Chapter 087: Has Hinata Grown Up?

What Naruto meant by “run” wasn’t anything like becoming more rounded. He was sensing that Hinata, much like a young sapling in spring, had suddenly shot up—she was noticeably taller than before.

Moreover, for reasons he couldn’t quite grasp, Hinata’s aura had changed. The awkwardness of a little girl had faded, replaced by a hint of maturity. She was starting to carry herself with a poise that seemed almost adult. Naruto mused silently, wondering how a child who was only twelve this year could emanate a presence so reminiscent of grown-ups.

Hearing Naruto’s comment, Hinata’s cheeks flushed with a soft blush. She lowered her head, fidgeting nervously with her fingers, and spoke in a voice barely above a whisper:

“Well… back in the Land of Waves… I sort of lost control a bit…”

Naruto’s expression cleared as he remembered a small incident before they left the Land of Waves.

They were preparing to depart when the financial office of the leader’s mansion received a bill addressed to the supreme leader, Naruto Uzumaki.

Naruto recalled distinctly that the bill detailed Hinata’s spending—an astonishing sum that totaled over a million ryo. Staring at those numbers, he had been baffled. That amount could sustain an ordinary family for quite some time.

He had scrutinized the breakdown and found it all related to food. At the time, he thought Hinata was a kind and thoughtful girl, probably buying delicacies to bring home for her family. He had quietly admired her generosity and attention to detail, befitting a child from a distinguished clan.

Since local specialties are often pricey, he hadn’t questioned the sum. He even imagined Hinata had carefully chosen gifts for her family, each item thoughtfully selected.

But now, hearing Hinata confess, he realized with a start that a large portion of those purchases had been consumed by Hinata herself. The revelation left him both amused and speechless.

Naruto circled Hinata in curiosity, bending slightly and widening his eyes like a scholar studying some new phenomenon, examining her from head to toe.

Hinata felt increasingly embarrassed under Naruto’s direct gaze. Her small hands twisted the hem of her clothes, her head dipped, eyes darting away like a startled little rabbit under scrutiny.

As Naruto observed her, he thought to himself:

So all the food she ate in the Land of Waves has turned into her height and muscle. Her digestive system must be remarkable—anyone else would have ballooned into a round ball after eating so much.

Yet she hadn’t gained weight; instead, she had used all that nutrition to grow. Such a constitution was truly enviable.

He nodded in satisfaction, a warm smile blooming on his face.

“No worries—just eat as much as you like.”

Naruto waved his hand grandly, his gesture full of heroic confidence. He declared cheerfully:

“At your age, eating is how you grow! If you ever feel embarrassed to eat freely at home, just come find me! I promise you’ll never leave hungry!”

Hinata’s shy smile blossomed like a quietly opening flower, reserved yet full of warmth.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Uncle Teuchi was busy preparing dinner. Tonight’s meal brought him both pain and joy.

Watching Hinata, so small yet with such an astonishing appetite, Uncle Teuchi worked like a machine, constantly boiling, cooking, and serving noodles.

His hands grew numb from exhaustion, sweat streaming down his brow and sizzling as it dripped onto the stove.

But Naruto was genuinely sincere—no matter how many dishes Uncle Teuchi made, Naruto always patted his chest and promised to pay for it all.

That night, Uncle Teuchi earned what amounted to more than a month’s revenue—a handsome profit by any measure.

Yet, laboring so hard, his arms felt weighed down with lead. He realized he’d need at least ten days or half a month’s rest to recover.

Sitting aside, Uncle Teuchi glanced at the pile of cash in his drawer, rubbed his aching arms, and wondered silently whether he had truly made a profit or suffered a loss.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting patches of light.

Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and their teacher Kakashi gathered at a quiet training ground in the Hidden Leaf Village.

Kakashi held several application forms, the paper fluttering gently in the breeze.

He looked up, shifting his gaze from the forms to his three enthusiastic students, and said slowly:

“I’ll be signing you up for this Chunin Exam.”

His voice was steady and calm, carrying an unmistakable authority.

“After this exam, you’ll be eligible for promotion to Chunin. At that point, your ninja paths will open to new possibilities.”

“You can leave Team Seven and form your own squads, seeking partners who share your ideals and match your skills, exploring fresh missions and challenges together.”

“Or, depending on your talents and interests, you can join departments specializing in intelligence, medical work, or other special fields.”

“Of course, if you wish to stay with Team Seven, we can become a spearhead unit—tackling even tougher missions with greater strength and teamwork.”

Kakashi’s gaze lingered on each student’s face in turn, as though searching their expressions for a glimpse of their true feelings.

Naruto and Sasuke stood with indifferent expressions.

Naruto scratched his golden hair—he was hardly one to shrink from the Chunin Exam. Besides, he’d already accepted the Third Hokage’s commission to make an impression during the exam. He’d been wondering how to apply, and now Kakashi had brought the forms—it was as if the pillow showed up just when he felt sleepy.

Sasuke crossed his arms and squinted slightly. It mattered little to him; he no longer cared about any ninja except Naruto and Kakashi. Even his own brother and the infamous Obito Uchiha failed to impress him now, since he had discovered the hidden techniques of the Mangekyo Sharingan.

Sakura, however, looked nervous.

She bit her lip, hesitated, and raised her hand timidly, like a student wanting to ask a question but afraid of being scolded.

She spoke in a meek voice, “Um… Kakashi-sensei. Are we really signing up for the Chunin Exam now? Shouldn’t we wait another round? We’ve only been ninja for less than half a year…”

Her tone carried worry; in her mind, half a year seemed too short to become a Chunin. She wasn’t sure she was truly ready.

Kakashi, hearing Sakura’s concern, rolled his trademark lifeless eyes and sighed. Then he explained:

“Yes, you’ve been ninja for less than half a year, but in that brief span, you’ve already completed two A-rank missions that came close to S-rank.”

He glanced through their mission records, as if reliving those dangerous moments.

“On your very first mission, you drove off a Kage-level opponent—a foe most ninja never face in their lifetimes.”

“And during your last mission, you dismantled a wealthy tycoon supported by the Mist Village and took part in a country’s power shift. The complexity and difficulty of these missions are far beyond what most Jonin could handle; ordinarily, the village would send legendary ninja like the Sannin for such tasks.”

“If it weren’t for the rule that Jonin must be selected from among Chunin, I would have brought Jonin recommendation papers for the three of you to sign.”

Kakashi’s words sent Sakura into deep thought.

She felt at a loss—upon reflection, he was right.

Many Jonin might never encounter such tough missions in their long ninja careers, yet she, a rookie Genin, had already experienced two.

She realized their current experience and strength made skipping the Chunin Exam almost unjustifiable.

Steeling herself, Sakura resolved to perform her best in the exam.