radicalducati Page 51
Page 51
Sun-kissed blond hair, six cat-like whiskers on his cheeks, and eyes clearer than the sky...
"You're Naruto Uzumaki, right?!" Konohamaru blurted out, his heart pounding.
He remembered the ninja file that his grandfather paid special attention to in his study, and the complex expression on his grandfather's face when he mentioned the name, a mixture of headache and admiration.
Naruto was clearly taken aback: "Oh? You know me?"
Konohamaru suddenly felt his face getting hot.
He mustered his courage, his voice rising unconsciously: "Yes! That ninja even Grandpa couldn't handle!"
Only after saying it did she realize what she had said, and she quickly covered her mouth.
Good heavens, he actually revealed his grandfather's private comments!
"Huh? Am I that strong?" Naruto scratched his head, his confused look making Konohamaru want to laugh.
This guy is really special. Even though his strength has been recognized by the Hokage, he doesn't look proud at all.
Konohamaru nodded vigorously, his expression more serious than ever before: "That's right! Grandpa himself admitted you're strong. Anyone who can earn Grandpa's approval must be very strong!"
As he spoke, his voice grew increasingly firm.
At that moment, he suddenly understood what he was looking for—not the flattery of the "third generation descendant," but a role model like Naruto, whom he could genuinely admire.
Seeing Naruto blush with embarrassment at the praise, Konohamaru took a deep breath and made the most important decision of his life.
He stood ramrod straight and shouted with all his might, "So, please teach me to become stronger! Big Brother Naruto!"
Naruto stroked his chin: "I'm not very good at teaching, so if you insist on following me, it'll be very difficult."
"I'm not afraid of any difficulties as long as I can surpass Grandpa!" Konohamaru blurted out, then realized he had let slip his true feelings and hurriedly lowered his head.
He had never told anyone about this idea, not even his closest teacher, Ebisu.
"Why do you want to surpass the Third Hokage?" Naruto's question struck a chord with the heart.
Konohamaru's fingernails dug unconsciously into his palms. Long-suppressed grievances suddenly overflowed: "I... I've always been called the Third Hokage's grandson..."
His voice began to tremble: "No matter what I do, the praise I always receive is 'As expected of the Third Hokage's grandson'... Even though it's me who puts in the effort, the Third Hokage is always mentioned..."
He couldn't continue; tears welled up in his eyes.
He had kept these words bottled up inside for so long that he almost forgot what he was originally like.
"So you want to break through the title of 'grandfather' for three generations and make everyone recognize you as the one, right?"
Naruto's voice suddenly became exceptionally gentle, carrying a resonance that Konohamaru couldn't understand.
Konohamaru suddenly looked up, and tears finally fell.
He nodded vigorously, his small body trembling slightly with excitement: "Yes!"
This guy, whom he had only known for a few minutes, immediately understood his feelings.
"Let's work together then!"
At that moment, Konohamaru made up his mind that no matter how hard or tiring it was, he would become a ninja like his older brother Naruto, one whose name everyone would remember!
Chapter 58 The Legendary Sannin, Jiraiya
The next morning, at the Seventh Training Ground, Kakashi leaned against a wooden post, toying with the Chunin Exam registration form in his hand.
His single eye narrowed slightly, his gaze shifting back and forth between the three students.
"Alright, have you all made up your minds?" Kakashi's voice was languid, yet carried an undeniable seriousness.
Naruto clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms.
He recalled Gaara, whom he had met yesterday; those murderous eyes sent chills down his spine.
But it was precisely this sense of pressure that ignited his fighting spirit.
"Decided!"
Naruto suddenly looked up, his azure eyes burning with intense flames: "We're going to participate in the Chunin Exams!"
His voice echoed in the empty training ground, as if declaring war on the whole world.
Sasuke's lips curled into a cold smile.
He crossed his arms, his long, slender fingers tapping unconsciously in the crook of his arms.
The pride of the Uchiha clan boiled in his blood; he needed stronger opponents and more brutal trials.
These two simple words convey an undeniable firmness.
A faint crimson light flashed deep within his dark eyes.
Sakura nervously twisted the hem of her dress with her fingertips.
She recalled the Chunin Exam materials she had looked up yesterday, and the 70% elimination rate sent a jolt of pain through her stomach.
But when she glanced at her two companions beside her and saw the firelight dancing in Naruto's eyes and the determined expression on Sasuke's face, a warm feeling welled up in her heart.
"...All right,"
She took a deep breath, her emerald eyes gradually hardening: "But we must be fully prepared!"
Although her voice was still trembling slightly, it already carried a hint of determination.
Kakashi's eyes curved into crescents, and the one that was visible shone with satisfaction. "Not bad!"
He gently shook the application form. "You've all passed."
"Why is this?" Naruto asked, bewildered, his golden hair gleaming in the morning light.
Kakashi put the registration form into his ninja tool bag, his voice suddenly becoming serious: "The Chunin Exams are team exams, so if only one or two of you participate, you won't be able to register successfully."
He looked with satisfaction at the shocked expressions on the three students' faces: "This is the final test."
"Huh? Kakashi-sensei, you're testing us again!"
Naruto waved his arms dramatically, but a warm feeling welled up inside him.
It turns out that the teacher had been secretly watching their growth all along.
Kakashi turned to leave, his silver hair fluttering gently in the morning breeze: "Life has many trials."
He glanced back at them, his voice suddenly becoming cheerful: "Alright, I'm going to submit the registration forms. You guys get ready, it'll start in a few days."
After saying that, he disappeared with a "bang," leaving only a few fallen leaves behind.
After a brief silence in the training ground, Sakura spoke first: "I...I want to go to the medical corps to learn medical ninjutsu."
Her voice grew increasingly firm: "Medical ninjas are indispensable in team battles!"
Sasuke scoffed, "Suit yourself."
Although Sasuke appeared indifferent, he was very concerned about and approved of Sakura's actions.
Sasuke then turned his gaze to Naruto: "You loser, want to find somewhere to spar?"
"Just what I wanted!" Naruto rubbed his hands together, eager to fight. "Watch me beat you to a pulp!"
The two soon arrived near a secluded mountain spring outside the village.
Clear spring water gushes from the cracks in the rocks, shimmering in the sunlight.
Just as Naruto assumed his starting stance, Sasuke suddenly raised his index finger: "Shh! Listen..."
Amidst the faint sound of flowing water, there was a subtle "rustling" sound.
The two looked in the direction of the sound and saw an elderly man with white hair lying behind a rock, holding binoculars and intently spying on the other side of the mountain spring.
"What is that middle-aged man doing?"
Naruto was initially curious about what the middle-aged man was doing, but following the direction Sasuke pointed, he saw a group of girls taking a bath.
"That perverted old man is peeping at the female ninja taking a bath!" Naruto shouted indignantly.
A flicker of disgust crossed Sasuke's eyes: "Boring."
But his hand had already reached for the kunai.
"Hey! You pervert over there!" Naruto rushed forward in one stride.
The white-haired man was startled and hurriedly put away his binoculars.
He turned around, revealing a face covered in red eyeshadow: "Kid, you'll get your comeuppance for ruining other people's plans!"
"Enough talk!" Naruto threw a punch, "Take this!"
As Naruto charged forward, Sasuke simultaneously threw three shuriken, blocking the opponent's retreat.
However, the next second, the two of them felt a blur before their eyes.
Jiraiya's figure flashed like a ghost, easily dodging all attacks.
He held Naruto's head down with one hand and Sasuke's wrist with the other, restraining the two of them firmly.
"Let me go!" Naruto struggled desperately.
"Quiet down, kids," Jiraiya whispered. "If they find out..."
Before the words were even finished, a scream pierced the sky: "Pervert!!!"
Three female ninjas, wrapped in bath towels, rushed over.
Jiraiya's expression changed drastically. Just as he was about to run away, he found that Naruto and Sasuke had already grabbed his legs tightly.
"You guys!" Jiraiya's eyes widened.
"Don't even think about escaping!" Naruto gritted his teeth.
“Perverts should be punished.” Sasuke hugged the other tightly.
"Pop!" "Pap!" "Pap!"
After three resounding slaps, three men with swollen, red cheeks appeared by the mountain spring.
Not long after, in the corridor of Konoha Hospital.
Naruto and Sasuke, their faces still burning, bumped into Jiraiya, who also had a bruised and swollen face.
"It's all your fault, you two brats!" Jiraiya said angrily, "You ruined my perfect research plan!"