Being a rogue ninja is worse than being Hokage.

He has mastered all of Orochimaru's forbidden techniques and can improve upon them, and can even perfectly utilize Sage Mode, which Orochimaru cannot use.

These are just things that might happen in the future, but they are enough to make Naruto wary of Kabuto Yakushi.

Kabuto is somewhat similar to Haku.

Unable to find meaning in their lives, they mistake the wrong people for salvation.

Thoughts and ideas have all been tamed by the self, turning into the shell of "others".

Haku sees himself as Zabuza's tool.

Kabuto, on the other hand, blindly imitated Orochimaru... to an even more extreme degree, wanting to become a completely new "Orochimaru".

Kabuto and Naruto will only ever be enemies.

Perhaps... we can eliminate this potential future threat before the Chunin Exams.

Kabuto Yakushi is indeed a tough opponent, but what makes him tough is that he has mastered all of Orochimaru's forbidden techniques and learned the Perfect Sage Mode.

Even though Kabuto Yakushi now possesses the strength of a Jonin, it wouldn't be difficult for Naruto to kill him if he really wanted to.

Let's wait and see.

By hiding his thoughts, Naruto will have plenty of opportunities to turn his ideas into reality during the second practical test in the Forest of Death.

We can now reserve some options for contingencies.

Having made his decision, Naruto looked at the six figures approaching.

"Did you also participate in this Chunin Exams?"

Nara Shikamaru spoke first, glancing at Naruto's Team 7 and then at Team 8, who had also come over to say hello.

"This is the first time we've all gathered together since becoming ninjas. Don't you agree, Akamaru!"

The boy, whose cheeks were painted with red, canine-tooth-like patterns, and who was wearing a thick coat and had his head covered with a fluffy hoodie in July, was named Kiba Inuzuka.

He greeted him casually, and the little white dog, Akamaru, who was perched on his head, barked in response.

"It's been a long time..."

Beside Kiba Inuzuka, Hinata Hyuga, who was also in Team 8, quietly greeted everyone.

As for the third member of Team 8, he was a boy wearing a high-necked jacket and black round-framed sunglasses—Shino Aburame.

Shino didn't speak, but nodded to everyone to show his friendly attitude.

"So now all nine new recruits this year are participating in the Chunin Exams... Sasuke, how long can you last in this exam?"

Kiba looked at Sasuke. Back in the Ninja Academy, he had always wanted to surpass Sasuke.

As his strength grew over the months he spent becoming a ninja, this thought became even stronger.

"Hmph, you're not the only one who's growing up."

Sasuke remained unfazed by Kiba's provocation.

"What a hassle, everyone's still the same as before."

Shikamaru complained from the side.

Before you criticize others, think about yourself first!

Ino expressed her displeasure at Shikamaru's current dejected state, and then glared at Choji, who was still eating potato chips: "Choji, you too!"

Ino is just as troublesome as ever...

Saying those words aloud would be troublesome, Shikamaru thought to himself, only muttering a curse about Ino.

Ino, who was loudly reprimanding Shikamaru and Choji, suddenly noticed Naruto staring at her.

"Why...why are you looking at me like that?"

When faced with Naruto's gaze, Ino instinctively shrank back.

“You’re too eye-catching, Ino.”

Naruto said, and then his gaze fell on Kabuto Yakushi, who was walking over at that moment.

Just like in the original story, Kabuto Yakushi has not yet completely followed Orochimaru's example in living his life. He still retains the ideals taught to him by his adoptive mother, Nono Yakushi.

The clash between old and new ideas, and the two completely opposite meanings of life, left Kabuto Yakushi feeling lost.

He was instructed to disobey Orochimaru's orders and actively approach Sasuke during the Chunin Exams, hoping to find answers to his confusion.

"Naruto is right, you're too eye-catching."

Arriving at the group, Kabuto Yakushi, in a very familiar tone, began to criticize Ino as a "senpai" (senior).

"It's not a good habit to suddenly appear out of nowhere and criticize strangers. Who are you?"

When a stranger accused his teammate, Shikamaru stepped forward and stopped Kabuto.

"The headbands of Konoha... are from Konoha ninjas just like us."

Sakura noticed Kabuto's headband.

"How do you know Naruto's name?"

Sasuke frowned as he stared at Kabuto Yakushi, his eyes filled with wariness.

"Really... I'm just trying to be helpful, you newbies should look around."

Reminded by Kabuto, everyone finally noticed that all the ninjas in the examination hall were focusing their attention on them.

"With exams just around the corner, everyone is very nervous. Your noise is making them irritable and could easily lead to trouble."

Kabuto raised his hand to adjust the glasses on the bridge of his nose.

"Is it... because of me...?"

Of all the noise that Yakushi Kabuto was making, Ino was the loudest one.

"Now you should know I mean no harm, right? My name is Kabuto Yakushi, and I'm your senior. Just take this as advice from a senior. Every year there are newcomers like you, so be careful. The Chunin Exams are very brutal."

Only after being reminded of their conspicuous situation did the hostility towards Kabuto Yakushi ease.

Sasuke, however, did not give up: "You still haven't answered me why you know Naruto's name."

Kabuto and Sasuke met eyes.

"Alright, then I'll pass on some more 'experience' to you younger generation."

As he said this, Kabuto Yakushi took out a stack of cards from his ninja tool bag.

Chapter 28 Intelligence Life

"It's a little embarrassing to admit, but this is my seventh Chunin Exam."

Kabuto squatted down and took out one of the cards from the stack in his hand and placed it on the ground.

"Seven times?! Are the Chunin Exams really this brutal?!"

Upon hearing about the number of times Kabuto Yakushi had taken the exam, even Shikamaru, who was usually lazy about his surroundings, was shocked.

"However, I have also been seriously reviewing the reasons for my failure in the exam, so I have been collecting information on the candidates in order to prepare for the exam."

"Gathering information on the test takers? Is that why you know Naruto's name?"

Sasuke searched for key information in Kabuto Yakushi's words.

"That's right, I also put a lot of effort into gathering information about this Chunin Exam, which is the card I'm showing you now."

Kabuto Yakushi extended his index and middle fingers and pressed them against the card on the ground, injecting his chakra into it.

The card, which was originally blank like a piece of paper, suddenly revealed information with pictures and text.

Naruto stared silently at the contents of the card.

The card is a map of the ninja world, with the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind, two of the five great nations, and the Land of Rice Fields, the Land of Waterfalls, the Land of Grass, and the Land of Rain—a total of six nations—colored in a prominent color.

"The country that was vandalized is the country that will be the reference for this joint Chunin Exam."

Kabuto Yakushi explained to everyone, pointing to the numbers next to the various ninja villages and saying:

"More than 400 people applied for this Chunin Exam. You should have noticed the genjutsu on the second floor of the teaching building. Most candidates couldn't even pass the qualification test for the official exam. The actual number I recorded is the number of ninjas from various villages who successfully took the exam right now in the real classroom 301."

The Land of Fire, Konoha: 87 people;

The Land of Wind, Sand Village: 30 people;

The Land of Rain, Rain Hermit: 21 people;

The Land of Grass, the Hermitage of Grass: 6 people;

The Land of Waterfalls, the Hidden Village of Waterfalls: 6 people;

The Country of Fields (pronounced "yin"): 3 people.

The ninja were divided into 51 groups of 3 people each, totaling 153 people.

"And then... is the information I gathered about this year's test takers."

Kabuto Yakushi took out another card and performed the chakra injection operation as before.

In an instant, Naruto's information was revealed on the card.

The information Kabuto Yakushi collected about Naruto includes precise descriptions of Naruto's appearance, photos, the composition of his ninja team, the number of missions each ninja of different ranks has completed, and a five-dimensional strength chart...

And his expertise in ninjutsu.

Multiple Shadow Clone Technique and...

Earth Release: The Art of Decapitation in the Heart.

Looking at the ninjutsu he was "good at," Naruto was surprised by Kabuto's information gathering ability.

It's perfectly normal for Kabuto Yakushi to discover information about Naruto's main attack method, the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, which is based on his apparent strength.

Although he actively sought to learn the Decapitation Technique from Kakashi, he deliberately exposed his "Earth" chakra nature transformation.

However, he only used it during training; in the D-rank missions in the village, this kind of assassination ninjutsu was completely unnecessary.

His only real combat experience was outside Konoha Village, against the Oni Brothers from Kirigakure.

It's unusual that Kabuto Yakushi was able to obtain this information.