Chapter 197
Uchiha Izumi, standing in the corridor, began to breathe faster: "Naruto, Nine-Tailed, I've been looking for you for a month... You've finally shown yourself..."
And she, unaware that Naruto was living a life of nightly revelry—Yūgao tonight, a shrine maiden tomorrow, Hyuga Natsu the day after—naturally couldn't find any trace of Naruto.
"Naruto-sama... I'm going to make my move!"
Neji assumed his stance and demonstrated Gentle Fist towards Naruto.
In this arena, watched by thousands,
There were many who looked down on Naruto.
Temari, Kankuro, and others all believed Narutowas just a paper shell.
There's no way such a useless Hokage's descendant could win.
Watching the cheering, eager audience,
Temari shook her head, sighed, and thought everyone was a fool.
"Kankuro, wouldn't you agree?"
"Exactly. If that blond guy wins, I'll eat dirt!"
Kankuro looked at Naruto and made his vow.
"Neji, don't hold back. Use your full power."
Naruto pointed at Neji, signaling him not to consider his status.
"Gentle Fist!"
Neji charged at Naruto, his confidence greatly boosted.
Encouraged by Naruto, he believed that only by using his full power could he earn Naruto-sama's respect.
Even if he were instantly defeated, it would still be an honor, wouldn't it?
And so... "Eight Trigrams Two Palms!"
Clap! Clap!
Neji hit Naruto, and a blue chakra swirl bloomed.
Huh?
For a moment, Neji was a bit confused.
He hit him? How was that possible?
But soon, he saw the smile on Naruto's face.
I understand! It's a Shadow Clone!
So, Neji began to attack the Shadow Clone.
"Eight Trigrams Four Palms!"
Clap! Clap!
Clap! Clap!
All four palms connected.
"Eight Trigrams Eight Palms!"
Clap! Clap!... A series of explosions, and Neji was stunned again.
Even a Shadow Clone couldn't take this much punishment, could it?
I get it... Naruto-sama's Shadow Clones are special!
"Sixteen Palms! Thirty-two... Sixty-four Palms!!"
When Neji finished the entire Sixty-four Palms with a dazzling display of technique,
Naruto, hands on his hips, striking a cool pose, his body trembling from the blows, had already started spitting blood.
"W-w-w-w-w-w... Pfft~~~."
Muttering something, Naruto fell straight backward.
Thud.
"..."
The sound in the entire arena vanished at that moment.
The audience watched the scene, dumbfounded, clearly finding it hard to believe that the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki had been defeated so easily.
"N-Neji... The Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist is truly amazing... I'll admit it, among everyone I, Uzumaki Naruto, have ever met, no one is stronger than you. I declare your Bloodline Limit taijutsu to be the strongest!"
A jolt.
Neji realized that the Naruto-sama in front of him was real.
Which meant... he had defeated Naruto-sama?!
"W-winner... Hyuga Neji..."
The examiner, Shiranui Genma, announced the result of the match, his cheek twitching.
"I~@!￥@#...!!!!"
In the very next second,
A deafening roar from the audience seats drowned out the arena.
Almost everyone was cursing.
Some were even wailing in despair.
After all, they had all bet on Naruto to win.
Now they had lost everything!
"Ha! I told you that kid was a paper shell!" Kankuroshowed a deranged, exaggerated smile, pointing at Naruto and laughing.
"Fixed match! It was a fixed match before! Now it's exposed!" Temari also pointed at the arena, breaking into the same deranged laughter.
Some were happy, others sad.
The negative shouts from the entire audience contrasted sharply with the deranged laughter of Temari and a few others.
Soon, Naruto was carried away... As he passed through the dark corridor, Naruto, lying on the stretcher, asked Yūgao: "How much did we earn?"
"S-several billion..."
Yūgao swallowed, saying softly.
Chapter 143. Sako: Naruto, you're too gentle.
One Chunin Exams completed, and wealth accumulated.
He could lie around for the rest of his life without worrying about money.
Naruto felt that losing face as a price was very much worth it.
Betting all of Yūgao's family assets... in reality, most of it was his own share.
After all, for Yūgao to become so strong, steadily rising, her strength reaching a level where she could perform S-rank missions and earn rewards, it was naturally all due to my, Uzumaki Naruto's, own efforts.
I... Uzumaki Naruto earned this much money on my own!
He calmly lay there all the way to the medical room inside the arena.
Naruto quietly waited for someone's arrival.
After the medical staff finished their examination and found that Naruto hadn't sustained much injury, they left.
Creak... As the door opened,
Uchiha Izumi pushed the door open and entered.
"Naruto, it's been a long time since we last met..."
Uchiha Izumi smiled, her eyes narrowed into crescent moons.
She looked very gentle.
However, the next moment, when she opened her eyes, a sinister smile curled her lips.
Naruto, who was completely unafraid of being killed by Uchiha Izumi, simply stared at her.
"So, Izumi-jie jie, is there something you need me for?"
Naruto, knowing full well, asked the question.
"Nothing..." Uchiha Izumi walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, "I just want to... catch up properly with you..."
She invited Naruto to be a guest at her home.
Naruto understood immediately.
"Alright... but I have some small troubles right now, so I'm afraid I'll have to wait until those troubles are resolved before I can... fulfill your wish, Izumi-jie jie."
Naruto interlaced his fingers and began to state his conditions.
Uchiha Izumi naturally agreed without hesitation.
After all, in all of Konoha, if there was something she wanted to do, few could stop her.
"Actually, it's about Sandaime-sama..."
Naruto immediately showed a distressed expression, starting to shed tears and complain about Hiruzen Sarutobi's difficulties.
And in this exam, Orochimaru planned to assassinate Sandaime-sama.
I, Uzumaki Naruto, am very worried.
"Easy~, I'll just help you save Hokage-sama later, but Naruto-kun, you'll have to stay at my house for a few days then..."
Uchiha Izumi smiled like a flower.
She gestured to Naruto.
To stay at her house.
Uchiha Izumi's slender hand reached out to Naruto.
Her gloved fingers were delicate and graceful.
Just as she was about to touch Naruto, she pulled her hand back.
No rush... Uchiha Izumi thought.
The most delicious food should be saved for last!
Thinking this, her breathing quickened, and her body began to tremble.
Hmph... Then, Uchiha Izumi got up, turned, and left.
"..."
Naruto, having made a deal with Uchiha Izumi, naturally understood why Uchiha Izumi agreed so quickly.
For this past month, he had consistently kept her away from the Tailed Beast Partner.
Uchiha Izumi was naturally at her limit of patience