Starts In Konoha: Unlocking Shadow Clone

"Hurry up if you want one! Not many left! Wait too long, and you'll miss your chance!"

After sending the three Otogakure's Shinobi on their way, Naruto called out loudly.

Seeing that the Otogakure's Shinobi had successfully passed the test, other teams could no longer hold back.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Several teams appeared at once.

Seeing business coming his way, Naruto smiled and said, "Hand over everything valuable, and the scroll is yours."

"Brat, you are so naive. Those Otogakure people might have been foolish enough to pay, but we're not!"

A Takigakure's Genin sneered, "Everyone, let's just gang up on him and take the scrolls!"

His call was quickly echoed by the other teams, who stepped forward in unison.

There were over a dozen of them, while Naruto's side had only two. From their perspective, fighting for the scrolls was clearly the most profitable choice.

"Oh dear, broad daylight, under a clear sky, and you all want to rob me?" Naruto sighed, shaking his head, "Fine. I'll teach you all a lesson."

'I was the one who had led the group to petition for a reattempt at the Chunin Exams… Yet here they were, turning against me to steal my scrolls… a bunch of ungrateful fools.'

Ox-Monkey-Hare-Rat-Boar...

Naruto quickly formed hand seals. After more than forty hand seals, his hands finally stopped at the Bird Seal.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"

With a low shout from Naruto, a massive water dragon rose behind him.

Though its scales lacked intricate detail, the dragon's head was a vivid image of a dragon's appearance, majestic and lifelike.

At the next moment, the water dragon surged forward, rushing towards the teams with terrifying force.

With the support of the Kyubi's Chakra, the water dragon Naruto created was several times larger than Zabuza's and looked extremely terrifying.

"Roar!"

A dragon's roar filled the air as its head smashed into these teams.

Before they had time to react, the teams were engulfed by a massive surge of water, disoriented and overwhelmed.

The impact didn't stop there. The water surged through the forest, smashing through over a dozen massive trees before finally coming to a halt.

When the water dragon faded, it left a deep trench in the previously flat ground, filled with water like a small lake. The scattered team members were lying face down in it, their fates uncertain.

Seeing this scene, Naruto, who was using this technique, had only one word in his mind: 'Cool!'

Naruto had always wanted to try the Water Dragon Bullet Technique, but the right chance never came. Now, this moment was perfect for showcasing its power.

Not only was the dragon itself imposing, but it delivered substantial damage and served as a potent deterrent.

Naruto knew that the other teams hiding in the shadows, even if they harbored sinister thoughts, would no longer dare to act rashly.

"To everyone hiding out there, listen up! I'm selling scrolls here as a chance for you to pass the exam. I don't expect gratitude, but I do expect you to follow my rules. Break them, and I'll have no problem sending you straight to the afterlife. Don't forget, you all signed those consent forms, and if you die here, no one will avenge you!"

Naruto snorted and walked over to the lake-sized water pit. He grabbed one of the stunned Genin and began rifling through his belongings.

Of course, he is not a pervert.

After rummaging around, he pulled out a pile of Ninja Tools and scrolls, even swiping the forehead protector.

"What a pauper… not even a single coin."

Naruto shook his head helplessly, then turned to Sasuke and said, "Don't just stand there! Come and help me. Remember, take anything valuable, even the forehead protectors. We should be able to exchange it for some money at the blacksmith."

Sasuke nodded and stepped forward to help with the search.

For a full hour, Naruto and Sasuke turned the unconscious ninjas inside out, stripping away practically everything of value, even down to their clothes. If not for Naruto's distaste for it, he might have even taken the last piece of dignity they had left.

Taking out an empty storage scroll, Naruto sealed away all the loot inside, which is far easier than lugging it around.

"Alright, we don't have time to sit around. If you want a scroll, come buy one now. Miss this chance, and you'll regret it."

Naruto called out once more.

This time, the teams hiding in the shadows were in a frenzy.

Knowing they couldn't beat Naruto, they had no choice but to follow his rules.

And with only so many scrolls left, it was first-come, first-served. Show up late, and there'd be nothing left.

"I'll take a scroll!"

"I want one too!"

"Don't push! Save one for me!"

Teams appeared one after another, scrambling to offer up their valuables.

Looking at the pile of valuables laid out in front of him, Naruto's eyes glinted with an idea. Opening up a blank scroll, he began sealing away every valuable item collected until nothing was left. Only then did he speak up, "Alright, I'll keep the money, and the scrolls… well, those are on the house! Good luck, everyone!"

Hearing this, the teams around him looked confused, but soon enough, they understood.

Naruto took one set of scrolls for himself and threw the remaining Heaven and Earth scrolls out into the air.

'Shit… this is not a fair trade at all… it's a free-for-all!'

Naruto also knew this approach might stir up some frustration, so he quickly pulled Sasuke along and slipped into the central tower, where he opened his Heaven and Earth scrolls.

Bang!

Accompanied by a burst of white smoke, Iruka appeared once again.

But before Iruka could even speak, Naruto urged, "Iruka-sensei, get us out of here, quickly."

"Alright, hang on!"

Iruka responded without hesitation. Forming hand seals, he activated a Reverse Summoning Technique through the scrolls, and in the next moment, Iruka, Naruto, and Sasuke were transported out of the Forest of Death.

Seeing Naruto's eager expression, Iruka couldn't help but ask: "Naruto, what exactly happened in there?"

Naruto gave a full account of his 'scroll-selling' scheme, though he omitted any mention of the fighting. He didn't want Iruka to worry too much.

After listening to Naruto's story, Iruka was speechless, "Naruto, it's wrong for you to do that. You collected money from everyone, but only gave them a few scrolls. The teams that didn't get any will probably be furious with you."

"Iruka-sensei, you're wrong here. If I'd only given scrolls to a few teams, they'd still end up fighting each other for them, and I'd make less. It is better for me to take all the money, which is equivalent to giving each team a fair chance to grab the scroll."

Naruto argued, "Besides, if I hadn't sold the scrolls, some of them wouldn't even have had a chance to advance. I was already being generous."

Iruka sighed and waved a hand helplessly, "Alright, alright. It's done now, anyway. Go on and report to Kakashi."

"Got it."

Naruto nodded and led Sasuke to find Kakashi...

…

Two hours later, at the arena.

This place is not too big. Strictly speaking, it is more like a vast, empty warehouse.

Upon entering, one couldn't miss the massive stone statue at the front, which is a pair of hands forming a seal, towering two stories high.

In front of the statue stood Sandaime in the central position, with representatives from the other villages behind him and Konoha's Shinobi lined up on either side.

The successful candidates were all assembled at the bottom.

Thanks to Naruto's 'scroll sale', the exam in the Forest of Death had ended early, with any team without the scroll automatically disqualified. The remaining teams had been directed to gather at the arena.

Out of thirteen scrolls, Naruto had used two, meaning a total of twelve teams, or thirty-six individuals, had passed the exam.

Seeing so many candidates, Anko looked a bit embarrassed. She had expected the Forest of Death to leave only a handful standing, yet here they all were.

"I'm pleased that so many of you passed the Forest of Death. However, the most challenging part of the exam is yet to come. Now, I'll turn things over to Hokage-sama, so please listen carefully."

As she said that, Anko turned and bowed to Sandaime, "Hokage-sama, if you would."

Sandaime held a pipe in his mouth and nodded slightly.

He took three steps forward, stood still and began in a serious tone, "Before we proceed, there is something I must explain to you all..."