Costume and Curiosity

The day before the Chūnin Exam, Kakashi gave his students a crucial reminder: "Dress more formally for the exam if possible."

Sakura took his advice seriously, donning bright red attire that made her stand out. However, Naruto and Sasuke's interpretations of "formal" were somewhat unconventional.

On the day of the exam, Kakashi was punctual for once and waited for his team at the meeting place. His motivation was less about enthusiasm and more about the Third Hokage's direct order to keep a close watch on Naruto. The Chūnin Exam was a joint event involving five villages, and Kakashi knew that Naruto, with his tendency to cause trouble, could be a liability.

As he waited, Kakashi mused that if it weren't for the Third Hokage's order, he wouldn't be here. "I really don't want to be part of this," he thought, envisioning the chaos that might ensue if Naruto made a scene.

His concerns were soon validated when he saw Naruto and Sasuke approaching. Naruto was dressed in a set of elaborate gold and red armor with blue lights, complete with a drawn-on mustache. Sasuke, on the other hand, was clad in a hooded black robe, carrying a beheading sword that seemed to be larger than him.

Kakashi's eyes darkened in disbelief. "The first exam is a written test. What are they doing wearing these outfits?" he thought. His frustration was palpable as he imagined the reactions of other villages seeing his students in such attire.

As Naruto performed a few Iron Man-style poses, he explained, "This is heavy-duty equipment!" He patted his chest with a clank, showing off his armor. Sasuke, without a word, merely indicated that his weapon was also "load-bearing equipment," though he did so in a low voice.

Kakashi's face fell. He felt as though he was about to give up. "Let them deal with the consequences," he thought, resigning himself to the fact that his students were anything but conventional.

As they approached the examination room, they drew curious and puzzled looks from everyone. Villagers, ninja from other villages, and candidates all gawked at Naruto and Sasuke's strange attire.

"Is there a puppet master in Konoha now?" someone wondered aloud.

"No, look closely—maybe that kid in the black robe is the puppet!" another speculated.

Kakashi and Sakura were mortified, their faces turning red with embarrassment. Naruto and Sasuke, oblivious to the attention they were drawing, continued as if nothing were amiss.

Before entering the examination room, Kakashi gave his final advice, though he suspected it might fall on deaf ears. "Remember, take it easy during the exam. Especially you, Naruto."

Naruto, swaying back and forth, seemed not to hear. Kakashi sighed deeply, feeling a mix of resignation and fatigue. "This is going to be a long day," he thought.

Inside the examination room, Shikamaru and Hinata immediately noticed Naruto's distinctive outfit. Hinata recognized him right away and approached him with a smile. "Naruto-kun..." she began.

Naruto, distracted, observed the crowded room with a sense of foreboding. The Chūnin Exam was proving to be more intense than he had imagined.

The examiners began discussing the candidates, including the peculiar presence of Naruto and Sasuke. "We need to pay special attention to Uzumaki Naruto this time," one examiner noted.

The attention shifted from Naruto and Sasuke to a surprising revelation from Kankuro, who was excited to see what he thought was a puppet master from Konoha. "This is interesting," he remarked.

The head examiner, Ihiki Morino, soon appeared and introduced himself, explaining the rules of the exam. While the rules were numerous, Naruto and Sasuke paid little attention. Sasuke had faith in Naruto, and Naruto relied on the guidance of the Nine-Tails fox sealed within him.

When the test papers were distributed, Naruto's excitement turned to confusion. One of the questions asked about the angle at which shuriken should be projected. "What kind of question is this?" Naruto wondered, puzzled.

In desperation, he turned to Kurama, the Nine-Tails fox, for help. Kurama responded with a touch of disdain, "I'm one of the oldest beings in the ninja world. How could I not know the answers?"

Believing Kurama's confidence, Naruto began filling out the test paper. In less than ten minutes, he had answered all the questions, albeit with some unusual responses. "What are the best locations for poisoning and setting ambushes in the wild?" was answered with "3 cooking techniques for steak."

Realizing the answers were completely off-topic, Naruto's frustration peaked. "Kurama! You tricked me!" he exclaimed.