"How should I put it... It seems like Naruto is putting a lot of pressure on all of you."
Minato Namikaze chuckled as he observed the intense training session. His gaze softened, but when it landed on Sasuke Uchiha, he couldn't help but sigh.
Sasuke had been relentlessly training, neglecting food and sleep. Ever since he realized he lacked the innate talent to master the Flying Thunder God technique, he had doubled down on his efforts, pushing himself to the brink.
Nearby, Kakashi Hatake let out a dramatic sigh. His dream of leisurely reading Icha Icha Paradise had been shattered, as the training regime had intensified beyond his expectations.
"Sensei, being surpassed by your students... it's a lot of pressure," Kakashi muttered. "Did you feel the same back then?"
"What?" Minato's smile remained gentle, but to Kakashi, it felt like a sharp blade piercing his heart.
"Well... I was too hesitant back then. I wasted so much precious time. It's only natural I'd get surpassed." Kakashi sighed. "Still, I was a Jonin at twelve. With my talent, I should be able to catch up soon."
Minato simply shook his head and smiled. The image of Kakashi as the ever-composed and unbeatable ninja had thoroughly collapsed in the eyes of his students. But this was the real Kakashi—stubborn and competitive, just like in his youth.
"Yes, Kakashi, your talent is exceptional. Among the Jonin, you're one of the best. Have you considered focusing on lightning chakra nature transformation?"
"I think Sasuke's Chidori Nagashi is quite effective," Minato continued. "If you combine it with your father's swordsmanship, you'll gain a powerful combat style."
Kakashi, still lying on the ground, instinctively reached for his pocket—only to frown when he didn't find his book.
"My body's at its limit. I need to rest for a bit."
"Seems like Kakashi-sensei isn't feeling enough pressure," a familiar voice commented.
The younger generation had gathered nearby, watching their exhausted sensei.
"Hmph. I've already mastered your father's swordsmanship, and it's incredibly powerful. Kakashi, you haven't fully mastered it yet, have you?" Sasuke asked with a smirk. "How useless."
While Kakashi had indeed trained hard and lived up to his potential, years of stagnation had left their mark.
Shino Aburame, ever composed, added his own sharp remark. "Kakashi-sensei has been working hard. He doesn't even read Icha Icha anymore. Although he still seems depressed, at least his kidney energy is recovering."
Minato coughed awkwardly. Shino had no mercy.
The others stifled laughter, their faces turning red. Only Kiba and Lee looked puzzled.
"What are you laughing at?" Kiba asked.
Before Shikamaru could answer, Jiraiya snickered and said, "Shino means that Kakashi has kidney deficiency."
Boom.
Kakashi's brain crashed.
Minato walked away, his awkward smile lingering. He hoped no one would remember that their Hokage was his former teacher.
Meanwhile, Kushina Uzumaki had begun working on controlling her monstrous strength. The atmosphere among the kunoichi had improved; during breaks, they sat together for friendly conversations.
When the topic of Tsunade came up, their eyes shone with admiration. She was the idol of nearly every female ninja in Konoha.
However, after Kushina shared some childhood stories about Tsunade's gambling habits, their admiration took a hit.
"Hmph! I seriously suspect that Tsunade owes me money!" Kushina huffed. "Back when I was pregnant with Naruto, I was collecting rent, and all my tenants were easy to deal with... except Kurama, who's been freeloading all this time!"
Kurama, busy counting money nearby, glanced at her but decided to keep quiet. Less trouble was better.
Meanwhile, Naruto sat in meditation as memories from his shadow clones flooded his mind. Two White Zetsu-variant wood clones had been sent out—one in Sage Mode from Mount Myoboku, the other in the Ryuchi Cave's Natural Energy Mode—scouring for its entrance to the Ninja World. He had also marked several locations with the Flying Thunder God seal.
With the Chunin Exams approaching, Konoha was abuzz with activity. Many outsiders had arrived in the village.
Naruto opened his eyes. "Alright, morning training ends here."
Later, Team 7 completed a mission to find a lost pet cat in under ten minutes.
"Naruto-kun, you're amazing! Can you really talk to plants?" Sakura asked, holding the chubby feline.
Sasuke remained silent, hands in his pockets, gazing at the sky. His once-cold heart had been numbed by repeated shocks.
"Yeah. They're greeting me now," Naruto said casually. "Mission's over. Time to head back."
Sasuke suddenly spoke up. "Naruto, given our efficiency, shouldn't we be taking on fewer missions? It's the other teams that need the practice."
Sakura chuckled. "Sasuke, you're getting impatient again. Naruto-kun is keeping up appearances for the old man. If he suddenly stopped taking missions, it'd be suspicious."
"He's letting the Hokage think he has full control over him," Sakura added. "The more confident they are, the worse it'll be when everything collapses."
She smiled to herself. More missions meant more time alone with Naruto.
Kakashi got up and took the cat. "Mission complete. You guys go ahead. I'll meditate here for a bit before reporting in."
"Kakashi, you just want to read Icha Icha Paradise, don't you?" Sasuke teased.
"Shut up! My Icha Icha Paradise is gone!" Kakashi howled in frustration.
Team 7 vanished in a flash, leaving Kakashi sulking.
In the distance, Sakura snickered. "Sasuke, if you keep teasing Kakashi-sensei, he won't be able to sleep at night."
"Hmph. Aunt Kushina is right—he should just get rid of those trashy books."
What Sasuke didn't know was that Minato hadn't actually destroyed Kakashi's books. Instead, he had secretly handed them over to the Uchiha clan, where they were later sold to Might Guy.
Just then, a loud cry rang through the sky. A messenger hawk descended swiftly.
Naruto disappeared in an instant, reappearing alongside Kurenai Yuhi and Anko Mitarashi.
"Are we starting?" Kurenai asked.
"Yeah. Naruto, we'll move ahead." Anko grinned.
Naruto nodded. "Stick to the plan. Kurenai, make sure Anko doesn't go overboard."
Anko clicked her tongue. "Come on, I'm not that reckless."
With a flicker, they vanished.
The Chunin Exams were about to begin.
And the countdown to the Hokage's comfortable days had started.
"I'm heading back. I must master Chidori today!" Sasuke declared.
His resolve to kill Itachi burned brighter than ever.
Naruto, meanwhile, found himself unexpectedly dragged into another conversation.
"Naruto-kun, Aunt Kushina... she doesn't hate me, does she?" Sakura asked.
Naruto frowned. "Of course not. Mom treats everyone equally... Well, every day is different."
Sakura suddenly smiled. "Let's walk back together, okay? We haven't done that in a while."
Just as she linked her arm with his, an obnoxious voice rang out.
"Huh? Isn't that Uzumaki Naruto, the guy who sucker-punched me? And who's that ugly girl with him? Where are the two hot older sisters?"
Sakura's fist clenched.
Naruto sighed. "Seriously?"
Sakura was just starting to enjoy herself when an annoying voice rang out behind her.
"Huh, isn't that Uzumaki Naruto? The guy who ambushed me last time?"
"And what's up with that ugly person next to you? Where are those two beautiful older sisters from before?"
Ugly?!
Sakura's fists clenched, her forehead twitching.
Naruto sighed. "Seriously, is this even possible?"
He turned to look. Sure enough, it was Konohamaru.
This time, though, he had backup. His usual teammates, Udon and Moegi, stood beside him. Moegi, a girl with faint traces of the Senju bloodline, had recently begun showing an aptitude for Wood Release techniques.
Ever since Naruto had kicked him away during their last encounter, Konohamaru had never forgotten it.
The kid had an odd personality—completely ignoring those who treated him well simply because his grandfather was the Hokage. But when someone was rough with him? He actually admired them for it.
After all, who in Konoha dared to treat him like a normal kid?
Konohamaru had, in his own way, become Naruto's first true believer—chasing after him, calling him "Boss."
But right now, that wasn't the problem.
The real issue was that he just called Sakura ugly.
Naruto instinctively took half a step back.
Konohamaru marched forward with his arms crossed. "Naruto, why is this ugly person holding onto your arm?"
Sakura's fists cracked audibly.
"Hey! Is this ugly bastard just clinging to you or what?!" Konohamaru pointed straight at her, making the worst possible assumption.
Sakura, who had been trying to play the role of the sweet and dignified girl, instantly dropped the act.
She could've ignored it.
But if she did, Ino and the others would never let her hear the end of it.
Not to mention her past trauma—years of being mocked for her wide forehead.
And now? In front of Naruto?
Unacceptable!
"Oi!" Sakura grinned dangerously. "Who are you calling ugly, you snaggletoothed brat?!"
She flexed her fingers, the knuckles cracking ominously.
Konohamaru smirked. "Huh, Naruto, where did you even pick up this ugly bastard? Not only ugly but dumb too!"
Naruto: "…"
He closed his eyes.
Bang!
A second later, Konohamaru was airborne.
A fresh, red lump swelled on his forehead.
Ah, youth. The age where you can fall unconscious just like that.
"Ko...Konohamaru?!" Udon stammered, barely able to get the words out.
"Kono-kun! Are you okay?" Moegi gasped, worried but too afraid to get close.
"I... I think... I just saw my grandmother..." Konohamaru mumbled, his eyes unfocused.
"Naruto-kun, let's go. This brat is an eyesore."
Sakura shot one last glare at Konohamaru before tugging Naruto away.
"D-Damn... That ugly... thing, is she really a girl?"
Moegi and Udon immediately backed away from him.
Konohamaru stiffened, suddenly realizing that the sun wasn't as bright anymore. A shadow loomed over him.
"Kono...hamaru?" Moegi and Udon whispered fearfully.
Konohamaru slowly turned his head.
And met Sakura's eerily sweet smile.
"AAAAHHHH!!!"
With a terrified scream, he bolted.
Moegi and Udon followed suit, their speed nearly matching Rock Lee's.
Sakura put her hands on her hips and smirked in satisfaction before dusting off her hands. "Hmph."
Then, in an instant, she transformed back into a perfect lady, skipping to Naruto's side.
"Sorry for the delay, Naruto-kun."
"It's fine." Naruto sighed. "Though I think you just traumatized him for life."
Before he could finish, a sharp cry of pain rang out nearby.
"Oww!"
Konohamaru had crashed straight into someone.
Moegi and Udon, already on edge, froze in terror.
"Tch, seriously, what a pain..."
A new voice entered the scene—low, rough, and brimming with irritation.
Konohamaru groggily lifted his head, his vision clearing.
The first thing he saw was an unfamiliar ninja with a painted face glaring down at him.
On the man's back was a long, bandage-wrapped object—clearly a ninja tool of some kind.
His entire presence radiated unease, sending a shiver down Konohamaru's spine.
Next to him stood a girl with four blonde ponytails, arms crossed, exuding an air of cool indifference. Her violet outfit contrasted sharply with the steel-hard gaze in her eyes.
Konohamaru swallowed hard.
"Hey, brat, you're in my way."
Kankuro scowled, gripping the boy by his scarf and lifting him effortlessly.
"A-Ahh!" Konohamaru choked as his feet left the ground.
Temari clicked her tongue. "Tch, don't waste time picking fights with kids."
Kankuro smirked. "I need a little entertainment, and this runt is perfect."
Moegi and Udon froze, recognizing neither the village symbols nor the strangers themselves.
Udon stood petrified.
Moegi, however, was quicker on the uptake.
She turned and sprinted back toward Sakura.
"Big sister! Help! These outsiders are bullying Konohamaru!"
Sakura frowned, turning to Naruto.
"His fault?"
Naruto nodded. "Probably."
Sakura crossed her arms. "Then why should I help him?"