From Earth to Infinity: A Second Chance

Nearly a month had passed, and now, the Chunin Exams were set to begin tomorrow. Over the past weeks, we had all been training hard and growing stronger together. The group training sessions had helped us push each other to new levels, and it was clear that everyone had made significant progress—well, almost everyone.

As expected, Shikamaru's lazy nature persisted, and despite his obvious talent, he often opted to rest instead of fully engaging in the rigorous training sessions. Still, I knew better than to underestimate him; his intellect was his greatest weapon. Now, it was time to see how all that trainingwisely. pay off in the exams.

As we wrapped up our D-rank mission and returned to the village, it was clear that the Chunin Exams were just around the corner. Shinobi from various hidden villages were arriving in Konoha, adding a palpable sense of excitement and tension to the atmosphere.

While Kakashi went to report to the Hokage, the rest of us headed towards our homes. On the way, I noticed Konohamaru, the Third Hokage's grandson, being harassed by a couple of Sand shinobi. I couldn't tell if they were just regular genin or something more, but it didn't matter. I had always seen Konohamaru as a little brother, so I wasn't going to stand by and let anyone push him around.

Without hesitation, I approached the Sand shinobi, ready to intervene and protect him. "Hey, what do you think you're doing?" I called out, stepping between them and Konohamaru.

I noticed one of the Sand Genin who stood out from the rest. He had distinctive markings on his face, somewhat similar to Kiba's, and was dressed in all black. What really caught my attention was the large object he carried on his back, wrapped in cloth—it looked heavy and seemed to be more than just a regular piece of equipment. His presence gave off a serious and intense vibe, making me curious about what kind of skills he had and what that mysterious item was. It was clear he wasn't someone to be underestimated.

The Sand Genin's sarcastic tone didn't sit well with me. "It's none of your business to get involved here," he sneered. "Go play hero somewhere else."

As I took a closer look, I realized he wasn't alone. There were two others with him: a girl with blonde hair carrying a massive fan, and another boy with red hair, a strange mark on his forehead, and a gourd strapped to his back.

I shot back at them, "This isn't even your own village, and you're already causing trouble. I see Sand shinobi are quite arrogant." I could sense the tension in the air, and it was clear that these three weren't ordinary Genin. Their presence alone seemed to carry a weight that hinted at their abilities.

Even if these Sand Genin were stronger than typical Genin, I wasn't intimidated. I stood firm in front of them, and without hesitation, launched a kick toward the one standing closet to me. Just before my attack connected, sand surged up to shield him, forming a protective barrier.

"So, it's sand manipulation, " I observed, analyzingbthe technique. "Quite a unique defense".

Refusing to back down, I imfused lightning chakra into my leng and kivkes again, thai time with even more force. I could break the without using a chakra with only brute force, but used chakra instead to make not too powerful.

The crackling energy tire through the sand wall, shattering it and sending the Sand Genin flying backward, slamming him against a nearby wall. It was clear now—they aren't dealing with just any ordinary opponent.

With the clash over, the Sand Genin seemed to recognize my strength. The girl stepped forward and introduced herself, "I'm Temari, and these two are my brothers, Kankuro and Gaara. Sorry for the trouble we caused." She offered a sincere apology.

I waved it off casually. "It's okay, no big deal. I'm Naruto Uzumaki, and these are my teammates, Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno." I gestured toward Sasuke and Sakura as I introduced them.

"So, you're here for the Chunin Exams?" I asked, already guessing the answer.

"Yes, we are," Temari confirmed with a nod.

"Then, we'll meet again during the exams. See you and take care," I said, bidding them farewell.

As they left, I turned my attention to Konohamaru, who had been nearby causing a scene. "Konohamaru, you don't seem to have anything better to do than cause trouble, do you?" I scolded him, shaking my head in exasperation.

"Big bro Naruto, they were being arrogant and saying our village shinobi are weak, so I started to fight with them," Konohamaru retorted.

I sighed, shaking my head. "Even if they were arrogant, you need to recognize whether you're strong enough to handle it yourself. If I hadn't arrived when I did, you could've ended up in the hospital—and not just you, but your friends could've been hurt too." My tone was firm as I scolded him.

Konohamaru's defiance faded, replaced by a look of guilt. "Sorry, Big bro Naruto," he apologized.

"You don't need to apologize to me," I replied, crossing my arms. "You should be apologizing to your friends."

Konohamaru turned to Moegi and Udon. "Sorry, guys," he said, bowing his head. The two looked at him, then at me, and nodded in acceptance. Hopefully, this would be a lesson for him about picking his battles wisely.

The three kids replied in unison, "It's okay, Konohamaru."

Moegi looked at me eagerly, her eyes sparkling with admiration. "Big bro Naruto, how was your mission?" she asked.

I couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. "As usual, it was kind of boring without any real fights," I replied with a sigh.

"Are you going to train us, Big bro?" she asked hopefully.

"Not this time. We have the Chunin Exams starting tomorrow, so we need to rest. You three take care, and don't get into any reckless fights, okay?" I advised.

"Bye, Big bro Naruto, Sasuke, and Big sis Sakura!" they called out as we said our goodbyes.

With that, we headed home to get some rest before the exams.