Chapter 80: Naruto: There's No Air Conditioning Here…

"Impossible!"

"There are no mystical flames in this world, how could someone give you a real Flame Art?"

"What? Dou Di?"

"Even the Sage of Six Paths wouldn't stand a chance!"

Their conversation had taken a wild turn from discussing eye powers to analyzing the plot of Fights Break Sphere. Sasuke even ventured a theory about the Flame Art and asked Naruto how powerful a Dou Di would be in their world.

Naruto scoffed, unimpressed.

"Come on, Sasuke, the power levels in Fights Break Sphere are way beyond anything in our world."

He continued, sharing his views, advising Sasuke not to get too caught up in fantasy. After all, even the tailed beast inside him, Kurama, was now trying to meditate, claiming it was on a "closed-door cultivation retreat."

Naruto found it hard to believe.

After all, the same Kurama had ridiculed him for meditating just a few days ago.

Still…

Naruto glanced at Sasuke's eyes, his thoughts wandering for a moment. The Mangekyō Sharingan was often called the "wishing machine" of the ninja world…

Could Sasuke really pull something impossible off?

Just as Naruto was about to voice his thoughts, he suddenly felt the temperature around them plummet.

Both he and Sasuke shivered involuntarily.

"That's strange…"

"There's no air conditioning here, is there?"

Naruto muttered to himself, exchanging a puzzled look with Sasuke. Then, out of the corner of their eyes, they noticed Sakura and Hinata standing right behind them.

Hinata had her head down, and with the light casting long shadows over her face, it was hard to read her expression. Sakura, on the other hand, was frowning, her jaw clenched tightly. Naruto could swear he saw flames burning in her eyes.

"Naruto-kun, what are you two doing?"

Hinata gently tugged at Naruto's arm, tilting her head with a soft smile. Her tone was even gentler than usual, but Naruto felt the temperature drop another degree.

Sasuke swallowed nervously as he noticed the faint flicker of killing intent in Hinata's pale eyes. Unconsciously, he shifted a step away.

"I… I was just chatting with Sasuke."

Naruto rubbed the back of his head, smiling awkwardly, completely unaware of the momentary flash of blue light in Hinata's eyes.

"Is that so?"

"You two seem awfully close."

Hinata's pearly white eyes once again glimmered faintly with a cold, blue hue.

Just moments ago, during her conversation with Sakura, Hinata had learned about the "Kiri Hidden Male Incident." The revelation had shaken her deeply, leaving her both stunned and… suspicious.

She began recalling how close Naruto and Sasuke had been over the years.

It wasn't a stretch to consider… Could Sasuke possibly be trying to steal her man?

She would never allow that!

Naruto noticed the odd tone in Hinata's voice and glanced at Sakura with a knowing glare.

So, that's what this is about.

Sakura must've said something to stir things up.

All right, Sakura. You're on my list now.

Naruto wrapped his arm around Hinata's shoulder, gently pulling her aside. Hinata, who was just about to unleash her fury, was caught off guard by Naruto's sudden affection. Her face flushed red, and her mind went blank, making it impossible for her to focus on anything, much less continue her brewing tantrum.

"Hinata, let me explain…"

"Sasuke is just a big…"

Naruto pulled his dazed girlfriend into a corner, trying to explain things carefully.

Meanwhile, Sasuke, still standing there, turned to Sakura and asked, confused.

"Is Hinata… mad?"

"Um… I think so?"

Sakura's eyes darted around, avoiding Sasuke's gaze, while inwardly trying to reassure herself.

Haruno Sakura!

You did the right thing!

You can't let them continue down that forbidden path! There's no future in a forbidden romance!

Sasuke couldn't understand why Hinata was upset. But his mind was still swirling with thoughts of the conversation he'd just had with Naruto.

Feeling the matches below weren't worth his attention anymore, he glanced at Gaara, the Sand ninja he had been observing. With nothing new to see, he decided to take a break.

Sasuke walked over to where Kakashi was quietly reading and pulled out his own book, settling down next to him.

"Ssss…"

The moment he pulled out the book, Sasuke felt a sharp pain in his neck. He instinctively reached up to rub the spot where it hurt, which caught Kakashi's attention.

"Sasuke, your neck…"

"It's nothing, just a snake bite."

Sasuke lowered his hand, his voice indifferent, as if it really were nothing.

He hadn't mentioned anything about his earlier fight, believing it wasn't worth bothering Kakashi about.

To Sasuke, it wasn't a big deal.

But Kakashi thought otherwise.

During the second stage of the Chunin Exams, Anko had already encountered the rogue ninja Orochimaru, putting the entire village on high alert.

And now, the curse mark on Sasuke's neck…

That had Orochimaru's name written all over it.

"I see."

Kakashi said nothing more. Instead, he lifted his headband and activated his Sharingan to take a closer look at Sasuke.

But the moment he did, Kakashi froze.

The chakra flowing inside Sasuke's body… was cold and oppressive, unlike anything he'd seen before. It was like a time bomb waiting to go off, threatening to send Sasuke's chakra into a wild, uncontrollable frenzy.

Anyone else with such a mark would be bedridden.

But here was Sasuke, acting as if nothing was wrong…

Just sitting calmly beside him, reading a book!

How big is this kid's heart?

"Sasuke, come with me."

Unable to ignore the situation any longer, Kakashi stood up and motioned for Sasuke to follow him to a more secluded area.

As the final match concluded, the Chunin Exams neared their end.

"Now, I will announce the match-ups for the third and final stage of the Chunin Exams."

"Uzumaki Naruto versus Hyuga Hinata."

"Uchiha Sasuke versus Gaara."

"Temari versus Nara Shikamaru."

…

"The third exam will commence in one month. All participants, please be ready at that time."

Hearing the match-ups, Naruto and Hinata were equally stunned.

"How are we supposed to fight each other?"

"Old man Hokage! I protest!"

Naruto shouted his grievances at the Third Hokage, certain there was something fishy going on with the match-ups.

All this time, he had been preparing to take down Neji, Hinata's cousin.

How did it end up like this, with him having to fight Hinata instead?

"N-Naruto-kun…"

Hinata also looked conflicted.

"Protest denied. Dismissed."

The Third Hokage turned away from Naruto's outburst, his steps light and quick as he exited the scene, not offering any further explanation.

In truth, it was Hinata's father, Hiashi, who had suggested the match-up.

The Hyuga clan had grown frustrated with Naruto constantly hanging around the Hyuga compound, bothering them. Even worse, he would openly flirt with Hinata right in front of Hiashi!

Having no one in the village able to rein Naruto in, Hiashi finally proposed having his daughter face him in the exams. This way, they could test Hinata's strength and, at the same time, humble Naruto a bit.

Watching the Third Hokage leave in a hurry, Naruto grew more certain that something suspicious was going on.

Damn it!

How could he ever bring himself to fight Hinata?

Who came up with this ridiculous idea?

After racking his brain for a bit, Naruto decided to blame it all on Danzo. After all, Danzo had always reacted so strongly to him.

Naruto smirked to himself.

Maybe it was time to pay the old man a visit at the hospital…

And while he was at it, maybe stop by the Hyuga estate as well.