Chapter 24: Prelude To Chunnin Exams

After leaving the cave, Naruto set some fuinjutsu seals around it to prevent others from finding out about it.

Kakashi tried to peak at the seals but couldn't understand a single thing, from the looks of it, the seal seemed to be in a different language than Kanji and the patterns also didn't match whatever basic sealing techniques he had learnt from his time with Minato and Kushina.

From that point, the mission went just like a normal escort mission. After reaching Tazuna's house, Naruto infiltrated Gato's mansion and forced him to transfer all his business and assets to his publishing firm. He also took all the liquidated cash and distributed it to people in the form of job opportunities by creating local specialities like tourist spots and resorts near the beach. He even let his firm open a branch here to manage all of the work.

In the past two years, to be independent of the local printing houses, he invested his money to open his publishing firm and based on the three books, the business has only boomed. He also took over all the local printing houses to create a monopoly. Another one of his ideas was to publish a weekly newspaper named 'Konoha Times'. It was another one of his successes as a business tycoon in the Ninja world. 

But even after his company expanded to all the major and minor nations, his wealth was still less than that of Gato. Gato's true wealth was earned due to the smuggling chains in every country.

But Naruto as a kind and good person, decided to take over all the business and assets, including the smuggling chains minus the human trafficking and slave trading. This also served as an information collection hub for him.

After the transfer was completed, he handed Gato to the enraged public, and they took care of him in the streets.

During this period, his team saw some new aspects of Naruto. Naruto the visionary, Naruto the reformist, Naruto the hero of Justice and Naruto the CEO.

Kakashi tried reprimanding him, as a Ninja, Naruto cannot force the civilians in any way unless they receive orders from the Hokage, and the Land of Waves was not under their jurisdiction. In addition, Naruto just took over a huge conglomerate of the shipping industry, this is bound to create some noise and political repercussions.

"Now now sensei, the industry will work as usual, it's just that the head honcho is changing to me instead of Gato, no one will care about it, and capable people from my company will take over it." During the period when his company was just established, he assigned one of his clones to train a group of capable and sharp people from the civilians in matters of finance, whose talent was wasted because they couldn't get into the Ninja academy.

Kakashi has a helpless look on his face. He can't say anything. His students were way stronger than him, and he never had any bonding or training with them so his authority was also quite less.

********

"So Naruto refused to hand over the scroll, he completely reformed the land of waves and even donated a generous amount by creating jobs and took over the whole shipping industry worth billions of Ryo in a single C-rank mission. And now Naruto Uzumaki is hailed as the great hero of the Land of Waves. Am I getting all of this right Kakashi?"

"Yes Hokage-sama" Kakashi replied in his usual lackadaisical manner.

"It was fine till he killed Zabuza in one strike but now this, you know the council and elders won't be fine with all of this."

'So what am I supposed to do with this information?' Kakashi was baffled by the question Hokage asked him. But he gave a perfunctory nod to the Hokage and asked to leave when the Hokage stopped him and told him about the Chunnin exam.

"Based on their strength, the Chunnin exam will be a breeze for them so I will nominate them. But Hokage-sama, what about the Fan-fest Naruto is organizing before the third exam? This event was announced last year and quite a huge number of people will be visiting Konoha during that time.

I know the event is organized on the outskirts of the Uchiha clan, but why did you keep the third exam just a day after?"

Hiruzen after hearing Kakashi's words had another headache, "I know and as much I want the chunin exam to be over before that event or increase the gap between them, I can't because both Fire and Wind Daimyo will be visiting the event and they both demanded the third exam to be held the day after, so I have no option here.

Naruto is bringing me too much headache now, Kakashi, you should talk some sense into him."

"Hay hay Hokage sama"

......

Hinata and Naruto were walking hand in hand enjoying their date when they encountered a little accident. Fate is a funny little thing. No matter how much you try to change, some things never change.

In front of Naruto and Hinata were six people.

A black-dressed man with weird makeup on his face was holding a kid by his collar and was about to punch him. A blond girl with a big fan on her back was standing behind the black-dressed guy with a haughty expression on her face.

A scared Sakura pleading them not to hurt a Konoha kid. And two kids, one with a weird hairstyle and another with snot running down his face were on the verge of tears seeing their friend being about to be beaten.

'Somehow the plot always finds his way'

Now Naruto in the original was Konohamru's teacher, but here he was just acquainted with the brat. He might have some problem with the Kid's grandfather, but he has no opinion towards the kid and if some outsiders try to bully a kid in front of him, he will not sit and watch.

"You know, I thought sand ninjas were better than this, I mean bullying little kids. I know you are called the weakest among the great Ninja village but that doesn't mean you have to show it here."

"W-what" Kankuro's face turned livid. Naruto's words struck the sore spot of the sand Ninjas. Kankuro dropped Konohamru at that moment and stepped towards Naruto.

"Care to repeat that brat!" yelled Kankuro.

"Wait Naruto what do you mean they are sand ninjas, and why are they here?" questioned Sakura in whispers to Naruto.

Naruto ignored her and turned towards the incoming Kankuro. But before he can take another step forward, a cold voice sounds behind him and cracks appear on his body.

When he turned around he saw a purple-haired, white-eyed girl standing with her hands in her pocket and smiling which terrified all those present.

"How about you be a good little puppet and play somewhere else, you might even earn a coin," Hinata said with a sweet smile but the next moment her smile froze as an indifferent expression replaced the smile and an oppressive aura surrounded them all. The next words terrorized all those present there excluding Naruto who seemed unusually happy looking at Hinata.

"But if your sight displeases me one more time, I can't guarantee that Sand Village can even bring back the pieces of the junk you are carrying around your body."

Both Temari and Kankuro were frozen on the spot. This oppressive feeling, they have only felt from Gara and now just a look from a girl younger than them gave them the same feeling.

However, the oppressive atmosphere lifted when they heard another cheerful voice from the red-haired boy who was standing in front of them a moment ago and was now embracing the scary girl in a tight hug. Their faces were too close to each other, a little more and they would have done the forbidden act in front of everyone.

Naruto's cheerful voice brought them out of their stupor.

"I didn't know, you have mastered the Killing Intent and that too such fine control. My Hinata has started hiding things from me now"

The last line was said in a fake sad voice which everyone was able to figure out, even the three kids present there.

"I-I d-didn't mean to, I thought to give you a surprise" Hinata replied with a huge blush on her face. She might have become quite bold in the last two years but with Naruto in such proximity to everyone staring at them, she still stutters at some words.

"Ohh, a surprise, then that means I need to reward you, now don't I? How about this?" Naruto suddenly moved forward and gave a light peck on her pink lips causing the red hue to spread to her neck.

Everyone present there also had a faint blush on their cheeks, seeing such forbidden acts in public was too much for them.

But this is not the first time Naruto has shown such blatant affection in the public as teasing Hinata like this has become one of his favourite things to do.