The days after Team 7's return to the village passed uneventfully. Aside from his usual training, Naruto spent his time teasing the Hyuga Clan and occasionally going on dates with Hinata.
He had originally wanted to bring the shy girl along for training.
But Kurenai said that her Team 8 had not completed enough missions, and they had to do low-rank missions during these days, so she did not allow her team members to leave without permission.
After hearing this, Naruto finally gave up on his mission-grinding spree.
It is worth mentioning that…
Hiruzen had prohibited the behavior of issuing and completing missions by oneself, as well as issuing missions specifically with the purpose of sending away the Shinobi of the village.
And, even using shadow clones to complete multiple missions at once is prohibited.
Not being able to grind missions wasn't a big deal, but not being forced out of the village made Naruto pretty happy.
Meanwhile, Sakura followed Kakashi's advice and started taking Medical Ninjutsu training at Konoha Hospital.
On the other hand, Sasuke was obsessively practicing Fire Release. He'd also caught up to the part in the novel where Xiao Yan reached Dou Huang rank.
This made him even more crazy about researching the Flame Mantra, and he also kept asking Naruto and Kakashi whether other colored flames existed in the Shinobi World.
Kakashi could only sigh, thinking that the kid was beyond saving.
As for Naruto, he raised his middle finger to Sasuke as a sign of respect.
Naruto, who wanted to bring Sasuke back, even asked Uzumaki Stark to enchant the Kubikiribocho...
"There. Done."
"Sasuke, this is now a real Beheading Sword."
Naruto lightly threw the enchanted Kubikiribocho in front of Sasuke, and it directly created some cracks on the ground. It was obvious that its weight is not small.
Uzumaki Stark not only added some Netherite to the Kubikiribocho, but also added Decapitation and Life Steal enchantments.
However, due to the world's rules, the Life Steal has been adjusted to restore Chakra and provide minor healing instead.
Now, the Kubikiribocho not only dealt double damage when hitting the necks, but also mimicked Samehada's Chakra-absorption ability.
"It's the Heavy Xuan Ruler."
Sasuke corrected Naruto while lovingly stroking the weapon, making Sakura jealous.
Pulling the weapon from the ground, Sasuke strained slightly as he swung it a few times, feeling that it was twice as heavy as before, which was exactly what he had imagined the Heavy Xuan Ruler to be.
"Flawless… Hahahahaha!"
After swinging it a few more times, Sasuke covered his face with one hand, and burst into the Uchiha maniacal laughter.
Naruto was truly speechless when he looked at Sasuke's reaction.
It's not that he's speechless about his maniacal laughter, after all, he's already used to it and it doesn't make any difference.
No, the real issue was...
Sasuke no longer has the hedgehog haircut, but now has specially tied his hair into a ponytail in the traditional Chinese-style, complete with a single loose strand at the forehead.
But honestly, it kind of worked.
Even Kurama had praised Sasuke's hairstyle.
At this point, all Sasuke needed was a black robe, and he'd be a perfect Xiao Yan cosplayer...
'…I'm so tired.'
Naruto began to wonder how Itachi would react when he sees his little brother like this.
At this moment, Kakashi suddenly dropped down from a tree branch and spoke to the three Genin.
"Yo, good morning, everyone."
"I've submitted our team's registration for the Chunin Exams."
"The first test, the written exams, starts tomorrow."
Kakashi glanced at Sasuke, who was still laughing wildly, and said with deadpan expression "Alright, Thin Ice Bro, enough laughing."
"Now, come with me to check out the exam venue."
Sasuke, who was laughing wildly, stopped laughing when he heard the three words, 'Thin Ice Bro'.
Shame instantly surrounded him and his toes couldn't help but curled inside his sandals.
'Damn it!'
'How come Kakashi-sensei also knows that name?!'
Ever since the three teams had dinner together at the Konoha's barbeque restaurant that day, everyone had heard Tenten's story about him.
At first, things had not developed to the point they are now.
But after the dinner that day, Kiba called out 'Thin Ice Bro' as they left...
And just like that, the nickname spread like wildfire across Konoha.
Now, whenever Sasuke walks on the streets of Konoha, anyone who recognized him would greet him and call him Thin Ice Bro.
Even when going to the Hokage Tower, the guards would call him that.
In fact, that is not the worst!
Even Akamaru and Kakashi's Ninken, Pakkun, had started doing it too!
Because of that, Sasuke felt so embarrassed whenever he heard Thin Ice Bro now.
He even had the idea of defecting for this reason.
The only one who has never called Thin Ice Bro is Sakura...
"Kukuku…"
Naruto turned away, his shoulders shaking violently.
He really couldn't hold it in anymore.
"Ha ha ha ha!"
"Thin Ice Bro, why are you just standing there?"
"Let's go check out the Sect com... the Chunin Exams' venue."
Sasuke's face darkened and he tightly grasped the Heavy Xuan Ruler in his hand.
Behind him, Sakura clenched her fists and yelled at Naruto angrily.
"That's enough!"
"Why are you all calling him that weird nickname?!"
"Naruto, Kakashi-sensei, you are really going too far."
After hearing the girl's words, the two of them did not restrain themselves at all. Instead, they stood still at the same time, looking up at the sky at a 45-degree angle, and murmured with a melancholy face...
"My life has been like walking on thin ice. Tell me… can I make it to the other side?"
After imitating Sasuke's tone, the two looked at each other, clutched their stomachs and laughed wildly.
"You bastards!"
"I'm going to kill you!!!"
Faced with their merciless mockery, Sasuke gritted his teeth and could no longer tolerate these two guys.
He hadn't attacked Naruto earlier purely out of gratitude for the weapon, as he would feel a little guilty if he did that.
But now…
Sasuke really couldn't bear it any longer!
Seeing the furious Sasuke with lightning all over his body, Naruto threw out the 'White Dragon Horse' iron door very skillfully, then hopped onto it and flew into the air.
By the time Sasuke lunged forward, all he could do was swing his Heavy Xuan Ruler uselessly at Naruto's airborne figure.
"Damn it!"
"Uzumaki Naruto, get down here and fight me like a man."
Naruto ignored him. He had to go to the exam's venue and had no time to beat Sasuke.
In the end, Kakashi used his '50-50 power' to suppress Sasuke.
Later, a slightly singed Kakashi led the three Genin toward the first exam's venue.
The entire way, Kakashi kept glancing at Naruto. He was really fed up with him.
'We were laughing at Sasuke together, but I'm the one stuck to clean up the mess.'
The same thing happened last time when they helped Sasuke awaken his Sharingan!
Kakashi is now very dissatisfied with this student of his.
But there was nothing he could do about this kid.
This made Kakashi extremely frustrated.
However…
Kakashi consoled himself that days like this wouldn't last much longer.
A few days ago, he heard that Jiraiya was returning to the village.
At that time, someone will naturally take care of this child.
'Naruto, you're done for!'
Kakashi's eye was curved with joy at the thought of Jiraiya coming back.
"Aaahhh!!"
Suddenly, a child's scream caught everyone's attention.
Looking at the direction of the sound, Naruto spotted a guy with raccoon-eye makeup, who was cosplaying as an edgy Pikachu, holding a kid hostage, and next to him was a red-haired guy with a tattoo on his forehead.
'Oh…'
'It turned out to be Konohamaru and Gaara.'
Naruto immediately understood the situation.
At this time, Sasuke turned and asked Naruto.
"You handle it, or should I?"
Seeing Sasuke's eager expression, Naruto did not want to snatch his chance to show off, so he just shrugged and signaled him to do it.
"Fine, I'll deal with it."
As soon as he finished speaking, Sasuke activated the Three Thousand Lightning Movement and launched himself forward.
Everyone only heard a loud 'bang', and then saw a guy carrying a nearly two-meter-long heavy sword appear in front of Kankuro. The pavement was smashed by this guy and some cracks appeared.
"Hey, you over there..."
"Let go of that kid."
The terrified Konohamaru turned his head to look at the person who came, as if he had grabbed a life-saving straw.
When he saw it was Sasuke, he cried out in relief, "THIN ICE BRO!"
"SAVE ME!"