The next day, Training Ground 23, Konoha.
Natsuki, dressed in casual clothes, arrived early. This was where he and Hinata had their dates, or rather, training sessions.
Compared to the grueling training of others, Natsuki lived comfortably. And every nap of his came with a girl-shaped pillow.
This further warmed the relationship between Natsuki and Hinata.
Taking advantage of the time before the finals, they came to the training ground every day.
Their main training goal these days was to help Hinata gain better control over the Tenseigan's gravitational powers.
After all, the Tenseigan's power had been fully displayed through Natsuki in the Forest of Death.
This made Hinata eager to catch up. Especially since it was Natsuki who had activated her Tenseigan in the first place.
Thus, she asked him for guidance.
Training Ground 23 was the most secluded in Konoha; rarely anyone came here to train. This benefited Natsuki and Hinata, as the Tenseigan's abilities were too conspicuous.
When Natsuki arrived, he found Hinata already waiting under a cherry blossom tree.
The girl, lost in thought, quietly watched the falling petals. It was as if she had melted into the beautiful scenery, appearing serene and natural.
It was a pity this wasn't a cultivation world; otherwise, it would have seemed like a moment of enlightenment, a moment of harmonising with nature.
Her cultivation level would have surely risen to a greater realm.
Natsuki quietly approached her and stood there for a full fifteen minutes before the girl came back to her senses.
She stopped gazing at the cherry blossoms and looked around.
"Natsu...Natsuki. When did you get here?"
"I've been here for ages. What were you thinking about? You looked so lost in thought!" Natsuki asked with a smile, gently hooking Hinata's nose.
"Ah? Umm...Um...nothing," Hinata replied, blushing.
She wanted to say she was thinking of him, but the words caught in her throat. She still lacked the courage to say it directly.
"Is that so? Then...how about we watch the cherry blossoms together today?" Natsuki stepped in front of Hinata, wrapping his arms around her waist.
He rested his chin on her head, pressing lightly.
This gesture made Hinata blush crimson, the color reaching her ears.
"Hinata, you're so cute."
His words made Hinata bury her face in Natsuki's chest like an ostrich.
After a moment, her small hands involuntarily wrapped around him, and the two embraced quietly.
The gentle breeze carried the falling cherry blossoms, swirling and dancing around them like a flowing river.
A while later, Hinata looked up and noticed the beautiful scene. She realized it must be Natsuki's doing.
"Is this also the Tenseigan's ability?" Hinata asked enviously. She couldn't achieve such fine control yet.
"Yes. As you become more proficient with the Tenseigan, the use of gravity become instinctive, allowing you to manipulate your surroundings at will."
Natsuki nodded, then added, "You can do it too."
"Yes! I'll work hard!"
Hinata nodded seriously.
"Then, today's training will be manipulating the sea of flowers."
"Ah? The training seem difficult right from the start, no?"
"Than, how about this, the day you can make them dance, I'll marry you."
"Eh? Eh? Eh?"
"Why? Can't you do it?"
"No, it's not that. I will work hard!"
"Good, I'll be waiting."
"Eh? Wait, Natsuki, you tricked me!"
"Hahaha, silly."
Time flew by, and ten days quickly passed.
The third round of the Chunin Exams arrived as scheduled.
Due to Natsuki's battle with Orochimaru, a large part of the Forest of Death had been destroyed.
This caused the second stage to end prematurely.
No one ambushed the examinees who had obtained the Heaven and Earth Scrolls at the central tower.
As a result, more people passed this stage than in the original story.
Therefore, the examiners decided to add an elimination round before the official matches to reduce the number of participants.
Since the official matches would be observed by the feudal lords of various countries, the remaining examinees had to be elite.
Similar to the original story, the Third Hokage appeared on the second floor, his shadow stretching long.
He explained the significance of the Chunin Exams to the candidates and took the opportunity to preach his Will of Fire.
Then, the proctor in charge of the elimination round, Hayate Gekko, with his sickly pale appearance, flashed onto the stage.
"This exam is not the official third exam, but an added elimination round. Because the first and second rounds were artificially skewed, causing many examinees to pass easily, the number of remaining participants is excessive.
"Therefore, we must add a round to eliminate more people."
Hayate coughed as he spoke, looking as if he was about to collapse.
He ignored the rising complaints from the examinees. Looking as though he was in a rush to be reborn, he quickly read out the rules.
"Now, for the final step, we will begin the drawing of lots.
"The two people who are matched will stay; the others can go to the second floor to watch the preliminaries."
At the same time, the names of all the examinees scrolled rapidly on the large screen on the wall. Finally, the match-ups for the first round were displayed.
Natsuki vs. Akado Yoroi!