[Tobirama Senju: I've been thinking about it for a while. You killed three people during the second round of the Chūnin Exams—why haven't they joined the group chat?]
[Hashirama Senju: Now that you mention it, you're right, brother... I hadn't realized.]
[Mito Uzumaki: Maybe there's some kind of requirement we don't know about?]
[Naruto Uzumaki: Actually, there is.]
[Tobirama Senju: Will you tell us about it, or are you going to blackmail us for the info?]
[Naruto Uzumaki: You gonna pay for it?]
[Tobirama Senju: No.]
[Naruto Uzumaki: I figured. I'll let it slide this time, it's not even that important.]
[Madara Uchiha: Stop wasting time, brat! Tell us already!]
[Naruto Uzumaki: It's a simple requirement. So far, all of you have something in common. You're important figures in the Ninja World, known for your titles. The system recognizes you as valuable members—or rather, potential valuable members—and adds you to the chat based on that. The three I killed a few hours ago? Not worth it. They were trash in the system's "eyes."]
[Madara Uchiha: And what about those two Mist Ninjas during the escort mission to the Land of Waves? What about them?]
[Naruto Uzumaki: They were rogue ninjas from Kirigakure, listed in the Bingo Book, known as the "Demon Brothers," and served as Zabuza Momochi's assistants. They were involved in the attempted coup in Kirigakure and the assassination attempt on Mizukage Yagura.]
[Tobirama Senju: Well, that explains it.]
[Dan Katō: Not really. What about me? Why am I in the group chat then?]
[Tobirama Senju: You underestimate yourself too much…]
[Hashirama Senju: MINUS ONE POINT! YOUR MIND IS WEAK! YOU HAVE ONE POINT LEFT—IF YOU LOSE IT, I WON'T LET YOU NEAR MY GRANDDAUGHTER!]
[Tobirama Senju: Haha…]
[Naruto Uzumaki: Answering Dan's question… You fought in the Second Great Ninja War. Your involvement wasn't small. You killed many enemy ninjas with your Spirit Transformation Technique. You're also the uncle of Shizune, Tsunade's apprentice—one of the Three Legendary Sannin.]
[Tobirama Senju: Now that explains it.]
[Rin Nohara: And what about me? I was just a regular Chūnin-level Kunoichi!]
[Naruto Uzumaki: You were an exceptional Chūnin who mastered Medical Ninjutsu. You were also a student of my father, the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze. And finally, though it was against your will, you were the Jinchūriki of the Three-Tails.]
[Tobirama Senju: Now that explains it!]
Naruto closed the group chat when he sensed three people approaching.
Looking toward the door, he saw Shino, Kiba, and Hinata.
A few hours earlier, the Sand Ninjas—Temari, Kankurō, and Gaara—had arrived at the tower.
None of them had come to greet them.
Gaara had glared at them with murderous intent upon realizing they had arrived before him.
Temari and Kankurō looked at them in surprise—neither had expected anyone to beat them there.
Back to the present, Naruto greeted Hinata with a smile, and she sped up as soon as she saw him.
"I knew you'd be here, Naruto!" she shouted, leaping halfway and throwing herself into his arms.
Hinata hugged him around the neck, and Naruto grinned like an idiot as her chest pressed into his face.
Looking at Kiba, who growled angrily at their closeness, Naruto smirked and leaned even closer to Hinata.
Their foreheads touched, and then Naruto kissed her on the lips.
"I missed you," Hinata said when they pulled apart, blushing slightly.
[Hizashi Hyūga: STAY AWAY FROM MY NIECE! WHEN I COME BACK TO LIFE, I WON'T LET YOU EVEN BREATHE NEAR HER! YOU HEAR ME, BRAT?!]
[Naruto Uzumaki: So annoying.]
Ignoring Hizashi's shouting in the chat, Naruto calmly turned his gaze to Hinata's teammates.
Kiba's ninja dog, Akamaru—his companion and best friend—barked.
Both Kiba and Akamaru were glaring furiously.
Meanwhile, Shino stood quietly to the side, hands in his pockets, watching.
Naruto, being as shameless as ever, waved at them cheerfully.
"Oh! Hey, Kiba, Shino, come over here! We're all friends here, no need to be shy!"
Off to the side, Karin stared at Naruto and Hinata with a shattered heart.
She clutched her chest dramatically.
"Y-you have a girlfriend…?" Karin asked quietly.
[Kushina Uzumaki: My sweet, poor Karin-chan… Looks like my Naruto has stolen her heart.]
[Mito Uzumaki: And isn't that a good thing? Think about it: their children would be the purest Uzumaki of this generation.]
[Kushina Uzumaki: Wait… More grandkids?! Naruto, you better make Karin-chan happy! Don't you dare break her heart!]
After reading his mother's message, Naruto gave Karin a quick glance.
He decided not to worry about it… at least for now.
Wasting no time, he introduced Hinata and Karin to each other.
"Yup! Karin, meet Hinata. Hinata, meet Karin. We're all family!"
Hinata smiled politely at Karin and gave her a respectful bow.
The Hyūga Clan upheld traditional customs, and Hinata had been raised that way.
She was extremely respectful when meeting her boyfriend's family.
Naruto rolled his eyes but said nothing.
Meanwhile, just like Kiba was glaring angrily at Naruto, Sasuke was glaring furiously at Hinata.
"Tch," Sasuke scoffed, ignoring Hinata completely when she greeted her.
Over the next few days, Naruto enjoyed Hinata's presence, who pampered him constantly.
Haa~ Life sure was good with a cute girlfriend.
Naruto decided to treat the next few days as a little vacation.
The second test of the Chūnin Selection Exams had officially ended.
21 participants had made it through.
Out of the original twenty-six teams, only seven remained.
Since too many candidates had passed, a preliminary round was decided before moving forward with the exams.
The 21 participants lined up before the Hokage, accompanied by the Jōnin-sensei of the remaining Konoha ninjas.
Also present were the examiners from the previous tests, such as Anko and Ibiki.
Naruto even noticed Iruka standing next to Anko.
Iruka was watching him silently, and Naruto took the chance to tease him. He pointed at Iruka and Anko, barely holding back his laughter.
Confused, Iruka glanced at his colleague… and blushed slightly.
When he looked back at Naruto, he caught him making obscene gestures. Iruka let out a deep sigh.
"Maybe I should discipline him after this…" Iruka thought.
Anko, who had also noticed the gestures, pulled out her kunai, held it up to Naruto, and traced a slash through the air with a sinister smile.
Then, without hesitation, she pointed directly at his balls.
Naruto went pale and instantly cupped his crotch with both hands, visibly terrified.
Iruka burst out laughing, and Anko turned her head toward him. Naruto could swear he saw her blush slightly at Iruka's laughter.
Could it be that Anko found him attractive!? Impossible!
If it weren't for the fact they were in the middle of the Chūnin Exams, Naruto would've yelled at Iruka to make his move.
Then, behind the Hokage, Naruto noticed the gazes of Might Guy and Kakashi landing on him.
"Your team's not bad, Kakashi," Guy said, starting the conversation like two old war buddies. "But maybe they just got lucky. As long as my team's still in, they won't make it through."
"In the next test, skill is what matters. Youth can be as harsh as it is sweet, Kakashi," he added, closing his eyes with a confident smile.
He had full faith in his students. No one could beat them.
Kakashi, with his usual indifferent look, blinked slowly and turned toward him.
"Hm? You say something?"
"Oh my god! As expected from my eternal rival! He won't even give me the time of day!" Guy shouted, theatrically grabbing his head.
Ignoring the two clowns, Naruto shifted his attention to the Sound Ninjas.
Despite the beating he gave them and stealing their Earth Scroll, Dosu Kinuta, Zaku Abumi, and Kin Tsuchi had also passed.
Dosu watched them closely, carefully evaluating Naruto and Sasuke. On the other hand, Zaku and Kin stared at Naruto with nothing but rage in their eyes.
Naruto shrugged. He wasn't worried. They weren't a threat.
Just as boredom began to make his eyelids heavy, the Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, stepped forward.