Starts In Konoha: Unlocking Shadow Clone

Seeing the scene unfold before him, Naruto was completely dumbfounded.

'Is this the Jacques Ze Whipper's unique skill? No, Sasuke's technique even went beyond! After all, he had just performed a full Lightning Sixty-Four Whips!'

Naruto had been eagerly awaiting Neji's new technique, but in the end, it was Sasuke's innovation that shocked him the most.

'My goodness, this is outrageous!'

Zzztt!

Despite the power boost from the Cursed Seal, Sasuke's Chakra Reserve was drained after unleashing several powerful techniques. The lightning whips faded, and the Cursed Seal receded back to his neck.

But, none of that mattered anymore.

At this moment, Neji lay unconscious, charred from head to toe after enduring Sasuke's Lightning Whips.

"First match, winner, Uchiha Sasuke!"

As Hayate announced the victor, the audience erupted in thunderous applause.

"Is this the Chunin Exams? It's so exciting!"

"No, this was a clash between two geniuses! They'll surely become legends in the Shinobi World in the future!"

"That was the most exhilarating match in years… absolutely unbeatable!"

"…"

Even the spectators just behind Naruto were engaged in lively discussions, their faces flushed with excitement, echoing the intensity felt across the entire stadium.

Of course, Naruto did not complain about the others, as he was also fired up by the spectacle.

This battle would undoubtedly go down in the annals of the Chunin Exams.

No matter how they look at it, this wasn't something any two Genin should have been able to pull off. Most people wouldn't object if someone said this looked like a duel between two Jonin.

However, Naruto noticed Hinata's body was trembling and her little face was pale.

He couldn't help but ask with concern, "Hinata, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Hinata replied, pressing her lips together and shaking her head.

"Ah!"

Kiba seemed to have thought of something and said, "Hinata, don't worry. You are strong enough. Just fight with confidence, and you'll be fine."

Hearing this, Naruto suddenly understood.

'The next matchup is between Hinata and a Shinobi from Kusagakure, no wonder Hinata is so nervous.'

Knowing the reason, he glanced over at Orochimaru, who was disguised as a Kusagakure's Shinobi, and shook his head slightly.

Orochimaru immediately understood what he meant and whispered a few words to the Kusagakure's Shinobi next to him. Then, the Kusagakure's Shinobi walked to the edge of the arena and called down to Hayate below, "For the second round, I forfeit!"

"Forfeit? Very well, let's move on to the third round."

Hayate watched Neji and Sasuke being carried away by the medical team and continued, "The third round: Yamanaka Ino versus Kusano Hito. Come down and prepare!"

"Hinata sure is lucky to have her opponent forfeit. If only I could get an easy win too."

Ino said, sighing as she made her way down to the arena.

Hearing this, Hinata smiled awkwardly.

Naruto reassured her, "Luck is a part of strength too. Since your opponent forfeited, focus on preparing for the next round. All the first matches will probably finish in an hour, and Sasuke's injuries are serious. He'll need some time to recover. Use this as your chance."

"Yes, Naruto-kun, I'll do my best."

Hinata replied, nodding resolutely.

Seeing her determination, Naruto just smiled and said nothing more.

It's a good thing that Hinata has fighting spirit and can muster up courage, but how could Naruto let Hinata get hurt?

Meanwhile, the match between Kusano Hito and Ino lacked any particular excitement. To Naruto, it didn't matter who won, as it had no effect on him whatsoever.

Leaving the stands, Naruto made his way to the medical room. As he entered, he saw Sasuke and Neji lying in their hospital beds.

"Oh, awake already? Not bad."

Naruto teased.

"I almost died." Neji said calmly, "I didn't expect Sasuke to be hiding so much strength. I lost fair and square this time."

"Of course. But you're impressive too. That ability to attack from a distance… I wouldn't even know where to start trying to replicate it. Give it some time, and I might not even be able to defeat you."

Sasuke tried to remain humble, but he couldn't hide the pride in his eyes.

However, just as he was about to grin, the sudden pain of his injuries pulled him back, forcing him to straighten his face and keep calm.

"lright, enough mutual admiration. You both need to rest up. Sasuke, just forfeit the next match." Naruto said, waving his hand dismissively.

Sasuke looked puzzled, "Forfeit? Why? I'll have recovered quite a bit by the next round."

Naruto explained, "You've already proven your strength. Don't forget, the point of entering this match was for you to gain experience, not necessarily to win the title. Both you and I are in Group A, and if you face me, you won't win anyway."

However, Sasuke insisted, "But, before I face you, my next opponent will be the winner of the second match in round two. I want to try one more time."

"No need for that. The second-round winner is Hinata, and she's no match for you. In fact, you could probably defeat her in an instant. You might as well take this chance to take a good rest."

After hearing Naruto's explanation, Sasuke stopped arguing.

After all, since the match had no real challenge, he was content to sit it out.

But Neji, despite his own pain, suddenly sat up with a stern expression and declared, "Sasuke, you have to fight!"

"Why?" Sasuke asked in confusion.

Neji said with a gloomy face, "Hinata, the Hyuga Clan's heiress, is not worthy of being a Chunin at all. Let her be a Genin for the rest of her life."

Even without the Caged Bird, Neji's resentment toward the Hyuga Clan's main family hadn't faded.

"It's settled. Sasuke will forfeit!"

Naruto said firmly. Then, turning to Neji, he continued, "Neji, it's time for you to let go of your hatred. Lie down and rest first. You will get the answer soon."

According to the original work, Naruto knew that Hiashi would soon arrive with a letter from Neji's father, which would help Neji find closure.

Naruto wasn't doing this to harm Neji. Rather, he wanted him to be free from his bitterness. Hatred can indeed drive strength, but it also breeds excesses. Letting go of this burden would benefit Neji's growth.

Similarly, Naruto's strong desire to protect Hinata might appear detrimental to her development, like sheltering her in a greenhouse. But in his view, it was essential.

Excluding the factors in the original work, Naruto genuinely cared for Hinata and didn't want to see her face any danger.

As a man, he felt it was his duty to protect the girl he loves. While he couldn't shield her forever, he would do everything in his power to keep her safe while he could.

Was sheltering her really stunting her growth? Would it make her a fragile flower?

These assumptions, Naruto believed, missed the mark entirely.

Victory or defeat wouldn't hold much value for Hinata's growth right now. Hinata needed to find her own path out of her inner struggles, only then can she truly grow.

Naruto decided that he would take charge of this step himself!

Since he and Hinata were both in Group A, they were bound to meet sooner or later. When that time came, he believed he'd be able to reason with her.

In Naruto's opinion, the girl he cherished was someone he would protect with everything he had, someone he would guide and help grow. He didn't need anyone else's input, and no one else was allowed to do so!

Perhaps, this was Naruto's own form of obsession.