Naruto of Naruto

“You’re still so sharp, Kabuto.

But ninjas are tools that don't need emotions.

Since the day I became a ninja, I have given up on such things as feelings. "

"Then Naruto..., what are you going to do?

Your Heavenly Curse Seal doesn't seem to cause any trouble to this little guy. "

"Haha, I will give him a small gift. As for whether he will come to me or not, that is his choice.

I can sense the huge darkness lurking in Naruto's heart,

He may have realized this himself.

If used properly... it can be a great weapon. "

Yakushi Kabuto turned around and smiled, then disappeared from Orochimaru's sight.

If the Jinchūriki factor is not taken into consideration... the Uzumaki clan is also worthy of reincarnation.

Orochimaru thought of the girl from the Uzumaki clan in the Sound Ninja Village and snorted softly.

In the preliminary venue, Yamanaka Haiichi was reading out the rules of the third exam.

“You will have a formal selection competition in front of everyone.

You represent the fighting power of your respective countries.

I hope you can perform at your best when the time comes.

Therefore, the formal selection will take place in one month.

This month is preparation time.It was also to spare time to inform the daimyo and ninja leaders of various countries,

Tell them that the preliminary selection is over and they can come and watch the official selection.

At the same time, it also gives you candidates some preparation time for self-improvement.

To put it bluntly, it means that you can make targeted preparations.

Analyze your opponent's performance in the qualifiers to increase your chances of winning.

Although the previous battle was also a real battle, it was against an opponent whom he did not understand.

However, it is different when it comes to formal selection.

The strength of all opponents has been demonstrated.

For the sake of fairness and justice, please use this month to make yourself stronger.

So, the explanation is over!

Before dismissing everyone, you must do one important thing for the official selection. "

As soon as Yamanaka Hai finished speaking, Moonlight Gale walked up to everyone holding a box.

"Each of you draws a piece of paper from the box in his hand."

Everyone then took out a folded piece of paper from the box. After unfolding it, a number was written on it.

"Now that everyone has gotten it, let's start from the left and report the number on the paper accordingly."

Everyone reported their numbers.

"Then next, I will officially announce the selected battle combination."

As soon as Yamanaka Hai finished speaking, he turned over the battle table in his hand and showed it to everyone.

Aburame Shino vs Haruno Sakura

Temari vs Nara Shikamaru

Kankuro vs Akimichi Choji

Uzumaki Naruto vs Hinata Hinata

Gaara vs Uchiha Sasuke

"Can I ask a question?" Nara Shikamaru raised his right hand.

Yamanaka Hai nodded: "Okay."

"The selection competition is a knockout competition, right? In other words, only one of us can become a chuunin."

"No, that's not the case." Moonlight Gale explained.

"In addition to the Hokage, the judges for this official selection include the Kazekage and the specially invited Mizukage.

These judges will evaluate you based on your performance in the elimination rounds.

Therefore, as long as one is considered to have Chuunin qualifications, one can become a Chunin even if one loses in the first round.

In other words, everyone here has the potential to become a chuunin.

On the contrary, it is possible that no one can become a chuunin.

If you can pass the knockout rounds.

This means that you can increase your chances of showing yourself off.

Thank you for your hard work, see you in a month.

Disband! "

Naruto turned his head and glanced at the expressionless Hinata Hinata, muttering in his heart.

This guy looks very strong, and she only showed Rou Fist and Baguazhang in the preliminaries. It seems that I need to get more information about her.

In that case, let me ask Kakashi-sensei, but before that...

After disbanding, the four members of Team [-] discussed which barbecue restaurant they should go to to celebrate all members passing the preliminary selection.

Naruto saw Gaara in the Suna Ninja group leaving the team with his peripheral vision, so after saying hello to the others, he came to the training ground in Konoha Forest.

Gaara stood quietly in the forest with his gourd on his back. The afternoon sunlight cut through the treetops and the flying light foam outlined shapes, reminding him of Naruto's hair and smile.

Are we... the same kind of people?

"Yo, Gaara."

Naruto walked closer to Gaara with his arm resting on his head and lightly tapped his shoulder with his hand.

"Hello, Naruto." Gaara rarely said the word "hello" to others, and seemed a bit unfamiliar.

"You called me here, do you have something to tell me?" Naruto blinked his blue pupils and looked at Gaara curiously.

"I……"

Gaara moistened his lips, which were dry due to nervousness, with the tip of his tongue.

"You should abstain from the official selection in one month."

"Huh? Why? Do you think I'm not strong enough?"

"I didn't mean that. I just asked you not to stay in Konoha Village during that time."

"..., I probably understand.

Gaara, sometimes, you shouldn't speak so clearly. "

Naruto sat on a tree stump and looked up at the clouds in the sky.

He could probably read some information from Gaara's warning, but this information also pushed him to the edge of choice.

The sudden appearance of Orochimaru, the genin sent by Suna Ninja Village to take the test, and Gaara and his group whose strength exceeds that of ordinary people.

These all indicate that something big will happen in the final selection one month later.

If he kept the news to himself, the village might be harmed.

If he told the Hokage this news, it would be equivalent to betraying Gaara's good intentions.

"Gaara, you really...have posed a difficult problem for me."

Gaara also realized Naruto's dilemma, smiled bitterly, and sat down next to Naruto.

"Honestly, I don't feel a sense of belonging to Sand Ninja Village.

Although my father is the Fourth Kazekage of Sand Ninja Village, my father has sealed the One-Tail in my body since I was born.My mother also died in childbirth.

After that, I had an uncle Yashamaru who understood me and cared about me.

He taught me what love is.

He also told me that these sands that automatically defend against attacks are my mother's will. She hopes to protect me after she dies.

As my relative, the most important person around me, he also loves me.

It makes me feel less alone.

But that night, he hid his identity to assassinate me.

After I defeated him, I saw the true face of the killer. He was the relative who just said he loved me during the day, my uncle Yashamaru.

He told me that he had never loved me and that he had always hated me because of my mother's death.

The order to assassinate me was also given by my father.

My mother doesn't love me either, and she only lets me live in this world to take revenge on the village that hurt her.

Name me Gaara, which means Shura who only loves himself and fights only for himself.

I could have endured the darkness if I hadn't seen the light.

I could have avoided becoming a Shura who only loved myself, if I had not been betrayed by the one I loved.

So, I carved the word "love" on my forehead with sand to remind me that only I love myself. "

While Gaara was telling his story, the wind blew through the woods. Although it was slight, it still made people feel cold.

Naruto said nothing, as if he could empathize with his own experience from Gaara's narration.

After saying his feelings, Gaara turned to look at Naruto and asked slowly:

"Naruto, you... you obviously have a similar experience to me, but why do you attach so much importance to your companions and act so happy?"