I looked at the scene.
Kankuro was groaning on the ground with Hinata pinned on top of him by puppet strings. Temari was dangling upside down in a golden bondage chain. Konohamaru was standing there with his mouth open.
And then, the air grew cold.
"Kankuro. Temari."
Gaara spoke.
He stood a few feet away. The sand in his gourd began to swirl out. His eyes were wide, black rings surrounding teal irises. He looked at his siblings, defeated by a clumsy girl and a golden chain.
"You are embarrassing the village," Gaara said. His voice was like grinding stones.
"Gaara!" Kankuro wheezed, trying to push Hinata off but failing because the strings were too tight. "Help me!"
"Shut up," Gaara said.
He raised his hand. The sand surged toward me.
("Okay, this is bad,") I thought. ("I can't fight Gaara yet. Not without Gamabunta.")
"Sasuke!" A voice called out.
Wait, Sasuke wasn't here. But Sakura was running toward us, having apparently followed.
And then, a rock flew through the air, hitting Gaara’s hand.
Sasuke Uchiha landed on a tree branch above us. He was tossing another rock in his hand.
"You guys are making a lot of noise," Sasuke said coolly. Then he looked at the scene. He blinked.
"Naruto," Sasuke said slowly. "Why is that girl tied up in golden chains? And why is Hinata wrestling that guy?"
"It is a tactical strategy!" I yelled, sweating. "Don't ask questions!"
Gaara looked at Sasuke. The bloodlust in his eyes flared. "Mother... wants your blood."
"Gaara, stop!" Temari yelled from her upside-down position. "We are here for the exams! We can't cause a scene!"
Gaara hesitated. He looked at Sasuke, then at me. The sand slowly retreated into his gourd.
"Fine," Gaara whispered. "We will settle this in the exams."
He turned around. "Kankuro. Temari. Let's go."
"I can't move!" Kankuro yelled.
I sighed. "System, release the chain."
The golden chain dissolved into particles of light. Temari fell to the ground, landing on her butt. She scrambled up, fixing her clothes, glaring at me with a mix of hatred and... was that a blush?
"You..." Temari pointed at me. "I will remember this. No one humiliates Temari of the Sand!"
I walked over to Hinata and pulled out a kunai to cut Kankuro’s strings.
"Sorry about that," I said to Kankuro as I freed Hinata. "Maybe maintain your equipment better next time."
Kankuro scrambled up, his face paint smeared. He looked terrified of Hinata. "She... she is heavy!"
"She is muscle!" I defended her.
The three Sand Siblings walked away. Temari looked back once, her eyes lingering on me before she huffed and turned away.
"System Notification," the voice said. "Temari Status Updated: 'Interested/Vengeful'. Rito Effect probability increased by thirty percent."
I checked my balance as Sasuke jumped down to join us.
Previous Balance: 150. Kankuro Event: +1,200. Total Shy Points: 1,350.
"You are a weird guy, Naruto," Sasuke said, looking at where the chain had been. "Since when do you have a Kekkei Genkai?"
"It is not a Kekkei Genkai," I said mysteriously. "It is a secret technique. I will tell you about it later."
Konohamaru ran up and hugged my leg. "Boss! That was awesome! You tied up the scary lady and Hinata-neechan beat up the makeup guy!"
"Yeah, Konohamaru," I patted his head. "We are awesome."
"Are you okay, Hinata?" Sakura asked, checking her for injuries.
"I am fine," Hinata said, though she looked like she wanted to crawl into a hole. "I just... I fell again."
"You fell with style," I assured her.
"We need to get ready," Sasuke said, his expression serious. "Those guys... their chakra was strange. Especially the redhead. The Chunin Exams are going to be dangerous."
"I know," I said, clenching my fist. "But we are going to win."
("And I am going to make a fortune in Shy Points,") I added silently.
"System," I thought. ("I have 1,350 points. Is there a passive skill to help me control the chain better? I don't want to accidentally bind the proctor.")
"You can purchase 'Chain Manipulation: Level 1' for 1,000 points," the System offered. "It allows you to target limbs specifically rather than full-body bondage."
("Buy it. Immediately.")
"Processed. Remaining Balance: 350 Points."
I felt the knowledge settle in. I could control the snake now.
As we walked away, I looked at the Hokage faces. The exams were starting. Orochimaru was coming. And I was going to turn his invasion into a slapstick comedy if it was the last thing I did.
The deadline for the Chunin Exam application was three o'clock in the afternoon. Naturally, Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno were waiting by the Academy entrance at two-thirty, looking impatient.
I walked up the path, my hands behind my head, trying to look casual. Inside, my stomach was doing backflips. This was the arc where things got real. Orochimaru. The Forest of Death. Gaara’s sand coffin.
And walking beside me was my secret weapon: Hinata Hyuga.
Today, the "Summer Heat" patch seemed to have stabilized. Hinata was wearing a variation of yesterday's outfit—the mesh armor top and shorts—but she had added a long, translucent white coat over it. It gave her a ghostly, ethereal look, but the coat was made of such light material that it fluttered wildly in the slightest breeze, threatening to snag on literally anything.
"You are late, Naruto," Sasuke said, pushing off the wall. "And why are you walking like you have a heavy backpack on?"
I grimaced. The "Adamantine Chain" seal on my lower back was itching. It felt like carrying a coiled python under my skin.
"Just doing some resistance training," I lied. "Where is the registration room?"
"Room Three-Zero-One," Sakura said, checking the form. "Third floor."
We entered the Academy. The halls were packed with Genin from various villages. There were ninjas from the Hidden Rain, the Hidden Grass, and a few stoic-looking guys from the Hidden Waterfall. The air smelled of sweat, cheap hair gel, and teenage anxiety.
.....
...