Naruto :Madam, You Don’t Want Anything To Happen To Sasuke, Right?

After the second round of the Chunin Exam—the Forest of Death—ended, under Sarutobi Hiruzen's directive, Konoha visibly intensified its search for Orochimaru and bolstered its village defenses.

Whether the efforts would bear fruit or not, or whether the culprit would even be caught, at the very least it conveyed a strong sense of urgency and vigilance. It reassured many of the more anxious villagers and foreign guests.

And in that sense, it worked—at least a little.

Many shinobi began to relax. With tensions slightly eased, they started to prepare in earnest for the third round of the Chunin Exam.

The rules for the third round were simple: one-on-one matches testing the individual combat skills of each participant.

All genin who passed the second round would be randomly grouped into pairs and face off in duels. The winner would advance, the loser eliminated.

Compared to the mental games of the first round and the survival brutality of the second, this round promised real fireworks.

Perhaps this was what most people expected from the Chunin Exams all along—flashy combat, intense rivalries, the thrill of watching prodigies clash. This was where young shinobi could truly shine before the eyes of the entire ninja world.

Spectators had already begun filling the arena well before the matches began.

Regardless of rank or village affiliation, anticipation ran high among both ninja and civilians. Everyone was eager for the spectacle to begin.

Uchiha Haru arrived alongside Kimimaro, Karin Uzumaki, and Chojuro. Although Haru had little personal interest in watching children fight—his current strength rendered these matches nearly trivial to him—there were reasons he chose to attend.

After all, Haru was a time traveler. The Chunin Exams were historically significant—a stage where many legendary scenes had played out.

Missing it would be unthinkable.

Moreover, Kimimaro, Chojuro, and Karin could be considered his disciples in all but name. Since they were participating, it only made sense for him to show up as well.

When they arrived at the arena, the crowd had already thickened.

Of course, it was far smaller than during the first round. After all, only a small number of genin had survived both earlier rounds. These remaining few were the best of their generation—the future of their villages.

"Haru!"

As soon as he stepped into view, Haru heard a familiar voice call out.

It was Might Guy, approaching with three genin in tow.

One of them looked unmistakably like a miniature version of Guy himself—green jumpsuit, bowl-cut hair, thick eyebrows. Anyone would think he was Guy's son.

But considering Guy wasn't married, it might be more accurate to call him a spiritual successor.

Needless to say, this was Rock Lee.

Beside him stood a serious-looking boy with pale lavender eyes—the Byakugan. His posture and expression oozed arrogance. This was Hyuga Neji, a prodigy of Konoha's Hyuga branch family.

The third was a girl dressed in a Chinese-style outfit, her hair tied in twin buns. Despite her simple appearance, she radiated a graceful, distinctive charm.

That was Tenten.

Her looks were unremarkable in terms of shinobi flashiness, but she was far from plain. Her slightly tan skin complemented her soft features. With large, expressive eyes and refined features, she was undeniably attractive—one of those girls you could tell had been beautiful even as a child.

Guy grinned as he brought his students over.

"Let me introduce you," Guy said with gusto. "This is your teacher's teacher, my eternal rival, and the man I will chase to the end of my life!"

"Uchiha Haru!"

Guy threw his arm around Haru's shoulders without hesitation, drawing his students closer with a wide grin.

Despite Haru's fearsome reputation—one that caused many who knew the Uchiha name to avoid him—Guy seemed oblivious. Or maybe he just didn't care.

It was hard to tell whether he was simply thick-skinned or genuinely that earnest.

Uchiha Haru...

Even though he'd left Konoha a few years ago and made a name for himself across the ninja world, to the newer generation—especially those born after the Uchiha's departure—his name was more myth than memory.

Rock Lee, Tenten, and Neji's expressions shifted slightly when they heard it.

Ever since the Uchiha clan left the village, their name had become a taboo in Konoha. Few dared mention them. Most who had known the clan tried to erase them from memory. And the younger generation grew up knowing little more than rumors.

They knew that the Uchiha had once been a proud clan of Konoha—and that one day, they vanished.

No one knew why.

No one dared to ask.

But because of their connection to Might Guy, Lee, Tenten, and Neji had heard more than most.

Even so, Guy rarely discussed details. He wasn't reckless. He knew what could be said and what couldn't.

But one thing never changed in Guy's heart: Uchiha Haru was his friend, his rival, and a shinobi he deeply respected.

This belief had been passed on to his students.

Guy had spoken Haru's name to them countless times. So while they lacked full knowledge, the name "Uchiha Haru" held weight in their minds.

For Lee and Tenten, Guy had always been their only source of information. And he didn't share everything.

Neji, however, had once heard something else—an incident involving the Uchiha and the Hyuga clan. Something passed to him by his late father, Hizashi.

And now, seeing Haru in person, that memory stirred.

"Sensei," Neji said, turning to Guy, "is this the opponent you said was even stronger than Kakashi?"

Seeing the man their teacher often talked about, Rock Lee was visibly excited. He stepped forward, bowed deeply, and said, " Haru-Senpai, I'm Rock Lee, a disciple of Guy-sensei. Please guide me!"

Seeing his student so respectful, Might Guy stepped beside Lee, threw an arm around him, and laughed as he introduced him. "Haru! This is one of my proudest students! He's incredibly strong!"

"If your disciples lose to mine in the Chunin Exams, don't feel too bad," he added with a booming laugh, entirely unbothered by how over-the-top it sounded.

Kimimaro, Karin, and Chojuro exchanged glances, clearly annoyed. They hadn't even said anything and were already being provoked. But despite their irritation, they were speechless.

Was this odd-looking, overly enthusiastic man really their teacher Uchiha Haru's friend?

Too strange. This was… too strange.

How could someone as composed and mysterious as their teacher have such an eccentric friend?

Even Tenten and Neji, standing behind Lee, felt second-hand embarrassment creeping up. They avoided eye contact, pretending not to notice Guy's antics.

Neji stepped forward and looked directly at Haru. " Haru Senpai," he began solemnly, "I once heard my father speak of you."

"He said you helped our Hyuga clan once. That we owe you a great debt."

"I, have come today to formally thank you."

With those words, he bowed low to Haru in a rare display of humility.

His father had told him the matter was to be kept secret — that no outsiders should know. But today, in this moment, there were no outsiders here.

Even though Neji was still young, he understood what it meant to repay a debt. And now, the man who had aided his clan stood before him. He couldn't pretend he hadn't heard those stories.

"But…"

Neji straightened up, and his tone shifted — the humility replaced with a sharp edge of pride.

"In the upcoming Chunin Exams, if I face any shinobi from the Hidden Mist, I will not hold back."

"I hope Haru-sama will understand."

Uchiha Haru looked at Neji, his expression calm and unreadable.

The fearlessness of youth… it was both admirable and reckless.

Behind Haru, Kimimaro, Karin, and Chojuro stepped forward the moment they heard Neji's declaration.

"We won't go easy on you either, even if you're our teacher's friend's student," Kimimaro said coldly.

"When the time comes, we'll fight with everything we've got," added Chojuro, adjusting his sword.

Karin crossed her arms, smirking, "I hope you're ready."

Rock Lee and Tenten stepped up behind Neji in unison.

Now, three from the Hidden Mist Village and three from Konoha stood facing each other.

They were young — still in the early stages of their shinobi paths — but in that moment, the tension between them was as palpable as any battlefield standoff.

Their chakra, their presence… already outclassed many ordinary genin.

Neji's pale Byakugan eyes passed over the trio in front of him. His gaze lingered briefly on Kimimaro.

He could see clearly — these three weren't weak.

"Alright," he said with a nod. "I acknowledge you. You're worthy opponents."

"I'm looking forward to our match."

Kimimaro gave a rare smile. "So am I."

Off to the side, Might Guy grinned with pride, flashing his gleaming white teeth.

"Haru! I might never be able to catch up to you…"

"But my disciples will never lose to yours!"

Guy wasn't someone who backed down, no matter who he was up against. That was just how he was wired.

But in front of Uchiha Haru, he was willing to admit that he might never bridge the gap between them.

That moment had come during their last spar, when Guy had opened the Seventh Gate of the Eight Gates Technique — unleashing all his power — and Haru had blocked it effortlessly.

Since then, he'd known.

It wasn't shameful to admit someone was stronger.

What was shameful was being too afraid to acknowledge it.

Still, there was no jealousy in his heart.

After all, Uchiha Haru was his friend — the lifelong rival he aspired to surpass.

"Alright then!" Haru said with a faint smile. "But don't underestimate my students either. They're not easy to defeat."

Might Guy's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. "Then let's wait and see!"

He grinned again, his voice booming through the field. Then he suddenly turned, pointing past Haru.

"Hey! Kurenai! Asuma! Come here!"

"Haru's here!"

Haru turned around and saw Kurenai Yuhi and Sarutobi Asuma walking into the Chunin Exam venue with their own teams.

At the sound of Guy's voice, both of them looked over instinctively and spotted Haru.

.

------------------

This Week Bonus Chapter - 200 Power stones

2nd Bonus Chapter - 400 Power Stones

3rd Bonus Chapter - 600 Power Stones

-------------

📢 Support the Novel & Read Ahead!

Love the story and can't wait to see what happens next?

Join my Patreon and get access to 50+ early chapters before anyone else! 🔥

https://www.patreon.com/UK21

Thank you for reading, and I truly appreciate your support! 💖

---------