Hatake Tatsuya in Naruto

A month passed in what felt like the blink of an eye. Not too long, yet not too short, it was just enough time for anticipation to build. The third and final exam, scheduled to take place in the Chūnin Exam Stadium had finally arrived.

Among the notable guests was the Fifth Mizukage, Terumi Mei, representing the Hidden Mist Village as part of the Konoha Alliance. Her visit, however, was more ceremonial than official. There were no pressing diplomatic matters to address—her presence was more about maintaining appearances.

The aides and guards accompanying Terumi Mei to Konoha were well aware of this unspoken truth. It was no secret that the 27-year-old Mizukage had been preoccupied with grooming a potential successor over the past two years. The reasoning behind her urgency was an open secret—one that even outsiders could guess with little effort.

It aligned perfectly with what figures like Nawaki, Kakashi, and others had suspected. Meanwhile, life for Tatsuya's family had descended into a whirlwind of chaos. The saying "a single savanna has two lionesses" never felt more accurate. The fierce rivalry between the two dominant forces in the household was enough to stir up constant tension, leaving everything in disarray.

Adding to the turbulence was the tension between Terumi Mei and Kurenai. From the moment they first crossed paths, the two had failed to see eye to eye. Their animosity felt reminiscent of the infamous rivalry between Haruno Sakura and Yamanaka Ino—a clash of personalities that added yet another layer of drama to the already vibrant dynamics of the village.

...

...

The day of the finals finally arrived.

The seats with the best views were quickly claimed by nobles and business tycoons, all eager to witness the spectacle. Their conversations revolved around names like "Son of Hokage," "Descendant of Uchiha," and "Son of the Fourth Kazekage," with little more to say than idle gossip about bloodlines and legacy.

Among the general audience, Haruno Sakura, Ino, Tenten, and others—who had been eliminated in the earlier rounds—sat together, far from the coveted seats.

A sudden uproar broke out from the crowd.

"Wow—!"

The sound of excitement rippled through the arena, drawing curious glances from everyone nearby. Even those who had already been eliminated, like Sakura, instinctively turned to see what was happening.

At the top of the auditorium, four thrones had been placed. The first was already occupied by Fifth Hokage Namikaze Minato. Not long after, two more figures arrived in succession.

The first was a man dressed in a white robe with a "wind" emblem on his hat. The moment Gaara, standing among the players, saw him, the indifference in his eyes instantly turned to cold hatred. It was the Fourth Kazekage—Rasa.

Then, another man with white hair and a "thunder" hat entered the arena.

"That man looks like Kakashi-sensei!" Haruno Sakura exclaimed in surprise.

"Of course, the current Raikage is Kakashi-sensei's father..." Ino muttered, rolling her eyes.

"Huh? I never heard the sensei mention him!" Sakura turned to Kakashi, who was standing nearby, her face a mix of curiosity and confusion.

"Well, it's not something worth mentioning," Kakashi replied with a shrug, his gaze briefly flicking to his father. "The way my dad became Raikage is... let's just say it's a bit too exciting for kids who grew up in peaceful times."

The three important figures settled into their seats, and the arena settled into a tense silence, with only a minute remaining until the match was set to begin.

A stunning lady with an enchanting figure, a ruddy complexion, and an aura of lazy elegance walked leisurely into the arena.

"The troublesome one is here..." Kakashi muttered inwardly, his gaze quickly shifting away with a faint sigh.

"Mizukage-sama is here as well," Minato remarked with his ever-present, sunny smile.

"It's rare to see all four shadows gathered in one place. You know, in history, the five Kage only met once—when the First Hokage distributed the Tailed Beasts, right?" Minato continued, his tone filled with warmth.

Terumi Mei brushed aside the bangs that had fallen over her eyes and lazily sank into the last stone chair. "Isn't it wonderful? At least it ensures peace in the Shinobi world while Tatsuya is here."

Hatake Sakumo smiled in agreement, his expression one of quiet pride.

Before anyone could respond, Shiranui Genma, the referee, stepped to the center of the lower court and loudly announced, "Let the final round begin!"

First Round: Uzumaki Naruto VS Hyūga Hinata!

"Oh~ is it little Hinata-chan?" Terumi Mei's voice was filled with a spark of interest as she sat up straight, her usual relaxed demeanor momentarily replaced by excitement. Her gaze locked onto the battlefield below.

"I want to see the strength of Hokage-sama's son," Rasa mused, his eyes briefly flicking toward Namikaze Minato.

Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage, glanced at Minato from the corner of his eye. "Heh, I won't let Master Kazekage down," Minato commented, a hint of mischief in his voice.

Minato sighed softly, recalling the grueling month of "training" his son. "Naruto, if you lose... you know what will happen, right?" he muttered under his breath, the weight of his words clear.

In the stands, Kushina, sitting with a fierce expression, clasped her hands together tightly. "Naruto!" she cried, her voice filled with urgency. "Don't lose!"

Naruto froze, a chill running down his spine at the sound of his mother's warning. He clenched his fists, his resolve hardening. Never lose, he thought fiercely.

Meanwhile, Hinata, standing on the opposite side, scanned the audience, her eyes searching for someone. When her gaze landed on a figure walking slowly from the entrance, her face lit up with a mixture of surprise and excitement. She tightened her fist, a surge of determination flooding her chest. Never lose, she thought, the same resolve echoing in her heart.

...

...

"Start!"

Unexpectedly, Genma raised his hand, then waved it down a second later, signaling the start of the match.

"Hinata, I won't show mercy!" Naruto called out, his voice full of determination.

He pressed both his index and middle fingers together, forming a cross.

Hinata, like Sasuke, was one of the top students, but unlike Sasuke, who often acted like the literal god walking on earth, Hinata's presence was much less imposing. Honestly, Naruto didn't take her too seriously.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

In a flash, more than twenty Shadow Clones exploded into existence, each rushing towards Hinata.

"Is he using the multiple Shadow Clone technique from Forbidden Technique level right from the start?" several Konoha Jonin Shinobi whispered among themselves.

Hinata, undeterred by the onslaught of clones, took a deep breath and smoothly entered the starting stance for her Gentle Fist style.

To the spectators, her movements were fluid and graceful, like flowing water. With pinpoint accuracy, she struck at the acupoints of the clones, sending them collapsing one by one in a cloud of smoke.

"Is that little girl the strongest from Konoha?!" Temari, from the player's stands, gripped the iron bars in disbelief.

In addition to receiving a bye in the second exam, most of the shinobi hadn't seen Hinata's true strength. And to be honest, her demeanor didn't give off the air of a powerhouse. She looked like someone who could cry for hours with just one punch.

But then—

"The real one… it's there!" Hinata's eyes flashed as the veins around her temples bulged, and she locked onto the second Naruto clone from the left.

With a swift movement, she washed through the clone like water flowing over a rock.

"Eight Trigrams Palm!" she shouted, her fist connecting with precision.

Naruto's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't expected her to counter so quickly.

"It's over," Kurenai, Hinata's guiding Jōnin, said with a confident smile, watching the scene unfold.

"Not necessarily," Kakashi chuckled, a playful glint in his eye.

Bang!

The next moment, Naruto, who had been blasted back, suddenly turned into a whirlwind and dispersed into nothingness.

Hinata's eyes widened in shock. "Wind Style Clone?!" she exclaimed.

Naruto had infused wind chakra into his Shadow Clones, allowing them to absorb more damage and withstand greater shock. The clones, indistinguishable from the original even to advanced dojutsu like the Sharingan or Byakugan, were a masterful tactic.

"I won!!" the real Naruto yelled triumphantly from behind, leaping to a spot just out of Hinata's line of sight.

"Alright, Naruto wins!" Haruno Sakura cheered, raising her arms in victory.

Sasuke, sitting in the stands, allowed a brief smile to flash across his face, a hint of approval.

Tatsuya, watching from the sidelines, smiled faintly. "You underestimated Hinata."

---

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