70. Cheating
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Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura are playing cards in the lounge, and the loser has to put a sticker on their face.
At first, it's just normal entertainment with winners and losers, but Sasuke usually avoids games like this.
He wants to emulate his father Fugaku's serious and old-fashioned demeanour, thinking he wouldn't be playing cards with his two teammates.
So, Sasuke ends up losing the most, and the stickers on his face completely cover his eyes.
Then something miraculous happens. After that, Sasuke starts winning every game as if he has god's help.
Sakura is in awe, unable to believe how quickly Sasuke improves at playing cards, falling into her usual fangirl mode.
Naruto, however, senses that something is off. While Sasuke is shuffling the cards, Naruto casually lifts one of the stickers from Sasuke's face.
Sasuke's smooth movements halt, and under Naruto's scrutinizing gaze, Sasuke's eyes shift from their Sharingan state back to normal.
Caught red-handed, Sasuke feels the tension rise as Naruto's expression turns from suspicion to disgust. "No wonder you've been so eager to shuffle the cards every round! I thought you were just trying to get familiar with the rules or find a strategy,"
Naruto grumbles. "But you were using your Sharingan to track every card's position. No wonder you were winning!"
Naruto, now fuming, adds, "When the Sage of Six Paths finds out you're abusing the Sharingan for something like this? You should apologize to every generation of Indra, you bastard."
Naruto throws down his cards in frustration. "If I ever play cards with the Uchiha again, I'll be an idiot. That goes for the Hyuga clan too. You guys, with your special powers, have no business in gambling."
He continues to rant, "I remember hearing Izumo and Kotetsu joke that the Hyuga clan uses their Byakugan when playing cards, and now it all makes sense. This is ridiculous."
Deciding he's had enough, Naruto declares, "I'm done with these trash games. They're ruining my youth."
He tosses the cards aside and goes to retrieve some scrolls, eager to study instead. "At least learning makes me happy," he mutters, diving into his notes on space-time ninjutsu.
Sakura, witnessing the unexpected turn of events, is left in shock. Not knowing what else to do, she decides to join Naruto in studying.
She picks up the medical scroll Naruto had given her and Sasuke previously, focusing on how to use it.
Now she can carry some medical books with her, thanks to the sealing technique she learned.
Sasuke, his face flushed with embarrassment, quickly puts away the cards.
The game wasn't the problem—it's getting caught that's truly humiliating.
Resigned to his fate, he pulls out some ninjutsu scrolls and starts studying alongside his teammates.
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Meanwhile, other teams in the forest aren't as relaxed as Team 7. Most are cautiously navigating through the woods, searching for other teams to steal scrolls from while trying to survive the harsh environment.
It's not that Naruto doesn't want to help Hinata's team; he does, but in the end, he decides against it.
Even after defeating two teams from the Grass Village, he chooses not to take their scrolls.
Naruto knows Hinata is stronger than she appears. She doesn't want him to solve everything for her.
She wants to become a chunin through her efforts. Naruto respects that and decides to keep an eye on her from afar, ensuring her team won't be ambushed by someone like Gaara.
As for the other teams, Naruto isn't too worried. It's not like Gaara would personally go after Hinata's scroll, especially considering their current relationship.
As the days pass, teams gather all their scrolls and make their way to the tower. On the fifth day, Hinata and her team appear on Naruto's minimap.
Naruto quietly slips away to meet Hinata. Seeing that she isn't injured, he advises her to rest and then leaves.
A few hours later, Izumi Uchiha enters the lounge and informs Naruto that they need to gather. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura follow her.
Naruto asks curiously, "Sister Izumi, don't you have to go to the police force?"
Izumi smiles and explains, "I switched shifts with some friends. I'm here to watch Sasuke's match for Itachi-kun."
Sasuke turns away, sulking. "Hmph, if he cares so much, why doesn't he come himself?"
Izumi thoughtfully taps her chin. "Itachi-kun has an important mission. He said he'll come next time."
Sasuke doesn't look pleased.
Naruto, holding back his laughter, thinks to himself, 'Sure, Sasuke, I believe your brother. He'll come next time…'
The three of them follow Izumi to a large square, where a pair of giant arm statues stand.
The leading teachers of each team and all the examiners are present.
"Okay, that's it for now. Make sure to perform well in the test!" Izumi waves them off and rejoins the examiner's team, chatting quietly with Anko.
Kushina smiles, waving toward Naruto and his team. Karin, hiding behind Kushina, clings to her other hand.
Karin has been staying at Naruto's house for a few days now.
Although Kushina has taken her out a few times, Konoha is still unfamiliar to her, so she sticks close to Kushina.
The bond between them has grown strong, they almost seem like mother and daughter.
Karin's appearance has changed drastically; her once messy red hair is now neatly trimmed and combed. She wears a Konoha forehead protector, and her clothes and shoes are brand new.
Kushina has dressed her just like she dressed herself as a child, except Karin also wears glasses.
Nearby, Gai is enthusiastically chatting with Kakashi, striking various odd poses. Lee, with stars in his eyes, admires Gai while Tenten sighs, rubbing her forehead.
"Kakashi, you are not youthful today."
Kakashi, appearing distracted, obviously isn't paying much attention to Gai.
He resists the urge to pull out his favourite book in front of his Sensei's wife, finding the situation rather dull.
On the other side of Gai stands Asuma, a cigarette in his mouth, smiling as he watches his students.
Naruto scans the candidates who have passed. Among them are four teams from Konoha—the famous "Konoha 12"—a team from the Sand Village, a team from the Sound Village, and a team from the Rain Village.
Naruto muses to himself, noting that there are fewer teams than in the original timeline.
Kabuto isn't here, having stayed behind at the orphanage where he's happily playing the role of the "King of the Kids."
Hmm… suspicious title. In the original story, Kabuto's teammates are spies for Orochimaru; Naruto isn't sure where they are now.
Then again, Naruto has unknowingly altered the course of events by intercepting Kabuto's team and changing their route.
Unfortunately, they ran into Gaara and are no longer around.
As for the Rain Village team, who should have met their end at Gaara's hands, they too have changed their route, surviving and passing the second exam, thanks to Naruto's interference.
Once all the candidates have assembled, they line up in front of the stage. The chief examiner, Anko, announces that they have successfully passed the second exam.
Suddenly, a flash of golden light illuminates the stage, and Konoha's most handsome shinobi appears.
"Congratulations to everyone for passing the second exam. I am Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage of Konoha," Minato announces with a warm smile, congratulating the candidates.
The students are in awe:
"What a fast body flicker!"
"I couldn't even see him move!"
"Is this the power of the Hokage?"
"And he's so handsome…"
Minato then explains the significance of the joint Chunin Exams, emphasizing that the performance of the candidates reflects the strength of their respective villages and could influence the number of missions their nations receive in the future.
"Alright then, I'll hand it over to you." With that, Minato returns to the stand.
Naruto, standing below, is secretly relieved. His father's speech is simple and to the point, avoiding the common pitfalls of long-winded speeches like the will of fire.
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