26: Chapter 26 Gathering at the Tower, Kakashi's QuestionThe gates of the central tower in the Death Forest creaked open.
Naruto Uzumaki half-dragged, half-carried his two teammates as they appeared inside the door.
His orange jacket was covered in dirt and grass clippings, and large beads of sweat hung on his forehead, sliding down his deliberately tired cheeks.
He was breathing heavily, his face showing just the right amount of worry and relief.
A perfect image of a heroic captain who did everything in his power to protect his comrades.
Sakura Haruno leaned on his left shoulder, her eyes still somewhat unfocused, clearly having just escaped from some kind of mind-altering illusion, her body still trembling unconsciously.
Uchiha Sasuke was held in his right arm and completely lost consciousness.His body was burning hot, and the three ominous black tomoe marks on the left side of his neck were faintly visible in the dim light.
"Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto called out in a slightly hoarse voice when he saw the silver-haired Jonin who was already waiting in the center of the hall.
Kakashi Hatake's figure flashed and instantly appeared in front of the three.
His single eye first swept over the evil curse mark on Sasuke's neck, a sharp aura flashing by.
Immediately, his gaze was fixed on Naruto.
Exhausted, but unharmed.
There wasn't even a decent scratch.
This is unreasonable.
"What happened?" Kakashi's voice was low, carrying an unquestionable tone.
"We.we've encountered a really tough guy."
As Naruto spoke, he carefully helped Sasuke and Sakura to lean against the wall, his every movement filled with his deep affection for his comrades.
"That guy's target seemed to be Sasuke; he went all out from the start.I.I did my best to protect them both."
He didn't mention Orochimaru's identity, nor did he mention the strange deal.
He spoke half-truths and half-lies, but portrayed himself as someone who broke out in a desperate situation and barely managed to protect his companions.
Kakashi crouched down and checked Sasuke's condition.When his fingers touched the cursed seal, a cold and evil chakra made him feel uncomfortable.
He stood up and looked at Naruto again.
He tried to find even the slightest flaw in those clear, blue eyes.
Traces of lying, hidden secrets, or any emotional fluctuations.
There was nothing there.
There was only a pure feeling of lingering fear and relief for having protected his companions.
Naruto's talent as a "Master of Acting LV3" makes his performance flawless, so perfect it's almost unreal.
Kakashi's heart was filled with immense confusion.
Reason told him that a genin could never protect himself and his teammates from an enemy of that level.
But this student did it in an incomprehensible way.
[Ding!You have received 3000 [Confusion] items from Kakashi Hatake!]
[Ding!You have received 2500 "Confused" items from Kakashi Hatake!]
Just then, the examiner for the second exam, Anko Mitarashi, also came over.She glanced at Sasuke's cursed seal, then at Naruto, and finally focused her gaze on the Heaven and Earth Scroll in their hands.
"Although I don't know what happened, congratulations, kids," she announced."Class 7, you passed the second exam.You are the third team to arrive."
Inside the tower, in the lounge prepared for those who pass through.
In the days leading up to the start of the preliminary rounds, Naruto finally had some time that was entirely his own.
He sat cross-legged on his single bed, all expression gone from his face, leaving only a cold calm.
He opened the system panel.
The enormous amount of emotional points he gained in the Forest of Death brought both of his accounts to unprecedented heights.
He did not hesitate at all.
"System, exchange for introductory knowledge of [Reversal Technique]."
[Confirmed consumption of 80,000 Glory Points?This skill can convert negative energy into positive energy for healing.]
"confirm."
A warm current was born deep within his soul.
That wasn't the violent life force of the Nine-Tails' chakra, but a purer, more fundamental power of rules that could reverse "subtraction" into "addition".
He stretched out his hand and looked at a small cut on his palm, made by a branch in the forest.
He focused his mind, trying to unleash that newborn power.
Negative energy multiplied by negative energy equals positive energy.
A profound transformation was completed within his body, and a pure healing power surged into his palm.
Visibly, the tiny wound healed quickly, leaving not a single scar.
[Ding!You have learned the skill [Reversal Technique - Beginner].]
very good.
Now, he possessed a true self-healing ability that did not rely on Kurama (the Nine-Tails).
Then, his consciousness sank into his skill pool.
There, a cold and malevolent energy sample is being analyzed by the system.
The aura of the cursed seal left by Orochimaru.
[Analysis complete.This technique is essentially 'emotional parasitism,' which involves implanting an energy core containing the caster's will and Sage Chakra to forcibly guide the host's negative emotions and life force, thereby unleashing power beyond limits.Evaluation: A crude but effective method of energy utilization.]
A new material has been added to the 'Abyss' skill pool: [Emotional Parasite].
Naruto was not surprised by this.
Orochimaru was a genius, but he was ultimately limited by the rules of this world.
His own system, however, manipulates things of a higher dimension, such as emotions and the soul.
A few days later, on the training field.
Sasuke has awakened, but the excruciating pain from the Cursed Seal has left him extremely weak.
Although Kakashi temporarily suppressed the cursed seal with the Evil Sealing Technique, that power was still stirring within him.
"Sasuke, your movements are too stiff!And your chakra flow is all over the place!" Naruto said casually.He did a handstand on one hand, precisely controlling a leaf to spin under his feet with his toes, while shouting in a loud, idiotic voice.
"Concentrate!Distribute your chakra evenly to every part of your body!See, like this!It's simple, isn't it!"
He jumped down, a bright, silly grin on his face that could drive anyone crazy.
Every word of this "guidance" was like a needle, piercing Sasuke Uchiha's pride.
Of course he knows he needs to control his chakra!
But he couldn't do it!
That damned cursed seal was like a black hole, constantly disturbing and devouring his chakra.
The more he tried to concentrate, the more intense the tingling sensation in his body became.
He looked at Naruto's relaxed and carefree appearance, and then compared it to his own disheveled state, where he struggled to even maintain basic taijutsu.
humiliation.
anger.
And there was that insane, uncontrollable thirst for power.
Why?Why is this bottom-ranked guy so strong?
[Ding!You have received 5000 units of Ultimate [Unwillingness] from Uchiha Sasuke!]
[Ding!You have received 4500 [Jealousy] from Uchiha Sasuke!]
Sakura Haruno stood aside, watching this scene, her heart filled with mixed feelings.
She could see that Naruto's method was correct; precise chakra control was indeed the key to suppressing that evil power.
But Naruto's carefree attitude was undoubtedly rubbing salt into Sasuke's wounds.
But ironically, it was this seemingly foolish guy who saved everyone at the most dangerous moment.
Her feelings toward Naruto were undergoing a transformation that she herself was unaware of, a change that was a mixture of dependence and curiosity.
Back in his apartment, Naruto immediately closed the door.
[Spell: Tent, unfold.]
An invisible barrier, shielding the room from all prying eyes, quietly enveloped the entire space.
This is a brand new application of the "tent" he developed, an absolutely safe private space.
Only here can he truly be himself.
The third preliminary round of the Chunin Exams has finally arrived.
All the genin who passed the second exam gathered at the arena beneath a tall tower.
The air was thick with a complex mix of tension, vigilance, and excitement.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, sat in the high stands, scanning the young people below with his seemingly cloudy but actually sharp eyes.
His gaze lingered on Uchiha Sasuke for a moment before finally settling on the blond boy who was looking around excitedly.
Naruto didn't notice the Hokage's gaze.
His attention had been drawn to a peculiar presence at the other end of the field.
Gaara, a genin from Sunagakure.
The boy stood alone in the corner, arms crossed, carrying a huge gourd on his back.
There was no one within three meters of him, and everyone instinctively kept their distance from him.
His face was expressionless.His light green eyes, with heavy dark circles, were as empty as an abyss, yet they exuded a chilling, pure killing intent and loneliness.
The moment Naruto looked at him, a system notification sounded in his mind.
[Warning!A high-purity aggregate of negative emotions has been detected ahead, its value equivalent to a small-sized tailed beast.Host is advised to prioritize collecting it.]
Naruto's heart skipped a beat.
Top-quality "emotional ingredients" have been delivered to your door.
It was as if it sensed his gaze, or perhaps it sensed the unique energy within him, a mixture of extreme light and extreme darkness.
Among the grains of sand floating in the air beside Gaara, a few silently coalesced into several tiny, almost invisible eyes.
One of its trachoma eyes slowly rotated, precisely locking onto Naruto Uzumaki.
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