Naruto: Reborn with the Template System

Author Note:

Here's the BONUS CHAPTER as promised—thanks for the support, and let's keep this energy going!

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"Ohh… so that's how it is. Well, I'm looking forward to your performance, Water Boy."

As Guts walked past Suigetsu and his teammates, the Mist ninja stiffened, nearly liquefying on the spot.

His trembling voice slipped out in a whisper, "H-His aura is insane… he's terrifying…"

"Uncle Guts!"

Konohamaru dashed toward Guts, clutching his forehead with mock tears and pointing dramatically at Kankuro. "That oil-paint-face guy bullied me just now!"

Kankuro froze. His heart skipped a beat. Logically, it was hard to believe Guts would lash out over a brat's complaint but if he did, well… there wasn't a thing he could do about it.

Bang!

Guts's knuckles gently but firmly smacked Konohamaru on the head in a familiar "Iron Fist of Love."

"You've got time to mess around? Hanabi, who's a year younger than you, is already taking the Chūnin Exams! And you're still playing tag in the streets?!"

Konohamaru rubbed his head with a pout, wisely saying nothing more.

Guts turned to Temari and Kankuro, a nostalgic look softening his sharp features.

"Rasa's kids, huh? Been twenty years since I fought your old man."

Temari blinked. "T-Twenty years…?"

She couldn't believe it. Twenty years ago? Did that mean Guts was just eight or nine when he fought the Fourth Kazekage? And won?

Konohamaru, meanwhile, hid behind Guts and made goofy faces at Kankuro like a smug gremlin.

"Your dad's strength was decent. Politically clever, too. Not a bad leader overall," Guts added casually.

Then, his gaze shifted to a large tree nearby.

"Oh, and you...little civet cat. Aren't you tired of hiding?"

Whoosh!

In an instant, Gaara appeared between Temari and Kankuro, startling the Naruto trio.

No one even noticed when he moved, one second he wasn't there, the next he was.

Guts grinned and clapped Gaara on the shoulder.

"Out of the three of you, you look the most like your dad. Creepy calm face and everything."

Kankuro and Temari froze. Wait... what? Why didn't Gaara's sand activate to block the touch?

Even Gaara himself was shaken. The monster inside him...the One-Tailed Shukaku, was trembling in fear.

The ultimate weapon feared by the Hidden Sand... was scared?

"Is that really... the strongest ninja in the world?"

Temari's heart pounded. Suddenly, all the sneaky orders from Baki didn't seem like such a smart idea anymore.

"Alright, alright," Guts raised a hand and waved lazily. "Break it up. Go home. This isn't a zoo."

The three Sand genin exchanged a look before walking away, glancing back at Guts with lingering unease.

"Hey!"

Sasuke suddenly stepped forward, calling after Gaara.

"What's your name?"

But Gaara didn't look back. With Shukaku rattled by Guts's presence, Gaara had no room in his mind for rival drama.

He walked away silently, never breaking his stride.

"Damn it..."

Sasuke clenched his fists. Being ignored like that stirred something ugly in his pride.

"You suck, Big Bro! You didn't even beat them!"

Konohamaru jeered, laughing at Naruto now.

"I...I didn't wanna cause collateral damage, alright?! If it was just the two of us, I could've finished it in one or two moves!"

Naruto said awkwardly, scratching his head with a sheepish grin.

Konohamaru blinked... then nodded. "Wow! That's so cool! As expected of my big bro!"

Just like that, he bought it.

"Mr. Guts, just now you said you know the father of those three Sand Shinobi?"

Haruno Sakura, who had been quietly listening, suddenly asked with curiosity in her voice.

Guts turned to her and smiled lightly. "You mean the Fourth Kazekage? Yeah, I met him about twenty years ago. That was during the last Great Ninja War."

"Twenty years ago...?" Sakura blinked in disbelief.

Naruto's jaw dropped. "Hold on... how old were you back then?!"

Guts shrugged casually. "Seven. What's the big deal?"

Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke all stiffened.

Seven?!

A kid barely old enough to read… fighting in a world war?

"That's... insane…" Naruto mumbled, wide-eyed.

"What's so strange about it?" Guts said, smirking. "Your white-haired teacher Kakashi was also on the battlefield at that age. Though… let's just say his performance didn't compare to mine."

Leaving behind the stunned Genin trio, Guts turned and continued toward the Hokage building, where Namikaze Minato had summoned him.

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Inside the Hokage's Office

Namikaze Minato knew one thing for sure...Guts hated long-winded conversations.

So the moment Guts stepped into the office, Minato skipped the pleasantries and went straight to the point.

"Guts, both the Fourth Kazekage of Sand and the Fifth Mizukage of the Mist have confirmed they'll attend the Chūnin Exam finals in a month. I want you to host them when they arrive."

Guts raised an eyebrow, then smirked. "Now that's an interesting job."

He wasn't surprised. At this point in the timeline, Rasa had likely already been replaced by Orochimaru. It aligned too well with the [Konoha Crush Plan] from the original story.

Still, Guts doubted Orochimaru would be foolish enough to try that stunt now.

This wasn't the frail, vulnerable Konoha from the anime, back when Sarutobi Hiruzen was left to shoulder the entire village alone.

Now, Minato was alive and leading, Tsunade was present and capable… and then there was Guts himself.

If Orochimaru still had any sense, he'd reconsider the whole plan.

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A Week Later

Time slipped by.

Genin squads from every major village began pouring into Konoha, registering for the Chūnin Exams.

Hidden Sand, Hidden Mist,even smaller nations like Grass and Rain were all represented. The streets of the village buzzed with energy and rising tension.

Three days before the first phase began, Anko found Guts resting at a teahouse and dropped a small scroll in front of him.

"I've been appointed as the proctor for the second exam," she said with a grin, stretching her arms behind her head.

Guts raised an eyebrow. "Forest of Death, huh?"

"Yup."

He looked her over, Samehada strapped across her back like a sleeping beast.

In the anime, Anko had encountered Orochimaru during that phase and nearly died.

But this time, things were different. She wasn't some broken former student weighed down by the past. She had changed. Stronger. Smarter. More confident.

Even if she did run into Orochimaru, Guts was sure she'd be able to hold her own or at the very least, survive.

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The Day of the Chūnin Exam

The sun rose bright and sharp over Konoha, casting golden light over the village. The air felt different today.

One by one, Genin teams gathered outside the Konoha Shinobi Administration Building, instructors offering last-minute words of guidance or in some cases, prayers.

Off to the side, Guts stood with his arms crossed, silently watching the wave of young faces pass through the gates.

"Guts! I'm heading out!"

A clear, cheerful voice called from across the street.

It was Hanabi, dressed in her fitted orange ninja uniform, waving energetically with a confident grin on her face.

He smiled faintly and raised a hand. "Stick to yourself. Don't go following strangers."

Hanabi rolled her eyes and placed her hands on her hips.

"What's with that tone? I'm not a kid, you know?"

"Could've fooled me."

"Tch!"

She puffed her cheeks and turned sharply, her steps light and swift as she disappeared through the gates with the other Genin.

Guts watched her back for a moment longer, the smile still lingering on his face.

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