Things we do for love

Chapter 31

The time for the genin examination was near.

Right now, teams from other villages have started to arrive, including some of the Second year genin teams from Konoha. All in all, only Konohamaru was a fresh genin. Rest, not so much.

However, instead of feeling nervous, Konohamaru was just... excited.

'What is this feeling? This is surreal!'

Yeah, he was high on adrenaline.

"I see you're ready," Naruto said with a toothy grin.

"YEP! I'm gonna show you how much I improved, boss sensei! Soon, I'll leave you in the dust!"

"Yeah, definitely. The day I Join Akatsuki might be closer," Naruto retorted.

"AND LOOK WHO'S THERE!" came a voice as a hand wrapped around his neck giving Naruto a noogie on the head.

"OUCH! STOP IT KUROTSUCHI!" Naruto whined while the said girl just grinned.

"Long time no see," she nonchalantly said while releasing him, while Naruto nodded.

"It was NOT good to see you," he muttered.

"Aww, look at you, all pouting. I guess not having that Hyuga girl around you makes you whiny," she said with a smug grin as Naruto growled.

"I see you're getting along with the opposing team's sensei, Naruto," said Hiruzen as he walked up to them with a cigar in his mouth.

"Ah, yeah. You can't blame me, old man. It's a competition between genins, not their senseis," he replied causing him to chuckle.

"I see, I see. While I would say that the Genin exam is also a competition between villages, you wouldn't really agree and you're a headache to argue against. I'd rather try to break the wall using my head than argue with you," Hiruzen said as Naruto's eyes twitched.

"Yeah, you know it's really easy to break a wall with your head. I just need to tell Tsunade baachan that you assisted Jiraiya sensei in his 'research'."

"AND I HEAR ASUMA CALLING ME! I will take my leave Lady Kurotsuchi," he said with a sweatdrop and a curt nod as Kurotsuchi tried to control her laughter.

"What's with 'Lady Kurotsuchi' thingy?"

"Ah, I thought you'd have heard. Old wart officially named me the next Tsuchikage," she said.

"OH YEAH! Congratulations on that. And just so you know, I'll rather die than call you 'Lady Kurotsuchi' or add 'Sama' to your name," Naruto said as she giggled.

"Right. Now, who's this cute genin behind you?" she asked as Konohamaru just awkwardly looked at the whole scene.

'Boss really knows his stuff. To blackmail jiji... he's much more cunning than I thought.'

"I am Konohamaru, Lady Kurotsuchi," Konohamaru said with a bow.

"Aww, you're so cute! No need to add 'Lady' or anything though, It's weird. It's fine to talk normally."

"Alright, Kurotsuchi san."

"Where's your team?" asked Naruto.

"Well... let's just say that we have a student who shares your addiction."

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In Iwa, when someone mentioned Konoha, the reaction would differ from place to place and person to person.

The older people who participated and lived in the time of war understood the underhanded tactics used in war, and they didn't hold any village responsible for anything. Though many would still hate Konoha for the sole reason of Yellow Flash.