Chapter 43 The Blue Beast of Konoha
The summer is hot and the cicadas are chirping.
"Ah~" Naruto yawned sleepily while squatting on the tree.
Kakashi had promised him a personal training session, but the sun was already high in the sky and he still hadn't shown up. Just as Naruto was contemplating ditching the session, Kakashi finally arrived.
"Yo, Naruto." Kakashi greeted with a cheerful smile, looking up at Naruto in the tree without any hint of guilt for being late.
"Are you wearing your forehead protector properly?"
"Yes."
"That's good. The forehead protector is the lifeblood of a Shinobi." Kakashi explained with a smile.
"Especially during missions, Shinobi will only take off their forehead protectors when they die. So normally, Shinobi won't take the initiative to take off their forehead protectors, as it's not auspicious."
"Neh, Kakashi-sensei."
"Hmm?"
"Has Hokage-sama agreed to me taking the Chunin Exams?" Naruto asked hesitantly.
"He agreed."
"Really?"
"Of course it's true." Kakashi's eye narrowed into a line with a smile, "Otherwise, why would I ask you to do special training?"
"You have just become a Genin and need further guidance from a Jonin before you can handle the Chunin Exams. Sakura and Sasuke have already completed their training, and now it's just you, Naruto."
"Alright!"
"Naruto, don't be happy so early." Kakashi glanced at Naruto with one eye and warned, "Training can be very tough."
"It's okay, Kakashi-sensei, I can handle it!" Naruto said excitedly, "Let's start right away!"
To be honest, he didn't want to train at all.
However, considering that his recent antics had attracted the Root, Naruto decided to restrain himself a bit.
"Okay, then go report to Guy-sensei." Kakashi said with a cough.
"What!!!"
Naruto was dumbfounded, ‘Training with Might Guy? Oh my god… There’s outsourcing in this world too?’
"Cough, cough, the only area you need to improve is Taijutsu." Kakashi scratched his head and said seriously, "Sakura also completed her training with the medical team."
"Huh?"
Naruto held his head, giving Kakashi a bewildered look, similar to Psyduck's confused stare, not fully trusting what he was saying.
"Alright, I’m quite busy, you know that."
Naruto: “…”
Watching Naruto leave, Kakashi stood with his hands in his pockets. The image of Sandaime’s old face, standing in front of the window, smoking a pipe and talking, flashed through his mind.
"The original purpose of the Jinchuriki is to protect the village, Kakashi. It's not a good thing for Naruto to be too powerful."
"One more thing… Jiraiya has returned to the village. Kakashi, after the training, leave Naruto to Jiraiya."
The decision was already made, and Kakashi had no room for objections.
After standing in the sunlight for a while, Kakashi soon turned around and left as well.
…
"Yoohoo! The Blue Beast of Konoha is here!"
"Burn! Youth!~"
Two green-clad watermelon-headed Shinobi, one big and one small, leaped across each other and performed the Leaf Whirlwind in mid-air, putting on a passionate entrance show!
Naruto was left speechless, Neji stood expressionless, and Tenten massaged her forehead in exasperation.
Initially, it was Guy who insisted on having Lee assist him in making an impression on Naruto, resulting in this cringe-worthy scene.
After landing, Guy approached Naruto and asked with his big white teeth showing.
"So, Naruto, how was that? Cool, right?"
"Super cool! Please teach me Taijutsu, Might Guy-sensei!"
"Naruto, I like kids with a keen eye like you!" Guy laughed heartily, crouching down, his dazzling white teeth reflecting the light.
Neji, unable to stand it anymore, turned and left. He usually trained alone, and Guy would occasionally give him guidance on Taijutsu.
Tenten smiled at Naruto, waved, and left as well, considering she had already introduced herself.
"Yosha!" Guy shouted enthusiastically, looking at his disciple Lee and Naruto, and then said, "Run 500 laps around Konoha. If you can't finish it, do 500 one-finger push-ups!"
What else could Naruto say? He could only comply tearfully.
"Wait! Naruto, do you know the secret to becoming stronger in Taijutsu?" Guy suddenly asked.
Hearing this, Naruto was stunned for a second, ‘Why was I being tested out of the blue?’
"Is it hard work?" Naruto asked tentatively.
"No!"
Guy raised his index finger and shook it, then he magically took out a green, tight-fitting outfit from his pocket!
‘What the hell…???’
Staring at the bright green outfit, Naruto gulped and looked up to the sky with tears in his eyes.
‘I’ll wear it!’
‘The suffering and mental damage don’t matter. Just grit your teeth and do it for the sake of cool Taijutsu!’
‘Just go for it, I don’t believe that I can’t trigger the system options!’
So, after running 500 laps, Naruto was exhausted, with his eyes vacant, also muttering strange words like Halloween.
"Naruto, how are you?" Guy asked as he looked down at Naruto, who was lying on the ground foaming at the mouth.
"Guy-sensei!" Lee, standing nearby, said energetically, "Naruto must have comprehended the power of Youth!"
“Exactly!”
In response, Naruto stretched out his trembling hand and tried to shout for help, with his thumb half-clenched and turned outward as if he was giving a thumbs-up.
Upon seeing this, both Guy and Lee’s faces tensed instantly. After they glanced at each other for a moment, hey hugged each other with tears in their eyes.
"Lee! Naruto is the true spirit of passionate Youth!" Guy shouted with tears in his eyes, "It's so touching!"
"Sensei! I will definitely surpass Naruto!"
"Yes! Let's start now!" Guy said, pointing ahead with great pride, "Walk 500 laps around the village on your hands! If you can’t do it, it will be 3,000 push-ups!"
Under the setting sun, the large and small Blue Beasts of Konoha walked away on their hands, leaving Naruto lying on the ground, who is already thinking about dinner.
There was the sound of footsteps, and suddenly, Naruto felt someone stopped beside him and he opened his eyes to look.
It was late in the evening, but that familiar blonde hair stood out.
Ino, who has the same hairstyle as Deidara’s, leaned over and looked at Naruto with a frown, as if she was hesitating about something. Naruto suddenly opened his eyes, which startled her directly.
"Ah! The corpse is alive!"
"Damn it! I'm not dead!" Naruto shouted angrily.
The red sunset clouds painted half of Konoha with a fiery hue. Ino's face was tinged with a bashful red, making her look a bit shy.
"What are you wearing?" Ino asked with disgust.
"Training gear."
"That green color is so gross."
"… Just shut up." Naruto was speechless. Of course he knew that the clothes were tacky, but even after he had gone to such lengths, there’s still no response from the system!
‘Damn it!’
‘Stupid system!’
[Ding!]
A mechanical voice suddenly rang out, and Naruto's expression changed.