Chapter 145 The Dragon Returns to the Sea, and the Sea Welcomes Me, Jiraiya

Next, Hiruzen Sarutobi, as the Hokage of Konoha Village, stepped forward to speak and announced that the main Chunin Exams would be held one month later.

Hiruzen Sarutobi also explained why there was a month between the preliminary and main exams: it was to allow enough time to inform the feudal lords and Ninja leaders of various countries to attend the main Chunin Exams held by Konoha Village in the Land of Fire.

"I said that you would compete in front of everyone."

"You represent your respective countries, so I hope you can perform better and show more strength."

Hiruzen Sarutobi replied while puffing on his pipe.

After the speech, the drawing of lots began.

Anko Mitarashi carried a lottery box and walked up to the Genin who had passed the preliminary exam, letting them draw lots to determine the matchups for the main exam.

"Now that Hyuga Neji has been defeated by Hyuga Hinata, will my opponent be Hyuga Hinata?"

Naruto saw Anko Mitarashi approach, put his hand into the round hole, and released a simple Wind Release inside the box.

A vortex of wind immediately stirred up the quiet papers, like white butterflies fluttering, rotating with the wind inside the lottery box.

Naruto didn't grab them with his hand; instead, with a thought, a strip of paper, like a white butterfly, actively flew into his palm.

Naruto grabbed the paper strip and pulled it out.

He unfolded it to see:

[1]

"Is it still the number 1 lot, just like in the original story?"

"But I used Wind Release to mess up the order of the lots in the box again, so it's impossible for the person who draws lot number 2 to be Hyuga Hinata, right?" The lot numbers not only represented the order of appearance in the main exam but also determined who the opponent would be.

Without a doubt, the person who drew lot number [2] would be Naruto's opponent.

"It seems everyone has drawn their lots. Now, each of you, state your lot number," said the unsmiling Ibiki Morino, holding a clipboard.

"One," Naruto spoke first.

"Two! I'm number two!"

Rock Lee said excitedly.

Next were three, four, five, six...

After recording the numbers, Ibiki Morino showed the clipboard to everyone:

[1] Uzumaki Naruto VS [2] Rock Lee;

[3] Ino Yamanaka VS [4] Uchiha Sasuke;

[5] Kankuro VS [6] Hyuga Hinata;

[7] Shino Aburame VS [8] Temari;

[9] Nara Shikamaru VS [10] Dosu Kinuta. Looking at the main exam arrangements on the clipboard, Ino Yamanaka covered her face in grief and exclaimed, "Ah, why am I in the upper bracket?

Doesn't this mean I have to fight Naruto?"

"No, no, I'd rather just forfeit."

"??"

Uchiha Sasuke said unhappily, "Yamanaka, have you forgotten that your opponent in the main exam is me!"

"If you want to fight Uzumaki Naruto, you'll have to defeat me first."

"You?"

Yamanaka confidently waved her hand.

"You're definitely not my opponent. I'm much stronger than you."

Uchiha Sasuke frowned.

"That confident?"

"The Yamanaka's Mind Body Switch Technique is indeed troublesome, but her close-combat ability is too weak, and I also know the flaws of the Mind Body Switch Technique. There's no way you'll get what you want."

"Hehe, let's try it," Ino Yamanaka said with a smile.

"See you in a month!"

Uchiha Sasuke snorted and turned to leave the circular tower first.

He was going to start special training with Kakashi Hatake, learning Chidori Stream and Lightning Blade.

"Naruto, I didn't expect us to meet in the first round."

"This must be fate. We couldn't fight in the preliminaries, so it's reserved for the main exam." Rock Lee gripped the paper in his hand, declaring war on Naruto.

The hot blood in him was already boiling.

Youth was burning.

All the Genin present knew that Naruto, who could defeat Gaara, was definitely the strongest and most abnormal opponent, and none of them wanted to meet him too early.

Only Rock Lee wanted to fight Naruto, to prove that effort could overcome everything, including geniuses and cheats.

"A month's time. I hope you can become even stronger," Naruto said with a faint smile.

"Clap, clap, clap."

A series of crisp applause.

Kurenai Yuhi came behind Naruto, Hinata, and Ino Yamanaka, hugged them with her arms, and said happily:

"Alright, alright, your teacher congratulates you all. Everyone passed the preliminary exam."

"We must celebrate properly tonight. Hmm, a get-together at an izakaya, with Naruto covering the expenses."

Kurenai Yuhi never missed an opportunity to get free drinks.

For classes like Akimichi Choji's, Asuma Sarutobi would take them to eat barbecue.

Unlike Kurenai Yuhi, who always took Naruto and the others out for drinks.

However, this time, there was one more person joining the drinks: Karin.

Karin was initially very shy and timid, as her treatment in the Grass Hidden Village had not been good.

But as she drank more, she gradually opened up and blended in with everyone.

In the time that followed, Hyuga Hinata and Ino Yamanaka continued to cultivate.

Their goals were clear; they didn't need Naruto's personal guidance.

As for Karin, she had long suffered from malnutrition, and being used as a human blood bag by the Grass Hidden Village had left her body in a precarious state.

Fortunately, Naruto was not short on money. To supplement her nutrition, he bought various expensive ingredients, and she ate better and better.

He also used the healing potions exchanged from the Goblin Slayer World to heal Karin's bite marks.

He even took out Dragon Blood to cleanse Karin's body.

Aside from her mother, no one had been so kind to Karin.

Especially since Naruto was also a fellow clan member.

Karin unconsciously became increasingly dependent on and infatuated with Naruto.

"Potatoes, carrots, onions, beef—"

"These are the ingredients I bought for tonight, right? I promised to make them curry rice."

Naruto, who had just finished buying groceries, carried the bags and walked towards home, facing the setting sun.

Normally, Naruto wouldn't pass through the hot spring street.

But today, on a whim, he took a slight detour.

At dusk, the setting sun dyed the sky red, the steam from the hot springs permeated the street, and the noisy sounds of vendors closing their stalls could be heard in the distance.

"The Konoha Village hot spring street is right next door. Next time, I can bring Hinata, Ino, and Karin to soak in the hot springs together."

"Oh right, I'll also invite Kurenai-sensei, who owes me a lot of money."

"I'm sure she won't refuse."

As Naruto was wondering when to arrange a "hot spring gathering," he suddenly noticed a tall, white-haired man squatting outside the wall. He was wearing a red haori and wooden clogs, stealthily peeking into the women's bath through a gap.

The man had an exaggerated, lewd smile on his face and even pulled out a small notebook, frantically jotting notes: "Oh, oh! This angle! A perfect waistline—"

"He—"

Naruto's eyes narrowed slightly.

His expression gradually became complex.

The dragon returns to the sea, and the sea welcomes me, Jiraiya.

"Hey! You perverted old man!"

Naruto suddenly laughed and shouted loudly, "Someone's peeking! There's a pervert outside the women's bath!"