Naruto: Lost to Hinata on Purpose, and Now Everything's a Mess Chapter 79 79 : Terrible Momentum, Instant Suppression

Neji naturally didn't believe it, but he didn't press further—because the issue had already been resolved.

Riku hadn't gotten involved at all. He simply stood to the side and watched.

He didn't step in until everything was settled.

Honestly, he could've sent a Shadow Clone to handle sothing like this. But Riku found it more interesting to observe firsthand.

When they reached the third floor, just before entering the exam room, Kakashi was already waiting outside the door for them.

Sasuke and Naruto froze when they saw him.

"Kakashi-sensei?"

Riku walked up behind them, glanced at Kakashi, and smiled.

Kakashi returned the smile. "You're a guaranteed Chūnin this year. But Sasuke and Naruto… you still have so work to do."

Sasuke and Naruto both looked baffled.

Naruto asked, "Huh? What do you an, Kakashi-sensei? Why is Riku already guaranteed a promotion? Is this so kind of secret deal?"

In his head, Naruto imdiately conjured up a wild scenario full of shady behind-the-scenes manipulation.

Kakashi explained calmly, "The Third Hokage already approved Riku's promotion to Chūnin because of the S-rank mission he completed not long ago. But even without that, do you really think anyone in this exam could beat Riku?"

That's when it hit both Sasuke and Naruto. They ntally ran through all the examinees they knew would be participating.

Gaara? Neji? Lee?

None of them, they realized, would stand a chance against Riku—who had already taken down a Jōnin.

A slow wave of envy spread across their faces as they looked at Riku.

Sasuke tried to hide it, but the envy was definitely there.

Sakura, however, looked genuinely happy. "Riku's getting promoted straight to Chūnin? I'm so jealous!"

Her feelings toward Riku were complicated.

She clearly liked Sasuke—that much was obvious. But when it ca to Riku… she didn't understand why, but she had a good impression of him. Still, there was a kind of distance there. A strange one.

Stranger still, despite seeming more approachable than Sasuke, Riku actually felt farther away from everyone.

Even so, Sakura was still happy for him.

Naruto and Sasuke both clenched their fists, fire in their eyes. "We've got to pass this exam and beco Chūnin too!"

Riku glanced at Kakashi with mild exasperation. He knew what Kakashi was doing—using him as motivation.

Kakashi had deliberately set him up as a rival figure for Sasuke and Naruto, a goal to surpass.

But Riku didn't particularly mind.

After a bit more conversation, Kakashi nodded toward the classroom. "Go on in."

As they entered, Guy appeared beside Kakashi and said, "You're really letting them take this exam? Riku's not a problem, but I'm not sure Sasuke and Naruto are ready."

Guy and Kakashi had a good relationship, and he didn't want to see Kakashi make a bad call.

Kakashi paused thoughtfully. "I believe in them. Maybe my students will be the ones who make Chūnin this ti—what about yours?"

Guy, who had intended to offer a serious warning, was montarily stunned. "You're that confident? I've been training my team for over a year. I know their strength better than anyone."

"And Neji… Neji was the first to graduate. He's a Hyuga prodigy, and the strongest of his team."

Kakashi nodded. "True. He's impressive. But he has a flaw you can't fix."

That flaw, of course, was that Neji belonged to the Hyuga clan's branch family. He might have the talent, but he wasn't allowed to shine.

His potential had already been capped.

If Neji had been from the main family, Kakashi would've rated him even higher than Sasuke.

But fate had placed Neji in the branch house.

Guy went quiet. He was always positive, but when it ca to this, even he couldn't do anything.

"If sothing happens during the exam… you'll regret it, won't you?"

Kakashi smiled faintly. "Life isn't smooth sailing. If they fail, it just ans they weren't ready to be Chūnin yet."

"But trust —each one of them is already close to that level."

Truth be told, Chūnin vary wildly in strength.

Guy sighed. "If sothing really happens, don't say I didn't warn you."

Kakashi said nothing more and turned his attention toward the examination room.

anwhile, Naruto opened the door and stepped inside.

The mont they entered, they were hit by the pressure of a packed room full of Genin from various villages.

Naruto froze, the sheer tension in the air pressing down on him.

It was the first ti he'd been in such an intense situation.

Even Sakura shifted uncomfortably under the weight of the atmosphere.

Sasuke managed to stay calm.

Riku walked in behind the three of them, his gaze sweeping across the room.

The oppressive aura didn't faze him at all.

The other ninja stared at Riku and the rest of Team 7 with openly hostile expressions.

Several Genin from other villages even released their own chakra to exert pressure on them.

Sasuke, standing at the front, felt it imdiately—sweat began to bead on his forehead.

But in the next mont, Riku's presence exploded outward.

He released a wave of killing intent that swallowed the entire room.

Every other aura in the room was instantly crushed.

The oppressive force weighed down on every Genin present, leaving many of them breathless.

"Who the hell is that guy? That's not a Genin's chakra. Even the Jōnin leading the teams don't feel this scary…"

Whispers broke out across the room.

Riku's aura had overwheld them all.

Sitting in the crowd, Gaara's eyes lit up.

"How interesting," he whispered, trembling—but not in fear. "He's the one. I have to kill him. Killing him will be so much more satisfying…"

Gaara's whole body shuddered with excitent.

The rest of the Genin, however, trembled out of pure fear.

Yakushi Kabuto narrowed his eyes behind his glasses.

"So that's the infamous Riku… No wonder Lord Orochimaru's interested in this year's batch. That level of aura… it could match Orochimaru-sama's killing intent."

He had so intel on Riku—at least what Konoha's Jōnin-level ninjas knew.

But even with limited knowledge, Kabuto could tell that Riku wasn't what he appeared to be.

His strength was at least on par with a full-fledged Jōnin.

And now, this monster of a Genin had entered the Chūnin Exams.

For the others, it would be a complete massacre.

Even Neji and Lee, seated off to the side, felt the pressure.

Neji's eyes narrowed.

That was the first ti he'd ever felt such a powerful aura.

Riku's chakra wasn't just stronger than his—it was leagues above.

He wasn't just beyond Chūnin level.

He was sothing else entirely.

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