Time seemed to accelerate during cultivation, especially intensive training.
Before Naruto knew it, five days had passed.
This was also the day the second Chūnin Selection Exam concluded. Naruto had been eagerly anticipating this moment. Today, when all candidates emerged from the Forest of Death, he could finally begin making friends.
On this particular morning, Naruto woke earlier than usual.
"Naruto, good morning!" Kurama, who was preparing breakfast in the kitchen, heard footsteps in the living room. He poked his head out and saw Naruto rubbing sleepy eyes. Checking the time, Kurama noted it was far too early. Naruto's biological clock usually didn't trigger at this hour.
On normal days, Naruto and Sasuke were incredibly punctual. The moment Kurama finished preparing breakfast, both would wake naturally.
Something was different today. Curious, Nine-Tails asked, "Naruto, why did you get up so early?"
"Mmm..." Naruto yawned widely. "I couldn't sleep last night."
"Insomnia? Why would you have insomnia?" Kurama asked, concerned. With Naruto's powerful spirit, he generally never suffered from sleeplessness.
Naruto answered honestly, "I was excited last night. Couldn't stop thinking about making so many new friends today." Because today marked the second exam's conclusion, the day he'd been anticipating, Naruto had tossed and turned all night, unable to settle.
"Oh!" Nine-Tails' eyes lit up with matching excitement. "Naruto, can you take me there later? Please?"
"Okay!" Naruto considered briefly, then agreed. Now he had nothing to hide. Even if Nine-Tails transformed directly to his full size, Naruto didn't consider it a significant problem.
Seeing Naruto agree, Kurama immediately raised his spatula and jumped excitedly. Watching Naruto beat people... Oh, wait, no. Watching Naruto make friends. It would be genuinely thrilling!
"I'm going to wash up. You keep cooking." After speaking, Naruto waved dismissively, heading to the bathroom.
Cupping cold water in his hands, Naruto splashed it across his face. That trace of sleepiness vanished instantly. He grabbed the nearby towel and wiped away the water, studying himself in the mirror.
Azure blue eyes seemed to radiate captivating light, shining like stars in the night sky. They held a hint of depth, as though they could draw people in completely.
Below his raised nose bridge sat a pair of thick lips.
So handsome! Naruto couldn't help admiring himself momentarily.
Shaking his head vigorously, he dismissed this absurd thought. Falling in love with himself wouldn't do. His gaze dropped to the sink. The toothbrush that belonged to him already had toothpaste squeezed onto it, lying ready.
Kurama had prepared it.
Every morning, after completing his symbolic washing routine, Kurama would squeeze toothpaste onto Naruto's brush. When Naruto woke, he could brush his teeth immediately.
Sasuke, naturally, didn't receive this special treatment.
Looking at the prepared toothbrush, Naruto smiled slightly. The happiest thing in life was waking each morning to find someone had squeezed your toothpaste and breakfast waited ready.
Thinking this through, Naruto felt genuinely fortunate.
First, grateful for his own cleverness and wit. When he'd decided to release Nine-Tails from the sealed space, he'd made the fox serve as his caretaker. Second, grateful he hadn't kept Nine-Tails locked in that dark sealed space. Otherwise, how could he enjoy such calm, happy daily life?
Reflecting on this, Naruto took the toothbrush and came to the kitchen doorway, watching the busy figure inside.
Observing quietly, Naruto smiled unconsciously.
Kurama wore a white lace princess dress and an apron, standing on a small stool, frying eggs. These were for Naruto specifically. Sasuke didn't like eating them.
Actually, Sasuke did enjoy fried eggs. But since the Uchiha massacre, he'd never eaten them again.
Nothing complicated about it. Simply because that man had also liked preparing fried eggs for him.
Perhaps sensing someone watching from behind, Kurama turned his head. Discovering Naruto standing at the kitchen entrance with that particular smile, Nine-Tails felt slight panic.
Naruto wore the same expression when looking at the goats.
Feeling a chill down his spine, Nine-Tails said tremulously, "Naruto, what are you staring at? I'm a chakra-based entity. You can't eat me."
Good grief. Naruto felt utterly powerless against Nine-Tails' vivid imagination. He shook his head, returning to the bathroom to finish washing.
After completing his morning routine, Kurama had nearly finished preparing breakfast.
At this point, Sasuke also woke.
He pushed open his bedroom door, glancing at the opposite room's entrance. The door remained closed. Typically, he and Naruto shared perfect synchronization. They'd wake simultaneously, open their doors, exchange glances, then wash together.
But today, Naruto's door hadn't opened at the same time.
Suspicious, Sasuke turned and spotted a golden head protruding from the living room sofa. Naruto sat there reading a book.
Walking closer to investigate, Sasuke discovered the title: Postpartum Care of Sows.
"Morning, Naruto." Sasuke offered his greeting.
"Morning, Sasuke." Naruto turned his head, acknowledging him.
"Reading?" Sasuke asked.
"That's right. I woke early today, and Kurama hadn't finished breakfast yet. So I'm reading to pass time." Naruto explained with a smile.
Sasuke sat across from Naruto. "Why did you wake so early today?"
Naruto repeated what he'd just told Nine-Tails. After hearing the explanation, Sasuke's expression shifted dramatically. He looked at Naruto, momentarily speechless.
Because of this? Considering it further, Sasuke asked with genuine curiosity, "Naruto, back when you made friends with me, did you also have trouble sleeping the night before?"
"No." Naruto shook his head directly.
"No?" Sasuke stared at Naruto with widened eyes.
"No." Naruto looked at Sasuke calmly. "Is there a problem?"
"No problem." Sasuke stood abruptly, speaking with clear irritation. "I'm going to the bathroom to wash up."
He presented Naruto with his back.
Naruto watched Sasuke's retreating form, then returned his attention to the book, murmuring, "What's wrong with Sasuke? Getting angry for no reason?"
After Sasuke finished washing, Nine-Tails had also completed breakfast preparations, serving everything on the dining table.
Clearly, Sasuke's waking time was normal.
"Time to eat!" Kurama called to both of them.
Naruto was reading on the sofa while Sasuke sat on the opposite side drinking water. Strangely, Sasuke hadn't spoken a single word to Naruto the entire time, apparently sulking for unknown reasons.
Naruto couldn't be bothered dealing with it.
Both approached the table and began eating.
The atmosphere during breakfast felt distinctly odd. As a chakra-based fox, Kurama naturally noticed but chose not to comment. It preferred ignoring human relationship complications.
"Naruto, wait for me to wash the dishes. It'll be quick." After breakfast, Kurama cleaned up the plates. Before entering the kitchen, he reminded Naruto specifically, ensuring Naruto wouldn't leave without him.
Otherwise he'd get angry! ╭(╯^╰)╮
Nine-Tails went to wash dishes, leaving two sullen individuals sitting at the table. Naruto looked at Sasuke. Sasuke noticed the gaze and turned his face away, refusing to meet Naruto's eyes.
"I'll sit on the sofa and wait for Nine-Tails to finish washing." Naruto stood, heading toward the living room.
Sasuke also stood, following to the sofa area.
When they drew close, Naruto suddenly bumped Sasuke with his shoulder. Sasuke reacted immediately. "Naruto, why did you hit me?"
Naruto ignored the question, bumping his shoulder again. He asked with a smile, "Sasuke, what's wrong? Tell me. You're my friend. There's nothing you can't say."
"It's because of you." Sasuke muttered.
"Because of me?" Naruto felt genuinely puzzled. It was only morning. He hadn't offended Sasuke at all. Why would it be his fault? However, Sasuke was his best friend. "Sasuke, tell me what I did wrong. I'll correct it."
"Today is when the second Chūnin Selection Exam ends, right? Candidates will emerge from the Forest of Death. So you're planning to make friends with them?"
Naruto nodded.
Sasuke continued, "You had insomnia because you wanted to make friends today?"
Naruto nodded again.
"Then..." Sasuke pursed his lips, mumbling, "Then why didn't you have insomnia when you made friends with me? You clearly didn't value it enough..."
After hearing Sasuke's words, Naruto suddenly understood. It's because of this. Looking at the aggrieved Sasuke, Naruto said with a warm smile, "Alright, Sasuke. I'll have insomnia tonight because of you!"
"Hmph..." Sasuke turned his face away, thinking to himself, Who wants you losing sleep over me? Despite this thought, he couldn't suppress the smile forming at the corner of his mouth.
"La la la! Naruto, Uchiha boy, I finished washing the dishes! Let's go!" Nine-Tails burst from the kitchen, leaping forward and jumping directly into Naruto's arms.
Naruto caught him securely. "Sasuke, let's go meet them together. Hinata and the others are coming out too. As friends, we should greet them properly."
"Right." Sasuke nodded.
The two of them, plus one fox, walked together toward the Forest of Death.
While walking, Sasuke suddenly stopped.
"What's wrong, Sasuke? Is there a problem?" Naruto asked, noticing the halt.
Sasuke shook his head, resuming his pace. "It's nothing."
But internally, he was thinking, Orochimaru appeared in Konoha again. What is he planning? Sasuke didn't know Orochimaru's intentions, but he wasn't concerned. He could flash directly to Orochimaru's location anytime using the Flying Thunder God mark.
The two humans and one fox soon arrived at the Forest of Death's entrance.
Anko Mitarashi was stationed at the exit. Seeing Naruto and Sasuke approaching, her expression brightened. She walked directly toward them. "Yo, Naruto, Sasuke! You came!"
After greeting them, Anko's attention focused on Nine-Tails in Naruto's arms. Rather than recognizing the demon, she exclaimed, "Wow, Naruto, is this your pet? It's so cute!"
Her enthusiasm grew. "Especially this white lace princess dress! It looks absolutely beautiful wearing that! Naruto, can I pet it?" Anko rubbed her hands together, looking at Naruto with hopeful expectation.
Before Naruto could respond, Nine-Tails gave Anko a distinctly disdainful glance. Foolish human, thinking you can touch me. However, for the sake of your compliment, I forgive your earlier rudeness.
Nine-Tails thought this privately but felt increasingly grateful to Naruto. It seemed his own aesthetic judgment had been problematic before. Since wearing various dresses, he'd received endless praise.
Listening to such compliments felt wonderfully satisfying.
"Sorry, examiner. He doesn't like outsiders touching him." Sensing Nine-Tails' resistance in his arms, Naruto apologized and declined Anko's request.
"I see..." Anko showed no displeasure. Instead, she said, "Naruto, don't call me examiner. Just call me Sister Anko."
Having witnessed Naruto's tremendous strength, Anko believed building a closer relationship with such a powerful individual was absolutely wise.
"Okay, Sister Anko." Naruto complied immediately.
"Is Naruto here waiting for them to pass the exam?" Anko asked.
"Many of my friends are taking the exam inside." Naruto nodded.
"Right! But Naruto is genuinely amazing. It's been ages since the Third Hokage directly promoted anyone to chūnin. Ultimately, it's because Naruto is so powerful." Anko praised him sincerely.
She felt genuine admiration mixed with slight emotion.
"Hey, Naruto, they're coming out!" Sasuke suddenly called.
Naruto looked and saw numerous candidates pouring through the exit. Scanning the crowd, Naruto spotted several friends. He immediately called out, "Lee! Hinata! Choji! Shikamaru! Ino! Over here!"
Hearing Naruto's shout, his friends all came to his side.
Looking at people who appeared somewhat disheveled but wore joyful smiles, clearly they'd passed the second selection test successfully.
Anko, observing Naruto surrounded by so many friends, found it completely natural. With Naruto's strength and charismatic personality, he would naturally gather peers to follow him.
"Naruto, you came..."
Friends greeted Naruto one after another. Obviously, Naruto had come specifically to wait for them. This moved them considerably.
On the other side, Kabuto looked at the woman in the cherry blossom kimono before him. His face showed extreme discomfort, but as an outstanding disciple, he suppressed his surprise and asked quietly, "Orochimaru-sama, I thought you were dead?"
The woman in the cherry blossom kimono—Orochimaru—smiled. "In this world, no one can kill me."
Hearing this, Kabuto's admiration for Orochimaru intensified. He asked, "Orochimaru-sama, what are you doing here?"
"I'm here on business, naturally. Kabuto, I'll be staying in Konoha for the next few days. Investigate Naruto's daily schedule, then report to me. This information will be extremely useful." Orochimaru spoke with absolute seriousness.
"Understood, Orochimaru-sama." Kabuto nodded, then walked away from Orochimaru calmly.
Since Orochimaru had infiltrated the Forest of Death, Konoha's security vigilance had increased dramatically. Under such strict circumstances, Orochimaru could still enter the village freely. One could only say: Long live Orochimaru's infiltration skills.
Orochimaru ignored Kabuto's departure, walking away naturally. But his gaze remained fixed on Naruto from the corner of his eye. Watching Naruto conversing with people around him created ripples in Orochimaru's heart.
All for science.
Orochimaru repeated this mantra internally.
He'd convinced himself that creating this seduction plan for Naruto served scientific purposes. As he continued walking, Orochimaru suddenly felt a gaze fall directly on him.
Sensing this attention, Orochimaru quickly turned and departed.
That look belonged to Sasuke.
Was it mere coincidence? Orochimaru wondered uneasily.
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