Hokage:The female ninjas are going crazy

[As expected of imported sugar—very sweet, soft, and full of moisture...]

---

[Three days later.]

[Today is the day of the Chūnin Exams.]

Uzumaki Naruto stood in front of his mirror, carefully adjusting his outfit. For the first time in a while, he had actually dressed up.

Looking at his reflection, he nodded with satisfaction.

Honestly, his features had always been well-proportioned—he just never put much effort into appearance before.

---

Yamanaka Ino: "Wait a second… Naruto can actually look this good if he tries?"

Sakura Haruno: "It's the first time I've noticed he's kind of handsome... But that's probably because the Naruto from our world always wears that same orange outfit every day!"

Naruto: "Hey! I do change! I just have several sets of the same outfit hanging in my closet!"

Hinata: "Um... Naruto-kun, is there a reason why you're so attached to the color orange?"

Naruto: "Well... how should I explain this..."

Kushina: "I know! I know!"

Naruto: "Huh? Mom?!"

Kushina: "That's because you're my son! My nickname was Red Hot-Blooded Habanero, and Minato's nickname was Yellow Flash. Red plus yellow equals orange!"

Minato: "Ah, that actually makes sense. That's a cute explanation, Kushina!"

Terumi Mei: "Such a warm and loving family. It's truly heartbreaking they couldn't grow up together..."

That sentiment resonated deeply with many fans of the Fourth Hokage. If they had grown up together, the Uzumaki family would have become the emotional center of the village.

No wonder the "Minato Side Story" consistently ranks first in popularity polls.

---

["Naruto, today you'll run into those brats from the Hidden Sand Village again."]

Kurama's voice rumbled from within Naruto's mind.

["Yeah, I know."]

["Don't forget—the last one to appear among them is also a Jinchūriki like you."]

["He has the One-Tail sealed inside him."]

["But I really hate that guy..."]

["If needed, I can lend you some of my power. Let's take care of that tanuki together—how about it?"]

Naruto smirked faintly, not answering directly. He instead asked with interest:

["Big Fox, why do you hate Shukaku so much?"]

Kurama didn't answer right away. He simply shut his eyes, laid his head down lazily, and snorted.

["I just hate him. I don't need a reason."]

Naruto could tell Kurama didn't want to talk about it, but he had a hunch.

Maybe it had something to do with Kurama's tsundere personality.

---

Soon after, Naruto arrived at the meeting spot where Sasuke and Sakura were already waiting.

Seeing Sasuke's ever-confident face, Naruto glanced up at the sky and muttered:

["Huh? The weather's clearing up again?"]

Sasuke: "???" (Why are you talking about the weather all of a sudden?)

Sakura: "Naruto, we're all ready!"

Compared to Sasuke, Sakura was full of energy.

After all, Naruto had helped her a lot over the past three days.

---

Team 7 began walking toward the exam venue. As they approached the hallway leading to Room 301, it was already crowded with Genin from various villages.

Two Chūnin examiners—Gekkō Hayate's friends, Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki—were standing at the door, seemingly making it difficult for others to enter.

But Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura exchanged amused glances.

Such a basic illusion—how could they be fooled?

---

Naruto had an extraordinary chakra-sensing ability.

Sasuke had the Sharingan, perfect for piercing illusions.

And Sakura, often overlooked, had strong innate talent in genjutsu.

The three quickly saw through the trick—this wasn't Room 301 at all, but Room 201.

---

Sakura: "I nearly forgot I had a knack for genjutsu..."

Ino: "During the original Chūnin Exam, your 'Inner Sakura' personality was so wild, it could block my Mind Transfer Technique!"

Kakashi: "I've always told you—you have strong potential in illusion techniques, Sakura."

Kurenai: "I'm hearing this for the first time too. Sakura, come find me sometime! I'd be happy to mentor you."

Sakura: "Really?! Thank you so much, Ms. Kurenai!"

Sakura was thrilled. She hadn't expected to get personal training from a Jōnin-level specialist out of nowhere.

Kurenai's genjutsu skills were among the finest in all of Konoha.

Of course... if we take all of Konoha as the reference...

Well, let's not dig too deep into that.

But at this moment, Sakura didn't realize—

It wasn't that her genjutsu potential had been forgotten.

In fact, she was destined to master the most terrifying genjutsu in the ninja world:

—Betsuten Sakura!

After all, to deceive others with illusions, you must first be able to deceive yourself!

---

As Team 7 confidently walked past the illusion without even turning back, Kotetsu and Izumo were left stunned.

["Weren't these kids just promoted to Genin?"]

["Why are they so sharp already?"]

[This year's Chūnin Exam might be more interesting than we thought...]

---

Tobirama: "That Naruto is like a catfish—his presence stirs up everyone else and makes them grow stronger."

Hashirama: "It's good. In a dangerous world like this, the stronger you are, the better chance you have of surviving."

Madara: "Catfish? I'd say more like a wolf in a sheep pen. And the sheep have no choice but to flee. But no matter how fast they run, they're still sheep."

Unlike the others, Uchiha Itachi looked uneasy.

The Naruto from this alternate world was dangerously influential.

Itachi feared that Sasuke might be swayed too far and walk the path of destruction.

["Looks like I'll need to push Sasuke in the right direction... again."]

Even if that meant breaking some limbs to "stimulate" his hatred.

---

Suddenly, just as Team 7 was about to continue walking, a boy with a bowl haircut, thick eyebrows, and green tights rushed toward them.

"Hello! My name is Rock Lee!" he said energetically.

He stood in front of them, bowing slightly in respect, then explained his purpose.

"I'm here to challenge you."

"I want to prove that even someone like me—without ninjutsu or genjutsu—can surpass geniuses!"

He was passionate, sincere... and very serious.

Among all the new Genin, Naruto was widely considered the most talented.

Sasuke: "Wait... He didn't come to challenge me?"

Kakashi: "Naruto's abilities have clearly surpassed yours in that world, Sasuke. It makes sense that Lee sees him as the true rival."

Terumi Mei: "Well, then he's doomed. This Naruto is far beyond anything these Genin can handle."

Chōji: "Didn't Lee beat Sasuke in our world's Chūnin Exam? If Guy-sensei hadn't stopped the fight, he would've won, right?"

Kiba: "Lee's Eight Inner Gates technique is super strong! Definitely on par with my Fang Over Fang!"

Akamaru: "Woof! Woof!"

Kiba: "Hahaha, thanks buddy! Akamaru agrees with me!"

Tenten: "Naruto and Lee... two hopeless idiots."

Naruto: "???"

---

Naruto looked calmly at Lee, sizing him up.

"You want to challenge me?"

Lee nodded with resolve. "Yes, I want to challenge you—man to man!"

Naruto's tone instantly changed.

"Sorry… but you're too weak."

His voice was ice-cold, his gaze piercing. It felt like he could see straight through Lee's soul.

"With your aptitude, you'll never become a strong ninja using only taijutsu."

Naruto's bluntness struck Lee right in the heart.

Lee had devoted his entire life to proving that even without ninjutsu, one could become a great ninja.

But here was Naruto, dismissing his resolve with a few simple words.

Lee's fists clenched.

He rushed forward without hesitation.

---

"Leaf Hurricane!"

He launched into a high-speed taijutsu kick.

But just as he raised his leg—his body froze.

Lee stood there, motionless—like a puppet with its strings cut.

His eyes glazed over.

---

Kakashi: "It's genjutsu. Naruto cast it instantly."

Inside the illusion, Lee was thrown back into his early school days—those dark, humiliating days.

"How can someone like you dream of becoming a ninja?"

"You can't even use ninjutsu. What are you doing here?"

"You must've bribed your way into the Ninja Academy!"

"Lee, once again, you've ranked last on the exam!"

"Hahahaha! What garbage! Absolute trash!"

Lee collapsed to the ground inside the illusion, sobbing uncontrollably.

He curled up, clutching his head as the bitter memories overwhelmed him.

---

This was the harshest truth of all—

His deepest trauma and greatest fear, laid bare.

And Naruto had forced him to confront it in a single glance.

---

To be continued…