a brief pause, he propelled himself again like a missile aimed straight at Gato.

---

The two bodyguards reacted instantly, drawing their swords and slashing at the incoming threat.

“You’re too slow,” Sasuke murmured indifferently.

A crackling purple aura of electricity enveloped him as he slipped past their blades and pierced straight through Gato’s chest.

---

*Zap!*

Electric currents surged as Sasuke’s attack bypassed the swords and tore through Gato’s body.

Gato’s sunglasses shattered, revealing wide, bloodshot eyes.

“I…”

Gato glanced down at the gaping wound in his chest, blood pouring out relentlessly.

His pupils lost focus, and his life ebbed away in seconds.

---

The hall fell into chaos as Gato’s lifeless body collapsed on the stage. Screams erupted as the banquet-goers struggled to process what had just occurred.

A single boy had stormed into their midst and assassinated Gato with an unnerving precision that defied comprehension.

Their world had turned upside down in under a minute.

And as quickly as Sasuke had appeared, he vanished in a flash of lightning, leaving the hall in stunned silence.

---

---

*Instantly.*

Sasuke let go of his grip.

With a composed turn, he strode away.

Thud! Thud!  

Behind him, the sound of two bodies hitting the ground echoed. The two samurai under Gato’s command no longer drew breath.

…

Not long after, Sasuke arrived at Tazuna’s doorstep.

He knocked lightly.

Tazuna opened the door almost instantly. His eyes, peering over the top of his glasses, fixed on Sasuke. His lips moved as if he wanted to ask something but hesitated.

“It’s done.”

Sasuke spoke calmly, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. He understood Tazuna’s doubts and decided to address them upfront.

+100

A number popped up in front of Sasuke, jumping suddenly.

That’s quite a lot.

It seemed…

In Tazuna’s eyes, those words were impressively confident.

“Sasuke… you… you’re serious?!”

Tazuna’s voice trembled, filled with disbelief and wonder.

In that moment, Tazuna’s gaze toward Sasuke became complex.

There was hope.

Yet he dared not fully hope.

It was the kind of hope laced with the fear of disappointment.

All at once, Tazuna’s breathing grew rapid. He seemed completely at a loss for how to process his emotions.

“Gato is dead.”

Sasuke spoke casually, walking further into the house. His nonchalant tone made it seem as though he was recounting the most mundane of events.

+200

The number before Sasuke doubled again.

Of course.

While doubling had happened before—from 1 to 2—an increase of 100 at a time was unprecedented.

“R-really?!”

Tazuna’s voice still quivered, but now it carried the weight of barely suppressed emotion.

It was like the moment before a long-awaited victory, the emotions bubbling to the surface but held back until the final confirmation.

“It’s true.”

Sasuke’s tone remained unchanged, but he could feel Tazuna’s growing excitement.

+300

The number jumped again, following the same 100-point pattern.

“I… I… I…”

Tears streamed down Tazuna’s face as he suddenly fell to his knees before Sasuke.

“Sasuke, thank you for what you’ve done for the Land of Waves. You’re our hero—you’ve saved us!”

Tazuna had never dreamed of a day when Gato would be dead. Years of pent-up emotion now broke free all at once.

“Get up.”

Sasuke quickly pulled Tazuna up with a firm grip.

“It’s nothing.”

“Just a small favor.”

“Besides…”

“What I care about more is…”

“Is dinner ready?”

Sasuke’s lips curled into a slight smirk. He could feel the thrill of his points surging and couldn’t resist adding a bit of flair to the moment.

+400

The number leaped again.

“N-not yet…”

Tazuna’s face turned apologetic. This young man, no longer just an ordinary boy but a hero of the Land of Waves, hadn’t even had a proper meal yet.

“Well, looks like I made it back just in time.”

Sasuke stopped there, feeling he’d sufficiently made his point. His gaze shifted to the approaching figures.

Kakashi.

Naruto.

And… Sakura.

“Sasuke.”

Kakashi called his name first, his tone carrying a silent inquiry.

“It’s done.”

Sasuke’s reply was as indifferent as ever. From the moment he returned, it was as if none of this was of any consequence to him.

+20

The points ticked up again, though the increase paled in comparison to what he’d earned earlier from Tazuna.

No matter.

He’d already gained plenty!

“So, we can head back now?”

Sakura asked tentatively.

She was deeply concerned about returning to the village.

The outside world felt dangerous and uncertain to her.

“Yes, we can go back,” Kakashi confirmed with a nod.

The issue of Gato had weighed on his mind too. If they left while Gato was still a threat, Tazuna might suffer the consequences—a problem beyond the scope of their mission.

“Dinner’s ready!”

Tsunami’s voice rang out as she called from the hallway, beckoning everyone to the table.

“Heroes, come eat!”

Tazuna chuckled heartily. His face now radiated with newfound vitality, as if years of stress had melted away. The shadow over him had completely lifted.

Happiness truly rejuvenates a person!

Tazuna seemed to be glowing with joy.

The team, led by Kakashi, had a simple meal. Tazuna and Tsunami stayed outside to give the group space to themselves.

“Sasuke, what did you do out there?”

Naruto asked, stuffing his mouth with sushi while looking curiously at Sasuke.

At this, both Kakashi and Sakura turned to Sasuke, their eyes filled with questions.

“I took care of Gato.”

Sasuke’s response was delivered casually, his attention still on his food, as if describing the most trivial of tasks.

+20

The points rose again.

“That’s amazing!”

Naruto gave Sasuke an enthusiastic thumbs-up before clenching his fist with determination. “I’ll work hard to become as strong as you!”

Sakura, however, remained silent.

She felt like she’d done nothing throughout the mission, except cheer from the sidelines. She hadn’t even seen Gato’s face.

“After dinner, rest for half an hour, and then we’ll prepare to head back to the village,” Kakashi instructed, picking up his plate and walking toward the window.

“Kakashi-sensei, where are you going?” Sakura asked curiously.

Kakashi didn’t answer.

Facing away from the group, he pulled down his mask, ate quickly, and put the mask back up—all in one swift, seamless motion.

The whole process was so fast that none of them had a chance to react.

“Ha ha ha…”

Even Sasuke couldn’t help but laugh with Naruto and Sakura as they mocked Kakashi’s dedication to his mask.

…

After dinner, while Team Kakashi rested, someone brought Tazuna the news that Gato was dead.

The news spread like wildfire.

The entire coastal region of the Land of Waves soon knew about it.

Tazuna was overjoyed. The weight on his shoulders had completely lifted.

Sasuke, seated cross-legged in a corner, closed his eyes as if meditating.

In truth, he was accessing the system menu.

*Current Points: 7,507.*

The progress was decent! Sasuke was satisfied with the numbers.

Opening the [Shop] menu, he browsed through six different toolkits.

---

Chapter 180: The Chūnin Selection Exam! 2 

Sasuke suppressed his curiosity and clicked on the third tool package. 

[Attribute Pack]: Increases the host’s chakra attributes. Price: 1000 points (limited to 1 per month; refreshes in 7 days). 

This month, one attribute pack is still available for purchase. 

To be precise, there’s one affordable attribute pack available. 

After all, there’s also a premium attribute pack!  

Purchase!  

Sasuke willed it, and the system immediately deducted the points.  

-1000 

Current System Points: 4157. 

In an instant, a new tool package appeared in Sasuke's consciousness.  

Use!  

Sasuke willed it again.  

"Ding-dong!" 

In the blink of an eye, a crisp electronic prompt echoed in his mind. 

"The host is using an upgrade package." 

"Current chakra attributes: Lightning x4, Water x1." 

"Please select the chakra attribute to enhance!"  

1. Fire 

2. Lightning 

3. Earth 

4. Wind 

5. Water 

Option 2.  

Without hesitation, Sasuke chose Lightning. For him, the strategy was clear: 

Stack Lightning attributes. 

Push it to the extreme. 

Buzz!  

As Sasuke made his selection, his entire body trembled slightly. A tingling sensation coursed through him. 

"Ding-dong!" 

"Congratulations, host! Lightning chakra attribute successfully enhanced!" 

It was done! Sasuke let out a breath of relief.  

With the two 100-draw bonuses fully utilized, all the available tool packs were now purchased.  

Opening the [Attributes] menu:  

[Attributes]  

• Mental Attribute: Rank S: (27/5000)  

• Physical Attribute: Rank S: (2039/5000)  

• Illusion Attribute: Rank S: (0/5000)  

• Ninjutsu Attribute: Rank S: (0/5000)  

• Strength Attribute: Rank S: (986/5000)  

• Speed Attribute: Rank S: (985/5000)  

• Chakra Attributes: Lightning x5, Water x1. 

Sasuke allocated 1 point each to Mental and Physical attributes, consuming 2 system points and optimizing his condition.  

Current System Points: 5155. 

With everything organized, Sasuke slowly opened his eyes.  

This month, he was done.  

Sasuke had no intention of buying the expensive attribute pack for 5000 points. Instead, he decided to save up 10,000 points for another 100-draw. Perhaps he’d get an attribute pack directly!  

"Let’s head back to Konoha!"  

Following Kakashi’s command, Team 7 completed their mission and started their return journey.  

Tazuna escorted Kakashi and the others to the port. The same ferryman from before picked them up and helped them return to the shores of the Land of Fire.  

Watching the boat leave, Tazuna’s eyes filled with tears, blurring his vision. 

"Father..."  

Tsunami stood beside Tazuna, concern shining in her eyes. She knew how much her father had sacrificed for the bridge.  

"Tsunami, this is a Hero Bridge. I’ve already decided on its name."  

Tazuna’s gaze lifted from the departing boat to the unfinished bridge, a smile forming on his lips.  

"It will be called Sasuke Bridge!" 

"That’s a wonderful name," Tsunami said, smiling.  

"I want everyone in the Land of Waves to remember Sasuke’s name as a hero!" Tazuna turned, patting Tsunami’s shoulder. "Let’s go home. With Gato gone, no one can stop us from finishing the bridge now." 

"Yes," Tsunami nodded, following her father home.  

On the small boat:  

The ferryman was ecstatic, gesturing wildly as the engine sputtered behind him.  

"Sasuke, you’re incredible! When we came here, I thought you were exaggerating. I never imagined you’d actually solve the problem!"  

The ferryman's face lit up with admiration. News of Gato’s death had already spread throughout the area, even as Team 7 rested and ate.  

Most people knew of Gato’s demise, but only a few knew Sasuke’s name.  

"Like I said, I didn’t solve the problem; I solved the one causing the problem," Sasuke replied nonchalantly, exuding an aura that practically screamed, “Time to show off.” 

+20  

A glowing number appeared before Sasuke's eyes, signaling yet another successful display of style.  

"Amazing! Absolutely amazing!"  

The ferryman gave him a thumbs-up, genuinely impressed by the young ninja who had become a hero of the Land of Waves.  

"Hey, why don’t you praise me? I’m going to be Hokage!" Naruto exclaimed, crossing his arms with a pout, his eyes filled with anticipation.  

"Hokage? What’s that?"  

The ferryman blinked, clearly puzzled. He wasn’t familiar with ninja matters.  

"Hahahahaha!" Sakura burst into laughter.  

After hearing Naruto talk endlessly about becoming Hokage, she found it hilarious that someone didn’t even know what Hokage was.  

"Hahahahaha!" 

"Hahahahaha!"  

Kakashi and Sasuke also chuckled, filling the boat with laughter. Naruto, however, looked a little downcast.  

How could anyone not know about the Hokage? 

Several minutes later, the boat docked on the shores of the Land of Fire.  

After bidding farewell to the ferryman, Team 7 set off for Konoha.  

The return journey was far smoother than their outbound trip, with no need to accommodate Tazuna’s slower pace. The four members of Team 7 moved swiftly through the forest.  

Three days later, they arrived at the gates of Konoha.  

Looking at the familiar entrance, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.  

"So this is what missions feel like!" Naruto exclaimed, spreading his arms and looking at the gates, feeling as if he’d been away for ages.  

"We’re finally back!"  

Sakura felt her nerves settle. Despite having Kakashi and Sasuke on the mission, she had been constantly on edge.  

"Let’s report the mission," Kakashi said, leading the group to the Hokage’s office. 

Hokage's Office. 

Kakashi's Team 7 stood in front of the desk. The Third Hokage, after deducting a certain percentage from the C-rank mission reward, handed it to Kakashi. 

"Kakashi, there are no missions recently. Take two days off, then come find me." 

After giving the instructions, the Third Hokage signaled for Kakashi and the others to leave. 

"Yes, sir!" 

Kakashi immediately responded and led Team 7 out of the Hokage's office. 

They walked outside. 

Kakashi stopped. 

He looked at Naruto, then at Sasuke, and finally his gaze rested on Sakura. 

"You all did a great job on this mission!" 

"There are no other missions for now." 

"Go back and rest." 

"Don't forget to train." 

"Goodbye." 

After Kakashi finished speaking, he clasped his hands together, and with a "poof" he disappeared. 

"It's over!" 

Sakura waved to Naruto and Sasuke, saying, "I'm going home. My parents are waiting for me." 

With that, Sakura left. 

Leaving Sasuke and Naruto standing at the entrance of the Hokage's office. 

"Let's go our separate ways too." 

Sasuke's figure flickered and disappeared. He directly used the Flying Thunder God Technique, instantly appearing on the head of the Second Hokage on the Hokage Rock. 

Naruto looked at the empty ground in front of him, knowing that Sasuke had used the Flying Thunder God Technique to disappear. 

"I want to learn the Flying Thunder God too!" 

Naruto clenched his fists tightly. 

He had decided! 

He wouldn't go back to rest! 

He would go train! 

Naruto felt that he had a grasp on learning the Flying Thunder God. With more practice, he could master this space-time ninjutsu. 

On the rocky mountain behind the Hokage Rock. 

Sasuke opened the seventh gate of the Eight Inner Gates and started using the Daytime Tiger continuously. 

The constant "ding ding" sound rang in his ears. 

He gradually entered his own special training state. 

As time passed. 

Sasuke trained here for three days and two nights. 

Adding points while training. 

As night fell, Sasuke stopped, and a deep sense of fatigue washed over him. 

"Time to rest!" 

Sasuke immediately deactivated the Eight Inner Gates. 

Suddenly. 

Seven consecutive "ding ding" sounds rang out, reminding Sasuke of the points he owed. 

Add points! 

Sasuke consecutively added 8 points to his Strength attribute and 1 point to his Stamina attribute. After adding all these, his body felt normal again. 

However. 

Sasuke just wanted to go home and sleep. 

Whoosh! 

Sasuke circulated his chakra, focused his mind, and instantly determined the location of a Flying Thunder God Technique formula, instantly returning to his room in the Uchiha clan compound. 

He lay down. 

Sasuke opened the system panel. 

It was time to confirm the total gains from these three days and two nights of training, which he couldn't pay attention to during the process. 

Not only that. 

Sasuke clearly felt a problem during the training process. 

Almost on the night of the first day of training. 

It became a bit problematic to consume all his stamina with one Daytime Tiger. From then on, Sasuke had to use Daytime Tiger three times in a row! 

It must be that his Strength attribute had leveled up! 

Sasuke glanced at it when adding points. The points did seem to start from zero, but he hadn't had time to check the details. 

This time, Sasuke clearly noticed the points he spent. Before his training, he still had more than 5000 system points.  

He opened the [Attributes] list.  

[Attributes]  

• Mental Attribute: Rank S (88/5000)  

• Physical Attribute: Rank SS (2849/10000)  

• Illusion Attribute: Rank S (0/5000)  

• Ninja Attribute: Rank S (0/5000)  

• Strength Attribute: Rank S (3892/5000)  

• Speed Attribute: Rank S (3891/5000)  

• Chakra Attribute: Lightning x5, Water x1 

"Just as I thought!"  

Seeing his updated attributes immediately energized Sasuke.  

On the hexagonal attribute chart, not only were the attributes mostly filled, but the Physical Attribute gleamed with a dazzling gold SS!  

It was incredibly eye-catching! 

Strikingly radiant! 

It exuded an air of prestige and grandeur!  

"I have an SS-level attribute now!"  

Sasuke was overjoyed and quickly shifted his focus to the Strength and Speed attributes.  

"I still have more than 2000 points left." 

"I'm about 1200 points away from achieving double SS in Strength and Speed."  

"Based on the current pace..." 

"I can add points twice every three minutes." 

"In one hour, I can level up 40 times."  

"Then..."  

Sasuke started counting on his fingers, his mind overwhelmed by messy calculations.  

"Math is so hard!" 

"I need 1200 upgrades, with 40 upgrades per hour... How many hours will that take?"  

His head spun.  

"Thirty hours, maybe?!"  

After figuring it out, Sasuke sprang out of bed, his eyes burning with determination.  

"Forget resting!"  

"If I push through one more day of training, I can achieve triple SS in Strength, Speed, and Physical attributes!"  

"This will be a legendary attribute panel!"  

Resolving himself, Sasuke teleported using the Flying Thunder God Technique, reappearing on the Hokage Rock under the night sky.  

Standing atop the Second Hokage's head, Sasuke quickly returned to the stone peak. He immediately entered the Seventh Gate of the Eight Gates Formation and resumed training with the Daytime Tiger technique.  

The night deepened, and tiger roars echoed through the stone forest.  

Luckily, the residential areas of Konoha were far enough from Hokage Rock; otherwise, this would definitely count as disturbing the peace.  

Time passed by the second.  

The night faded, and a new day arrived.  

At the Hokage Office  

The Third Hokage sat steadily behind his desk, smoking his pipe with an air of leisure.  

"My position is still secure," he thought. 

"Danzo can forget about taking the Hokage seat before I step down."  

Before him stood over a dozen ninjas, all awaiting his orders. Among them was Kakashi.  

The Third cleared his throat, setting his pipe aside as his expression grew stern.  

"Ahem... I’ve gathered you here today for an important reason. Judging by my expression, I’m sure some of you have already guessed."  

His gaze swept across the group and finally rested on Asuma.  

"When does it begin?" Asuma asked, having already received a hint from the Third.  

The Chūnin Exams were about to commence!  

This was no secret; rumors had long since spread. The exams were being held earlier than usual, and ninjas from other nations and villages were already arriving in Konoha.  

"Tomorrow," the Third Hokage said plainly, playing along with Asuma’s performance.  

"What?! So soon?!"  

The gathered ninjas gasped in unison, exchanging shocked glances.  

The Chūnin Exams traditionally took place in early July. It was now only early April—three months ahead of schedule!  

Everyone had their own speculations, especially those with sharp instincts. They sensed that this sudden change might be linked to the instability within Konoha’s upper ranks.  

The Third Hokage continued in a firm tone, leaving no room for debate.  

"I officially announce that the Chūnin Exams will begin tomorrow, April 1st!"  

The announcement left everyone reeling. It was beyond sudden—bordering on reckless!  

Tomorrow?! 

Not even a day’s notice!  

Such haste was unprecedented, and it spoke volumes about Hiruzen Sarutobi’s urgency.  

After finishing his announcement, the Third addressed the group again.  

"Now, those responsible for guiding rookie genin, step forward."  

At his command, three ninja stepped to the front: Kakashi, Kurenai, and Asuma.  

"How about it?" The Third Hokage’s gaze lingered on the three, especially on Asuma, before he put his pipe back in his mouth.  

"Among your students, do you have suitable candidates?"  

He added, "Given the abruptness of this year’s exams, the usual requirement for graduates to complete eight missions is waived. If you recommend them, they’re eligible to participate."  

His eyes turned expectantly to Kakashi.  

"Kakashi," the Third said, "your Team 7—do you have any candidates?"  

Hiruzen was practically willing Kakashi to say Sasuke's name. Konoha needed strong contenders, especially since the Sand Village had sent an exceptionally powerful genin.  

If Konoha’s rookies embarrassed themselves, it would greatly diminish Hiruzen's influence, directly impacting the selection of the Fifth Hokage.  

Kakashi stepped forward lazily, his hands forming a seal.  

"From my Team 7, I recommend the following for the Chūnin Exams..."  

"Uchiha Sasuke!" 

"Uzumaki Naruto!" 

"Haruno Sakura!"  

 The room fell silent, stunned. Even Iruka couldn’t contain his shock. "What?!"  

 Chapter 180: The Chūnin Selection Exam! 3

---

"But letting them participate in the Chūnin Exams now is too soon!"

"They're still just teenagers!"

"They should gain more experience first!"

"I can't agree with the recommendations of the jōnin!"

Iruka seemed unusually agitated. Deep down, he was worried. After all, these nine young shinobi were the ones he had watched grow up.

He knew all too well how brutal the Chūnin selection exams could be.

He didn't want to see a tragedy unfold.

"Iruka."

"I disagree with you."

"When I became a Chūnin, I was six years younger than Sasuke is now."

Kakashi glanced at Iruka and shared his own experience bluntly.

"You can't compare like that!"

Iruka became even more agitated, staring at Kakashi with urgency in his eyes.

"Everyone knows you're a genius!"

"What you could do, they can't!"

"If you push them like this, you'll ruin them. Everyone knows the Chūnin Exams are also called—"

Iruka's words were cut off mercilessly by Kakashi.

"How do you know they're not as good as I was?"

Kakashi's gaze suddenly turned sharp, and he shook his head.

"Iruka."

"You need to change your perspective."

"Stop looking at them as kids or students."

"They are now my subordinates."

"And, more importantly, they are shinobi of the Hidden Leaf Village!"

Kakashi spoke firmly, his words earning the agreement of Asuma and Kurenai.

"But…"

Iruka was still unwilling to accept it. He truly believed it was too soon—the Chūnin Exams were terrifying.

"No more 'buts.'"

At that moment, the Third Hokage spoke up, taking a deep puff from his pipe.

"Iruka, jōnin instructors have the right to recommend their genin disciples. As Kakashi said, they are no longer students of the Academy."

With that, the Third Hokage turned his gaze away from Iruka and back to Asuma.

"Take your registration forms and head back."

"Yes!"

Kakashi and the other two responded in unison. They took the appropriate number of registration forms from the desk and left the Hokage's office.

---

On a bridge.

Naruto and Sakura stood together, exchanging glances.

"Hey, hey, hey, what's the deal with this? Is it even forgivable?"

Sakura clenched her fists, complaining to Naruto.

"Kakashi-sensei told us to come here right away!"

"But he's late himself!"

"He's always late!"

"And now, not only is Kakashi-sensei late, but Sasuke is late too!"

"What is this?"

Sakura vented her frustration.

After countless missions recently, she had gotten used to Kakashi's constant tardiness.

He's always late!

It's beyond words!

Swoosh!  

Just then, Kakashi appeared, standing on the bridge.

"You two are early!"

Kakashi lowered his gaze. Seeing Naruto and Sakura, he nodded slightly to himself.

Sasuke hadn't shown up.

He had just checked the Uchiha compound and hadn't seen Sasuke there.

"There's something I need to tell you."

Kakashi leapt down and stood before Naruto and Sakura. In his hand were three forms, but from their angle, they couldn't see what was written on them.

"Kakashi-sensei, aren't we waiting for Sasuke?" Sakura looked around but still didn't see Sasuke.

"No need."

Kakashi shook his head and continued, "I didn't inform Sasuke. He might be training somewhere. I'll tell you two first."

"Training?!"

Naruto's eyes lit up as he immediately thought of a place—behind the Hokage Rock.

"Naruto, it seems you know where Sasuke is. No problem, just pass my message on to him."

After saying this, Kakashi realized he might have asked the wrong person. He then turned to Sakura.

"Sakura, go with Naruto to find Sasuke and deliver the message. I'll leave it to you."

Kakashi feared his words would morph into something entirely different if relayed by Naruto.

"Understood!"

Sakura immediately agreed, her face lighting up with excitement.

Delivering a message to Sasuke!

What a great task!

It gave her a rare chance to talk with Sasuke. Even though they were all part of Team 7, private conversations with Sasuke were few and far between.

Naruto, meanwhile, pouted, sensing Kakashi's lack of faith in him.

"Tomorrow—"

"The Land of Fire will host the Chūnin selection exams with other nations."

"This is a bit sudden."

"But…"

"I've already recommended you for the Chūnin Exams."

"These three forms are your application forms."

"Fill in your information on the forms!"

"And sign your names!"

"Submit them to Room 301 at the Academy by 9 AM tomorrow to complete your registration."

"Of course!"

"My recommendation doesn't mean you must take the Chūnin Exams!"

"This isn't mandatory!"

"You can decide for yourselves whether to participate!"

"If you don't want to, just don't turn in the forms!"

"That's all."

"Sakura, hand Sasuke his form."

Kakashi explained everything concisely, left the three forms, and vanished in a flash.

"The Chūnin Exams…"

Sakura's eyes widened as she stared at the form in her hands, unable to believe it.

"I never thought Kakashi-sensei would recommend us for the Chūnin Exams!"

Sakura slapped her forehead. She felt she didn't yet have the skills to become a Chūnin.

"Naruto, are you going to participate?"

Sakura turned to Naruto, curious about his decision. She needed some confidence from him and Sasuke.

"Of course I am!"

Naruto's face lit up with determination. Without hesitation, he answered firmly.

"The Chūnin Exams!"

"There will definitely be a lot of strong people there!"

"I won't lose to anyone!"

---

"I will earn the title of Hokage!"

Once again, Naruto expressed his dream of becoming Hokage.

This dream would always support him, driving him to persevere and never give up, pushing him to keep working hard.

"Sigh…"

Seeing Naruto like this, Sakura knew she had asked the wrong person.

Naruto…

He didn’t have much talent.

Yet, he was always brimming with mysterious confidence! Where did he even get the courage to want to be Hokage?

Maybe I should just ask Sasuke instead!

"By the way, Naruto, do you know where Sasuke is?" Sakura suddenly remembered she needed to deliver a form to Sasuke.

"I know!"

Naruto nodded and pointed toward the towering Hokage Rock in the distance.

"Of course!"

Sakura smacked her forehead.

"How could I forget that!"

Sakura exclaimed in frustration.

The last time they saw Sasuke, he had been training there.

Since he had gone off to train in seclusion, the most likely place would be there again.

"Let’s hurry; we need to tell Sasuke about the Chunin Exams," Sakura urged.

"Alright!"

Naruto nodded enthusiastically and walked with Sakura toward Hokage Rock.

Around the base of the Hokage Rock were ladders.

Naruto and Sakura climbed up, making their way to the top.

"Roar!"

Suddenly, the sound of a tiger’s roar echoed.

In the distance, they saw a white tiger leaping skyward.

It was far away—much farther than the last time they saw it.

Even the sound was faint.

Clearly, Sasuke was deliberately avoiding people.

"How are we supposed to get over there?"

Sakura looked at the chaotic terrain ahead, her face full of exasperation.

"Walk over there!"

Naruto took the lead. It had been several days since he last saw Sasuke, and the Chunin Exam was important. Sasuke needed to know about it as soon as possible.

Naruto walked quickly, with Sakura close behind, both heading toward Sasuke.

---

At that moment, Sasuke had just finished unleashing his third Afternoon Tiger.

"Ding, ding!"

"Ding, ding!"

"Ding, ding!"

A series of "ding" sounds echoed, causing Sasuke's point total to shift.

Huh?

Sasuke, still in the Seventh Gate state, with all his senses heightened, immediately sensed Naruto and Sakura approaching.

He disengaged the Eight Gates and canceled the Seventh Gate state.

"Ding, ding!"

"Ding, ding!"

"Ding, ding!"

"Ding, ding!"

The "ding" sounds continued to ring in Sasuke's mind, seven in total.

Quickly opening his system panel, he didn't have time to investigate further.

He allocated eight points to his Body stat and one to his Spirit stat.

Buzz!

Sasuke's entire body trembled.

After the tremor, Sasuke felt his energy, spirit, and stamina fully restored, as if all fatigue had been wiped away.

Completely recovered.

"Why are Naruto and Sakura coming here?"

A question mark appeared in Sasuke's mind. Still, he didn’t go to meet them immediately. Instead, he focused back on his system panel.

It wasn’t enough to reach SS rank in strength and speed yet!

Let’s see how much more is needed.

*Current System Points:* 1,314

Huh?!

Looking at this sequence of numbers, which held a special meaning in the real world, Sasuke’s lips curled into a slight smile.

Interesting!

It seemed he had used up quite a few points.

Checking his stats:

---

*[Attributes]*

- *Spirit:* Rank S (110/5000)

- *Body:* Rank SS (4,539/10,000)

- *Illusion:* Rank S (0/5000)

- *Ninjutsu:* Rank S (0/5000)

- *Strength:* Rank S (4,733/5000)

- *Speed:* Rank S (4,732/5000)

- *Chakra Nature:* Lightning x5, Water x1

---

Just 300 points to go!

Sasuke’s eyes burned with determination.

Tonight!

By tonight, he would elevate Strength, Speed, and Body to SS rank!

In an instant, Sasuke closed the system panel and activated the Flying Thunder God Technique, appearing next to Naruto.

Smack!

Sasuke placed a hand on Naruto’s shoulder, his sudden appearance startling both Naruto and Sakura.

+10

The number in Sasuke’s view shifted upward.

"Why are you two here?"

Sasuke’s voice was calm, devoid of irritation. He knew if Naruto and Sakura had come all this way, something important must have happened.

"Sasuke, you scared me!" Sakura exclaimed, sitting down on the ground in shock.

"Sasuke, Kakashi-sensei signed us up for the Chunin Exams!" Naruto blurted out.

"Chunin Exams?"

Sasuke narrowed his eyes slightly. So, it was already time. Just as the future events had predicted.

"Let me explain!"

Sakura stood up, taking out a form. It was Sasuke’s registration form.

"Tomorrow is the registration day for the Chunin Selection Exams," she began.

"Kakashi-sensei recommended us to participate."

"However…"

"It’s not mandatory. We can choose not to participate."

"As long as we submit the registration form to Room 301 at the Ninja Academy by 9 a.m. tomorrow, we’ll be officially registered."

"If we don’t submit it, we won’t be registered."

"Sasuke!"

Sakura’s eyes gleamed with hesitation, placing the decision squarely in Sasuke’s hands.

"What do you think? Should we participate?"

Both Sakura and Naruto fixed their gazes on Sasuke.

"Of course, we’re participating! And we’ll do it together!"

A faint smile appeared on Sasuke’s face. Finally, the Chunin Exams were here. Starting tomorrow, the point rewards would increase.

"Naruto."

"Sakura."

Sasuke looked at both of them intently before speaking with serious resolve.

"We are Team Seven. We are a team. We’ll take on the Chunin Exams together!"

Sasuke’s words immediately gave Naruto and Sakura a boost of confidence, dispelling any lingering doubts they had.

"That’s right! We’ll do it together!" Naruto beamed, his face lit with joy.

"Ugh…"

Sakura sighed, rubbing her forehead. She had guessed it would end this way, but now that Sasuke had spoken, what else could she do?

"Alright, I understand."

Sakura looked at Sasuke with determination. "We’ll do it together."

"Tomorrow at 8:30 a.m., we’ll meet at the Ninja Academy’s entrance and head to Room 301 together to submit the forms!"

Sasuke took the registration form from Sakura’s hand, casually stowing it away. The form vanished without a trace.

"I still need to train for a while longer."

"Prepare yourselves!"

"We’ll meet tomorrow!"

With that, Sasuke’s figure flickered and disappeared, reappearing on a distant boulder.

There was a Flying Thunder God seal on the ground there.

With just 300 more points to go for SS rank in Strength, Speed, and Body, he was determined to finish it now.

---

Sakura glanced at the distant figure of Sasuke, who was still releasing chakra. Suddenly, she felt an overwhelming gap between them.

"Sakura."

Naruto’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

"Don’t worry, we’ll protect you. No problem!"

Naruto gave her a big thumbs-up, his face glowing with a bright smile.

"Uh…"

Sakura froze for a moment.

In that instant…

Naruto seemed a little cool.

---

*End of Chapter*