Naruto: Naruto's Uchiha girlfriend is too arrogant

Chapter 210 Trouble and Acquaintances

"My name is Rock Lee!" Lee walked up to Sakura Haruno, struck his classic pose, flashing his pearly white teeth and thumbs-up. "Your name is Sakura, right? Please go out with me! I swear, I'll protect you until my dying breath!"

This earth-shattering confession upon their first meeting left everyone around them instantly petrified.

Sakura was caught off guard by this sudden "direct approach," and even the tension she had felt about the Chunin Exams was completely wiped away. She was left speechless and her whole being turned into a simple sketch in the wind.

"Absolutely not..."

Meanwhile, Hyuga Neji completely ignored the chaos created by his teammates. He strode forward, his gaze fixed intently on Naruto, his voice slightly low due to suppressed excitement.

"Hey, what's your name? Can we... talk?"

His tone seemed to be negotiating, but his ever-approaching footsteps and undeniable aura clearly revealed his determination to "not give up easily even if rejected."

"I'm Naruto Uzumaki..." Naruto was caught off guard by this sudden enthusiasm and instinctively took a half step back, trying to ease the tension. "Um... is there something you need to talk about after the exam?"

"Hyuga Neji".

Neji quickly gave his name. For him, having finally found a clue that might be related to Menma-sama, the Chunin Exams were completely irrelevant!

"I have something very important to discuss with you right now!" Neji's gaze intensified. "Could you please come over here alone for a moment?"

"Wait a minute! What are you two doing?! Stop it!" Tian Tian was stunned to see one of her teammates publicly confessing his love and the other trying to flirt with a guy from another team in an almost "harassing" manner. She was especially confused and embarrassed by Neji's unusual attitude.

Standing beside Naruto, Satsuki's face was so cold it was almost frosty. A palpable aura of low pressure emanated from her. If Neji were a girl at this moment, Satsuki would probably have already taken some "dangerous" action without hesitation.

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Finally, after a great deal of effort, almost dragging them away, Tian Tian managed to pull these two teammates who had acted out of line away from Class 7.

Sakura's firm refusal, stating "I absolutely do not like thick eyebrows," dealt a heavy blow to Rock Lee, plunging him into a deep depression. Naruto repeatedly assured Neji that he would "find a good opportunity to talk after the exam," which barely managed to appease Neji and make him temporarily abandon the idea of ​​asking questions on the spot.

Having finally escaped the trouble, Class 7 was able to continue their journey to the actual examination hall on the third floor. Satsuki's tense nerves gradually relaxed, and she regained her usual composure.

Yeah, why am I so nervous? That guy is a boy, he's no threat at all. Maybe he just wants to ask Naruto some training questions... Am I overreacting?

At that moment, Satsuki's gaze fell on Sakura beside her. She noticed that after the embarrassment from the earlier farce dissipated, Sakura's face once again showed tension and anxiety about the Chunin Exams, and her fingers were unconsciously twisting together.

"Sakura," Satsuki suddenly spoke. "You were probably the first among us to see through that illusion barrier just now, weren't you?"

This sudden affirmation made Sakura look up and look at Satsuki with some surprise.

"Your analytical skills and understanding of illusion theory," Zuo Yue continued, her tone confident, "have always been the best in our class."

"...Satsuki." Sakura understood. This teammate, who usually seemed aloof, was now helping her ease her tension and build confidence in her own way. Looking at Satsuki's profile, which was still expressionless but unusually serious, Sakura felt a warm current well up in her heart. Naruto understood. Sure enough, even though he was raised a bit crookedly, this guy was still Uchiha Sasuke at heart.

The group arrived at the entrance to the actual examination hall and encountered Kakashi waiting there. Just like in the original story, Kakashi revealed the truth behind the test to the three of them—the Chunin Exam application form itself was a hidden obstacle.

Simply put, this exam must be taken in teams of three. If one person is absent, the entire team is disqualified. It is a test of teamwork and mutual trust.

Although Naruto eventually passed all these so-called tests according to the original storyline... he remained a genin until he became Hokage? That's quite a unique experience.

After Kakashi left, the three of them pushed open the classroom door and stepped into the actual examination room. The sight before them instantly made them hold their breath.

The large classroom was almost completely filled with a sea of ​​people, and the air was thick with an invisible, heavy pressure that was a mixture of tension, hostility, and scrutiny.

Looking around, one sees mostly ninjas from various countries with unfriendly expressions, sharp eyes, and even menacing looks. Some are standing with their arms crossed, staring coldly; others are wiping their weapons; still others are talking in hushed tones. A quick glance reveals that there are at least a hundred examinees gathered here!

With such a high elimination rate in the initial screening, how come so many people were able to get here?

At the same time, Naruto keenly noticed that many of the ninjas looked older, some even approaching twenty or thirty years old, yet they were still sitting there as examinees.

The ninja promotion system in this world is truly brutal; talent and opportunity are both indispensable...

Huh? I'm the one who cheated the most? Never mind then.

In this oppressive atmosphere, several familiar figures took the initiative to approach them.

"Oh, so you guys really came." Nara Shikamaru said lazily, his hands in his pockets, his face clearly showing his annoyance. "Although I personally don't want to take this kind of troublesome exam."

Beside him, Choji Akimichi continued munching on potato chips without a care in the world. Seeing Naruto, he casually handed him a bag of snacks. "Naruto, want some?"

"Thanks, Choji." Naruto smiled and thanked him, symbolically taking a piece; the familiar taste slightly eased the tension in the room.

Ino Yamanaka stood to the side, looking somewhat nervous. Sakura, seeing her long-lost best friend, immediately rushed forward with joy.

"Ino! Long time no see! You're here for the Chunin Exams too?"

Ino's expression, however, was somewhat strange, her eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions—concern, and even a hint of disbelief. She grasped Sakura's hand and whispered, "Yes... Sakura, you're here too?"

However, what was truly churning in her mind at that moment was: How can you still be standing here unharmed?

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(Fourth update complete!)