Chapter 125 Conquering Their Stomachs

As the exam season began, Ninja from outside the Land of Fire arrived in Konoha Village one after another.

So during this period, the number of people in strange clothes in the streets and alleys continued to increase, including Ninja from other Hidden Villages who came for the exams, as well as tourists and dignitaries from various countries.

It has to be said that although the Chunin Exams were a huge pressure for Genin, who were nervously preparing, for Konoha Village, it was a considerable business opportunity.

In the remaining week, the number of tourists in Konoha Village increased several times over.

Hotels, izakayas, and other places were packed with people, and even the missions at the Hokage Building increased significantly.

However, the Genin teams had no mind for missions, focusing on waiting for the Chunin Exams to arrive.

As for public order, Konoha Village, as one of the strongest Hidden Villages, naturally had nothing to worry about.

"Naruto-kun, do we really not need to continue training?"

"Neji-kun also seems to be participating in this Chunin Exams. I'm a little worried. I don't know if I can win against him."

Hinata asked with concern while eating the food Naruto made.

"Hyuga Neji?"

Naruto picked up his chopsticks and unceremoniously snatched the stuffed peppers from Hinata, answering casually, "Just don't kill him."

"Naruto, your hot and sour shredded potatoes are so delicious! They're so good with rice! How do you make them? I want my dad to learn!"

Ino Yamanaka, who was also freeloading a meal at Naruto's house, held up her rice bowl with one hand and continuously moved her chopsticks with the other, revealing grains of rice from the side as she scraped them in.

It wasn't her first time freeloading, but each time she was conquered by the Chinese cuisine.

"Knock knock knock"

As they were eating with relish, there was a knock at the door.

"Who is it?"

Ino Yamanaka, with a grain of rice stuck to the corner of her mouth, looked up towards the door.

She then looked at the dishes on the table, which were visibly decreasing in quantity, and was a little reluctant to leave her chair to open the door.

"It's Kurenai-sensei. I'll open it."

Naruto didn't even need to get up. He continued to devour his food, and a long "black snake" extended from the shadow at his feet, moving along the ground. After reaching the entrance, it moved vertically up the door panel, then reached the doorknob. The dark "snake head" even split into five fingers, gripping the doorknob and twisting it open.

After doing all this, the extended shadow instantly retracted back to Naruto's feet.

Everything was as if nothing had happened.

"Hmm, are you eating?"

Yuhi did not know who opened the door. She changed her shoes in the genkan and walked into the spotless living room.

"It smells so good. Naruto, your cooking skills are truly exceptional."

Yuhi bent over the dining table, wafting the aroma of the dishes with her hand, and her stomach immediately rumbled with hunger.

"Kurenai-sensei, why did you come right at mealtime?"

"You're not here to freeload a meal too, are you?!"

Ino Yamanaka immediately moved the hot and sour shredded potatoes closer to her as if protecting her food, looking at Yuhi with extreme vigilance. Yuhi put one hand on her hip and laughed loudly, pulling out three application forms and placing them on the table: "Although it's a bit sudden, I've already recommended you all to participate in this Chunin Exams."

"Oh."

Hyuga Hinata and Ino Yamanaka remained very calm. The impact of the news Yuhi brought was not as great as Naruto's plate of stir-fried spicy meat.

"Hey, aren't you surprised at all?"

"Did you hear something beforehand?"

"That's right, as Kurenai-sensei's students, you should have that much information-gathering ability, hahahaha!"

Yuhi laughed heartily with both hands on her hips.

"With your strength, you will surely shine brightly in this Chunin Exams. At that time, Kurenai-sensei will also be very proud."

Yuhi was already imagining herself standing tall in front of Jonin like Kakashi Hatake, Asuma Sarutobi, and Might Guy.

"Grrr"

The rumbling of her stomach pulled Yuhi back to reality.

"No, sensei has been running around for your sake and hasn't eaten lunch yet."

"Quickly, give sensei a seat. Kurenai-sensei needs to eat too."

Yuhi said nonchalantly, finding a bowl and chopsticks and serving herself with practiced ease, clearly a repeat offender.

"Oh, right, if you want to participate, sign your names on it and turn it in to Classroom 301 at the Ninja Academy by 4 PM tomorrow." Yuhi added, her mouth full of food, speaking indistinctly.

July 1st.

The Chunin Exams arrived as scheduled.

Naruto, Hyuga Hinata, and Ino Yamanaka arrived at the Ninja Academy around 3:30 PM, as instructed by Yuhi.

At this time, Konoha Ninja Academy was already on vacation.

During the exam season, the Ninja Academy gathered Genin from various Hidden Villages who did not originally belong there.

"Coming back after a few months, the carefree and happy school days feel like they were just yesterday."

Ino Yamanaka swung her golden high ponytail, crossed her arms, palms up, and stretched with a big yawn, making an "Mmm~" sound.

Hinata stood to Naruto's right. Compared to the sunny and outgoing Ino Yamanaka, she was more reserved and shy.

"Naruto—the school seems to have set up a genjutsu barrier."

Hinata whispered.

Ino Yamanaka stood on his left, tilting her head towards Naruto and Hinata, discussing with a grin: "Naruto, Hinata, how many do you think will be fooled by this simple genjutsu?"

"Probably quite a few."

"If they can't even see through such a simple genjutsu, this Chunin Exams will end early for them, but that's actually a good thing."

Naruto walked forward normally, positioned between the two girls.

The genjutsu barrier covering the school was like nothing to him.

Not to mention the Shadow Clone hidden in the shadow beneath his feet as a safeguard for breaking genjutsu, his Spirit attribute of [100] alone was enough to make him immune to ordinary genjutsu.

Entering the teaching building, they ascended the stairs.

The three of them passed through an invisible barrier.

This barrier gave people the illusion of being trapped in a loop; they seemed to have climbed three floors, but in reality, they had only reached the second floor of the teaching building.

At this time.

The classroom that was originally [201] had been changed to [301] due to the genjutsu.

A group of Genin participating in the Chunin Exams surrounded the doorway, blocking it completely.

Two Genin wearing Konoha Village headbands stood like door gods, blocking everyone and preventing them from entering the classroom.

There was also a watermelon-headed, thick-browed young man in a green jumpsuit, wearing his Ninja headband as a belt, sitting on the ground.

He raised his bandaged hand and wiped the bruised blood from the corner of his mouth.

"No way—you dare to participate in the Chunun Exams with this level of skill?"

"Brother, I advise you to give up early. We are telling you this for your own good. The Chunin Exams are not that simple. People can die, you know."

One of the Ninja guarding the door said with a grin.

The other Ninja gave a thumbs up, pointing to himself, and replied, "We've participated in the Chunin Exams three times. We understand the horror and difficulty of the exam better than you do."

"Alright, we're in a hurry, quickly remove this clumsy genjutsu."

Naruto took out his pocket watch, checked the time, and then said to the two Ninja guarding the door.