"Since Senior Kabuto said so," Naruto's face brightened with a genuinely warm smile, "then I won't be polite. I really do need your help with something."
"Please, tell me what you need." Kabuto adjusted his glasses, maintaining his polite, helpful demeanor.
Inside, though, he just wanted to finish helping Naruto as quickly as possible and get away. Then he could report to Lord Orochimaru. Being near Naruto felt like standing at the base of a mountain, the weight of that overwhelming power pressing down on him constantly. Every second in this boy's presence made his instincts scream danger.
"However, before I ask for Senior Kabuto's help," Naruto said, tilting his head slightly, "there's a question I want to ask you first."
Kabuto nodded. "Of course. What is it?"
Naruto's expression grew more serious, his blue eyes studying Kabuto with uncomfortable intensity. "Becoming a chunin is the honor and dream of every ninja, right? Even if, as the examiner said, fighting desperately might result in casualties, I don't think that should be enough reason to withdraw."
He paused, letting the question hang in the air. "So, Senior Kabuto, why did you quit the exam? Why choose to lose this opportunity for glory? I'm very curious about this."
Kabuto's smile didn't waver, though his mind raced to formulate the right response. "I'm sorry, Naruto. You're absolutely right that becoming a chunin is our dream and our glory. However..." He gestured vaguely at his disheveled appearance. "I sustained injuries in the previous exam. With my current physical condition, I'm afraid I can't keep up with the demands of the third test. It wouldn't be wise to continue."
"Is that so?" Naruto studied Kabuto more carefully. From the outside, the older ninja did look like he'd been through several tough battles. His clothes were torn in places, dirt smudged across his vest, minor cuts visible on his exposed skin. He definitely appeared worse for wear.
Fortunately, Naruto's friendship criteria didn't depend on overall physical condition. Kabuto's face bore no serious injuries, which meant nothing would interfere with the friendship process. That was all that mattered.
Having satisfied his curiosity, Naruto nodded with understanding. "I see. I completely understand Senior Kabuto's choice. Sometimes discretion is the better part of valor."
Kabuto relaxed slightly. The conversation seemed to be wrapping up smoothly.
"Okay, I'm done with my questions." Naruto's smile returned, bright and enthusiastic. "Now, Senior Kabuto, please be friends with me."
"That's it?" The words escaped Kabuto before he could stop them. Relief flooded through his chest so powerfully it made him dizzy. He'd been building up this encounter in his mind as something potentially dangerous, some complicated request or veiled threat. But Naruto just wanted to be friends? That was simple. Easy. Nothing to worry about.
In fact, this could work to his advantage. If he became Naruto's friend, wouldn't Lord Orochimaru's intelligence-gathering task become much easier? As a friend, he could naturally learn about Naruto's daily habits and routines without raising suspicion.
"It seems what Naruto needs my help with is simply becoming friends." Kabuto's smile widened, genuine now with his perceived good fortune. "That's very simple. I'd be happy to become friends with you, Naruto."
"Really? Thank you so much, Senior Kabuto!" Naruto's face lit up like the sun breaking through clouds. "I really didn't expect you to agree so easily. I'm so happy!"
Seeing Naruto's obvious joy, Kabuto felt his confidence grow. This was going perfectly. He extended his hand for a handshake, the universal gesture of friendship. "Well then, congratulations on our new friendship."
Naruto didn't take the offered hand.
Kabuto's arm hung in the air awkwardly. Confusion flickered across his face behind his glasses. Had he misunderstood something?
"Senior Kabuto," Naruto said, still smiling but not moving to shake hands, "there's still a process we need to complete first. Only after we finish the process can we truly become friends."
Kabuto slowly lowered his hand, an uncomfortable prickle running down his spine. Something about Naruto's tone had shifted, just slightly. "Oh? There's a procedure for making friends?" He forced his expression to remain interested and open. "That's really interesting. Can you explain it to me?"
Naruto showed no hesitation in explaining. His voice carried the simple enthusiasm of someone sharing a cherished tradition. "It's very straightforward. We need to have a friendly fight first. That's what makes us real, genuine friends."
"A... a friendly... fight?" Kabuto's expression cracked, genuine alarm breaking through his carefully maintained composure.
He stared at Naruto, searching desperately for any sign this was a joke. But Naruto's face showed only honest, earnest sincerity. The same expression someone might wear while explaining their grandmother's recipe for cookies.
Kabuto felt the ground dropping away beneath his feet. He'd jumped into a pit. A deep, inescapable pit.
"Naruto," he said carefully, his voice coming out slightly strained. "You're joking, right? This is a joke?"
Naruto spread his hands in a gesture of innocent honesty. "Do you think I'm joking?"
No. No, he didn't think Naruto was joking at all.
A sense of profound malice settled over Kabuto like a shroud. Have a discussion with Naruto? That wasn't a discussion. That was suicide. What was Naruto's strength level? What was his own strength level? Didn't Naruto have any self-awareness about the gap between them?
"Is it really, truly a friendly sparring match?" Kabuto asked, grasping at straws. His voice had gone up half an octave. "The kind where we both go all out?"
If Naruto held back significantly, maybe, possibly, Kabuto could survive with only minor injuries. But if Naruto used his full strength, the kind he'd displayed against Orochimaru, then Kabuto wouldn't just lose. He'd be obliterated. Game over. The end.
"Mm-hmm!" Naruto nodded enthusiastically, practically bouncing on his feet. "Come on, let's start!"
Kabuto opened his mouth, the word "I" forming on his lips as he prepared to negotiate, to ask for mercy, to suggest literally any alternative.
Naruto had already started.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Ten minutes later, Kabuto lay sprawled on the ground, his face a spectacular canvas of bruises. Purple and blue decorated both cheeks, his nose had swollen to twice its normal size, and one eye had puffed shut completely.
This time, Naruto had been considerate of his friend's pre-existing injuries. He'd conducted the friendly exchange exclusively with Kabuto's face, leaving the rest of his body untouched.
That's right. Naruto was just that kind of caring person when it came to his friends.
"Come on, Senior Kabuto. The ground is cold. You shouldn't lie there." Naruto reached down with genuine enthusiasm, grasping Kabuto under the arms and hauling him upright. He even brushed the dust off Kabuto's vest with careful pats. "There, much better."
Kabuto forced his one functional eye open and looked at Naruto's simple, earnest face. His brain, slightly rattled from the beating, made a connection. "That Kankuro from Sunagakure... he's also Naruto's friend, isn't he?"
At those words, Naruto's face transformed with delighted surprise. His eyes widened comically. "How did you know that, Senior Kabuto? That's amazing! You're so perceptive!"
Kabuto laughed silently, just two small huffs that made his bruised ribs ache. How did he know? He'd seen it on Kankuro's face. The exact same pattern of injuries he was now sporting. Same swelling, same bruise distribution, same general destruction. Obviously done by the same person. How could he NOT know?
But Kabuto said none of this out loud. He had no energy left for sarcasm.
"Naruto," he asked, his voice muffled by his swollen lips, "are we friends now?"
"Yes, Senior Kabuto. We're definitely friends now." Naruto's smile was radiant, completely genuine. He could see the sincerity clearly written across Kabuto's battered face.
"In that case..." Kabuto took a careful breath. "Naruto, your senior would like to go home and rest now. Is that acceptable?"
"Of course!" Naruto's concern seemed genuine. "Do you want me to escort you home, Senior Kabuto? Help you get there safely?"
Kabuto shook his head so quickly it made him dizzy. "No need. I can manage by myself." The last thing he needed was Naruto following him. He had to meet with Lord Orochimaru. If Naruto tagged along, would the boy kill his master again? One death per Sannin was quite enough.
Naruto watched as Senior Kabuto slowly limped away, his gait careful and measured like an old man. After a moment's consideration, Naruto turned back toward the examination hall. His friends were waiting. He had cheering to do.
Once he was certain Naruto wasn't following, Kabuto finally allowed himself to breathe properly again. As he made his way toward the hotel, his mind churned with bitter thoughts.
Who had taught Naruto this bizarre method of making friends? What kind of twisted individual came up with this system?
It wasn't making friends. It was strong-arming people into submission through physical violence.
Whoever had taught Naruto this approach was truly wicked. Absolutely diabolical.
Still thinking dark thoughts about Naruto's unknown sensei, Kabuto arrived at the hotel where Orochimaru was staying. He paused outside, taking in the building's exterior. It was the finest hotel in Konoha, expensive and luxurious, catering to wealthy merchants and visiting nobility.
The perfect hiding place, actually. Who would think to look for a notorious missing-nin in a high-end establishment? Orochimaru-sama's disguise was excellent. No one would suspect a thing.
Kabuto didn't need to check with the front desk. He already knew which room Orochimaru occupied. He climbed the stairs to the second floor, walked down the carpeted hallway, and stopped before the correct door. His hand raised to knock.
A voice drifted through the door. Faint, but audible.
Lord Orochimaru had a guest?
Kabuto couldn't help himself. He pressed his ear against the door, curiosity overwhelming caution. What was Lord Orochimaru discussing with a guest? What could be so important?
He strained to hear, catching fragments of conversation from inside...
"Mmm, it hurts... Naruto-kun, can you give me a hand?"
Kabuto's brain short-circuited. That was definitely Lord Orochimaru's voice, but the tone was completely different. Soft. Feminine. Almost... coy?
Also, what was this about Naruto? He'd just separated from Naruto moments ago. How could Naruto be inside already?
His head spun with confusion. He leaned closer, pressing his ear more firmly against the door.
"Naruto-kun's chest is really warm... it makes me feel so safe... mmm..."
The more Kabuto listened, the more bewildered he became. He seemed to have stumbled onto some tremendous secret. If he knocked on the door now, if he interrupted whatever was happening inside, Lord Orochimaru would definitely silence him permanently. Not possibly. Definitely.
Making a split-second decision, Kabuto backed away from the door as quietly as possible. He retreated to the stairwell, paused there for several seconds to collect himself, then walked back toward Orochimaru's room. This time, he made his footsteps deliberately loud, announcing his presence clearly.
When he reached the door again, no strange sounds emerged from inside. The room had fallen completely silent.
Kabuto knocked gently, his knuckles rapping three times against the wood.
"Come in." Orochimaru's voice from inside was male, the original deep tone Kabuto recognized. Normal. Professional.
Relief washed through Kabuto so intensely his knees felt weak. He maintained a carefully neutral expression, schooling his features into perfect composure, and turned the handle.
Inside, Lord Orochimaru sat in a chair dressed in his female disguise. His posture was elegant and composed, his expression cold with just a hint of playful amusement at the corners of his mouth. This was Lord Orochimaru's serious expression, the one Kabuto knew well.
Kabuto's eyes swept the room naturally, cataloging details. Only Lord Orochimaru was present. No one else. Not a single other person.
So what had Orochimaru been doing just now? Who was the "Naruto-kun" he'd been addressing? What was going on?
The questions burned in Kabuto's mind, but he absolutely didn't dare ask. Instead, he bowed respectfully. "Lord Orochimaru."
"Mm." Orochimaru acknowledged him with a slight nod, then his gaze traveled upward to Kabuto's face. His eyes narrowed slightly. "What happened to your face?"
"Oh, I encountered Naruto on my way here." Kabuto kept his tone casual, matter-of-fact.
At the mention of Naruto, Orochimaru felt something uncomfortable twist in his chest. Just moments ago, he'd been alone in the room with nothing to do. So he'd decided to practice. To rehearse his seduction plan, running through the scenario to ensure it wouldn't appear too fake when executed in reality.
The scene he'd set for himself: Orochimaru would pretend to sprain his ankle on the path Naruto took returning to his farm. He'd stumble and fall. When Naruto rushed over to help, Orochimaru would collapse into his arms, pressing against that warm chest.
Perfect. With the natural charm of this female body, Naruto wouldn't possibly be able to suppress his... appreciation. The plan was flawless.
He'd been thoroughly enjoying his practice performance when footsteps suddenly echoed in the corridor outside. Orochimaru had frozen in panic, immediately dropping his act and returning to his normal seated posture.
That had been far too close. His reputation had nearly been destroyed. Fortunately, looking at Kabuto's expression now, the boy seemed completely oblivious to what he'd been doing. Orochimaru allowed himself a mental sigh of relief.
"You encountered Naruto?" Orochimaru's voice took on a sharper edge. "So the injuries on your face were caused by him?"
"No, no. I fell. Tripped over my own feet." Kabuto denied it quickly. After all, admitting he'd been beaten wasn't exactly honorable.
"You fell?" Orochimaru's tone dripped with disbelief. The fist-shaped marks on Kabuto's face were painfully obvious. Had the ground suddenly sprouted fists?
But Orochimaru didn't particularly care about Kabuto's bruised ego or his battered face. He only cared about information. "What did you learn?"
"Lord Orochimaru, Naruto is currently watching the third Chunin Selection Exam," Kabuto reported dutifully. "After the exam concludes, he'll likely return to his farm. He trains there regularly."
In such a short time, that was the extent of what Kabuto had managed to discover. Naruto had established some kind of breeding operation in the back mountain area behind Konoha.
"Mm. Continue investigating." Orochimaru nodded. He actually already knew this information. His earlier practice session had been specifically tailored for the return route to Naruto's farm.
"Then I'll take my leave, Lord Orochimaru. As soon as I uncover additional information, I'll report to you immediately." Kabuto bowed deeply and backed toward the door.
"Go." Orochimaru waved one elegant hand dismissively.
After closing the door, Kabuto stood in the hallway for a long moment. His heart was still racing. He patted his chest with one hand, feeling the rapid hammering beneath his palm. That had been too close. Fortunately, Lord Orochimaru hadn't discovered his eavesdropping.
His life was saved. For now.
Back in the examination hall, after Kabuto's withdrawal, Mitarashi Anko surveyed the remaining seventeen candidates. "So, one person has already withdrawn. You all witnessed that. We respect his choice completely."
She paused, letting her gaze sweep across the assembled genin. "Now, does anyone else wish to quit? I'll give you one minute. After that minute passes, if you want to withdraw, you won't have another chance."
The candidates stood in silence. Determination hardened on several faces.
After exactly one minute passed, not a single hand rose.
Anko sighed, though whether from disappointment or approval was unclear. "Hey, this really isn't easy. Seventeen people. It would've been convenient if just one more had quit. Then we could divide you into eight preliminary matches perfectly, with only the winners advancing to the third test proper."
Despite her complaint, Anko felt privately relieved that no more Konoha ninja had shown cowardice. Especially the six rookies from this year's graduating class. All six had chosen to continue. No one had backed down.
She had to admit, this year's crop of Konoha genin was exceptional quality. Nine rookies total, all impressive. Three had already been promoted directly to chunin after the second exam, which was unprecedented.
The remaining six weren't bad either. Not at all.
"With seventeen people," Anko continued, her voice carrying clearly through the hall, "it means that among you, there will be one lucky individual who receives a bye. They'll advance directly to the third exam without fighting in the preliminaries."
She turned and pointed at the wall behind her. "Look here."
The moment her words finished, a section of the wall dropped down with a mechanical whir. An electronic screen flickered to life, glowing softly in the examination hall's lighting.
"This is an electronic display board," Anko explained. "It will randomly select eight pairs of opponents for the preliminary matches. After those eight matches conclude, whoever remains without an opponent will automatically advance. Now, let's see who will be in the first match."
The screen began scrolling through names rapidly, the text blurring together too fast to read individual characters.
At that moment, Naruto slipped back into the examination hall, moving quietly to rejoin Sasuke at the side of the room.
"Naruto, where did you go?" Sasuke whispered, keeping his voice low.
"I went to make friends with Senior Kabuto." Naruto's face showed pure satisfaction, the expression of someone who'd completed a productive task.
Sasuke's eye twitched. He began mourning internally for Kabuto Yakushi. The older ninja probably deeply regretted withdrawing from the exam now. Naruto had clearly seized the opportunity to put him through "the process."
"Sasuke, can you fill me in on the rules?" Naruto asked. "I missed the explanation."
Sasuke quickly summarized what Anko had explained about the preliminary matches.
After hearing the explanation, Naruto's attention fixed on the electronic screen. At that precise moment, a name stopped scrolling, freezing in place.
HYUGA NEJI VS...
The second name continued scrolling, whipping through the candidate roster.
Among the assembled genin, Neji Hyuga stared at his own name displayed prominently on the screen. First match. His jaw tightened slightly. He watched the scrolling names, silently praying in his mind: Don't be Hinata. Please don't be Hinata. Anyone but Hinata.
"Neji, it's you! Do your best!" Rock Lee immediately began cheering, his enthusiasm undampened by the tension in the room.
"Neji-nii, good luck," Hinata added softly, her voice barely audible but clearly supportive.
"Ah, it's a Hyuga. The confrontation between members of the Hyuga clan, this should be interesting." Someone in the crowd muttered as the scrolling finally stopped.
A second name materialized on the screen beside Neji's.
HYUGA NEJI VS HYUGA HINATA
The match was set. Branch family versus main family. Cousin versus cousin.
"Naruto," Sasuke said quietly, glancing at his friend. "Who do you think will win?"
"I think Hinata will win," Naruto replied without a moment's hesitation. His voice carried complete confidence.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow, waiting for the explanation.
Naruto's reasoning was simple and utterly serious. "Because she has a good appetite."