#61 - Chapter 61: The visiting pharmacist Kabuto Sarutobi Hiruzen talks about the Chunin Exam

Naruto didn't stop Sasuke from leaving Konoha. He and Sasuke could be comrades on missions, or even friends, but they could never be father and son!

He had no obligation to worry about Sasuke's future life choices.

Even as a friend, he should respect Sasuke's own choices.

"I understand," Naruto said to Kakashi, though in his heart he respected Sasuke's choice of fate even more, but on the surface, he agreed.

Back in the room,

Naruto saw Sakura looking worriedly at Sasuke, but she didn't dare to speak, seemingly having been scolded by Sasuke.

"Naruto!"

Seeing Naruto return, Sakura was first delighted, then deliberately lowered her voice and said, "Naruto, what did Kakashi-sensei say to you?"

"Nothing much, just told me to pay more attention to Sasuke's situation during this time."

Naruto said perfunctorily, "Sasuke is fine, don't worry, go get some rest."

"That's good~" Sakura breathed a sigh of relief, and the expression she gave Sasuke softened.

Seeing this, Naruto shook his head, not wanting to interfere too much. Just as he was about to go to bed to rest, there was a knock on their room door.

"May I come in?"

Naruto turned his head to look and found that the visitor was Kabuto Yakushi!

"Kabuto-senpai? What are you doing here?" Sakura asked in surprise when she saw Kabuto Yakushi.

Kabuto Yakushi pushed his glasses up, revealing a gentle smile, "I just passed the exam and live next door to you, so I came to visit. I didn't expect it to be you guys!"

"Really? What a coincidence!"

Sakura said innocently, "Come in and sit down, Kabuto-senpai!"

"Then I won't be polite." Kabuto Yakushi smiled slightly and walked in, his eyes first glanced imperceptibly at Sasuke lying on the bed, and then looked at Naruto, "It's nice to see you again, Naruto."

Naruto glanced at Kabuto Yakushi, ignoring him.

He knew what Kabuto Yakushi's purpose was, nothing more than collecting information about Sasuke... and possibly about himself.

Naruto hadn't forgotten that Orochimaru wanted to bite him.

Not being acknowledged by Naruto, Kabuto Yakushi didn't feel embarrassed, and chatted with Sakura about the Chunin Exam.

While chatting, he seemed to notice the scar on Sasuke's neck and deliberately mentioned, "This scar is... it looks like you suffered a very serious injury!"

"It's nothing." Sasuke covered his neck, blocking the wound, and said coldly.

"I happen to know some medical ninjutsu, do you need me to take a look?" Kabuto Yakushi asked.

"Kabuto-senpai, you also know medical ninjutsu?" Sakura asked in surprise.

"Yes, I grew up in an orphanage and learned from our director," Kabuto Yakushi said with a smile.

Hearing that Kabuto Yakushi was an orphan, Sasuke glanced at Kabuto Yakushi, but did not agree to Kabuto Yakushi's offer.

Seeing this, Kabuto Yakushi could only pretend that he hadn't said anything, and after chatting with Sakura for a while, he left.

"Kabuto-senpai is such a kind person~" Sakura said, looking at Kabuto Yakushi's back.

The next day, Kabuto Yakushi came to visit again.

However, because Sasuke had gone to train, he just said a few words and left.

On the third day, Kabuto Yakushi came again, but Sasuke was still not there, so he left again.

Until the fourth day... the exam officially ended at 2:30 PM that day.

But Kabuto Yakushi still came for a while, which made Sakura couldn't help but suspect him.

"Naruto."

"Hmm?"

"I suspect that this Kabuto-senpai has a problem!"

Naruto rolled his eyes. You finally figured it out?

"What's the problem?" Naruto cooperated.

"I noticed that every time Sasuke is here, this Kabuto-senpai stays in our room for a long time! But once Sasuke is not here, Kabuto-senpai leaves quickly!"

Sakura analyzed seriously, "I suspect... Kabuto-senpai likes Sasuke?!"

"......"

Naruto turned over and opened a Goro Goro no Mi fan fiction to read.

Instead of listening to Sakura's nonsense, it's better to read more books, maybe it can bring inspiration for developing Devil Fruits!

At 2:30 PM,

Naruto and his team were called to the first floor of the tower.

At this time, all the examinees who passed the second exam, Konoha Chunin, Jonin leaders from various countries, and the Third Hokage were gathered here!

Naruto noticed that there were a total of eighteen examinees who passed the second exam, and Team Shikamaru was not among them!

"Ino and the others aren't here..."

Sakura couldn't find Ino's figure and was a little worried.

Although the two of them usually quarreled, they cared about each other in everything except not giving way on the boys they liked!

"Congratulations on passing the second exam. Next, the Third Hokage will introduce the third exam!"

Anko Mitarashi wasn't as good at talking as Ibiki Morino.

The end is the end, and the rest has nothing to do with her!

Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped forward and looked at the 18 examinees who passed the exam and said, "Next, the third exam will begin. Before talking about the rules, it is necessary for me to explain one thing to you first."

"About the real purpose of this exam, and why so many allied countries are taking the exam together?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi lowered his hat a little and continued, "It is for the friendly coexistence between allied countries and to improve the level of ninjas. This is the real meaning. It would be troublesome if you misunderstood."

"Although this exam can be said to be a microcosm of the battle between allied countries..."

"Historically, the current allied countries are neighboring countries that used to be constantly at war. In order to avoid mutual destruction, they specifically chose this battleground. This is the origin of the Chunin Exam selection."

"Why do this? Isn't this exam for selecting Chunin?" an examinee asked.

"This exam does have the purpose of selecting Chunin... but it is also an exam that bears the prestige of the country!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi bit his pipe and said, "In the upcoming third exam, many feudal lords and well-known figures from various countries who entrust us with tasks will be present. They will personally watch your battles. If the strength difference is too great, strong countries will receive more commissions, and weak countries will receive fewer commissions!"

"Similarly, this is a process of demonstrating national strength, which plays a certain diplomatic role!"

Kiba Inuzuka couldn't help but say, "Then why should we fight to the death?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at Kiba and explained, "The strength of the country is the strength of the village, the strength of the village is the strength of the ninja, and the true strength of the ninja can only be shown in a life-and-death battle!"

"This exam is a stage to let others see, or show others, the ninja strength of your country! It is because it is an exam that risks your life that it has meaning!"

"Your predecessors all participated in this exam with dreams!"