Forest of Death – Tower at the center.
On there fourth day. The heavy wooden doors of the tower creaked open as Team 7 stepped into the dimly lit hall. Their bodies were scratched, bruised, and caked in dirt, but their eyes gleamed with triumph. Naruto clutched the scrolls proudly, Sasuke walked with slight exausted, and Sakura—though visibly exhausted—smiled with quiet determination.
Naruto (grinning, arms behind his head):
"Heh! Told ya we'd make it. That snake guy didn't stand a chance!"
Sasuke (serious, glancing at him):
"We were lucky. Next time, don't act without thinking and I want to ask you something what you show in forest what is that."
Sakura (softly):
"Yes naruto… you behave like a different person."
Naruto ignore them.
As they reached the central chamber, a familiar face awaited them—Iruka-sensei, standing beside one of the exam proctors. Relief flashed in his eyes as he saw his former students.
Iruka (stepping forward):
"Team 7... I'm glad you're safe."
Naruto (surprised):
"Iruka-sensei! What are you doing here?"
Iruka (serious tone):
"I've been watching over the progress. You've passed the second stage. That's impressive. But this exam isn't over yet."
The room grew quiet. Even Naruto's excitement faded as he noticed the tension in Iruka's voice.
Iruka:
"Because of the unusually high number of teams that passed this stage, the Third Hokage has decided there will be preliminary matches before the final round."
Sakura (nervously):
"Preliminary matches?"
Iruka (nodding):
"In two days. All of you will battle one-on-one. It's to determine who's truly ready to advance. Injuries, weaknesses… everything will be on display. There's no time to rest, so prepare yourselves."
Naruto (clenching his fist):
"Bring it on! I'll show everyone how strong I've gotten!"
Sasuke (stoic):
"Two days is enough. I'll be ready."
Sakura (to herself):
"I can't fall behind... not anymore."
Iruka (smiling slightly):
"Good. Rest tonight. Heal, recover... and remember—this next test will push you further than anything before."
As naruto went to his room in tower, a message popup in front of his eye from uzuhiko.
[SYSTEM ALERT]
"Congratulations, Naruto. You have completed the Second Stage of the Chunin Exams."
"Reward Unlocked:
Mind's Eye of Kagura
Adamantium Sealing Chains"
「Bonus Reward: Uzumaki Healing Bite」
Passive Trait Activated: Your bite can now transmit Uzumaki healing chakra, accelerating physical regeneration of self or chosen targets.
A surge of energy coursed through Naruto's body.
Suddenly, his senses exploded outward. He could feel the chakra of every living being in the vicinity — insects buzzing, leaves rustling where squirrels dashed, even the suppressed chakra signatures of the Anbu observing from the trees. It was as if the forest had become transparent.
"This… This is insane," he whispered, eyes wide with wonder. "I can feel everything."
And then it happened.
Golden light wrapped around his arms. From his back, glowing chains surged outward, ethereal yet solid — unbreakable and humming with divine power. The Adamantium Sealing Chains moved like living snakes, pulsing with chakra inscriptions.
He swung them around experimentally, and they obeyed his will effortlessly. With a flick, one wrapped around a tree trunk, completely binding it in an instant. Another embedded itself in the ground, sealing a summoned snake that had appeared to attack him.
Naruto grinned. "These aren't just chains... they're sealing jutsu made manifest. I can bind even tailed beasts with these."
The Mind's Eye of Kagura pulsed again — and now he sensed not just chakra, but emotions, intent, deceit.
"Thanks, Uzuhiko," he muttered with a small smirk.
Kushina(proudly)- congratulations Naruto, those two abilities precious in uzumaki clan.
Minato( calmly)– well done naruto.
Uzuhiko
(stoically)- you done great In forest. You earned them.
Hidden Leaf forest of death tower Arena –
The arena buzzed with anticipation. Genin from every village watched from the observation deck as the proctor, Hayate Gekkō, stepped forward.
Hayate (coughing slightly):
"The first match: Sasuke Uchiha vs Yoroi Akadō. All others, move to the upper platform."
As the others ascended, Sasuke cracked his neck and stepped into the arena. His eyes were sharp, filled with a strange intensity. This wasn't his usual calm—something darker boiled beneath the surface.
Naruto thought (from above, blinking):
"so indra start influencing him."
Sakura (worried):
"He hasn't recovered completely from the curse mark... but he looks so focused..."
Yoroi smirked from behind his sunglasses, flexing his gloved hands.
Yoroi:
"Let's end this quickly, Uchiha."
Hayate:
"Begin!"
In a flash, Sasuke charged, faster than anyone expected. He didn't wait, didn't analyze—he attacked.
Sasuke (gritting his teeth):
"I don't have time to play around."
He delivered a brutal kick to Yoroi's ribs, launching him backward. Yoroi barely recovered before Sasuke was on him again, a flurry of punches slamming into his guard. The crowd was stunned. Sasuke wasn't fighting with elegance—he was fighting like a storm.
Kakashi (watching silently):
"...He's more aggressive than usual. The curse mark... he's trying to suppress it by force."
Yoroi (panting, reaching for Sasuke):
"You fool. If I touch you, I'll drain all your chakra!"
He grabbed Sasuke's arm, beginning to absorb his chakra—but Sasuke grinned.
Sasuke (growling):
"Then don't let me touch you either."
With his free hand, Sasuke spun and slammed a knee into Yoroi's chin, breaking the hold. In that split second, he vaulted back, panting, then formed a familiar stance.
Sasuke:
"I've been working on something new... just for scum like you."
His feet burst with chakra as he dashed forward in a blur—Lion Combo. He launched Yoroi into the air with a swift uppercut and followed with a barrage of mid-air strikes, finishing with a vicious kick that sent Yoroi crashing into the ground.
Yoroi (unmoving):
"...Ugh..."
Hayate (after a moment):
"Winner: Sasuke Uchiha."
Silence fell before the crowd erupted in murmurs.
Sakura (whispering):
"That was... intense."
Naruto:
"He didn't hold back at all."
Kakashi (concerned):
Sasuke... you're walking a dangerous path.
Sasuke stood over Yoroi's unconscious body, breathing hard. His fist trembled—whether from the strain or the fury, no one could tell.
But one thing was certain:
This wasn't the same Sasuke anymore.
The next match was announced. The proctor's voice echoed through the chamber.
: Preliminary Round – Naruto Uzumaki vs Tenten
Location: Hidden Leaf Chunin Exam Arena – Underground Coliseum
The arena's air thickened with tension as Hayate Gekkō announced the next match.
Hayate (coughing):
"Next match: Naruto Uzumaki vs Tenten. Combatants, step forward."
The crowd buzzed with curiosity. Many of the spectators whispered dismissively—Naruto was the village prankster, after all. But that changed the moment a sudden burst of wind whipped across the arena.
FWOOSH!
A flicker of movement—Naruto was already standing at the center, arms at his sides, eyes calm and unreadable. His presence was different. Measured. Colder. No loud mouth, no boasting—just purpose.
Sasuke (narrowing his eyes):
"...That wasn't normal."
Kakashi (quietly):
"That wasn't the Naruto we know."
On the opposite side, Tenten grinned confidently, her scroll already unfurled.
Tenten:
"This won't take long. I'm a weapon specialist—and you're just a loudmouth."
Naruto (quiet, but firm):
"Then you won't mind if I borrow a few things."
Hayate:
"Begin!"
Tenten sprang into action, throwing kunai in rapid succession, her scroll summoning a rain of weapons—shuriken, chains, knives. Naruto dodged them all with minimal movement, effortless. Then—
He caught a flying sword mid-air.
With a clink, he twirled it in his hand like a seasoned swordsman, switching stances flawlessly. Tenten's eyes narrowed.
Tenten:
"...Cute trick."
She summoned a bo staff, spinning it with expert flair. Naruto dropped the sword, kicked up a discarded bo staff and twirled it, exactly matching her technique—but faster. He closed the distance in seconds, countering every strike with eerie precision.
Naruto (calmly):
"You rely on tools. I use them."
Tenten switched to twin kodachi blades, slashing with agility and form—Naruto matched her stroke for stroke, each block and parry perfectly timed.
Kiba (from above, shocked):
"Where did Naruto learn to fight like that?!"
Neji (narrowing his eyes):
"...He's not the same fool she expected."
Tenten, now visibly frustrated, pulled out heavier weapons—a mace, a hammer, even a triple-section staff. Naruto adapted instantly, using her own dropped weapons against her, each transition seamless, like he had trained with them for years.
Tenten (panting):
"You're just copying me!"
Naruto (firmly):
"No. I'm surpassing you—with your own style."
He disarmed her in a flash, sweeping her legs and pressing the flat side of her own sword to her neck before she hit the ground.
Tenten (wide-eyed):
"...W-what are you?"
Naruto looked down at her, calm but distant.
Naruto:
"Someone who stopped holding back."
Hayate (stepping in):
"Winner: Naruto Uzumaki."
The room was silent. Even the mocking genin from other villages couldn't believe what they'd just witnessed. Naruto walked back without a word, leaving the crowd stunned.
Sakura (whispering):
"Who...is….he after forest of death he is unrecognisable?"
Sasuke (eyes narrowed):
"He's hiding something. And whatever it is... it's dangerous."
Kakashi (to himself):
"Minato…sensei... what did your son become?"
Minato (inside naruto proudly):
" well that's why that time I advice you to learn handle all weapons"
Naruto stopped beneath the observation deck, glanced up, and for a split second—smiled.
But it wasn't the goofy grin everyone remembered.
As the arena settled from the shock of Naruto's match, Hayate Gekkō stepped forward once again, his voice slightly hoarse but steady.
Hayate:
"Next match: Neji Hyuga vs Hinata Hyuga. Step forward."
A hush fell over the crowd. Everyone knew the history between them—cousins, divided by the Main and Branch families of the Hyuga Clan.
Neji descended the stairs, calm and stoic, his white eyes expressionless.
Hinata, however, walked with a quiet confidence rarely seen from her. Her posture was stronger. Her eyes didn't waver. And Naruto, watching from above, crossed his arms silently.
Naruto (thinking):
"You're ready, Hinata. Now show them what you've become."
Observation Deck:
Kurenai (wide-eyed):
"She's… not nervous?"
Kakashi (watching keenly):
"No. She's changed."
Hiruzen (narrowing eyes):
"…She's using lightning chakra."
Arena – Center Stage:
Neji (dispassionately):
"You should forfeit. You can't change who you are. Fate—"
Hinata (interrupting, her voice calm but firm):
"I'm not the same girl you remember, Neji. I can change… because I decided to."
Neji's brow twitched slightly. That confidence—it wasn't empty anymore.
Hayate:
"Begin!"
Neji moved first—sharp, fast, precise. But Hinata met him head-on, activating her Byakugan and slipping into a modified Gentle Fist stance.
CLASH!
Palm met palm—but sparks flew as Hinata's strike crackled with lightning chakra. Neji's expression shifted for the first time as he was pushed back slightly.
Neji (surprised):
"…What was that?"
Hinata:
"Lightning-enhanced Gentle Fist. I developed it… with help."
She advanced, her strikes faster than before. Each hit came with shocking feedback, numbing Neji's arms even when he blocked.
Naruto (watching proudly):
"She's weaving lightning into her chakra flow—disrupting his control before he can even counter."
Sakura:
"That's insane… she's fighting Neji evenly."
Neji gritted his teeth and tried a full-on 64 Palms, but Hinata dodged the opening strikes and slipped beneath his guard, palm striking his side—CRACK! Lightning surged, paralyzing his chakra for a split second.
Hinata (quietly):
"You use fate to cage yourself. I broke mine."
She spun, hands flowing like a current—Lightning Palm Rotation, a defensive countermeasure born from her own innovation. It wasn't as strong as the Hyuga's full rotation, but it was faster and disorienting.
Neji was overwhelmed.
She surged forward with a final flurry—"Lightning Style: Twin Needle Strike!"
A modified Gentle Fist technique laced with lightning chakra. Two precise strikes to Neji's chest—
Two palms! 4 palms!
His chakra coils locked. His knees hit the ground. Eyes wide in shock.
Neji (hoarse):
"…Impossible…"
Hayate (stepping in quickly):
"Winner: Hinata Hyuga."
The Arena Explodes in Shock.
Kurenai (tearing up):
"She… did it."
Kakashi (to himself):
"So that's what Naruto's been doing… training her in secret."
Kushina(inside naruto):
"that's my daughter in law"
while was trying to control his blushing.
Hiruzen (deep in thought):
"Lightning-style hybridization… in a Hyuga technique. This generation… is rewriting our laws."
Neji (still kneeling, stunned):
"She… surpassed me…"
Hinata turned, bowed respectfully, and looked up at Naruto in the crowd.
He gave her a proud nod.
She smiled.
Naruto (to himself):
"That's one chain broken."
The dust was still settling as Hinata bowed after her victory, her breath calm, her expression humble yet quietly proud.
But behind her, Neji's eyes were burning with fury. The pride of the Hyuga Branch could not accept this outcome—defeated, disgraced, and by her.
In a blur, as the crowd began to cheer, Neji's chakra surged wildly.
Neji (gritting his teeth):
"You're still just a failure!"
He dashed forward, chakra laced in his palm, aiming straight for Hinata's heart, hoping to strike her while her guard was down.
Kurenai (screaming):
"HINATA!"
Kakashi, Asuma, Gai, and Kurenai all shot forward at once, leaping from the balcony—
But suddenly, a deep ripple echoed through the arena.
A single voice boomed across the battlefield—calm, steady, chilling:
Naruto:
"Suiton: Mizu no Kabe." (Water Style: Water Wall)
FWOOSH!
A massive wall of water surged up in front of Hinata—without any visible water source. The jounin froze mid-air, stunned. The wall didn't come from a scroll or a trap—it came from raw chakra control.
Then—
Naruto (coldly):
"Ice Release: Ice Age."
The water instantly froze solid, forming a crystal-clear barrier of ice just inches from Neji's palm. He slammed into it—stopped cold. A visible crack spidered through the wall, but held firm.
Hiruzen (eyes wide):
"…No water source… one-hand seal… advanced Ice Release…?"
Kakashi (shocked):
"That's—Tobirama-level water manipulation. And Ice Release? That's a bloodline limit…! Only Haku—!"
The Water Shattered.
Everyone looked up—Naruto was gone.
A second later—BOOM!
Naruto appeared in front of Neji, snatching him from the jounins like he was a ragdoll, gripping his collar with one hand and—
CRACK!
—punched him square in the chest, launching Neji across the arena. He smashed into the wall, stone and dust crumbling around him as the entire section collapsed.
Kurenai (shocked):
"Did... Naruto just move faster than four elite jounins?"
Asuma (jaw tight):
"That speed… is unnatural."
Neji groaned, buried in debris. But before he could move, Naruto had already begun to step forward again—eyes glowing with raw rage, killing intent suffocating the arena like a tidal wave.
He held a kunai, poised low and tight in his grip.
Naruto (cold, thunderous):
"You tried to kill Hinata-chan…"
He lunged.
Four jounin moved in sync—Kakashi, Gai, Asuma, and Kurenai—intercepting him just in time, each grabbing a limb, holding him midair with force and chakra.
Kakashi (grunting):
"Naruto, stop!"
Gai:
"You're going to kill him!"
Naruto (snarling, still straining forward):
"Then pray to every god in the universe we never fight…
Because I swear—on everything I am—
I'll forget you're a fellow Konoha shinobi."
The entire room went silent. Even the most hardened shinobi felt a chill down their spine.
Hiruzen looked down, deeply shaken.
That killing intent… that power… from a genin?
Naruto's expression didn't soften. But after a long, heavy moment, he closed his eyes… and dropped the kunai.
The jounin slowly let him go. He walked past the frozen pieces of his own jutsu, toward Hinata, who stood stunned.
He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.
Naruto (quietly, only for her):
"Don't ever let trash like that get to you again."
She nodded slowly, eyes welling with silent gratitude.
Sasuke (gritting his teeth):
"Damn it… what are you, Naruto?"
Shikamaru (barely whispering):
"…That wasn't just rage. That was control."
Hiruzen (thinking, eyes sharp):
"Naruto... you're becoming something far beyond what I ever expected. But what... are you becoming it for?"
Author's Note:
So, how was this chapter?
I personally really liked writing this one—it's the first time Naruto shows a glimpse of his real strength, and it felt so satisfying to finally unleash just a bit of what he's been holding back.
Next up, we've got Gaara vs. Rock Lee, the end of the preliminaries, and then we head into the one-month training break—a lot of big developments are on the way, so stay tuned!
As always, thanks for reading! Don't forget to comment, review, and support.
- Author