Night had fallen over the Forest of Death.
Team 7 sat around a flickering fire. Naruto pulled out some leftover bear meat from earlier in the day and began roasting it.
By all rights, they shouldn't be making a fire in the Forest of Death. But in this world, strength speaks louder than stealth.
If you have enough power, no one can stop you—not from lighting a fire, not from roasting bear meat, and certainly not from enjoying a full-course banquet in the middle of a deadly exam.
"Wow, Naruto! This is delicious!" Sakura exclaimed, chewing enthusiastically.
Even Yakushi Kabuto was pleasantly surprised.
He hadn't expected that someone like Naruto—an orphan like himself—could roast meat so skillfully. Since following Orochimaru-sama, it had become a rare luxury to eat even a half-decent meal. Going hungry for two days out of three had become routine.
If not for his unwavering loyalty to Orochimaru-sama, Kabuto would've run away a long time ago.
Sasuke silently chewed his portion, deep in thought. Naruto's words echoed in his mind.
He's right... we're both avengers. If we help each other... whether it's for revenge against Uchiha Itachi or against the so-called village, maybe... just maybe... it can become a reality.
As everyone quietly brooded over their own thoughts, a rustling sound broke through the stillness of the woods.
Sasuke and Sakura tensed instantly, eyes narrowing toward the source. Kabuto put down his food, alert.
Only Naruto remained calm. He had sensed the presence long before the others.
"Tooth... This isn't good..." Kiba's familiar voice grumbled.
"What's wrong with that? It smells amazing! Akamaru and I are literally drooling over here!"
"As a ninja, how can you not endure basic hunger?" another voice—Shino—chimed in with quiet reproach.
"You dare say that?" Kiba snapped. "I asked you to find food, but you brought back a bunch of female bugs!"
"That's food. High in protein."
"Ugh, gross! Who in their right mind would eat that? Right, Akamaru?"
"Woof woof woof!"
The commotion ended with three figures stepping out of the bushes.
It was none other than Team 8: Inuzuka Kiba, Aburame Shino, and Hyuga Hinata.
---
Inuzuka Hana: "What an embarrassment to be my brother…"
Inuzuka Kiba: "Akamaru must've just followed the smell! It's not like I walked into an enemy ambush just for food…"
Akamaru: "Woo...Woof...Woo...Woo...Woof!"
Hinata: "Kana… What's Akamaru saying?"
Kiba: "He's apologizing, obviously! This glutton couldn't control his stomach."
Akamaru rolled his eyes several times and side-eyed Kiba with an expression that clearly said:
I may not be human, but you're the real dog here.
---
"I knew I recognized that smell!" Kiba grinned and approached. "Of course it was you, Naruto!"
His gaze quickly shifted to the barbecue.
According to their team's plan, it was Shino's turn to collect food and water today. Unfortunately, the bug-loving weirdo had returned with nothing edible.
"Na-Naruto…" Hinata's soft voice trembled as she approached.
Her fair cheeks instantly turned bright red when she locked eyes with Naruto.
Naruto walked up, ignoring Kiba entirely, and stopped in front of Hinata.
He leaned closer and sniffed gently near her cheek.
"Hinata, why do you always turn red whenever you see me?"
"Th-that's… that's because…"
"Yeah, I've noticed that too," Naruto added innocently. "Is she not feeling well?"
---
Sakura: "In this area, you and that Naruto are exactly the same."
Jiraiya: "Naruto, your training still needs work. If you keep missing the signs, you'll miss the people who matter most."
Kushina: "Hinata, don't be shy! We're all family here!"
Minato: "Let's just give her time to adjust. She's doing her best."
Hashirama: "Hahaha! If Naruto learned medical ninjutsu, he could help cure Hinata's blushing problem!"
Tobirama: "..."
Tobirama: "Brother, stop embarrassing yourself."
Hashirama: "Wha—What did I say wrong? (grievance)"
Tobirama: "She's shy. It's not an illness. Honestly, how did you even find a wife?"
Izuna: "Speaking of which, Tobirama, are you married?"
Tobirama: "No… Why?"
Izuna: "I see. No wonder even Onii-chan isn't married either."
Madara: "Hmph! Women only hinder the strength to draw one's sword!"
---
Without paying attention to the noise around him, Naruto grabbed Hinata's hand and gently pulled her to sit beside him.
Then, without hesitation, he tore off a massive piece of bear leg—almost the size of Hinata's entire face—and handed it to her.
"You're too weak. You need to nourish yourself more!"
"Th-thank you…"
Kiba's face twisted into a grimace. Being ignored like that? Ouch.
He turned to Shino, who remained unfazed.
Shino was already used to being ignored.
Finally, Sakura invited Kiba and Shino to sit. Kiba didn't hesitate. He grabbed a big chunk of grilled meat and began scarfing it down with Akamaru.
"Mmmph! So good!"
---
"Oh right, Hinata," Naruto said casually. "You guys ran into that flashy guy from the Sand Village, didn't you?"
"Yes… Naruto, he killed three Rain Village ninjas using only sand… and he wasn't even hurt."
Hinata's voice trembled again. That scene had clearly scarred her. The brutal massacre was too much for someone as gentle as her.
"Hmph, as expected of the One-Tail Jinchūriki," came the sudden voice of the Nine-Tails from within Naruto. "They enjoy killing."
The fox normally couldn't care less about outside matters, but when it came to One-Tail and its Jinchūriki, it always got fired up.
Naruto asked, "So you guys haven't gotten the second scroll yet?"
Hinata shook her head. They had spent too much time avoiding Gaara's team to encounter others.
According to Shino's plan, they intended to ambush a team near the central tower. But they had only just arrived.
Naruto nodded and smiled.
"By the way, what scroll do you have?"
"Heaven Scroll… Why, Naruto?"
Naruto sighed and muttered, "Heaven Scroll again?"
He reached into his ninja pouch and pulled out a storage scroll.
He slapped his palm onto it, breaking the seal with a puff of smoke.
Suddenly, more than twenty Earth Scrolls spilled out in front of them!
"..."
Everyone was speechless.
"Naruto…" Sakura muttered, eyes wide. She had been worrying about how to find the last scroll, and here Naruto was—running a scroll warehouse!
Even Kabuto stared in disbelief. Are you… doing wholesale scroll trading?!
Naruto smiled and turned to Hinata.
"I found all of these. Take whichever one you need."
---
To be continued...