Konoha: Naruto, trained by Aizen

"Danger? Tch, with me here, what's there to be afraid of?" Nine-Tailed Ge You slumped in his chair, revealing his chubby belly, with his feet on the table, his claws peeking through the gap between his crossed feet, manipulating the mouse and keyboard, his eyes fixed on the computer.

Instead of worrying about Naruto, you should prepare to leave this place.

"You'll be working with Orochimaru from now on, so be careful not to get studied~~" Kurama teased Minato cheekily.

Minato looked worried.

After he left, Naruto lost a strategist who could "devise plans".

Ignoring the conversation between the Nine-Tails and Minato inside him, Naruto revealed a flawless, gentle smile: "Danzo is an interesting person."

The next morning, the villagers marched in a large group toward the arena.

Next up will be the final and most thrilling battle of the Chunin Exams.

As dawn broke, ANBU ninjas were already stationed on the main streets.

Naruto weaved through the trees between the streets, each light step propelling him a considerable distance.

Upon arriving at the arena, it was already almost overflowing with people.

"Here, Naruto!" Sakura waved vigorously at Naruto from afar, her little face filled with excitement.

As Naruto approached, Sakura shyly took out the bento she had carefully prepared, her little face flushed.

Sasuke hasn't arrived yet; he's probably still training hard.

Naruto saw Jiraiya and Sasuke at the training ground yesterday when he went out to buy groceries.

According to them, Jiraiya was giving Sasuke intensive training.

Naruto naturally agreed wholeheartedly.

Sasuke's progress is still a bit too slow.

Although Jiraiya is unreliable, he is still a good teacher.

Before long, everyone was in place, and the final stage of the Chunin Exams was about to begin.

Rock Lee came to Naruto's side and encouraged him: "Naruto, you have to win for me!"

"I will, thank you, Xiao Li."

"It's a real pity. I prepared for so long, but I was eliminated early."

Rock Lee scratched his head and grinned foolishly.

But there was bitterness in his smile.

He originally planned to show all his efforts in the Chunin Exams and impress Naruto.

As a result, I disappointed everyone, and I also disappointed myself.

Naruto noticed the distress in Rock Lee's heart. He gently patted Rock Lee's shoulder, leaned against the railing with Rock Lee, and chuckled, "Lee, passing or failing an exam doesn't negate a person's efforts."

Rock Lee looked up in confusion, his voice somewhat dejected: "Sasuke is more talented than me and works harder. He surpassed me in just a few months. If it weren't for Kakashi and Guy, I might be lying in the hospital right now."

"Naruto, you said that hard work is my talent, but why do I see absolutely no hope of surpassing Sasuke now?"

Sasuke is working very hard.

But in terms of effort, he couldn't compare to Rock Lee.

Rock Lee's efforts were efforts to push the limits of human endurance.

Even so, the gap between him and Sasuke is widening, and he will soon be left far behind.

"Lee, no effort will immediately pay off." Naruto smiled and looked at the arena.

The spectators in the surrounding stands were cheering, waiting for the battle to begin.

Naruto, however, was unable to fit into this atmosphere.

“Physical training is inherently difficult. Even if you put in twice the effort of others, you may not achieve the same results as them.”

"However, the subtle changes in the body and the tempering of will are real and tangible."

"What you lack is just an opportunity, an opportunity to fully realize all your previous efforts and unleash your accumulated potential."

Naruto's eyes were deep, as if he had thought of something, and he revealed a meaningful smile.

"An opportunity...?" Rock Lee murmured to himself, his eyes filled with confusion.

"Indeed, a chance for a complete transformation and a new beginning." Naruto's murmur echoed in Rock Lee's mind.

The warm sunlight reflected a uniquely beautiful radiance.

At that moment, an image of a knife involuntarily appeared in Rock Lee's mind.

And a thought: "If I had a Zanpakuto, would I be able to have the same strength as Naruto?"

After his fantasy, he shook his head, feeling even more bitter inside.

The gap between fantasy and reality is too big.

How could I possibly possess a Zanpakuto?

All I need to do now is work even harder!!

"Thank you, Naruto!"

However, Naruto is right; his efforts will definitely pay off in the future.

"I'm so sorry that I always need your guidance," Lee Rock said, scratching his head sheepishly.

"How could that be? We're best friends." Naruto said softly with a meaningful smile.

"Xiao Li, you've always been quietly supporting me, so of course I want to help you too."

"That's right, no matter what Naruto does in the future, I'll help you!!!"

Lee Rock said firmly.

.........

After a minor hiccup, the final stage of the Chunin Exams officially began.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the Third Hokage, dressed in his Hokage robes, walked to a high place and began a speech on the Will of Fire.

"Where the leaves dance, the fire will never die... Once again, I declare the Chunin Exams officially open!"

The audience erupted in applause.

"The first match is between Naruto Uzumaki and Neji Hyuga." The cheers in the arena paused for a second, then discussions erupted.

"It's Naruto Uzumaki, it's that..."

"He actually participated in the Chunin Exams?"

"Why did the Third Hokage still make him a ninja? Wasn't it too dangerous?"

"Who knows?"

"His opponent is Hyuga Neji. I want to see how badly he will lose."

The villagers still harbored more malice towards Naruto.

Ignoring the comments, Naruto moved slightly and used Shunpo to get into the arena.

"Damn it, the first match is against Naruto." Neji's expression was not good. Just yesterday, he was covered in injuries and barely managed to defeat Naruto. Today, he had to face the person he least wanted to face.

He looked at Hinata, who was gazing at Naruto with undisguised admiration, her eyes fixed on him, unable to see anyone else.

Neji sighed, thinking to himself, "Young lady, since you want to change the fate of the branch family, you can't get too caught up in romance too early. I will show you with a victory that strength is what you should be pursuing now."

Neji, with a stern expression, walked towards the center of the arena.

They were facing each other from a distance, but the atmosphere was not as severe as Neji had imagined.

Naruto across from him had a gentle and relaxed smile, and his gaze even followed the butterflies fluttering around him, as if he didn't care about him at all.

Neji's eyes suddenly turned cold.

"Naruto, you're too arrogant!! I'm not the same person I used to be," Neji said coldly.

He still remembered Naruto's nonchalant attitude after that attack that defeated him.

That indifferent look still bothered him.

For countless days and nights, he trained with this shame in his heart, longing for the day he could defeat Naruto and avenge his humiliation.

His strength is the most underestimated; even if Hinata improves rapidly, she cannot catch up with him.

"Naruto Uzumaki!" He raised his voice to get Naruto's attention, and declared firmly, "I will defeat you no matter what!!"

“Okay.” Naruto nodded warmly.

There was absolutely no mockery involved; on the contrary, it gave people a feeling of firm belief.

Neji felt respected from this.

His expression froze, and he suddenly felt a pang of guilt.

Naruto has always been everyone's sunshine, but he harbors hostility towards him.

"Damn it, how could I have such a thought?" He shook his head to banish the thought from his mind and assumed the starting stance of a soft fist.

Compared to Rock Lee's taijutsu, the Hyuga clan's Gentle Fist is more like the opposite, embodying gentleness to the extreme.

"Come on, Naruto! Don't beat Neji too badly. I still want him to spar with me for training today," Hinata prayed quietly from the stands, her hands clasped together.

However, the content of that prayer was not what Neji wanted to hear.

"Big sister, we've finally found you!!" A few little kids ran up to Hinata along the path and said in their childish voices, "Big sister, your eyes are practically sparkling with stars."

"Big sister, is someone you like in there?"

Hinata has always maintained a domineering and cold image in front of children; when has she ever shown such a girlish side like this?

"Yes, remember that, the blond one is the one I like," Hinata readily admitted.

Chapter 118 The Sixth Sense, Taking Control of One's Destiny

"Drink." Seeing Naruto standing still, Neji made the first move. He approached Naruto and struck him all over with his palms at lightning speed.

Each palm strike and each finger strike targets several acupoints.