**Chapter 15: The Arrival of the Chūnin Exam**
"Teacher Kurenai, this is Hinata."
After much effort, Naruto finally found Beautiful Kurenai. Looking thoroughly embarrassed, he handed Hinata over to her.
"Hmm... Naruto, Hinata fainted after being with you, didn't she?" Kurenai asked, bending down to take Hinata into her arms. She gave Naruto a reproachful look.
"Uh... 'See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil'..."
The moment Kurenai bent over, Naruto caught a breathtaking glimpse. He immediately began chanting the Heart-Cleansing Mantra, feeling guilty. *Forgive me...*
"Naruto, what are you muttering about so mysteriously?" Kurenai asked, still bent over and looking at him. She gently tapped his forehead with a slender, jade-like finger. "If you ever do anything inappropriate to Hinata again, I won't forgive you, you little rascal! Understand?"
"Yes, yes, I understand!"
Sweat nearly beaded on Naruto's forehead. Being in such close proximity to a mature, beautiful woman was almost too much to handle.
"Alright, I'll let you off this time."
Kurenai tapped Naruto on the forehead, then straightened up and hugged Hinata tightly.
"Well, Teacher Kurenai, I'd better get going or I'll be late."
Naruto quickly made up an excuse to leave. He couldn't stand staying there any longer.
"Heh, what an interesting little fellow," Kurenai murmured, watching Naruto's retreating figure with an affectionate smile.
*Huff... huff...*
Naruto sprinted to the meeting point, panting heavily as he bent over, bracing his hands on his knees.
"Naruto, you idiot! Why are you so late?" Sakura scolded, glaring at him playfully.
"Tch, always sleeping in," Sasuke muttered irritably.
"Hmm, Naruto, you made it just in time. Good job!" Kakashi stepped forward and flashed his wrist at Naruto, showing him his watch.
"Uh... Teacher Kakashi, why did you buy a watch?" Naruto asked, his face puzzled.
"To prevent us from getting lost on the path of life together!" Kakashi declared firmly.
"Uh..."
Naruto stared at Kakashi, speechless. "When did you start caring so much about time?"
"Now, I have an announcement to make."
Kakashi pulled three sheets of paper from his vest.
"These are the application forms for the Chūnin Exam."
He handed the forms to Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke as he spoke.
"The Chūnin Exam?" Sakura exclaimed, taking her form with a gasp. Sasuke's face lit up with excitement. As for Naruto...
"Naruto! No picking your nose at a crucial moment! Pay attention!" Kakashi roared, his patience wearing thin.
"Oh, I'm listening, I'm listening. Go on." Naruto withdrew his finger from his nostril, then promptly began picking his ear.
"..."
Kakashi paused, his silence heavy with exasperation.
"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!"
A thunderous shout erupted.
"Whoa! Teacher Kakashi, are you trying to kill us?!" Naruto yelped, startled, and quickly formed a hand seal. "Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"
*Boom! Rumble!*
The earth dragon slammed into the earthen wall, both jutsu collapsing simultaneously.
"Now, Naruto, listen properly!"
Kakashi glared at Naruto with a menacing expression.
"Understood!" Naruto nodded, still shaken.
*So Teacher Kakashi has a violent side after all...* Naruto thought silently, speechless.
"Alright, take these three forms. Whether you participate in the Chūnin Exam is up to you. That's all! I'll wait for you at the destination."
Every second longer was torture. Kakashi vanished in a flash, fleeing the scene.
"Tch, pulling this trick at the last minute... 'It's up to you' my foot..." Naruto grumbled inwardly, frustrated.
"Sakura, Sasuke, let's go!" Naruto called out, waving his hand.
"Naruto, you're so bossy! Didn't he say we could choose?" Sakura glared at him, indignant.
"Well, are you going or not?" Naruto retorted.
"I... Naruto, you jerk!"
Sakura, unable to argue, stomped forward and kicked Naruto in the leg, her face flushed with anger.
*Thud!*
Naruto caught Sakura's whip-like kick with his hand, shaking his head and clicking his tongue. "Girls shouldn't just go around kicking people, you know? Look at you now..."
"Let go, you jerk!" Sakura glared at Naruto, gritting her teeth.
"Heh, not a chance!" Naruto grinned mischievously.
"You won't let go, huh?" Sakura bit her lip, then swung her other leg up in a fierce kick aimed at Naruto.
"Sakura, are you crazy?!" Naruto yelped, startled. "You'll get a concussion if you fall like that!"
*Thud!*
Reacting swiftly, Naruto dodged the kick and caught Sakura, both tumbling to the ground in a tangled heap.
"Whoa, Naruto-nii, nice work! You got a girl already?" Konohamaru's Trio happened to be passing by and witnessed the scene. Konohamaru immediately shouted out the teasing remark.
Konohamaru's Trio had become Naruto's underlings when he was just nine years old, a testament to his charisma and leadership skills. It was quite remarkable how he had managed to recruit such young kids as his followers.
"Heh heh, trying to be like your big brother, huh?" Naruto chuckled, his face beaming with pride.
"Of course, of course!"
Konohamaru gave Naruto and Sakura, who was nestled in his arms, a knowing look.
"Naruto, Konohamaru, you two..." Sakura's voice trailed off, her tone darkening.
"Killer intent!" Naruto startled, immediately setting Sakura down and standing up.
"Run, Konohamaru! Follow your big brother!" Naruto grabbed Konohamaru and bolted.
"You two, stop right there for this beautiful Kurenai!" Sakura's voice echoed behind them, growing closer and closer...
"Hey, you guys!" Sasuke called out, his voice tinged with exasperation.
"Big Brother Naruto, Konohamaru..." The other two members of Konohamaru's Trio watched anxiously as dust billowed in the direction of the fleeing figures.
*Thump! Ugh, that hurt!*
Konohamaru, running ahead, crashed into someone, his momentum abruptly halted.
"Hey, kid, that really hurt, you know?"
A gloomy figure with red stripes painted on his face and a mummy-like object strapped to his back grabbed Konohamaru. It was Kankuro and his group.
"I'm sorry, it's all my fault..." Sakura said, her face filled with worry as she glanced at Konohamaru and apologized to the two figures opposite them.
"Sakura, don't apologize to them," Naruto said, clapping his hands together. "Wood Release: Entangling Branches!"
*Snap, snap, snap...*
In an instant, branches erupted from the ground, rapidly coiling around Kankuro.
*Whoosh!*
Naruto swiftly caught Konohamaru as he slipped from Kankuro's grasp, then darted back to his original position.
"In another country, you shouldn't act so arrogant," Naruto said, his eyes filled with disdain as he glared at Kankuro. "Especially when you lack the strength to back it up."
"You annoying brat!"
Several blades shot out from the "mummy," severing the tree vines. Kankuro violently unstrapped the mummy from his back and slammed it into the ground.
"Kankuro, are you going to use Crow?" Temari asked, her voice filled with surprise as she stared at Kankuro's twisted expression.
"Tch, cheap tricks. Come at me," Naruto sneered, beckoning with a mocking finger.
"Kankuro, don't move, or I'll kill you!" A chilling voice suddenly echoed from the side.
...............
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(End of Chapter)