Being a rogue ninja is worse than being Hokage.

"I think the number of people who passed is about the same as I expected."

Ibihi raised his hand and pulled aside the banner blocking his way, reappearing in everyone's sight, and said with some helplessness:

“Red Bean, could you please come in through the main entrance next time? I’ll have to talk to the teachers at the Ninja Academy about the broken glass you made later—but they’ll leave it to you for now.”

After saying that, Ibiki waved his hand, turning classroom 301 into Red Bean's stage.

"You have half an hour to assemble at Konoha's 44th Training Ground! The exam details will be explained to you before you arrive at the training ground. Anyone who is late will be considered to have automatically forfeited the exam!"

Hongdou didn't give long speeches; she simply and quickly issued instructions.

"Disband!"

After speaking, Hongdou disappeared from classroom 301.

As soon as the red bean disappeared, Naruto stood up from his seat.

He first said to Temari, "Then, I'll go and meet up with my ninja team."

"I also want to join Gaara and the others."

Temari also stood up in response.

The candidates who passed the first exam are now gathering with their companions, preparing to head to the No. 44 training ground mentioned by Hongdou.

When everyone gathered, Naruto noticed who had passed the first test and then went to Sasuke and Sakura's side.

The three greeted each other and walked out of the examination room together.

……

"At this time, the second exam will start at night... but if the exam location is the training ground, does that mean we'll have to conduct a nighttime drill?"

Walking down the corridor of the teaching building, Sakura speculated about the content of the second exam.

"Regardless of the exam content, we should always remain vigilant. The elimination rate for the first exam was already this high. Judging from the female examiner's tone, the elimination rate for the second exam will only be higher!"

Sasuke was also thinking about how to deal with the second exam.

Naruto simply stayed by Sasuke and Sakura's side and did not participate in their conversation.

But he agreed with Sasuke's words.

We must remain vigilant at all times.

The second exam was already fraught with danger, and there were also uncontrollable figures like Orochimaru and Gaara among them.

He had just observed the people who passed the first exam. Although the number of people who passed the first exam was 6 fewer than in the original story, the changes were very limited.

Needless to say, the ninja teams that the twelve Konoha 11 belonged to all passed smoothly.

Kabuto and his group, along with Karin and Orochimaru's six members of the Kusagakure clan, also passed the first test.

There's also the group of Tosu from Otogakure and the group of Gaara from Sunagakure.

In the original story, the two groups of Rain Ninja from Amegakure attacked the three members of Team 2, where Naruto was, and the three who were unlucky enough to encounter Gaara.

Just like in the original story, they passed the first exam smoothly.

"Naruto, what do you think the second exam will be like?"

Sakura suddenly asked Naruto a question.

"I've heard that Exercise Ground 44 has a nickname: the 'Forest of Death'..."

Naruto glanced at Sakura, but had only said half of what he was going to say.

An uninvited guest interrupted him.

"Please wait a moment!"

A boy of similar age blocked the way for Class 7.

He had a watermelon-shaped head, thick eyebrows, and large round eyes. He wore a green bodysuit that looked like a strange costume, and the ninja headband wrapped around his waist indicated that he was a Konoha ninja.

Behind him stood a boy with pure white eyes and no pupils, and a girl with her hair in two buns.

"This guy is the Rock Lee that Kabuto was talking about."

Sasuke recognized Lee, as well as Hyuga Neji and Tenten behind him.

"Why did he suddenly stop us?"

Having just been troubled by the Sound Ninja, the sudden appearance of Team 3 inevitably made Sakura think the worst.

Naruto simply watched quietly as Lee blushed because of Sakura.

He was wondering why he hadn't seen Class 2 on the second floor of the teaching building; turns out they were waiting here...

Chapter 35 I also want to fight you.

"Hey, Li! We don't have any time to waste. We're quite a distance from Exercise Field 44."

Sakura and Sasuke were on guard against Lee, who suddenly stopped Team 7.

Lee's companion, Hyuga Neji, with long black hair tied in a ponytail, spoke up to remind Lee.

"You heard what the examiner for the second exam said. We only have half an hour to assemble. If you're late, you'll be disqualified from the exam."

Neji Hyuga's words to Lee were full of admonition.

Clearly, Xiao Li's act of stopping Class 7 was not the collective opinion of Class 3, but rather Xiao Li's personal action.

"I know! It won't waste too much time!"

Xiao Li made a guarantee to Ning Ci.

As he spoke, his gaze fell on Sakura again, and his face turned red once more.

"Really..."

Tian Tian, ​​also a member of Class 3, shook her head helplessly, seemingly already used to Xiao Li's behavior.

After calming his companion, Xiao Li nervously approached Xiao Ying.

It's clear that deep down he's quite hesitant about what he's about to do.

Even his movements, which were once highly skilled in physical combat, became incredibly stiff.

Sasuke, wary of what he saw as Lee's nonsensical actions, stepped in front of Sakura.

"What exactly do you want?"

Sasuke questioned Lee.

"You're the top graduate of this year's Ninja Academy, right, Sasuke Uchiha?"

Lee and Sasuke met eyes, and he patiently explained, "Don't worry! I mean no harm. I'm here to see Sakura!"

"Find me?"

Now it was Sakura's turn to feel confused. She searched her memory and was quite certain that she had never met Lee before.

"Yes, please allow me to introduce myself!"

Xiao Li suddenly gave a thumbs up and flashed a bright smile at Xiao Ying.

"My name is Rock Lee! Sakura, please go out with me! I'll protect you with my life!"

"I do not want."

Sakura immediately refused to answer.

"..."

Sasuke stared blankly at the farce that had suddenly unfolded before him, and confirmed that Lee had indeed meant no harm.

Sasuke silently moved away from Sakura... Because he had stood in front of Sakura, Sasuke also faced Lee's soul-stirring smile.

Naruto raised his hand and patted Sasuke on the shoulder, expressing his sympathy for Sasuke's plight.

With his other hand, he waved gently, beckoning to Sakura: "Let's go, Sakura, there's no time to waste on fooling around."

"Wait, wait for me, Naruto!"

Seeing that Sasuke and Naruto were not by her side, Sakura quickly walked past Lee and went to them.

However, when Team 7 passed by Neji and Tenten.

"Please wait a little longer!"

Just when everyone thought the farce was over, Xiao Li called out to the members of Class 7 again.

"What else do you want to do?"

Sasuke frowned and looked at Lee.

"Sasuke, how about a little sparring session?"

"Little Li!"

Neji, as Lee's companion, also spoke up to stop him from making another sudden decision.

"Don't worry, we'll stop here. If we walk quickly, we can get to Exercise Field No. 44 from here in 15 minutes."

As he spoke, Lee looked at Sasuke: "This is also good for you. I can see from your eyes that you yearn to fight against strong opponents... Sasuke, even if you lose to me now, it won't affect the exam, and you can also gather information for your comrades—right?"

Why are you talking to me in a tone that makes it seem like I'm sure I'll lose to you?

Sasuke stared intently at Lee, his originally dark eyes now turning red.

A single, jet-black tomoe appeared in his eyes.

"Sharingan! Sasuke!"

I never expected Sasuke to choose to fight under such tight time constraints.

Sakura wanted to stop Sasuke, but Naruto grabbed her hand to prevent her from bothering him.

"Naruto?"

Sakura looked at Naruto, puzzled.

"Sakura, Sasuke has made up his mind."

Upon hearing Naruto's explanation, Sakura's gaze froze.