Inoichi Yamanaka rolled up his sleeves and instantly activated 'Sage Mode'.
However, when he turned his head to look at Naruto, he quietly lowered his sleeves again.
He couldn't fight now... ["The team assignments cannot be changed for the time being. Don't make things too difficult for your father."]
[Feeling the weight coming from behind him, Naruto said softly.]
[Hearing this, Ino immediately pouted her small mouth.]
["Hmph!"]
["Tenten always talks about how amazing and capable she is."]
["But when I just asked if she could help pull some strings, she either claimed to be sick or was out on a mission. It's so annoying~"]
["Hey, let's go, let's go. We'll go inside first." Ino got off Naruto's back, then naturally hooked her arm around his and walked in.]
[Being so eager, it was obvious she wanted to monopolize a certain blonde.]
["Aren't we waiting for Hinata?" Naruto chuckled.]
["Uh... fine." Ino's smile froze, but she eventually stopped.]
[Mere Sakura was not an opponent, but Hinata was different.]
[Don't let that cute little girl fool you; a punch from her little fist could actually kill someone.]
["Sigh..."]
[Is the shelf life of a sweet little darling this short?]
[It hasn't been long, yet she's already "leaking" information.]
["Why are you sighing?"]
[Yamanaka Rino, standing beside Inoichi Yamanaka, chuckled.]
["It's nothing." Inoichi Yamanaka closed his eyes in distress.]
["Is that so?"]
["That's fine. Later, have Ino invite that boy over for dinner."]
[Huh?!!!]
[Inoichi Yamanaka whipped his head around, his face full of disbelief.]
[Wife, you are my wife!]
["Hehe~"]
[Yamanaka Rino covered her mouth and chuckled, "Alright, the child has grown up. You can't keep her at home forever, can you?"]
["How can that be? How could Inoichi Yamanaka's daughter not be wanted?!"]
[Seeing this, Yamanaka Rino's smile widened.]
[Subsequently, several other figures appeared in their line of sight.]
["That boy truly resembles Minato. He's even more popular than Minato was back then."]
["Whether our daughter can win is still a question."]
[Inoichi Yamanaka's eyes widened, and he immediately became anxious.]
[However, when he looked up, he saw two more girls standing next to Ino and Naruto.]
[He naturally knew Sakura, and the other one... those pure white eyes were enough to reveal her identity.]
[His wife's words... seemed to hold some truth.]
["Inoichi."]
[Nara Shikaku and Akimichi Choza walked over.]
[At the same time, Hyuga Hiashi, Inuzuka Tsume, and Shibi Aburame were following behind them.]
["Is everyone here?"]
["Let's go. We can talk more at the shop."]
[Hyuga Hiashi spoke up proactively.]
[Due to his daughter's changes, the unchanging seriousness on Hyuga Hiashi's face was gone.]
["Goodbye, Big Sister, you have to work hard~!" (referring to Hinata)]
[Little Hanabi waved her small hand at Hinata.]
["That works." The patriarchs of the major Ninja clans naturally had no objections.]
[That was a shop the Hyuga had just opened—no, rather, it was registered under Hinata's name.]
[But the investors were not just the Hyuga; the other Five Great Ninja Clans were involved too.]
[Besides being a restaurant where Hinata could eat whenever she was hungry, it was also the secret meeting place for the patriarchs of the Six Great Ninja Clans.]
[Inside the classroom.]
[Upon entering, they could see Sasuke, whose face was full of coldness.]
[No one paid attention to him; he could stay cold for as long as he wanted.]
Uchiha Sasuke: "..."
["I'm so sad... In the end, I still couldn't be assigned to the same team as Naruto."]
[Ino was still somewhat unwilling to give up.]
["It's okay, Ino. Newly graduated Genin aren't usually very busy, and they won't leave the Village. Maybe we'll even run into each other when searching for lost cats or dogs."]
[In contrast, Hinata wasn't so conflicted.]
["Being on the same team or not... is acceptable, but I can't accept growing further and further away from Naruto."]
["So, I have to work hard."]
[Hearing this, Ino immediately pulled Hinata into a hug.]
["Hinata, how can you be so cute and so sensible~"]
["Ah~"]
[Hinata was fundamentally still the same Hinata.]
[After playing around for a bit, her little cheeks immediately turned rosy red.]
[Naruto, caught between the two girls, felt a bit helpless.]
["The exam is about to start."]
["Okay~" x2]
[The two girls immediately quieted down.]
[Sakura, sitting behind them, couldn't stop smiling.]
[After specifically asking Shikamaru and confirming repeatedly that she had an eighty percent chance of being on the same team as Naruto.]
[Sakura became extremely generous.]
[It was originally her turn to sit next to Naruto for these two days.]
[But because of the confirmation, she generously gave the seat to Ino.]
["Students, the exam content is all material you've studied. Don't be nervous, just perform normally."]
["The sweat of your hard work will not let you down."]
[Iruka tried to help the students relax.]
[Then he picked up the roll call list.]
["The exam content is the Clone Technique, one of the Three Basic Jutsu."]
["Those whose names are called next, please come to the classroom next door."]
["Those who pass will be issued their Ninja forehead protectors immediately."]
["Additionally, you must gather in the classroom tomorrow morning, when the team assignments will be announced."]
[With that, Iruka called out a name and sent one person away.]
[The exam time wasn't long.]
[Before long, more than half the people had already gone out once.]
[Whether happy or troubled.]
[Soon after.]
[Only a few people were left in the class who hadn't gone yet, and Naruto was among them.]
[Naruto's heart sank.]
[Could it be that the thing he was worried about was still going to happen?]
[Suddenly, Naruto noticed a gaze.]
[Following his senses, he glanced over.]
[It turned out to be Sasuke.]
[That boy's face still gave him the urge to flatten it with a punch.]
["Naruto, it's your turn."]
[Just then, Teacher Iruka arrived.]
[Naruto secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, it wasn't the worst possible outcome.]
[He then stood up and headed over.]
["Don't be nervous." As they were about to enter the next classroom, Iruka looked at the earnest child who had grown tall enough to be level with his shoulder, and he couldn't help but feel momentarily distracted.]
["Mhm."]
[Naruto nodded slightly.]
[Iruka's lips curled into a slight smile.]
[What was he worrying about unnecessarily?]
[If even Naruto couldn't pass, then no one in the entire grade would be able to pass.]
["Naruto, are you ready?"]
["If you're ready, just start."]
[The examiner this time was naturally the familiar Mizuki.]
[Iruka nodded, signaling Naruto to begin.]
[Click—Just then, the classroom door was opened.]
[Iruka immediately frowned. At a time like this, who dared to interrupt the exam?!]
[However, the next second, Iruka froze. Mizuki did too.]
[They looked at Naruto standing outside the door.]
[Bang—Inside the classroom, the Shadow Clone automatically dispersed.]
[Mizuki's heart sank, but his expression remained unchanged.]
Tenten: "Oh no, if this happens... won't Black-framed Naruto-kun fail to get the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique from the scroll of seals?!"
Orochimaru: "No need to worry. Black-framed Naruto-kun has already gained Teacher Sarutobi's trust. I believe Teacher Sarutobi won't waste such an excellent opportunity to bestow a favor."
Orochimaru: "In fact... in my opinion, Teacher Sarutobi will lift the restrictions on Naruto soon."
Orochimaru: "Just like me back then, the Second Hokage's scroll of seals can be viewed freely."
[When did he do that?]
[Iruka was stunned for a moment. Then, looking at the young man standing outside the door, he slowly stood up.]
["Congratulations, Naruto."]
[Iruka didn't realize that his eyes had already become slightly red.]
[He took out the forehead protector and personally helped Naruto tie it on.]
["Starting today, you are a true Konoha Ninja."]